A holiday in Vietnam will open your eyes and heart to a country of profound delights. One of the hottest destinations for those seeking a compelling blend of adventure, culture, history and cuisine fuelled by an emerging economy and a cheerful, hardworking population, Vietnam has literally something to offer every holidaymaker.
Holidays in Vietnam offer many extraordinary attractions. From the raucous, bustling street life of Saigon and Hanoi, endless white sand beaches fronting the warm South China Sea, living history stretching back thousands of years and a way of life that is timeless yet as fresh as tomorrow. National parks and nature reserves offer jungle treks and the chance encounter with wildlife and ethnic minority peoples, cities spin 24/7 on a heady mixture of street food and motorbike fumes, and personal butlers deliver chilled cocktails in luxurious six star spa resorts.
Most popular Vietnam destinations include Saigon, with the Mekong Delta and cu chi tunnels in the south, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi An and China Beach on the coast, Dalat in the Central Highlands and Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa in the north.
Come to Vietnam to experience a cuisine of mind-boggling scope. Hundreds of national dishes, and some with colonial and foreign influence stem from an extensive coastline teeming with endless seafood, deeply fertile soil producing a staggering variety of herbs, vegetables and fruits, and a national obsession with dining that lacks any inhibition. Think deep fried dog or still-beating cobra heart if you’re game, if not there’s still a few hundred dishes to try, and almost all seasoned with nuoc mam, the pungent, yet amazingly addictive, fish sauce.
A communist country, but in-your-face capitalist, Vietnam can be a little bureaucratic and unsophisticated at times; but at the end of the day with a few bia hoys (fresh beer) and a four course meal costing less than a fiver under the belt, all can be easily forgiven. So a sense of humour packed with the sense of adventure will help the holidaymaker have the time of their life.
Vietnam fun facts
In 1967, the American military had over 40 ice cream factories in Vietnam to make the troops feel more at home
Vietnam has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Third World
Vietnam was chosen to host the 2008 Miss Universe after beating Japan by one vote
Taj Mahal
Friday 19th October 2007
Travel Counsellor: Patrick O'Shea
As we arrived into Agra and headed for our hotel, I must admit to a little apprehension at what lay in store for us the following day. It’s not every day you get to see one of the most famous sites on earth.
Could this wonder of the world live up to the publicity that surrounds it even to this day? Having seen so many images of the Taj Mahal I couldn’t help thinking to myself “what if it’s a letdown?” What if it doesn’t live up to its awesome reputation?
Bayard Taylor, an American poet and travel author wrote “So pure, so gloriously perfect did it appear that I almost feared to approach it lest the charm should be broken”. Admirable sentiments indeed.
I needn’t have worried! It is quite simply the most breathtaking piece of architecture I have ever seen.
The Taj Mahal is in Agra, a city about 4 hours drive north of Delhi in India’s Uttar Pradesh region. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his 3rd wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child.... view full story
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