Vietnam Travel Guide

[Vicky Cun]

In the Vietnamese folklores and legends, the dragon takes a very significant place. Follow that, Vietnam's origin lay in the harmonious union of the dragon Lord Lac Long Quan, the King of the Sea, and Fairy Au Co, Princess of the Mountains.

Century to century, Vietnam's history is characterized by continuous struggles for autonomy. Nowadays, Vietnam has opened its doors and is well - known for diverse cultures, beautiful scenery, friendly and hospitable people.

Moreover, Vietnam is always the safest destination in the world where you can witness the World Heritage sites including Halong Bay (in Hanoi),
Royal City (in Hue), My Son and Hoi An Ancient Town (in Quang Nam), Phong Nha Caves (in Quang Binh).

When to go?

Thanks to different climate in different areas, there always have a place where you can travel to. Generally, in the South, the weather is warm and get hottest in the dry season from March to May (low-30's C). April until October is monsoon season.

The central coast is dry from May to October and wet from December to February. The highland areas are significantly cooler than the lowlands and temperatures can get down to freezing in winter.

The North Vietnam has two basic seasons: a cold, humid winter from November to April and a warm, wet summer for the rest of the year (average temperatures around 22 C), with occasional typhoons between July and November, affecting the north and central areas .

Traditional Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) is the most important festival of the year. It is a week-long event in late January or early February when everything becomes very difficult.

Prices are raised radically and all the services like hotels, transportation are commonly closed down. If traveling in this period, you should have a good schedule and preparation, few month in advance is quite necessary.

What to do?

Vietnam offers a tremendous variety of travel experiences, enough to suit every taste.Beach lovers can enjoy the tranquil and blue sea of Mui Ne, Nha Trang and islands, Phu Quoc, Long Hai and more adventurous beach –goers can relax at remote and less touristy Con Dao Island or Quy Nhon and Danang Beach.

More activity lovers may find rock formations, sea cliffs and grottoes of Halong Bay, Phong Nha Caves rates as Heritage Sites of the World. Adventurers who aim at more exercise while exploring traditional lifestyles can trek to North West mountainous area through Mai Chau, Son La, Sapa and Bac Ha.

History and architecture buffs will be attracted to Hue and Hoi An. Those who are fascinated by American War and all its implications can travel to Quang Tri DMZ then further to Vietnam central highlands of Buon Ma Thuot, Kontum.

Appreciate simple delta life, river life, try with the Mekong Delta. Popular scenic spots include My Tho, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Chau Doc.Finally, don’t miss the dynamic and developed city of Saigon where you can find high buildings, night bars, nice restaurants and friendly people.