Main Cities in Vietnam

From the vertiginous rice valleys of Sapa in Vietnam's north stretching to the fascinating bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south, Vietnam is home to a wealth of attractions that will seduce both budget and top-range travellers.
Vietnam's war-torn history - both the French and Americans have left their own unique and not often positive stamps on the nation -- as well as its stunning and varied geography, delicious cuisine, hedonistic beaches and amazing shopping are all reasons to travel to the fast-paced Communist nation.

Welcoming foreign tourists and their dollars for well over a decade, enterprising Vietnam has rapidly developed a well-trodden trail of tourist attractions. Many travellers kick off their vacation in the former capital of Hanoi in the north, where smokey French-style cafes rub shoulders with traditional stores hawking most anything and internet cafes frequented by well-groomed teenagers who otherwise hang out on the streets on their sharply polished motorbikes.

From here, popular side trips for travellers include Ha Long Bay, where soaring limestone karsts boggle the mind, and the former French hill station of Sapa, where hilltribes in colourful dress who work the terraced rice paddies -- and now the masses of tourists -- combine with cool weather to make a must-see destination.

Travel by train, or bus, to take in the remainder of Vietnam. Remnants of the American War in Vietnam provide sobering viewing around the central region's demilitarised zone (DMZ), an essential stop for the many war veterans returning to this now-vibrant nation.

The nearby imperial capital of Hue offers a glimpse into yesteryear, while incredibly popular Hoi An offers an opportunity to get an entire new wardrobe-shoes included -stitched up for a song, as well as some great cafes and cuisine to while away a few days enjoying.

Adventurous travellers will want to head further south again and inland to the little-touristed Central Highlands region, where ethnic minorities scratch out livings for themselves - not always in harmony with the central government.

A trip to Vietnam would not be complete without a stop at one of the beach strips for some surf, sun and sand, and perhaps a sipped cocktail or two. Nha Trang and Mui Ne are popular vacation spots, offering backpacker accommodation as well as some remarkable luxury resorts these days.

The country's southern capital of Ho Chi Minh city, or Saigon, is a throbbing metropolis where some might be as enthralled with the mesmerising traffic as they are with the sights.

Below Saigon the Mekong Delta offers particular delights to the independent and intrepid traveller -think freshly caught crispy fish, eaten while sitting on a barge cruising the waterways. Be sure to palm off the organised tours and do this part of the country on your own.

Sublime Phu Quoc Island is another excellent retreat, lapped by turquoise waters and a wealth of sea life.

Backpackers could easily spend a few months taking in Vietnam at a leisurely pace, though Vietnam Airlines and burgeoning regional budget airlines with their cheap flights now make spending say a long weekend in Hanoi or a quick break in Nha Trang a viable prospect for short-term, luxury tourists - or those who just want a taste of a fast-developing country that was off limits for so long.
  

Hanoi & Around

Hanoi and surrounds

Hanoi, one of the most beautiful of the colonial Indochinese cities is often the start or end point of a trip to Vietnam, and what a great welcome or farewell it is. Simply oozing charm, Hanoi has gone through wholesale changes in the last decade since Vietnam swung open its doors to tourism, yet it remains an amazing city to experience.

Tree-lined boulevards slice through the up-market embassy district, while winding back-alleys littered with steaming street-side pho stalls are more the norm in the city's Old Quarter. It's a bustling capital with often heaving (mostly motorcycle) traffic intermingled with everything from pedestrians and cyclos to heavy trucks and buses. As with Saigon in the south, there's food just about everywhere and there's a developing scene meaning you'll need not eat at the same place twice.

Outside the capital there's the breathtaking Ha Long Bay - which is an absolute must see for any first time visitor to Vietnam. Don't make the mistake of opting for a single-day rushed tour - give Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island as much time as you can afford - there's nowhere else like it.

Closer to Hanoi, from the Perfume Pagoda to the Hill station at Tam Dao and the scenery of Hoa Binh there's enough to keep you busy for a week to ten days in this region of Vietnam, savouring the sights, food and experiences that make the northern capital such a comfortable contrast to bustling Saigon in the south.

Mekong River Delta

A glimpse of Mekong Delta River

Vietnam is famous for its two big areas of growing rice (one in the North, Red River Delta, and another in the South, Mekong River Delta). Both of them are known as the rice baskets among Vietnam.

Mekong River Delta is formed from the strong Mekong River which originated from Tibetan Highland plateau. The delta is always renewed by the silt every year and the weather is good nearly all year round. Generally, there are two main seasons here: dry and rainy season. Mekong river delta is the richest land in Vietnam which is very suitable for farming, fishing, gardening, and raising poultry. Tourism also plays an important role in the development of the area because of the attractive landscapes and cultural value.

Mekong River Delta’s culture is various but unique which create the specialty for Vietnamese’s culture, that people often call “Van hoa mien Tay Nam Bo”. Local people are known as the very broad-minded, good nature, and rustic whose lives are mainly attached to the Mekong River. 

The typical images of Mekong River Delta are the large gardens and fish ponds. Tropical fruits are grown everywhere. There are thousands of gardens: papayas, milk apples, mangoes, durians, longans, dragons, coconuts, etc. Thousands of bonsai and petoria gardens enhance the beauty of the delta life.

Visiting Mekong River Delta, tourists can stop at the major cities and towns such as, Bac Lieu, tra Vinh, Can Tho, An Giang, Chau Doc, My Tho, Ben Tre, etc. There are many beautiful landscapes for tourists to enjoy: Hon Trong, Nui Cam, Bird Yards, Oc Eo Cultural vestige, My Thuan Bridge, Phu Quoc Island.

