IIn my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am often asked about the destinations I have been to and the best places to visit, so with this in mind I will endeavour to give a good opinion on those. Here then, are my top suggestions for sites to visit during your holiday in Vietnam.
Vietnam is located in south east Asia and borders Cambodia, Laos and China. Unfortunately the mention of the country Vietnam conjures up images of the war and its atrocities. However the reality is that the country is made up with enchanting natural beauty and peaceful village life.
Hanoi is located in the Red River Delta in a tropical monsoon zone with two main seasons.The dry season is between October and April. From January to March, the weather is cold but there is some light rain. The wet season, from May to September, is hot with heavy rains and storms.
Hanoi has many ancient architectural works some of the more famous are the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi Opera House, President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.
Hanoi contains some stunning lakes such as Hoan Kiem Lake and Truc Bach Lake.
Halong Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin and consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands. Each one of the islands are covered with thick jungle vegetation, which rise dramatically from the ocean.
Because some of the islands are hollow they are home to some massive caves. The Wooden stakes Cave is the largest grotto in the Halong area. On some of the smaller islands there are a number of fantastic beaches and some of the others support floating villages of fishermen.
Hue is located in the central part of Vietnam 660 km from Ha Noi. Some of the interesting architectural sites include the Citadel which is in the centre of the historic city on the north side of the river, temples, pagodas and monuments. The most impressive buildings are the Imperial city, the Royal Citadel and the Emperors tombs.
Places of interest in Hue are, on the north side of the river, Most of Hue’s important monuments, temples, and pagodas are found in this area.
Hue’s most outstanding attractions are the royal citadel, an imperial city and the emperor’s tombs. Thanks to these and other monuments they are now listed among the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
In Cu Chi there is an immense network of connecting underground tunnels which are in fact part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country.
Several military campaigns were held in them during the Vietnam War. NLF guerrillas hid in them during the war and managed to avoid American operations long enough for them to withdraw. The tunnels were also used for communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches
Hoi An is an ancient town which lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River south of Danang.
All the houses here have tile-roofs and narrow streets and a distinct Chinese atmosphere. The houses are made of rare wood and decorated with lacquered boards engraved with Chinese characters.
Hoi An is home to the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham cultures, stunning scenery of the enchanting Hoi An River, Cua Dai Beach, and Cham Island makes it a place that encompasses the needs of everyone.
Nha Trang is one of Vietnam’s most popular seaside resorts, the reason being the seemingly endless empty beaches, coral reefs abundant islands and deserted bays.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the best place for visiting the wonderful Mekong Delta where life revolves around the river where many people live on the water and depend on the water for fish and rice.
Situated on the banks of the Saigon River you will be able to experience the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and the Museum of Vietnamese History.
There is much more to Vietnam than I have written here but hopefully there is enough for you to find something that interests you.
Vietnam is a peaceful country situated in South East of Asia. With a large number of highlands and mountains and an extended coastline from North to South, this marvelous country has features of both- mountain as well as sea attractions. Having the total area of about 331,688 square kilometers, Vietnam is among the thickly populated countries of the world. Traveling in Vietnam can prove to be highly exciting and interesting. Even with a small and affordable budget, tourists can relish the vacation to the most possible extent.
The most popular city in this country is that of Hue. This was the Vietnam’s capital during the feudal system. Hue is also known for its old palaces and temples that date back to numerous centuries ago. It is known for its unique food items. Considered to be the heart of Vietnam, Hanoi is the known capital of the country. This beautiful city is situated in the Red River Delta and is also considered to be an economic centre of the entire delta.
Hanoi is a very cultured city known for its different types of houses, traditions and old streets. Even though, Hanoi is no way behind the latest trend and fashion, its old features and traditions cannot be taken away from this charming city.
Attractive destinations
Apart from the various cities, there are numerous other beautiful towns and attractions that add beauty and charm to the country’s life. The travelers can have a great time visiting the silent and enchanting beaches in the Nha Trang or Vung Tau city.
