The Socialist Republic of Vietnam or simply, Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Southeast Asian Indochinese Peninsula. Its capital city is Hanoi and its most populous city is Ho Chi Minh City, also called by its old name of Saigon. For Vietnam, Tourism has been an important aspect that massively contributes to its economy. Tourism has been gaining pace over the years and in 2019, Vietnam attracted over eighteen million tourists from over the world with its panoramic beauty and rich culture. Also, Vietnam has risen as a new dream destination in Southeast Asia for many nature, culture, and beach lovers.
Moreover, Vietnam houses a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and some of them are Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and Citadel of the Ho Dynasty.
Because of Vietnam’s rich culture and the historical significance this country holds, millions of people come pouring to this sensational country to spend their holidays.
TourTeller’s Pick – Best Activities in Hanoi
History of Vietnam
Vietnamese Culture
Over the past thousand years, the culture of Vietnam has changed a lot. Vietnamese culture had its roots in the ancient Nam Viet kingdom of the Baiyue people living in East Asia. The culture of Vietnam absorbed Chinese influences of arts, governance, and the Confucian school of thought. Also, the European influences that the culture of Vietnam got were in terms of Catholicism, architecture, and implementation of the Latin Alphabets. The cultural exchange programs with the communist nations such as China, the Soviet Nation, and Cuba were under-made political moves. Besides, there are prints of American and Asian cultures on the Vietnamese culture. Furthermore, the culture of Vietnam prioritizes the clan over the family as opposed to Chinese culture that prioritizes the family over the clan. The aspect that Vietnamese culture values clan over family further establishes the unity, bond, and love that has kept generations living under the same roof. The main religion practiced in Vietnam is called Tam Giao and is a mix of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. The practice of worshipping ancestors is also a feature of Vietnamese culture.
Visual Arts of Vietnam
Vietnamese traditional architecture, calligraphy, lacquer paintings, and pottery and ceramics are examples of magnificent visual art. As Dragons, bamboo, lotuses, and turtles are some of the important cultural symbols of Vietnam, you could see them easily on the handcrafts things from Vietnam. Also, Calligraphy, woodblock prints, and silk paintings, and performing arts such as music, dance, theatre, and water puppetry have made their mark in Vietnamese culture.
Vietnamese Literature
The written literature of Vietnam came into being in the tenth century. It includes written literature and folk literature. The folk literature tells the people of Vietnamese legends, fairy tales, folk songs, epic poems, stories on humanism, and love of goodness. The written literature includes works written in Nom characters and those written in Han characters. We can see a major shift to realism from romanticism in modern Vietnamese literature.
Vietnamese Clothing
Clothing in Vietnam has seen major shifts depending on the impulses of the ruler. In the present-day world, all traditional Vietnamese clothes have been replaced by western clothes. Traditional clothes are now only worn on special occasions.
Planning Vietnam Travel
Before going to Vietnam, you should plan your trip wisely and keep a few things in mind to keep all sorts of trouble away:
- Before traveling to Vietnam, read a Vietnam travel guide book to be familiar with all the do’s and don’t of the country and to have a little knowledge of where you are going.
- Staying connected is very important when you are traveling from place to place. Not all places can provide you full network coverage or internet access. So, it is important that you keep a pocket Wi-Fi with yourself all the time. Buying a 4g SIM card for your cellular device is also a necessary step before going anywhere you are not familiar with.
- It is suggested that you take out some time to learn basic Vietnamese words and phrases to deal with minor situations on your own.
- Visiting popular tourist attraction sites is possible if you book your seats beforehand or otherwise you can miss out on exotic experiences as these attraction sites tend to fill quickly.
- Tour the country with a local tour guide who can take you to places that are not very common but hold massive beauty and charm.
- Visit modern infrastructure and the traditional sites as well to add to your wonderful experience of the country.
Vietnam Travel Budgeting
In order to travel to Vietnam, a medium budget of about $50 per day should be enough. It should cover your expenses of living in an air-conditioned private room, having meals at restaurants, private transportation, day trips, and a number of other activities. With a hundred dollars, you can easily have a luxury trip to Vietnam.
Transportation
Depending on the transport you take during your trip, your daily budget can vary. Traveling by train can cost you between $9 to $55, depending on the distance, and traveling by luxury buses can cost you up to $15. You can also travel around Vietnam in Ferries, motorbikes, vans, etc.
Vietnam Travel Guide
How to Get to Hanoi from The Airport
By Bus
If you want to get to Hanoi from the airport, you can take any of the two Hanoi city buses. Both of these buses link the Noi Bai airport to Hanoi city center. Take bus no. 7 or 17 from outside the airport terminal exit. This journey from the airport to Hanoi can cost you 5,000 dong or $0.30 per person and will take almost an hour to get to the Hanoi city center. The timing of these buses is from 5 am to 10 pm and roughly every 15 to 20 minutes.
By Taxi
Also, you can take metered Taxis that are available in the arrivals section at both International and Domestic Terminals. Usually, the taxi ride takes about thirty minutes to reach Hanoi and costs around $14 but you will be charged according to the taxi meter.
Where to Visit in Vietnam
It is such a beautiful city with a rich and exotic culture and history. The tours in Vietnam that the organizers arrange include walks, bicycle rides, photography tours, and kayak trips. After the recent developments in Vietnam, major investments have focused on tourism with rising trends in modern hotel projects.
