Breathtaking Vietnam
Breathtaking Vietnam!
Another fabulous destination on our schedule is breathtaking Vietnam. This country is one of Southeast Asia’s faster growing economies. But more than that, it is so beautiful, with so much to see and experience as a traveller.
As a long strip of land along the coastline of the mainland of Southeast Asia, it has a lot of coastline which mostly is on the South China Sea, as well as the Gulf of Tonkin to the north. Whilst Vietnamese is the national language, English is becoming more and more common, particularly in tourist areas; most people will have no trouble communicating.
As a mostly tropical place, you’ll experience lovely warm weather (mostly 17 to 29 degrees), although yes, sometimes quite humid, particularly in the monsoon season. There are lush rainforests, extraordinary beautiful green terraced areas where it’s quite hilly and terracing is needed to make the most of crops and planting. These are the pics you see on your computer or TV screen from Microsoft or Google; it’s just so beautiful.
Historically, Vietnam was part of the Chinese empire for over a thousand years. In 938AD, impudence was gained and then it was ruled by a series of dynasties. In fact, Vietnam is older than China, dating back to 2879BCE, more than 800 years earlier than China. Its original name was Annam, but became Vietnam in the early 20th century. We, of course, have all heard of The Vietnam War, which ran from 1955 to 1975. This war was long and very costly and involved the United States and Soviet Union, with the communist north and south Vietnam being in conflict. The US joined the conflict from the year of communism spreading throughout Asia. Guerrilla tactics and dense jungle ultimately won over the US’s more superior weapons. Sadly, chemical weapons were part of the conflict. There are a number of war museums you can visit in Vietnam.
Today, Vietnam is a socialist republic, led by a one-party system which is run by the communist party. Approximately 55% of its people are Buddhist and only about 7% are Catholic. Just as Smith is the most common surname in Australia (far more than Jones, Williams or Brown), so Nguyen is the most common surname in Vietnam. This country is very multiethnic; with more than 50 different ethnic groups being recognised by the Government. Each has its own culture and language and brings its own unique flavour to this very diverse country. Vegetarianism is quite common amongst its people. Interestingly, after Brazil, Vietnam is the second largest world exporter of coffee.
Speaking of food, given the diversity of this country and its people, there is no wonder that there are so many incredible foods on offer. Pho is one of the most common and popular dishes of this country; you’ll find it everywhere from street vendors to quality restaurants. What is lovely about Vietnamese food is that it’s mostly clean and healthy. Meals of rice, vegetables, noodles and fish with steaming or stir-frying keep things nutritious and delicious. Chicken and pork are more common than beef.
With this beautiful country comes many options of things to do and see in Vietnam whilst visiting and travelling here. Tourists have an abundance of choices. There are over 4,000 islands in this country, with 75% of them being up in the north. Some islands are large and some just the size of a few junks pulled together. Famous Halong Bay is one such picturesque location in the north where millions of tourists and visitors come every year. Its beauty is the thing of postcards and screen savers. Cruises range from a few hours to several days, which often incorporate a delicious meal on a very traditional vessel. Frequently you can visit caves as part of your trip, or take a kayak and paddle around yourself or with a group.
There are many festivals to view, most famous is the Lunar New Year, or Tết where emphasis is on family and returning home. The spring Lim Festival is also popular with dragon boats and performances that truly entertain. Plus, in late August (or sometimes early September) there is the Ghost Festival (sometimes called Wandering Souls Day) where the spirits of ancestors come to revisit their early homes and respect is paid to the dead.
Along with all the islands, this country boasts many beautiful coasts and beaches and with the weather being so nice; it’s easy to pull on a swimsuit and swim. At times, you can even catch a wave or two in some parts, such as Da Nang, Bha Trang, Nui Ne or Vinh An … but don’t expect waves the size of Bells Beach; it’s relatively milder. Sunrise over the ocean is glorious, or if you go down to the south, you can experience both sunrise and sunset.
There are many options when it comes to shopping. There are floating markets on the Mekong Delta, or walk through street markets or visit more traditional and formal shops. You can get everything here, from jewelry, textiles, clothing, trinkets, homewares and much more. If you’re wanting to get around easily, there are mopeds for rent. In fact, Vietnam has over 54 million motorbikes registered! Plus, of course, be sure to take in the many traditional temples and palaces.
There are also some other pretty cool things to do and see:
- The Ban Gioc Waterfall is a natural wonder of water that cascades down multiple tiers, thus creating a stunning display of mist and water.
- Cycle through the Mai Chau Valley and see picturesque villages, rice fields and greenery.
- Hue Imperial City offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s past and is considered a national treasure. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- The Giant Hands Bridge, which is an hour’s drive inland from Hoi An or Da Nang is an incredible site. Situated in the Ba Na Hills, these two hands, carved of stone, hold a bridge that you can walk along. You first need to take a cable car for about 25 minutes to get up there – so this location isn’t probably ideal for anyone who is scared of heights. When you’re about 5 minutes away, you can start to see the fingers … it’s truly an amazing experience.
Vietnam is a beautiful place to visit, and relatively warm, so be sure to pack comfortable shoes, layered clothing and clothing which breathes and is cool. Whilst not the most modest country we’ve offered tours in, still pack clothing which is appropriate, especially if visiting a temple or other place of worship. Another great aspect of this country is that WiFi networks are almost everywhere (within reason; don’t expect great WiFi in a rice field) – but it’s easily accessible in all major cities. It’s present in most of the local coffee shops, hotels, shops and fast food franchises – sometimes even from the streets.
With all Luxury Women’s Tours, we do everything for you – there is little to plan bar ensuring you’ve at least 6 months left on your passport, pack a bag and ensure your phone or camera has lots of space on it for all the fabulous photos you will be taking.
If you’d like to know about our upcoming Vietnam tour, or any of our other fabulous travel destinations, just reach out to us here at Luxury Women’s Tours CONTACT US or email us direct at JAMIE@LUXURYWOMENSTOURS.COM.AU
Our guests travel in style, are comfortable and have the joy of experiencing superbly curated locations with other like-minded ladies. Come on – join us. : )
View our Vietnam tour HERE!
