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Where to go in VietnamThe NorthHanoi About 160km (100 miles) from
Hanoi, near the port of Haiphong, is Ha Long Bay.
This is an amazing complex of 3000 chalk islands
rising out of the East Sea. The area is
strange, eerie and very beautiful. Many of the
islands contain bizarre cave formations and
grottoes. Near Ha Long Bay is Cat Ba Island, a
designated National Park and a rich repository of
plants and wildlife. (Source: 108Explore) Central VietnamHue (Source: 108Explore) The SouthHo Chi Minh City (Source: 108Explore) Traditional festivals in Lunar year (When to go)
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The
capital, Hanoi, sprawls on the banks of the Red
River. It is a beautiful city that retains an air of
French colonial elegance with pretty yellow stucco
buildings lining leafy streets. Hanoi is also a city
of lakes, which adds to its air of sleepy grace. At
present there are relatively few cars – many people
travel by bicycle or moped. It is a city that
appears lodged in a bygone age. In the middle of the
city lies the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the
Restored Sword) with the 18th-century Ngoc Son
Temple (Jade Mountain Temple) sitting on an island
in its center. The temple can be reached by The Huc
Bridge (Rising Sun Bridge). To the north of Hoan
Kiem Lake is the Old Quarter, a fascinating maze of
small antiquated streets lined with markets and
pavement restaurants and cafes. West of the Old
Quarter and south of the West Lake is the former
Ville Française. This is the old French
administrative center and is characterized by
enormous colonial-era châteaux and wide spacious
boulevards. It also houses Hanoi’s most popular
attraction, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. When visiting
the Mausoleum, it is important to be respectful both
in dress and attitude. Ho Chi Minh was the father of
the modern state and is still held in reverential
regard. His house, built in 1958, is also on public
view. Other museums in Hanoi include the Bao Tang
Lich Su (History Museum), the Bao Tang Quan Doi
(Army Museum), Ho Chi Minh Museum, Bao Tang My Thuat
(Fine Arts Museum), Bao Tang Cach Manh
(Revolutionary Museum) and Independence Museum.
There are a number of interesting pagodas in Hanoi.
The One Pillar Pagoda, first constructed in 1049
(subsequently destroyed by the French just before
they were ejected from the city and then rebuilt by
the new government), was built to resemble a lotus
flower – the symbol of purity rising out of a sea of
sorrow. The Temple of Literature built in 1076 was
the first university in Vietnam. It is a graceful
complex of small intricate buildings and peaceful
courtyards. To the northwest of the Citadel is the
West Lake, which is about 13km (9 miles) in
circumference. The shores of the lake are popular
amongst the Hanoians for picnics and there are a
number of cafes. The lake also contains the wreckage
of a crashed American B52 bomber.
About
250km (155 miles) north of Hanoi, high in the Hoang
Lien Mountains, is the old hill station of Sapa.
This area is inhabited by the Hmong and Zhao hill
tribes. Every weekend there is a market when the
local tribespeople come into town to trade. In the
evening, they celebrate with huge amounts of potent
rice alcohol. It is absolutely vital that when
visiting this area tourists are sensitive to local
culture and traditions. If one follows the road from
Sapa 200km (125 miles) further into the mountains
(this can only realistically be attempted by jeep),
one reaches Dien Bien Phu, scene of the humiliating
defeat of the French by the Viet Minh that finally
put paid to French colonial occupation in Indochina.
This is a wild, beautiful and remote region.
Midway
between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City lies the city of
Hue. The former capital of the emperors of Vietnam,
it is known for its beautiful imperial architecture,
although a great deal of this was destroyed during
the Tet offensive in 1968. The Perfume River forms
the border between the city itself and the former
‘Forbidden Purple City’, the mighty Citadel. This
‘city within a city’ with its tombs, pagodas and
lakes covered in lotus flowers was largely destroyed
during the Vietnam War, but one can still see
evidence of its former magnificence. Within easy
reach of the city are the tombs of several of
Vietnam’s emperors. Most interesting, perhaps, are
the Tomb of Minh Mang and the Tomb of Tu Duc. The
city also houses fine examples of Buddhist pagodas
and other temples, such as the Thien Mu Pagoda.
Near
Hue is Da Nang, the Marble
Mountains and the Cham Museum, which houses
magnificent examples of the art of the Indianised
Cham civilization. Approximately 20km (12 miles)
from Da Nang is Hoi An. This is a delightful small
riverine town replete with temple and pagodas.
Set
back from the delta formed by the Mekong River, Ho
Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is the main
commercial center of the southern part of Vietnam,
receiving its name in honor of the leader who
successfully led the nation against both France and
the USA. Locals still like to refer to it as Saigon.
More modern than other Vietnamese cities, Ho Chi
Minh City has also retained its French colonial
influences. Its vibrancy is maintained by the
ever-entrepreneurial Saigonese who have taken the
Government reforms to heart and re-embraced the
capitalist ethic with unrestrained enthusiasm. The
streets are jam-packed with mopeds and scooters,
often carrying whole families. The markets are
chaotically busy. There is a lot to see in Ho Chi
Minh City. The colorful Emperor of Jade Pagoda is an
excellent example of a Chinese temple. Inside, there
are elaborate woodcarvings decorated with gilded
characters and sculptures depicting local deities.
The hustle and bustle of trading is best observed in
the markets of Cholon, the ancient Chinese quarter.
The Hôtel de Ville is a wonderful example of French
colonial architecture. The twin towers of Notre Dame
Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi
Minh City since the 1880s. The War Remnants Museum
bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the
Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War in the
1960s and 1970s. Other sites relevant to that era
are Re-Unification Hall and the former US Embassy.
An interesting excursion from Saigon is a visit to
the Cu Chi Tunnels in which the South Vietnamese
Communists concealed themselves and from which they
launched attacks on US soldiers.
Northwest
of Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh is an interesting
destination as it is the home of the Caodai
religion. This is a purely Vietnamese sect formed
this century which takes teachings and precepts from
most of the world’s major religions. Tay Ninh is the
site of the largest Caodaist temple in Vietnam. This
structure is colorful and unique.
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