Overview of Vietnam

If you want to see a country on the move, then take another look at Vietnam. It’s growing and developing at ridiculously fast speeds—and they’re having fun during the process. Few other countries have changed as much and as quickly as one has. As you explore this country, you’re bound to be struck by the overwhelmingly positive, hopeful, upbeat and fun vibes that come from every direction. While the American War has been over for almost forty years, you can still see the impact from the conflict throughout in the country. Vietnam emerged from that war with its pride intact and has been improving on itself and growing positively ever since.

Access to the country has never been easier, and the country is committed to renewing their infrastructure, starting with improved roads, new hotels and a fierce and raucous entrepreneurial spirit. For anyone worried about travelling to the area, rest assured that there is very little real danger in Vietnam today, and a lot of incredibly diverse country waiting for you to come discover it. Tourism in the country has sky-rocketed and once you arrive, get wrapped up in the culture and the day-to-day life. Before you know it, you’ll be smiling right along with the locals.

Top Things to Do and See

Hit the Beach

Ask anyone who has been to this beautiful country and all the feedback will undoubtedly be positive. Beaches in Vietnam are superb and varied so there is a beach for every kind of beachgoer. If you like snorkelling, head to Vung Tau where you can swim around the offshore islands looking below the waves. If you want a palm-tree lined beach, try Nha Trang. There are resorts that have popped up along every beach town to meet every kind of traveller’s budget.

Visit Halong Bay

Perhaps the most touristy spot on this list, Halong Bay is still one of the most impressive sights in the world. As your boat takes you out into the Bay, you’ll be keeping company with dozens of old converted junks, and if you have the opportunity to take a kayak out (all boats should offer this), take the opportunity. You can wind your way through the limestone karsts that pierce through the waves on their way towards the sky. There is also a chance to spend the night on one of the old junks when you can tour the cave systems, enjoy a drink on the boat deck, spy floating villages passing by and gaze at the star-filled skies above.

Take a Trip on the Reunification Express

Unlike the name suggests a train ride on the Reunification Express is anything but express. The train will take you from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with many stops in between, so you can pick and choose what legs of your holiday you will take with this method of transportation. From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City can take upwards of 40 hours, so it’s best to do just one section or two. The most popular option for travellers is the 18 hour journey that will take you from Hanoi to Hue.

Tour Ho Chi Minh City

Like many cities with a long history, Ho Chi Minh City is a wonderful clash of new and old. In the case of this city, there are towering skyscrapers that sit right next to crumbling colonial homes that have been around for decades. The Saigon River is a central part of life in the city and if you sit in one spot you’ll watch an astounding number of boats and ferries cross through the larger boats on their journeys. Monks walk through the streets that have been baked by the sun and are crowded with food vendors, motor bikers in a rush and every manner of person you can imagine.

Experience the Floating Markets

Life in Vietnam is greatly dictated by the Mekong River and the country’s rice crop depends on it. Floating markets are mostly found in the south of the country and are an experience you can’t miss. You’ll have to set your alarm clock for early in the morning, but once you are weaving your way through the wooden boats with heaps of fresh vegetables and fruit, you’ll forget what time it is and enjoy yourself. There will be smaller boats pushing through the crowds as well, and as you get used to the crowd and how the floating markets operate, there’s a sense of comfort in hearing the locals haggling good-naturedly over prices for their fare.

Seasonality

Weather in this region varies greatly from region to region, but keep in mind the entire country lies in the tropics and subtropics. Think frost and occasional snow in the mountains up north and hot and humid during the dry season in the south. There are two monsoons: the winter one comes between October and March and the spring one comes from April to October. For travel, try for April, May or October for the most balanced and predictable weather. Try to avoid travel in Vietnam from July to November as there are unpredictable typhoons and strong weather that can hit central and northern Vietnam.

Travel Tips

• The only vaccination required by international regulations to travel to Vietnam is for yellow fever.
• Noise levels in Vietnam can be overwhelming to travellers used to quieter climes. At all hours of the day and night there is a lot of noise from a lot of sources. To offset this level of sound, pack high-quality earplugs to let you fall asleep and stay asleep—remember most Vietnamese are up and about from 5am on.
• Pickpocketing, which often involves kids, women with babies and newspaper vendors, is also a serious problem, especially in the tourist areas of Ho Chi Minh City. Many of the street kids are especially skilled at liberating people from their wallets.
• Beware of the possibility of unexploded ordnances including grenades and cluster bombs—stick to cities, cultivated areas and well-travelled rural roads to avoid any exposure to these potentially deadly devices.

Many travellers find there are an unbelievable number of places to visit that interest and excite them—both within Vietnam’s cities and further out in the countrysides. The rich stew of Indian, Hindu, and Chinese cultures create an intense and deeply entwined traditional life that is gracefully incorporated into daily modern life. Jump on the tourism bandwagon and book your holiday plans for a stay in Vietnam and build in a back-up plan with youGo. From coasts to countryside to cities this is one country that won’t disappoint.