Vietnam. Geography, description and characteristics of the country. Vietnam on the world map: detailed locations of resorts in Russian Entertainment and attractions

Vietnam is often called the land of fairies and dragons - according to ancient legends, all Vietnamese consider themselves descendants of the marriage of a Fairy and a Dragon. The Fairy was in charge of industry - she taught people how to produce silk, and the Dragon showed children the wisdom of agriculture. Since then, the Vietnamese have prospered in both directions.

The name of the country is translated as “the country of the Southern Vietnamese (the name of the nation), but the country was called Annam until 1945, and the name Vietnam was used only in poetic speech. The new name was immortalized by Emperor Bao Dai.

Geographical characteristics

The state, elongated in the shape of the letter “S”, is located in Southeast Asia, in the east of the Indochina Peninsula. Neighbors to the west are Laos, Cambodia and China.

The coast of Vietnam is washed from the east and south by the South China Sea and Bac Bo Bay; the small southwestern tip has access to the Gulf of Thailand.

The area of ​​Vietnam is 329.6 thousand square meters. km. The capital of the state is Hanoi. Political system - socialist republic. The state is officially headed by the Communist Party.

Nature

More than 80% of the country is mountainous, descending with access to the sea. The highest point in the country is Mount Fansipan, 3143 meters high. The hill is located in the north-west of the country, in the Hoanglien Son mountain range. The Truong Son Mountains stretch along the western border of the country, separating Vietnam from Laos and China.

The central and southern parts of Vietnam are occupied by basement and basalt plateaus, on which several frozen volcanoes rise. The area between the volcanoes is covered with forest, and in the craters of some volcanoes lakes have formed, giving rise to several rivers of the Mekong River basin...

There are more than 2,000 rivers in Vietnam of varying depths and sizes (the smallest reaches only 10 meters in length). The largest rivers in Vietnam - the Mekong and Hong Ha (Red River) - flow into the South China Sea.

The Mekong Delta is one of the largest and deepest deltas in the world. On the territory of Vietnam, the area with a delta forming nine branches (“Nine of the Dragons”) even acquired special economic importance - the Vietnamese settled here for the first time, began to develop the wetlands, and began to raise fish in canals and man-made ponds.

In the Hong Ha River delta, on the Bac Bo Plain, stands the capital Hanoi. The territory is marked by the highest population density.

The country's largest lake, Hoan Kiem, is an oxbow lake formed as a result of changes in the course of the Red River. The lake has great cultural and historical significance for the people. It is also called the Lake of the Returned Sword: according to legend, one of the ancient rulers of Vietnam defeated the Chinese armies with a accidentally found sword that belonged to a magical golden turtle. After the victories, the turtle came out of the waters of the lake and took the sword.

To the north of the capital there is a chain of picturesque Ba Be lakes. Lakes Pelam, Pelu and Peleng are surrounded by waterfalls and caves...

The coast of Vietnam is washed by one sea - the South China Sea, it is semi-enclosed and belongs to the basins of the Indian and Pacific oceans and has the properties of both oceans.

The largest island in the South China Sea is Hainan. The area is comfortable for tourist holidays, as the sea here is clean and warm. However, there are many predatory fish and dangerous sharks in the sea. The sea is also rich in commercial fish species - tuna, herring and sardines are found here in abundance...

Some unique plants of Vietnam have become national symbols of the country: for example, bamboo, red and black sandalwood.

In Vietnam there are animals listed in the Red Book, which are almost not left in the wild in other parts of the world - these are the Asian buffalo, Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses. Endemics (animals that live exclusively in a specified territory) are several species of monkeys, rodents and bats. The Asian elephant, black gibbon, and Indochinese tiger are considered rare species preserved in Vietnam. Animals live both in the wild, in protected reserves, and on special farms...

Due to the elongation of the country from north to south, the climate of Vietnam is heterogeneous, although in general the country is located in the subequatorial monsoon climate zone. In the south, winter is dry and hot (temperatures reach 26 degrees Celsius), in the north it is colder, but humid and mild (up to 15 degrees Celsius). Summer is the monsoon season throughout the country; the end of summer is usually marked by destructive typhoons.

There are frosts in the mountains; on the borders with China, from where cool air penetrates, temperature drops of up to 1 degree Celsius have been recorded...

Resources

The industrial centers of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang - are located in Central and Southern Vietnam. Industry is represented by metallurgical, mechanical engineering, construction, chemical fields, and light industry. Electronics and components, production of textiles and leather, glass, jewelry and cosmetics were exported to the world. A special branch of the economy is the global production of electricity thanks to an extensive network of hydroelectric power stations.

The fertile basalts of the area contribute to the successful growth of crops in tropical and temperate latitudes, so agriculture has developed greatly on the plateaus of Vietnam - this cluster employs 50% of the country's population. Mainly rice, tea and coffee are grown; the production of cashew nuts, spices, tropical fruits is highly developed...

Culture

The indigenous population of the country is the Viet (Kinh), and 54 other nationalities are recognized as related to them in the country. In the south, most of the population is Khmer (Lower Viet). There is a large proportion of Chinese, Polynesian, Malay and Thai populations.

Vietnamese has the status of the state language. More than 85% of the population professes Buddhism, and the religions of these national minorities, atheism, Christianity are also present...

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochina Peninsula and washed from the east and south by the South China Sea. Officially the country is called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The neighboring states of Vietnam are Laos and Cambodia, with which Vietnam borders in the west, as well as China, with which the border lies in the north. The country's total area is 331,212 square kilometers, which is only 65th in the world. B O Most of Vietnam is occupied by low or medium-high mountains and plateaus. The country's highest point is Mount Fansipan (3143 meters) in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. In addition, the largest Indo-Chinese rivers, the Mekong and Hong Ha, flow through Vietnam and empty into the South China Sea.

For a long time, Vietnam was an Indo-Chinese colony of France and achieved independence only in the middle of the 20th century - this happened in 1945, although armed clashes continued in the country for several years. Vietnam was also the scene of a war with the United States from 1965-1973, which cost many lives on both sides.

Modern Vietnam is a socialist state that has chosen the Chinese version of development - modernization and liberalization of the economy. As of 2016, the population of Vietnam is 94,569,072 people.

Visa

To enter Vietnam for a period of more than 15 days, citizens of the Russian Federation must have a visa obtained from the Vietnamese consulate; they can also apply for a visa upon arrival.

