8 good reasons to go on a trip to Vietnam

Despite the many cultural differences that exist between all countries, Vietnam remains in the eyes of foreigners a particularly attractive destination thanks to the beauty of its landscapes, its authentic way of life, its traditions and its centuries-old history. We will give you the detail about all of this with our “8 good reasons to go on a trip to Vietnam”.

Halong Bay, a world natural heritage, is one of the most impressive sites in the country

1. A safe destination

One of the main concerns of the traveller is to choose a safe destination. That's good, it's one of the main qualities of the country of the Dragon. Whatever the duration of your trip to Vietnam, the places you will visit, whether you are alone or several, the country guarantees that you will always be safe.

This is what emerged from a study conducted by the Business Insider website. Entitled the 30 ideal destinations, they place Vietnam at the top of the safest and most welcoming countries in Southeast Asia. This is not the first time that online media has rewarded this destination since in 2015 Vietnam was listed in the 50 safest countries in the world.

Other media have also rewarded Vietnam, such as the English daily The Economist which ranked Ho Chi Minh City among the 50 safest cities to travel in 2015. The Belgian magazine DeMorgen also praises Vietnam, considering it particularly safe for travellers. Just recently, the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) ranked Vietnam among the top 10 most popular destinations in the world in 2019.

You should also know that while the Coronavirus pandemic caused heavy impacts on the whole world, Vietnam has achieved first-rate results in the fight against the spread of the virus.

Until May 18, 2020, Vietnam has recorded no new cases of coronavirus contamination for the 32nd consecutive day. As a reminder, the country has not reported any deaths from the disease, 84% of infected cases have been declared fully recovered.

2. An abundant tourist attractions

Hue Imperial City, World Heritage

It is not surprising to regularly find Vietnam in many rankings of the most popular destinations in the world. To answer the first question "Where to go in Vietnam?", you will find that the country is indeed full of spectacular landscapes that you will discover with passion.

Here is a non-exhaustive list. Let's start with the capital Hanoi, renowned worldwide for being a peaceful, welcoming and inexpensive capital. Then Halong Bay, listed as a World Natural Heritage Site, but also Soon Doong, which is the largest cave in the world, are also at the top of the list.

Soon Doong, the largest cave in the world

We can add to these already exceptional places the large and magnificent beaches from north to south of the country, but also the splendid landscapes of terraced rice fields present in the North-West. As you will have understood, it is the whole Vietnamese territory which is full of discoveries, each more unforgettable than the other, whether historical, cultural or natural.

Listen to "Hello Vietnam", you can find so many reasons to go on a trip to Vietnam.

3. A millennia-old heritage

Tran Quoc Pagoda is among the most beautiful pagodas in the world

Vietnamese history and culture have their roots over 4.000 years ago. The country is fortunate to still have many treasures retracing this centuries-old history. In particular, we can talk about a large number of ancient works, popular legends, as well as traditional festivals. All are enriched and multiplied by the great ethnic mosaic (54 ethnic groups living together in Vietnam) of the country. In addition, there are many religious monuments with ancient temples, pagodas, feudal tombs and so many other millennial historical vestiges scattered in Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An... Not to mention its colonial history is still visible in cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Moreover, in recent years, tourists have been travelling to Vietnam not only to discover its beautiful landscapes but also to better understand the history of the Vietnamese people.

4. A diverse gastronomy

Vietnamese gastronomy is really popular with all tourists thanks to dishes whose names travel around the world such as pho, banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), bun cha, bun bo Hue and nem ran. These are all culinary delights not to be missed on a trip to Vietnam.

The street food is as varied as it is delicious and alone deserves great curiosity. It's also a great way to encounter everyday life. It is not as spicy as its Thai neighbour, nor as rich as the Chinese and certainly not as carefully presented as the European. But Vietnamese dishes are sober and rich which will make your appetite insatiable.

In Vietnam, it is not surprising to feast on “pho” several times during the day, especially since there is a myriad of this dish. In addition to the most famous "pho bo" pho soup with beef, other versions of pho exist such as pho ga (chicken pho), pho xao (fried rice noodles), pho cuon (beef spring rolls), the pho chien phong (fried rice noodles), which are all worth the detour!

>> Read more: Top 10 unmissable dishes in Vietnam

5. The Coffee

Ca phe trung or egg coffee, an exceptional Vietnamese creation

Vietnam is certainly not the cradle of coffee, but it is still the second-largest producer in the world. There is not one, but many ways to drink coffee in Vietnam. The simplest and least original for foreigners is coffee served in Vietnamese style. To taste it, all you have to do is take very fine ground Vietnamese coffee beans and put them in a filter placed directly on your cup. In this case, we taste a particularly strong and tasty drink. You can also order ca phe sua da, an iced coffee accompanied by sweetened condensed milk, which is also a drink to try during a trip to Vietnam. The latest trend is ca phe trung or egg coffee. Recognized as a Vietnamese creation by the foreign press and hailed as particularly good for your health, all you have to do is mix a raw egg and sugar with your coffee to get it.

>> Read more: Where to taste the best egg coffee in Hanoi?

6. Fresh ingredients

One of the nice surprises tourists have when they visit Vietnam is the fresh food stalls in the markets.

When you go around a local market, you are quickly struck by the fish and shrimp jumping out of the water in the basins. The tropical fruits and vegetables sold in abundance are just as fresh and can only appeal to gourmands around the world.

7. A welcoming and friendly population

A welcoming and friendly population

The vast majority of foreigners agree to testify that the Vietnamese population is particularly welcoming and friendly. In fact, anywhere in the street, people are ready to help you, whether it is to tell you the best route to get to a particular place, or to find you a bus if you need it. This creates for travellers, opting for a trip to Vietnam, a very good first impression on people as kind and warm as well as hardworking and persevering.

8. Very affordable tourism

Phu Quoc, Pearl Island or paradise on Earth in the far south of Vietnam

Much cheaper than many other destinations in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is all the more attractive as it is home to a large number of interesting things to discover. This country is also positioned at the top of the cheapest and most pleasant destinations in the world. To have a telling example and according to Happy Lifestyle Journal, one can benefit from a luxury stay in a Vietnamese 5-star hotel for the same price as a stay in a 3-star hotel in New York. Going on a trip to Vietnam is, therefore, a perfect choice to treat yourself to a dream trip without breaking the bank.

Even in large metropolises like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (ex-Saigon), where the cost of living is higher than in the rest of the country, the price of accommodation is still particularly affordable. TripAdvisor has also ranked this year Hanoi as the cheapest city in the world for tourists.

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