The peaceful lakes and green mountains with pine forests in the Da Lat, mysterious caves in the Ha Long and waterfalls in the Cao Bang will surely touch the hearts of many a visitors. This is the major reason that tourists choose to plan their vacations in Vietnam.
Vietnam bike tour and cycling trip
There are numerous activities and sports in this magnificent country that the travelers can enjoy. The top of the list among the favorite activities include Vietnam cycling. If you are cycling enthusiast, you should not miss the cycling trip that this country offers. The mind blowing cascading rivers along with the plush landscapes make this country a truly prized possession in the whole world. Travelers should not miss the opportunity of experiencing various attractions of the country on a bike travel.
The Hoan Kiem lake is another top destination of the country that the tourist cannot afford to miss. This charming lake, which is surrounded by the famous Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To, Hang Khay street, offers stimulating experience to the visitors. By getting the Vietnam tour duly booked with a reputed travel agency, the tourists can get the best of the vacation facilities and plans.
The best part about advance booking is that the travelers can save a lot of money by taking advantage of the attractive vacation schemes and discounts that are offered by various travel service providers.
Popular hotels in Vietnam
The most popular and great service offering hotels in the country of Vietnam includes Legend Hotel, Sheraton Ho Chi Minh Hotel, Horison Hotel Hanoi, Imperial Hotel, The Hai Resort, Victoria Sapa Resort and ATC Resort to name a few. So, what are you waiting for? Plan a trip to Vietnam now and enjoy the exciting culture, history and attractions it provides to its visitors.
Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has outlived its unhospitality and became one of the most frequently visited cities in Asia. Hanoi is slow and pleasant, while its attractive landscape of lakes, shaded boulevards and green parks provides the backdrop for exciting and diverse architecture, including buildings in the French colonial architecture and stunning modern skyscrapers. Bustling markets, exciting evening entertainment, excellent food attracted to this ancient city of tourists from all over the world.
Being the cradle of many national traditions, Hanoi more than any other city in Vietnam, is a combination of old and new. He personifies the history of Vietnam – its towers, monuments and patches of ancient culture along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. At the same time, it perfectly embodies the idea of rapid change, which is subject to the whole country, it has only to look at its inhabitants, sip a cappuccino in the open street cafe or talking on cellphones. Attractive center of Hanoi is built around Hoan Kiem Lake. Among the attractions can be called Pagoda aroma with one column and Van Mew
There are some “mandatory places for visiting” in Hanoi. They are: market Dong Huang founded back in the XIX century, the Cathedral of St. Joseph, made on the prototype of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, opened in 1975 the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, floral d Ngay Tam, a picturesque lake Truck Buck, temples Kuan Tan and Hai Ba Trung, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi – Hanoi Tran Quoc and ethnographic museum. This is about half list of all the attractions of the city. And then there’s that Snake village of Le Mat, ten kilometers from Hanoi and Silk Village Van Phuc, and a few other interesting places for recreation and excursions. But they are located at some distance from the capital, in the suburbs.
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How about flying into Bangkok, Thailand and exploring this fascinating Asian city before moving on to Angkor Wat in northern Cambodia followed by a visit to Vietnam.
Fly on to Siem Reap in Cambodia from Bangkok. Here is the mystical temple complex of Angkor. You will have the opportunity to visit the new Angkor National Museum, which showcases the Golden Age of the Khmer Era.
Angkor Thom, Cambodia
A guide will walk you through the temple complex which is vast and set in the outskirts of jungle. Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are former temples with carved smiling faces and detailed bas-reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life in the 12th century.
There will also be the opportunity to visit Ta Prohm, a haunting, jungle-bound temple. Angkor Thom was hidden from the outside world until the earlier part of the 20th century until French explorers found the area and put together a work force to clear the jungle overgrowth. Later other countries sent people to assist in the work. It is now open to visit for your exploration.
