A country heavily burdened by wars, foreign occupations and civil discord in the 20th century, Vietnam has emerged in recent decades as a reunified nation with plenty of tourist appeal from booming modern cities to colonial towns, beach resorts, traditional villages, archaeological sites and otherworldly islands.
A long, narrow country squeezed in between the South China Sea and the Laos and Cambodia borders, Vietnam is a land of striking landscapes that range from the lush rice terraces and forested mountains in the north to the picturesque valleys of the Central Highlands and the fertile delta and beautiful beaches of the south.
Major cities in Vietnam like Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Da Nang and the country’s capital, Hanoi, are vibrant with skyscrapers, pagodas, modern hotels, restaurants, museums and nightclubs. Historical cities like Hue and Hoi An feature royal palaces, emperor tombs and colonial architecture. The quaint town of Sapa in the north offers tours to the mountains and ethnic hill tribes. Rice paddies, floating markets, fruit orchards and conical-hatted farmers are frequent scenes of the Mekong Delta. Nha Trang, a gorgeous beach resort city, is popular for romantic getaways and scuba divers. The archaeological site of My Son features ancient ruins, and Ha Long Bay is a must-see to believe its misty, unearthly-like appearance.
A long, narrow country squeezed in between the South China Sea and the Laos and Cambodia borders, Vietnam is a land of striking landscapes that range from the lush rice terraces and forested mountains in the north to the picturesque valleys of the Central Highlands and the fertile delta and beautiful beaches of the south.
Major cities in Vietnam like Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Da Nang and the country’s capital, Hanoi, are vibrant with skyscrapers, pagodas, modern hotels, restaurants, museums and nightclubs. Historical cities like Hue and Hoi An feature royal palaces, emperor tombs and colonial architecture. The quaint town of Sapa in the north offers tours to the mountains and ethnic hill tribes. Rice paddies, floating markets, fruit orchards and conical-hatted farmers are frequent scenes of the Mekong Delta. Nha Trang, a gorgeous beach resort city, is popular for romantic getaways and scuba divers. The archaeological site of My Son features ancient ruins, and Ha Long Bay is a must-see to believe its misty, unearthly-like appearance.
Based on an abundance of fresh seafood and vegetables, Vietnam’s cuisine varies from region to region and features elements of Chinese, Thai, French and Japanese. The national dish is pho, a soup of beef or chicken served with vegetables, rice noodles and various sauces and herbs. In addition to Vietnamese and Asian foods, French baguettes and pastries are common as well.
For getting around Vietnam, there are many domestic flights out of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi connecting to several other major cities. There is also the train system, the Reunification Express, which runs from the South to the North. Long-distance buses also run between most cities.
For getting around Vietnam, there are many domestic flights out of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi connecting to several other major cities. There is also the train system, the Reunification Express, which runs from the South to the North. Long-distance buses also run between most cities.
