The first time I was asked to go to Vietnam was for me a bit of a quandary. It was not a country I had really anticipated going to. The time was September 2001 - so as you can gather things airline and security wise were somewhat tense, but go I did for a short but most enlightening trip that also included a short sojourn to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
After that trip things in my life and work changed and I did not think I would ever return to see more of what I had only really scratched the surface of.
Where does one start on my second trip... well as it happened Vietnam airlines fly direct from Melbourne to HoChiMinh City so that had to be the starting place...
This time I had more time available not only to inspect hotels but a bit of sightseeing too; the #1 place to go in my books - CuChi Tunnels - a few hours outside HCM City to see and understand how the VietCong lived and survived in these tunnels during the 'American War' as they call it!
Go down into the tunnels and see how they slept, cooked, ate and were hospitalised.
HCM city itself is a chaotic mass of Motorcyles large and small, trucks, cars and what seems like endless traffic 24hours/day... the challenge here and in Hanoi is crossing the road, but head up look straight ahead and walk... and you will get to the other side!
Hotels in HCM vary from the locally owned and run 2 & 3 star hotels, up to the 5 star luxury of modern hotels such as Sofitel and Sheraton and the charm of the older hotels like The Rex, and perhaps one of the most famous - The Caravelle with the top floor bar 'Saigon Saigon' a haunt of journalists during the war.
From HCM I flew up to Nha Trang a delightful city with a wide boulevard running along the beachside, with the major hotels overlooking the bay and beach. Just offshore is Vinpearl Island connected to the mainland by Cable car (a worthwhile trip) and is the home to VinPearland - a local amusement park as well as the 5 Star VinPearl Hotel (formerly Sofitel Vinpearl). The main hotels in Nha Trang are Evason Ana Mandara (5 start on the beach),Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Resort (4 star) overlooking the beach, Yasaka Saigon Hotel (3 1/2 star), a new Novotel and Sheraton both opened in the past few years. Beaches here are great too.
About 40 mins by road and another 25 mins by boat is the luxurious Six Senses Ninh Van Bay - a truly great experience and highly recommended - all pool villas either located beachfront, on rocky outcrops, or in jungle settings, each villa has it's own butler, and all one expects from such 5 star luxury.
Regrettably I had to move on from Nha Trang and flew the short distance to Danang and then on to the UNESCO designated town of Hoi An.
Danang is famous for 'China Beach' used by the US forces during the war for R&R and here are some of the most memorable beaches in all of Asia - stretching from Danang to Hoi An (30kms) white wide sand beaches as far as the eye could see. In Danang the Furama Hotel is the major 5 star hotel right on the beach, but more are coming.
Hoi An town offers the visitor a step back in time to view the old Shophouses and street vendors and an array of goods and services to be seen to be believed - and the best buys? Try having clothes made - in 24 hours! Silk is also a mainstay of the area.
Hotels again are many and varied from the charming Ancient House Hotel with its old and still operating Rice Noodle factory, the colonial style Victoria Hotel right on the beach, Life Resort, Palm Garden right up to the 5 star luxury of the NamHai resort.
Truly this is a destination to spend time not only relaxing but exploring the wonders of the area.