Highlights of Vietnam

Highlights of Vietnam

  Depending on your age, Vietnam conjures up various images in the mind.  For me growing up, Vietnam was always in the news for all the wrong reasons. Today it’s a different story. If you want to see the real far east, it’s the place to go. Geographically, Vietnam is on the eastern Indochina Peninsula. Its coast line is an incredible 2140 miles long and it borders China in the north, Laos in the north-west and Cambodia in the south west. Since its reunification in 1976 Hanoi has been its capital. The easiest way to see the principle highlights of this diverse country is to take an organised tour, with many of the reputable tour company’s offering this service. We began our tour in the vibrant atmospheric capital of Hanoi. The French left a big influence on the city during their rule in the late 19th century. French colonial architecture was popular and there are many examples in existence today. Among the many fascinating places to see include The Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s home and museum plus a visit to his mausoleum. Oh, and don’t forget a visit to the bustling market.

No visit to Hanoi would be complete without a trip to Halong Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage site consists of almost 2000 limestone islands. Some of these islands are hollow with incredible caves. On your cruise around the bay you will pass floating fishing villages. This is undoubtedly Vietnam’s most photographed destination.

Our tour included flights between all three of the main areas of interest. Our next stop was Hue, Danang and Hoi An. Much of Hue was destroyed during the Vietnam War, but UNESCO is now involved with restoring its monuments and bridges. You can take a full day tour which takes in the Thien Mu Temple. This is an octagonal tower of seven tiers rising above the Perfume River. The hills surrounding Hue are dotted with the tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors.Our onward journey to Hoi An will take us across the Pass of Ocean Clouds. Hoi An itself does not allow cars, so it’s great to walk around the many galleries and handicraft centres. Also a visit Vto the famous Japanese Bridge is a must. Danang is one of the most ancient cities in Vietnam and once the centre of the Cham Dynasty. During the Vietnam War it was home to a big air base used by the South Vietnamese and the US, and it was made famous by the film “Good Morning Vietnam”. From Danang it’s just a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as its formerly known. Being part of what was South Vietnam, it is more cosmopolitan than Hanoi. Again there is a French feel about the city with wide boulevards and French colonial buildings but there is a more modern atmosphere. Places to visit include the former Presidential Palace (now a museum). There’s even a stunning Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel…..I never would have thought that I would take photographs of the inside of a post office! Slightly out of the city there’s the Cu Chi Tunnels. These were used by the Viet Cong during the war and are almost like an underground city, complete with field hospitals and meeting rooms. A tour such as this can be very tiring, but very rewarding, so I would recommend a two or three night stay at one of the stunning Vietnam beaches at the end. We stayed at the Victoria Hotel in Phan Thiet. It was simple but very comfortable with excellent food. Accommodation was in semi-detached bungalows right on the beach. What a view when you woke up in the morning. The climate in Vietnam is tropical with long hours of sunshine, relatively high temperatures throughout the year and extensive rainfall. There are two distinct seasons, dry and cool from November to April and hot and wet from May to October. The annual temperatures in Hanoi range from 16 C in January to 29 C in June. In Ho Chi Minh City it ranges from 25 C to 29 C. The wettest months are in August in Hanoi and June in Ho Chi Minh City. Eating out is cheap and the quality is very good. It’s very similar to Thai food, but not as spicy. For more information about this fascinating destination please call Sue on 01455 213590 or e-mail sue@designertravel.co.uk    

We'll call you back

Leave us your contact details and we will be in touch.

Newsletter Signup

More Articles About Asia

My Articles