Should not miss cities in Vietnam travel

Vietnam – an amazingly exotic and utterly captivating possesses a breathtaking natural beauty with incredible natural and cultural heritages that quicky becomes addictive. In Vietnam tours from north to south, each time dropping by cities in Vietnam is a new, unique and surprising experience. Such cities as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, Nha Trang, or Dalat... are really worth visiting at any time during a year.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City has been also known as Pearl of Far East for a long time. It is the most bustling and developed city in Vietnam where there are many mysterious things to discovered. Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is the biggest economic, political, and cultural center in Southern Vietnam. This is a large tourism center with famous historical relics and museums recording imprints of the resistance wars against French and American. Among 11 most famous museums in Ho Chi Minh City, War Remnants Museum is the best one. Besides, there are architectural works built in the colonial period satisfying the traveling desire of tourists in Saigon tours such as the City Hall, Saigon Opera House, Saigon Central Post Office, Nha Rong Wharf, Ben Thanh Market, and Independence Palace... Recently, such modern architectures as Diamond Plaza, Bitexco Financial Tower, and Saigon Trade Center beautify the city. In the outskirts of the city, there are famous Ho Chi Minh City attractions such as Cu Chi Tunnels, Can Gio Mangrove Forest, and Thu Duc Stork Garden.

Hanoi

Hanoi Capital

Hanoi seems to be the first destination in any Vietnam tour packages. Hanoi - the Capital of Vietnam is the biggest political center of the country. Despite of some claims about services, Hanoi has been one of destinations where tourists want to come once in a life time. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a long-lasting traditional, historical and cultural city. Hanoi Old Quarter and Imperial Citadel appeal tourists with their ancient beauty, traditinal craft streets, and outstanding historical sites such as Temple of Literature. Meanwhile, modern architectures as Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel are seen as a symbol of the French occupation in Vietnam. The French street is portrayed by Hanoi Opera House and One Pillar Pagoda which are must-visit attractions in Hanoi. Other relics and attractions in Hanoi are Ho Chi Min Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, West Lake, Perfume Pagoda, and famous museums such as Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Da Nang

Da Nang City

Da Nang is one of the most favorite tourism city to both domestic and international tourists in Vietnam travel. Apart from the beauty of majestic mountains, rivers, and sea, Da Nang satisfies tourists by amazing dishes, delicious seafood, and developed infrastructural system. Da Nang is one of 20 cleanest cities in the world. Located in the South Central Vietnam, Da Nang terrain is characterized by mountains, plains, and sea. Famous tourist attractions in Da Nang are Ba Na Hills, My Khe Beach, and Fantasy Park - the biggest one one in Asia. In addition, Da Nang has many wonderful landscapes such as Hai Van Pass, Son Tra Peninsula, and Marble Mountains. Furthermore, Da Nang is also surrounded by three World Cultural Heritages as Hue Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Town, and My Son Sanctuary. Annually, Da Nang often holds International Fireworks Competition which attracts a large number of tourists all over the world.

Dalat

Truc Lam

Dalat is dubbed a miniature Paris, a foggy city, love city, city of flowers, or pine city. The city is bestowed by the nature with moderate climate. The city has been always a favorite choice of local and international tourists. Dalat is the capital of Lam Dong Province, in Central Highlands Vietnam. With the height of 1,500 meters over the sea level, Dalat is an ideal place to take rest and enjoy holidays in Vietnam. Dalat City is well-known for attractions as Love Valley, Than Tho Lake, and Elephant Waterfall... The present-day Dalat is no longer untouched. Top points of interest in Dalat todays are Lang Biang Mountain, Bao Dai Palace, Tran Le Xuan Castle, Truc Lam Monastery, Tuyen Lam Lake, and Dalat Station...

Nha Trang

NhaTrang Beach

Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province is the heaven on earth as well as one of the most interesting destinations in Vietnam. The city not just entices tourists by charming beaches, pristine islands, and spectacular bays, but also sophisticated French architectures and famous delicacies. Nha Trang City is the most famous beach city in Vietnam. Beaches in Nha Trang belong to coastal areas of Nha Trang Bay, Hon Tre Island, Hon Tam Island, Hon Mun Island, and Hon Chong Promontory which are stunning attractions in Nha Trang City. Nha Trang also puts tourist insight of Champa relics as Po Nagar Cham Towers, and inner city's famous tourist sites such as Dam Market, Long Hoa Pagoda, Mountain Church, and Cau Da Palace (Bao Dai Palace). In Nha Trang, tourists also have a chance to join outstanding Nha Trang Sea Festival with diverse entertainment activities.

Vung Tau

Ho Coc beach

Vung Tau City is a peninsula belonging to Ba Ria Vung Tau province, about 125km from Ho Chi Minh City. Tourists can coming here by bus, submarine or motorbike. Vung Tau has many beautiful beaches such as Bai Truoc Beach, Bai Sau Beach, Bai Giua Beach, Bai Ho Coc Beach, O Quan Beach, Long Hai Beach, and Bai Dau Beach. Here, tourists can take as many photos as they possible to make a marvelous photo collection, and enjoy seafood. Vung Tau is one of most visited beach cities in Vietnam. Bai Sau Beach in the city is often chosen to enjoy by most travelers. In addition, Vung Tau has famous attractions such as Jesus Christ's Statue and Sakyamuni Statue... along with some famous festive events of Nghinh Ong Festival and Dinh Co Festival.