In order to obtain a visa at the consulate, you need to provide the following documents: foreign passport (minimum validity period - 6 months from the end of the trip); 2 photographs measuring 4x6 cm; 2 forms filled out in Russian, English or French; invitation, travel voucher or reservation. The visa is issued within 5 working days and is valid for 30 days. In addition, there is a US$25 application fee.

When obtaining a visa directly at the border, at the Vietnamese airport, you need to provide 2 photographs measuring 3x4, one completed application form, as well as a visa permit from the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, which is issued within 5-7 working days. Upon arrival, citizens must go to the “Visa on arrival” window, and from that moment their vacation in Vietnam begins.

Among other things, the visa specifies the points of entry and exit through which a visitor to the country can cross the border. To change the specified location, you must contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. This service is subject to payment.

If the period of stay in Vietnam does not exceed 15 days, then Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa. In addition, similar rules apply in neighboring Laos and Cambodia (in Cambodia, a visa can be obtained at the border without any problems), so after a 15-day stay in Vietnam, you can go to one of the neighboring countries and then return again for 15 days. Often, when entering Vietnam for a period of less than 15 days, border guards may require you to present a ticket to leave the country - this is prescribed by the rules, but is not always followed.

Customs regulations

When entering Vietnam, certain customs regulations apply. Thus, you can import an unlimited amount of foreign convertible currency into the country, but if the amount exceeds 3,000 US dollars, then the currency must be declared, since no more than the amount that has been declared can be exported from the country.

You can also transport the following goods without paying duty: a maximum of 1.5 liters of strong alcohol or 2 liters of drinks with an alcohol content of maximum 22 degrees; either 400 cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco; 5 kilograms of tea; a maximum of 3 kilograms of coffee, as well as two cans of black or red caviar weighing no more than 100 grams. In addition, other goods are also transported, the total value of which does not exceed 5 million VND (Vietnamese dong).

As in other countries of Southeast Asia, the penalties for attempting to smuggle drugs are the most severe - up to and including the death penalty. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to transport medications containing narcotic substances without having a doctor’s permission to use them, as well as explosives, firearms, products of a pornographic nature or that offend the local culture.

Current time in Hanoi:
(UTC +7)

Upon arrival, all tourists undergo sanitary and epidemiological control, and also fill out a Health Declaration on board the plane. If, when passing control, the visitor does not show any symptoms of diseases such as AIDS, plague, tuberculosis, cholera, yellow fever and others, then no problems will arise. Otherwise, the tourist will face treatment in one of the local hospitals, and not a full-fledged vacation in Vietnam.

How to get there

Getting to Vietnam from Russia is relatively easy - two airlines operate regular flights, but the list of Russian cities from which you can fly directly to Vietnam is limited to Moscow. But during the tourist season (winter months), charter flights are also operated from other cities, for example, from Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk.

You can fly directly from Moscow to Hanoi on Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines flights. Aeroflot flies daily, Vietnam Airlines - three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Both Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines operate direct flights from Sheremetyevo Airport to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport. The flight is very long, so passengers are provided with meals twice. Time in the air is 9 and a half hours.

You can also fly to Ho Chi Minh City from Sheremetyevo by Aeroflot without a transfer, on a direct flight. Travel time is approximately the same as to Hanoi.

From Vladivostok, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk you can fly non-stop to the resort town of Nha Trang using S7 aircraft.

Connecting flights

From Russia to Hanoi

• By Emirates airlines from Moscow and St. Petersburg with a transfer in Dubai.

From Russia to Ho Chi Minh City

• By Turkish Airlines from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara and Ufa with a transfer in Istanbul.
• By Thai Airlines from Moscow with a transfer in Bangkok.
• Air China from Moscow with a transfer in Beijing.
• By Qatar Airways from Moscow and St. Petersburg with a transfer in Doha.
• By Korean Air airline from Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg with a transfer in Seoul (Incheon Airport).
• By Japan Airlines from Moscow with a transfer to Tokyo (Narita Airport).

There are more complex options - with two transfers. However, during airline sales periods it makes sense to take advantage of them due to attractive prices. For example, you can get to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Air France from Moscow and St. Petersburg with transfers in Paris and Bangkok.

It is worth remembering that long flights are associated with a certain risk to the health of passengers who do not tolerate such stress well.

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Climate and weather in Vietnam

To ensure that your holiday in Vietnam is not spoiled by weather conditions, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the climate data for the country. Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate, so the humidity is quite high - 84% on average throughout the year. However, the climate often varies markedly depending on the region. This happens due to the difference in latitudes and the relief features of a particular area. The winter dry season, lasting from November to April, is dry only in comparison with the rainy season, since even in these months there is sufficient rainfall, thanks to the monsoon winds blowing from the northeast coast of China. In the southern regions of the country it is quite hot in winter - about 25 degrees, while in the north it is on average 10 degrees colder. The lowest temperatures are in December and January, sometimes reaching just 1 degree above zero. In any case, it is most comfortable in the south of the country, where in any season the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees, and in April - the hottest month - sometimes even reaches 37 degrees.

Average annual rainfall ranges from 1200-3000 millimeters per year, with 90% percent of all rainfall occurring between May and October. At this time, each region of the country receives its share of precipitation, but in the winter months in the south of Vietnam the probability of rain is much less than in the north. It is also worth knowing that at the end of summer and beginning of autumn there comes a time for typhoons, often with truly destructive power.

Cities and regions

Vietnam consists of 59 fairly small provinces, plus there are 4 centrally controlled cities - the cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong and Da Nang. The most economically developed provinces are located in the northeast of the country, which is not so popular among tourists, as well as in the south of the country near Ho Chi Minh City.

Administrative divisions of Vietnam

Provinces of Vietnam

Laityau Laokai Hau Giang Cao Bang Dien Bien Shonla Yen Bai Tuyen Quang Buck Kan Lang Son Futo Vinh Phuc Thai Nguyen Buck Giang Bac Ninh

Hai Duong Quang Ninh Hung Yen Haiphong City Thai Binh Ha Nam Nam Dinh Ninh Binh Hoa Binh Thanh Hoa Nghe An Ha Tinh Quang Binh Quang Tri Thua Thien Hue

Quang Nam Kontum Quang Ngai Zia Lai Binh Dinh Fu Yen Dak Lak Khanh Hoa Dak Nong Lam Dong Ninh Thuan Binh Thuan Binh Phuoc Dong Nai Baria-Vung Tau

Tay Ninh Binh Duong Long An Tien Giang Dong Thap Vinh Long Benche Kanto Hau Giang Chavin An Giang Sok Trang Bac Lieu Kien Giang Kamau

Main cities and islands of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam's largest city and the country's economic capital. There are a lot of industries developed here; It is estimated that 40% of Vietnamese exports come from Ho Chi Minh City. The city was founded by French colonialists in 1874 (the official founding date is March 15, 1874). Until 1975, the city was called Saigon.

