Vietnam is an increasingly popular travel destination and it’s really not hard to see why this is the case. It’s a country that contains many of the things that make a great holiday; vibrant cities, delicious food, interesting culture, pristine beaches and beautiful landscapes. Vietnam holidays really are an exciting, exhilarating experience and aren’t to be missed.
There are several Vietnamese cities that are worth a visit. The largest is Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City); although it’s not the capital of Vietnam, it is the commercial and economic centre of the country. Located in the south-east, Saigon’s atmosphere is electric, its streets packed with everything from colourful markets and ancient pagodas to skyscrapers and ultra-modern hotels, and through all this charismatic chaos weave the thousands of motorbikes that are one of the city’s defining features. Saigon is one of the gateways into Vietnam and there are many options for flights with sites such as fly.com.
In addition to seeing Vietnam’s urban spaces, no trip would be complete without a visit to one of the county’s many beaches. With white sand and turquoise water, beaches such as Lang Cô are as close to paradise as you are likely to ever get. Lying between Da Nang and Hue, Lang Cô is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Although more people are discovering the joys of this picturesque village on the shores of a lagoon, it’s still relatively untouched. It is also the perfect place to explore the culinary delights that Vietnam has to offer.
The Vietnamese people are particularly proud of their seafood dishes. These tend to have fresh and exciting flavours and are often mixed with noodles, rice or come in a soup. However, Vietnam also has a number of interesting tropical fruits to offer the adventurous tourist; mouth-watering custard apples and jackfruit are particular favourites.
Lying off the coast of Vietnam are literally hundreds of islands, such as those in Phu Quy District. This group of 10 islands can be found 120km south-east off the coast of Phan Thiet. As with many Vietnamese islands they are largely untouched by man and feature crystal clear waters and coral reefs in addition to numerous shrines, temples and pagodas. On Phu Quy, travellers can discover the historic An Thanh Temple, which holds the remains of the gigantic whales that the islanders used to worship.
There are many other historic cultural sites to visit in Vietnam including Tu Duc Tomb. Hidden in a narrow valley 8km from Hue, this burial complex is among the finest in the world. Built between 1864 and 1867, the tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc, the longest ruling leader of the Nguyen dynasty. As the majority of the complex was completed in his lifetime, Tu Duc used it for many years as a palatial retreat. Despite having over 100 concubines and wives, the emperor had no son and therefore no-one to write his epitaph, as was the tradition. Consequently, he had to complete this task himself and the resulting inscription can still be found at his tomb today. Interestingly, in addition to describing his merits and achievements, the text also lists his mistakes, misadventures and illnesses.
Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Returned Sword) is another historic cultural site that is worth visiting. Located within Vietnam’s capital Ha Noi, legend tells that this lake is the place at which Emperor Le Thai To received a magical sword from heaven, which he then used to defeat the Chinese thereby regaining Vietnam’s independence.
Whichever aspect of Vietnam you wish to experience, one of the best ways to see it all is by utilising a car rental company. Drive through this country and you will get glimpses of a truly magical place.
