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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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Central Vietnam
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Central Vietnam has many cultural riches on offer and boasts many UNESCO World Heritage recognized sites: the Imperial Citadel of Hue and its courtly music; Hoi An Old Town, once a major trading port for international sea merchants; Phong Nha, an impressive network of mountain caves and river caverns; and My Son, the ancient holy land of the Hindu-influenced Cham people. In addition to diverse terrains and ethnic groups, Central Vietnam was the site of major battles and combat zones during the Vietnam War where the country was divided in two.
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Hue
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Hue’s golden era was during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945), Vietnam’s last monarchy. The emperors valued high culture, politics and education, and as a consequence encouraged and helped to create music, cuisine and art fit for royal consumption. They also were responsible for constructing grandiose mausoleums for former reigning emperors, and an elaborate imperial complex modeled on China’s Forbidden City, known as the Imperial Citadel of Hue. Located on the pretty Perfume River, Hue’s many landmarks and national treasures can be discovered by boat along the river banks.
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In 2003, Nha Nhac was proclaimed as one of “28 Great Spiritual and Orally Transmitted Heritages of the World” by UNESCO. Originally began during the Ly Dynasty (1010 – 1225), it reached its zenith as a genre of court music (played by an orchestra with anywhere between 8 and 42 instruments) reserved for annual ceremonies and special events during the Nguyen Dynasty. It became a symbol of the dynasty’s power and longevity. Today it stands as a rich spiritual heritage that is seen by some as a way to communicate with gods and kings, but mostly it reflects the central tenets of Vietnamese culture and philosophy. |
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Hoi An
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Hoi An is perhaps the most unique and pretty town in all of Vietnam. As an ancient seaport dating back to the 16th century, traders and merchants came from near and far, leaving distinctive architectural and cultural footprints. Traders dealt in products ranging from high-grade silk and paper to Chinese medicines and elephant tusks. The ancient buildings, low tiled houses and narrow streets have remained virtually unchanged for 200 years. Influences range from Chinese and Japanese to French colonial. Hoi An Old Town, now a World Heritage site, is protected from high-rise buildings, cars and urban modernization. It’s an ideal place to wander the streets without a care in the world, buy an entirely new wardrobe (it’s Vietnam’s tailoring capital!), or watch life amble by the riverside. On the 15th of every lunar month, motorbikes, heavy traffic and televisions are forbidden in the Old Town. Candles float like magic fairies in the river and light the path into grand old buildings that now moonlight as bars, restaurants and art shops. |
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My Son
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My Son, another UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is the Holy Land of the ancient Champa kingdom dating back to the 4th century, and dedicated to Hindu gods. Although smaller than other Indian inspired civilizations like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, My Son served as the political capital of the Champa Kingdom and was occupied until the 13th century – the longest period of development of any monument in Southeast Asia, even beyond that of Angkor Wat. About 20 of 70 structures stand strong today. Towers made from bricks adorned with sandstone and joined together with no glue, have withstood the tyranny of time, weather and wars. |
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Danang and surrounds
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Today a major industrial city in the center of Vietnam, Danang was a small American city at the height of the Vietnam War. Nearby, soldiers took some much needed R & R at the legendary “China Beach”, which you can visit and try some of Vietnam’s only surfing! Nearby you can see marble sculptors and their majestic statues and carvings around Marble Mountain. For raw beauty, coastline views don’t get much better than the white sand and pristine waters of Lang Co Beach and Hai Van Pass, where mountains meet the sea and green hills and valleys roll effortlessly into the aqua-marine water. Danang is also home to Vietnam’s best Cham museum and a few five-star resorts located on the long stretch of white sand coastline. |
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Phong Nha Caves
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Another World Heritage site can be reached via Dong Hoi, situated north of Hue. Phong Nha, meaning “Cave of Teeth”, is an impressive complex of 14 grottoes situated in the Ke Bang limestone mountains. You’ll climb high into the mountain to explore the caves their spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. A cruise along Vietnam’s longest underground river will take you past mini sand and stone beaches and into huge underground dry caves. |
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DMZ
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War enthusiasts or Vietnam Veterans are often drawn to Central Vietnam for its strategic position during the Vietnam War. Following the withdrawal of the French and under the 1954 Geneva Accords, Vietnam was sliced in two – North and South. The demarcation line rang along the Ben Hai River and the stretch of land both 3 miles (5km) to the north and south of the river was known as the DMZ or Demilitarized Zone. Ironically, the DMZ and the two provinces either side of it were to become the most heavily bombed regions in Vietnam during the American War, leaving it looking more like a moon crater. A trip around the DMZ will take you to the ingenious network of tunnels at Vinh Moc, and to key American military sites like Khe Sanh combat base and the Rockpile. |
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When to Go
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Central Vietnam has many clear, sunny days great for sightseeing and relaxing on the coast. The weather is hot and dry from February to August with temperatures reaching 35°C in mid-Summer. A short wet season with some heavy rains falls somewhere between September and January, and occasional typhoons hit the coast from September to October. |
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goQTT Tips
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- Walk around the Imperial Citadel of Hue and float down the Perfume River to see pagodas, tombs and the architectural vestiges of the Nguyen dynasty
- Take a beach holiday at one of Danang’s top resorts or try surfing at Vietnam’s only surf beach, the war-famed “China Beach”
- Indulge in some of the best cuisine in the country – Hue’s famed culinary delights – and take a cooking class in quaint Hoi An Old Town
- Discover lost worlds of the Hindu-inspired Cham Kingdom which stretched across Indochina and lasted many centuries
- Take our Central Treasures Tour to discover lost worlds, ancient cultures and into the DMZ for a tour of famous US battle sites from the Vietnam War
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