Nha Trang

The city of Nha Trang is the capital of Khanh Hoa province and at the same time the capital of beach holidays in Vietnam. Simply the most popular resort in the country. Nha Trang is home to about 200,000 people, and almost the entire life of local residents is connected with the tourism industry.

Ha Long

Halong is called both a city and a bay. The city itself is nothing special, and the real pearl of this area and all of Vietnam is Halong Bay. This bay is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Surprisingly, over an area of ​​1,500 square kilometers, more than 1,600 islands and rocks of various shapes, sometimes very bizarre, are scattered, making the bay more reminiscent of a fairy tale than a real place. It's no surprise that Ha Long Bay is one of the most visited places in Vietnam.

Phu Quoc

The Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc is located in the Gulf of Thailand just 15 kilometers from the shores of neighboring Cambodia. The island, whose area reaches 567 square kilometers, is also called the “island of 99 mountains.” Fukuoka is home to 85,000 people, mostly engaged in tourism services or agriculture.

What to see

By following the links in the text, you can get more detailed information about a specific object (description, location on the map, cost of entrance tickets, opening hours, ways to get there, photographs, tourist reviews, etc.). If you are interested in the sights of Vietnam in general, without dividing into cities, there is a special section for this.

Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City you can see many interesting buildings - colonial buildings, Notre Dame Cathedral, Buddhist temples and pagodas, the Presidential Palace, mosques and much more.

In addition, from Ho Chi Minh City itself you can easily get to the neighboring province of Tay Ninh, where many beautiful Cao Dai temples are located, as well as the Mekong Delta region.

As for attractions, there are several very interesting places for tourists in the central part of the city. And if you come to Ho Chi Minh City in the summer, from mid-May to the end of August, you can find "Southern Fruit Festival", held here every year.

Nha Trang

Among the attractions of Nha Trang, one should highlight the Long Son Pagoda, behind which on the top of the hill there is a large stone statue of Buddha seated on a lotus flower. You can also look at the 13th-century Cham towers, which were built during the era of the Champa state. There is also the opportunity to sail on an excursion to Monkey Island, located 12 kilometers north of Hon Che Island. The excursion includes a cruise around the islands, fishing, visiting the Bajo waterfall, mud and mineral springs, and local craft villages. If you wish, on the island you can visit the Dog and Monkey Circus, the Elephant and Bear Circus and much more.

Ha Long

A mandatory item on the program is a trip on a boat or some other vessel around the islands. At the pier in the city you can find out in detail about all possible routes, which can be both short and long and even include an overnight stay on the ship. A typical excursion includes a visit to a fishing village on one of the islands, a cave, and an island named after German Titov, the famous Soviet cosmonaut who vacationed here in the 70s. You can also go night fishing directly from the boat, which, however, must be booked in advance. But then you can enjoy the taste of your own catch! Popular islands in Ha Long Bay are Tuan Chau and Cat Ba Islands.

Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc has a large number of beautiful beaches, stretching from the town of Duong Dong to the town of An Thoi. The island has many beautiful hills and mountains covered with tropical forest. In addition, in Phu Quoc you can watch the sunset on the sea, which is not possible in other resorts in Vietnam that face the east.

Vietnam resorts

Tourists in Vietnam, first of all, will be interested in its numerous beaches and warm sea, and only then the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and everything else. There are plenty of resort towns in the country. Of course, not all of them correspond to the European level of quality, equipment and infrastructure. It is noteworthy that the resorts stretch along the entire coast of Vietnam - from the southern island of Phu Quoc to the resort of Mong Cay in the north of the country.

The waters of the South China Sea are quite salty - saltier than in the neighboring Gulf of Thailand, but at the same time healthier. At the confluence of rivers (especially the Mekong and Red) the water is fresher.

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and Recreation

Leisure

Transport

Shops and markets

Wellness holiday

Private guides in Vietnam

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Vietnam in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Getting around the country

In Vietnam, all modern types of transport can be found and used in varying quantities - from domestic aircraft to intercity buses and taxis. Some of them are very well developed, some are not well developed, but in some cases they can be irreplaceable. In any case, it is possible to get to even remote places in Vietnam, even if you have to make several transfers from one type of transport to another or, say, from one bus route to another.

The following types of transport are developed in the country: air transport, railway transport, buses, water passenger transport and various types of taxis. You can find recommendations for traveling in the country and learn more about each type of Vietnamese transport in our special material “Transport in Vietnam: from a scooter to an airplane.”

Communication

Vietnamese is a member of the Viet Muong group of the Australasian language family and is the mother tongue of the Viet and Kinh people. Neighboring China has had a great influence on the Vietnamese language and culture: two thirds of the words in the Vietnamese language are of Chinese origin.

It is very convenient for tourists that instead of hieroglyphs in the Vietnamese language, the Latin alphabet is used, although with the addition of diacritics to the vowels under or above the letter, which indicate a particular tone. Due to the fact that Vietnamese speech has a huge number of tones and semitones, it is very difficult to perceive it by ear. At the same time, the Vietnamese themselves have problems with the correct pronunciation of European words. It is often very difficult to understand what a Vietnamese person is saying in English.

English is the most common foreign language among local residents, which, however, is not surprising. It is studied at school, at universities, in courses, etc. Also in educational institutions in Vietnam, Chinese is taught - the second most popular foreign language after English. English and Chinese are followed by French, Russian and German, but they are much less common. Thus, Russian is most often known by adults who studied at universities in the USSR, as well as Vietnamese traders who returned from Russia, but their level of language proficiency is very low. Recently, due to the growing number of tourists from Russia in resort areas, local residents are slowly beginning to master the Russian language.

Culture

Vietnamese culture throughout its centuries-old history has been subject to numerous influences from its powerful neighbors or mother country, but each time melting them into something original and unique in its own way. India and China play a special role in the development of Vietnamese culture. China introduced more than half of the words and hieroglyphic writing into the Vietnamese language (replaced by the Latin alphabet in the 20th century), and Confucianism and elements of Taoism into the culture. In addition, in the Middle Ages the influence of Indian culture was noticeable, and subsequently, after the colonization of Vietnam by the French, also French. This was reflected, in particular, in the architecture of many cities, especially Ho Chi Minh City. In the second half of the 20th century, with the communists coming to power, many cultural elements began to be borrowed from the Soviet Union.

