Destination Planning: Vietnam - Where the War Was

Vietnam is one of many countries on my list that, as an American, my country has gone to war with in previous generations. Many decades have passed since then, and most of the tensions of the period are all but lost to history. But that doesn't stop my grandma and older relatives to question why I want to go there, however. For those who are keeping up with the Destination Planning series, you'll see this is a common theme for many of the countries I want to visit. When hearing my list of countries to see, my grandma so emphatically said "Vietnam?! But that's where the war... was." Which was quite amusing for the family members involved. I am not going to Vietnam because of the history of our cultures being at war with each other many years ago, even though I will be making stops at some of the historically significant locations along the way. My interest in Vietnam is almost exclusively derived by the picturesque scenery that the varying landscapes have to offer, as well as from the stories from my Vietnamese friends have regarding their experiences going back home to visit family. These factors make me very excited to see what adventures their great country can offer, and I am dedicating around 3 weeks of my time on the road to exploring it.



I still need to confer with my friends to find out what sites are absolute must sees, so my list for Vietnam is still a little bare. As I am told of more places, expect this list to be updated!

City Highlights:

Hanoi: Hanoi will be my major hub while in Vietnam for multi-day trips out to Sapa and Halong Bay. Ho Chi Minh's massive mausoleum is a must see, and I am looking forward to getting acquainted with Vietnam in this historical capital city.

Sapa: The home of remote mountains, beautiful terraced rice paddies, and ethnic tribes, Sapa is a trekkers dream destination. The local villages of Cat Cat, Ban Ho, and Lao Chai are popular sites to see, even if they are taxed for tourists. I may try and book a homestay at a local home for an overnight in Sapa as well.

Halong Bay: Finally, some beach time! Halong Bay will be my first proper experience with the picturesque Asian beaches. I've never been to beaches with massive rock formations protruding from the ground, so I am quite excited to make Halong Bay my first. I will likely book Halong Bay as package tour from Hanoi that can include 1 night on a junk boat, 1 night at a resort on Cat Ba island, cave visits, kayaking, and island stops.

Hue: Getting away from the major cities and natural attractions, Hue offers some wonderful attractions from Vietnam's imperial days. The top site to see is the Citadel, the former location for the imperial seat of the government. Although it was partially destroyed during the war, much restoration has restored the complex. Additionally Hue is also home to the Tombs of the Emperors, a burial complex with the mausoleums of many rulers throughout Vietnam's history.

Hoi An: The port town of Hoi An is a popular beach city, so a visit to An Bang Beach is a must! The historical old town is setup in such a way that attractions are visited a la cart so you can have a mixture of museums and historical sites in one package. I may attempt to do a cooking class in Vietnam sometime while in Hoi An as well!

Nha Trang: Even more of a seaside town than Hoi An, Nha Trang is a beach hot spot. Not only are the beaches the tourist magnet, Nha Trang offers many waterfalls near by to the city and great deals on scuba dives which I could easily get talked into.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): The former city of Saigon is embodied as the icon of the Vietnam war. Famous sites like Reunification Palace, the former South Vietnam's presidential palace, is one of the few buildings that did not get destroyed during the war. The infamous Cu Chi Tunnels are also located a short distance away from the city and a great place to get educated on the horrors of the Vietnam war.

Eating Habits: Pho, Bun Bo Hue (noodle soup with sliced beef), Banh Khoai (pancake with bean sprouts and shrimp), Cao Lao (rice noodle with pork)

Modes of Transportation: The primary mode of transportation will be trains for the long hauls between cities, however buses will be utilized to travel between Hanoi and Sapa/Halong Bay. The newest form of transportation utilized in Vietnam has to be a junket boat, which I will try and spend a few nights on while in the Halong Bay region!

Predicted Daily Cost: $40/day - I am estimating this number low for a number of reasons. From Vietnam onward until I arrive in South America the distances traveled will be much smaller, which equates to lower cost. When overnight trains are removed from the picture, the daily budget for South East Asia drops considerably. As most of my site seeing in Vietnam is scenery based, my daily attractions budget could be quite low.

Leaving Vietnam: I will leave Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City overland to Phnom Penh in Cambodia as a stopping point before visiting the iconic Angkor complex!


As always, I appreciate any advice. If there is something specific you think I should see while in Vietnam, please let me know!