It is a little known fact that Vietnam can cater to a large variety of clients - not just those looking to “rough it on the last frontier”. From it’s natural assets; pristine sandy beaches, the wonder of limestone islands in Halong Bay, the mountainous north, to its historical marvels; Cham ruins from the 14th Century in My Son, the ancient tombs of Hue; bustling cities with an energy driven by a new economy, quiet country villages reliant on rice agriculture as they have been for centuries, ornate Confucian temples, high-rises side by side with splendid French colonial architecture; Vietnam is a country of contrasts. And contrast means a greater variety of travel experiences that satisfy a great number of client markets.
Tourist attractions of Vietnam
Hanoi
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a charming city of about 4 million people, famous for its beautiful lakes, tree line boulevards and verdant public parks. The city centre is an architectural museum piece, its blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a provincial French town of 1930's, contrary to the fast living and bustling air of Saigon.
Halong bay
Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, the breathtaking secluded Halong bay covers an area of 1500 square km with more than 3000 thousand towering limestone backdrops emerging from its crystalline emerald water. The bay is one of the natural wonders of the world and now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Haiphong
Haiphong has a special place in the nation's history books a the sited of glorious victories over invading forces, the first led by Ngo Quyen and the second by Tran Hung Dao. Haiphong today is more a port for costal shipping than a destination for deep-sea trade. In the summer the city is a blaze of color thanks to the red flowers of the ubiquitous Poinciana trees.
Sapa
Sapa is a charming former French hill-station, created during the 1920's so that Hanoi's colonial residents could escape from the stifling summer heat in the plains. At a altitude of 1650m above sea level Sapa boasts warm days and cool evenings. Nowadays it is still a popular destination due to its beautiful scenery and colorful ethnic people.
Dien Bien Phu
Laying in the heart-shaped Muong Thanh Valley near the Lao border, Dien Bien Phu is one of the remotest parts of Vietnam. The valley is surrounded by steep heavily forested hills inhabited by many hill tribes, notably the Tai and H'mong. Dien Bien Phu was the site of that fierce of military events. It was here in 1954 that Viet Minh forces overran the beleaguered French garrison after a 57-day siege, forcing the French government to abandon its attempts to re-establish colonial control of Indochina.
