Vietnam—the country ravaged by war in 1955 to 1975. Despite the scars left by the war, Vietnam is not a travel destination to be taken for granted. Amidst all that, Vietnam has maintained its reputation to be one of the travel icons in the world. First and foremost, you should learn about your destination. Search online for reviews and most especially ask people who have gone to Vietnam. After all, there is nothing like firsthand experience. Learn where to go, what to eat, and what to do.
As you walk here and there and everywhere, you get tired and hungry and when your tummy speaks, you listen. Vietnam foods are highly considered to be one of the healthiest cuisines in the world powered and paying much attention to the balance of the five fundamental taste senses corresponding to the five elements, which are bitter for fire, salty for water, sour for wood, spicy for metal, and sweet for earth. Also being very much admired for using the freshest ingredients and less usage of oil, mostly relying on greens balancing fresh herbs, vegetables, and meats with the addition of spices to achieve that distinct Vietnam taste. Dishes range from noodle soups, sour fermented meat dishes, sticky rice dishes, soup and cháo (congees), and wraps and rolls just to name a few.
If you’re a nature lover, then you must visit Vietnam being rich of luscious greens and the rare species here and there. The rich biodiversity of wildlife in Vietnam with specific mention of the Asian elephants, Indochinese tigers, golden jackal, leatherback sea turtle, lesser false vampire bat, pot-bellied pigs, and Vietnamese Javan rhinoceros just to name a few. Also, there exists critically endangered species of birds including Christmas Island frigatebird, white-shouldered ibis, white-rumped vulture, redheaded vulture, Bengal florican, and spoon-billed sandpiper, etc. The wildlife includes 11,400 kinds of various plants, 310 kinds of mammals, 296 kinds of reptiles, 2000 kinds of marine fish, 889 bird species, and more. Now tell me, aren’t you glad you nature tripped Vietnam?
If you’re more into the spots, here are some spots to spot in Vietnam. Halong Bay (a popular tourist site in Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich of islands, vegetation, and caves), Mekong Delta (located in the Ho Chi Minh area offering a wide array of attractions including bicycle tours, fish farms, floating markets, ox racing, and river cruise), Ho Chi Minh City (with its historic French colonial buildings, theaters, museums as attractions and noting approximately 3,000,000 tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City in 2007 alone; increased 12% from the previous year.), Nha Trang (Vietnam’s most popular seaside town featuring beautiful beaches and holds the title being the center of scuba diving in Vietnam), and Thien Mu Pagoda (the tallest pagoda being seven-stories high and is named the unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital located in Hue) are just among the most popular places to roam when in this tourist destination.
So if you’re looking for a place rich in history, abundant in wildlife, provides the healthiest foods, then this is the place. So go ahead, there’s no harm in experiencing the Timeless Charm!