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
Korean Airlines to Europe Stopover Experience
Friday 12th September 2008
Travel Counsellor: Kylie Petit
I recently travelled to Europe with my family (husband and 4 year old daughter) on Korean Airlines. Korean Airlines include a complimentary stopover in Seoul on flights that do not directly connect through to their destination, and I was most interested to experience this service for myself, along with my first flight on Korean Airlines.
We selected Korean Airlines largely based on price, their safety record and the fact that they do include the free night on the outbound flight from Brisbane to Paris. We have family in Belgium and travel every second year to visit. We like to stop in each direction for a night or so to break the journey – it makes it more of a holiday than a hardship to get there, and with a young child, for me, it’s pretty much essential for my sanity.
I was really happy with the Korean Airlines flight itself. The staff were extremely kind and accommodating. The meal choices were Korean or Asian style, and all delicious. The seating was comfortable and about... view full story
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