Explore the many facets of Vietnam

Even though the country is a destination for tourists from around the world, many of its attractions are still waiting to be discovered. By Ayman Adly

For the first-time visitors to Vietnam, its wet tropical weather, lush greenery and exotic cuisine make a deep impression.  

Most visitors begin from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), formerly Saigon, in the south of Vietnam. It is the economic capital of Vietnam, overflowing with people, tourists and office goers. HCMC has all the characteristics of a big city, the hustle and bustle, warmth, vibrancy … and unpredictable rain.

Trees line its avenues, there are verdant public parks everywhere and tens of thousands of two-wheelers crisscross its narrow roads. Motorbikes are the most popular means of transport for the Vietnamese people, men and women. Asked about this national obsession with two-wheelers, a young Vietnamese woman remarked: “It is an essential skill for all young Vietnamese to be competent motorbike drivers.”

Most visitors are agape at how two-wheeler riders navigate on busy, narrow roads with people, push-carts and four-wheelers jostling for space. For many tourists, it is not unusual to go for a ‘little adventure’ as a pillion rider.

Vietnamese motorists offer foreigners a ride for 100,000 Vietnamese Dong (VND), the equivalent of $5 or QR19, taking them around major streets of HCMC for around 20 minutes. It is very easy to lose count when you are dealing with VND, however, mobile phones applications for currency conversion would be of great help. US dollars are accepted everywhere.         

“The city hosts a large number of historical buildings with different architectural styles and designs that tell the story of important stages of Vietnamese history. It is certainly a hub of commercial and industrial activities in the country,” explained Philip Hill, Manager Inbound at Asian Trails, a major tourist company in Vietnam with offices in several Southeast Asian countries.

The War Remnants Museum at HCMC tells the story of the Vietnam War. Visitors can see a huge collection of weapons. These range from small arms, heavy artillery to helicopters, fighter jets and assault tanks used by the American forces. The uniforms and personal gear of soldiers are also on display.

The museum tells the story of all the stages of the conflict through a comprehensive collection of war photos. Even the prison cells and torture apparatuses used by the hostile forces are recreated at the museum from the actual materials used during that time.

The Vietnamese people welcome foreigners with open arms. Locals are friendly and helpful, at times going out of their way to ensure that you enjoy a comfortable stay in their country.

The Reunification Palace, still a functioning government building but open for visitors, relates the story of how the south were united to north Vietnam and the various stages of this struggle. Tourists can also watch a video of the reunification in different languages.

HCMC has some of the fine heritage structures in Gothic architecture, a remnant of the French colonial era, clearly displayed in the Main Post Office building designed by the famous architect, Gustave Eiffel. The city’s main church, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, is another example.

A short trip to Ben Thanh market in HCMC, made up of stalls selling clothes, gifts, handmade products and accessories would be both refreshing and rewarding. Here, bargaining is a rule rather than exception. Vietnamese vendors, mostly women, could settle for half of the offered price. Most of them would be willing to sell at any reasonable offer especially on rainy days when they have fewer customers. The maxim is: Bargaining should be conducted in a relaxed and friendly manner rather than a rushed affair.

To Phan Thiet

For a break from the fast pace of HCMC city life, one can escape to the coastal resort city Phan Thiet, around 160km in the north of Vietnam. The trip may take up to four hours by car because of the low speed limit on the road. But the route is scenic — coffee, rubber plantations, paddy fields and dragon fruit farms dot the highway on both sides, offering a peek into rural Vietnam.    

October 24, 1995 is considered to be an important date for tourism in Phan Thiet, when thousands flocked to Mui Ne Bay to see the total solar eclipse.

Still, the place is getting ready to be discovered by more tourists seeking serenity, relaxation or  adventure at the world-class resorts there, some of them are newly built.

All year round, Mui Ne Bay promises sunny weather, spectacular landscape, stretches of white-sand beaches and water sports.

Philip Hill points out that Vietnam has been receiving increasing numbers of tourists from different parts of the world. But still there are many attractions waiting to be discovered.

“Asian Trails usually organises a variety of packages and completely tailor-made tours to cater for the needs and budgets of a wide range of tourists. We also take into consideration particular cultural demands of tourists coming from different parts of the world. We are having a great demand from VIP visitors, celebrities and high net-worth individuals for special trips throughout Vietnam. Eventually, we created a luxury department for such demanding category of tourists with the best services,” he added.

Up the mountain

Some 30km south of Phan Thiet lays Ta Cu Pagoda, perched at 400m on Ta Cu Mountain (649m above sea level). Visitors have the option to either take a cable car to reach up there or go on a two hour trek, with the help of a local guide, taking in the stunning scenery enroute.

Up there, you can see the largest reclining Buddha in Vietnam, a 49m long and 6m high white concrete statue of Buddha, reclining behind the pagoda.

“Some say that there are about 14,000 pagodas located in different places throughout the north and south of Vietnam. Also, each province has its own historic pagodas. You can imagine Vietnam to be two parts, the east and the west. For the east, it is the ocean and for the west, the mountains. Each mountain has its own story related to the history of the nation and now they have become attractive destinations for visitors,” explained Ho Khac Hoa, a senior Vietnamese diplomat in Doha.

Though Vietnam has experienced great developments in industry and infrastructure, most inhabitants still work in agriculture, around 57% of the population. This makes it a country of festivals, more than 40, all year round to celebrate different aspects of nature. There’s also a great legacy of folklore.

The Vietnamese people like to celebrate together with family and friends, especially to enjoy the special dishes, particular to each occasion. In general, the Vietnamese cuisine is considered among the healthiest and lightest in the world with mostly fresh vegetables, seafood, herbs, spices and fruits, produced locally, using very little oil in cooking. No wonder that the locals look younger than their actual ages.

Vietnam’s rich and diversified landscape is home to a large number of wildlife species, including an estimated 270 types of mammals, 180 reptiles, 80 amphibians, and 800 bird species.

The country is known for rare species such as the giant catfish, Indochinese tigers, Saola antelopes and Sumatran rhinos. However, the present survival of such animals is not confirmed as large tracts of natural forest habitats have been cleared for lumber or agriculture.

 To protect the animals, the government has created some 30 national parks and reserves. An ambitious programme was launched to replant the forests that had been erased by locals through excessive logging, which reduced forest cover to 19%. Not so long ago, tropical forests used to cover most of Vietnam.  

There are 54 different ethnicities in the country with some living in the plains near the rivers and urban areas, and others in mountainous and remote areas. The country has more than 3,400km of coastline, with fine sandy beaches, hidden coves, lovely lagoons and tropical islands.

“Vietnam is a beautiful country with friendly, hospitable people. Numerous sites have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the Unesco. Tourism facilities such as hotels and resorts are of excellent quality and ranked among the best in Asia. There are also direct flights from Qatar to Vietnam on daily basis. Come to Vietnam and discover a wonderful destination,” said Le Hong Phan, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Qatar.