Vietnamese literature has a rich history - from ancient folklore, including the legend of the Dragon Sovereign Lac Long Quan, the Muong epic “The Birth of Water and the Birth of the Earth” to books of the 20th century, similar in theme to European literature. In modern times, the most significant writers in the history of Vietnam worked - Nguyen Chai in the 15th century, Nguyen Binh Khiem in the 16th century and Nguyen Du at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries. Nguyen Chai is one of the first major Vietnamese writers, as well as an outstanding statesman and philosopher. Nguyen Binh Khiem was an outstanding poet, close in worldview to Taoism, and Nguyen Du, who wrote the poems “The Lamentations of a Tormented Soul” and “The Story of Kieu,” is as significant a figure in Vietnam as Pushkin in Russia.

Vietnamese folk music is quite original. The large number of vocal genres can be surprising, and among the main musical instruments one can highlight the amazing disc-like guitar, which can be either four or five strings, as well as dan there (three-string guitar), dan ni (violin with only two strings ) and om dit is a Vietnamese bamboo flute.

Theater is popular in Vietnam, presented in several interesting genres. Teo is an ancient folk theater that at one time originated among peasants living in the Red River Delta. Today it exists in Thai Binh and Hai Hung provinces. Theatrical performances include folk music and the use of traditional folklore stories.

Vietnamese opera is called Tuong. Tuong originated in the courtly atmosphere and is considered a high theater genre that combines dance, music, mime, poetry, acrobatic arts and much more. By the way, there are no decorations on the stage, and a heroic character is always at the center of the performance.

Particularly interesting is the water puppet theater, which simply has no analogues in the world. It also originated in the Red River Delta. The dolls move through the water during sunset, and all the action is accompanied by pleasant melodic music. The puppets are controlled by actors standing waist-deep in water, hidden behind a bamboo screen, so that they have the opportunity to observe the puppets. The performances begin with the appearance of a boy doll, Teu, saying: “Hello everyone! I probably don’t need to introduce myself?”

Kitchen

Vietnam is a paradise for foodies. The culinary traditions of this country amaze with their richness and variety of dishes and ingredients. Many recipes were borrowed from China, India and France, but in no case can we say that Vietnamese cuisine is a clone of any of them.

The use of a variety of sauces and seasonings is common in Vietnamese cuisine. In dishes prepared, by the way, only from fresh ingredients, seasonings from garlic, onion and ginger root are often added, as well as purely Vietnamese sauces “nuoc mam” and “nuoc cham”. Various herbs and even bamboo are very popular in Vietnam, the young shoots of which are readily eaten.

The most popular foods used in Vietnamese cuisine are rice, seafood, pork, noodles, herbs and more.

It is especially worth paying attention to rice. This crop is one of the symbols of all of Southeast Asia, and Vietnam is the second largest exporter of rice in the world. In addition, Vietnam refused to grow genetically modified rice, so there is no doubt about the quality of the product. In every Vietnamese family, rice is the main dish on the table, but besides this, it is part of countless of the most amazing and original recipes.

Vegetarian cuisine is also developed in Vietnam, which is explained primarily by Buddhist gastronomic traditions. Vietnamese non-meat dishes include rice with fried dou fu bean curd and rau vegetables. In general, soybeans and products made from it in Vietnamese cuisine replace dairy products, which are practically not used among the Vietnamese. There is, for example, a special soy milk called sya-dau-nan. Soy sauce is very popular.

Various fruits that grow in abundance in Vietnam are widely used. These are coconuts, durian, guava, lemons, lychee, Java apple, Siamese persimmon, papaya, rambutan and many other exotic fruits.

As for meat dishes, the Vietnamese usually eat the familiar beef, pork and poultry. Various insects or reptiles are now considered rare delicacies that are not served in any restaurant.

In general, Vietnamese cuisine is rich in exotic meats. For example, you can try boa constrictor meat, which is considered extremely healthy. Or try a snake dish, which is a whole ritual-like action that can truly shock the especially impressionable. The waiter makes a small incision on the still living snake, then removes the heart from it and drains the blood. The person who ordered the dish eats a beating snake heart and drinks rice vodka mixed with snake blood. Afterwards, vodka is used, mixed with snake bile. After some time, the finished dish is served - snake meat, fried with spices and nuts. The head of the snake is cut off during cooking so that the poison cannot get into the dish.

Other exotic dishes include dishes made from field rats, dogs, cats (although there is an official ban on their use) and many other amazing ingredients.

Purchases

Shopping is an essential part of any vacation. In some places it is so developed that there seems to be nowhere to develop further, and in other places, in terms of purchases, things are not going well. Vietnam is somewhere in the middle, with a tilt towards the first group. Shopping here is not at the same level as in neighboring Thailand, but with the growing number of tourists there are good reasons for quality development. Moreover, Vietnam has a lot to offer its guests.

Connection

For calls to other countries in Vietnam there are special call centers, as well as street payphones. Hotel residents have the opportunity to make calls directly from there, but this is quite expensive.

The international code for Vietnam is 84.

• To call from Vietnam to Russia you need to dial: 007 - area code - subscriber number
• For calls from Russia to Vietnam you need to dial: 8-10-84 - area code - subscriber number

Major city codes

• Hanoi - 4
• Ho Chi Minh City - 8
• Haiphong - 32
• Da Nang - 511
• Hue - 54

There are no problems with cellular communications, since all three largest Russian operators - MTS, Beeline and Megafon - have agreements with Vietnamese companies. Vietnamese operators: MobiFone, VinaFone, S-Fone, G-Tel, Vietnamobile, Viettel Mobile. A SIM card from a Vietnamese operator costs about $5, which includes 30 minutes of talk time.

You need to be careful if you are dealing with local “priestesses of love”, who are often not averse to profiting from their clients’ wallets. Foreigners can only gamble in special establishments, and an attempt to involve local residents in them can result in criminal prosecution. Anything related to drugs - storage, distribution, use - is punished especially severely. In this case, the most severe punishments are applied, up to and including the death penalty. This is a traditional practice in Southeast Asian countries.

Tourists should exercise discretion while on vacation. In particular, this applies to drinking alcohol, since an “overdone” tourist in Vietnam can easily get into trouble, become a victim of robbery, etc. When swimming, you should watch out for the ocean surf, which can become a source of danger. Between September and November, Vietnam is frequently hit by typhoons and severe flooding in some areas of the country.

