CITY LIFE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND The fast pace, never sleeps, city adventure, attractions and excitement You have to visit one of these top paradise islands at least once in your lifetime in Vietnam CENTRAL HIGHLAND THIS LAND POSSESSES VERY DIVERSE AND UNIQUE TOURIST RESOURCES WHERE YOUR JOURNAL BEGINS DISCOVERY THE BEST TIME AND PLACES TO VISIT THE TRAVEL MAGAZINE

2 8 . 0 3 . 2 0 2 2 TABLE OF CONTENT A 3 D r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e O n e - P i l l a r Pagoga within Dien Huu Temple SON DOONG CAVE THE BEST TIME TO VISIT 02 04 06 02 04 06 VN

01 VIETNAM LIFE IN THE CITY PARADISE ISLAND CUISINE CULTURE A TRIP PLANNING GUIDE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18 08 10 12 14 16 18 08 10 12 14 16 18 08 10 12 14 16 18

02 SON DOONG CAVE THE BIGGEST CAVE ON THE PLANET WHEN MEASURED BY CROSS-SECTION

03 S on Doong is relatively young – about 3 million years old in a limestone area dating back 400 million years. The mighty Rao Thuong River carved out Son Doong as it eroded away the limestone, forming an enormous tunnel beneath the Truong Son Mountains. The large dolines (or skylights) collapsed sometime in the last 500,000 years, creating massive openings to the outside world. Cave pearls the size of baseballs and stalagmites the size of tall buildings have formed from water dripping from the cave ceiling. The first expedition was halted by a 90m high calcite barrier, which was jokingly dubbed the “Great Wall Of Vietnam.” It wasn’t until the second expedition in 2010, when the Great Wall was finally climbed and the end of the cave was found. The main huge passage is over 5km long with sections reaching up to 200m tall and 150m wide. Son Doong is large enough to house an entire 40-story New York City block skyscraper. Cave experts are researching the connection between Son Doong Cave and neighbouring Thung Cave. If the connection is made , Son Doong will be the largest cave in the world by volume, as well as cross-section. Hang Son Doong was surveyed by a team of the British Cave Reserach Associasion (BCRA) led by Mr. Howard Limbert in 2009. The Expedition team then announced as the world’s largest natural cave with a volume of 38.5 million m3. The measurements were accepted by a number of senior karst geologists included Dr. Tony Waltham. The measurements were then accepted by a number of world’s senior karst geologists included Dr. Tony Waltham. Hang Son Doong was later published by National Geographic Magazine and National Geographic TV.

04 THE BEST TIME TO VISIT The Weather in Vietnam Vietnam can be enjoyed at any time throughout the year, however, weather plays a big factor—particularly if you plan to enjoy trekking and outdoor activities. Transportation delays happen. Sometimes monsoon rains can become so heavy in urban areas that streets flood and transportation shuts down completely! Although Vietnam still receives a little rain during the dry season, the driest months for visiting the south of Vietnam (Saigon) are typically between December and April. Temperatures and humidity levels in March and April can be suffocating before monsoon rains begin to cool things off in the summer months. The spring and autumn months are most pleasant for visiting the north of Vietnam (Hanoi). Winter nights can get relatively chilly, with temperatures dipping into the 50s. Much colder has been recorded. You’ll certainly need a jacket when visiting Halong Bay in the winter, particularly if you’re already accustomed to warmer temperatures in the south or other countries around Southeast Asia. Key Events and Festivals in Vietnam The largest national holiday in Vietnam is the Lunar New Year celebration known as Tet. During Tet, transportation and accommodations go around the country to celebrate or visit family. An influx of Chinese tourists traveling for Chinese New Year hit popular beach areas such as Nha Trang. Although Tet is an extremely interesting and exciting time to be in Vietnam, your travel plans will certainly be affected, so book ahead and arrive early. Tet follows a lunisolar calendar—after all, it is Lunar New Year—so dates vary from year to year, usually coinciding with Chinese New Year. It’s one of the largest winter festivals in Asia and occurs between January and February. Other big national holidays include May 1 (International Worker’s Day) and September 2 (National Day). Reunification Day on April 30 celebrates the reunification of North Vietnam and South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War. Local families may be traveling during these times. The Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese Moon Festival) is observed in September or October (based on the lunisolar calendar). Although Tet is an extremely interesting and exciting time to be in Vietnam, your travel plans will certainly be affected, so book ahead and arrive early. Tet follows a lunisolar calendar—after all, it is Lunar New Year—so dates vary from year to year, usually coinciding with Chinese New Year. It’s one of the largest winter festivals in Asia and occurs between January and February. Other big national holidays include May 1 (International Worker’s Day) and September 2 (National Day). Reunification Day on April 30 celebrates the