Angkor Wat was constructed between the 9th and 13th century. It is revered as one of the world’s most impressive temple sites.
I have had the pleasure to visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom twice in my lifetime and for me it is second only to the antiquities in Egypt.
On the outskirts of Angkor Wat is Angteay Srei temple, a true jewel of Khmer art. Its red sandstone walls, decorated with elaborate carvings, are amazingly preserved.
You will also have the opportunity to see Preah Khan, originally a Buddist monastery, now a temple showcasing elaborate carvings.
You can even set sail on Tonie Sap, the great lake of Angkor Wat. There are communities that live and work on the lake and you can see the population in their daily lives.
Next, I suggest your flying on to Hanoi in Vietnam. Here, you will also need to be part of an organized tour unless you choose to hire a private guide and automobile.
A guide will inform you about Vietnam’s economy, which has come up since the war. I just purchased a pair of shoes and I looked inside to see where they were made — Vietnam!
While there, step inside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. At One Pillar Pagoda is seen Vietnamese history spanning a thousand years.
In Hanoi, explore the old quarter, revered as a jewel of Hanoi because of its idyllic setting around pristine Hoan Kiem Lake and the nearby labyrinthine streets dedicated to regional merchandise.
One night, book a seat at the famous Vietnam Water Puppet Theatre.
Kayaking tour in Halong Bay, Vietnam
Another morning, drive to Halong Bay where you will board a junk boat for an overnight cruise. You can also take a sampan ride to discover a small gateway of the limestone karst, which opens into a scenic lagoon with coral reefs.
Another morning you can experience a Tai Chi lesson if you wish. Now, on to Danang and a short drive to the city of Hoi An, the 16th and 17th century trading port of Vietnam. How about taking a pedal cab tour of Hoi An to see and photograph the lifestyle of the local people and the Chinese architecture which is unspoiled since the 17th century.
Then you can drive along the coast from Hoi An to the city of Hue. Here is time to see the old Imperial City, including the Citadel and then Thien Mu Pagoda.
Also while in Hoi An, you can take a leisurely cruise up the Perfume River to the cooking school. You will be able to cook Vietnamese style when you get home. The school will show you how you can cook five traditional Vietnamese meals.
Now it’s time to visit the Mekong Delta and the agricultural region so well known during the war. Here, you can board a small boat to explore the small islands and perhaps stop at a fruit stand for a local snack.
How to travel there
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Vietnam is a country that is situated in the Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China and Laos and Cambodia. Where it was once a country ravaged by war, now, Vietnam has opened its doors to tourists that it is now fast becoming a go-to place in Asia, and here are ten places that one should visit and see in Vietnam.
1.) Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
This mausoleum is located in Hanoi, and this is where the great Ho Chi Minh is entombed. It is very strict here, so one should follow the rules of no talking or loud noises and no photo taking once inside the mausoleum. If you want to visit the mausoleum, do not go there in short pants as you will not be allowed to enter.
2.) Ho Chi Minh Museum
If you found the solemnity in the mausoleum too stifling, then the museum can take some of that feeling away. Here, you will get to see photos and old letters during the time of Ho Chi Minh. Just do not mind some of the gruesome pictures of the war though.
3.) Ho Chi Minh’s Vestige
After the museum, you can visit Ho Chi Minh’s vestige. This is where the great man lived and worked. You will also get to see here the houses where he lived in, which are always kept clean as the day he died.
4.) One-Pillar Pagoda
This is a short walk from the mausoleum and the museum of Ho Chi Minh. It is also one of the must-see destinations in Vietnam. Watch out though as the grounds can be crowded with a lot of tourists at one time.
5.) Hoan Kiem Lake
This is a relaxing place to be if you want a quiet time alone. In this park, you can have a leisurely stroll with your loved one. You can also visit the Ngoc Son Temple in this park, which is a good source for Vietnamese history and culture, among which is the story of the giant turtle that is said to inhabit the lake.