As for health issues, before arriving in Vietnam you need to take care of the issue of obtaining health insurance (regular or extended). You can also pay a fee to International SOS and use their medical services at their offices in Vietnam. The address in Hanoi is 31 Hai Ba Trung in the central part of the city. Phone - 9340555.

In the Vietnamese province, sanitary conditions are not very good - both in local hospitals and in hotels. Doctors' services are paid almost everywhere only in cash, and treatment under insurance policies is carried out only in some metropolitan clinics. However, it is worth noting that prices in Vietnam are lower than in neighboring Thailand.

You need to be careful when ordering Vietnamese cuisine, which is quite unusual for Europeans due to its spiciness, abundance of spices and exotic products. If you overestimate your strength, then problems with the stomach and intestines are likely.

Where to stay

Vietnam will delight all visitors with a large selection of accommodation options - there are not just many hotels and guesthouses, but also a wide range of prices, and the level of service is quite high. In addition, Vietnamese hotels have a unique Asian flavor that adds color to the entire vacation. In total, there are approximately 11 thousand hotels in Vietnam, but they do not experience a serious shortage of guests.

Cheap accommodation options are 2- and 3-star hotels, which are of the same quality as Turkish 3- and 4-star hotels, so many experts rightly note that the class of Vietnamese hotels is somewhat underrated. 2-star hotels are usually located in old 4-6-story buildings, well decorated inside. The rooms have a bath or shower with hot water, air conditioning, satellite TV and even a minibar. three-star hotels occupy more modern and larger buildings, and the level of service and equipment in them is quite high. Prices in hotels of 2 and 3 star categories are approximately 15-40 dollars per night.

An even more budget-friendly option are guesthouses, the prices of which are often below $10, and their number in tourist places is truly enormous. In Ho Chi Minh City, for example, many guesthouses and cheap hotels can be found in Pham Nu Lao, considered a backpacker's area. True, it is not a fact that cheap guesthouses and hotels will have hot water.

In resort cities, in particular in Nha Trang, accommodation will most likely cost more than in the capitals. Many tourists come to these cities who have little understanding of the intricacies of the Vietnamese tour business and, moreover, are able to easily part with large sums of money. For such tourists, there are luxury 4 and 5 star hotels with their own swimming pools, private beaches, etc.

For more budget-conscious Vietnamese beachgoers, there are plenty of bungalows available. True, the amenities in them are minimal, and besides, if the walls of the bungalow are bamboo, then mosquitoes can fly inside through the existing cracks. However, anti-mosquito ointments may well correct the situation. In any case, the most vivid memories of a holiday in Vietnam almost always remain!

? Not all tourists who plan to enjoy visiting ancient temple complexes, visiting national parks, or tasting Vietnamese delicacies know this.

The best period to visit Vietnam is December-April, ideal for spending time on the beach. You should be careful when planning a trip here in May-October, because tropical downpours often hit the country at this time. In winter, the southern Vietnamese coast is held in high esteem (the water warms up to +26-28˚ C), and in May-July - .

Vietnam: where is this tropical country located?

Located in Southeast Vietnam (its area is 331,210 sq. km), it occupies part of the Indochina Peninsula. Its southern and eastern shores are washed by the South China Sea (the coastline stretches for 3260 km). Vietnam borders on the north and Cambodia on the west. It is worth noting that more than 80% of Vietnam’s territory is occupied by medium-high and low mountains (the highest point is the 3100-meter Fan Sipan Mountain, which belongs to the Hoang Lien Son ridge).

Administrative units of the first level are 58 provinces (Lao Cai, Nam Dinh, Tay Ninh, Lang Son, Quang Tri, Dong Nai, Vinh Phuc, Thanh Hoa, Phu Tho, Ha Giang and others) and 5 large cities, the second level - villages and towns of provincial subordination, and the third level - urban areas and villages.

How to get to Vietnam?

You can fly directly to the country together with Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines (the same company flies in the direction of Ho Chi Minh City; the journey takes more than 9.5 hours) as part of the Moscow flight - in 9 hours.

Vietnamese beaches

• Bai Dai Beach: even at the height of the season, there are no crowds of tourists on the beach (the surface is soft, fine sand), so here you can devote time to air and water baths, and admiring the surf. At Bai Dai Beach there are rental shops for umbrellas and sun loungers, and next to each cafe you can find a toilet, changing room and even showers.
• Bai Sao Beach: this beach is best visited in November-April, in dry and sunny weather. Here you can sunbathe on a sun lounger, ride jet skis, boats and surfboards, satisfy your hunger with seafood in one of the restaurants, or relax in a hammock or gazebo.

Souvenirs from Vietnam

Those leaving Vietnam should buy souvenirs in the form of non hats, Vietnamese silk, pearls, leather and mahogany goods, coffee, coconut oil, wall masks (carved from bamboo root), cobra venom creams, dried fruits, fish sauce, medicines and drugs.

Vietnam - Land of the Red Dragon

Every year Asia becomes more and more familiar to us, but no less mysterious than it was for us in childhood. Even 10 years ago, many people already heard from us about Vietnam as a new destination in tourism and considered it as a possible destination for their next vacation. Why do we recommend choosing a tour to Vietnam? Why is Vietnam interesting? What is he really like? There are answers, although they are different for everyone and have changed significantly over the past 10 years, nevertheless, holidays in Vietnam are now relevant. Our answers:

Firstly, You can travel to Vietnam all year round - you are guaranteed warm weather and a gentle sea. From October to March is the best time to visit the south of the country - Ho Chi Minh City, the high-altitude golf resort of Dalat, the beach resort of Phan Thiet (Mui Ne). The winter monsoon brings wet, cold winters to all areas north of Nha Trang, so seaside resorts such as Nha Trang, Hoi An and Da Nang should be visited in the “summer” from February to October. People go to Hanoi and Halong for historical sights, so it will be interesting at any time of the year!

Secondly, You can please yourself with inexpensive and varied Vietnamese cuisine - restaurants, cafes and bars are open to you literally at every turn, especially at beach resorts during your holiday in Vietnam. The quality and prices of seafood, as well as their variety, will delight even the most spoiled traveler!

