Learn About Vietnam
Vietnam is a truly inspiring and challenging destination. Here you have the opportunity to find a country that has kept the traditional flavor and romance of the old times, but also quickly opened to the world and modernism.
After opening its borders for tourism in 1989, the "Flying Dragon Land" has created a unique reputation among excursions in South East Asia. A trip to this fascinating country will be a great experience that you will want to repeat. The special atmosphere of Vietnam, with French and Chinese influences and such a delicious cuisine, will surprise you at every step!
Indeed, Vietnam is a perfect destination for gourmets. Many menus include noodles, seafood, vegetables and fish. Fruits and vegetables are recommended to be peeled and cooked well, before eating them. Avoid water-based drinks and any dishes based on ice, because you cannot know what kind of water was used. It is important to drink bottled water during your trip in Vietnam, to avoid any trouble. In Vietnam you can eat on a budget, even in the fanciest restaurants. There are dishes that cost between 1 and 5 dollars. In a gourmet restaurant, a meal with all the drinks costs around 15/20 dollars.
Safety in Vietnam is very important...
It is advisable that before departure you inform yourself of the latest events in Vietnam, and be aware of any travel alerts. In the areas known as the theater of war in the past, tourists are advised not to venture and follow strictly any instructions. You can find the necessary details before your departure to Vietnam on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Must-see places include…
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, ranks among the world's most attractive and interesting cities. Originally it was named Thang Long or "City of the Ascending Dragon," the city was first the capital of Vietnam in A.D. 1010 and has had many names until its current incarnation. The name Hanoi, in fact, means "bend in the river" and denotes the city's strategic location along the vital Red River waterway, its banks crowded with green rice paddies and farms.
The city is surrounded by lakes, large boulevards and green parks. It's a very beautiful city, which is also crowded. The center of the city is its spiritual center and at the lowest part of Hanoi is the Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake). The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life.
The Temple of Literature is a temple of Confucius and hosts the "Imperial Academy," Vietnam's first national university. It covers an area of over 54,000 square metres, including the Literature ("Van") lake and Giam park. The entrance gate opens onto three pathways which continue through the complex. The centre path was reserved for the monarch, the one to its left for the administrative Mandarins and the one to its right for military Mandarins. The interior of the site is divided into five courtyards. The first two courtyards are quiet areas with ancient trees and trimmed lawns, where scholars would relax away from the bustle of the outside world. There are numerous turtles made of stone, wearing stars on their carapace, and on which are engraved the names of the great past scholars of the Academy.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is one of the main attractions of the capital, and also a unique spectacle in the world. The marionettes stand up in the middle of the water and manipulate puppets with bamboo pipes below the lake, which represents the stage, in funny scenarios accompanied by live music.
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is the most well served city by airlines in Europe and Asia. The city is studded with numerous museums, most notably: War Remnants Museum, Museum of Ho Chi Minh City and the History Museum. Here, tourists will have the opportunity to do yoga, make boat trips on the River Saigon, learn Vietnamese language or take lessons about the traditional cuisine.
Ha Long Bay has the largest caves on the islands, extending vertically to tens of meters, illuminated and arranged, being the place where you can see the limestone laces and chimneys hanging from the ceilings. The gulf shores are full of elegant hotels, villas, restaurants, terraces, shops and souvenir stalls or massage salons.
Hue, also called "The Royal City," was once the capital of Vietnam. It houses famous fascinating historical monuments, which led to their inclusion in UNESCO. During a trip with a dragon-boat on the Perfumes River, you can see the Royal Mausoleum Tu Duc, Thien Mu Pagoda, dating from the seventeenth century, the buildings of the Imperial Citadel, the Palace of Supreme Harmony and Mieu Temple.
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