Go to vietnam vacation nha trang. All about holidays in Vietnam: reviews, tips, guide. Standard solo travel plan

We describe and compare the best resorts and beaches in Vietnam - famous and not so famous. Reviews of tourists and personal experience from traveling around the country. Map of Vietnam in Russian with resorts. Choose where it is better to go to rest!

Which resorts in Vietnam can have a good rest? Let's try to figure it out by considering the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Vietnam resorts:

Nha Trang

When to go. Best place to stay in Nha Trang spring And in summer. The rainy season begins in October - strong winds blow, and the sea is worried. In winter, it is uncomfortable because of the waves, but they are not always there. We rested in the winter - this is a great time for excursions and trips around the area!

Cam Ranh

Cam Ranh is a small seaside village located in the bay of the same name. The most famous beach is Bai Zai, people often come here from neighboring Nha Trang.

The beach is only 30 meters wide, but very long, with fine sand and a gentle entrance. There are restaurants and hotels on the shore, on the beach you can rent a sun lounger with an umbrella and go water skiing.

When to go. The climate is the same as in Nha Trang, so come in spring and summer.

Phu Quoc

Where is it better to go to Vietnam if you want a relaxing beach holiday? Phu Quoc Island is a quiet resort, diving and snorkeling center. , interesting underwater world, clean water and warm climate. The infrastructure is actively developing, but there is no nightlife, and there are few attractions. Although, which will not leave you indifferent.

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet

The narrow 17-kilometer resort area between Phan Thiet and the fishing village of Mui Ne is simply called Mui Ne. This is a jumble of hotels, souvenir shops, bokeh (seafood cafes), travel agencies and pharmacies. Most of the hotels are located on the first line. The best beaches are occupied by expensive hotels, worse areas are budget ones. We did not like the beaches of Mui Ne - they are mostly dirty. Everywhere shallow water and waves, so do not buy. But in the district there are interesting sights: red and white dunes, Fairy Stream.

When to go. There are no strong climatic swings here, as in the northern resorts of Vietnam. However, it is best to rest during the dry period - November to April. Strong winds blow most of the time, so kiters and surfers love this place. They prefer to rest from January to March, when the sea waves are high. From April to the end of autumn, the sea becomes a little calmer.

Danang

Among Russians, this resort in Vietnam is almost unknown (everyone goes to Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc), the Vietnamese rest here. The city is large and modern, with spacious streets and not too much traffic, so it is convenient to learn how to ride a bike.

The best beaches of Da Nang with white sand and a gentle entrance to the sea are Bak My An and My Khe. Entrance is free, the infrastructure is quite developed. The coastline is wide and long, you can collect a lot of beautiful shells. Near Da Nang there are beautiful Marble Mountains.

A small minus is the remoteness of the center from the tourist area. There are no big supermarkets on the coast. There are no city buses, you need to go to the center by bike or taxi.

When to go. The high season is short - it's better to relax April to June, when it is already warm enough, and there are low waves on the sea. It rains from summer until the end of the year, and winds rage in winter. We rested in Da Nang in winter: the city and the beach were deserted, but this has its own charm. A strong wind was blowing, big waves were rising on the sea, a red flag was put up on the beaches, and sometimes it was drizzling. In the low season, almost all cafes in the tourist zone are closed, and sometimes it is not easy to find inexpensive food: the Vietnamese, seeing single tourists, raise prices.

If you are looking for the best place to relax in Vietnam with children, then pay attention to Hoi An - the entrance to the sea is gentle there. The best beach is An Bang (the other, Cua Dai, was destroyed by sea erosion and is being restored). Beaches with fine light sand and in some places developed infrastructure. Parking is paid.

Hoi An has beautiful old architecture. From the city it is convenient to visit the Marble Mountains in Da Nang - for example, we went there by bicycle (rent costs only $ 1 per day).

Of the minuses - Hoi An stands on the river, and you need to drive several kilometers to the nearest beach. Tourists prefer to live near the Old Town, although you can also live by the sea.

When to go. Best time - from February to May. In autumn, hurricanes rage and floods occur.

halong

A beach holiday in Vietnam is also possible in the bay of the same name in the city of Ha Long. The beaches on the islets are mostly made of imported sand, and the water is often muddy, but most tourists come here to admire the wonderful islands.

There is nothing much to do in Ha Long city itself, except to stroll along the beautiful promenade with gorgeous views of the bay, watch the inhabitants of floating villages, admire the sunsets and climb Bai Tu Poet Mountain, which offers a panorama of the city and the bay.

When to go. The best time for excursions - from December to the end of May when dry and warm, for a beach holiday - April, May, September and October. The rainy season is from June to September. We lived in Ha Long in January, and although the sun often warmed, the cold wind did not allow the thought of a beach holiday.

catba

A picturesque green island located in the bay of Halong Bay, the largest in the archipelago. The beaches are mostly nondescript with yellowish-brown sand, but clean, free of debris and algae. The main entertainment for tourists at the resort are island cruises and excursions to the local national park.

When to go. It is stormy in Cat Ba in summer, so it is better to rest autumn.

This is a small seaside town with a densely built-up coastal strip and oil-producing enterprises. The city has beaches - narrow, with muddy and foamy water due to the close proximity to the Mekong and strong winds.

The infrastructure is developed: there are restaurants, hotels, entertainment, shops. However, even the locals prefer Long Hai or Mui Ne, where the beaches are better. If you need a good beach holiday, it is better to go to the popular resorts of Vietnam: Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Mui Ne or Da Nang.

When to go. From November to April. In winter, high waves rise, which are popular with kiters. The rainy season is from May to October.

(Photo © vitieubao / pixabay.com)

The island is good for a secluded holiday and ecotourism, it is called the best resort in Vietnam for diving. There are unique species of plants and animals here, such as sea cows and green turtles.

The tourist infrastructure is poorly developed, there are no large shopping centers and few hotels. The island itself is rocky, most of the coast is sheer shores. In the eastern part of the island there are several sandy beaches, all sparsely populated and semi-wild.

When to go. The perfect time for a beach holiday on Con Dao December to April, for diving - from February to July.

(Photo © khoibinh / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Map of Vietnam resorts in Russian

For your convenience, we have compiled a map of all the popular resorts in Vietnam.

Where is the best place to go on holiday in Vietnam?

Each resort in Vietnam is good in its own way. Those who are thirsty for new experiences and active entertainment should go to Nha Trang, Ha Long, Hoi An and Da Nang. The islands are suitable for lovers of natural attractions and diving. For holidays with children in Vietnam, it is better to choose resorts with good 4-5 * hotels and entertainment - these are Phu Quoc, Hoi An and Nha Trang.

(Photo © Mgzkun / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Intro image source: © ssmarta / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Vietnam is stretched by a snake from north to south for 2500 km, so if you plan to relax in a particular place, and not travel around the country, it makes sense to look for flights to a specific city.

Comfortable (and not very comfortable) buses run between cities, there is a railway along the coast and budget airlines fly, which I will discuss below, but in order not to waste time, it is better to choose the right airport of arrival in advance.

