Vietnam country guides





A couple of kilometres west of Hoan Kiem Lake is the imposing granite structure housing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The mausoleum overlooks Ba Dinh Square, the square where President Ho Chi Minh read Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence at the end of World War Two. Nearby is the lotus flower-shaped temple of the One Pillar Pagoda, first built in 1049, and the grand palace that was once the residence of the Governor-General of French Indochina.

Halong Bay, A natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, magnificent Halong Bay lies 160km to the east of Hanoi. Over three thousand jagged limestone islands emerge from the emerald green waters of Halong Bay. While some islands are no more than large rocks others are much more substantial and contain huge cathedral-like caves of stalactites and stalagmites. Most of the islands are clothed in thick green vegetation and ring with the sound of bird song in the early morning. Secluded sandy coves are everywhere and in the summer months the warm waters of the bay are ideal for swimming. Halong’s largest island, and one of the few that are inhabited, is Cat Ba which has some nice beaches and a national park on it.

The best way to appreciate the delights of Halong Bay is to cruise among the islands on a wooden junk. Fresh seafood can be bought from the local fishermen directly from their rowing boats and cooked up for a delicious lunch.

Huế is the capital city of Thua Thien Hue province. Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty..It is well known for its monuments and architecture.
The city is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Perfume River, just a few miles inland from the Biển Đông. It is about 700 km (438 mi.) south of the national capital of Hanoiand about 1100 km (690 mi.) north of Hochiminh city, the country’s largest city, formerly known as Saigon..
Roughly along the Perfume River from Huế lie myriad other monuments, including the tombs of several emperors, including Minh Mang, Khai Dinh and Tu Duc. Also notable is the Thien Mu pagoda, the largest pagoda in Huế and the official symbol of the city.
A number of French-style buildings lie along the south bank of the Perfume River.. Among them are Quoc Hoc High School, the oldest high school in Vietnam.

Da Nang is Vietnam’s third largest city, and is located on the South China Sea coast, midway between Hanoi and Hochiminh City.
The city itself has neither the atmosphere of Hanoi nor the hustle-bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, but has its share of sights, and is close to the charms of Hoian and the imperial capital of Hue.

Hội An or rarely Faifo, is a city on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
The city possessed the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century and was known as Champa City. Between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Cham controlled the strategic spie trade and with this came tremendous wealth. The boats still used today in Hoi An probably] have the same hull shape as those used by the Champas for ocean voyages.
The former harbour town of the Cham at the estuary of the Thu Bon river was an important Vietnamese trading centre in the 16th and 17th centuries, where Chinese from various provinces as well as Japanese and Indians settled. The bridge (Chùa cầu) is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side.


Located on the Saigon River on the edge of the Mekong Delta, Saigon became the capital of the Republic of South Vietnam and was the American headquarters during the Vietnam War. Two years later the Communist north took control of the country, the city’s name was changed to Ho Chi Minh City, and recession and poverty ensued.


Although overshadowed by modern and Asiatic influences, a little of Ho Chi Minh City’s French colonial charm still remains, evident in the graceful architecture, wide boulevards, and a sidewalk cafe society. It is not for the attractions that one visits Ho Chi Minh City however, but for the vibrancy of its street life, and its proximity to the Mekong Delta.

Those seeking an idyllic retreat will find it in Phu Quoc, a forested island dotted with pretty beaches, freshwater springs and empty dirt roads (ideal for motorbike adventures). Good diving and white-sand beauty have led to its growing popularity, with a mix of cheap bungalows and five-star resorts along an uncrowded coastline.