Major Holidays in Vietnam

Traveling to Vietnam

Vietnam is a unique land, full of enchantment and wonder. It is very picturesque, and its scenery will stay in your memories for a lifetime. There are many worthwhile places to visit in Vietnam.

No visit to Southeast Asia is complete without spending time in Vietnam.

Vietnam travel has long been exciting and inspiring for travelers from across the world.

Getting into Vietnam is not difficult, and a common plan is to fly into Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City).

Hanoi, in the northern part of Vietnam, also has a major international airport and is a popular starting off point for a trip to Vietnam.

If possible, try to book your flights on one of the Asian airlines, which always provide excellent service.

You can book on a multi-airline search site, and if you can find a flight on Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Singapore or Thai, you will be happy that you did.

Also, it’s best to book ahead for hotels with a booking service such as Agoda, which offers great deals on hotels.

Things to Do in Vietnam

Vietnam spans 1,025 miles (1,600 km) from north to south, so if your times allows, it’s great to be able to visit places in the north, central, and south.

In the south, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is the primary city to start a visit. It’s Vietnam’s largest city and main commercial and educational hub.

It’s an exciting and dynamic city, with a lot of history and interesting places to see. Saigon has a multitude of excellent restaurants and coffee shops to enjoy some wonderful Vietnamese food or to relax with a coffee or refreshing cold drink.

One of Vietnam’s most beautiful cities, Da Lat, draws mostly local travelers, but is a special treat if you are willing to get off the beaten tourist path. The area is referred to as the “central highlands,” but the city is situated more to the south, about seven hours by bus from Saigon.

On the coast, the place to see is Nha Trang, which has some of the most scenic beaches in Southeast Asia. The waters are clean and refreshing, the beaches are beautiful, white, and sandy, and the seafood there is delicious.

In the central part of Vietnam, Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An are the places to see. They are closely situated to each other and it’s easy to get from one city to the next. Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the country’s imperial times, so much of what Hue has to offer centers around Vietnam’s emperors. The city itself, however, is nice and is an interesting place to visit.

In the north, you don’t want to miss Hanoi, the nation’s capital, with its many museums, shopping opportunities, and beautiful lakes and parks.

From Hanoi, you can go to Ha Long Bay and see Vietnam’s trademark water hills, limestone formations that rise out of the bay to create an intriguing rock jungle.

Finally, though it’s well off the beaten path, Sa Pa is a fascinating and beautiful city in the far north, not far from the Chinese border.

The majestic Fan Xi Pan (Vietnam’s highest mountain) dominates the scene from anywhere in town. Local tribal people still come to town dressed in their traditional attire, and not just for the sake of tourists.

This is how they dress as a matter of habit.

Precautions When Traveling in Vietnam

Vietnam is a very safe country to visit. Violent crimes against foreigners are very rare. However, keep in mind that Vietnam is an economically developing country and a lot of people are in much need of money.

As such, they will go to desperate means, including pickpocketing, bag/camera/phone snatching, scams, and yes, even robbery late at night in a dark alleyway.

Always be very protective of your wallet, purse, watch, mobile devices, camera, and anything else of value. Never leave these items unattended or laying out on a table or bench. Keep them in your pocket or firmly in your hands when in public, especially crowded places like markets, bus stations, and busy streets.

Also, it’s worth knowing that Vietnam has very uh…relaxed traffic rules. It’s not at all uncommon to see motorbikes driving on sidewalks, driving against traffic intentionally going the wrong way down a street, and cruising through red lights.

Cars, including taxis, do tend to drive safely and even stop for red lights. But drivers in Vietnam are not taught to watch out for pedestrians and basically, the larger the vehicle you are driving, the more “right-of-way” you have.

So, if you are on foot, you are at the bottom of the pecking order. Be constantly aware of what is 360 degrees around you at all times. Letting your attention wonder, even for two seconds, can be perilous to your safety.

When crossing the busy streets, first look BOTH WAYS, and never assume that someone is not barreling down the street in the wrong direction. Then, slowly but with great confidence walk into the street. You will see the drivers taking action to avoid hitting you, which they are good at doing.

But…don’t ever stop, increase or decrease speed, or change direction suddenly. Drivers have spotted you (hopefully) and have formulated a plan to veer around you. If you change your speed or bearing, it blows their plan and could cause you to get hit or them to get into an accident to avoid you.