The map shows the main airports and resorts that most people visit:

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. Located in the north of the country. This is the most picturesque and original region of Vietnam. The international airport is located 45 km from Hanoi. If you want to visit Sapu, Hue, bay halong and other attractions of the north, then buy air tickets to Hanoi.

Da Nang(Danang) - a city in the center of the country In the area of ​​​​Danang and a neighboring city Hoi an the best beaches in Vietnam are located. They are not as popular as the beaches of Nha Trang or Mui Ne, because in Da Nang the sea warms up only in summer. In winter it is cool to swim, there are big waves in the sea. There are no direct flights from Russia to Da Nang, but there are flights with transfers

Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon), Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) is the largest city, located in the south of the country. If you are planning a holiday in Mui Ne (Phan Thiet) or Vung Tau, take flights to Ho Chi Minh City

Nha Trang is a popular resort in central Vietnam. Most people choose to relax it is him. Nha Trang Cam Ranh International Airport is located 30 km south of Nha Trang. Charter flights from Russia, Vietnamese and Asian airlines, including low-cost airlines, fly there. Below I will tell you in detail how to get to Nha Trang, because there are direct flights from Russia only a few months a year

Phu Quoc- a paradise island in the south of Vietnam. Located in the Gulf of Thailand on the border with Cambodia. White sand, beaches without waves. Fukuoka has an airport. You can get from Russia with a transfer in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. There are no direct flights from Moscow to Phu Quoc now, I could not find charter flights either.

How do I find flights to Vietnam?

I do not like to scour the Internet and check a hundred services. When I need to buy the cheapest flights, I use the simplest and most efficient way:

2. Where to? I use a flexible search and choose not some city, but the whole country - Vietnam to see which city is cheaper to fly to.

For example, if you need to relax in, then it would be more logical to fly to Ho Chi Minh Airport. I look at tickets to all cities. Usually the lowest prices can be found just before Ho Chi Minh City.

But if suddenly on the right dates the flight to Ho Chi Minh City costs 100$ more expensive than to Hanoi (the capital), then I’d better buy a ticket to Hanoi, and then for 23$ I will book a flight Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnamese low-cost airlines

2. Dates My departure date usually depends on the availability of cheap flights, so I use a flexible search. I choose the whole month or the cheapest month.

If you need to fly on a specific day, you can enter your dates

3. Direct flights If you need non-stop flights and two-way tickets, I put the appropriate checkboxes

4. Cost analysis. I use it precisely because it often finds the cheapest options, convenient connections and shows in the search results not only regular flights of major airlines, but also charter flights, as well as tickets from Asian low-cost airlines. If there are sales and specials on my dates. prices for some airlines, skyscanner will show them too

5. Where to buy air tickets? You can follow the links from Skyscanner to the websites of ticket agencies - this will most likely be cheaper. Just in case, I additionally check the airline's websites (Skyscanner search results show which airline operates the flight). If the airline's ticket price does not differ from the price in ticket agencies, I buy from the airline.

Tickets to Vietnam on Aviasales

To make sure that Skyscanner has found the best deals, I additionally check prices through the Aviasales search engine.

There is a less convenient search, because it does not allow you to search by month or by country (only by date and city), but the prices for air tickets to Vietnam are sometimes more favorable on these sites. You should always check several search engines and buy where the conditions are most favorable.

Find cheap tickets to Vietnam:

1. New Year. If you want to relax in Vietnam on holidays (New Year, May, March 8), then you need to buy tickets in advance. For a year or at least for a few months.

3. Weekday flights are often cheaper

4. The closer the New Year, the higher the prices, so buying tickets in December is a bad idea.

5. Since March flights are getting cheaper, and in the north of Vietnam it is getting much warmer. It is better to plan a vacation for March-April than for December-February, when the peak season

6. Find out the dates vietnamese new year and book your accommodation in advance. On New Year's dates, hotels, houses and apartments can cost twice as much as on ordinary days, so looking for accommodation on the spot or booking a couple of days before arrival is extremely unprofitable.

Vietnam ticket sales

Several times a year, airlines sell tickets at low prices. Companies have sales to Asia Etihad, Qatar, emirates, Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, Air China

If you are looking for flights in search engines and there is a sale for your dates, then it will show

Glitches Etihad, Air China

Etihad and Air China glitches. Whether by accident or on purpose, Etihad and Air China have been selling tickets to Asia at crazy fares throughout the year. Tickets could be purchased for 250$ in two directions (usually the minimum price is $400-450). These glitches are related to the calculation of the amount of fuel surcharge.

When compiling a complex route, prices could be brought down by 50-150$ . Each time a different direction is added to the complex route. For example, last year I used a glitch to buy myself tickets to Goa for 10’000 rub round-trip, adding an additional segment "Australia" to the route. This year, during the sale of Air China, it was necessary to add Brazil or choose to return to Minsk.

The price of tickets can sometimes be reduced by several thousand if you choose the return point " Ekaterinburg»

2. In the column From where we indicate your city or the whole country "Russia"

3. Where - Vietnam

4. Choose the whole month or specific dates if you need to fly on a specific day

5. The cheapest tickets to Vietnam are usually sold from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. You are looking at the price from your city. If she's only 50-100$ higher than the price of the same tickets from Moscow, then it is better to fly from the nearest airport

6. If the ticket is from Moscow much cheaper, then all on the same check how much a ticket costs from your city to Moscow

7. Now Pobeda Airlines often arranges sales of flights across Russia. For example, recently they had a special prices of 100 rubles for flights to 16 cities of Russia. Skyscanner shows Pobeda flights, so you can open the calendar and see which days are cheaper to fly. Don't forget to check the airline's website. Perhaps the prices on the Pobeda website will be even lower than on Skyscanner.

* Carefully read the conditions for carrying baggage and hand luggage if you plan to fly in Russia with Pobeda!

Flights to Nha Trang

Nha Trang has one airport, Nha Trang Cam Ranh International Airport, located 30 km south of the resort. If you are purposefully going on vacation in Nha Trang, look for flights to this airport.

On Vietnamese websites, Nha Trang is referred to as Nha Trang. If you look for tickets for domestic buses, trains, planes, then you will not find the word "Nha Trang" at the destinations.

Direct flight

There is a direct flight Moscow-Nha Trang only with October to March from Vietnam Airlines, and tickets for direct flights from Moscow to Nha Trang are sold for 50 000 rub- this is almost twice as expensive as for flights with transfers

VN-70 Moscow (DME) — Nha Trang

Flight VN-71 Nha-Trang — Moscow (DME)

This flight is not shown on the Vietnam Airlines website, so you need to search through search engines, Aviasales

In Nha Trang with a transfer

Flights to Nha Trang with transfers can be bought for 29000-32000 rub round trip

Charters in Nha Trang

Charters to Nha Trang need to be searched on the Internet for specific dates and call travel agencies that sell tours to Nha Trang from your city. There is no unified database of charters today. Often slip cheap tickets or package tours to Nha Trang on

To Nha Trang from Ho Chi Minh City

Nha Trang is located 440 km from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). If you arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, then you have several ways to get to Nha Trang:

• To Nha Trang by train

vetau24h.com is the official website of the railway in Vietnamese (there is no English version)

You can view the bus schedule in English and buy tickets from thesinhtourist

Bus Saigon - Nha Trang leaves for 7.15 morning and at 20.00 , on my way 10-12 hours, a ticket costs about 200,000 VND (≈ 9$ )

Bus schedule from Ho Chi Minh City to other cities:

• By plane

The list of low cost Asian airlines that fly to Nha Trang from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and other cities is given at the end of this article.

