The southeast Asian country that I was most excited to visit – even its name is exotic.
My Vietnamese posts:
- Capital: Hanoi
- Population: 92.7 million
- Currency: Vietnamese dong
- Language: Vietnamese
- Highlights:
- Ho Chi Minh City: so much traffic and chaos, it is difficult to take it all in. An absolute must-visit is the tunnels of Cu Chi: an underground network which was used as a military base for the Viet Cong soldiers.
- Nha Trang: happy hour by the sea, Nha Strang screams party, booze and beaches.
- Dalat: unique from the rest of Vietnam – less humid, French-colonial style housing and lots of waterfalls and caves to visit.
- Hoi An: described by Lonely Planet as being Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful town – I couldn’t agree more.
- Mekong Delta: travelling through and around can certainly be quite the intrepid experience.
- Sapa: a mountainous village, perfect place to experience a hike or a homestay.
- Halong Bay: One of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Massive limestone pillars and tiny islets immersed amongst beautiful water. Easily the most visited tourist attraction in Vietnam.
- Hanoi: big and bustling, but oh so beautiful. Fare more quaint that Ho Chi Minh.
- Did you know?
- Its flag consists of a golden star, with five points to represent farmers, workers, intellectuals, youth and soldiers. The red background plays tribute to the blood shed during the war.
- It is home to the world’s largest cave, Son Doong.
- The motorcycle is by far the most common form of transport.
- 20% of the coffee market share belongs to Vietnam – and it is the second largest producer in the world. Trying is a must-do, it comes with condensed milk and is very tasty!
- Vietnam is a communist country.
- The war ran from 1954-1975 and its duration saw five different US presidents reign. The war is estimated to have cost the US $200B.
- Useful tips:
- Make sure you check whether you need to get a visa before you land in Vietnam
- Tourists are frequently exploited – there are so many scams, so watch your back!