6.) Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
This is a nice way to spend the day with your family. The theatre tells of Vietnamese history and legends through the use of wooden figures representing men and women and the ever-present dragons. The story is told through music and the puppets dancing.
7.) Floating Markets of Can Tho
For a completely unique experience, you should visit the floating markets of Can Tho. You can also take a tour of the area by renting a boat. Some of the floating markets are Cai Rang (sells wholesales mainly), Phong Dien (for retails), Phung Hiep and Tra On.
8.) Ho Xuan Huong
If you want to go boat riding, then you should visit Ho Xuan Huong, which is also called Xuan Huong Lake. This is located in Dalat and is a favorite among tourists who want to get some peace and quite. This is also a favorite spot of honeymooners as they stroll hand in hand along the banks of the lake.
9.) Thung Lung Tinh Yeu
This place is called the Valley of Love and is also popular among honeymooners. This is a wonderful place if you enjoy canyoning. If you have canyoning in mind, then this is the place for you as they have canyoning operators as well who will guide you on your trip.
10.) Ho Chi Minh City
This was popularly known as Saigon. Here, you will get to see a lot of fascinating places such as the Reunification Palace of the Independence Palace. There is also the War Remnants Museum as well as the Museum of Vietnamese History if you want to know more about the history and culture of Vietnam.
Vietnam have became popular vacation spots in Asia the last few years. Listed below is the top 5 popular locations in Vietnam.
Hue is located in Thua Thien prefecture and is in the main part of Vietnam. Located 660 km from Ha Noi and 1080 km from Saigon, Hue has always been considered the fulcrum of Vietnams 2 rice baskets, the Red river delta and the Mekong delta.
As the capital city during the imperial times, Hue keeps the majesty and elegance of a time of emperors. Beyond the large walls of the city are ornate pagodas, royal tombs and fantastically landscaped gardens.
A lot of forms of arts can be built to become special travel related products when they are carried out while it is raining in Hue City. Enjoying Hue royal tea, playing or listening to music, admiring the rain, meditating, loving Hue meals and making souvenirs in rainy days all could possibly be unique tourism products. Besides these types of indoor travel and leisure products, outside activities for example water puppetry, racing and wading in the floods, sailing and fishing, also can attract many young tourists who really like discovering.
Halong city there are numerous shops which sell locally made handicrafts which is often purchased and taken back as souvenirs for family and friends. You may also check out some local cost in any of the restaurants here and it will truly be an incredible culinary experience.
Ho Chi Minh city is bustling and the life blood of Vietnam. It is the largest city in the country and also the financial capital. While it’s a good industrious urban centre, the timeless traditions and historical culture are visible on virtually every corner. There are some excellent galleries and museums, outside there’s a lot to explore with Ho Chi Minh’s temples, churches, pagodas and botanical gardens.
A beautiful city mixed of lakes, Chinese architecture, French colonial structures and tree-lined boulevards, the capital Hanoi is called the Paris of Vietnam. Hoan Kiem Lake, in the middle of the business area, indicates Lake of the Restored Sword. It had been Valentine’s night when we walked past the lake; fans went or sat on a bench.
Da Nang is a major dock city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coastline of the South China Sea at the mouth area of the Han River. It’s the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible harbour and its location on the path of the North-South Railway also makes it a hub for transportation. The city keeps the highest urbanization ratio among provinces and municipalities in Vietnam.
Hanoi is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, with a few brief interruptions, it was the political centre of an independent Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Hu? during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.
Itinerary
- 8:00 Pick up from your hotel, start of the tour journey visit Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or uncle Ho, President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house - where the president lived on and off from 1958to 1969, then visit Ho Chi Minh Museum, Where tourists will learn what he has done for Viet Nam and some other countries and learn all kinds of information about President Ho Chi Minh. (These sides will be closed on Monday and Friday)The next place to move to is One pillar pagoda- a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake. Leave One Pillar Pagoda for driving around West Lake (the former Golden Buffalo lake) for sightseeing.