To Vietnam via Southeast Asia

If you have not found cheap tickets to Vietnam, you can check the prices for flights to Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore. From all these countries, you can very cheaply get to the cities of Vietnam by local Asian airlines.

Low-cost carriers of Vietnam and Southeast Asian countries

– to Singapore from Da Nang, to the Philippines, to China, India, Australia from Hanoi, there are flights from Ho Chi Minh City

Flying in Vietnam

Most low-cost flights within Vietnam and across Southeast Asian countries can be found on and on Aviasales

If you click “Buy” in the search engines, you get to the website of the low-cost airline. In Vietnamese dongs, the price is the same for search engines and airlines, so you can safely use search engines in Russian and with a flexible search for dates. The purchase will still be made on the website of Vietnamese low-cost airlines.

Tours to Vietnam

If there are two of you and you just want to relax in a Vietnamese resort for one or two weeks, then buying a tour to Vietnam will most likely cost less than a self-organized trip. The cost of the tour usually includes a charter flight, a hotel for two, transfer, insurance, and even meals (not always).

from level.travel

Cheap air tickets and sunny weather in Vietnam!

Your Mila Demenkova

Until recently, many people associated Vietnam with total poverty and did not arouse much interest among tourists. But today everything has changed - the country is considered one of the most popular resorts in the world. And all because there are warm tropics, an unforgettable Asian flavor and an affordable price policy for tour packages. What will a vacation in Vietnam be remembered for, when and where it is better to go, how to get there, what entertainment the country can offer a demanding tourist - we will talk about all this later in the article.

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

During its existence, Vietnam, whose history begins from the first millennium BC, has experienced many attempts on its territorial integrity and charter. He had to go through the times of the French colony, the Japanese occupation and a large number of wars. And the blind inheritance of the Soviet form of economic management led the country to a serious crisis in the economy. It took years to restore relations with developed countries on the world map, as well as to partially liberalize the economic system and rise from the ashes.

The name "Vietnam" comes from the ancient people of the Viet, who lived on the territory of the modern republic, and from the word "us", which means "southern" in their language.

The territory of the modern state is spread over several climatic zones. That is why it is very important to find out before the trip where and at what time of the year it is better to relax in Vietnam.

Where is on the map

The republic is located on the Indochina Peninsula, which is located in Southeast Asia. On the western side, its neighbors are Cambodia and Laos, from the north the country borders on the People's Republic of China, and from the south and east it is washed by the South China Sea.

The area of ​​the state, the heart of which is the city of Hanoi, reaches about 332 thousand km2. More than 93 million people live in cities and villages in Vietnam. They use the official Vietnamese language and the national currency, which is the Vietnamese dong.

How to get from Moscow

The direct distance between Moscow and Vietnam is 6735 km. And tourists prefer to overcome it exclusively by planes. In this case, the flight lasts about 9-10 hours.

Today, Vietnam is the leading exporter of black pepper and cashew nuts. The republic also occupies the second position in the export of coffee outside the country. It is characteristic that coffee plants are not indigenous to these areas and were introduced into the crop production of the state by the French colonists.

The easiest way to get from the capital of Russia to Vietnam is through the main air gates of the republic. They are airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Due to the strong competition between airlines, tourists in this direction are provided with a large selection of flights at relatively low prices.

If you prefer resorts in the south of Vietnam, it is best to fly straight to Nha Trang, Da Nang or Phu Quoc Island. But in this case, be prepared that the cost of the ticket will be much more expensive. To save money, many travelers choose flights to the Vietnamese capital, and then get to their destination by bus.

To purchase the cheapest tickets, it is better to use search engines, which provide comparable prices for different airlines and many booking systems (Skyscanner and Aviasales). Practitioners say that in 90% of cases it is possible to save from 300 to 1000 rubles. But remember that on the eve of the holidays, as well as on weekends, the cost of the flight is much higher than on weekdays.

Consider yourself lucky if you manage to find tickets for the Moscow-Ho Chi Minh flight at a price of 27 thousand rubles. This is rare, but it is still possible to catch luck by the tail.

More than 40% of Vietnamese have the popular surname Nguyễn in the country, another 11% - Trần. So you already know half of the population of the republic.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and other destinations

Vietnam through the spectrum of tourism seems to be very diverse. It only at first glance seems that, apart from rice fields and noodles traditional for the national cuisine, there is nothing interesting there. In fact, there is a place and activity in the state for athletes, seafood lovers, connoisseurs of historical sites, those who prefer exciting adventures and quiet family vacations, couples with children and fans of the fascinating water world. But let's talk about all this in order.

For many travelers, Vietnam begins with the capital. Tourists are amazed by the beauty of the local lakes that surround the city, historical monuments of the metropolis and buildings that have been preserved since the imperial era.

Near the heart of Vietnam, there are many places that every traveler simply must visit. We are talking about one of the famous wonders of the world - dragon bay. It is located just 160 km from Hanoi and impresses with its purity, pretty islands that protrude thickly from the emerald water.

Also worth seeing is Halong Bay. This is an intensively developing resort with hotels, entertainment centers and various boutiques. Great place for shopping, entertainment and beach holidays.

The Vietnamese language is characterized by six different keys. Their use radically changes the semantic meaning of words. Therefore, do not even try to master it yourself.

Among travelers who know everything about Vietnam, this large resort city of Ho Chi Minh City is called the center of entertainment and the water world. Its attractions are the botanical garden, an amusement park, the Give Nam attractions, a zoo, a cinema, and the Dam Sen water park. This is one of the best options for families with children.

Fans of active vacations and athletes are best to choose the city of Mui Ne on the map of Vietnam. By the way, here you don’t have to rack your brains trying to understand the language of the native Vietnamese. The fact is that the resort has a lot of Russian-language signs and appropriate attendants. And in some restaurants you can even offer borscht and donuts traditional for our cuisine.

In Vietnam, it is not customary to completely drink any drink from a cup. At its bottom must be up to 10% of the drink.

Kiters and surfers should visit the local bay. Here, for beginners, there are special schools for fast learning, especially since the prices for the services offered are relatively low. No less interesting in this exotic paradise will be a family with children. For them, beautiful hotels, wide sandy beaches and plantings of luxurious palms and pines stretch along the entire coast.

For those who prefer to enjoy the masterpieces of seafood cuisine on vacation, Nha Trang is recommended. The city is located in the most beautiful bay, therefore it constantly attracts tourists with its beautiful landscapes and mild climate. This resort will be remembered for exotic colorful dishes, warm sea, amazing souvenirs, parks, attractions, diving, night parties and visiting the temple complex. The place is suitable for children and adults. Your child will be delighted with the Vinpearl Land water adventure park on the island of Hon Tre, the Chi-Nguyen aquarium (Neptune's Palace), and the aquarium for a long time to come.

