Vietnam Over View

Let us take you to Vietnam highlights destinations by giving basic information on each places. Information lists are long, and still updating, please contact us for your personal interests on each destinations. We will come back to your as soon as possible with detailed information and hope they will make your trips more interesting and easier. Please select your destinations below...

Hanoi Travel Information

Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, is a pleasant and even charming city, in large parts because of its famous lakes, shaded boulevards and verdant public parks. The city center is an architectural museum piece, its blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a peaceful and austere provincial town, contrary to the fast-living and bustling air of Saigon. The city of Hanoi is a small part now of Greater Hanoi, which has a land area of 2,139 sq.km and a population of about 3,000,000. In the past, Hanoi was first chosen by King Ly Thai To as the capital of the country and was named Thang Long (Descending Dragon) in 1010. Through several successive dynasties, it remained the country's capital city, the heart and soul of the whole nation, and has born a variety of names, including Dong Kinh (Eastern capital), from which the Europeans derived the name they eventually applied to all of northern Vietnam, Tonkin. The city was finally named Hanoi (the city in a bend of the river) by Emperor Minh Mang (Nguyen Dynasty) in 1831. From 1902 to 1953, Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina. There are two main seasons in Hanoi: the hot (and rainy) season from May to October with the hottest month: July - average temperature 31 °C; and the cold (and dry) season with the coldest month: January - average temperature 14 °C.

Dien Bien Phu Overview

Dien Bien is a mountainous border province in the North-west of Vietnam. It has just been established according to Resolution No.22 of the fourth meeting session of eleventh term National Congress. Dien Bien has total area of 9,554.107 km2, located at the latitude of 20o54’ – 22o33’ North, longtitude of 102o10’ – 103o36’ East. It is adjacent to the new Lai Chau province in the North; Son La province in the East and North-east; Van Nam province of the people's repubic of China in the North-west with the 38.5 km long border; Luong Pha Bang and Phong Xa Ly provinces of the people's democratic republic of Laos in the South-west with the 360 km long border.

Sapa Overview

Sapa is located at the foothills of Vietnam's northern mountain range at an altitude of 1,600 metres. In the early 20th century, the French took advantage of Sapa's cool climate, developing it into a summer retreat from the heat and humidity of Hanoi.

At that time, there were more French people living in Sapa than Vietnamese. Today, Sapa retains its European feel, largely because of the remnants of French buildings, gardens and roads that populate this alpine city.

Sapa was originally home to the Black Hmong ethnic minorities. With the arrival of the French and, more recently, the growth of tourism, many of the hill tribes have moved away from Sapa's city centre into the surrounding hill country. Still, ethnic minorities often come to Sapa's main market to sell weavings and artwork.

Sapa has become a destination for travellers seeking adventure. It is a staging point for trekking at Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's highest mountain, and for motorcycle trips into the wild hill country. Extended treks to visit villages of minority tribes are also available.

Halong Bay Overview

Halong Bay is one of the most magnificent scenic spots in all of Vietnam and was designated by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage in 1994. It is a picturesque bay with some 1969 islets rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Halong Bay

Halong Bay is one of the most magnificent scenic spots in all of Vietnam and was designated by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage in 1994. It is a picturesque bay with some 3000 islets rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Washed by water and lapped by waves for hundreds of thousands of years, the limestone basin has been carved into stalagtitic caves, crescent beaches and odd-shaped formations. Halong Bay is also famous for its varied ecological system with thousands of kinds of fish, hundreds of sorts of coral and other sea creatures. Moreover, the global value of Halong Bay in terms of geological process has been highly appreciated. In late 2000, UNESCO acknowledged Halong Bay as being a kast geological foundation, a second World Heritage criterion. Halong Bay really becomes a must in the trip to Vietnam.

