Vietnam highlights
Check out these must-see tastes of Vietnam - ideal as individual long weekends or combined for a week-long adventure.
Halong Bay - locally known as the "bay of descending dragons" - is a World Heritage Site located 170 kilometres north-east of Hanoi. The Bay is home to more than 300 islands, many of which are hollow and contain large caves.
WHY GO View the beaches and grottos aboard a traditional Chinese Junk and take in the amazing island scenery created by the wind and waves.
TO DO The Bay is the attraction rather than the town. The best way to take in the breathtaking beauty of Halong Bay is by water. Witness the diverse ecosystem and the islands aboard a Junk and see the limestone islands rise spectacularly out of the sea. The local caves are a must-see. Hang Dau Go or Wooden Stakes Cave is the largest, with three large chambers containing large stalactites and stalagmites - plus there's Virgin Cave, Hang Hanh Cave and Pelican Cave. Other attractions include Monkey Island, Yen Tu Moutain and Bai Chay Beach. Four hours by boat is Cat Ba Island - the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago. For cruise and itinerary information, start with Halong Bay Tours & Cruises (www.halongbay-vietnam.com) or Travel Halong Bay (www.travelhalongbay.com). Whether you're seeking a family vacation or intimate getaway, there's a Junk for every preference. EAT On board, you'll feast on local Vietnamese dishes and seafood freshly prepared by your private chef.
STAY It's a three-hour road trip from Hanoi to Halong, where you can then board a Junk and stay overnight. If spending the night on water isn't your thing, stay at the four-star Halong Plaza (www.halongplaza.com) or Saigon Halong (www.saigonhalonghotel.com). It's also possible to stay on Tuan Chau island at the five-star Tuan Chan International Resort (www.tuanchauresort.com.vn), or the Holiday View Hotel (www.visit-mekong.com/holiday-view-hotel) on Cat Ba Island.
WHEN TO GO Anytime from April to November, although July and August are peak months.
GETTING THERE Vietnam Air (www.vietnamairlines.com), Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com), Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com), Air Asia (www.airasia.com) and Jetstar (www.jetstar.com) - all fly to Hanoi on a daily basis. Most boat tour companies provide transport from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
Huế
Huế, another World Heritage Site, is located in central Vietnam, about 335 miles south of Hanoi and 400 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City. Huế was the capital of Vietnam during the reign of the Nguyen dynasty - the last dynasty in Vietnam.
WHY GO Immerse yourself in history and see many of Huế's historical sights within the Citadel - a large fort almost 10 kilometres in circumference constructed in the 19th century.
TO DO Within the Citadel is the Forbidden Purple City - the former home of the royal family. Visit the General Museum Complex, an old school for princes and the sons of high-ranking Mandarins and the Emperor's Reading Room which escaped damage during the French re-occupation in 1947. During the Vietnam War many of the city's historical buildings suffered bombing damage, but much of the damage has since been restored.
Huế is also a centre of Buddhism and has many pagodas, largely constructed more than 300 years ago. Don't miss Dieu De National Pagoda, Bao Quoc Pagoda, Chieu Ung Pagoda and Chua Ong Pagoda, or, situated on the Perfume River, the tombs of the Kings Nguyen - each tomb reflective of the individual Emperor's point of view, personality and tastes.
EAT Central Vietnamese cuisine is spicier and the use of small side dishes common. Visit Bun Bo Huế Hanh (135 Banh Van Tran Street, Ward 7, Tan Binh District) for beef noodle soup consisting of thick bun (vermicelli noodles), thin cuts of beef and spam sticks dressed up in a sweet meat-thick broth. For imperial cuisine Tinh Gia Vien (20/3 Le Thanh Tong Street) serves 11 filling courses in an old-style garden villa.
STAY Most hotels are within walking distance of the Citadel, bars and restaurants. For mid-range try the Asia Hotel (www.asiahotel.com.vn) or the Saigon Morin (www.morinhotel.com.vn) - a charming old colonial establishment. For more options try visit www.hotels-in-vietnam.com.
WHEN TO GO Huế is notorious for bad weather and rain tends to drizzle all year round. March to June is the best time to visit, but remember to take an umbrella!
GETTING THERE Phú Bài Airport is situated just south of the city. Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamair.com.vn) flies daily from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Hoi An is a small city located on Vietnam's south-central coast. This ancient town is a well-preserved example of an Asian trading port, with buildings and streets reflective of both local and foreign influences.
