Vietnam travel from sacred temples to natural wonders

Hanoi Literature temple

Vietnam travel news. It's pretty sad that when most people think of Vietnam it is in conjunction to the Vietnamese War. And who can blame them, the majority of movies only use it as a site for war. While it is an integral part of the country's history there is much more to Vietnam than a war it fought several decades ago. From the artistry of the countless sacred temples to the natural wonder of the Sam Mountain and Halong Bay, Vietnam has a lot to offer to the tourist. Granted it is not the easiest of places to travel through, however it is definitely worth it.

The Cost of Traveling in Vietnam

The exchange rate is 1 USD to aprox 22.300 VND (Vietnamese Dong)

If you plan to stay at a hostel, expect to pay about 5 bucks (that's around 130,000 VND). Private rooms cost between $350,000 to 400k VND for a double room. You'll best be served if you eat at the local street hawkers and stalls - the food there is both fresh and supremely cheap. 20000 VND gets you a nice rice dish or the famous pho. If you wish to eat at a proper restaurant, they're not expensive either and cost somewhere between 40,000 to 90,000 VND. And use the bus if you want to travel since it's the cheapest. The public bus around the city of Ho Chi Min City costs a mere 3,500 VND (about 16 cents). Train rides are not steeply priced either, for example the 800 km ride from Danag to Hanoi would cost less than 35 dollars.

The prime attraction in Vietnam is the natural beauty, and it won't cost you to explore that. Organized tours of sites such as the Cu Chi tunnels (which were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tet Offensive 1968) can cost between 100,000 to 200,000 VND however - but again, that's not really expensive. Visits to Halong Bay are around 30 dollars for 2 days and the price increases with the number of days.

Money Saving Tips

As aforementioned eat street food as much as you can - it's really cheap. If you're traveling lone distance try to take the late night train or bus, they are relatively cheaper and will save the cost of a night's accommodation as well. And if you possess the power of bargaining, you'll find it pretty helpful in Vietnam.

Top things to Do and See

Vietnam's most distinctive architecture are the Pagodas and they can be found in plentiful quantity all across the country. They are intricately carved and are elegant in their structure. Used mostly as shrines and temples, they are worth a visit.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a grand mix of French Colonialism and Eastern influence. You can explore the quaint streets of the Old Quarter and visit temples, galleries and other things located in this city. If you want an insight into Vietnamese History go check the History Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

If you want to relax, head on over to Dalat which is nestled in the hills of the central highlands. Enjoy the mountain air and the serenity of the natural landscape. You can visit the tribal villages which are dotted around the nearby hills.