Halong City

The Cua Luc Straits divide Halong City into 2 parts: Bai Chay and Hon Gai. For the time being, in order to cross the straits, visitors have to take a ferry boat. In the near future, a suspension bridge of 903m in length will be built to connect the 2 sides of the city. Hon Gai used to be a coal-exporting port and is now one of the most important commercial centres for transporting passengers and goods in northeastern Vietnam. Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills running along the sea for 3kms. It was planned to be a windward seaside resort in the French colonial time. Now with many international standard hotels, recreational parks, green trees and white sand, Bai Chay has become one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.

Hai Phong Overview

Hai Phong is a large port located near a major international maritime line. For hundreds of years, the Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Portuguese have been coming here to trade. Nowadays, it is still a commercial centre, an industrial city and an important transportation hub. Moreover, visitors can enjoy a lot of beautiful landscape as well as interesting festivals such as Cat Ba Island, Do Son Beach, the buffalo fight festival, etc., just to name a few.

Cat Ba National Park

Some 50km east of Hai Phong, about half of Cat Ba Island (total area: 9,800 ha) and 5,400 ha of adjacent inland water were declared a national park in 1986 in order to protect the island’s diverse ecosystem. These include tropical evergreen forests on the hills, fresh water swampy forests at the foot of the hills, coastal mangrove forests, small fresh water lakes, sandy beaches, eery caves and off-shore coral reefs. Part of all this is still very dense and unknown to the civilised world. Cat Ba is accessible by hydrofoil (1 hour) from Hai Phong.

Mai Chau Overview

Hoa Binh (Peace in Vietnamese), 74 km southwest of Hanoi is the homeland of many Minority groups, including Muong and Thai. Unfortunately, they were removed 15 km away to clear the ground for Hoa Binh hydroelectric plan. Therefore, Hoa Binh does not have much of a hill tribe atmosphere. It is just a good stop for lunch or taking photo of Song Da Reservoir, the biggest in Vietnam with clear water.

Mai Chau is the closest hill tribe villages to Hanoi (elevation 400m). It is a beautiful rural area, and most of the people here are ethnic White Thai, related to tribes in Thailand, Laos and China. They know how to communicate in Thai language but do not know how to write and read. Lac village is the most beautiful one in the region with good service, nice music and hospitable people. There is a government-run guesthouse very near this village, but it is not interesting. Staying with people in thatched-roof stilted house on split bamboo floors (preferably, house number 9) is a good experience. Villagers have even organized a traditional song and dance performance here in the evenings on request at a reasonable price.

Ninh Binh Overview

Ninh Binh is a small town about 100km south of Hanoi, which is surrounded by a number of lesser known interesting sites. Hoa Lu was the first capital of the independent Vietnam, under the Dinh dynasty and the early Le Dynasty (968-1009). There are two sanctuaries, each of them devoted to the emperors of one of these two dynasties. They are set into a landscape of limestone mountains reminiscent of some the better known sites of South China. In Tam Coc, you can take a boat tour on a river which tunnels several times into the same type of mountains. The river is actually used by local villagers to access their rice fields. The nearby Ken Ga canal provides the opportunity to observe river life in the North, and contrast it with what you can see in the Mekong Delta. The whole area was an important center of catholicism, and you will be surprised to see churches among the rice fields. Phat Diem has a vast cathedral which has a unique Sino-Vietnamese architecture.

DMZ Overview

In June 1965, Vinh Moc was almost entirely destroyed. The people of Vinh Moc started digging an underground network of tunnels and rooms for the village population, comprising 82 families for total of 300 people...

Vinh Moc Tunnel

The passage is approximately 7m under the surface. Seventeen babies were delivered in the passage during the war.

The 17th Parallel

(Ben Hai Rriver and Hien Luong Bridge)

Ben Hai River runs 100km in Truong Son Mountains to meet the sea at Cua Tung Mouth. The widest part of the river is about 200m, the portion covered by Hien Luong Bridge is approximatele 170m wide. Under the Geneva agreement on Vietnam in 1954, Ben Hai River was selected as a temporary demarcation line separatingthe country into two parts.

Hien Luong Bridge was divided into parts, each serving as a border gate. Nowadays, Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge have become the historic landmarks and great tourist attractions.

