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Vietnam Attractions
Vietnam Attractions
Some of our favorite attractions to take in while in Vietnam are listed below.
See the Water Puppets of Hanoi: the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi is magical. Intricate puppets emerge from the surface of a small watery stage as if by magic, telling tales of old Vietnam. Don't miss it.
Take a Wild Ride: Whether through Hanoi's narrow alleyways and mazelike neighborhoods or on the broad boulevards of busy Ho Chi Minh, the traffic in Vietnam is a trip. Darwinian road rules mean that any ride by motorcycle, car, or bus is a test of faith, as drivers swerve and angle through some of the world's craziest traffic. In Vietnam, "getting there" is an adventure in itself.
War Remnants Museum: Formerly called the Museum of American War Crimes, this ever-evolving collection is the face of Vietnam's war past. Exhibits are insightful and certainly rife with rhetoric, but a unique glimpse at propaganda from "the other side," and a yin to the heavy yang of Western reporting and documentation of the war years. A unique perspective and a must-see in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Cham Museum: This open-air colonial structure houses the largest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. Many of the 300-plus Hindu-inspired carvings are captivating.
Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts: This large colonial structure houses a fine collection of new works, historical lacquer and silk paintings, woodblocks, and folk and expressive works in oil.
Vietnam Activities
Some of our favorite activities to participate in while in Vietnam are listed below.
Eat on the Street: "Real" Vietnamese food is best at street side or in small market areas, and, though it might be a little grungy or off-putting to some, dining alfresco in old Indochina offers the most authentic and delicious meals. Prepare yourself for some adventurous dining, or in Ho Chi Minh City, try Ngon Restaurant for a safe overview of Vietnamese fare.
Get Lost in the Markets: In Vietnam the market -- spelled Cho and pronounced like the beginning of the word "could" -- is the epicenter of culture and commerce. The best market for tourists is Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, which caters to foreign visitors with low-cost T-shirts, souvenirs, and local treats, but every town has a market: Dalat's market, with its delicious strawberry preserves; Hoi An's busy riverside fish market and wholesale silk market; Hanoi's sprawling Dong Xuan Market ; and the hilltribe markets of Sapa and Bac Ha in the far north.
Visit Hilltribe Groups: Vietnam's remote mountain regions, the Central Highlands and the far north, are home to a patchwork of ethnic minorities. Ethnic hilltribe people still practice their own brands of animistic religion and wear colorful traditional clothing.
Celebrate the Tet Holiday: This Lunar New Year celebration in early February is the most important event on the calendar. Should you be in Vietnam at this time of year, the greatest gift you could get is an invite to a family's Tet celebration. Bring a little something to eat as a contribution, and enjoy some of the most unique hospitality in the world.
Sail or Kite-Surf on the South China Sea: Opportunities for watersports and sailing are many as you travel along Vietnam's coast. Most resorts have boats for rent, and Nha Trang is a good bet, as is the area off Mui Ne Beach near Phan Thiet, which is becoming a very popular wind- and kite-surfing spot.
Cat Tien National Park: Bird-watcher heaven, little Cat Tien is halfway between Saigon and Dalat and an overnight stay includes night spotting, rustic accommodations, and a morning hike. The place is crawling with jungle animals, birds, and lots of naturalists and ornithologists chasing after them with binoculars.
