Good Things about Vietnam

The other classic” method for crossing Vietnam is with the hop on & off open buses”, or buses where you can buy a ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and get off and on as you please (although usually you'll need to contact the tourist agency one day in advance) at all intermediate stops (usually Hué, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Dalat, but the itinerary may vary depending on the tourist agency and bus company that you choose).

On the one hand, it is one of the most incredible countries I have visited; the vibrant chaos of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City blew me away, Halong Bay with its karst limestone islands is easily one of the most impressive sights in the region, and exploring a Vietnamese food market is arguably the ultimate Southeast Asia cultural experience. We have some free time in Hanoi this morning, you may wish to visit Ho Chi Minh's austere mausoleum, an interesting piece of architecture resembling Lenin's in Moscow, or perhaps dive into one of the city's many noodle bars to sample Vietnam's favourite dish - Pho (a tasty rice noodle soup made with meat, fresh chillies and vegetables) You could also choose to explore the city via one of its more traditional methods; on a cyclo-rickshaw ride through the narrow streets and lanes of Hanoi.

Even if we can't see everything I still hope its enough time to get a good impression about Vietnam (Hanoi - Ninh Binh with Tam Coc and Hoa Lu- Hue or Hoi An - Nah Trang and Ho Chi Minh) I arrived in Vietnam in the north, so for me Hanoi was the first major Vietnamese city I was introduced to. Those who start from the South might be more enthralled by Ho Chi Minh City instead; I guess it depends on where you get your first exposure to the insanity of Vietnamese city life. Discover the varied sights, sounds and flavors of this enchanting country, touring the fascinating cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the Vietnam war-era Cu Chi Read More »

The president will spend three days in Vietnam , stopping in the city's capital of Hanoi and the bustling urban center of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Mekong & Cu Chi Our Vietnamese adventure kicks off with a walking tour on the vibrant streets of Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City as it's officially known) amongst the colonial buildings of Old Saigon.. Experience bustling Hanoi, sail on a junk boat through Halong Bay, shop in romantic Hoi An, squeeze through the Cu Chi tunnels, sip Vietnamese iced coffee, people-watch in hectic Saigon.

Traversing the entire country from north to south, you'll travel Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping en route to explore Hanoi, discover Halong Bay, witness the idyllic seaside retreat of Nha Trang, immerse yourself in French-flavored Dalat, and much more. Tourists who require a visa to enter Vietnam can apply online in advance and obtain their paperwork upon arrival in one of the country's four international airports ( Hanoi , Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang).Considering the geographical configuration of the country (a strip of land marked by mountains in the west and the sea to the east), there are only two ways for crossing Vietnam: from north to south (or the capital Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City) or the return route (from south to north).

If instead you want to have a data connection at all times (or plan to stay in Vietnam for a long enough time to justify changing your number), then I recommend that you get a phone card from one of the three main telecommunications companies, Viettel, Mobifone and Vinaphone, which all offer similar prices: for about 120,000VND (keep reading for more on Vietnamese currency) you'll have access to 1.5GB of data (valid for a maximum of 30 days). The most common way of getting to Vietnam is by air, and usually through the main international airports of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon). Other attractions we didn't visit, but you could: Grand Independence Palace, Day trip to Cu Chi, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Museum of Vietnamese History, Ho-Chi-Minh Museum, Saigon Square.

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City boasts much of what makes Vietnam worth visiting. From the charming Vietnamese capital of Hanoi to the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City, there's more to see and do in Vietnam than you could ever fit into a single trip. Citizens of more than 20 countries - mostly western European and southeast Asian - can get a Vietnamese visa on arrival if arriving by air This visa, which is free, allows to stay in the country for up to 15 days, but for everyone it's necessary to show proof of leaving the country within that time period.