This crazy times with COVID-19 on top is slowly starting to go down and with that more countries are reopening borders, lifting restrictions, and life is going back to normal in certain ways. In order to enter Vietnam, travellers must have either a negative PCR COVID-19 test or the COVID-19 vaccination card; starting November 1st, mandatory quarantine has been lifted. Measurements changes from one city to another, but in general shops and restaurants are now open to customers but have different percentage capacity, and lockdown hours varies too.
Once settled the basic rules for tourism in Vietnam while COVID-19 still exists, let us follow to what you can find here and what you cannot miss while you are visiting Vietnam. This is an exciting country where you can find lot of history, their strong culture, beautiful nature landscapes, amazing food and many more; so be sure to enjoy the most of your trip here.
Ho Chi Min City
Until 1976, this city was known as Saigon and, this area were the city stands now, was long ago part of the Kingdom of Cambodia; in the 17th century the Vietnamese first gain entry to the region. Here you can find the best spots to try the famous Pho, that is a traditional Vietnamese soup, and their pork rolls. Street food on stalls have the best taste and the family tradition they hold into their food cannot be beaten.
The history still remains in this city after all, and a proof of that is the War Remnants Museum. Here you will find retired military vehicles, helicopters, bombers and even a tank showcased on the front yard. Along this exhibition is also over 20,000 different types of documents telling and showing in a very detailed way the history of Vietnam.
In this city you can also enjoy The Tet Festival, that is the Lunar Year celebration, usually between January and February coinciding with The Chinese New Year. Even though prices on accommodation and other can be more expensive than the rest of the year, if you happen to be here during this celebration you will be able to enjoy many cultural shows, fireworks and lion dances happening on the street.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Since 2003 is part of UNESCO World Heritage List, it has a really big area and important because of the many terrestrial and aquatic habitats, tropical dense forests and savanna, great number of flora and fauna, and has spectacular significant caves. All this under one property gives it the universal value it has.
In your visit here you can enjoy all the views and interesting things it offers, but you can also visit one specific cave in different type of excursions, one or more days depending on which one and what you plan to do there. Apart from the trekking to get to these caves, some of them also have underground rivers and you can even swim in them, a completely different and exciting experience.
Hang En cave has even been featured in National Geographic, and it is that here you can even camp overnight inside the cave in what it looks like a private inside beach. Many tours options are offered and usually for small groups because of the type of visit, children be part on some of these tours as well.
Hue City
This historic city has been part of a few kingdoms along the years and even under Japanese occupation during the World War II. Hue was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty and their lineage emperors, even some of their tombs can be accessed near the city.
The imperial citadel is one of the main attractions in this city and also part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city that was the capital city of the Nguyen Dynasty for over 140 years was a walled fortress and palace in its time.
The citadel and the Forbidden City, where the emperor and his closest confidents used to work, can be easily visited, and full-day tours can be easily found. The incredible views and architecture you will fun here is completely mesmerizing and will give the feeling you are back in time, even though many parts of the city have been destroyed because of wars and natural disasters in general, what still stands will be completely worthy of the visit there.
Golden Bridge
Inaugurated in June 2018, this spot has become the favourite of the tourists and it is a must go place. It opens from 8am to 6:30pm every day, but early in the morning and later after sunset in the afternoon are the times where you will find it less crowded.
This structure was plan and made in order to give a different, kind of spiritual vibe to the spot and also in order to mix the landscape and not mess with the cliff that sits right there. The length of the bridge is about 150 meters and gives plenty of spots for incredible pictures. Walking around the bridge will certainly feel like walking on the clouds.
Hanoi
The capital of the city cannot be missed on your visit, this city is a whole different thing, and everything is more fast paced than the countryside. What is more found are motorbikes instead of cars and many street vendors around, here you will experience the authentic Vietnamese life.
The Old Quarter is the major commercial district, and you will be able to find anything you can be looking for, but it is also exposed to its ancient commercial streets which are named after their original businesses dating back over a thousand years. Mixing the old structures with the new and modern architecture, this city has it all.
Part of the local culture is the water puppetry, which can be enjoyed by children and adults. The ability and technique need in order to become a master water puppeteer is incredible and here you will be able to enjoy amazing shows. There are many theatres that offer these presentations along Hanoi and the most typical about it is that it shows daily life sketches of the life in Vietnam. There are some that offers the traditional water puppets show, telling old tales of their culture; and others offers more modern performances with more update thematic but with the same ancient technique that is so especial to them.
AdminPUBLISHED ON 05 Nov 2021
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