Going on such a long journey, do not forget to stock up on time with the necessary set of medicines and repellents. In Vietnam, tourists often suffer from insect bites, poisonous plant fumes, jellyfish burns and the scorching sun, as well as food poisoning, allergies and dirty local water.

Fans of a relaxing holiday should go to Phu Quoc Island. There you will not find noisy streets of megacities, bright entertainment centers, endless shops, restaurants and cafes. Only the sea, palm trees, sun-drenched beaches, fabulous sunrises and sunsets. And also pearl farms and huge plantations of black pepper. Tour operators often recommend such a vacation to families with children and elderly travelers, as well as people who are tired of the daily bustle of the city. But this pleasure is much more expensive than the above resorts.

Similar impressions await you from a visit to Vung Tau. In this place, you can also be alone with nature and improve your health. The resort is worth visiting the statue of Jesus Christ. And if you climb up its spiral staircase, you can appreciate the panorama of the entire Vietnamese town.

For those who dream of a developing journey and are eager to immerse themselves in the centuries-old history of Asian peoples, the resort town of Hoi An is very suitable. There you will be impressed by the Marble Mountains, the Haivan Pass, museums of architecture and sculptures, the Cham complex Michon. Ancient traditions can be studied even just by walking along the local streets. They often meet antique shops and ancient temples.

Da Nang Resort is the perfect place to get acquainted with local traditions. But its only "minuses" are the high pricing policy in relation to tourists and some remoteness of the resort area from the center. These inconveniences are connected with the industrial and economic direction of the city.

In crowded places in Vietnamese resort cities, and especially in the capital, tourists should be on the alert. Very often, local entrepreneurs, spoiled by the constant flow of wealthy travelers, deceive and shortchange their customers. Also very often there are cases when the price of a product is significantly overstated. Therefore, before buying anything in Vietnam, study the market and never leave your belongings unattended.

Weather in Vietnam: when is the best time to travel?

If you choose where it is better to go on vacation in Vietnam, do not be too lazy to find out in which equatorial zone the resort you like is located. This is due to the large length of the republic from north to south. In addition, the monsoons have a significant influence on the climatic conditions of the area.

In water

All year round, tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the clear waters of the warm South China Sea, located in the tropical climate zone. Its emerald waves are striking in their transparency - the seabed is perfectly visible even through a 10-meter water column. Plus, she's always warm. The sea temperature never drops below 23 °C. And in August it warms up to the 30-degree mark.

On the land

In the northern regions of the state, sunny weather does not last long. In the summer season, the air warms up to 28–30 °С. And in winter, in the flat areas, the temperature drops to a stable 20 ° C. But in mountainous areas, the thermometer can fix only 5 ° C. These resorts are suitable for recreation only in summer, since it rains here from the beginning of September until the very end of May. Continuous showers will accompany you throughout February and March.

In Vietnam, there are no shuttle buses and cars that are familiar to us. The local population travels on motorcycles. In this country, every family has at least 2 bikes. And every day more than 10 million of such vehicles appear on the roads of the republic. In addition, it is not customary to let pedestrians pass at the crossings. Therefore, crossing busy highways constantly turns into an exciting and risky adventure.

It is best to go to the central zones of Vietnam in the spring and summer, because the rest of the year there are heavy rains. The climate of these areas is characterized by heat and high humidity. Average temperatures fluctuate between 35–40 °С in summer and 15–20 °С in winter.

The southern resorts of Vietnam are distinguished by year-round heat. The temperature here almost never drops below 25 °C. It also rains here, but they often fall only at night and do not last as long as in the north of the country. In addition, in the south, the air is never dry due to the constant evaporation of moisture.

Often, tour operators from Vietnamese resorts recommend to tourists:

• in the period from April to August - Hoi an;
• in the period from January to March, as well as in December and November - the island of Phu Quoc;
• in the period from February to September - Nha Trang;
• throughout the winter - Phan Thiet.

Vietnamese natives firmly believe in the mysterious power of snake wine, which is the country's national drink. It is prepared by preserving venomous reptiles in rice wine and grain alcohol. Moreover, local healers believe that the more dangerous the snake, the more useful the drink will be from it.

Popular beaches of the country

Today, almost the entire southern coast of the republic is popular with tourists. But only elite beaches deserve special love from travelers:

1. Condao. It is located on the island of the same name and is characterized by white sand, crystal clear sea, dense thickets of coke palms, mangrove forests. It is here that you can easily find a unique plant or meet an exotic animal face to face.
2. Mui Ne Beach. It is a wide beach strip that stretches between the cities of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. Local residents are accustomed to the constant influx of Russian tourists, so they adjust menus, signs and movie screenings in cinemas to suit them.
3. Lang Co. The beach is located in the resort of Hue, where travelers are pleased with a variety of entertainment centers and restaurants with national cuisine.
4. Ha Long. When the fantastic landscapes of this beach are opened for the first time, the pictures filled with modern special effects and computer graphics are fleetingly recalled. From a charming fairy tale, tourists are returned to reality by dirty sea water and a rather unpleasant nearby town.
5. Phu Quoc. It is located 15 km from Cambodia and is the subject of quarrels between these 2 states. All coasts of the island are covered with sandy beaches with slightly pinkish fine sand and turquoise clear water. It is here that you can take a beautiful selfie on a palm tree that has approached the very sea. Providing shade, these trees are very appropriate in hot tropical climates. True, there are no good roads on the island. But there is an airport.
6. Nha Trang. This is a pearl among all the beaches of Vietnam. It is characterized by a snow-white sand cover, stretching along the coast for 7 km. Since the area is located in a bay, which is almost completely hidden from the open sea by islands, the water here is never colder than + 24 ° C. Also here you can easily get acquainted with octopuses, shrimps, squids and other marine inhabitants that are found right off the coast.
7. Danang. The beach occupies about 20 km of the resort town, but is distinguished by a small selection of hotels on the coast. Therefore, housing during a holiday in these areas must be taken care of in advance.
8. Non Nuoc. Known for the sacred Marble Caves.
9. Vung Tau. Beaches in this resort can be found for every taste. For example, wild and little-known places are suitable for hermits, while demanding spoiled travelers will be offered all the amenities on large modern beaches, which in many respects are similar to European ones. Mulberry (difficult to access), Front and Back beaches are popular.

There is a man in the country who has not slept for over 40 years. This is 75-year-old Thai Ngoc. In the prime of life, he experienced a severe fever and then lost his desire to sleep. As a result of the test that fell to him, the Vietnamese is experiencing discomfort. He confessed to one of the local newspapers that he "feels like a plant without water."

Attractions and excursions

Discovering something new in Vietnam is endless. Moreover, the country is in an endless revival after the wars experienced. The local population is especially anxious about ancient historical monuments. Although, let's not hide, we can see some of them today only thanks to the intervention of UNESCO, which insisted on the reconstruction of the destroyed buildings. So, if you follow the map of attractions of famous resorts in Vietnam from north to south, you can find many places where you really should go.

