Introduction

Until recently, Vietnam was just a country that people knew existed, but not many people had actually gone to visit it. In the early 1990s, the first travelers and tourists started visiting Vietnam. In the decades since, a lot has changed and people are starting to realize that Vietnam is actually a hidden gem in the world. The country has beautiful green rice fields, thatched bamboo huts, exotic temples, deserted sandy beaches and delicious food – which is probably the reason why so many people are heading to Vietnam resorts for a getaway.

Beaches

In Vietnam there are beaches aplenty. Vietnam beaches can cater to any and all tastes – white, sandy beaches where you can sit with your sweetheart and watch the sunrise or sunset; beaches that have 5-star facilities; and beaches where there is nothing to do but swim and relax.

Southern Vietnam beaches are certainly the most beautiful, but if you’re staying up north, make sure you check out Bai Chay beach. This the closest beach to Hanoi, so on the weekend and during the summer there are usually a lot of people hanging out there. If you’ve got time, try checking out the North Central Coast of Vietnam. There are many beautiful (deserted) golden sand beaches to explore. Most people fly or take the train to Hue and Hanoi, so they typically miss this beautiful stretch of land.

Things to Do

While there are many Vietnam activities you can participate in, a must-see is the Cu Chi Tunnels. This is an extensive network of Viet Cong tunnels that were actually used during the French Indochina and American wars. These tunnels are amazing – they have complete facilities (kitchens, printing press and even street signs) which were used to help aid the National Liberation Front military. You’ll be able to take a tour of the tunnels and then have time to crawl around and explore them yourself. The Cu Chi Tunnels are in Tay Ninh which is just northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

If tunnel exploration isn’t really your cup of tea, you can also visit tribal villages, hang out at the beach, take a nature hike, visit Hanoi and take a boat trip in Mekong. There are plenty of Vietnam activities, you won’t be bored (unless you want to be).

Shopping

Shopping in Vietnam is a very interesting experience. If you know what you are looking for, you’re sure to find a good price. The markets in Vietnam range from high-class shopping malls to supermarkets to street markets, so you can find pretty much anything in Vietnam. If you are looking for famous brands and imported products, you don’t want to buy those here because importation taxes makes it cheaper to buy them in neighboring countries. But if you are looking for handcrafted items, war souvenirs, authentic clothes, antiques and art – well, you’ve come to the right place. One thing to note: Vietnam has very strict regulations when it comes to exporting antiques, so most of the antique or art pieces they sell to tourists are fake or copies. If they tell you that you are getting the real deal, make sure you check for certificates to verify it.

Eating and Drinking

Your eating options vary based on your mood – you can buy cheap noodle soup on the street for a quarter, or you can have a banquet feast in one of the luxury Vietnam resorts. Most Vietnam restaurants have a nice selection of international food – French, Italian, American, Indian, Japanese and Chinese.
The most popular Vietnamese food is Pho – a noodle soup with meat in it. Pho is pretty cheap and is seasoned very well. For lunch and dinner most people eat Com – steamed white rice. Virtually everything in Vietnam is seasoned with Nuoc Mam – a fermented fish sauce (sounds yummy, huh?).

If you are a beer drinker, you’ll love Vietnam because it has a huge beer culture. Hanoi is called the ‘bia hoi’ (draught beer) capital of Vietnam, so you won’t want to miss it. Beer is actually the most common thing to drink in Vietnam and it has the cheapest beer in the world. If you are looking for high-quality, imported beer – they’ve got that too. Don’t worry if you don’t drink beer, there is plenty of tea, coffee and win you can enjoy.