Vietnam has a rich and diverse history, has been heavily influenced by both China and France, and has many religions, of which Buddhism is the most popular. Therefore it is no surprise that the country has so many interesting and unique cultural gems for visitors to discover. Here are some of the things to do in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, two of its more popular cities.
There is a huge difference between city life and country life and visitors will want to experience both to get a true idea of what Vietnam is really like. The crowded urban areas with a jumble of noises, smells and heavy traffic will leave some feeling overwhelmed, but the rural areas and beautiful coastlines are more peaceful and the people more laid back. The country is filled with both natural and man-made wonders and will leave visitors wishing they had more time to explore this unique country.
Most tourists to Vietnam start in Hanoi, the bustling capital city. There they will find beautiful French colonial architecture, narrow shopping streets, and rustic market scenes, all mixed in together. There are also some stunning lakes like Hoan Kiem Lake and parks such as Thong Nhat Park where it’s possible to escape the constant stream of motorbikes for a little while.
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Sights not to miss are the Opera House, the Old Quarter, and Ngoc Son Temple. Visitors should also try and catch a traditional Water Puppet performance and savour some of Hanoi’s delicacies whether it be from one of the many street stalls, or an upmarket restaurant.
Not far from Hanoi is the stunning Halong Bay where rugged limestone islands covered in rainforest protrude precariously from the emerald waters. Visitors will be able to take postcard perfect pictures from the land as well as from the bay. Many boat tours are available for a day, a night or for multiple days and they range widely depending on the budget and type of boat which could be a kayak, a traditional junk boat or a cruise boat. The cheaper boats tend to be party boats full of young backpackers, and other boats may concentrate more on activities like fishing or rock climbing.
Another destination on most visitors’ lists is Ho Chi Min City, previously known as Saigon, when the country was ruled under China. Here visitors can visit the Reunification Palace, the South Vietnam Presidential Building which is exactly as it was in the 60s and was where the Vietnam War officially ended when a tank crashed through the gates. Visitors can also visit the beautiful French Colonial City Hall with Uncle Ho statue outside, and head to the 52nd floor of the Saigon Skydeck for cocktails and unbelievable 360 degree views over the city.
Other cultural gems in Vietnam include the intriguing and extensive network of Cu Chi Tunnels, south of Ho Chi Minh City, which visitors can crawl around and imagine what it was like during the Vietnam War.
The Mekong Delta is where the river meets the sea in the south of the country and where everything happens on the water; from having a chat with the neighbours, to getting to the next village, to buying groceries. It is also a huge agricultural area and where much of Vietnam’s rice is grown in the endless green paddies.
For a charming fishing village, visitors will enjoy Hoi An, sometimes called ‘the Venice of Vietnam’ which offers endless tiny streets and canals lined with stalls and boutiques selling all sorts of fare.
There are so many more cultural gems in Vietnam which visitors will uncover for themselves when they wander through the cities and towns discovering unusual temples, beautiful colonial architecture, country markets and staggered hillside rice paddies.
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