Vietnam may be quite love-it-or-hate-it, perhaps even controversial amongst journey buffs.
It really occurs to be certainly one of my favourite locations to speak about, precisely as a result of I’ve had such dramatically completely different experiences there.
There have been instances after I thought Vietnam should be essentially the most overrated nation in Southeast Asia. Different instances, I believed it was the epitome of journey journey, making me wish to scream from the rooftops about simply how good it’s.
Not all facets of Vietnam will at all times please everybody, particularly in essentially the most touristy areas. However dig a bit deeper and it’s possible you’ll uncover the different Vietnam. I went from having combined emotions to contemplating Vietnam certainly one of my favourite journey locations — and right here I’ll attempt to clarify why.
OK, poor your self a drink. We have now rather a lot to speak about.
Truthful warning: I’m going to be very sincere concerning the negatives! Do give the publish a full learn so you can also make up your personal thoughts, as travelling in Vietnam can’t be simply boiled right down to just some fast bullet factors. Evidently, all journey experiences are in the end subjective.
DON’T go to Vietnam if…
You count on jaw-dropping Insta-worthy seashores
That is generalizing, however on the entire Vietnam’s seashores are simply… positive.
A really picture-perfect seashore paradise is tough to search out in Vietnam. Nonetheless, given such an extended shoreline, there are many respectable sandy seashores to go round. The wow-factor simply by no means compares with what you could find in Indonesia, The Philippines, or Thailand.
Some commenters have argued me on this level, normally mentioning some forgotten native seashore in a spot that’s tough to get to. I agree, there are at all times hidden gems. For those who’re on a motorcycle journey by means of Vietnam, you would possibly cease by some splendidly pristine fisherman’s seashores someplace alongside the best way.
However when contemplating the seashores in vacationer hubs like Ha Lengthy Bay, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Hoi An, I feel it’s honest to charge these as common.
Many seashores lack scenic options or are fairly polluted. Snorkelling in Vietnam is commonly disappointing attributable to poor visibility and dynamite fishing leading to a scarcity of aquatic life (with exceptions, after all).
One of the best seashores are within the south, corresponding to in Phu Quoc and Con Dao. However I feel it’s finest to consider the seashores in Vietnam extra as a facet dish than the principle meal.
You’ll be able to add some seashore days to your itinerary and luxuriate in some enjoyable instances by the water, however for those who simply need magnificent seashores, you’re higher off going to Palawan, one of many quite a few Indonesian islands, and even Krabi in Thailand.
You’re ONLY going for Ha Lengthy Bay
Ha Lengthy Bay is an archipelago of over 1,600 islands and islets that includes spectacular limestone pillars rising from the ocean. It’s extremely spectacular and UNESCO-recognized, so no surprise it turned the sight to see in Vietnam.
Sadly, with this additionally comes loads of overhype and mass tourism. Whereas it’s nonetheless value visiting, it’s essential settle for that it’s a significant tourism honeypot. Chances are high you’ll must share the bay with an armada’s value of cruise boats, must elbow your method to one of many viewing factors on land, and possibly see a good bit of garbage within the waters.
You’ll be able to enhance issues a bit by taking a multi-day cruise as an alternative of a day journey, or going to less-visited however additional bays like Bai Tu Lengthy Bay.
Nonetheless, Ha Lengthy Bay just isn’t the one nor even the perfect cause to go to Vietnam.
You count on clear skies at all times
Okay, actual speak: Vietnam does not at all times appear to be the skilled inventory images that’s usually used to market it.
For instance, that is how Tam Coc is commonly proven:
However likelihood is that it’ll look extra like this:
The north particularly has a persistent behavior of being cloudy and smoggy. It’s a must to be a bit fortunate to expertise the clear skies and sun-draped aesthetic right here, particularly in the course of the Nov-Feb excessive season.
This isn’t a lot a problem in observe. In reality, the north is my favourite area! Nonetheless, the idealized imagery can generally set unreasonable expectations, which is one thing to concentrate on.
The tremendous golden inexperienced rice fields are additionally solely seen on the finish of the wet season (September-October), whereas most vacationers have a tendency to go to Vietnam within the dry season after it’s already been harvested.
You’re unprepared for the scams
Sadly, Vietnam has a little bit of a status for vacationer scams and pushy salespeople. I’ve to confess that on my first go to, I let this bitter my impressions of the nation fairly a bit.
I used to be overcharged by taxi drivers, had a menu switched on me in a restaurant (to 1 with greater costs), obtained harassed by pretend charity collectors, obtained horribly pressured by tour guides and market sellers into parting methods with my cash, and extra. It was all quite nerve-racking.
To be honest, Vietnam could have mellowed out a bit on this in recent times (a minimum of, complaints from travellers appear much less frequent). Taxi scams can now be prevented through the use of the ride-hailing app Seize. The scams and annoyances additionally appear to evaporate nearly fully when you’re outdoors of the 5 or 6 most touristy locations.
Nonetheless, you generally should be on alert or in a position to ignore folks to keep away from frustrations. I like to recommend studying up on widespread scams so that you’re ready.
