Vietnam is becoming a very popular tourist destination. People have put Vietnam on their itinerary for 2 main reasons: traveling to Vietnam is a great bargain for the budget minded tourist and when they arrive in Vietnam they are greeted by great hosts.
Airfares to Vietnam are bargains if you shop around. You can be in Ho Chi Minh City (known as Saigon to the South Vietnamese) from the West Coast of the United States in less than 19 hours and that includes a 1.5 hour layover.
National transport is cheap! An open top tourist bus ticket from Saigon to Hanoi costs less than $30.00 and you can see some of the best scenery imaginable. Don’t you want to take the bus? There are comfortable trains and fast planes available. A two-hour flight from Saigon to Hanoi costs around $100.00.
Tourist hotels are cheap and attractive. The staff is helpful and courteous. You can travel from town to town without reservation and always find suitable accommodation.
As mentioned above, the scenery is fabulous: misty mountains, lush green rice paddies, and sunny beaches. Vietnam is home to 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Halong Bay. Bring 2 cameras, you’ll probably use one.
I’ve saved the best for last. Vietnamese cuisine is impressive. Most restaurants still source their daily food fresh from the local market. Fresh herbs, spices, vegetables, and local meat make great meals. Seafood and chicken dishes are specialties, along with those made with pork and beef. Vietnamese food is light and tasty at the same time. Oriental and a bit of French influence create the right blend for the Western palate.
Feel free to include Vietnam in your travel plans. You will not regret. And you won’t forget it.