Where To Go In Vietnam?

Vietnam can be roughly divided into four regions along its length, each with its own distinct climate, geography and significant sights. Many tours focus on the two most largest cities, Hanoi in the North, and Ho Chi Minh City in the South. But the Central Coast and Central Highlands are well-worth the visit and will offer plenty to the traveler who steps off the beaten path.

North Vietnam: The Northern part of Vietnam is the natural choice for the first time visitor to Vietnam as it is where the bustling capital city of Hanoi is situated. Guests basing their stay in Hanoi will appreciate the beautiful blend of architectural styles dating back to its Chinese and French past. These buildings have very much been left intact, although Hanoi is now rapidly modernizing as a city.

In addition, North Vietnam offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam such as the stunning Halong Bay with its thousands of limestone islands rising out of the sea, and the magnificent Cuc Phuong National Park on the base of the imposing Annamite Mountains.

Central Coast: The Central Coast is Vietnam's thinnest part of the country, a long thin strip going from the Gulf of Tonkin to the South China Sea. Here travelers will find the ancient ruins of Hue, once the seat of the Nguyen empire. They can also explore overgrown Hindu temples in My Son, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Further along is another World Heritage Site, a perfectly preserved seaside trading port called Hoi An, which is full of old-world style shophouses and narrow cobbled paths.

Central Highlands: The Highlands make up the mountainous region of Vietnam, and here you'll be able to interact with the tribal minority groups who live in the hills, visit coffee and tea plantations, and go on treks through leafy forests with elephants. The French enjoyed the Highlands, and created their own version of an Alpine resort here, Dalat. Dalat remains a very quaint European-style town and is a hot spot for honeymoons and family getaways.

Southern Vietnam: Lastly, Southern Vietnam is a place of explosive growth today, with much of the action taking place in and outside of Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the business city of Vietnam and is even more chaotic than active Hanoi. But outside of the city, there are many beautiful sights like the Mekong Delta with its many floating markets and its endless rice fields.

If you want to go to the beach, you've also come to the right place as South Vietnam boasts of many beautiful beaches in Vung Tau, Mui Ne or Phu Quoc Island. These are unspoiled beaches that have not yet been very much developed by tourism, and so still have clear blue waters, clean sand, and all the amenities you need.

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Your Vietnam Travel Plans Won't Be Complete Without These 3 Spots

If you are reading this article, you have probably decided to go to Vietnam. If this is the case, you have made a great decision. When it comes to exploring a relatively pristine, unspoiled, and uncongested part of Southeast Asian, you can't go wrong with Vietnam. It has an amazing and rare mix of relatively pristine attractions and decent infrastructure with less congestion. While many people often think of Thailand whenever the phrase 'Southeast Asia' is mentioned, many veteran travelers to that part of the world are in for a treat if they check out Vietnam. Here are the three travel spots that will complete any Vietnam travel plans you may have.

Halong Bay

The legend about this beautiful coastline is that the gods sent dragons to help humanity in its fight against an enemy. Once the war concluded, the family of dragons set out to sleep in the area where Halong Bay is located. It appears that there might be some truth to this fantastic story. If anything, there is definitely something magical about the beauty of Halong Bay. Its many limestone islands topped by a rich green canopy seem to float above the water. There is a definite otherworldly quality to Halong Bay that won't be lost on any traveler to this part of the world. One of the biggest eye-popping elements of Halong Bay is the sheer number of islands and 'floating' rocks. There is a lot of, them and they all add to the mysterious beauty of the Halong Bay coastline.

Hanoi

Stepping through the narrow streets and exploring the riverside mansions of Hanoi are like stepping into a time machine. Checking out its pagodas and other ancient buildings, you are quickly transported to Chinese Empire-era Vietnam. Vietnam used to be under heavy Chinese influence and Hanoi stores the physical proof of this. There are quite a number of Chinese-style buildings and structures in Hanoi that harken back to an Imperial past. Checking out French era riverside mansions convey Vietnam's more recent history as a French colony. Explore the history of Vietnam by visiting Hanoi and complete Vietnam travel plans.

The Mekong River

Snaking through Cambodia and emptying past Vietnam, the Mekong is the lifeline of Southern Vietnam. This mighty river offers many great vistas and the sunset views along its banks are something else. Make sure to include a stop by the Mekong River in your Vietnam travel plans. In fact, you should make it a whole day affair. It is well-worth it since there are just so many things you can do by the river. Naturally, you can swim, boat, and engage in all sorts of riverside water sports. You can also try fishing and see if you get lucky and land some famous Mekong River catfish. Another fun thing you can try on the Mekong is to rent a boat and check out the nearby fishing towns along the river. Talk about cultural immersion and going the extra mile to get an appreciation for local flavor and culture.

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