Third, tours to Vietnam: at the beginning of the millennium, Vietnam was exotic, then tours to Vietnam became the rule of good taste for “originals”, but now Vietnam has turned into a popular destination along with holidays in Thailand and holidays in Hainan in China. However, you can always choose an individual tour to Vietnam to get away from everyday life, especially since the infrastructure is developing rapidly and a private vacation in Vietnam can be planned in any hotels in Vietnam: both in inexpensive beach bungalows and in luxury luxury hotels with a private beach and international standards quality.

Fourthly, even if you don’t want to be like everyone else, but it’s hard for you to resist an amazing beach holiday in Vietnam, you can take an excursion tour throughout Vietnam from north to south, or better yet, combine it with a visit to neighboring Cambodia - such a tour will be the most optimal as an opportunity to see the historical heritage of ancient eastern empires and relax on the wonderful beaches of the southern seas. The beauty of Vietnam is that excursions or holidays in Vietnam can be combined with many other Southeast Asian countries.

Fifthly, One cannot fail to note the generally very low prices for both service services, for example, the cheapest diving in the world in Vietnam (French and German instructors), and for various locally produced goods - silk, clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, and seafood. Those. You can fly to Vietnam light and buy everything on the spot, right down to your ski suit! We can’t argue about quality - 90% of Moscow boutiques are made in China and Vietnam.

It is also worth pointing out the fact that the level of service and quality of hotels in Vietnam is quite high. Clean, comfortable rooms, a sauna, massage, fitness center and swimming pool are available in almost every hotel, not to mention additional services such as excursions, cruise trips, and visits to exotic restaurants. There are a lot of new Deluxe hotels in Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang - the choice is yours!

And that is not all!!! Over the past couple of years, Vietnam has also become the center of all the desperate surfers of the world, thanks to the extraordinary opportunities for extreme water sports kite surfing and wind surfing in Vietnam, in particular in the resorts of Vung Tau and Phan Thiet / Mui Ne, which are not far from Saigon!

In the end, need to mark safety for tourists. A welcoming attitude, an atmosphere of hospitality and eternal celebration, which will not be spoiled by petty pickpockets (if you allow yourself to do so). Of course, the times of help from the Soviet Union are far behind us, no one will remember this, but as a tourist willing to pay in freely convertible currency, you will always be welcome!

Helpful information.

Customs. Duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco is allowed; 2 liters of alcoholic drinks; gifts worth up to 50US$. But who's counting them!? It is prohibited to import opium, weapons, explosives, etc. as everywhere else.
Taxi. A taxi can be called from any hotel, cafe or store. You can also quickly take a taxi on the street. Payment for travel is by meter. A taxi can take you to any city in the country, but the cost of the trip must be agreed upon in advance. In general, long-distance travel costs less.
Vaccinations. Currently, no vaccinations are required before traveling to Vietnam. As anywhere else, you need to follow basic hygiene rules. In terms of infections, cities and tourist resorts are practically safe; sanitation rules are observed quite strictly. However, if you are planning to visit remote rural and wetland areas, then it is necessary to sleep under a mosquito net, as there is a risk of contracting malaria. For those who are planning an independent and long-term study of Vietnam, we recommend that you take prevention more seriously and take the appropriate medications with you.

Geography. Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, on the Indochina Peninsula. Country area: 332 thousand square meters. km. The capital is Hanoi. It borders China, Cambodia and Laos. Washed by the South China Sea. Most of the territory is occupied by mountains, up to 3143 m high, and lowlands on the coast - mainly in the lower reaches of the Hong Ha River delta (in the North of the country) and the Mekong River (in the South of the country). The main waterways are the Mekong (in the south) and the Red River (in the north).

Population, language, religion Population: 77,311 thousand people. The urban population is 20% (1998). Ethnic composition: Vietnamese 85 - 90%, Chinese 3%, the rest - Khmer and other 60 ethnic groups. Believers are mainly Buddhists, but there are also Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and adherents of traditional beliefs.
The official language is Vietnamese.

Time ahead of Moscow by 3 hours in summer and 4 hours in winter.

Climate tropical monsoon. Precipitation 1500-3000 mm. in year. Average temperatures in the South change little, in the North from +15°C in January to +28°C in July; It's cooler in the mountains. Typhoons and floods are common in autumn. 40% of the territory is covered by tropical forests

State structure
The country is governed by the Vietnamese Communist Party (1.8 million members). The head of state is the president. The legislative body is the unicameral National Assembly. Administrative-territorial division: 58 provinces and 3 cities of central subordination.

City	Rainy season	Dry season	Precipitation(mm/year)	Hottest month, t 0C	Coldest month, t 0C
Hanoi	May-Oct	November-April	1680	June 32.8	January 13.8
Ha Long	May-Oct	November-April	1994	July 31.6	January 13.5
Dien Bien	Apr-Sep	Oct-March	1567	May 32.2	January 11.0
Sapa	September	Dec-Feb	2769	Aug-23.2	January 06.2
Hue	March-November	February-June	2890	Aug-34.5	January 17.2
Danang	July-January	February-June	1974	June34.2	January 19.0
Kui Nong	Sep-Dec	January-Aug	1647	Aug-34.5	January 20.6
Pleiku	May-Oct	November-April	2684	Apr 30.7	January14.0
Dalat	Apr-Nov	Dec-March	1820	Apr 26.8	February10.0
Nha Trang	Sep-Dec	Jan-Aug	1441	Aug 33.2	January 20.5
Saigo	May-November	Dec-Apr	1979	Apr 34.8	January 21.0
Can Tho	May-November	Dec-Apr	1560	Apr 33.9	January-21.9

Holidays
New Year - January 1
Lunar New Year - 1st to 7th day of the first lunar month (varies from January to early February)
CPV Formation Day - February 3
Liberation Day - April 30
Workers' Solidarity Day - May 1
Ho Chi Minh's birthday is May 19
Buddha's Birthday - 8th day of the 4th lunar month (usually June)
National holiday - September 2
Christmas - December 25

Local currency and banks
The monetary unit is dong. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 dong. 1 US$ is equal to 15,934 VND (July 2002). The dollar is widely used as a second currency

ta. However, Vietnamese laws require you to pay in dong. You can exchange dongs at the hotel, in banks and exchange offices on the street or in shops. Bank opening hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. It is problematic to exchange dongs for dollars in banks and hotels; it is much easier to do this in shops and stores that sell gold at a minimum interest rate.

Credit cards VISA, MasterCard, American Express and JBS are accepted everywhere. Some places (particularly travel agencies) may charge you a 4% commission. At ATMs you can only withdraw money in local currency up to a daily limit of 2 million VND. Receiving funds in US dollars is not permitted by law.

