If you’ve never considered visiting Vietnam, now is the time. With every passing year, Vietnam is making a stronger name for itself as a tourist destination and has plenty to offer travellers of all ages and caters to plenty of interests, be that history, adventure sports or spellbinding nature.
As we enter 2023, you might be thinking about where you’d like to spend your next holiday. Here are a few things you can expect and look forward to if you decide to head to this beautiful corner of Southeast Asia.
Learn about Vietnam’s rich history
Vietnam has a complex, sometimes traumatic, history in which years of French occupation has shaped the country and its culture into what it is today. Many of Vietnam’s major cities bear the French influence and many UNESCO sites have been established as a result.
From Hoi An’s ancient streets, the scattered islands of Halong Bay and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam boasts plenty of worldly wonders under its belt and this is what makes the country so unique and special.
Fill your boots with delicious food and the coffee
Anyone who comes back from a holiday in Vietnam can’t stop talking about the food. Every region has something delicious to offer and it often rounds up to a couple of pounds per meal. And the cost of the food is certainly not indicative of quality; indeed, most street vendors use only fresh, seasonal ingredients.
On the list of must-tries is pho, a warming noodle soup that can be found pretty much everywhere. You’re also never far away from a helping of morning glory or a crispy banh-mi. Wash it back with a Vietnamese coffee which is filtered slowly and mixed with sweet, condensed milk.
Gasp at incredible landscapes
The sheer length of the country means that Vietnam’s landscapes are varied, all of them more breath-taking than the last. From the endless eastern coastline to the rolling hills of Sapa, the tiered rice paddies and the travel-book-worthy landscapes in Ha Giang, there’s something for everyone.
Soak it all in with a cycle tour around Vietnam and take your time travelling up the country, stopping at all the waterfalls, creeks and hidden mountain villages along the way.
It won’t break the bank
Southeast Asia, and Vietnam in particular, is known for being really affordable for Western tourists. This is where pints can be enjoyed for under a pound, where public transport costs a fraction of what it does in the UK and Europe and where great accommodation can be found for less than a £10 note. What’s more, most accommodation includes breakfast and is always meticulously clean.
Where will you travel in Vietnam?