05 DECIDING THE BEST TIME TO VISIT VIETNAM GREATLY DEPENDS UPON HOW FAR NORTH OF SOUTH THAT YOU BEGIN, AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS. H a p p y f a m i l y i n r i c e t e r r a c e s M u C a n g C h a i , Ye nb ai , Vi e t n am

06 VIETNAM LIFE PEOPLE IN CITIES HOW LOCALS IN CITIES MAKING THEIR LIVING Not all people in Vietnamese cities are native residents. Many parts of them come from different regions throughout the country, maybe the rural deltas, the highlands or the remote areas. Millions of people gather in big cities to seek the opportunities and hope of having a better life and future for themselves and their children. Another significant part is students coming to big cities to study in famed universities and colleges. Many keep learning and working during several years of school. After graduation, they often decide to stay and find a suitable job in the cities instead of coming back to their hometowns. Occupations in the city are diverse and the inhabitants work as officers, teachers, merchants, government workers, factory workers, construction workers or street vendors. For many people, each day starts with early exercises in public parks, enjoying a hearty breakfast, immersing in the narrow streets teemed with motorbikes, cars and buses, and dealing with a full day of working and studying. While with farmers and city-dwellers with low income, they have to work harder and take multiple jobs at the same time due to the pressure of the high cost of living.

07 IN THE CITY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES Enjoy Street Food Tour in Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) An activity you should not miss when visiting a Vietnamese city is taking a street food tour. You can find this kind of tour in almost every tourist hub throughout the country like Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh city. Travel with a friendly local guide who knows the area very well with small and hidden corners of cuisine, what you have is not only the traditional taste of each destination but also its culture. Hop on a Traditional Cyclo-rickshaw Another option for travelling around Hanoi, Hoi An or Saigon’s central streets is cyclo. This traditional cycle-rickshaw is a popular local means of transport for tourists to explore the cityscapes from a different side while not worrying about the crazy traffic around. During one hour excursion, your drivers, also your excellent guides will take you to the hidden corners and introduce to you the detailed knowledge of the surroundings. Join in a Handicraft Tour When in Vietnam, you should take a handicraft tour to have some hands-on experiences about Vietnamese traditional products. The options are diverse with many workshops about such as pottery, coffee, lantern or carpentry, etc. On these tours, you will have chances to meet the descendants of the origi-

08 PARADISE ISLAND PHU QUOC ISLAND Located in Kien Giang, Phu Quoc Island is evaluated as the largest island in Vietnam. For a long time, Phu Quoc is considered as the pearl of Vietnam Islands with unspoiled beauty of landscapes, tranquil atmosphere, excellent blue water, and white sand beach stretching along the seaside. This attractive island used to be listed in the most 3 beautiful destinations in winter according to a vote of National Geographic and top 10 most ideal Asian tourist attraction chosen by Asiaone. The most suitable time for visiting Phu Quoc Island is from May to October. THE 3 MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS

09 CHAM ISLAND Cham Island situates on Quang Nam province, a land in the Central Land of Vietnam. The island used to be a resting place for international merchants in the past time. From Cham Island, tourists can visit many attractive destinations in Quang Nam such as Hoi An ancient town and Cua Dai Beach. The pristine beauty of Cham Island is a harmonious combination of sky, ocean, and forest. Especially, Cham Island is recognized as one of the best biosphere reserves in the world because of its biodiversity. The most suitable time for your Cham Island Tour is from March to August because there may have hugely tropical storms in other months. LY SON ISLAND Ly Son is a beautiful island of Quang Ngai province. According to scientists, the island was formed until millions of years ago because of the eruption of a volcano in the bottom of the ocean. For this reason, Ly Son Island has many majestic lava rock mountains along the seaside. An island is also an ideal place for watching moonlight on the peak of Thoi Loi Mountain, hear the serene sound of waves, and enjoy cool winds from the East Sea. In addition, Ly Son Island also possesses the colorful coral reefs under the turquoise sea water. All are made together to sketch a magnificent and poetic painting. Visitors can see the seaweed and many kinds of fish swimming under the crystal clear water. Tourists should visit Ly Son Island – one of the “must-go” destinations in Vietnam with waves flapping on the steep cliffs all year around – to witness the sunset on the silver Note: Vietnam’s islands cater for tourists from those looking for their very own private island to budget travellers and day trippers. Whichever you choose, make sure you check the location, the prices, and how to get there before making any booking. Now that you know the best Vietnam Islands and island resorts, it’s time to start planning your perfect holiday in paradise.

10 A TRIP PLANNING GUIDE SHARING TIPS FROM AN INDIE TRAVELLER Vietnam is one of the most popular backpacking destinations in Asia — and with good reason. Its epic natural sites, mouth-watering food, insanely bustling cities, distinct culture, and low cost have drawn backpackers and holidayers alike for decades. But it’s worth planning your Vietnam trip well, especially if you want to have a more authentic experience! The honest truth is that Vietnam has a bit of a reputation for tour- ist traps and some overcommercialized areas. But it also has some of the most amazing and authentic experiences in all of Asia. How you travel will hugely affect your impressions of this beautiful country. I have done two month-long trips in Vietnam, both going northto-south. My first trip followed the typical itinerary, while my second trip a few years later was much more focused on going off the beaten track. I loved my second trip even more than the first. Based on my experiences, I’ll share how to best go backpacking in Vietnam. Written by Marek Bron

11 T here are a lot of places to explore in Vietnam. Its length is comparable to that of Japan or almost the whole West Coast of the USA. Driving from the north to south tip in Vietnam would take at least 40 hours combined. Keep these distances in mind when planning your trip. Despite its size, many travelers try to cover the whole length of the country in one trip. To do such an itiner- ary justice I think you need at least 3 weeks (but ideally 4 weeks). Popular stops on such a grand backpacking tour of Viet- nam include the capital Hanoi, the archipelago of Ha Long Bay (formed of numerous limestone islands), the cute riverside town of Hoi An, the imperial city of Hue, and the cosmopolitan southern city of Ho Chi Minh City. Even if you have 3 or 4 weeks to spend, you will probably have some tough decisions to make on what to include in your route. One of the first questions you’ll surely hear is “are you going north or south?”.Because of its elongated shape, it just makes sense to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a. Saigon) or the other way around. Personally, I prefer going north-to-south. That’s in part because the north is just a great place to start. The weather will also get more tropical as you go south, so you can reward yourself with some beach time towards the end of your trip. By the way, the topography of Vietnam makes it a great place for a solo traveller. To enter Vietnam you need an approved tourist visa. Unfortunately, Vietnam has one of the most convoluted tourist visa systems in Southeast Asia. It’s honestly a bit of a mess at the moment. in a nutshell, there are two common options: Entering Vietnam overland: if you want to cross the border into Vietnam, for example from Cambodia or Laos, then you need to get a visa from a Vietnamese embassy. This could be an embassy in your home country or in a nearby capital like Bangkok. Important: you will need to pre-select your entry date for Vietnam, so you need to know in ad- vance on what date you want to start travelling in Vietnam. Entering Vietnam by flying: if you’ll enter Vietnam at any of its international airports, then it’s easier to get a visa on arrival. But this also works differently from visas-on-arrival in other countries! You need to be pre-approved and hand over some forms at immigration when you arrive. The easiest way to get this paperwork done is via Vietnam-Visa. com.

