On the up – Holidays to Vietnam

Holidays to Vietnam are not necessarily first on every travellers lips, but this once war torn country has picked itself up and is fast becoming the place to go in Asia for adventure seekers. Tourism has slowly become part of life in Vietnam and as attitudes change an a new generation takes charge a faster paced Vietnam is emerging. Vietnam has a lot to offer people visiting this great land from the capital city Hanoi of 3.5 million residents to the UNESCO world heritage site Halong bay. Ho Chi Minh city formerly known as Saigon in the far south of the country is located on the banks of the Saigon river and this is the place where many tourist start their holiday in Vietnam.


Vietnams coastline is long and as such there are many beach resort along the way from North to South. This can be combined with trekking in the hills, visiting the cities along the way as well as learning how to cook Vietnamese food.
Halong bay is a truly remarkable place. It has been featured in films, in adverts and if you didn’t know about it you really should. You can catch a junk boat and get a breathtaking view of the limestone stacks.

What can you do on Holiday in Vietnam?

Junk Boat cruise of Halong Bay

North Vietnam is home to Halong Bay which is a UNESCO world heritage site and has 1960 limestone stacks which have been weathered over millions of years to create this truely remarkable place. Most of this islets are uninhabited, but the inhabitants of the areas are seafaring folk who live on boats and floating platforms, some of which never go ashore. It is a magical place like something out of a movie and around every turn there is a new shape stack and something new to discover. It is home to sheer cliffs as well as caves, tunnels, arches and secluded coves. At night the place has a eerie quiet, as junk ships pass each other and mist descends like a thin blankets on the stacks themselves.

You can get numerous trips to this area and they vary in price and activities. Day trips are common, but 2-4 day trips are also taken by many tourists.

Mekong Delta

Southern Vietnam is home to the Mekong delta which is a maze of complex streams, canals and rivers. It is an area with rich soils and so is lush with vegetation. Many villages and towns use these waterways as a life blood to their local economies and so much business is conducted on the river itself. Floating markets are commonplace selling anything from fruit and vegetables to fish, hats and metal items. Some tours offer a way to see this by boat and get up close and personal with the locals.

Cu Chi Tunnels

The Vietnam war is forever set in history when America tried and lost to gain control of Vietnam. Since 1975 it has been rebuilt and has put that part of its history in the past. However one surviving piece of history still available for tourist to see today are the Cu Chi tunnels. These are a stark reminder of a dark place in history and were build by the Vietcong during the war under the jungles in South Vietnam and served as an underground base covering some 250km. The determination to win the war can be seen in the complexity of how this underground city was planned and executed. The three level network includes dining halls, meeting rooms and even a small cinema. Tourists can relive the Vietnam experience and get just a sense of what it must have been like nearly 40 years ago.

About Vietnam

Vietnam stretches for over 1500km up the Mekong delta and is a thin country in shape with a population of over 86 million. It has China as a neighbour to its north and to the west it borders the countries of Laos and Cambodia.

Things to do and places to visit in Vietnam

Holidays to Vietnam – Vietnamese Hill tribes experience

This 3 day trip is for a maximum of 10 people at any one time. You will be taken away from the tourist jaunts and up into the hills where you will stay at the Dao home of a hill tribe family. You will be quickly introduced into village life and be expected to participate in the day to day activities of these people.

They are warm and friendly and will welcome you with open arms. To get there will involve a train ride and a good hearty trek, so this is a great combination for adventure seekers. You will then be rewarded by getting to the village later in the day. This rewarding experience will be on that you never forget and should be part of every Vietnam experience. It is a community based tourism project which is supported by a few adventure tour operators.