Quang Tri Citadel

Was built in 1824 upon order of Minh Mang King. The citadel was initially built in clay and was rebuilt with bricks four years later. Nowadays, you can see several pieces of brick walls remaining from the citadel.

Khe Sanh Conbat Base

Khe Sanh is a valley surrounded entirely by rolling mountains and forest. Topographically, Khe Sanh is similar to Dien Bien Phu. It used to be an American defense station believed to be unassailable. The entrenched fortifications surrounding Khe Sanh comprise three areas: Ta Con, Lang Vay and Huong Hoa. More than 10,000 army men were stationed at Khe Sanh, not to speak of many other troops ready to intervene.

Hue City

Being Vietnam’s feudal capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen dynasty, Hue is widely known for the magnificent architecture of its citadels, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples set in a poetic background of greenery on the banks of the Perfume River. All are laid out in harmony with nature and in accordance with the principles of geomancy (feng shui). Besides monuments, Hue still retains much of its past glory in daily routines and activities in religion, gastronomy, handicraft, music, the performing arts and traditional festivals. With those vestiges and cultural treasures, Hue became Vietnam’s first World Cultural Heritage site recognized by UNESCO in 1993.

Da Nang Overview

Danang is the largest city in Vietnam's central region and is one of the country's most important ports. Ringed by mountains on one side and the East Sea on the other, Danang has numerous sites of natural beauty and historical interest.

Danang traces its origins to the ancient Champa Kingdom, established by Indonesian settlers in 192 AD. At its peak, the Champa Kingdom stretched from Hue to Vung Tau. The expansion of the Chinese, Vietnamese and Khmer peoples led to the decline of Champa by the mid-15th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries, French and Spanish traders and missionaries made landfall at Hoi An, just south of Danang. By the 19th century, Danang superceded Hoi An as the most important seaport in the central region. The presence of the French in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the Americans in the 1960s, led to continued growth of Danang, and it is now Vietnam's fourth largest city.

Hoi An Overview

Once known as Faifo, Hoi An was one of the orient's major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. After the Thu Bon River linking Hoi An to the sea silted up ocean going ships were no longer able to sail into town and trade moved 30km up the coast to Tourane, known nowadays as Danang. Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of the weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it was in its heyday. A walking tour is the best way to see the wooden-fronted houses that once belonged to the town's prosperous merchants, the Japanese-covered Bridge and the wonderful market. Hoi An is one of the best places in Vietnam to shop for souvenirs at bargain prices including silk, handicrafts, antiques and paintings. Five kilometres from the centre of town is Cua Dai Beach, popular with both locals and visitors alike for its sandy beach, warm sea and seafood stalls. HoiAn is known throughoutVietnam for its excellent seafood and it also boasts its own unique dishes such as Cao Lau, a delicious combination of noodles, pork, bean sprouts, mint and croutons. Inland and a half-day trip from Hoi An is My Son, where the capital of the once great Champa Kingdom stood. The Cham, originally from India and Hindus, were the rulers of large areas of central Vietnam between the 2nd and 15th centuries. The Cham Museum, housed in a classical French colonial building in Danang, has the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world, much of it originating from the My Son site. Right on Danang's doorstep is Non Nuoc Beach with its miles of golden sand beaches and home to a luxurious beach resort complex. Another popular site in the Danang area is that of the Marble Mountains, five sacred marble and limestone hills. Many shrines and temples have been constructed over the centuries both on the hillsides and in the spectacular natural caves concealed within the hills.

Nha Trang Overview

Nha Trang on the south coast of Vietnam, about an hour's flight from Ho Chi Minh City, still retains much of its quaint fishing village atmosphere. With an average temperature of 26C and warm water the miles of beaches are a real experience...

On the beach you'll be offered everything from a manicure to a grilled seafood lunch cooked in front of you.