You’ll be able to’t get pleasure from Vietnam for what it’s
Vietnam isn’t at all times so involved with making a ‘excellent paradise’ for vacationers. Tourism solely makes up 2% of Vietnam’s GDP in comparison with round 20% of Thailand’s, although that doesn’t cease the most well-liked spots from being fairly overtouristed.
One other actuality is that it’s an industrious nation with loads of trendy improvement round its city areas. As multinational companies diversify away from China, it’s experiencing an financial growth.
For those who desire quiet and fewer commercialized locations, it’s important to zig the place others zag and set your sights past the likes of Ha Lengthy Bay, Nha Trang, and Hoi An.
Vietnam could lack the famend resort hospitality business of the Thai islands or, say, Bali. However in case you are motivated to journey to this nation for its tradition, delicacies, pure websites, villages, or buzzing cities, then it will likely be actually your oyster.
What I like about Vietnam is that it’s largely simply being itself, if that makes any sense, which makes it such an interesting nation to discover.
Which brings me to…
Causes to LOVE Vietnam…
The roads much less travelled
For those who’ve solely glanced on the headers up to now, it’s possible you’ll assume Vietnam is only a horrible place to go. However for those who ask me, the other is true!
Ha Lengthy Bay could also be ho-hum, however my perspective of Vietnam took a 180-degree flip as soon as I set my sights on some less-hyped locations.
I explored caves in Phong Nha, went motorbiking in Ha Giang, and went to smaller cities like Da Nang and Quy Nhon. All of the sudden, all the perfect facets of Vietnam got here into focus.
Away from mass tourism, Vietnam is an absolute thrill and a privilege to discover. Even within the extra touristy stops, you’ll be able to have an unbelievable time by approaching them with some curiosity.
For instance, learn my information on discover Hanoi, which focuses on seeing the native life, diving into the road meals, and wandering the exhilarating markets, quite than merely ticking the standard church buildings and monuments off a to-do listing.
The chaotic cities
The large cities of Vietnam — particularly Hanoi and Saigon — are simply a number of the finest people-watching locations I’ve been.
My very first publicity to Vietnam was within the northern capital of Hanoi. The site visitors there may be actually in contrast to something I had seen earlier than. Sure… the air is thick with exhaust and your ears will hardly ever catch a break from all of the honking, however I promise the earlier you recover from this the extra enjoyable you’ll be having.
Go to any downtown space of Hanoi and also you’ll see limitless streams of scooters flowing by means of the streets, seemingly ignoring each site visitors regulation but one way or the other by no means colliding. You may even see mopeds carrying glass home windows, bins stuffed with chickens, and even an entire household of six.
Probably the greatest issues you are able to do is to seize a Vietnamese espresso at a restaurant, ideally one with a bit balcony, and watch all of the insanity unfold earlier than your eyes.
The unbelievable highway journeys
Vietnam is famend for being the right vacation spot to discover on a highway journey, ideally by motorcycle.
Even for those who can’t drive a motorcycle or moped, you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from this side of Vietnam. Merely hit the highway utilizing one of many many Straightforward Rider tour firms, which allow you to hop on the again with a talented native driver.
One of many areas with a number of the most jaw-dropping surroundings is the northern space known as Ha Giang. Driving the mountain roads right here is certainly one of my most cherished journey experiences.
Apart from the northern mountains, there are some famend motorbiking routes within the heart such because the Hai Van Cross. I’ve additionally had an unbelievable time driving across the rice paddies and waterways of the Mekong Delta within the south.
With the liberty to discover your method, you’ll see Vietnam in a unique gentle, meet pleasant locals quite than scammers, and uncover genuine spots away from the standard vacationer path.
For those who’re considering exploring Vietnam on two wheels, take a look at our ideas for motorbiking in Vietnam, or take a look at the native weblog Vietnam Coracle, which has a number of extremely detailed highway journey itineraries.
Unimaginable ecotourism
The phrases Vietnam and ecotourism should not usually stated in a single breath, and no, it isn’t precisely Costa Rica. Nature is usually poorly protected, it appears particularly alongside the coast, however there are fortuitously some very wild and exhilarating nature areas to discover within the inside.
Phong Nha is among the finest ecotourism hotspots so as to add to your itinerary. This small riverside city has fortunately resisted the temptations of overdevelopment, because of a concerted effort to advertise sustainable types of tourism.
Contained in the Phong Nha Nationwide Park, you could find huge unbroken rainforests dwelling to dozens upon dozens of limestone caves. Amongst these are a number of the largest in the complete world.
I went on an expedition to Hold En, the world’s third-largest cave, which concerned an intensive hike by means of the jungle in addition to sleeping in tents contained in the cave. The sensation of being inside a pure formation the scale of an plane hanger is solely indescribable.
