Travel Guide Vietnam will take you to different fantastic places in Vietnam as well as some of the famous landmarks and notable places, so you will already have a general idea about Vietnam if and when you decide to actually travel and explore this fascinating country. And other than the places of interest, Travel Guide Vietnam will also give you valuable information such as the geography, demographics and the languages spoken in different parts of this country. Don’t forget to check out the travel safety tips in Vietnam as well as the other sections in our Travel Guide Vietnam! We do hope you will come back often to travel with us to other destinations around the world.

Introducing Vietnam

Traveling around Vietnam to see the sights and meet the people is not difficult. With our Vietnam Travel Guide, you can be sure to know where to go to dine and stroll, what to do and how to enjoy a safe travel. You will find them in the different sections we have to make your tour of Vietnam easy and unforgettable. We will share with you valuable tips on how to go around on your own and some local words that can help you easily communicate with the Vietnamese folks. As China has a major influence in the country’s culture, some Chinese words are used in the language.

Where is Vietnam? Vietnam is situated in the Southeast part of Asia. Its neighbors are China, Laos and Cambodia. The country had gone through so much war in the past with the Vietnam War as the most tragic. It became a colony of several countries such as China, France and Japan. The colonization of China left a major impact on the Vietnamese language and Buddhist religion while France’s influence was on the cuisine with the baguettes and coffee becoming a well-known staple among the local residents.

It is about Germany’s size, covering an area of 331,688 square kilometers or 128,065 square miles. Majority of the inhabitants here belongs to the ethnic group known as Kinh. Other ethnic groups such as the Hmong, Muong and Dao reside in the mountains. One minority group known as the Khmer Krom lives in the lowlands. The Chinese also make up a big part of the Ho Chi Minh City population with most of them coming from China’s Guangdong province. Buddhism is the main religion followed by Catholicism and the local Cao Dai. Some famous Vietnamese figures include Ho Chi Minh, the first president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, World Tennis Association player Thuy-Dung Nguyen, first Olympic medalist Tran Hieu Ngan, CNN news anchor Betty Nguyen, novelist Bao Ninh, actor and singer Steve Tran and Phan Toan Thang, the first scientist who discovered the stem cell technology using the umbilical cord and which is now known as one of the cures for leukemia.

The climate in Vietnam varies depending on the area. The southern part experiences three seasons – hot, dry and rainy. The hottest weather occurs in April while a cool climate happens from December to February. In the northern part, there are four seasons – winter, spring, summer and autumn while the central part has two weather patterns. These variations in weather make the country worth visiting practically at any time of the year. You can always plan your trip to catch some good weather and enjoy a pleasant tour around the interesting places.

Vietnam is a mix of flat land, mountains and forests. The mountains can be found in the north where the highest peak, Phan Xi Pang, is located. The southern part is where visitors can find the Annamite Chain peaks as well as the long coastlines. Travelers can also explore the famous Red River and Mekong River, which add to the country’s natural assets.

Travelers can expect to have a memorable time in Vietnam, what with the many exciting activities awaiting them. Nature lovers can head to the beaches where they can enjoy swimming, lazing under the sun or just lying on the sand, snorkeling, boating, scuba diving and other water sports. The Nha Trang, Vung Tau and Mui Ne are some of the superb sandy beaches you can visit. Those who crave for beautiful landscapes can go to the central highlands in the Buon Ma Thuot region where they can get amazing views of the mountains and waterfalls. The Sapa Hill is another area, which boasts of lovely alpine views and where travelers can spend a night in a stilthouse with the tribes in their traditional costumes.

Hiking is another way to experience a great adventure close to nature. The Cuc Phuong National Park is strongly recommended. For a taste of city life and a historical tour, Ho Chi Minh or formerly Saigon and Hanoi should not be missed. Some interesting sights to see are the Viet Cong tunnels and the Ho Chi Minh trail, which was established during the war. The Hue also offers wonderful attractions including the Imperial Citadel, the Thien Mu pagoda and the mausoleums of the Emperors. The river or floating markets are also worth experiencing, as these are where most of the fresh fruits and vegetables are traded every single day on wooden boats.

Two World Natural Heritage Sites can be found in the country. These are the Ha Long Bay and the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. In addition, there are also six biosphere reserves in place and one of them is the Red River Delta. These areas are home to a diverse flora and fauna, some of which are near extinction. Vietnam is also one of the 12 original cultivar centers in the world. Its National Cultivar Gene Bank is now in the process of preserving 12,300 cultivars of some 115 species.

Vietnam has successfully risen from the ravages of the war. It remains to have a predominantly agricultural economy although manufacturing, information technology and high-tech industries are now a major part. In terms of oil production, it is actually the third top producer in Southeast Asia today. It is also worth noting that the tourism industry contributes to the country’s economic development. A 2008 forecast by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that Vietnam could become the fastest-growing nation among the world’s emerging economies by the year 2025.