Most days between 5 and 8am Nha Trang beach is filled with local people taking in the fresh sea breeze, socializing, playing soccer, badminton or practicing Tai chi.Most people in Nha Trang still walk or use the bicycle as their means of transport, whichadds to the tranquillity of the town. In the South China Sea,directly off Nha Trang, you'll find 20 small islands well worth a day trip.

At Tam Island, 30 minutes from Nha Trang, you can see the basket boats or 'thung chai' which are used by the locals. Rowed standing up, these circular baskets can carry as many as five people.

Back in Nha Trang take a look at the Cham Towers of Po Nagar. Build around the 10th Century, no one really knows how these towers were build, but one theory is that the bricks were laid wet then a fire was lit around the outside to bake them in.

Just three kilometres away is the Longson Pagoda, colourfully decorated onthe outside with ceramic dragons. Inside you'll find the 'The Goddess with 1,000 Heads and 1,000 Eyes'. According to Buddhist belief she's all seeing and all knowing!

If you want your own 'all seeing' tour of the city, hitch a ride in a cyclo. Clyclos are the Vietnamese equivalent of the Indian cycle rickshaws, except that the people riding the cyclo are in front of the peddler.

Built in the style of an old Vietnamese village and surrounded by lush gardens Ana Mandara Resort is a great place to stay. It also offers classes in traditional Vietnamese cooking.

Da Lat Overview

Located 200 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh and at an altitude of 1,500 meters, Da Lat has the appearance of an old French city. It was founded in 1897 when Doctor Alexandre Yesin recommended that the area be developed as a resort.

Da Lat has many natural and artificial such as Ho Xuan Huong, Than Tho, Da Thien and Tuyen Lam, which are all bordered by rows of pine trees, one of Da Lat’s best-known features. A trip to Da Lat is not complete without a visit to the Flower Garden. The temperate climate is suitable for orchids, roses, lilies, camellias and a wide variety of other flowers.

Tourists can go on from Da Lat to nearby Langbian Highlands, home to many ethnic minorities. Langbian Mountain’s highest peak (2,165 m) is very tempting for climbers. From Lom Bieng Klo peak, one can see endless green mountains reflecting the golden rays of the sun. There are many organized tours in the area, including parachuting and climbing.

Phan Thiet Overview

It is found on Highway No. 706, and features sweeping sand dunes and beautiful rows of palm trees. The beach is shallow and sloped, the water is clean and blue and the sun rarely hides behind clouds. There are desolate and primeval beaches that have never witnessed human exploitation...

There is also Doi Cat (Sand Hill), which has long been a creative subject of artistic photographs and paintings. Besides beaches and sand dunes, there are also beautiful landscapes such as Suoi Tien (Fairy Spring), the Ong Hoang Building and the Poshanu Cham Tower. Mui Ne has long been considered the "Hawaii" of Vietnam. It boasts shady roads under coconut trees, a beautiful beach and cliffs batteredby the waves of the sea. The typical scenery of Mui Ne lies in the moving lines of goldensand caused by the wind and when they are seen from afar they look like moving waves. The scenery looks more fascinating at dawn, when young Cham girls in green dresses go to work. That's why no photographer fails to visit this area. Mui Ne is an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Visitors can certainly enjoy swimming in the blue water of the sea, climbing the sand dunes or relaxing by a swimming pool. In fact this oasis entertainment people of all ages, and furthermore, provides an endless inspiration to the artists' creat

Vung Tau Overview

Vung Tau is a resort town in the province of Dong Nai 125 km from Saigon. The town is a long strip approximately 14 km long and 6 km wide. Where the southern tip of town meets the ocean stand two famous mountains...

Historically, Vung Tau used to be part of Bien Hoa. The first settlements in this area occurred during the reign of King Gia Long. During this period, there were many Malay bandits in this region. They often enter the area through Song Be entrance from the ocean. This created a threat for merchants in the Gia Dinh area.