12 CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING AREAS IN THE COUNTRY.

13 Vietnam’s Central Highlands region has slowly opened up to tourists over the past decade after years of government enforced travel restrictions and today foreigners can explore the main centres of this region with relative ease. Occasionally regulations will require you to use a guide when visiting the hinterland but for most places you will T ravelling through Vietnam via the magnificent Central Highlands is a fabulous alternative to the much trodden coastal route. The Central Highlands boast beautiful natural features such as relatively untouched forests, waterfalls and spectacular scenery, which contrast with areas still bearing the savage scars of war. A large number of ethnic minority groups still live traditionally in the highlands, particularly around Kon Tum, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot and Da Lat. During the summer season, Da Lat becomes a popular destination as its high altitude offers a slightly cooler temperature than the almost unbearable heat of the southern plains. This, combined with its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City and some great animal-shaped paddle boats plying its main lake, has made it the epicentre of domestic tourism. Vietnam’s Central Highlands are a distinct contrast from the tropical south, with an arid climate, rolling hills, and blue skies. The cool season in the Highlands runs between November and January, with temperatures averaging around 12 to 15 degress Celsius. In February, March and April the mercury surges into the 30s. Come late April, early May, the rains begin and the temperatures begin to drop a little, with the monsoon ending in October. July and August are the wettest months. Due to the Highland’s elevated altitude, year-round the weather is cooler than on Vietnam’s coast. Even in the hot season, mornings and evenings can be chilly and downright cold late at night. If you are planning on travelling by motorbike, keep these conditions in mind D a L a t , L a m D o n g , Vietnam

14 VIETNAMESE CUISINE CULTURE C a K h o T o – V i e t n a m e s e Braised Fish in Clay Pot

15 VIETNAMESE FOOD IS DISTINCT AND UNFORGETTABLE. SPREAD ACROSS STREET-SIDE VENDORS AND HIGH-END RESTAURANT C h a o - V i e t n a m e s e r i c e porridge

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17 The common characteristics of Vietnamese Cuisine The country of Vietnam is divided into 3 distinct sections: Northern, Central, and the Southern. The cooking style in each region differs in the main ingredients, tastes, and flavors. However, there are still quite lots of things in common. It is the use of some traditional spices like fish sauce, shrimp paste, soy sauce, and the importance of rice and by-products of rice. Moreover, Vietnamese cuisine, like many other Asian coun- tries, emphasizes the balance between yin and yang. For example, when the Vietnamese have seafood, which is con- sidered “cold”, it is often served hot with chili, ginger and lemongrass. The use of herbs and vegetables is also dominant in most regions of Vietnam. It brings the unmistakable taste to any gourmet dish even if it’s the first time you’ve tasted it. Besides, situated on the Indochina Peninsula and colonized by France for quite a long time, Vietnamese cuisine displays a perfect fusion of Chinese, Indian and French food while the national identity still imprints deeply on the Vietnamese dining tables. The special cuisine of the ethnic minorities in Vietnam Vietnamese population consists of more than 54 minorities. Each of them has a very distinctive tradition, as a result, a different food culture. Because the ethnic minorities often reside in highlands and mountainous areas, their foods are not as varied as the delta residents’. However, their culinary techniques are never inferior. Hill tribes in Sapa, a mountain- ous village in the North are well-known for their rainbow-col- ored glutinous rice. From local flora, baby jack fruit for the red, turmeric for the yellow, pineapple leaf for the green and violet glutinous rice leaf for the purple, ethnic people have turned the simple dish of rice into a colorful, unique food of the mountainous region. Many other special- ties of the Vietnamese ethnic minorities include banh cuon trung Lang Son (thin, wide sheets of steamed fermented rice batter filled with poached eggs), the whole duck, or baby pig toasted with a special leaf called moc mat... Note: Etiquette is a rather casual affair - meaning that there are few “no elbows on the table” kinds of restrictions - but there are a few things to remember. The order of who is served, of who is given the choicest delicacies, and of who eats first is very important. It’s best to see that the eldest member of the group is served first and given the choicest fare - a whole egg from the top of a hot pot, a shrimp, or piece of steak.

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