Over the past ten years Many Russian tourists have already visited Vietnam and appreciated its new look, amazing beaches, delicious and inexpensive cuisine, high-quality hotel service and friendly attitude from the local population. Travel to Vietnam and here you will find the charm of Buddhism in ancient temples and pagodas, a decent holiday on the beaches and a variety of entertainment, the virginity of uninhabited islands and unique national parks, where the riot of tropical vegetation amazes the imagination and attracts more and more tourists from Europe every year, America and Asia. You can find all the information about the country and standard programs on our website, and you can see it by going on a tour to Vietnam!

Welcome to the land of the Red Dragon!

Vietnam is notable for its beautiful nature, ancient temple complexes and quality hotels with good service and low prices. The capital Hanoi and the bustling Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long Bay and the resort of Phan Thiet - all about Vietnam: weather, reviews, tours and maps.

• Last minute tours to Vietnam
• Tours for May Worldwide

There is an opinion that Vietnam is the same as Thailand, only more natural, not so “captured” by tourists. In fact, these are two completely different countries, each with its own features, and in Thailand there are very wild corners, and in Vietnam there are resorts with the most advanced infrastructure. The real Vietnam is ancient temple complexes of bygone civilizations and the natural beauty of national parks, healthy and tasty food, the cheapest diving in the world and resorts with a distinct European flair: after all, a former French colony. In addition, here you can have plenty of nostalgia for the recent social past: the flag is almost like our former one, and there are pioneers in ties, and even the leader in the mausoleum.

If Vietnam magically suddenly found itself closer to Central Russia, the tourist flow to this country would certainly increase many times over. Indeed, among the tangible disadvantages of this direction is only a long and, therefore, expensive flight. Everything else is a complete plus: an unusual and exciting “excursion”, beautiful beaches with ample opportunities for active recreation, an extensive and high-quality hotel base, low prices in hotels, restaurants, and excursions.

Regions and resorts of Vietnam

For convenience, Vietnam can be divided into three large regions: North, South and Center. Northern Vietnam is the oldest part of the country with many attractions, tea and coffee plantations, nature reserves and Hanoi, the capital, where West and East surprisingly mix. The best time to relax is spring.

Central Vietnam is famous for its long beaches, pleasant climate almost all year round, beautiful views, the party scene of Da Nang and the ancient temples of Hue.

The South is the heart of the economy. The largest city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, is located here, and there are expensive hotels, the best restaurants, numerous shops and other amenities of civilization. The main resorts in the south are luxurious Phu Quoc, youthful Nha Trang and calmer Phan Thiet. More information about the tourist geography of the country is described on the page “Cities and resorts of Vietnam”.

Time difference from Moscow

4 hours

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• from Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

About a third of Vietnam is located at 500 m above the sea, so the climate there is subtropical, and in areas above 2000 m it is even temperate. From April-May to October, the southeast monsoons bring warm and humid weather to the country - except in areas protected by mountains.

In the south of Vietnam (from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet) two seasons can be distinguished - wet and dry. The first traditionally lasts from May to November, the rainiest months are June-August. The second usually starts in December and ends in April. This is the most favorable time for European tourists. “Velvet” months are January and February: soft sun, refreshing sea water. From the end of February to May there are hot days without rain.

The best time to visit Vietnam is when rain is least likely: from April-May to October-November.

Climate of Central Vietnam (from the resort of Nha Trang to the ancient capital of Hue): from February to August - clear, rain is rare, temperature +30...+35 °C. In mid-December there are heavy rains, in October-November typhoons are possible in the area of ​​Danang and Hue, temperature +20...+28 °C.

In the north of the country (from Hanoi to the seaside resort of Ha Long), the winter and summer seasons are more clearly defined than in the south. Winter, cool and wet, lasts from November to February, with constant drizzling rain "fung" in February and March. The summer season begins abruptly in May: high humidity, temperatures up to +40 °C.

Visa and customs

Russian citizens arriving in Vietnam for up to 15 days do not require a visa, provided that during this time they do not leave the country, and on the island of Phu Quoc you can vacation without a visa for up to 30 days. But in both cases, it is worth taking out a health insurance policy in advance for the entire duration of the trip.

• Is a hotel reservation an invitation when applying for a visa to Vietnam?

How to get to Vietnam

From St. Petersburg you can get to Vietnam only with a transfer in Moscow, Europe or Asia, but from Vladivostok to Hanoi you can fly directly with Vladivostok Air (1 flight every 2 weeks).

Two low-cost airlines fly from China, Laos and Cambodia to Vietnam at once - Air Asia and VietJet Air.

Two daily trains run between China and Vietnam: Beijing - Hanoi (from 304 USD, travel time - 37 hours) and Nanning - Hanoi (from 37 USD in a double compartment, travel time - 11.5 hours). Both trains leave China in the evening and arrive in Hanoi in the morning. Prices on the page are for April 2019.

Search for flights to Vietnam

Transport

Internal flights are ideal for moving between cities scattered across Vietnam. Prices are low, with tickets starting from VND 900,000. You can also travel by train, they are quite convenient. It takes about 30 hours to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, during which time the whole country will fly past your windows. Buses are the cheapest option for traveling around Vietnam, but it is better to use them over short distances, otherwise you will waste too much time.

Maps of Vietnam

Car and moped rental in Vietnam

Those accustomed to renting a car in distant countries should think about it - traffic in Vietnam is poorly organized, rules are rarely followed, and getting lost in signs and junctions is a piece of cake. In addition, to drive independently, you will have to obtain a local driver's license, and they are issued only if you have a visa for 3 months or more. The solution may be to rent a car with a local driver.

But you don’t need a license to rent a bicycle or moped. But this option is suitable for small resorts with low traffic; it’s better not to mention riding a moped around Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City without decent driving skills in Southeast Asia.

• What documents are required to rent a car in Vietnam?

Communication and Wi-Fi

Tourists rarely complain about mobile communications in Vietnam. It is inexpensive and covers almost the entire country, including small towns and villages. Local calls cost from 1,700 VND per minute, a nice bonus - there is no roaming in Vietnam, you can use one SIM card in any city, a call to Russia will cost from 3,000 VND per minute.

Everything is good in Vietnam and with the Internet, especially in large cities. Mobile Internet is often faster and more convenient than hotel Wi-Fi, but it must be connected separately; details are on the SIM card packaging. The speed and tariffs of the operators are approximately the same, which eliminates the pain of choice. Free Wi-Fi is available in almost all hotels and restaurants.