 Moreover, if the tourists come to Mekong River Delta in the first months on the year (Lunar Month), they will have chance to take part in the traditional festivals of Cham and Khmer people such as: Sene Dolta Festival, Chol Chnam Thmay festival, Ba Chua xu festival, Ok Bom Boc Festival, et c. They reflect the lives of local ethnics living in this area.

  

Mekong River Delta

A glimpse of Mekong Delta River

Vietnam is famous for its two big areas of growing rice (one in the North, Red River Delta, and another in the South, Mekong River Delta). Both of them are known as the rice baskets among Vietnam.

Mekong River Delta is formed from the strong Mekong River which originated from Tibetan Highland plateau. The delta is always renewed by the silt every year and the weather is good nearly all year round. Generally, there are two main seasons here: dry and rainy season. Mekong river delta is the richest land in Vietnam which is very suitable for farming, fishing, gardening, and raising poultry. Tourism also plays an important role in the development of the area because of the attractive landscapes and cultural value.

Mekong River Delta’s culture is various but unique which create the specialty for Vietnamese’s culture, that people often call “Van hoa mien Tay Nam Bo”. Local people are known as the very broad-minded, good nature, and rustic whose lives are mainly attached to the Mekong River. 

The typical images of Mekong River Delta are the large gardens and fish ponds. Tropical fruits are grown everywhere. There are thousands of gardens: papayas, milk apples, mangoes, durians, longans, dragons, coconuts, etc. Thousands of bonsai and petoria gardens enhance the beauty of the delta life.

Visiting Mekong River Delta, tourists can stop at the major cities and towns such as, Bac Lieu, tra Vinh, Can Tho, An Giang, Chau Doc, My Tho, Ben Tre, etc. There are many beautiful landscapes for tourists to enjoy: Hon Trong, Nui Cam, Bird Yards, Oc Eo Cultural vestige, My Thuan Bridge, Phu Quoc Island.

 Moreover, if the tourists come to Mekong River Delta in the first months on the year (Lunar Month), they will have chance to take part in the traditional festivals of Cham and Khmer people such as: Sene Dolta Festival, Chol Chnam Thmay festival, Ba Chua xu festival, Ok Bom Boc Festival, et c. They reflect the lives of local ethnics living in this area.

  

Mekong River Delta, Vietnam Travel Company, Vietnam Travel Agency, Vietnam Tours, Vietnam Tour

Southeast Vietnam

Southeast is one of the eight main regions of Vietnam. The rich land comprises of 1 city and 5 provinces: Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh. The Southeast reminds us a rich and prosperous land with complex networks of rivers and canals, endless rice fields, beautiful beaches, vast fruit gardens bird yards, and colorful festivals attracting visitors from both inside and outside the country.

Talking about the Southeast is also talking about the people there. Most of them are open-minded, friendly, hospitality. They can easily adjust with different cultures: they like Khmer Pagodas with Persian architecture design do not hesitate to sing the Central or the North people’s songs. Let us start to explore the Southeast with 6 parts which make the region unique and interesting place:
Ho Chi Minh City
Dong Nai
Binh Duong
Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Binh Phuoc
Tay Ninh

North west Vietnam

North West (Tay Bac) contains four inland provinces in the west of Vietnam's  northern part. Two of them are along Vietnam's border with Laos, and one borders China.

Stunning scenery and remote villages

The remote north west of Vietnam appeals to those wanting to get off the beaten track in one of Vietnam's most beautiful, unaffected and untouristed areas.

The travellers who do venture to Mai Chau, Son La and Dien Bien Phu often do so by way of a hired jeep and driver or do it by motorbike, while those striking straight north to Vietnam's hilltribe capital of Sapa avail themselves of the comfortable and efficient overnight train to Sapa. Whichever way you're headed, prepare yourself for stunning scenery as you pass through spectacular ravines and over breathtaking passes.

Best known for the burgeoning trekking centre of Sapa, there is a lot more worth investigating in this part of the country. The remote French firebase of Dien Bien Phu remains a drawcard, but it's as much the attraction of the trip there as the town itself that is worth visiting. A trip to Dien Bien Phu is easily combined with an approach to Sapa via "the back way" over the Fansipan pass (Vietnam's highest), allowing for more stunning scenery and the opportunity to see some of the less touristed parts of the country.

Another popular destinations is Mai Chau whose day-trekking and stunning scenery have helped it develop into a small tourist centre en-route to Dien Bien Phu - many trips from Hanoi run out to Mai Chau -- and with good reason. It also forms a comfortable spot to rest those weary limbs before continuing onwards and up into the hills.

More and more travellers are now heading up into this part of the country, in part due to the long-awaited opening of the border crossing into Laos near Dien Bien Phu - yes, it's true, you really can cross here now.

This is a time consuming part of Vietnam to visit, but if you have the time, the north west is well worth adding into your trip plans.

Language in Vietnam

Vietnamese, Vietnam's official language, is a tonal language that can be compared to Cambodia's official language, Khmer.  With each syllable, there are six different tones that can be used, which change the definition and it often makes it difficult for foreigners to pick up the language.

There are other languages spoken as well such as Chinese, Khmer, Cham and other languages spoken by tribes inhabiting the mountainous regions.  Although there are some similarities to Southeast Asian languages, such as Chinese, Vietnamese is thought to be a separate language group, although a member of the Austro-Asiatic language family. 

In written form, Vietnamese uses the Roman alphabet and accent marks to show tones.  This system of writing called quoc ngu, was created by Catholic missionaries in the 17th century to translate the scriptures.  Eventually this system, particularly after World War I,  replaced one using.

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