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Destination Guide: Vietnam |
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Welcome to Vietnam!
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Welcome to Vietnam, South East Asia’s recently discovered jewel in the crown. With
2000km of emerald sea coastline, picture-perfect rural life, endless rice fields
amid stunning mountain ranges, it’s not hard to see why Vietnam was voted one of
the top ten countries for tourism and travel development between now and 2016.*
Vietnam is all that and more, and goQTT will open the door for you to meet some
of the friendliest people on the planet, visit exciting modern cites and ancient
cultural sites, and travel in a safe and comfortable manner. Come join us to unravel
the mysteries and hidden natural beauties of this vibrant country.
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* Research from the World Tourism and Travel Council in cooperation with the Oxford
Economic Forecasting predicts Vietnam will be one of the top ten countries for tourism
and travel development from 2007 to 2016.
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South Vietnam
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Southern Vietnam, once known as Cochinchina, was coveted by the French for its natural beauty and bountiful lands. Today, life in the Mekong Delta is still simple for most, however an abundance of food, sunshine and lush environs puts a smile on each and every face. You’ll float through markets, wander around orchards and gardens, and glimpse rustic river life and the modest houses that hug the banks. If it’s turquoise seas and white sand beaches you crave, take a boat or fly to Vietnam’s premier untouched paradise on Phu Quoc Island. Last but not least, crowning the mighty Mekong is the South’s capital, Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest and undoubtedly most exciting city.
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Ho Chi Minh City
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Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, was dubbed “the Pearl of Orient” during its glory days as a major French colonial city. Until the 16th century it was part of the Khmer Kingdom, later a key outpost in French Indochina, and then a perilous combat zone during the Vietnam War. But the South’s traumatic past has since melted away with the countless smiles and warmth of its modern-day inhabitants. |
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Located on a giant bend in the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s biggest metropolis, with a population conservatively estimated at 8 million people. If Hanoi is the head of government, Ho Chi Minh City is the economic and industrial heart of Vietnam. Progress is evident on every street corner and in most marketplaces, and this vibrant city boasts the country’s most luxurious hotels, bars, restaurants and shopping. A day in Ho Chi Minh City is like a trip to a fun park; there’s so much to see and do from the legacy of French colonial architecture and war museums to the thrill of bustling street life and school girls giggling in their exquisite white ao dais (traditional flowing slit-dress with trousers). |
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Cu Chi Tunnels
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Not far from Ho Chi Minh City are the renowned Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels were first begun during the Franco-Viet Minh War (1946-1954) as a refuge from skirmishes for the Viet Minh and later lengthened to provide a hideout for both Viet Cong and local communities during the Vietnam War (1959-1975). The intricate network of tunnels extended for 124 miles, connecting key strategic sites, villages and mini-hospitals. A one-day visit to Cu Chi will allow you to enter the tunnels (now widened for tourists’ larger-framed bodies!), watch a documentary film and see cruel but ingenious war-time booby traps. There’s even a shooting range for those who want to fire an AK-47! |
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The Mighty Mekong
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The Meklong River – one of the world’s major rivers – begins its journey in the mountains of Tibet and flows for some 2,500 miles through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, and into Vietnam where it’s known as Cuu Long, meaning nine dragons in reference to the nine branches of the delta. Finally, the river and its tributaries twist and turn through the country’s rice bowl to end its journey as it merges with the South China Sea. |
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Highlights of the Mekong Delta include My Tho, the gateway to the delta and home to lush orchards and snake farms that produce a special kind of liquor believed to be good luck for a groom on his wedding night! Pretty provincial capital Ben Tre is abundant with orchards, old French colonial buildings, coconut groves and was once the cradle for many revolutionaries. If you’re game to try the smelly but costly delicacy durian fruit, Cai Mon offers the best durian in Vietnam in addition to other lush tropical fruits – longan, mangosteen, mango. The locals also take great pride in their bonsai tree grooming. For a chance to see true rustic river life that has barely changed in the last century, cruise on a sampan past Vinh Long’s houseboats and stilt houses. A river boat trip will take you to small islands that are home to the delta’s most bountiful orchards – grapefruit, lime, longan. Closer to the Cambodian border, you’ll see the legacy of the Khmer people near Chau Doc, as the Mekong Delta was once part of Cambodia. Ethnic Chinese people also populate large areas of the delta from their history of migration here in the 17th century. Lastly, a trip through the “Nine Dragons” wouldn’t be complete without a stop-off at the delta’s industrial heart, Can Tho, where you can explore the daily floating markets, indulge in some delicious delta cuisine or put your feet up in a luxurious hotel. |
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Phu Quoc Island
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Vietnam’s “treasure island” lies at the very south of the country in the Gulf of Thailand with views of the Cambodian coastline. Home to some of the most idyllic and undisturbed beaches in South East Asia, Phu Quoc guarantees perfect holiday weather with eleven months of sunshine every year! The island boasts first-rate seafood and water sports like diving and dugong watching! |
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But that’s not all it’s famous for – Vietnam’s signature dish, nuoc mam or fish sauce, is painstakingly made in this island sanctuary. It’s almost an art form. Meanwhile, lush forests, endless dirt tracks, pepper groves and natural springs await you. Or you can climb one of Phu Quoc’s 99 hills! If it’s a luxury beach holiday you want, life moves at a snail’s pace on the island and we’ll be happy to help you relax and indulge at one of our recommended resorts. |
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When to Go
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The South’s warmer and more tropical climate makes it ideal to visit all year round (25 – 30°C). A hot, dry season lasts from December to April and a rainy season follows from May to November. Temperatures really heat up around March and April before the beginning of the wet season, when afternoon monsoonal showers cool off otherwise hot and humid days. Phu Quoc, further South, generally has sunny weather all year round and cool sea breezes. |
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goQTT Tips
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- Sample the country’s best nightlife, shopping and restaurant scene with our recommended places to wine, dine and boutique shop
- Take our Mekong Delta Cycling Tour, where you’ll see life up close and personal from bikes, boats and on foot
- Take a cyclo around Saigon’s Cholon or Chinatown district with its colorful pagodas and markets
- Venture out to witness the midday mass of Vietnam’s most eclectic and colorful religion – Cao Daoism
- Take a one-day island tour around Phu Quoc to see how unspoiled paradise really is
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