Why Travel to Vietnam?
Chef Anthony Bourdain once likened traveling to Vietnam to "meeting the love of your life for the first time". Indeed there is something enticing about this country. Ecclectic and enchanting, Vietnam has inspired novelists, poets and other artisans for centuries. From the lush highlands of the Annam cordillera to the beaches of the South China Sea to the limestone karsts of Halong Bay, the diversity of Vietnam's geography is astounding. This diversity extends to the people of Vietnam, who are represented by more than 50 ethnic groups - each with their own language and culture.
Perhaps it is this diversity that has prompted other empires to conquer Vietnam. From the 111 BC until 1975 the Chinese, Mongols, French and Japanese have attempted to occupy Vietnam with varying degrees of success. The legacy of these foreign invaders can be most clearly seen in the architecture of the country. The merchant houses of Hoi An are strongly influenced by Chinese aesthetics, while the Presidential Palace is pure French.
Just as Vietnam has a long history of being conquered, it has an even longer history of overthrowing their colonizers against all odds to become the victors. Tenacity and quiet determination are characteristics that have held the Vietnamese people in good stead. Never was this more famously demonstrated than during the war against America. Yet Vietnam has crept out of the long shadows of war to become one of the world's fastest developing economies. Since the government initiative of "doi moi" (renovation), the former centrally planned economy has bloomed into a market economy.
Nowhere is the renovated Vietnam more evident than in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). This bustling, exuberant city is endearing in its shamelessly entrepreneurial intentions. The sprawling metropolis of Saigon is an eclectic mix of architectural styles from colonial French to modern Bauhaus; while Ben Thanh market is a bargain hunters haven and a great place to pick up souvenirs. In contrast Hanoi is outwardly more staid and mellow. However under this apparent austerity, the city bustles with culture and history, encapsulated in ancient temples and museums. In between these two contrasting cities, lie shimmering rice fields, sugar-white beaches and ancient pagodas, providing an enormous range of holiday options.
About the Author
Traveling to Vietnam with Vietnam Space Travel Add: 4/10A Nguyen Thi Dinh,Thanh Xuan,Hanoi; tel: (844)62819746; Hotline:(84)989739826 website: http://www.huetravelspace.com; http://www.hoiantravels.com; http://www.phuquoctravels.com
Vietnam Travel
travelling in vietnam
travelling in vietnam