King Gia Long sent three garrisons of troops to the area to quell the disturbance and to clear this area for settlement. A few years later, the bandits were driven away and in 1822, King Ming Mang rewarded the three officers who led the army to this region. The soldiers were allowed to retire and brought their families to this area to make a living. The first three successful settlements in this area were under the leadership of the three officers who originally led the troops here. Thang Nhat (first win) township, Thang Nhi (second win) township and Thang Tam (third win) township were led by Mr. Pham Van Dinh, Mr. Le Van Loc, and Mr. Ngo Van Huyen respectively. Ever since then, this area is known as Tam Thang or Three Wins. The name Vung Tau came about because the geography in this area also forms a natural bay where many merchant ships would stop to seek shelter. In time, this area became known as Vung (puddle) Tau (ships). Another name for this area is Cap Saint Jacques or Au Cap in French. The Vietnamese mispronunciation is "O^ Ca^'p".

Ho Chi Minh City Overview

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as still known to many, is Vietnam's largest city with a growing population of around 7 million. This is a city on the go 24 hours a day, where everybody seems to be busy either buying, selling, studying, working or just enjoying themselves.

Despite the fact that modern high-rise buildings have begun to dominate the skyline in recent years there are still many fine examples of French colonial architecture in Ho Chi Minh City such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office and the former Hotel de Ville. A stroll down Dong Khoi Street, the Rue Catinat of Graham Greene's The Quiet American , will reveal more colonial classics like the Continental, Grand and Majestic hotels as well as dozens of tempting boutiques and galleries. Ho Chi Minh City is a real shoppers' paradise with modern shopping centres and trendy boutiques rubbing shoulders with traditional street markets. Thecity's best-known market is Ben Thanh Market where you can buy anything from fresh fruit and flowers to the latestimported electronics and cosmetics. One of the most interesting places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City is the former Presidential Palace, now renamed the Reunification Hall. This building remains almost exactly as it was in the morning of 30th April 1975 when the

Tay Ninh Overview

Tay Ninh's climate is relative mild, and is divided into 2 main seasons, the dry season and raining season. The dry season lasts from December of previous year to April of next year and it contrasts with the rainy season lasts from May to November.... .

Cu Chi Tunnel

The Cu Chi Tunnels were pivotal to the Communist’s victory over the American and the South Vietnamese Army as they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area around Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system, parts of which were several levels deep...

The area of Cu Chi was one of the most pro-communist districts in the far south; indeed the VC used the tunnels to organize the 1968 Tet Offensive. During the Vietnam War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a free fire zone and was heavily bombarded: you can still see numerous craters caused by 500 pounds of B52bombs.

It was this persistent bombing campaign that drove many of the residents of Cu Chitogetherwith the Viet Cong underground. Originally the tunnels had been created asfar back as 1948 to help combat the French. Now they were rapidly expanded toinclude innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres, kitchens and even schools.

Today the remaining tunnels of this intricate network have been widened to accommodate the larger western frame and have now become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience of what underground life in the Vietnam war must have been like and a deep appreciation of the courage and ingenuity of the Vietnamese people.

Mekong Delta Overview

The Mekong Delta covers an area of 67,000 square km in the southernmost region of Vietnam and is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three harvests per year. The Mekong River begins its life in Tibet and travels 4,500 km...

he Mekong Delta covers an area of 67,000 square km in the southernmost region of Vietnam and is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three harvests per year. The Mekong River begins its life in Tibet and travels 4,500 km through six countries before eventually splitting into nine tributaries (Cuu Long in Vietnamese) and flowing into the South China Sea.

Because the plains are periodically flooded by the rising Mekong River, traditional transportation is by boat, along a vast network of canals. These canals are the very lifeblood of the Delta and her 15 million inhabitants. Everything from human cargo to tropical fruits with exotic names such as Dragon fruit and Longan (Dragon’s eye) can be found along this complex system of waterways. A cruise along these canals with their floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors.

Con Dao island overview

Looking at a map, Con Dao Island looks like a bear rising from the sea to south east of Vietnam. Originally a prison for patriots and revolutionists during the French and American resistance, Con Dao Island sheltered brave revolutionary spirits of the Vietnamese people.