- 10:30 Visit Temple of Literature- the first college of Viet Nam and the place dedicating to Confucian.
- 11:30 Lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant.
- 13:30 After having lunch visit the Museum of Ethnology (Museum of history) – Where you can look at the cultural mosaic of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. Back to centre of Ha Noi, visit old quarter by cyclo (01 hour). The last place of city tour is Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake) with Ngoc Son Temple.
- 17:15 Stop at Thang Long theatre for Water Puppet Show
- 18:30 Enjoy a Vietnamese delicious food at local restaurant.
- Tour end about 19h30
For more details : http://vietnamdeluxetravel.com/vietnam/tours/excursions/hanoi_city_tour/overview/213/
We arrived in Hanoi from Tokyo on Sunday evening having planned on a full day of independent touring before the start of the AmaWaterways organized part of the trip with the rest of the group. We booked the extra night at the Sofitel Legend Metropole directly through AmaWaterways since we wanted to be certain that we did not have to change rooms for the other two nights covered by the tour. We arranged directly with the hotel for a private car transfer since we didn’t want to deal with a taxi at 10:30PM after traveling for so long. We were met immediately outside customs and were in our car in 10 minutes.
The ride to the hotel was about 40 minutes (normally up to an hour during the day with traffic). There was not a lot to see other than what was visible along the side of the road. It was about 5-times the price of a taxi but the hotel staff was waiting for us when we arrived and we were in our room in the Opera Wing (newer wing) in less than 15 minutes on the 2nd floor (actually the 3rd since the ground floor is considered the 1st floor). The room was lovely and we faced the pool area so there was no concern about noise. There was bottled water, chocolates and plenty of space.
The next morning we went to the restaurant for our included buffet breakfast which was as expansive as it was delicious. The restaurant overlooked the courtyard and pool area. A basket of croissants and pastries was brought to our table as well as the French press coffee and tea we requested. There was a made to order omelet station, yogurts, fresh fruits, cereals, breads, juices, eggs, dim sum, Vietnamese dishes, bacon, sausage, potatoes, grilled tomatoes and other dishes too numerous to mention.
After breakfast we walked to the main lobby (it’s a weird configuration to get from the Opera Wing to the original historic part of the hotel but not really a problem). We were met in the lobby by our Hanoikids guide, Phanh, a 21 year old finance major in university. For anyone that doesn’t know about Hanoikids, I found out about them on Cruise Critic. They are university students paired with tourists who speak English strictly for the opportunity to practice their English. The only thing you pay for is their entrance fees, taxis to sights and lunch. There is no other charge. We decided to bring some English language novels and a box of See’s chocolates from home which she was surprised and delighted to receive.
Since we wanted to hear about Phanh’s Vietnam and we had compared our AMA itinerary for the next day with the suggested itinerary on the Hanoikids website, we worked out a tour that would not overlap too much and provide us with the greatest exposure to Hanoi. Since the rubber sole on DH’s shoe had come apart while we were in Japan for 3 days, our first stop was for shoe repair on Shoe Street in the Old Quarter, just 3 blocks from the hotel. We walked to Shoe Street, evidenced by blocks of stores selling shoes. Phanh helped us navigate the streets and deal with the amazing sea of motorbikes whizzing by constantly. The key is to step into the street when there is a small break in traffic and slowly but methodically WITHOUT STOPPING walk across. The drivers can gauge your stride and behavior and maneuver around you as long as you don’t stop or make any sudden movements. Harrowingly, it works every time.
It also helps to have a local lead the charge. After the shoe repair, we visited a communal (tube) house on Ma May Street in the Old Quarter known as Huong Tuong Communal House. Make sure you have Dong but, in a pinch, they will accept dollars. If you do use dollars, be prepared to actually pay more since they don’t always know how to convert and they have little understanding of how to provide change, if any, in Dong. Not yet having been to the ATM, we paid with a bill and actually overpaid because in Dong it would have been less than $ .75 for the 3 of us. It may seem inconsequential and it is easier but you can run out of dollars very quickly if you don’t have local currency. (On that subject, we brought 50-ones, 30-fives, 20-tens and 5-twenties.
