Shopping in Vietnam
Shopping in Vietnam is dangerous and addictive. Before you have time to look back, the suitcases are already swollen with gifts and souvenirs, and the number of packs of coffee begins to induce real paranoia about customs. But I want to buy another battery of bottles of unusual sauces, a figurine on the shelf and a classic Vietnamese straw hat. It’s good that you can put it on your head while driving home, because there is no time for jokes – everything is cheap, everything is tasty or beautiful, and kilograms of luggage are melting before our eyes. What to focus on while shopping will tell the article ” What to bring from Vietnam “.
- Where to buy pearls in Vietnam
Cuisine and restaurants of Vietnam
Vietnamese cuisine is a separate reason for traveling to this country. A gastronomic adventure in Vietnam has the potential to be one of the most memorable travel experiences throughout Southeast Asia. Peculiar spices, unusual ingredients, Chinese influences and a subtle touch of French heritage add an unforgettable taste to treats from even the simplest street cafe. Read more about appetizing and fragrant in the article ” Food in Vietnam “. See other countries beginning with V.
Entertainment and attractions
Vietnam is ready to please guests with a variety of entertainment: from elephant riding, visits to snake restaurants with crocodile sanctuaries, national parks and fishing to casinos and nightclubs. The highlight of the country’s excursion program is the Ku Chi partisan tunnels, but besides them, there are more than enough sights here.
Halong Bay National Park has some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. Several thousand small limestone islands and cliffs rising from the sea waters and having a bizarre shape make us believe in the legend of this place. It says that the Ha Long Islands were created by a giant dragon that lived in the mountains. The bizarre cliffs and rocks are shaped like a turtle, a camel, a cat, the head of a dog or a dragon.
Dang Viet Nga, owner of the Crazy House Tree Inn in Da Lat, is a big fan of architect Antoni Gaudí. However, in her work it is very noticeable.
The city of Hue was the home of the last Nguyen emperors, and as a legacy they left many very beautiful imperial palaces and pagodas that look like they are hanging in the air. Worth visiting are the ruins of the Kinh Thanh Citadel, the forbidden Purple City of Dai Noi and the Thien Mu Pagoda with the famous Dai Hong Chung Bell.
The mountain resort of Da Lat is located 60 km from the port of Cam Ranh and is also worth visiting. In addition to beautiful landscapes, there is a crazy house hotel – Crazy House – which is located inside a tree and is one of the ten most unusual buildings in the world.
Hanoi has a plethora of Buddhist, medieval and recent communist sights, as well as natural beauty in abundance. In Da Nang there are beautiful “marble mountains” Ngu Nan Son and pagodas with unique statues. In Phan Thiet – the famous statue of the Reclining Buddha.
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4 things to do in Vietnam
- Buy a ticket to the performance of the Municipal Puppet Theater, which is played right on the water surface of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.
- Buy a traditional conical headdress at the famous Dongba market in Hue.
- Take a boat ride on the river in Hue, followed by a plume of blooming ginseng and herbs.
- Visit the pearl plantations in Fukuoka.
Diving
Diving in Vietnam is one of the cheapest in the world. At the same time, it is really interesting and organized at a quite decent level. There are many interesting dive sites off the coast of the country. The best in this regard are Nha Trang, Hoi An, the islands of Con Dao and Phu Quoc. In addition to a wide variety of corals, you can see all kinds of mollusks, cuttlefish, octopus, squid, clown fish, moray eels, pufferfish, groupers, manta rays and barracudas.
The most suitable time for diving is from October to April. The best season for diving in Nha Trang is February-October, and on the island of Phu Quoc – from November to May. Near Nha Trang there are famous diving sites: Moray Beach, Rainbow Coral Reef and many islands near the resort.
The Con Dao Archipelago National Reserve consists of 14 islands and is located 300 km from the coastline. There you can meet very rare mammals – dugongs (sea cows), large green turtles and many endemics – animals and plants that do not live anywhere else.
Holidays and events
Vietnam is a modern country that does not forget the traditions of its ancestors. Therefore, most local holidays are celebrated exactly as it was done hundreds of years ago. Almost all holidays, with the exception of modern and international ones, are tied to the change of seasons, the lunar calendar and agricultural seasons. The main holiday, of course, is the Vietnamese New Year or Tet. Only now the Vietnamese decorate their houses not with Christmas trees, but with apricot and peach flowers. Unexpectedly, the Day of Remembrance of the Dead is celebrated – despite the sad background, they celebrate it cheerfully, in large companies, with songs, dances and treats.
In general, the Vietnamese have a lot of interesting holidays, you should carefully read their calendar before the trip and try to touch the folk culture already on the spot, making the standard-beach package vacation an unusual and unforgettable trip. The article “ Holidays and events in Vietnam ” will help you deal with the most important dates.
