Vietnam – Land of the Blue DragonSince opening its borders to tourism in the late 1980s, Vietnam has become an incredibly popular destination. Still, the country remains relatively unspoiled as a tourist destination in Southeast Asia and holds many pleasant surprises for first-time visitors. Vietnam has in excess of 3,000 kilometers of coastline, most of which is lined with sandy beaches providing an excellent location for scuba diving and relaxing beach holidays. The remote hills of northern Vietnam on the Chinese border are home to more than 40 ethnic minority peoples. In many cases the culture and lifestyle of these groups has remained unchanged for centuries and exploring this region provides a rare glimpse of an undiscovered Asia. Vietnam is a safe, secure and enjoyable holiday destination. The political and economic climate is stable and the country has been at peace for over 25 years. The country possesses a unique historical legacy which is still in evidence today. From the Hindu-style Cham towers of central Vietnam to the Imperial Citadel in Hue (modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing) and the neo-classical French architecture of Hanoi. Vietnamese art and culture are vibrant and thriving with young Vietnamese artists gaining international recognition for their work. In the rugged northwest the mountain ranges are high enough that it is not unknown for it to snow at Christmas time. The trek up Mount Fansipan - Indochina's highest peak - is a true challenge for even the hardiest trekker. Vietnam's hotels and resorts are fast becoming recognized as some of the finest in the world, quite an achievement considering that five or six years ago there were no five-star hotels in the country at all. Nowadays visitors can play golf on international standard courses, relax on superb sandy beaches, enjoy the facilities of world-class hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and in Hanoi, and even find high levels of comfort and style in some of Vietnam's more remote locations. The Vietnamese people are some of the friendliest you are likely to encounter anywhere in Asia and their genuine smiles are an enduring memory for almost every visitor. Indeed, it is not uncommon for total strangers to be invited into a private home to share a meal or a cup of tea. UNESCO has recognized the importance of five separate sites in Vietnam and has bestowed World Heritage status on Halong Bay, Hoi An, My Son, the caves of Phong Nga and the Imperial City of Hue. |
