The Five H’s To Have In Your Vietnam Itinerary
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1. Hanoi
Begin in the cultural and administrative capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. Hanoi is a full-fledged city but it has an old soul. That’s easy to see in the city centre: the Old Quarter. Here, streets are narrow and made even narrower by the street-side vendors and numerous parked motorbikes. Houses still have that quaint, old-world colonial French vibe. At the centre of the district, you will find placid Hoan Kiem Lake and the 18th-century Jade Mountain Temple along its northern banks. At night time, catch a water puppet theatre performance to experience traditional Hanoi performance art.
2. Halong Bay
After a couple of days in the city, it’s time to see Vietnam’s top tourist attraction: Halong Bay. I highly recommend spending at least a night aboard a Halong Bay junk (a boat). Many tour companies in Hanoi can offer this and make sure you go with a reliable and safe one. Halong Bay is about a four-hour drive from the city, and as soon as you approach the coast, you will instantly see limestone karst towers jutting out from the sea. An hour into the bay aboard a junk and you will find yourself completely surrounded by these towers. If you’re lucky like us, you get treated to a spectacular sunset, too.
3. Hue
As you begin to go down to the central part of Vietnam, you will find Hue. That’s pronounced ho-way, mind you. What’s here? Just the grandest and most impressive imperial structures you will find in the country. Hue is the capital of Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty. On the northern side of the Perfume River are the grounds of the vast, relatively peaceful Imperial Citadel. Inside the citadel are a number of grand structures like the Purple Forbidden Palace (fashioned, they say, in the style of Beijing’s Forbidden Palace). Head to the outskirts of Hue, too, in order to see the eerie but nonetheless grand Tombs of the Emperors.
4. Hoi An
From Hue’s grand imperial structures, you can head to Hoi An to see Vietnam’s quaint and quiet provincial side. Hoi An is the home of a UNESCO World Heritage ancient town. The old part of town is quite intact and well-preserved. Narrow streets are flanked on both sides by small, yellow shop houses with terra cotta roofs. The focal point of it all is the very colourful Japanese Bridge. Hoi An is also the origin of delicacies such as the very delicate shrimp dumpling, aptly called white rose, and cao lau rice noodles, said to be made special by the water which can only come from the local well.
5. Ho Chi Minh
Finally, as you find yourself in the fertile Mekong Delta, join in the chaos of the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon. Motorbikes rule this city making for an exciting and energising atmosphere like no other, especially during the evening rush hour. Though it can be sombre, learning about the dark period that is the Vietnam War and its effects are one of the best things you can do here. Definitely check out the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum and, outside of town, the Cu Chi Tunnels.
There you have them, Vietnam’s fantasy five. Of course, there are other travel destinations in Vietnam that are worth checking out: mountainous areas like Sapa and Dalat or coastal cities like Mui Ne and Nha Trang. But with the fantasy five—the five H’s, you’ve already got some of the best travel experiences in Vietnam covered.
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Reviews from Customers
Please take a look at the following reviews from our customers
James Madison
08/31/2018
Excellent experience
It was an experience, that you will never forget, how it would have been during the war, with no light, food and much air and space. If you are able it is definitely worth going in the tunnel. It is not very long and a little bit of light and air. We will come back Cu Chi Tunnels again
James Madison
08/31/2018
Excellent experience
It was an experience, that you will never forget, how it would have been during the war, with no light, food and much air and space. If you are able it is definitely worth going in the tunnel. It is not very long and a little bit of light and air
Sow Fung
07/15/2015
Great time with the Halong bay & Bai Tu Long bay
Hello Hung ! A big hello from the us. We are checked into Queen hotel and also have been given free access to the internet for 1 night! Thank you for getting a wonderful trip - we had a lot of fun with the Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay cruise, as well since the memorable "picnic" on the actual private beach with white We will have some more days to explore this particular exotic city you known as home, and will be bringing back around many fond of reminiscences Take care Sow Fung & Laurence.
Lucie & Ruud
07/15/2015
Memorial trip Vietnam
Hi Nam, As promised some pictures from the great trip to Vietnam. We'd a marvelous time and also have good memories to your countrie and also the people there. We enjoyed the trip greatly, you did a great job. Say hello towards the driver. Greatings from Lucie as well as Ruud.
Martin - Denmark
07/15/2015
Thank you
Hello Giang What a nice surprise to know from you. Here in little Denmark we're approching the authum and also the weather is not such as in Vietnam: -( the sun i shinning however the tempeture is only 5 C so it's the beginning to obtain colder.As you know the two of us started on our brand new jobs on September 17 and sofar it's been a very good but additionally very busy period for that both of us. We really enjoyed our vacation in Vietnam and much because of your effort in telling all of us about Vietnam and bringing us nearer to the local Vietnam lifestyle. I promised you an image of our house as well as I enclosed one within this mail. Next week we are experiencing some very good buddies visiting us and by then I must finalize the "video" of all of the about 1100 pictues that people took during our journey. But right now it's a video lasting over two hours so I will need to shorten it for almost 1 hour. But we have some excellent memories connected to nearly every picture - so that isn't a very easy job. I took the freedom to send two of those to you here additionally. We are "in our minds" ready planing the next day at Vietnam but we don't know when it will end up being yet - but if it rises north don´t worry we will demand you. I hope this particular mail goes well. We both whish you best wishes for the future and we don't doubt that you together with your skills will acchive your own goal. Yours sincerly Helle as well as Martin.
Mr. James Duffy - Program Manager - Indian
07/15/2015
Thank you for your sense of responsibility, courtesy and your hospitality
Dear Mr. Dzung Nguyen, Regards. I must thank you for the sense of responsibility, courtesy as well as your hospitality, which enhance image of the country. I started loving your country as well as your countrymen. When I investigated your vietnam history, I'm really amazed. Covey my thanks to your company for having provided a great service for my vietnam visit. I have not given anything great like a quantity of business. However, You respected me and encouraged me to return again to Vietnam, after i first time could not enter your country. I would always remember you and getting excited about your visit to Indian. Thanks a lot. Your own truly,
Chin Choo
07/15/2015
Wonderful time in Hanoi and Halong Bay
Dear Phu Hope this postal mail finds you well. I returned to Malaysia last 7 days. I had a wonderful amount of time in Hanoi and Halong Bay. Thanks to the nice people who I met during the trip in addition to thanks to you to be such a wonderful visit guide. I will certainly visit Hanoi again. I attach a few of the photos which I took throughout the Halong Bay trip that you should see. How are things along with you? That's all for right now. Regards Chin Choo.
Alicia
07/15/2015
Thank you for wonderful Hanoi & Halong Bay trip
Hello Giang, Just wanted to give you thanks for taking our team (St John Bosco) close to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. You taught us a lot and we all skipped you after we remaining for Sapa. There is really a photo attached to this email for you personally. Hope you are nicely, from Alicia.
Erika and Bruno.
07/15/2015
Good time in Vietnam
Hi Sing! Hello Chochichäschtli! (The new word that you simply lerned about the furniture within the kitchen) Howe are you? We had a excellent time in Vietnam. The north part as well as the area in the southern was very interesting. Concerning the weather we are lucky because we'd always sunny days as well as hot. Now we're in the cold Switzerland. Any days ago we'd for this wintertime the first snow. Best regards and a great time whithout rain!! Silvia as well as Pius Erika and Bruno.
