Vietnam
is a country any serious traveler should visit at least once in
his/her life. Its natural settings, its religious monument, its local
markets, its people, its cuisine, and its beaches are the main reasons
for visiting, but there are many more. If you look at the map on the
right, you will see what the country looks like. There are two ways to
visit Vietnam: starting in Hanoi, and going south; or starting in
Saigon, and going north.
The
best season to travel to North Vietnam is during the hot summers, from
May to October. Winters in the North are cold and cloudy. In the
mountainous regions in North Vietnam (Sapa), it may be freezing during
winter. Central Vietnam wet season is from December to February. The
south has two main seasons: the wet, from May to November; and the dry,
the best season to travel, from December to April. The hottest season
is from February to May.
Get in: there are three international airports: Hanoi (HAN), Saigon (SGN) and Da Nang (DAD).Get around:
Moving around Vietnam can be done on bus, train and/or plane. For long
distances I recommend plane, train is also an option. Bus should only
be considered in short journeys. Money and Costs:
the non-convertible Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the local currency. USD
may be accepted in some tourist areas. Prices in Vietnam are low.
Lodging and food are particularly cheap.
Length of stay: The
minimum stay I would recommend to visit Vietnam is six weeks. In case
you do not have that many days, you will have to split your visit in
two (or you will have to skip some of its destinations).Languages/People: 82
million people live in Vietnam. In the south, people are friendly, and
in the north they are trustworthy. Vietnamese life revolves around the
family. Vietnamese is the official language. English is widely spoken
in tourist areas.Food: Vietnam cuisine is, in my
opinion, one of the richest in the world. From traditional Vietnamese
food to seafood, you will always find something worth trying.
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