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Travel:

Smaller, quieter, greener and more dignified than Saigon, the nation's capital can sometimes look like a provincial French city. This, like most things in Vietnam, is changing fast as economic restrictions are lifted and old regulations are forgotten. Life (and traffic, unfortunately) is returning to the streets and shopping no longer means a trip to a dreary government department store. Still, the city remains quiet enough for cycling to be the ideal means of getting around and many hotels and cafes rent bicycles. Places to visit include the fascinating One Pillar Pagoda. Sreaome enchanting lakes and temples, and . The mausoleum that was inaugurated in 1975 is the permanent memorial for Respected Uncle Ho, the founder of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It is 21 m high and in Vietnamese grey marble and granite. Like a lotus flower it was erected right at the historical place of Ba Dinh where President Ho Chi Minh declared the independence for Vietnam in 1945. The mausoleum is now a place of big interest that can not be missed. The Vietnamese always line up to visit him to show all good sentiments and respects to beloved Uncle Ho.Temple of literature was bulit in 1070, consecrated to Confucius and used as a school for princes, the temple of literature was considered as the first university of Vietnam in 1076. It is about 350m long and 70 m wide and surrounded by a vast wall of bricks. There are 5 yards inside. The middle entrance is for the king; one side entrance is for the civilian mandarins and the other for military ones. Behind the big door is the pavilion for poetic entertainment dated 1802. All the most educated people recited and composed poems and made literary comments. In front of the rectangular yard lined with 82 stone stelae carved with the names of the doctors of philosophy who passed the king's examination from 1498to 1787.The Hoan Kiem Lake & The Ngoc Son Temple are located in the heart of the city. Legends said that on the occasion of King Le Loi's relaxation trip by sampan on the lake after the victory over the Ming aggressors, a Golden Tortoise emerged to request him to return the holy sword given to him by the Sky God to protect the country against the enemy. This small lake is nicely bordered by age - old trees. In the extreme north is an islet accessible by a wooden bridge painted red namely The Huc. The small temple of Ngoc Son of 19th century is dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao, a hero against the Mongolians in the 13th century together with three genie: La To, the pioneer of medical career; Nguyen Van Xuong, the genie of literature; Tran Vu, the genie of martial arts. In the middle of the lake is the tortoise tower considered as the contemporary symbol of Ha Noi.Budget accommodation can be scarce in Ha Noi, especially between June and September, but many people rent rooms and with some searching you should find something. Whatever your budget, you'll pay more for accommodation in Hanoi than elsewhere in the country. Hanoi has plenty of domestic and international air connections, and is connected with Saigon by the Reunification Express train.


Ho Hoan Kiem I		Ho Hoan Kiem II	Ho Hoan Kiem III

Da Lat

The city of Da Lat is the center the Southern Highlands region. In the past it was renowned as a cool, green city with a park-like environment. This is changing fast, as the economy booms and life speeds up. Still, Da Lat is definitely worth a visit and it's a good base for trips into the surrounding highlands, which remain tranquil. In Da Lat, make sure you visit the Hang Nga Guesthouse & Art Gallery, nicknamed by locals the Crazy House. It's a counter-cultural gem created by artist and architect Mrs. Dang Viet Nga (known as Hang Nga). The Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace is stuffed with interesting art and everyday objects, and is well worth a look. It's also interesting to stroll around the Old French Quarter. The Valley of Love, 5km (3mi) north of the city center, is a bizarre place where you can hire a paddle boat on the lake or a horse from one of the Da Lat Cowboys (no relation to the Dallas Cowboys), who are, indeed, dressed as cowboys. There are some pleasant walks or rides (on horseback or bike) in the countryside around the city, but be aware that areas signposted with a C-sign are off-limits to foreigners. Further out, you can visit the villages of some of the hill tribes, such as Lat Village and the Chicken Village (with a huge statue of a chicken). Da Lat is famous for its coffee shops, and is extremely popular with domestic tourists and honeymooners. There's a lot of accommodation but much of it is fully booked. You can fly to Da Lat from Saigon, but the airport is 30km (19mi) from town; express buses also link the two cities.


Da Lat Water	Da Lat by Night	Elephant Water Da Lat	Lake Xuan	Huong Fall

Hue

The most beautiful city in Vietnam, Hue was the country's capital from 1802 to 1945, and has long been a major cultural, religious and educational center. The remains of the huge, moated Citadel, constructed by the Emperor Gia Long from 1804, contain many interesting sights, such as the Nine Holy Cannons, the Imperial Enclosure, the Palace of Supreme Harmony and the Halls of the Mandarins. Sadly, the intriguing Purple Forbidden City was largely destroyed during the Vietnam War.Ê The site of the citadel covers an area of 52 km2. The construction began between 1804 and 1833. The citadel suffered from big damages due to fire in 1945 and war bombard

ments. It is surrounded as a fortification guarded by 80 bunkers and a deep trench of 40 m large, connected by a bridge in front of ten gates. There is another trench that edges the imperial city.The essential places of interest of the citadel and the imperial city are the flag pole, the noon gate, the courtyard for royal ceremonies, the palace of supreme peace, the memorial temple for Nguyen Kings, nine dynastic urns and the Forbidden City.About 15km (9mi) south of Hue are the Royal Tombs such as Tu Duc Tomb, Hien Lam Pavilion, Minh Mang Tomb, Khai Dinh's Masoleum, Thai Binh Pavilion, Thien Mu Pavilion, Tran Tien Bridge and the Song Huong River . Hue has many other places of religious and dynastic importance, and some good museums. If you want to get out of the city for a swim, head 13km (8mi) northeast to Thuan An Beach, where there's a lagoon, a hotel and the possibility of sampan trips up the Perfume River. Vehicles from Hue's Ðong Ba bus station run here. There's a range of accommodation in Hue to suit most budgets, and some good restaurants. Hue has a long tradition of vegetarian food, which is prepared at pagodas for the monks. Stalls in the markets serve vegetarian food on the 1st and the 15th days of the lunar month, and there are several restaurants serving it all the time. Hue; is about 700km (434mi) from Hanoi and 1100km (682mi) from Saigon. The Reunification Express train running between those cities stops here, and there are frequent flights and buses to both cities.


