Vietnam is a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life. Its highlands and rainforest regions continue to yield new species and team with exotic wildlife and its islands and beaches are among the finest in all of Southeast Asia. Its cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find. Over two decades have passed since Vietnam was officially united. Today, this gracious and graceful country is an outstanding travel destination. Don’t miss beautiful Halong Bay, historic Hanoi, the imperial city of Hue, and fabulous Ho Chi Minh City. Fabulous beaches, river deltas and high mountains round out the picture.
Cool Cities
Hanoi
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and its second largest city, is a fascinating blend of East and West, with Chinese influence from centuries of dominance, and French design from its colonial past. It is largely unspoiled by modern architecture of the 1970s and 80s, and is now going through a modernization that is making it a rising star in Southeast Asia.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), is the largest city in Vietnam and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However the old Saigon name is still used by both Vietnamese and foreigners, especially the most central part of the city, to which most tourists travel.
Hue
The imperial Nguyen Dynasty, based in Hue, ruled from 1802 to 1945, when the Emperor Bao Dai abdicated to Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary government. The main landmark is the Perfume River, with the old city and the Citadel on the north side and the newer city, including most hotels and restaurants, on the south side. Much of the riverside is a pleasant promenade and park.
Icons
Co Loa Citadel
In 258 BC a new capital constructed by King Anh Duong at Co Loa in the Red River Delta, north of present-day Hà Noi. Built to protect the city, the walls of the citadel were arranged in a spiral, the original nine coils covered an area of more than five square kilometres. The site has been the source of various relics of the Dong Son culture of the Bronze Age.
Hoi An
Hoi An is a beautiful city in Vietnam south of Da Nang. The Old Town is a listed a World Heritage Site. With more than 2,000 years history as the principal port of the Cham Kingdom, that controlled the strategic spice trade with Indonesia from the 7th to 10th century and also trading in the 16th and 17th centuries - foreign influences still found today.
Royal Palace, Hue
The grounds of the Imperial City were surrounded by a wall 2 kilometers by 2 kilometers, and a moat. American bombing in 1968 flattened most of the Imperial city. A few buildings survived. The city was made a UNESCO site in 1993. The buildings that remain are being restored and preserved. Inside the Imperial City is the imperial enclosure, the Purple Forbidden City.
Natural Landscapes
Halong Bay
Halong Bay, located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters. A feature of Halong Bay is the many lakes inside the limestone islands.
Rice Paddies
Throughout Asia rice-paddies are an integral part of the landscape. Supplied by incredible networks of man-made channels and low earthen walls to retain the water, they also are home to many bird species. Whole mountainsides and entire river valleys and river flats can sometimes be covered with paddies which are one of the most important cultivations in all of Asia.
Mekong River
The Mekong Delta (“Nine Dragon river delta”) is the region in south-western Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. It has recently been dubbed as a 'biological treasure trove'. Over 10,000 new species have been discovered in previously unexplored areas of the Delta.
Go Local
Vietnamese food
With the balance between fresh herbs and meats and a selective use of spices to reach a fine taste, Vietnamese food can be considered one of the healthiest cuisines worldwide. In Vietnam and you can enjoy many kinds of local food such as special noodle soup (pho), spring rolls, grilled shrimp paste, grilled minced fish, and think of it as part of your cultural immersion.
Street market stall
Shopping at an outdoor street market is one of the fun experiences you can have. There are so many new things to try, and, of course, tasting goes with the adventure. Long lines are non-existent, and nothing is separating you from your food. Deals are everywhere, and bargaining a must. Vendors are knowledgeable about the food they are selling and usually very helpful as well.
Visit the local temple
Some of the most interesting sights in Vietnam can be found inside religious buildings. Vietnam is a predominantly Buddhist country. There are many temples in every city and town in Vietnam. They can be found by simply asking around or hiring a cyclo to take you around for the day. At most temples and shrines, you can simply wander in and look around.
Treasures of the Past
Hoi An
Hoi An is a beautiful city in Vietnam south of Da Nang. The Old Town is a listed a World Heritage Site. With more than 2,000 years history as the principal port of the Cham Kingdom, that controlled the strategic spice trade with Indonesia from the 7th to 10th century and also trading in the 16th and 17th centuries - foreign influences still found today.
Hue Monuments
Hué was the political but also cultural and religious centre under the Nguyen dynasty, until 1945. The Perfume River winds its way through the Capital City, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Inner City, giving this unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty Outside the Capital City there are several monuments of importance including the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty.
Tu Duc Tomb
Emperor Tu Duc the last independent Emperor of Vietnam used the tomb's palace buildings as his place of residence. Interestingly, despite the grandeur of the site and the amount of time Tu Duc spent here, he was actually buried in a different, secret location somewhere in Hue. To this day, the real tomb of Tu Duc remains hidden for future generations to discover.
Arts and Culture
Ho Chi Minh's Residence
Ho Chi Minh had the run of the Presidential Palace, but the ostentation was too much for the ascetic president. Then, the story goes, in 1958 he moved to this simple but tasteful wooden house on stilts, which served as his living quarters and work space until his death in 1969. Downstairs he received his guests: foreign dignitaries, Politburo members, army cadres, and schoolchildren.
Cao Dai Temple
Cao Dai Temple Established in 1926 is 4km east of Tay Ninh in the village of Long Hoa. Its doctrine is an east-west mix said to have been communicated through séances by famous spirits such as Shakespeare and Lenin. The Cao Dai symbol, an all-seeing eye, and the temple decor in general are colourful. God is symbolized by the Divine Eye.
The Japanese Bridge
The graceful curve of an aging Japanese bridge is nothing short of pure art. Form, function, spiritual significance is found in these Zen-inspired bridges. The most famous Japanese bridge in Vietnam - if not all of Southeast Asia - is found in the historic riverside town of Hoi An. Constructed sometime in the early 1600s it is a beautiful reminder of a time long ago.
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