Vietnam — Just the name conjures up all kinds of images. After years of relative isolation, Vietnam is opening up to the tourist trade, sort of. There is quite a bit on offer, and it doesn't all necessarily have to do with recent history.
Between the rich cultural heritage, tropical beaches, rural villages and shopping opportunities, Vietnam has something for just about everyone. The highlights below will give you some idea of the main tourist areas. Explore the links at left for more information on specific topics.
Vietnam Highlights
Hanoi
The capital of Vietnam is a city of lakes and tree-lined boulevards. Although the transition to a market economy was perhaps most resisted in Hanoi, it's now well under way, and the city is as vibrant as its more well trodden southern counterpart.
Hue
The old imperial capital of Hue requires three or four days to see. In addition to the citadel, a smaller version of China's forbidden city, visitors will want to take in the Thien Mu pagoda and the royal tombs of the emperors.
Hai Van Pass
The drive by bus, van or private car from Hue to Danang via the Hai Van Pass has to be one of the most scenic drives in Southeast Asia. The drive takes you through rice fields dotted with guard towers from the war, up through many beautiful hills and bays until reaching the summit of the pass, from which you descend into Danang.
You can, of course, make the trip in either direction.
Danang & China Beach
Although rather unremarkable itself, there are several sights in and around Danang that make it a good base to explore from. The Cham Museum on the city's waterfront contains many important artifacts from the Cham empire which ruled central Vietnam from a kingdom pre-dating Angkor Wat. There's also a war museum in Danang, as well as the long beach made famous by American television.
Other nearby attractions include Marble Mountain, a large limestone outcrop riddled with caves variously used as Buddhist temples and VC hideouts.
The kingdom of Champa flourished from the 2nd to the 15th century. What remains of this kingdom can mainly by found at My Son, which is a day trip from Danang or Hoi An.
Hoi An
This very picturesque village seems at first glance to have been lost in time for a few hundred years. Of course, it is now very heavily touristed but it is definitely worth the trip. Hoi An is our choice for the best place to end a Vietnam tour as it affords the best shopping as well as being a very relaxed place.
Ho Chi Minh City
For many, it will probably always be Saigon, the former capital of South Vietnam before the north and south were reunited in the dramatic events which ended America's military involvement in Southeast Asia. While there are few really spectacular sites for those that are not Vietnam Wat buffs, the city itself is quite interesting and well worth a few days' time wandering around.
Although most people arrive in Vietnam by air, there are other options. However, check carefully before deciding to go by an overland route. See below for more details.
Planes Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are well severved by the major international carriers. Vietnam's third international airport at Danang is mainly only served by the country's national carrier and Thai Airways.
Thai Airways Flies from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang.
Details about traveling in Vietnam can be hard to come by on the web, and also seem to be changing frequently. Here's some more detailed information about our trip along with some other useful information gleaned from our travels.
Visas Yes, you need one. Every visitor does except holders of passports from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). How long it takes, and even how much it costs, seems to vary from place to place.
The only Vietnamese dish many people know is pho, the rice noodle soup. However, Vietnam has much more to offer than this simple dish. Our favorite is actualy fried egg noodles, called mi xao. Also look for cao lao, a specialty of Hoi An, made with thick rice noodles topped with pork.
You can find good cheap food everywhere you go. There's no reason to starve on a trip to Vietnam!
The boys on China Beach. With around 2,000 miles of coastline, Vietnam does have a fair number of beaches, although not as many as you might think. The best beaches are in the southern part of the country. There are some nice beaches in the north near Hanoi, but the weather is really only suitable from May to July or August.
The list below is organized north to south, starting with one of Vietnam's most famous beaches, to watchers of American television.
Like many other Asian cultures, close relationships and affectionate behavior in public between people of the same sex is very common and accepted. But such relationships are not necessarily gay. Still, sexual relationships between men are assumed to be quite common and accepted, so long as they are kept private.
There is no "scene" in the western style, since being overtly gay is still not acceptable. There are, however, many places for gay people to meet, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.
Vietnam is definitely a bargain hunter's paradise. Here's a list of the kinds of things you can get the best deals on, if you remember to bargain!
Antiques Generally speaking, the term “antique” refers to goods designed in an old or traditional style. Genuine antiques — things more than 100 years old — require special permission to be taken out of the country. Our advice is to ignore the purported age of an item when negotiating the price, and if the seller insists on an unreasonably high price because of an item's age, ask to see the export permit for the item.
A traditional river barge.
The main point of interest in the southern part of Vietnam is the former capital of the partitioned country of South Vietnam, Saigon, or as its now officially known, Ho Chi Minh City. The city itself can be explored in two or three days, and additionally makes a good base for day trips to nearby sights.
Around Ho Chi Minh City Several interesting places are within an easy day trip from Ho Chi Minh City.
One of the many coffee shops of the type found all over Vietnam. The Trung Nuyen brand alone has thousands of shops and kiosks around the country. Long before that big American chain put a coffee shop on every corner around the world, coffee was king of the street in Vietnam. Where-ever you go in the country, you'll find coffee shops, cafes and even street carts selling the uniquely Vietnamese style of coffee.
