Vietnam , is an economical travel route that offers a wide range of options for travelers, from its magnificent bays to street food, from rice fields to the scars of war. Considered among the most beautiful places in the world, not in Southeast Asia Halong Bay, the crowd and the movement never stops Ho Chi Minhthe food capital HanoiThe choice of those who like hiking, trekking and interacting with the local people. Sapa and every shade of green, countless national parks, crowded cities and many places to see are waiting for you in Vietnam.
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Short Short Vietnam
Vietnam, the full name of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country surrounded by China to the north, Cambodia and Laos to the west, and the South China Sea to the south and east. Mostly mountainous, Vietnam has low arable plains around the Mekong Delta and Song-Koi Delta. Rice and coffee are the main agricultural products, corn and tea are also grown in the country. Vietnam is the world's largest producer of Robusta coffee beans and the second largest coffee exporter to the world after Brazil.
The country, whose history dates back 2500 years, came under French colonization in the 19th century. Although a republic was declared under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh in 1945, the country was first divided into two, and then a civil war broke out in which the Americans were involved. The civil war continued until 1975 and although the United States massacred many Vietnamese with its technical equipment, the Vietnamese were successful in the guerrilla war. Today, Vietnam is taking quick steps to erase the traces of the war and become a popular tourism destination.
Vietnam requires visa from Turkish Citizens. In fact, the visa is given at the door, but you need to get an invitation before you go. You can get your invitation by making the necessary application online from the intermediary companies where you can get an invitation.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam
Vietnam is a slender country stretching 1600 kilometers along the South China Sea. For this reason, the country is experiencing a transition from a temperate climate to a tropical climate from north to south. Although the best time to go in Vietnam varies according to the region we will visit, the ideal period for the whole country is March-April. During this period, the temperature is moderate and the precipitation is light.
9 Amazing Places You Must See in Vietnam
1. Ho Chi Minh
If you like big cities, crowds, chaos, nightlife and different flavors, Ho Chi Minh should definitely be on your Vietnam route. Ho Chi Minh, formerly Saigon, the city with the busiest motorcycle traffic in the world, is now cosmopolitan and is the place where the country's economy returns.
Although the city is very large, places to visit in the city center are gathered in the Dong Khoi area. The HCMC Museum and the large Notre Dame Cathedral built in the late 19th century are among the places to see in this area. Visit the Da Kao district to see traces of French colonial architecture, the Pagoda for Buddhist and Taoist religious iconography, the History Museum to take a journey into Vietnam's past, the Independence Palace, and the War Remnants Museum should be on your list. While you're here, consider joining one of the food tours.
You can also take daily tours from Ho Chi Minh to the Cu Chi Tunnels or the Mekong Delta, where guerrilla wars took place.
2.Hanoi
Hanoi is both the political and tourist capital of Vietnam. With the frenzy of motorcycle traffic, chaotic streets, street vendors, and the reflection of Vietnamese culture from past to present, it is the first stop for anyone who wants to see the real Vietnam. It is also the gateway to the country for those who want to go to Sapa and Halong Bay.
If you wander around the old city center especially in the evening, you will have the opportunity to taste the best street food and taste Vietnam's famous egg coffee.
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts are an excellent introduction to the country's diverse art, while the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is an important tribute to the founder of modern Vietnam.
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3. Halong Bay
Halong Bay, which has one of the most fascinating landscapes in the world, is Vietnam's most popular spot and one of its UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Over 2000 limestone islands in the Gulf of Tonkin were turned into jagged peaks over thousands of years by the movement of wind and water, and Vietnam's favorite Halong Bay was born. The best way to explore the bay is to join boat tours. A boat trip between the islands will take you to a beach, a spot where you can canoe or the most beautiful caves of the region. In order to discover the beauties of Halong Bay, I recommend you to choose tours with at least one night stay.
Halong Bay takes its name from a legend. Halong literally means 'Descending Dragon'. This is the legend; Vietnam is attacked from the sea. Unable to defeat the enemy, the emperor asks the dragons for help. The mother dragon, with her three cubs, builds a wall by scattering her flames where Halong Bay is today. In this way, the war is won, and the Dragon falls in love here and builds its nest here. Halong Bay is the place where the mother dragon settles, and Bai Tu Long Bay and Bach Long Vi are the places where the child dragons settle. When looking at the islets in the bay from afar, try to see a submerged dragon, see if you can see it.
4. Sapa
Sapa is a region in the north of Vietnam, located on the border with China and famous for its rice fields.