Vietnam hotels

In the major cities of Vietnam, the choice of hotels is very diverse - from mini-hotels to luxury establishments. Their service is, in general, at the average European level. Type of meals - breakfast (most) or half board; the all-inclusive system is practically never found here. The buffet is extremely varied. All rooms from 3 to 5 stars are equipped with air conditioning, TV with satellite channels and a telephone; more expensive options also include bathrobes, a hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, safes and minibars.

Accommodation prices remain at approximately the same level throughout the year. A night in a luxury hotel in Hanoi will cost from 1,850,000 VND per day for a double room, in a four-star hotel - from 740,000 VND, in a good three-room apartment - from 200,000 VND, and an overnight stay in a hostel will cost from 80,000 VND per day per person.

Mains voltage 220 V, frequency 50 Hz. Plugs generally have flat connectors. The rooms in many hotels are equipped with universal sockets, which will accept plugs of almost any configuration. If necessary, the hotel staff will find the required adapter.

Money

The country's currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND), 1 dong is divided into 10 hao or 100 sou. Current rate: 1000 VND = 2.71 RUB (1 USD = 23252.55 VND, 1 EUR = 25354.46 VND).

It is better to travel to Vietnam with dollars and euros; the dollar exchange rate is slightly more favorable, but for small amounts the difference is insignificant. Rubles are rarely accepted and little is given for them. Currency can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices, jewelry stores, travel agency offices, markets and even at airports - the rate is approximately the same everywhere, and there are practically no extortionate markups. But street money changers can deceive and instead of 100,000 VND give out 10,000 VND in the hope that the tourist will not notice the difference.

Note to the paranoid: Vietnamese dong bills are made of thin plastic, it hardly wrinkles and is not afraid of sea water. You can safely swim with a “cutlet” in the secret pocket of your swimming trunks.

How to avoid problems

Vietnam is one of the safest places in Asia, but you should also be wary of pickpockets and scammers. The latter can be found in a variety of places - a fraudster may be an officer at the border demanding money for a free visa, an unfortunate pedestrian who suddenly materializes under the wheels of a bike with a tourist at the wheel, unscrupulous hoteliers and sellers.

As for everyday life, you should not drink tap water, it is better not to order drinks with ice in small cafes, not to indulge in unusual food and fruits at the beginning of the trip, and to control yourself in the presence of alcohol.

What other troubles can happen in Vietnam, how not to turn your body into a complete crimson fire, where to change money and buy a SIM card, how not to lose the favor of the local residents, and also where to run and call in case of trouble, is described in the article “How avoid problems in Vietnam."

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Beaches of Vietnam

Vietnam stretches from north to south along the shores of the South China Sea - there are incredibly many beautiful beaches in the country. Some have popular resorts and vibrant nightlife, others are ideal for extreme recreation - surfing, kiting or diving, and others are magnificent in their wildness and desolation. Almost all beaches in Vietnam are sandy, but in some places there is a pebble surface.

Within the boundaries of cities and resorts, most beaches are municipal, with free entry, changing cabins, showers and washbasins, the sand is regularly cleaned and garbage is removed, and umbrellas and sunbeds will cost a ridiculous 320,000-60,000 VND per day (you need to bargain). The pages “Beach Holidays in Vietnam” and “Beaches of Vietnam” will help you choose your strip of soft sand and gentle sea.

• Where in Vietnam you can combine a beach and sightseeing holiday
• Which resort in Vietnam is best for windsurfing?

Diving

Diving in Vietnam is one of the cheapest in the world. At the same time, it is really interesting and organized at a quite decent level. There are many interesting dive sites off the coast of the country. The best in this regard are Nha Trang, Hoi An, the islands of Con Dao and Phu Quoc. In addition to a wide variety of corals, you can see all kinds of mollusks, cuttlefish, octopus, squid, clown fish, moray eels, puffer fish, groupers, manta rays and barracudas.

The most suitable time for diving is from October to April. The best season for diving in Nha Trang is February-October, and on Phu Quoc Island - from November to May. Near Nha Trang there are famous diving spots: Muren Beach, Rainbow Coral Reef and many islands near the resort.

The Con Dao Archipelago National Reserve consists of 14 islands and is located 300 km from the coastline. There you can find very rare mammals - dugongs (sea cows), large green turtles and many endemics - animals and plants that live nowhere else.

Beautiful Vietnam

Shopping

Cuisine and restaurants of Vietnam

The best photos of Vietnam

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All photos of Vietnam

Legends and stories of Vietnam

Here is a brief excursion into the complicated history of the Vietnamese people. More than three thousand years BC, the dragon king Lac Long Quan ruled the lands of what is now Vietnam. Once, puzzled by the continuation of the family, he decided to ask the fairy bird Au Ko for his hand in marriage. The beauty was not slow to accept the offer and, on time, gave birth... a bag in which 100 eggs were found, and from each came one heir-progenitor of 100 Vietnamese families. Whether the lady hatched the offspring or placed the offspring in an incubator - history is silent, but since then every self-respecting Vietnamese speaks of himself as “the child of the dragon, the grandson of the gods.” The end of the story is very modern: after some time the couple separated - Lac Long Quan chopped off half of their sons and went to sea with them, and Au Ko took the remaining fifty and went to live in the mountains. As Lev Nikolaevich correctly noted about happy and unhappy families!

To understand the secret of Vietnam's charm, look at any house in a small Vietnamese town. Here it stands, with a narrow, literally 3-4 meters, facade, stretched away from the road (the fact is that families here are allocated not an area for houses, but a square footage along the street, and a very small one), two- or three-story. The façade is very elegant, even, perhaps, somewhat motley; the double doors span its full width and are hospitably open. Above the entrance, evoking vague memories of the “Twentieth Congress of the CPSU,” flaunts a red flag with a gold star in the center. On the floor above there is a small altar with a dark bronze Buddha dozing, surrounded by smoking incense. And at the very top, on a tiny balcony, entwined with something with small pink flowers, the marble-white Virgin Mary humbly bows her head.

Guides in Vietnam

Entertainment and attractions

Vietnam is ready to delight guests with a variety of diverse entertainment: from elephant riding, visits to snake restaurants with crocodile sanctuaries, national parks and fishing to casinos and nightclubs. The highlight of the country's excursion program is considered to be the Ku Chi guerrilla tunnels, but besides them, there are more than enough attractions here.