54 ethnic groups
Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups, making it the most culturally diverse country in Southeast Asia, with the Vietnamese making up 86% of the population, while the rest live mainly in the mountains, leading simple but distinctive rural lives. Sa Pa in the northern hills is a popular stop for tourists who want to visit traditional markets and ethnic minority villages, as well as go trekking. Ha Giang province, further to the northeast, is less developed but has a richer mix of ethnic groups. Visit the excellent Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi for more on this.
On the O Long tea hill at O Quy Ho pass, Sa Pa
Paradise Island
Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s resort island, was largely undeveloped and unknown 20 years ago. Things have changed rapidly and it is now a popular destination with a well-developed infrastructure of high-end hotels, restaurants and a wide range of activities (snorkelling, scuba diving, motorbike rentals to explore the jungle and hills). However, its main charm remains intact with white sand beaches (especially on the west coast), warm waters, spectacular sunsets and a laid-back charm. Further south, visitors should head to Hon Thom for its dramatic archipelago views, which is said to have the world’s longest undersea cable.
Hon Thom sea cable
Ha Long Bay
You won’t be disappointed, provided you plan carefully. If you can afford it, book a luxury small boat and head east to Bai Tu Long Bay, explore the floating village of Cua Van, swim off the deserted island and enjoy the unique natural space...
Hanoi
Hanoi is the key to understanding modern Vietnam. Your budget may be limited to the elegant Sofitel Metropole, one of the great historic hotels in the world, but you can pop in for lunch or tea. This will take you to the Hanoi Opera House, a walk to the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake, the bustling Old Quarter, the green park, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Uncle Ho's stilt house... Enjoy delicious street food when you are in Hanoi.
Hoi An
Like a miniature Venice, this former trading port on the Thu Bon River is a popular tourist attraction but also a quiet, romantic retreat. Old wooden houses are packed with groups of diners and drinkers in the Old Quarter. During the day, visitors spend their time cycling through the nearby countryside, spending a leisurely day on Cua Dai Beach or visiting the My Son Sanctuary…
Cat Tien National Park
Tigers once roamed Vietnam’s lush rainforests, and the country was rich in wildlife. But much of the habitat was destroyed during the war, and that process has continued through logging and commercial plantations. But Cat Tien, just over 100km from Ho Chi Minh City, has rainforest that protects a number of mammals including elephants and civets, and is home to 350 species of birds, making it one of the best birdwatching spots in Southeast Asia.
HCMC
Wild, crazy… crowded streets and chaotic, non-stop traffic, this is the busiest place in Vietnam. The best way to experience the city is to immerse yourself in its streets and alleys, on foot (be brave and daring when crossing the street) or by car, motorbike taxi… Notable destinations include Ben Thanh and Cho Lon markets, Chinatown…
War and Peace
Most tours include the Cu Chi Tunnels, a day trip north of Ho Chi Minh City. Alternatively, take a day trip from Hue to Khe Sanh, to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the fishing community of Vinh Moc. During the war, villagers dug themselves deep underground to avoid bombs. Visitors can access thousands of metres of tunnels here.
Tourists visit the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City
Mekong Delta
Happily, plans to build a large amusement park in the delta called “Happyland” have been scrapped, and the appeal of these lands remains the simple beauty of river life, floating markets and rich farmland. Visitors can take boat tours, but it is best to stay a day or two to mingle with local families in Vinh Long.
Con Dao
Con Dao, a cluster of 16 small islands off the southern coast, is probably where Phu Quoc was a decade ago, with only one island, Con Son, inhabited. Great beaches, snorkelling, inland jungle trekking and bird watching. The small island town, with its French colonial buildings, is laid-back and has a growing range of accommodation, including the ultra-luxurious Six Senses resort.
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