In the capital of the republic, you can visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Hanoi Citadel, the Cathedral of St. Joseph, the Museum of Military History and the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Also here is the largest zoo in the country "Thu Le". Its peculiarity is not only in acquaintance with exotic wild animals, but also in the opportunity to ride a boat, take a walk with children and get a dose of adrenaline from local attractions. Also near Hanoi is the Bai Thu Long archipelago, famous for its 3,000 miniature islands.

The city of Hue is home to many aerial pagodas and ancient palaces from the time of the Nguyen Dynasty. Particularly noteworthy are the ruins of the citadel of Kinh Thanh. It is here that you can see with your own eyes the complex of the Nine Holy Weapons, the forbidden purple city of Dai Non and the royal theater. You can also look at the imperial tombs, each of which is a small town.

Despite the 20 ° C outside, the Vietnamese consider this weather to be cold and, as a rule, wrap themselves in warm jackets and hats. And they also decided to wear two-toed socks, which allow you to wear the famous flip flops even in winter.

In the museum city of Hoi An, which is located just south of the resort of Hue, you will be interested in everything. It was through this settlement that the Great Silk Road ran at that time. You will be amazed by the beauty of the temples, which in this city are like mushrooms after the rain. Among them are the legendary buildings of Fioklam, Kaodai, Kuan Kong.

In Nha Trang, it is worth taking a look at the Cham towers, of which only 4 have survived to this day. Also of interest is the Buddha statue, the Long Son pagoda and the marine fauna museum, which contains up to 8 thousand exhibits. Children should be shown the Chingyuen Aquarium, which is a lake divided into 3 parts, each of which is inhabited by decorative, edible and predatory fish.

For lovers of extreme sports, the Dalat mountain resort is very suitable, which is located 60 km from the port of Cam Ranh. For great experiences, you should look into the "madhouse" of the Hang Nga Hotel, as well as visit the Thung Lung Tinh Yeow Valley, Madame Dang Gallery and the Vion Hoa Da Lat Flower Gardens.

In Dalat, which is famous as "Vietnamese Paris", there is even a copy of the Eiffel Tower.

The cheapest diving and other outdoor activities

For obsessed divers, this corner of the planet is considered sacred. And all because it was in Nha Trang Bay that corals began to form for the first time on the planet. Today there are about 400 species of them, which is a record number. Few people know that there is a real coral reserve near Moon Island.

The most interesting places for diving are:

• the area around Madonna Rock and its underwater tunnels;
• coral garden reef, where hard corals grow;
• the area near Mushroom Reef, where flying fish and reef sharks are quite common, as well as colorful clown fish, moray eels, squid, giant turtles, seahorses and barracudas.

You don't have to go too deep here. Sea beauty can be seen already 5 m from the surface of the sea.

For beginners, diving clubs will offer paid training, after which a special certificate is issued. Experienced tourists who are fond of the underwater world advise, when choosing centers, to give preference exclusively to foreign establishments, and not to Vietnamese ones.

For some reason, all Vietnamese bathe in clothes. They do not swim, but go into the water to a sufficient depth and splash in warm waves. Inexplicably, they also snorkel dressed.

Among other outdoor activities in this exotic country, you may be offered to dive without scuba gear. This type of entertainment is called freediving. Depending on the level, its cost is in the range of $150–250. The most suitable area for such dives is Whale Island, located 80 km from Nha Trang. It is famous for its turtle farm, so it will be of interest to both beginners and experienced divers.

During the day, everyday Vietnam resembles a large anthill, in which every resident is immersed in his worries with his head. And at night he does not stop, but on the contrary, with renewed vigor, he is reborn into something new and mysterious. Night Vietnamese cities are famous for grandiose parties and sexual adventures. Seeing off the sun at sunset, people begin to celebrate. And it doesn't need a reason to do so. Such a tradition arose here during the Vietnam-American War, when, after hard days, the soldiers of the army of the United States of America took their souls away with noisy parties. Young Vietnamese were also often invited to them. The idea was so liked by the indigenous people that it was firmly rooted in their lives.

Don't lose your head from Vietnam at night. Be vigilant even under a degree of strong drinks. Do not make dubious acquaintances and do not invite strangers to the hotel room. Indeed, often, when the morning comes and the veil of holiday euphoria leaves the eyes, travelers do not find a mysterious "night butterfly" near them, nor money, nor documents.

If you want to taste all the delights of the Vietnamese night emancipation, then feel free to go to the capital of the Republic of Hanoi and the northern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh, called Saigon in local circles. It is in these two centers that the nightlife of the country is concentrated. Even despite the prohibitions of local authorities, bars, restaurants, gay clubs and other similar establishments, imitating their closure at midnight, continue to let customers in from the back door until the morning. Of course, not all nightclubs act this way, which should be taken into account when making plans for the night. Be prepared that you can not only be invited to a dance, but also be offered delicate services.

The famous Saigon club "Apocalypse Now" is considered a leader in the Vietnamese sex industry. It has existed for several decades and does not lose the status of the main sex attractions of the republic. There are so many pretty priestesses of love in this institution that it will be oh so difficult to choose. You can recognize the institution even from a distance by bright signs and barkers that hang around the doors with a simple slogan “lady, boom”. Along with brothels, street prostitution is also flourishing in the country. Often on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi you can meet pimps riding motorcycles with a frightening menacing look.

Guests of the capital and resort Nha Trang will also be provided with erotic massage. In such salons, local bars are full of people any day and at any time of the year. Most of them are foreign tourists. But the Vietnamese themselves also do not refuse fun.

Other Vietnamese cities, especially resorts, also live their own nightlife, but, as a rule, it lasts only until midnight.

In search of hot entertainment in Vietnam, do not forget about contraception. At first glance, this seems like a silly reminder for schoolchildren. But practice shows that in the heat of passion and drunk alcohol, tourists forget about elementary condoms, as a result of which they return from vacation with a bunch of venereal diseases.

There are many places where you can relax from the heart in Vietnam at night. For example, several metropolitan clubs:

• "Funky Monkey" (address: 31 Hang Thung) - known for a variety of cocktails, pool games, exotic dances and musical preferences in the style of house, trance or techno;
• R & R Tavern (address: 10 Tho Nhuom St) - famous for excellent beer, rock music and unforgettable landscapes that open directly from the terrace;
• "Solace" (address: Chuong Duong Do) - is a youth institution that prefers non-stop music, fiery dances and lighting effects;
• "The Spotted Cow" (address: 23C Hai Ba Trung) - lovers of football, billiards, darts and beauties pave the way here.

Accommodation features

Vietnam is a unique country not only in terms of tropical exotic fauna and flora. Also here are not quite usual conditions for us to move along the streets, live and have a very specific cuisine. Let's consider everything in order.

During a night of fun in Saigon, watch your wallet, purse or bag. After all, bikers rush around the metropolis, who do not miss the opportunity of easy material extraction. It is best to leave all valuables in the hotel safe.