The tour firm Oxalis Journey is the ecotourism skilled on this area and I can not advocate them extremely sufficient. (This isn’t an advert. I simply actually admire what they do.) For those who’ve ever needed to go on a jungle, caving, or river kayaking expedition, they’re your very best wager. They’ll make you are feeling such as you’re inside your personal Nationwide Geographic documentary, whereas guaranteeing their work advantages the native communities in addition to nature-conservation efforts.
Apart from Phong Nha there are different extremely worthwhile ecotourism areas, corresponding to Ba Be Nationwide Park, and the mountain trekking routes round Sa Pa and Mai Chau.
Sleeping in a tent inside Hold En, the world’s third greatest cave, is among the finest issues I’ve performed in Vietnam.
The bustling markets
The meals and produce markets in Vietnam are among the many most enjoyable in Asia to discover. Perhaps I’m a bit nostalgic as a result of Hanoi was my first time visiting a correct Asian moist market, however I used to be dazzled by all of the issues I noticed.
There have been bottles full of snake wine, buckets full of frogs, and bins bursting with dwell eels nonetheless wiggling round.
When visiting markets in mountain villages within the north, it’s possible you’ll be fortunate to see members of native tribes such because the Hmong of their superbly coloured clothes.
Within the south, essentially the most thrilling markets to go to are the floating markets, which happen fully on the river and the place distributors in small picket boats cross by promoting their wares.
Being from The Netherlands the place every thing is orderly to a tee, I’ll by no means tire of experiencing the chaos, sounds, and smells of a Vietnamese market — and maybe you’ll really feel the identical.
The exceptional meals
It’s no surprise that Anthony Bourdain simply saved banging on about Vietnam. Whether or not you’re braving the road meals (don’t fear, simply dig in!) or desire going for restaurant meals, you’ll end up in a foodie paradise.
Mixing Asian and French influences (colonial rule launched things like the baguette) and having distinctly completely different flavors within the north, heart, and south, it’s unattainable to get tired of Vietnamese delicacies.
For those who’re not but up to the mark, among the finest issues you are able to do is to e-book a avenue meals tour with a neighborhood in no matter metropolis you begin your journey.
Taking a crash course in Vietnamese delicacies goes to repay for the remainder of your journey, as you’ll know simply what scrumptious dishes to order past your typical pho soup.
The low price of journey
Oh yeah, did I point out that journey in Vietnam is spectacularly good worth?
You’ll be able to journey fortunately on a backpacker finances of as little as $20 to $30 a day, with many scrumptious meals obtainable for underneath $3 and primary personal resort rooms beginning at $15 an evening or so.
When you’ve got a bit extra money to spend, you’ll be able to get pleasure from boutique-quality lodging at finances costs.
You’ll be able to test extra particulars in my Southeast Asia journey budgets information.
The long-stay visas
Lastly, for a lot of nationalities, it’s now simpler to go to Vietnam than ever earlier than.
Previous to 2023, Vietnam’s visa system was quite complicated, with a number of visa varieties supplied with completely different necessities and restrictions. And for those who needed to remain longer than a few weeks in Vietnam, it was usually harder to take action.
That’s all modified now with the introduction of the brand new Vietnam e-visas. You’ll be able to simply apply for them on-line and if in case you have a Western passport, you might be nearly actually eligible for a beneficiant 90-day visa-on-arrival.
This has not solely made it simpler to get a visa for a vacation, however digital nomads wishing to remain longer will now discover it a lot simpler to take action. Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh Metropolis are a number of the prime locations for distant working in Vietnam.
So… is Vietnam value visiting?
As you’ll be able to most likely inform by now, I feel Vietnam is extremely value visiting.
Positive, Vietnam is the place I skilled a number of the most annoying scams, to not point out a number of disappointing cookie-cutter excursions at Ha Lengthy Bay and within the Mekong Delta.
Nevertheless it’s additionally the place I waited out the rain underneath a thatched roof in Ha Giang province, sipping a candy and creamy Vietnamese espresso whereas conversing with a Hmong farmer purely by means of Google Translate and agreeing his chickens had been lovely.
It’s true… Vietnam isn’t at all times picture-perfect in every single place and the seashores are solely so-so.
Then once more, the cities are an assault to the senses and a avenue photographer’s paradise — from the ladies sporting their flower-patterned pyjama fashions, to the artisan blacksmiths soldering away within the slender streets of Hanoi’s Previous Quarter, and locals ritualistically burning stacks of mock forex at first of the Lunar calendar.
Whilst you could wish to maintain your expectations in test for the coral reefs, dive deep into one of many nationwide parks and also you’ll see some jaw-dropping landscapes and a number of the wildest areas of Southeast Asia.
“A rustic of contrasts” is a journey writing cliche, but when there’s one nation for which we must always nonetheless reserve this phrase, then let it’s Vietnam.
I hope extra folks go to Vietnam with the fitting expectations, as a result of for those who do, it’s a singular thrill to find this overwhelmingly vibrant and thrilling nation.
For extra inspiration, don’t miss my backpacker’s information to Vietnam, my 3-week Vietnam itinerary, and these 22 prime locations to go to in Vietnam.
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Posted FEB 28, 2024