We found that we needed at least 100-ones and 50-fives and luckily the ship was able to change a couple of 20′s into fives and someone on the trip brought so many ones that they were able to change them for us.) Next was a trip to an ATM on the street in the Old Quarter. In Vietnam, there are buttons for English but the currency dispensed is Dong. The conversion when we were there was approximately 21,500 Dong to USD (it had just been devalued a few days before). For ease, we just rounded it to 20,000 Dong. We had no difficulty using the ATM’s in Vietnam or Cambodia (more about that in the Cambodia section) but make sure that you have a 4-digit PIN.
We told Phanh that we wanted to walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, first stopping for coffee and a bathroom break at Highland’s Coffee on the 6th floor of a building opposite the NE corner of the lake on Shark Square (Dinh Tien Hoang St.) with a great view of the lake (good photo op). We walked over the red bridge (Bridge of the Rising Sun) into the Ngoc Son pagoda where Phanh said students go to pray before their university entrance exams (this was also a stop on the AMA tour the next day but we appreciated seeing it earlier after the walk around the lake).
After a complete walk around the lake and the pagoda visit we were ready for lunch. We told Phanh that we wanted to eat lunch at Cha Ca La Vong which was a great experience (Cha Ca means Fish in Vietnamese and it is on Cha Ca Street in the Old Quarter but make sure you go to the right one as there are copycats on the same street using the exact same name so check the address carefully. If you are walking from the lake it is on the left side in a run-down looking building with 2 floors). There is only one thing on the menu-seasoned fish filet pieces fried in oil on a burner on the table with herbs, rice noodles and sauces. It is delicious and about 115,000 Dong per person (less than ).
We left and took a taxi to Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton). This was very interesting and I recommend going. It is not on the AmaWaterways tour but they recommend it during the lunch break on the tour day. Whether you have extra time in Hanoi or just the day scheduled with AmaWaterways, definitely see it. It will take about 45 minutes to tour the whole site. From there we took a taxi to the Cathedral area where Phanh introduced us to cold lemon tea and the art of sitting on tiny plastic stools with hundreds of others, mostly university students-she even ran into some girlfriends. We then walked to Silk Street to do some shopping. I ended up at Khai Silk (again there are copycats so you need to make certain you are at the right shop).
The products are beautiful-very highly styled and reasonably priced by western standards but high end for Vietnam. They sell scarves, shawls, purses, dresses, blouses but I wound up with a lovely scarf (one of many of varying quality that I bought throughout the trip). It was now nearing 5 PM and we walked back to the hotel and said goodbye to Phanh, having spent a lovely day with a very nice and intelligent young lady. It was her first tour without a companion and she did a great job. I highly recommend Hanoi kids. We were ready to recharge our batteries so we sat down in the outdoor bar for a drink. It was chilly-Hanoi experiencing its coldest winter in 30 years, but there were outdoor heaters and my hot chocolate and Grand Marnier drink hit the spot.
Our friends, who took the pre-trip week starting in Saigon, arrived at the hotel at 7PM and we went to dinner at an Italian restaurant recommended by the Italian concierge-Luna d’Autuno. Much is said about taxis in Vietnam & Cambodia. The way to get where you want to go and not get ripped off is to have the hotel call a taxi for you, have your destination written on the hotel business card, have the doorman tell the taxi driver where you are going and show him the card, then give it back to you, ask the driver how much it will cost and to turn on the meter-don’t leave until it is turned on. Same for the return. We had every restaurant and even stores get us a taxi and go through the same procedure. We never had any problem with any taxi. Taxis are cheap and you can get caught up in paying in dollars, overpay and still wind up paying only . After awhile you start feeling a little guilty because it is so cheap. This is one of the reasons for all of those dollar bills.