Transport

In this country, there are all types of modern transport - from a scooter to an airplane and international taxis. But the locals seem to have taken a liking to motorcycles for a long time. They move in a chaotic manner through the streets of large cities and small villages.

In any case, there will never be any problems with transport in Vietnam. Of course, inconvenience on the road and frequent transfers are quite likely, but you can get to the right place.

The republic's air transport is mostly represented by the major carrier Vietnam Airlines and small companies Vietnam Airlines, VASCO, AirMekong, and VietJet. They fly exclusively to major cities and resorts of the country. In some popular places among tourists, you can find special taxis that will take you to the airport.

The railway sector of Vietnam is characterized by weak development. It is difficult to even call it a network, since trains run from north to south, with stops in Saigon, Hanoi, Sapa, Haiphong and Halong. Transport of this type is of two categories:

• SE - make stops only in megacities and therefore are considered high-speed and very comfortable;
• TN - regular trains.

The fastest train in Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi takes 29 hours.

For convenient and high-speed movement around the state, travelers choose buses. The category that is intended for international transportation is equipped with sleeping places, and you need to enter such transport barefoot with shoes wrapped in a bag. There is also an Open Bus transport system.

If you decide to see the local islands, then you can’t do without a public boat. For example, along the Mekong Delta, it is convenient to quickly get from Ho Chi Minh City to Kanto by water transport, which departs from Saigon's Ton Duc Thang Avenue pier at 8:00 and arrives at its destination in 5 hours. The cost of such a trip is $1.

For tourists in Vietnam, there is also a taxi. But experienced travelers do not use it very willingly, since almost always all attempts to use this service end in disputes. Taxi drivers want to charge as much as possible from foreigners, and for this they twist meters and invent many ways to get their own.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam ranks second in rice consumption. Each average citizen of the country eats about 169 kg of this product per year.

But do not expect to see taxi cars familiar to us on the streets of this state. Mostly motorcycle taxi services are offered. This method of transportation is considered the cheapest and riskiest. An hour trip will cost $2, and a 12-hour trip will cost $10. If you have to travel outside the city, the cost of the trip will increase to $15.

Nutrition

Vietnamese cuisine has absorbed the traditions of Indian, Chinese, French, American and at the same time has not lost its uniqueness, retaining a zest of originality. But at the same time, it is not suitable for all tourists. After all, not everyone can eat dog, snake, turtle or rat meat, and seafood often causes an allergic reaction in European tourists.

Very rarely, the Vietnamese eat beef, and you will almost never find duck and goat dishes here. But frequent guests on the table are chicken and shrimp.

A characteristic feature of the cuisine of this people is a rich variety of sauces, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables. Local chefs will always decorate any dish with coriander, basil, mint leaves and serve some kind of dipping sauce to it.

Most of the dishes are based on rice, which is simply adored here. Its green sprouts even decorate tables in cafes and restaurants instead of flowers. And don't expect to find a lot of different dishes on the menu for every taste. It won't be there. You will be offered only traditional rice and noodles with different sauces.

Before tasting the masterpieces of Vietnamese chefs, make sure that there are no products in the composition of the dish that can trigger your allergies.

Housing

In Vietnam, you can independently rent housing for every taste. True, you need to deal with this issue in advance (a few months before departure). Depending on your financial capacity, you may consider:

1. Gests and guest houses, which are a small room with a minimal set of furniture, a bathroom and Wi-Fi. This option is intended for undemanding travelers. If the accommodation is rented by the day, the payment includes the cost of electricity. If you plan to live there for a month or more, then you will have to pay for the light by the meter. As a rule, this amount ranges from $10 to $70.
2. Rooms in small hotels. Here you will get the same conditions as in the guesthouses, only with the best service and maintenance.
3. Homestays. These are family-type houses with or without owners. They are offered in the north of the country. As a rule, cleaning and change of linen are included in the price.
4. Apartments and studios. This option is for wealthy tourists who plan to stay in Vietnam for at least a month. The range includes large houses with several bedrooms, balconies, large windows and modern appliances. You can also be offered reception services, which will solve all your domestic issues, and security.
5. At home. They provide a large yard and parking space, so they are preferred for family travelers with children and a car.
6. Villas. This is a premium property. It is located in a closed area, which is guarded.

Against the backdrop of this luxury that is offered to tourists, the Vietnamese themselves live in very narrow, like school pencil cases, houses without windows and with a minimum of furniture.

Shopping in Vietnam

For zealous shopping fans, Vietnam is a real paradise. After all, the country is gradually beginning to win the status of the second after China "things workshop of the world." Here you can buy absolutely everything: from watches, clothes, shoes to furniture and pearls. Moreover, Western tourists are satisfied with both the price and the quality of goods.

If you are in Vietnam, be sure to pay attention to local silks, jewelry, gems, tea, coffee, ceramics, wooden souvenirs and poisonous snake balms.

Feel free to bargain - in local shops this is exactly what they expect from you. Therefore, the prices of goods are very inflated. The country appreciates bargaining, which is built on mutual respect for the interests of the buyer and seller.

For example, in Ho Chi Minh City, for a successful bargain, you should go to the Ben Thanh market or to the Diamond shopping and entertainment complex. Also, the Tax Trade Center department store is perfect for these purposes.

Fortunately for shopaholics, there are plenty of places in this country where you can spend all your money and be satisfied with your purchases.

We hope that our advice will be useful to you and will help you plan an unforgettable vacation in Vietnam, which will be reminded of for a long time by purchased souvenirs and bright life-affirming photos.

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

• Tours for the New Year to Vietnam
• Hot tours Worldwide

There is an opinion that Vietnam is the same Thailand, only more natural, not so "captured" by tourists. In fact, these are two completely different countries, each with its own chips, and in Thailand there are very wild corners, and in Vietnam - resorts with the most advanced infrastructure. The real Vietnam is the ancient temple complexes of bygone civilizations and the natural beauties of national parks, healthy and delicious 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 nostalgia for the recent socialist past: the flag - well, 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. After all, among the tangible disadvantages of this direction is only a long and, therefore, expensive flight. Everything else is a solid plus: an unusual and exciting "excursion", beautiful beaches with ample opportunities for outdoor activities, 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 major regions: North, South and Center. Northern Vietnam is the most ancient part of the country with many sights, tea and coffee plantations, nature reserves and Hanoi, the capital, where West and East are surprisingly mixed. The best time for rest is spring.

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

The South is the heart of the economy. Here lies the largest city of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, and in it - expensive hotels, the best restaurants, numerous shops and other benefits of civilization. The main resorts of the south are luxurious Phu Quoc, youthful Nha Trang and more relaxed Phan Thiet. More information about the tourist geography of the country is described on the page "Cities and resorts of Vietnam".

Time difference with Moscow

4 hours

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• with Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

About a third of Vietnam is located at a level of 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 for 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. For European tourists, this is the most favorable time. "Velvet" months - January and February: soft sun, refreshing sea water. From late February to May there are hot days without rain.

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

The climate of Central Vietnam (from the resort of Nha Trang to the ancient capital of Hue): from February to August it is clear, rains are rare, the temperature is +30...+35 °C. Heavy rains in mid-December, typhoons are possible in October-November in the Da Nang and Hue region, the temperature is +20 ... +28 °C.

