Vietnam is rapidly opening up to the outside world and the opportunity to visit while it is still true to its cultural identity is a must for all modern day explorers. Stretching the length of the Indochinese Peninsula, Vietnam reaches from the north, with its alpine peaks and Red River Delta, through the central high temperate plateaux down to the Mekong River in the south, with its modern life in Ho Chi Minh city. A twin-center holiday is a great way to see both sides of Vietnam’s unique culture and heritage.
Flights to Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon and now affectionately known as HCMC, are frequent from all over the world. Expect to be surprised by this multi-cultural city with its Asian and french-inspired cuisine, thousands of motorbikes and Ben Thanh Market, which is anything but Communist in its entrepreneurial activity. One of 40 markets in the city which have sprung up to accommodate traders who cannot afford the high commercial rents, this is the market to visit. Hundreds of vendors create a narrow maze of stalls selling everything from cobra wine and fine silk fabric to the latest Japanese gadgets. Haggling is fierce but you will end up with a bargain, even if you have paid more than the locals for your booty.
Wherever you choose to stay, a visit to the Rex Hotel’s rooftop bar is a must for all westerners. Once the gathering place for ex-pats and wartime journalists, it continues to be the city’s most popular watering hole complete with decorative fairy lights, topiary and singing birds that can barely compete with the lively chatter. From the roof there are great views of downtown Ho Chi Minh.
Getting around is easy using local transport, cyclos, motorbike taxis (helmets are compulsory) or renting your own motorbike for around $3-7 per day. Pick up your free map from the Tourist Information Center, which also covers Hanoi. Other thrills of this buzzing city are the Reunification Palace, which has been left exactly as it was the day Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. Features include a circular sofa, vintage 1960s paraphernalia and a replica tank on the front lawn. Less entertaining is the War Remnants Museum with some gruesome photographs and exhibits. The Cu Chi tunnels of the Viet Cong can also be explored, although this is not a trip for the claustrophobically inclined.
Pose for a photograph outside the City Hall, next to the statue of Uncle Ho, visit one of the very pleasant pagodas in the city with their gorgeous sculptures or visit the Dai Nam Van Hien Temple in the tourist park which also houses the zoo, shops, hotels and a huge man-made mountain.
At the other end of the country, and quite opposite to Ho Chi Minh City in many ways, is Hanoi. Built by the french, its faded colonial charm is a delight, even though many buildings are in need of a little TLC and a coat of fresh paint. The mazelike Old Quarter of Hanoi is a shopper’s delight. The narrow crowded streets carry the names of the goods – Rice Street, Silk Street and even Pots and Pans Street! Shops are little more than cubby-holes which contain the merchant surrounded by stacks of noodles, antiques, flowers or handicrafts. Other must-see sights in Hanoi are the 900-year old Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Hanoi offers a feast of gastronomic experiences such as ‘Cha Ca’, a delicious red fish stew served with rice noodles, shrimp sauce, fried peanuts and pickled vegetables. Bon appetit!