The next morning we had our orientation from 8:30-9:15AM. I cannot say enough about Thinh, our tour manager. He started with the pre-tour group for the week from Saigon and was with us until he took the group to the airport the final day in Saigon. He knew everyone, facilitated everything and always had a smile on his face. He was concerned about the health and well-being of every tour participant and handled everything with grace. His tip at the end was worth every penny and more.
He was a gem! We were organized by color, each color representing a bus-green, orange and blue. Each bus had a separate tour guide-one in Hanoi & Ha Long Bay, one in Siem Reap, one in the rest of Cambodia and one in the Vietnam Mekong and Saigon. All of the guides were stellar. The buses were first class, always with cold water, wipes, a/c, a mike for the guide. You could leave valuables on the bus as the driver kept it locked and stayed with it. If that wasn’t the case in certain situations the guide would tell you to take your things. Tours were paced allowing time for independent lunches and time for rest before the afternoon tour would begin. Everything was very well communicated and everyone was always on time which was amazing. The buses were not filled to capacity.
There was usually enough space for everyone to have their own seat with a few exceptions. We had a radio transmitter and earphones so we could listen to the guides on most excursions.
Our guide for Hanoi and Ha Long Bay was Mango. Our tour of Hanoi included Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum but we did not go inside (I still don’t know why), his residence, the Temple of Literature, One-Pillar Pagoda, a break for lunch (we went to the Club de L’Oriental 2 blocks from the hotel recommended by Mango- a lovely old building and a delicious upscale Vietnamese lunch with enough time to take a taxi 10 minutes away to an antique gallery and back to the hotel for the afternoon tour). We went to Ngoc Son pagoda (a repeat for us), followed by a cyclo (pedicab) tour of the Old Quarter for 30 minutes and then the Water Puppet Show. We were back at the hotel by 6PM and then we had an independent dinner at Green Tangerine (Vietnamese French).
Vietnam is a fascinating country with a long history and an ancient culture. It’s also a dynamic nation that’s moving ahead. In recent decades, Vietnam has opened up as an outstanding holiday destination owing to its enchanting cities and magical natural scenery. Here’s a look at the unique watery attractions in the great historic cities of Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.
Standing along the banks of the Red River, Hanoi, the capital, is a city of timeless elegance with its French colonial villas, spacious tree lined boulevards, quaint backstreets and pagodas. However it’s the medley of lakes that gives this city its unique charm.
The most delightful of Hanoi’s lakes is the serene Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) that lies plumb in the heart of the city. Cross the The Huc (Rising Sun) Bridge to explore the island in its centre. The island is home to the 18th century Ngoc Son (Jade Mountain) Temple.
The shores of Hanoi’s West Lake make up a popular meeting and picnicking spot. This lake is nine miles in circumference and several cafes stand on its shores. A B52 bomber crashed into this lake during the Vietnam War and its wreckage remains.
Going south from Hanoi brings you to the imperial charm of the old capital Hue. The centrepiece here is the Perfume River which is populated with dragon boats, houseboats, and long-tail sand dredgers.
Linking the two banks is the Trang Tien Bridge, a popular evening strolling place for young lovers and the perfect spot to take the air. In the evenings, the bridge is illuminated with a light display and the outdoor riverside cafes are splendid spots to relax, admire the lights, and take in the local action.
The Perfume River separates the city and the ‘Forbidden Purple City’, once the sole province of the emperor and his family and attendants. Much of its splendid imperial architecture was razed during the Tet offensive but remnants of its tombs and pagodas remain to hint at its former splendour.
Heading further south to the Mekhong delta region brings you to the zest and optimism of old Saigon in what is now known as Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a brash, dynamic and forward-looking city that retains much of its colonial charm in the form of delightful villas and churches and boulevards.
