Imagine travelling 1610 kilometres in a busy and interesting country with an amazing amount of diversity! A country full of beaches, caves, forests, mountains, rivers, ruins, with spectacular landscapes; we’re talking about Vietnam, an incredibly unique destination. Vietnam has a coastline running along almost all of it; tourists from all over the world love this buzzing country.
‘…incredibly unique…’
Beaches and sand dunes
The length of Vietnam means that it’s blessed with an unbelievable contrast of blue and green, the sea and forest. There are beautiful beaches all along the coastline especially near Hoi An, Mui Ne and Nha Trang. Near Mui Ne you find incredible red and white sand dunes that are best enjoyed at sunrise and sunset.
‘…contrast of blue and green, the sea and forest…’
Buzzing cities
There’s something for everyone in Vietnam’s cities, whether you’re in the north or the south, there is so much fun to be had in the enjoyable chaos. In Central Vietnam, the city of Da Nang has a bright yellow dragon bridge that breathes fire, followed by water that is sprayed over gathered spectators.
‘…breathes fire, followed by water…’
Caves
Vietnam is famous for its incredible caves, its home to Son Doong, the world’s biggest cave, found in the emerald-covered expanse of Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng National Park. There are also smaller caves to explore that have many stunning formations hidden inside of them; two of these are the Phong Nha Cave and Paradise.
‘…formations hidden inside…’
Food
Vietnamese food really stands out, the most delicious savoury dishes include many types of noodles, banana blossom salad, stuffed pancakes, fresh spring rolls, and tasty banh mi better known as filled baguettes. It’s also one of the best places in the world to get deliciously dark coffee that is blended with everything from coconut to egg for a sumptuously rich experience.
‘…sumptuously rich…’
History
Vietnam has a fascinating history that can be seen in exquisite buildings from the Nguyen Dynasty in Huế, to the grim Hoa Lo Prison that was built in Hanoi during French colonial times. There are several sites from the Vietnam War, like the Cu Chi and Vinh Moc tunnels that you can visit. Central Vietnam has a demilitarized zone where there are several monuments and museums to visit built on the land where the battles were fought.
‘…monuments and museums where battles were fought…’
Karst bays
It’s impossible to look at any photos of Vietnam without coming across the eternally famous Ha Long Bay. This picture-perfect seascape is dominated by green limestone karsts with tiny fishing villages in the shadows. The karsts are a great way to see the landscape where wide rivers run through grassy rice fields at the bottom of stunning valleys.
‘…wide rivers, grassy rice fields, stunning valleys…’
Mekong River
Laos is the country famous for the Mekong River but it actually finishes in the South of Vietnam. The sprawling streams that spill out into the sea is the perfect place to explore traditional life in Vietnam. Watching the sunset over the Mekong is truly an unforgettable experience, it’s no wonder Vietnam is famous for the Mekong Delta and all the incredible activities on offer.
‘…unforgettable experience…’
Motorbikes and rice terraces
If you travel to Vietnam, a visit to the rice terraces is a beautiful experience; it’s one of the best places to meet the local people. For the adventurous, you will love the Ha Giang loop which is a stunning three to four days motorbike journey that begins and ends at the capital Ha Giang.
‘…best places to meet the local people…’