Top Destinations in Vietnam
Here are the best destinations to visit in Vietnam:
- Ha Long Bay to visit the Rocky island
- Ho Chi Minh City to tour the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the War Remnants Museum
- Hanoi to stroll through Dong Xuan Market and visit Bach Ma Temple
- Hoi An to take in the scenic beauty of the ancient town and to visit its white sandy beaches of crystal-clear azure waters
- Da Nang to bathe in its beautiful golden sunsets while relaxing among lush green mountains
- Van Phong Bay is a beautiful masterpiece named
National Parks in Vietnam
There are eight zones in Vietnam that are World Biosphere Reserves and they are Cape Ca Mau National Park, Red River Delta, Cat Tien National park, Cat Ba National Park, Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Western Nghe An, and Cu Lao Cham Marine Park.
Plus, Vietnam is home to thirty-one national parks that include Tam Dao, Cat Ba, Kon Ka Kinh, Vu Quang, Cape Ca Mau, and Bai Tu Long.
Vietnam Historical Sites
Vietnam has seen wars that shaped the Vietnam we know today. The historical sites of Vietnam include Hoa Lo Prison, War Remnants Museum, Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, Vietnam Military History Museum, My Son, Cu Chi Tunnels, and the Imperial City of Hue.
Best Things to Do in Hanoi
While staying in Hanoi, you can:
- Pay a visit to the Bach Ma Temple
- Stroll along the Hoan Kiem Lake
- Tour the Imperial Castle
- Watch a show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
- Visit the Fine Arts Museum
- Go up the Lotte Tower, observation deck to see the panoramic views of the city
- Tour the National Museum of Vietnamese History
- Have a tasty meal at Banh Mi 25
- Visit the Hoa Lo Prison and learn more about its history
- Tour Museum of Ethnology and be mesmerized
- Buy items from the Old Quarter
- Add to your knowledge at the Military History Museum
- Walk around the magnificent Temple of Literature
For more details head here, the post about the best things to do in Hanoi.
Top Things to Do in Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is home to a lot of wonders, and you can do a number of things here.
- Tour the Cat Ba Island
- Visit Canon Fort
- Go to the Monkey Island
- Take a cruise around the island
- Explore the Me Cung Cave
- Tour the Hospital Cave
- Last but not least, going shopping at the Cat Ba Island Market
Click here for more details.
Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh
During your trip to Ho Chi Minh, you can:
- Tour the Giac Lam Pagoda
- Stroll through the Ho Chi Minh City Museum to learn more about the fascinating history of Vietnam
- Visit the Reunification Palace
- Go on a Bonsai River Cruise
- Visit the War Remnants Museum
- Walk across the grounds of Cao Dai Temple
- Tour Central Office
- Take in the beauty of Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Shop at Ben Thanh Market
- Grab a bite of mouthwatering breakfast at Binh Tay Market
Vietnamese Foods
Apart from its culture and history, Vietnam is also world-famous for its delicious cuisine and mouthwatering delicacies. All of the traditional Vietnamese foods and street foods taste sensational and are available at every food stall set across the country. You can get these delicious local cuisines from these stalls at incredibly low rates and save money for additional activities.
Traditional Vietnamese Foods
Enjoy some of the traditional Vietnamese foods when you get here!
- Goi Cuon that offers delicious spring rolls made out of crispy salads and prawns or pork
- Hu Tieu that is a pork bone soup
- Pho that is a mixture of flat rice noodles and chicken or beef broth
- Banh xeo that is a pork and shrimp crepe
- Banh mi that is made from fresh vegetables and moreish sweet sauce
- Che that is a sweet dessert soup
- Bun cha that is a blend of barbecued pork, fish sauce, sliced papaya, herbs, and fresh noodles
Vietnamese Street Foods
Vietnamese street food is no less than Vietnamese traditional food and is loved by everyone over the world. Some of the Vietnamese street foods include:
- Rice noodle soup called Pho
- Sea snails known as Oc
- Vietnamese pizza called as Banh Trang nuong
- Spicy beef noodle soup called Bun bo hue
- Vietnamese sweet dessert known as Che
- Rice paper salad called Banh trang tron
- Hoi An noodles named Cao Lau
- Egg coffee called Ca Phe Trung
- Vermicelli with fried tofu and fermented shrimp paste called Bun dau mam tom
Must-buy Items in Vietnam
Vietnam is a country with amazing handicrafts, artifacts, souvenirs, and other such stuff. Before leaving Vietnam, make sure you have got all of the must-buy items:
- Ao dai traditional outfit of Vietnam
- Vietnamese coffee
- Vietnamese musical instruments
- Hand-embroidered items
- Silk clothing items
- A conical hat that is considered the symbol of Vietnam
- Pottery and ceramics
- Bamboo and wood items
- Beautiful ethnic handicraft products like lacquerware
You can get these must-buy items from local markets at reasonable rates.
Vietnam, with all its mesmerizing culture and fascinating history, has become one of the favorite tourist destinations of the world. People come to this country from all over the world to take in the panoramic views this country has to offer and to have a deeper insight into the significant Vietnamese history. Also, It is an ideal place to visit in terms of a pocket-friendly budget. You can get cheap deals from November to February, and even cheaper deals from October to November when the weather tends to get wet. However, if you are planning on spending some money, I would recommend you to visit during spring (from February to April) and autumn (from August to October).
If you have any questions, feel free to leave comments below. Thanks!
Written by Dy & Jay