Phan Thiet

Mui Ne Beach

Phan Thiet has many beautiful attractions, especially Mui Ne beaches. Mui Ne is also the place where there are more tourists coming to than other places in Phan Thiet. Tourists coming to Mui Ne are from all over the world, especially Russia. It is easy to recognize via instruction signs in Vietnamese - Russian. Phan Thiet is a beach city as well as the economic and cultural center of Binh Thuan Province. With such famous attractions as Mui Ne, Mui Ke Ga, Phan Thiet is an ideal destination for all tourists, especially those who adore beaches. In addition, inner Phan Thiet City, there is a Western street with featured European cultural space. Some other well-known attractions in Phan Thiet are Ong Hoang Pavilion, Mong Cam's House, Mui Ne Sand Dunes, Mui Ne Fishing Village, Cham towers, and Ta Cu Mountain…

These should-not-miss cities in Vietnam are top choices of tourists when traveling Vietnam. These cities are not just famous for stunning natural lanscapes and seascapes, but also a long-lasting traditional features reflecting via architectural works and daily life of locals. Gradually becoming one of top popular destinations in the world, Vietnam will be a worthy choice at any time.

Source: AloTrip

Is Vietnam the Most Diverse Country For Backpackers?

From the steep rice terraces of Sapa to the limestone karsts of Halong Bay and the rolling sand dunes of Mui Ne to the buzz of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has some of the most diverse landscapes in South East Asia. You can be trekking in the mountains one day and sunbathing on a sandy beach the next, then whizzing around on a motorbike through the hectic streets of a buzzing city the following day!

Maybe it’s Vietnam’s spectacular variety that makes it one of the most popular countries in South East Asia for backpackers to travel. If you’re planning to a trip to this country, you’re in for a treat! Here are five reasons why Vietnam has something to suit every backpacker…

1.Mountain Trekking:

Fansipan Peak

Head north from Hanoi via overnight train for some incredible trekking experiences where you’ll walk amidst misty mountains and rice terraces from one hill tribe village to the next. The hill town resort of Sapa is a good starting point, as well as the more remote Mai Chau Valley and Ba Be National Park. Also worth visiting are the beautiful central highlands, known as the ‘Alps of Vietnam’ where you can base yourself in the quirky town of Dalat and explore on foot or bicycle from there. Rafting, rock climbing, canyoning and kayaking are also available!

2.Beach Bumming:

Phu Quoc Beach

Tropical white sandy beaches don’t instantly come to mind when you think of Vietnam – with beach hungry backpackers tending to head first to neighbouring Thailand. Don’t fall into the same trap! Vietnam’s long coastline is filled with incredible beaches and islands that will satisfy any beach bum. From the picturesque coves shadowed by impossible limestone cliffs at Cat Ba National Park to the long stretches of sand at Hoi An and Nha Trang – Vietnam is a great place to enjoy sun, sea, sand and cocktails! There’s also the interesting island of Phu Quoc just a few hours south of Ho Chi Minh City with fishing villages and beaches galore!

3.City Buzz:

Hanoi Old Quarter

There’s nowhere quite like Vietnam’s capital Hanoi in the north of the country for its intoxicating atmosphere. From the moment you arrive you will be energized by its pulsating vibe and over a thousand years of culture and history. Winding streets, buzzing street life, the smell of spicy street food, eclectic architecture and a million motorbikes make this city an assault on all of the senses. In the south, Ho Chi Minh city has a more cosmopolitan feel – eat crab and drink cheap beer from the street vendors in one area of the city and treat yourself in swanky restaurants, trendy bars and lively clubs in the next!

4.Culture, Museums, Art and Food:

Hoi An Ancient Town

Vietnam has an incredibly rich culture that cannot fail to entice visitors. Wander through the streets of UNESCO World Heritage City, Hoi An, appreciating influences from over five centuries of world trading with the Chinese, Dutch, French and Indians. In the nearby city of Hue, don’t miss the ancient Imperial Hue Citadel, an important part of Vietnamese history as well as the ‘Tombs of the Former Emperors’. Vietnam is also home to world famous museums such as the ‘American War Museum’ in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi. Plus, you can even visit the tomb of the worshipped leader, Ho Chi Minh himself in Hanoi. After all that culture, make sure you relax with a bia hoi (beer) and try local delicacies such as pho bo (beef noodle soup), banh mi (vietnamese style sandwich) and goi cuon (spring rolls).

5.Off the Beaten Track:

Phong Nha - Ke Bang

This incredible country offers plenty of opportunity for off the beaten track adventures. One region, which is only just being discovered by backpackers, is Phong Nha National Park – with amazing scenery, a local way of life and loads of adventure sports such as kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, hiking and caving. Raging rivers, spectacular waterfalls, swimming lagoons, rugged mountains and of course the world’s biggest cave (Hang Son Doong) make this region one of the most exciting adventure capitals in South East Asia.

