See How the Past Shaped the Future…. Visit Vietnam
Places to Visit
With Vietnam covering nearly 130,000 square miles, there are plenty of cities and village to discover while you visit. Some highlighted points of interest are Ho Chi Minh City, Củ Chi Tunnels, Sapa Countryside, and Ba Be National Park.
Transportation
While getting around Vietnam may seem like a bit of a challenge, there is no need to worry. There are plenty of transportation options to gt you where you want to go. The most popular include cars (the best way to truly see Vietnam as you can stop and see the sights that are hard to get to by way of other transportation), buses (a good way to get around the country as you can sit back and relax during the journey but is not recommended unless you can tolerate large groups of people), trains (a great way to travel along Vietnam’s coast as well as connect to major cities), and planes (the best option for making those big hops between cities).
Lodging
No matter where you are in Vietnam, there will always be plenty of lodging options. Even if you pay only a few bucks, you will end up in one of the fanciest rooms you’ll ever stay in. So go ahead, make the most of your trip and splurge a little.
Ho Chi Minh City
For big city fans, no trip to Vietnam is complete without visiting Ho Chi Minh City. With the streets clogged with cars and motorbikes, this city is the main commercial hub of the country. It is filled with several different sections tht have plenty of things to do and see. the exciting sights include the Reunification Palace, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the HCMC Museum, and the War Remnants Museum. As you can see, there are lots of things to do and see in Ho Chi Minh City, not mentioning the very modern restaurants and shopping opportunities, so this city is definitely a place you won’t want to miss.
Củ Chi Tunnels
Whether you’re interested in Vietnam’s military history or not, you will surely want to check out the Củ Chi Tunnels. This extensive tunnel system was built back during the Vietnam War to allow local soldiers to operate and communicate in the areas surrounding Ho Chi Minh City. Today, short sections of the tunnels are open and available for guided tours. However, if you are claustrophobic, you may want to sit this activity out as you will literally be crawling on your hands and knees.
Sapa Countryside
If you enjoy just sitting and taking in beautiful landscapes, the Sapa Countryside is just the place for you. This area is filled with rice fields, deep valleys, and tall mountains. It is also home to some of Vietnam’s most ethnic minority groups. For hikers, this is a definite place to visit as it offers endless opportunities for short treks through the mountains, or long day hikes between villages.
Ba Be National Park
Another place for nature lovers to visit is the Ba Be National Park. This area is filled with not only a like, but is surrounded by tall mountain peaks and forested slopes. Things to do here include boat trips around the lake, cave exploring, and hiking the hills in between ethnic minority villages. Ba Be National Park is considered one of the most peaceful places in all of Vietnam, and many travelers enjoy spending the night, allowing for the experience of a simple rural life.
(Click on the link above to view my brochure. You will need to sign into your South Kingstown School District-issued Google account.)