WHY GO Visit Hoi An Old Town, a World Heritage Site, where the streets are off-limits to cars, to view buildings of historical and cultural significance.
TO DO Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge (Nguyen Thi Min Khai) built in the 1590s to link the Japanese and Chinese quarters. Across from the bridge is a row of art galleries housed in beautiful old buidlings. For souvenirs, visit the Handicraft Workshop (9 Ð Nguyen Thai Hoc) and watch locals undertake silk lantern-making and embroidery. If you want silk or tailoring services, try A Dong Silk (40 Ð Le Loi, town centre). For locally-made fabric, visit Hoi An Cloth Market (Ð Tran Phu). If you want to relax, Cua Dai beach is ideal and situated just four kilometres from the town centre.
EAT For breakfast and lunch, visit The Cargo Club (107 Ð Nguyen Thai Hoc). Enjoy the chef's daily creations at Café des Amis (52 Bach Dang), or drop in for a drink at the riverside garden of Brother's Café's (27-29 Ð Phan Boi Chau). For pizza and pasta, visit Good Morning Vietnam (34 Ð Le Loi). At Café 43 (43 Ð Tran Cao Van) - a great place for cheap, tasty food - banh xeo, a Vietnamese crepe-style pancake, is a must! And for local seafood, Hoi An Hai San (64 Ð Bach Dang) serves tasty dishes.
STAY Special Offer: The award-winning, five-star Nam Hai (www.ghmhotels.com) resort -just 10 kilometers from Hoi An - has a special on one-bedroom villas and pool villas at just US$295 and US$595 per night respectively, from now until December 2009, exclusive of breakfast. For more Hoi An accommodation options, log on to Asia Rooms (www.asiarooms.com), Agoda (www.agoda.com) or Wotif (www.wotif.com).
WHEN TO GO Visit from February to September.
GETTING THERE Silk Air (www.silkair.com) and Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamair.com.vn) fly direct to Danang Airport, which is just 45 minutes from Hoi An.
Text: Adam Seabright
Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam's largest city. Before French colonisation in 1862, it was known locally as Gia Định and unofficially as Sài Gòn. However after the communist takeover it was renamed Ho Chi Minh - after a former North Vietnamese leader.
WHY GO War history, great food and traffic chaos - you'll see the locals load up their motorbikes with some interesting items!
TO DO To learn about the Vietnam War from the local perspective, pay an emotional visit to the War Remnants Museum (28 Vo Van Tan, District 3) where you'll see old tanks, aircraft and some horrific images of war. Another historic site is Reunification Palace, where the Northern Vietnamese Army tanks crashed through the gates during the Fall of Saigon. Seventy kilometres outside of the city are the Cu Chi Tunnels - where thousands of Vietnamese people lived during the war. Allow half a day for a tour.
You'll find local trinkets, ornaments, lacquerware and gems on Dong Khoi and Le Thanh Ton - both streets have high-end stores dotted about and can be browsed leisurely over a couple of hours. Stop in at Mojo (88 Dong Khoi, District 1) for a break, or for a quick local noodle soup try Pho Hoa (718-73 Dong Kohi). For antique treasures visit Le Con Kieu Street. Close by, Ben Thanh Market (Le Lai Street, District 1) is where you'll find arts, crafts, clothing and counterfeit goods.
EAT Enjoy a pleasant courtyard luncheon or pre-dinner drink at the The Refinery (74/7C Hai Ba Trung, District 1). Head downstairs to Q-Bar to absorb Ho Chi's chaotic atmosphere, or for views of the city head to Saigon Saigon Bar situated on the rooftop of Caravelle Hotel (19 Lam Son Square, District 1). Temple Club (29 Ton That Thiep, District 1) serves local and international cuisine within nostalgic surroundings.
STAY The Park Hyatt Saigon (www.saigon.park.hyatt.com) is central, has great coffee, a good buffet breakfast and is a luxurious place to escape from the traffic chaos. If you want old world charm, try The Majestic (www.agoda.com). At the lower end is Asian Ruby (www.wotif.com) which is clean and centrally located.
GETTING THERE Vietnam Air (www.vietnamairlines.com), Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com), Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com), Air Asia (www.airasia.com) and Jetstar (www.jetstar.com) fly to Ho Chi Minh daily.
Text: Rebecca Hollingsworth
