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VIETNAM TRAVEL GUIDE
Home of the conical hat and fine cuisine, Vietnam’s war-torn and communist-heavy days are well and truly over, although the country remains under communist rule. Towns and cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been beautified to compete with other Asian destinations and come with a huge supply of ancient pagodas, temples and French colonial architecture.
Vietnam boasts a stunning coastline which runs the entire length of the country, with good diving and sunbathing opportunities, while the lush Mekong Delta and Ha Long Bay are its other major natural attractions.
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VIETNAM WEATHER - When to Go
Like Thailand, Vietnam has differing weather systems depending on where you are; north, south, coastal areas or mountains. If you plan on visiting Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and other northern climes, the best time to come is between September and December, when days are sunny and nights cool. Summer temperatures soar in Hanoi.
Those visiting Ho Chi Minh, the Mekong Delta and the south in general would do well to get here sometime between November and April. If this is not possible, try and at least avoid May to August (the wet season) when it literally pours and widespread flooding is commonplace.
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VIETNAM HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Hanoi: is the Vietnamese capital and lies right up in the north of the country. It is an old-fashioned yet slightly chaotic place but has a tremendous amount of life and charm about it. It has a peaceful lake at its centre - Hoan Kiem Lake – with a temple in the middle and a walking path around the outside. Most people head for the old quarter, which is full of old shops, French colonial architecture and a huge number of guesthouses and coffee shops. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a must-see and if you are into beer, have a tipple of the local brew on a street corner.
- Ha Long Bay: located in north-eastern Vietnam, not far from Hanoi, this UNESCO World Heritage site is the most stunning natural attraction in the country after the Mekong Delta. It can be found in Quảng Ninh province and features thousands of lofty limestone karsts and islets rising out of the calm Gulf of Tonkin emerald waters. The region is also pockmarked with numerous grottoes, the most famous of which is Hang Dau Go with its massive trio of chambers. Ha Long City is okay in its western parts, although the main draw is kayaking the bay.
- Ho Chi Minh City: the old capital of South Vietnam (Saigon) lies above the vast region of the Mekong Delta in the south of the country. It is a busy city with many interesting and famous attractions, which include the War Remnants Museum and the nearby Chu Chi Tunnels. The Reunification Palace is also a major landmark, complete with tanks in the front, while just outside the city are stunning temples, pagodas, churches and the botanical gardens. The markets, malls and souvenir shops are lots of fun and you are spoilt for choice by the sheer amount of eateries here.
- Mekong Delta: lying just south of Ho Ch Minh City, this beautiful area of the world marks the southern extremity of the mighty Mekong; an extremely lush area of paddy fields and timeless beauty. The main attractions are the many floating markets in the major settlements here as well as the national parks and nature reserves. A popular method of taking in the delta is to take a boat tour from Ho Chi Minh and take in My Tho, Ben Tre, Can Tho, and the An Binh peninsula. Quaint canal trips are best had through the swamplands of My Tho. The Mekong Delta is directly accessible by boat from the former capital.
- Dalat: is great for a visit during the hot season of Vietnam, owing to its mountain setting. It is known as the jewel of the southern Central Highlands and is often used as a jumping off point for escapades into the nearby highlands. Dalat has a fascinating café culture, which can more than likely be attributed to the French presence here; the French Quarter is particularly interesting. For a spot of culture in the town check out Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace. Dalat is about seven hours from Ho Chi Minh by bus and there is also an airport outside town.
- Phan Thiet: this coastal city is a popular place to spend a few days away from Ho Chi Minh City, with its pleasant town and inviting turquoise waters. Phan Thiet is a diverse travel option as it has an interesting town filled with temples and palaces, nearby beaches and a backdrop of rolling hills. The town centre is a most appealing place to stay and comes with fantastic restaurants and nightlife. Another popular attraction in the region is nearby Mui Ne Beach, with that perfect tropical beach look of coconut trees and red sand dunes. Phan Thiet lies on the north/south train line a few hours outside Ho Chi Minh.
- Hue: another popular coastal city, Hue lies midway down the country and is the perfect stop off for those on a complete tour of Vietnam. This is definitely one for the culture-vulture as it has loads of fancy pagodas, including the revered Thien Mu Pagoda just outside town, one of Vietnam’s most important. The Imperial Citadel is another major sight here, featuring myriad temples, pavilions, gates, shops and galleries, while high-profile and forgotten tombs are dotted all around the city. The café culture is also good in Hue and there are several fun bars to check out. Trains, planes and buses all serve Hue.
- Other Vietnam highlights: the Chu Chi Tunnels are a major Vietnam highlight and must-see for every tourist, a network of hundreds of miles of tunnels amid dense southern jungle. Hoi An, near Da Nang and Hue, is another popular tourist stop while Vung Tau is an easily accessible coastal resort just an hour from Ho Chi Minh by bus.
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VIETNAM HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: Rice and noodles are the big eats in Vietnam and come with a huge variety of meats, vegetables and sauces. Fish sauce accompanies most dishes. Vietnamese food is not especially spicy, unless you want it to be, and is also quite diverse when the French colonialists offshoot of baguettes and pastries are taken into consideration. As with much of Southeast Asia, dining out in Vietnam is cheap.
- Entertainment and Nightlife: If you come here expecting the raunchy nightlife of Thailand, you may be disappointed as Vietnam is pretty conservative and closing hours are early. That said, there are beer bars on most city street corners, as well as a growing number of Western bars and nightclubs. Bia hơi is the local draft beer tipple and is best enjoyed in Hanoi’s numerous outdoor bars.
- Vietnam Accommodation: All hotel options are available in Vietnam, depending on where you are, with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the main beach resorts having the best choices. The larger hotels tend to come with internet cafés, spa facilities and tour options. Prices for hotels in Vietnam are generally even cheaper than neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.
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VIETNAM FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
There are no direct flights between the UK and Vietnam.
Direct flights are available from Paris to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Otherwise, your best bet is to fly to one of the major Asian flight hubs - Bangkok, Singapore or Hong Kong - and fly on from there to Vietnam.
Try Expedia.co.uk, Lastminute.com or ebookers for flight options to Vietnam.
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