One of the main factors in the choice of Saigon as capital in the 19th century was its location on the Saigon River. This made it perfect for a port and a major trading and transport hub for Indochina. And today the river remains an important part of the city. The best way to experience the charms of the city’s main waterway and sample the country’s culture is to take a five-mile cruise to the Binh Quoi II Tourist Resort.
The Binh Quoi II Tourist Resort offers a range of cultural events such as music and dancing and dining. One of the highlights is the show of a traditional Vietnamese wedding with a water-borne procession. Tours usually depart Ho Chi Minh City in the early evening and last for four hours.
Vietnam, a forward-looking nation that’s steeped in history and a unique and wonderful culture, has much to offer the holiday maker. These three cities with their aquatic charms offer a great introduction.
When visiting Vietnam, be sure to have a reservation, because hotels in Vietnam could be fully booked in high season. Of course the Internet offers many opportunities to book Vietnam hotels in advance.
You may hear that everyone is now talking about Vietnam holidays, so you wonder why and should you book Vietnam holiday packages? And what you are going to see in Vietnam holiday packages? Here are some travel tips on top Vietnam destinations in the north Vietnam.
First of all, we have to mention Halong Bay – the King of all Vietnam holiday packages. Halong Bay has twice been recognized as world natural heritage by UNESCO. The first time was in 1994 for its beauty landscapes. The second time was in 2000 for Halong bay’s geology formation. Magnificent Halong bay is One of 7 must-visit places on the earth. Over 3000 unshaped big and tiny limestoned islands rising from the emerald waters on an area of 1553 sq km create amazing picture. This magical landscape of limestone islands has made many tourists change their minds to stay longer. Discover amazing Halong with ultimate luxurious Halong Bay cruises, remember all your life. Halong Bay’s stunning scenery and the luxury comfort of Halong Bay cruises will take you to a paradise on earth that you have not thought before. All most tourists to Vietnam have said that “come to Vietnam without seeing Halong Bay means you have not been to Vietnam”.
Second position next to Halong bay is stunning Sapa – the Queen of all Vietnam holiday packages. Sapa is in the north west of Vietnam close to Chinese border and about 340 km north west of Hanoi. Sapa town is located at the altitude of about 1600m and dominated by Hoang Lien Son range of mountains with the highest mountain of Indochina(Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) Fansifan 3143 m above the sea level. Probably, no other place in the world could compare to the spectacular scenery of Sapa and its terraced paddy fields formed by multi minority groups near thousand years ago. Besides the natural beauty, you have chances to discover different cultures of 7 colorful ethnic groups living here.
The third is charming and romantic Hanoi, one of the highlights for Vietnam holiday packages. Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter known as 36 commercial streets and over 600 pagodas and temples. Hanoi’s famous sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049), the Temple of Literature – first university in Vietnam (built in 1070) with 82 doctor steles which were chosen as UNESCO world heritage for ancient education document, Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi Opera House, President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum…Hanoi also characteristically contains 18 beautiful natural lakes such as Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Thien Quang lake, Bay Mau lake and Truc Bach Lake…, which are the lungs of the city, with their surrounding gardens and trees where you can join morning or afternoon exercise and Tai Chi practice everyday.
Unlike Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities, Hue seems to have stood aside from the current economic development. Although the history was not so nice to Hue, it still has retained a unique cultural identity. Hue is a small, peaceful and countless romantic city, full of lakes, canals and lush vegetation. Hue was chosen to be the capital of Vietnam in 1802 under the Nguyen dynasty and continued its role until 1945. Hue was created on the model of the Forbidden city in Beijing with many palaces, temples inside. More recently the French culture has left a strong impression in the city. Hue sets an important stop for Vietnam holiday packages. Besides those amazing destinations, Hoi an , My Son, Nha Trang, Da lat, Mekong delta, Ho Chi Minh city are worth visiting. For more information about those destinations, please visit: http://www.luxuryvietnamvacationpackages.com http://www.luxuryvietnamvacationpackages.com/vietnam-holiday-packages