Lang Tu Duc	Hien Lam Pavilion	Lang Minh Mang	Khai Dinh's Masoleum


Thai Binh Pavilion	Thien Mu. Pavilion	Tran Tien Bridge	Song Huong

Nha Trang

Nha Trang Although it could well develop into a flashy resort such as Thailand's Pattaya Beach, Nha Trang is still fairly quiet. Things are moving, though, so see it while it lasts! With very clear turquoise waters, snorkeling and diving are prime activities, and just lazing on the town beach is an experience in itself. You'll be offered everything from lunch to a manicure. When you tire of the beach, there are some interesting sites nearby, such as the Main Cathedral in Nha Trang Cham Towers of Po Nagar, built between the 7th and 12th centuries on a site that had been used for Hindu worship as early as the 2nd century. Nha Trang's dry season runs from June to September, different from Saigon. In the past, accommodation here tended to be fully booked much of the time, but many new hotels are being built. If you find that all the beachside hotels are full, try the ones near the railway station. Nha Trang is a major fishing port, so excellent seafood is available. You'll find the best restaurants in the central area. The exotic dragon fruit (Thang Long) grows only in the Nha Trang area. It's about the size and shape of a small pineapple, but tastes something like a kiwifruit. The fruit is in season from May to September, when you can find it served as a drink. Express and regular buses link Nha Trang with Saigon; express buses take about 12 hours. Express trains run to both Saigon and Ha Noi, and there are daily flights to Saigon.Nha Trang Landscapes


Nha Trang Beach	Ho`n Cho^'n	Th'ap Cha`m	Nha Trang Country	Cathedral

Ha Long Bay

Magnificent Ha Long Bay, with its 3000 islands rising from the clear, emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, is one of Vietnam's natural marvels. The tiny islands are dotted with innumerable beaches and grottoes created by the wind and waves. The most impressive of the grottoes is the Hang Dau Go, a huge cave of three chambers. The name Ha Long means 'where the dragon descended into the sea', and refers to a legend about a dragon who created the bay and islands with its flailing tail. There's even a modern legendary creature, the Tarasque, said to haunt the area.Taking a tour of the bay is the main activity here. If you want to see a lot, choose a fast boat. If you want a romantic experiences but with the risk of getting hardly anywhere, looks for one of the old junks. You have to charter the whole boat, but there are usually enough travelers around to make up a party and keep costs down. The main town in the region is Ha long City, which is in two halves, one on the mainland and one on a neighboring island. Ha long City West, on the island, is the more scenic. Masochists might try seeing the bay on a day-trip from Hanoi, but most travelers catch the ferry from Hanoi to Hai Phong and board another ferry there to Ha long City East and spend at least one night here. There are plenty of reasonable hotels, mostly in or near Ha long West.


Halong I		Halong II	Halong III

Sapa

Located at an altitude of 1600m (6112ft) in the remote NorthWestern Highlands, Sapa en trances most visitors. It was built as a hill station for the French in 1922, but went into a long decline from which it has only recently recovered. More and more travelers are braving the bad roads and flocking here for the climate (cold in winter) and to visit the hill tribes (mostly Hmong, Dao and Kinh people) who live in the area. The Saturday market is the best place to buy handicrafts. Accommodation can be tight, especially on weekends when tour parties visit. Just 9km (5.5mi) from Sapa is Fansipan (3143m/10,309ft), which is Vietnam's highest mountain. A hike to the top and back takes about four days, and you'll need a guide and decent equipment, as it is usually wet and cold. You can get to within 30km (19mi) of Sapa by train from Hanoi. Once you reach Lao Cai, you'll need to transfer to a local bus.

Saigon

Saigon is the heart and soul of Vietnam. It's a bustling, dynamic and industrious center, the largest city, the economic capital and the cultural trendsetter. The streets, where much of the city's life takes place, is a myriad of shops, stalls, stands-on-wheels and vendors selling wares spread out on sidewalks. The city churns ferments, bubbles and fumes. Yet within the teeming metropolis are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture. Sights include the Gio Lam Pagoda, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, and the neo-Romanesque Saint-Marie Cathedral, Saigon City Hall, Ben Thanh Market and the former US embassy, scene of such havoc during the 1975 evacuations.

Central Saigon is the place to be on Sunday and holiday nights. The streets are jam-packed with young locals cruising the town on bicycles and motorbikes, out to see and be seen. The Municipal Theatre area is the hub for young hipsters. Entertainment ranges from disco and karaoke in the larger hotels, loud Western music in bars such as the Hard Rock Cafe, dancing at the Rex Hotel or experiencing traditional Vietnamese music at the Conservatory of Music. Most forms of entertainment can be found in downtown Saigon a long Mac Thi Buoi Street.

Budget travelers tend to congregate around Pham Ngu Lao St at the western end of District 1. Cho Lon has plenty of cheap rooms, but Western backpackers are still rare here. Travelers with a little more cash prefer the more upmarket hotels concentrated around Ðong Khoi St at the eastern side of District 1. Pham Ngu Lao and Ðe Tham St. form the axis of Saigon's haven of budget eateries.