Enjoying Beef Pho, singing Karaoke or discovering Son Doong cave are top experiences during your visit to the beautiful country Vietnam.
All of them are familiar activities to the locals, but tourists arriving from different cultures should be surprised by the discovery of the interesting things that they normally had never got to known.
1. Strolling along the old quarter of Hanoi
To stroll along the ancient streets is something you should not leave out when coming to Hanoi. Many tourists may be flabbergasted by the grossness of this place, but the ancient architecture of the old capital has attracted a great amount of visitors. The 36 streets of Hanoi are the combination of French style buildings, traditional wood and also modern houses, creating a bustling shopping center for the locals and tourists. The old quarter is not only famous for its long-standing history and ancient architecture, but also by many diverse products and the daily life of the locals.
2. Night cruise on Halong bay
Night cruise in Halong Bay and contemplate the sunset - unforgettable experience
The locals often say that you cannot tell from yourself to have been in Vietnam without having seen the splendid and exquisite beauty of Halong bay. Take a cruise to here to contemplate the amazing landscape with thousands of limestone islands with different forms and scales, ordinary local fishing villages, blue sky and crystal clear water. The junk will lead you into a wonder of nature, to discover the magnificence of the gulf when the night falls down. You can also make some stops to visit several islands, enjoy some grilled foods and camp on the beach.
3. Home stay in Sapa
Besides Halong bay, Sapa is also a top attractive destination of Vietnam. From Hanoi it is easy for you to get to Sapa by train or travel bus, and discover it for 2-3 days to enjoy the picturesque landscapes of forest and mountain as well as the life of the ethnic tribes in the northwest region. The best season to visit Sapa is in the harvest period as you have the chance to take photos of the golden terrace fields. Sapa people are very friendly and open-hearted, so you can go deep into the village to learn about their daily life as well as customs and behavior of the locals. The scenery and unique meals from the northwest are waiting for you to discover.
4. Sipping a cup of Vietnamese coffee
Your trip will be quiet “Vietnamese” if you spend your time sitting on the street side, sip a cup of coffee and enjoy its unique taste. Instead of mixing with fresh milk, Vietnamese coffee is taken with sweetened condensed milk, giving it a strong and totally different flavor than other ones. The local consider it as coffee culture, with many multi-style cafes. You can take a seat beside the window, wait for each coffee-drop and contemplate the scenery on the street. Do not forget to try the egg coffee, a type mixed with chicken egg, as it is impossible for you to find it anywhere else than in Vietnam.
5. Enjoying a bowl of Beef Pho
A bowl of Beef Pho of Ly Quoc Su - famous dish in Hanoi
Pho is very well-known in Vietnam, you can take it at breakfast, as main course for dinner or even at night. From the traditional Pho, people have varied it and created many kinds like rolled Pho, fried Pho, sour Pho,… Pho is also a main dish of Vietnamese restaurants in the world. Enjoy this meal and you will surely love the taste of the bouillon stewed with beef bones along with the aroma of special vegetable and herbs like cinnamon sweet fennel, black cardamon…
6. Going to the market
Nowadays, shopping in markets has become very popular to many tourists. In Vietnam, you should not leave out the local markets. The scenery may be totally different from your modern country, but you are guaranteed to find some interests here, which may be the “strange” dishes like baluts, popas, or many types of fresh local vegetables, fish and meat… The market is the ideal place to meet the local people and learn about their daily life.
7. Experiencing Hoian in one day
A view of the old town - UNESCO World Heritage Site
The ancient town Hoian has been recognized as World heritage since 1999. The typical architecture of an ancient city with the combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese style with hundreds of old houses, bridges and temples, along with the tranquil atmosphere and friendly people are important factors to attract tourists to Hoian. You can ride a bike through the city, light paper lanterns on the Hoai river or walk under the moonlight and contemplate the street filled with colorful lights from lanterns.
8. Trip on Mekong river
The Mekong river plain is a typical landscape of the river area with the green fields and peaceful villages. The life of the people in the south is associated with the river, as they live, transfer and to their business here. There should be nothing more interesting than floating in a boat along the river, crossing palm forest and visiting the floating markets. Besides, all the orchards, local specialties and south region folk songs are also waiting for you.
9. Karaoke in Saigon
Are you curious of the life at night of the Vietnamese? There are many alcohol restaurants and bars in Saigon, especially in district 1, and music clubs are turning into a trend here. You can hang out with your friends, drink some beers on Bui Vien street, visit the night market and try the karaoke, which is a popular pleasure in Asian, and Saigon is no exception. If you like singing, do not hesitate, try it out. No one will judge you whether you voice is good or bad, but you will for sure have an enjoyable time with your friends and relatives.
10. Discovering Son Doong cave
Son Doong - place for people with nerves of steel
Located in Quang Binh province, Son Doong is the world’s largest natural cave. The name Son Doong recalls to the meaning of a “mountainous and river cave.” This cave has been formed since about 2-5 million years before, as the river flowed through the limestone area causing erosion and created an enormous tunnel under the mountains. At the soft rocks, the ceiling collapsed and formed gaps, which by time made the gigantic cave’s dome. The greatest part in So Doong is more than 5km in length, 200m in height and 150m in width, which makes it totally possible to construct about 40 buildings herein. There are also a number of rare flora and fauna for sightseeing. Nowadays the cave is open for tourism, but the amount of available tours and allowed guests is very limited. Every month are only four tours here operated, and the price is very high, about 6.000 USD/pax.
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