In the north of the country (from Hanoi to the seaside resort of Halong), the winter and summer seasons are more clearly marked than in the south. Winter, cool and wet, lasts from November to February, in February and March it constantly drizzles "fun". From May, the summer season begins abruptly: high humidity, temperatures up to +40 ° C.

Visa and customs

Russian citizens arriving in Vietnam for up to 15 days do not need a visa, provided that they do not leave the country during this time, and you can rest on Phu Quoc Island without a visa for up to 30 days. But in both cases, it is worthwhile to pre-arrange a health insurance policy for the entire duration of the trip.

• Is the 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 by Vladivostok Air (1 flight in 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.

Find flights to Vietnam

Transport

Domestic flights are excellent for moving between cities scattered around different parts of Vietnam. Prices are low, with tickets starting at VND900,000. You can 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 the windows. Buses are the most budget option for traveling around Vietnam, but it is better to use them for short distances, otherwise it will take too much time.

Vietnam maps

Car and moped rental in Vietnam

Those who are accustomed to renting a car in distant countries should think about it - traffic in Vietnam is poorly organized, rules are rarely followed, getting confused in signs and interchanges is a couple of trifles. In addition, for independent driving, you will have to issue a local driver's license, and they are issued only if you have a visa for 3 or more months. The solution may be to rent a car with a local driver.

But to rent a bike or moped, you don’t need a license. But this option is suitable for small resorts with low traffic, it’s better not to stutter about moped rides in 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 1700 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 3000 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 needs to be connected separately, details are on the package of the SIM card. 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 the most diverse - from mini-hotels to luxury establishments. Service in them, in general, is at the average European level. Type of food - breakfast (most) or half board, the all-inclusive system is practically not found here. The buffet is extremely varied. All rooms from 3 to 5 "stars" are equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV and telephone, more expensive options also include bathrobes, hairdryers, tea and coffee making facilities, safes and minibars.

Accommodation prices are kept 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-star hotel - from 200,000 VND, and staying overnight 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. 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 right adapter.

Money

The monetary unit of the country is the Vietnamese dong (VND), in 1 dong 10 hao or 100 su. Current exchange rate: 1000 VND = 2.68 RUB (1 USD = 23145.34 VND, 1 EUR = 25825.69 VND).

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

Note to the paranoid: Vietnamese dong banknotes are made of thin plastic, it almost does not wrinkle and is not afraid of sea water. You can safely swim with a "patty" in a secret pocket of swimming trunks.

How to avoid problems

Vietnam is one of the safest places in Asia, but even here you should be wary of pickpockets and scammers. The latter are found in a variety of places - a scammer may be an officer at the border demanding money for a free visa, an unfortunate pedestrian who suddenly materialized under the wheels of a bike with a tourist behind 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, do not lean on unusual food and fruits at the beginning of the trip, and keep yourself in hand in the presence of alcohol.

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

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Vietnam beaches

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 still others are magnificent for their wildness and desertedness. Almost all the beaches of Vietnam are sandy, but in some places there is a pebble coating.

Within the boundaries of cities and resorts, most of the beaches are municipal, with free entry, changing cabins, showers and washbasins, sand is regularly cleaned and garbage is removed here, 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 beach and sightseeing holidays
• 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, pufferfish, 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 the island of Phu Quoc - from November to May. Near Nha Trang there are famous diving sites: Moray 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 meet very rare mammals - dugongs (sea cows), large green turtles and many endemics - animals and plants that do not live anywhere else.

Beautiful Vietnam

shopping

Cuisine and restaurants of Vietnam

The best photos of Vietnam

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Legends and history of Vietnam

Here is a brief digression into the intricate history of the Vietnamese people. For more than three thousand years BC, the dragon king Lac Long Quan ruled the lands of present-day Vietnam. Once, puzzled by the continuation of the family, he decided to ask the hand and heart of the fairy bird Au Ko. The beauty was not slow to accept the offer and gave birth within the prescribed time ... a bag in which 100 eggs were found, and one heir-progenitor of 100 Vietnamese genera came out of each. Whether the lady hatched offspring or placed the offspring in an incubator - history is silent, but since then every self-respecting Vietnamese speaks of himself as "a child of a dragon, a grandson of the gods." The end of the story is very modern: after a while, the couple separated - Lak Long Quan chopped off half of the sons and went to sea with them, and Au Ko took the remaining fifty and went to live in the mountains. How true Lev Nikolaevich remarked 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 footage along the street, and quite a bit), two- or three-story. The façade is very ornate, even, perhaps, somewhat variegated; the double-leaf doors across its entire width are hospitably wide open. Above the entrance, evoking vague memories of the "Twentieth Congress of the CPSU", a red flag with a gold star in the center flaunts. One floor above is a small altar with a dark bronze Buddha dormant 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 please its guests with many diverse entertainments: 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 the Ku Chi partisan tunnels, but besides them, there are more than enough sights here.

The noisy crowd at the clothing market, the incomparable "aroma" of fried herring, sloppy stalls with poorly tailored consumer goods - all this has nothing to do with real Vietnam.

Strong, but good-natured and smiling people, living in one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia, are trying with all their might to turn their country into a prosperous and rich one. Including, due to the vast Russian market... But in Vietnam... Everything is done here to make the guest feel welcome and respected. Low crime rate, pleasant climate, decent beaches, abundance of hotels, plenty of entertainment, attractions marked in the world heritage lists, recognized as "wonders" of nature and culture - all this makes Vietnam desirable for tourists from all over the world.

It is worth adding that the price level in the country is one of the lowest in Asia, and one immediately wants to start planning a trip. Moreover, a visa for those who are going to rest here for no longer than 2 weeks is not needed.

Road

The road will be long, and therefore not cheap. But this is the only serious waste, everything else will cost a very modest amount.

A flight to Hanoi or Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) from Moscow or St. Petersburg costs approximately the same - from 350 to 430 euros (round trip). The “fork” turns out to be large, it all depends on how hardy you are: a direct flight from Aeroflot (9 hours in the sky) will cost more, a flight with transfers will be cheaper. In the second case, you need to take into account the fact that waiting for a flight can be very long, taking off on Monday evening, you can only be at your final destination on Wednesday morning.

The cheapest tickets are offered by QATAR (changes in Doha and Bangkok) and ETIHAD (changes in Abu Dhabi).

Taking into account the cost of food during a long and tiring wait, a direct flight will end up being cheaper.

Housing

A place in a hostel in a major city in Vietnam costs from 4 to 7 euros per day. Double room in a modest hotel with breakfast - from 10 euros. Similar prices for accommodation are also relevant for resort areas, including small hotels on the seashore.

A spacious apartment in a house near the beach (Hoi An, Nha Trang) is available from 8 euros (very popular, book at least six months in advance!) to 15 euros / day.

Double room in a hotel at the level of 3 * - 13-15 euros. These prices are valid in the fall, when the flow of tourists to Vietnam dries up before a new influx in the winter months. During the "high" season (spring-summer) prices increase by 25-30%.