The lush rice fields surrounding Sapa, bordered by the jagged peaks of the Hoang Lien Mountains (often known as the Tonkin Alps in the French colonial era), are home to some of Vietnam's most beautiful rural landscapes.
The deep valleys here are home to a diverse mix of the country's ethnic minorities, including the Hmong, Giay, and Red Dzao people, while the undulating hills are covered with rice paddies. Fansipan Mountain, the highest peak of the country, is also located in this region.
This is the best trekking destination in Vietnam, with a multitude of options for day trekking through small villages and experiencing astonishing mountain scenery.
5. Hoi An
Hoi An is definitely the most beautiful city in Vietnam in terms of urban architecture. This place was a commercial center in the 15th century, and you can see this effect in architecture and almost everywhere in the city, as it is a frequent destination for Japanese and Chinese merchants. Hoi An, an important center of silk trade, is still famous for its silk fabrics and tailors.
Trade means wealth, many buildings that used to be merchant houses today serve tourists as shops, restaurants or cafes. At the beginning of the houses that you can visit as a museum is the 17th century Tan Ky House with its fascinating architecture and decoration.
The exquisite Japanese Bridge at the western end of Tran Phu Street has become the symbol of Hoi An. Here you can see the bride and groom taking pictures. The nearby Fujian Chinese Congregation Assembly Hall is the old town's most ornate temple.
There are many small pagodas and museums within Hoi An, but Hoi An's real charm lies in wandering the old town streets admiring the well-preserved facades. The majority of the houses are painted yellow, and watching these beautiful buildings lined up on the riverbank is an activity in itself. In the evening, you can watch the boats on the river emit a wish lantern into the sky.
6 Hue
Hue, which was the capital of Vietnam during the 19th century Nguyen empire, is a city full of reigning ruins. The old city, which is located on the banks of the Perfume river and was established within 2.5 kilometers of castle walls, is open to visitors. While walking around the castle; Don't miss seeing the magnificent Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace with its fine lacquered interior details, Dien Tho Residence where the Queen Mothers will live, and the Mandarin Halls with preserved ceiling murals. You can also take a boat trip on the perfume river and see the ruins outside the walls.
7. Mekong Delta
The Mekong River starts a long way from China and empties into the sea in southern Vietnam. Of course, the huge river does not calmly meet the sea, floodplains, labyrinth-shaped waterways of various sizes create a natural picture here. Paddy fields and mangrove forests, the abundance of water feeds a huge area. The villagers living here are engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry and sell their products in the markets set up on the water. You can take a wide range of boat tours in the Mekong Delta, starting from half a day and lasting for days, and you can get to know the local life and natural beauties closely.
Can Tho; It is the most popular city to use as a base, as it is close to the floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang. Boat trips departing from Ca Mau allow you to explore the U Minh Mangrove Forest and Cau Mau Nature Reserve. You can organize boat tours from Ho Chi Minh.
8. Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels, near Ho Chi Minh, are the most impressive places where you can see the recent history of Vietnam and how the guerrilla wars with the American soldiers took place. All travelers should definitely add it to their itinerary and see under what conditions today's Vietnam is defended.
Despite all the technological and material possibilities of the American soldiers during the civil war, the Vietnamese entered the guerrilla war and succeeded in defeating the American soldiers. During this war, a part of the tunnel network stretching more than 250 kilometers and allowing the troops defending Vietnam to communicate with each other can be visited. The method by which the tiny Vietnamese defeat the burly American soldiers is explained in practice. Of course, the tunnels are quite claustrophobic, without light, narrow, you have to crawl from time to time.
9. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Paradise Cave
The Paradise Cave, which is featured in many of the photos you see about Vietnam, is located in Phong Nha-Ke National Park. This is one of the areas protected as a Unesco World Heritage Site. There are more than 70 caves in the 300-kilometer-long national park. The park is a dramatic karst mountain formation honeycomb with huge caves that host spectacular stalactites and stalagmites displays. The most popular spot within the park is the Heavenly Cave, which stretches an astonishing 31 kilometers below the ground.
While some of the caves can be reached with easy walking routes and daily tours, to go to Cennet (So Doong) Cave, you have to join the tours with tent accommodation for 3 nights and 4 days and pay serious money. The Turkish Lira equivalent of these tours is approximately 20 thousand TL.
Of course, the places to visit in Vietnam are not limited to this list, from cities by the sea to national parks, from Instagram spots to hidden paradises, many more places await you in Vietnam!
Vietnam Travel Videos
You can see the videos of our Vietnam trip shot and edited by my wife below:
The edited version of this article was published in the August 2021 issue of Skyroad Magazine.