You are planning a vacation but are unsure of your destination yet. While places such as the Caribbean, Europe, and Australia are popular tourist spots, one country that has gained tremendous recognition as an amazing tourist destination is Vietnam. Below are 4 things that Vietnam tours have to offer that will make your holiday one of a lifetime.
1. Natural beauty
When most people think of natural landmarks, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Everest often come to mind. These sites are definitely amazing to check out, but if natural beauty that is lesser known is what you seek, Vietnam has plenty to offer.
From North to South, Vietnam offers breathtaking natural landscapes. The Mekong river that flows through Southeast Asia can be accessed just South of Ho Chi Minh City allows you to take boats through charming floating markets where you can interact and barter with merchants. Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park borders Laos and allows you to experience tropical rainforests, rivers, and mountains. Halong Bay offers picturesque sites that feature turquoise-coloured waters and mossy cliffs made of limestone. These are the most popular natural sites that people in Vietnam, but there are so much more to choose from.
2. City life
If you are from a rural area, you may be seeking a vacation that features the sights, sounds, and activities of a big city. If you reside in an urban area, you may want to go a city that is foreign and features things you have not experienced before. In either instance, a visit to Vietnam is definitely for you.
The capital city of Hanoi, with a population of over 7.5 million, offers a lot of old-fashioned charm dating back to French colonial times. The area features tree-lined streets, stunning architecture, and cafes to sit and relax in. To get the real experience of the hustle and bustle of the area, take a tour through the streets in a “tuk-tuk”, a motorized rickshaw. Ho Chi Minh City, with almost 8.5 million people, offers great food and drinks, rooftop bars, cafes, and a chance to shop in different markets located in various neighbourhoods that are all unique in their own ways.
3. Food
Visiting Vietnam provides a great opportunity to taste some amazing cuisine that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Even if you there are restaurants near you that boast about their authentic Vietnamese food, it is probably not even close and as tasty as the real thing.
When you visit a Vietnam tour, you will be inundated with the availability of Pho, a type of noodle soup with beef or chicken and plenty of herbs. Travelling around to different areas, restaurants, and street vendors will allow you to experience different types of pho and you are guaranteed to enjoy most if not all of them. Bun cha is grilled pork served over noodles and with dipping sauces and is also a popular dish in the country. Vietnam is also known for its amazing-tasting coffee as it is the 2nd biggest producer in the world.
4. Festivals
Going on cruises and tropical destinations to relax on beaches are popular choices for vacations. While these can be fun and relaxing, it can also be enjoyable to mix things up a bit and attend once-in-a-lifetime activities.
If you ever visit Vietnam, chances are you will experience at least one festival while you are there. The nation is known for its elegant and fun-filled festivals. Tet is the Vietnamese new year and is comparable to Christmas or Thanksgiving in terms of grandeur. The Hoi An lantern festival is a favourite among tourists and consists of the lighting of thousands of lanterns and placing them in a river as an offering to God and people’s ancestors. Trung Nguyen (Ghost festival) is the biggest festival after Tet. At this festival, it is believed that the dead return to their homes for absolution. Relatives offer food and flowers at their homes to guide the dead to heaven.