Nutrition

Food in Vietnam is an essential part of the culture, as it is elsewhere in Asia. Recently, cafes and restaurants have also been divided here into those that accept tourists and those that serve mainly local residents. Cheaper to eat at a "local" establishment. And don't let the plastic furniture and spartan atmosphere bother you, the food here will be just as delicious as in the restaurant opposite, but the price is one and a half to two times lower.

You can have breakfast in a street cafe (noodle soup, scrambled eggs and tea) for 1-1.5 euros. Lunch of several local dishes - 4-5 euros. Dinner with a beer in a restaurant on the outskirts of the city - no more than 7 euros (considering our healthy appetite, which is simply reverently admired by the locals).

If you dine or dine in tourist restaurants, giving preference to seafood (here they are impeccably fresh and amazingly tasty cooked), you will have to cook 10-12 euros per person (the most expensive dish is turtle soup - 12 euros).

Buying products in the markets or in stores, in order to cook on your own, you will not be able to save much. The thing is that products familiar to a European are quite expensive for Vietnam. Therefore, the best way out for a tourist is to eat in modest establishments for local residents.

Vietnamese cuisine is unique and inimitable. It so intricately and bizarrely intertwined the traditions of Southeast Asia and the classic combinations of French culinary arts (for a long time the country was an overseas territory of France) that it turned out to be something completely unusual, but unusually tasty.

Contrary to numerous stereotypes, insects and crocodiles, cats and dogs, lizards and sea bugs, the Vietnamese cook mainly for foreigners. All these ambiguously perceived dishes were used by the inhabitants of the country in ancient times. It's like turnips and rutabaga among Russians: before the advent and introduction of potatoes - the most common food. But do many now cook turnips or turnips for dinner?

Vietnamese cuisine stands on three "elephants": rice, vegetables, spices. Meat, fish and seafood are just an addition in three components.

The abundance of dishes and their varieties is so great that it is very easy to "get lost" in the cunning combinations of exotic products. Be sure to try:

• Soup "Pho" - the basis of this soup - broth, rice noodles and spices. All other supplements depend on where you are. If in Germany each village is proud of its own and unique beer, then in Vietnam the situation is the same with Pho soup. Pieces of beef, chicken, pork, fish, shrimp, crab meat, mixed vegetables, hot sauce, soy sprouts - complementary ingredients may vary. Only one thing is invariable - amazing taste!
• Cha-gio or Ban-bao - spring rolls. The dough is more like an omelet, and the taste cannot be compared with anything. The most popular filling is pork and shrimp, but cabbage with soy sprouts and garlic is just as good;
• Nem Nuong - Rice paper rolls. Everyone is a culinary specialist for himself: we take a leaf of rice wrapper in our hands, put the filling that we want (there are many varieties), wrap the roll, dip it in hot sauce and ... dive into the sea of ​​Vietnamese pleasure;
• Seafood - crabs, lobsters, king prawns - everything that is very expensive at home can become the basis of your diet here. Only the freshest crustaceans are cooked here, and the prices for such dishes are the lowest in the world!
• Baking - hundreds of varieties of buns, cakes, pastries. All are made in the old French traditions: tasty and easy;
• Coffee is a separate article for your memories. This drink here has a distinct chocolate flavor, and the technology of preparation is so bizarre that you can combine gastronomic pleasure with the study of the cultural traditions of Vietnam.

Europeans in Vietnam in the market pay more than the locals. “Nosed” (as the locals call all Caucasians) are rich. That's what the natives think. But the situation can be corrected: bargain!

The more actively you try to lower the price, the more respect the seller will imbue with you. And if you start buying food from the same hawker in the market or on the street, the less money he will take from you.

Tourist pleasures: natural and cultural

Due to the fact that, unlike Thailand, a mass tourist rushed to Vietnam recently, virgin forests, clean water bodies have been preserved here, and the local population welcomes guests sincerely and cordially, without the intention of "grabbing big" (well, maybe a little).

Today it is hard to believe, but in the Middle Ages, Vietnam was an empire: a strong, vast and very influential state in the region. Numerous architectural monuments of the country keep memories of this period. French colonial architecture is also of undoubted interest to tourists. Temples, palaces, parks, lakes, catacombs, museums, bohemian quarters in cities - there are enough attractions for a good hundred visits to this exotic and hospitable country.

For those who travel to Vietnam for the first time, the most interesting will be:

• Hanoi - from the capital's attractions, the main ones include the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the turtle temple, the ancient citadel, the water puppet theater. This is only the most basic, the best option for a novice tourist is to buy a city tour (35 euros, 8 hours, the price includes lunch and entrance fees to museums, palaces, parks);
• Halong - this bay (3.5 hours by bus from the capital, 1.5 euros one way) is the most "promoted" natural monument of the country. The abundance of picturesque islands, the opportunity to take a boat trip (6 hours, including a visit to the natural park, a round-trip ticket - 11 euros), soak up the beach, swim in the sea. The most impressive entertainment is a helicopter flight around the bay (150 euros);
• Sapa is a mountain town in northern Vietnam. Ethnographic adventure: picturesque villages, rice terraces, virgin nature, clean air (7-8 hours by bus from Hanoi, ticket - 20 euros round trip);
• Hoi An is a wonder city, more than 800 architectural monuments, an ancient port and a shopping center, numerous sewing workshops where they can sew a suit or dress according to Valentino or Gucci catalogs in one day (prices - from 10 euros per order);
• Hue is the imperial capital and an important cultural and educational center of Vietnam. Of the attractions - the imperial palaces, temples, active and vibrant nightlife. It is better to get from the capital by bus (12 hours on the way, ticket 22 euros). From Hue it is very easy to get to Laos and get acquainted with the beauties of the neighboring country;
• Michon is an ancient temple complex, the ruins of the sanctuaries of Hindu gods, a cultural center where weekly shows with traditional songs and dances are held. One-day excursion from Hoi An - 8 euros (including entrance fees);
• Phukok is an island where you can not only swim in the sea and enjoy exquisite sea delicacies, but also visit one of the pearl farms to buy a pearl necklace or a simpler souvenir, take part in sea fishing with local fishermen, order a massage on the beach;
• Phong Nha Kebang is a national natural park. The park contains the largest cave in the world (Han Son Dung). You can buy a park tour in Hanoi (from 150 euros), the cost depends on the duration of the visit (from 1 to 6 days).

God saves man, who save himself

Vietnam has a reputation as one of the safest countries in the world.

From the point of view of hygiene and medicine, like any tropical country, the birthplace of the Golden Star balm represents a theoretical danger to the European.

Some rules still need to be followed:

• Do not drink the water flowing from the tap in the hotel shower, even if you live in 5 * comfort level;
• Water, juice or an iced cocktail can only be ordered in a large and expensive restaurant. Otherwise, you risk getting frozen water from the nearest river;
• Take activated charcoal on a trip, local cuisine can initially cause an unpleasant reaction in the body;
• For added peace of mind, get vaccinated against malaria. Just in case.

Pleasant impressions!