What do you need to know before you go to Vietnam?

AloTrip promotion

To enter the country you will need a visa, which needs to be arranged in advance. Do you want to travel to Vietnam and get a totally FREE Visa on Arrival (VOA)? We just discovered this promotion from Vietnam Airlines, which grants you a free Visa when you book any flight. Book flights from 49 USD, this great offer is available until 30th December 2015. (Offer is worth 20 USD / per passenger and a whole lot of time and hassle saved!)

*VOA is actually an 'approval letter' - which means you can get a Vietnam Visa stamped upon arrival at an international airport (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh) which will save you time in pre-arranging a visa at a Vietnamese Embassy. This great feature is offered by AloTrip.

Hanoi egg coffee to taste to memorize

Hanoi is partly regarded as the cradle reflecting Vietnam cuisine clearly most. Hanoi cuisine is not just famous for Vietnamese traditional dishes, but also second-to-none drinks, egg coffee as a stark example. To explore and know how to make and enjoy a cup of Hanoi egg coffee, let’s do it with AloTrip. As being a trustworthy travel agent, AloTrip craves for bringing travelers as professional tasters a new and interesting experience on Vietnam cuisine during your holidays in Vietnam.

Egg coffee

In Vietnam tours around Hanoi, tourists will find that among hundreds of coffee shops mushrooming and always crowded in the city, there is a unique drink fascinating a large number of tasters, Hanoi egg coffee. When winter comes, sitting in a small and cozy space with Hoan Kiem Lake view, sipping hot egg coffee contained in small and simple cups, guests will have an unforgettable experience. What an amazing and strange combination! Why can coffee mixed with egg create a world-famous drink? That would be a marvelous and magic creation. Coffee and eggs are harmoniously blended, which makes the flavor is not too sweet, not too bitter, but a little fatty with a passionate scent. If having a chance to visit Hanoi, tourists almost do not miss to taste and to memorize. Egg coffee - a creative drink of Hanoian, becomes famous around the world, since foreign tourists after enjoying this drink, "whisper" each other. Some say, once drinking hot egg coffee contained in small and simple cups, they will remember every single memory about Hanoi.

When winter comes and the coldness suffuses everywhere in the city, both local people and tourists want to have more time to sit together, to feel the warmth and to share stories with each other. In cold days, what is more wonderful for than sitting with friends, enjoying a hot, sweet and odorous cup of egg coffee? Cold winter in Hanoi makes cups of Vietnam egg coffee more special and delicious. Seemingly, eggs in winter are rounder and firmer. Egg yolk is easily separated from egg-white, which will create more fatty and sweet flavors compared with that in summer or other seasons. That partly explains why in winter, coffee lovers linger in coffee shops for long hours to enjoy exclusive cups of egg coffee.

Sunflower Seeds and Egg Coffee

Egg coffee first appeared in Hanoi in the early 20th century. The creator of egg coffee is Mr. Nguyen Van Giang. He used to work at Sofitel Legend Metropole, a 5-star hotel in Hanoi, in French colonial period. He varied Capuccino of Western countries to create Vietnam coffee with egg yolk, familiar but charming. Egg coffee is simply made. Bartender has to choose fresh eggs to reduce fishy smell. Coffee must be pure and premium among Vietnam coffee with passionate fragrant. Egg yolk and egg-white are separated from each other. The egg yolk is mixed with dense milk and sugar, even cheese by hand or machine until having cake-like smell. Then, the mixture is lightly poured into the cup of coffee. When the mixture of egg floats on the surface, it is ready to use. Making egg coffee is not too complicated, but it requires subtlety and ingenuity. The formula is not special or hides its own secret, but very few coffee shops where the drink is perfectly made. The secret lies in decreasing the proportion of eggs, coffee and milk harmonically, not too sweet, not too bitter with fatty flavor in passionate scent. The fatty egg flavor mingled with the aroma of coffee makes up its own taste. The best way to enjoy egg coffee is drink as it is hot; otherwise, it smells fishy and hard to drink. Later, some coffee shops use cacao powder to decorate and add flavor for the attractive drink. The unmatched drink captivates many tasters in Vietnam tour packages in the long-lasting historical city.

Egg cafe Giang

The cup used to containing egg coffee is usually small, fits in the palm of hand, just enough for people to enjoy, but still craving and longing. Cup of fragrant coffee is made from coffee, eggs and milk but has a strange attraction to anyone who has the opportunity to enjoy. Coffee egg is particularly suitable for people who do not tolerate the bitterness of filter coffee, but still want to enjoy and sip little by little. Fleshy sweetness, fatness of eggs and milk will melt away the "unpleasant" flavor of coffee, leaving only sweet and attractive fragrant. Egg coffee has existed for a long time, and it does not create a culinary trend like present-day drinks. It is just famous enough to feature a unique culture of Hanoi cuisine. Todays, tourists in Hanoi travel can enjoy egg coffee at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, 11 Hang Gai Street, and 13 Dinh Tien Hoang Street.