Vietnam may well be described as a modern-day paradise. The place boasts of one of the best cuisine centers in the entire South East Asian region. The country is characterized by some interesting phenomena, including the mesmerizing beaches, idyllic landscapes, largest cave in the world and a vastly interesting heritage and history.

Travelers on a budget

Vietnam is considered as the best traveling destination for backpackers. The main reason is that it is generally not expensive. Remarkably, you might find yourself spending more money in buying the air ticket than caring for your general costs while visiting the country. Vietnam is a highly ideal place for travelers who are operating on a budget. This is the place to be if you want to reduce anxiety related to financial matters whenever you are out on holiday. Moreover, while here, you can enjoy many types of meals, local foods and other things that the famous South East Asian country can provide. It does not matter that some countries may seem ‘nearer,’ and that Vietnam is considered to be more of a ‘faraway’ destination. Overall, it is still the best place to consider spending your leisure time.

Do you consider yourself a thrifty traveler? Vietnam is the place to be. You can find accommodation in this place for an incredible 10 dollars a night. Moreover, you won’t have to spend more money on food for the entire day of a visit. While in Vietnam, you can enjoy the best meal of your life, paying only five dollars for a sumptuous feast. If you want to extend your tour to some of the country’s major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, you will still discover that you don’t have to spend a fortune doing this.

First-class cuisine

Vietnam has been much influenced by countries like China that are closer. This is mainly thanks to natural geographical factors. For this reason, while visiting Vietnam, you can enjoy a complex, fascinating and diverse cuisine. The cuisine actually varies when you travel from one region to the other. The chefs here rely much on the food markets to receive their ingredients, about twice a day. For this reason, you will also find that Vietnamese cuisine is usually quite delicious. The main reason is that the ingredients are generally seasonal and fresh. The dishes may be described as having an explosion of flavors mixed with mouthwatering textures. The dishes require a highly intricate technique to prepare. No wonder, the resultant meals are excellent.

As a visitor touring Vietnam, you can taste all kinds of Vietnamese dishes; a myriad of these. Do you want to enjoy some of the best Vietnamese dishes? Visit the street vendors. Not only will you enjoy the meal of your life, you will also save lots of money in the process. Yes, taking a meal at the Vietnamese street vendors can be quite economical as well.

What kind of dishes will you eat while here? Consider a variety of choices that are available to you. You can take the rice paper salad that is known in the local language as bahn trang tron; the goi kho bo, which is a mixture of green papaya salad and beef jerky; or the sup cua, which is a type of a Vietnamese crab soup. Alternatively, you can take a local delicious meal known as the bot chien. This is simply a Vietnamese flour cake made with fried rice. You can also choose to go for the local noodle soup prepared with beef and chicken. This is called the pho. Otherwise, you can take the spring rolls, or the goi cuon or broken rice, locally called the co tam. Yes, these are just a few choices of local dishes that you may take while visiting Vietnam. You will be amazed with every single Vietnamese dish. The meals are a combination of varied ingredients, resulting in the original flavor. Most are topped with the wonderful, delicate gasnish.

Paradisiac beaches

If you ever escape to visit Vietnam’s South East Asian region of the world and wish to enjoy the sun on sand, you can be sure of this: Vietnam will not disappoint you. The country has some beautiful islands, sandy beaches, and turquoise water framing. Yes, some have described Vietnam as an oasis made for travelers who seek refreshment. You can find some of the best beaches on this planet tucked away in Vietnam. These include the Quang Ngai, Nha Trang, Coc Dao, Phan Thiet, Hoi An and Da Nang beaches.

Hoi An is one of the most spectacular cities in Vietnam. Located in Quang Nam province, it is home to the old town Hoi An which is a recognized historic site. It has a population of more 120, 000 people and a tourist attraction because of its rich history. There are several bars, restaurants, hotels and resorts built in Hoi An and the surrounding areas. They serve the massive number of tourists that pay a visit to the city annually. Most hotels offer free breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi, a restaurant and outdoor pools. Below are a few hotels that provide deluxe service and are good options to consider when choosing a good accommodation place.

Anantara Hoi An Resort

Located along the Thu Buon river, this incredible hotel offers impeccable services. It is a traditional hotel with a modern touch and has colonial-style rooms. There's a private porch outside the hotel overlooking the adjacent river to provide a serene relaxation environment to its visitors. It incorporates the local culture such as lantern making and Chinese painting; these are among the few activities that tourists can enjoy in the hotel. There's an outdoor pool, steam rooms spa and indoor eateries at the hotel. Guests can also sign up for Yoga classes offered in the hotel. Also, guests can access the Cham Imperial city of My Son by boat or walking tours. The rooms are air-conditioned, and there are plenty of dining options to enjoy.

Four Seasons The Nam Hai

This is one of the most top-rated hotels in Hoi An. It is located on the shores of Hoi An beach and only half an hour drive from the Danang International Airport. The hotel is an Asian-styled villa with three beachfront pools and an indoor spa. Also, it has a watersports centre, walk-in closets, elegant bars and restaurants. The rooms are immaculate, have flat-screen cable TV, sound systems and a shower. There's also a coffee maker and minibar in every room. There's a library, badminton and tennis courts and a variety of other games that guests can choose to play. There are plenty of dining options, such as Vietnamese and International cuisine.

Almanity Hoi An Wellness Resort

Many tourists prefer this resort because of its strategic location. The Almanity Hoi An resort is situated at the centre of Old Town Hoi An which is marked as a UNESCO cultural and heritage site. It is popular for its claim as the hotel with the biggest spa in central Vietnam. Guests get to enjoy a fulfilling spa journey which is included as part of the services offered when booking the hotel. There are plenty of dining options, and guests get to get a culinary experience as there are four international show kitchens in the resort. Also, there's rich cultural heritage showcased in the architecture and surrounding areas of the resort. Guests get to enjoy a lot of in-house activities such as fish feeding or herbal tea meditation. Moreover, this resort is very close to the Hoi An historical museum.

Sunrise Premium Resort

The Sunrise resort is one of the biggest resorts in Hoi An. This is in terms of size and the number of rooms. It has a total of 222 rooms and 12 stunning oceanfront villas. The resort is situated along the Cua Dai beach, and the rooms are ocean-view. On the outside, there are two outdoor pools and a stylish garden overlooking the East Sea and Cham Island. Indoor services available include spa treatments, a modern gym with state-of-the-art equipment and personal trainers. Rooms are equipped with a minibar, safe, flat-screen TV, dressing area a bathtub or shower. The hotel offers free transport to and from the ancient Hoi Town. There are plenty of dining options, and guests can get served Asian or Vietnamese cuisine depending on their taste.

Hoi An Beach Resort

This hotel is strategically positioned between the beachside road and De Vong river. Hence, it offers a magnificent view and access to both worlds. Also, it is only a few minutes away from the ancient town of Hoi An, and one can ride a bicycle to and from the old town. It has a billiard room, full-sized tub, overhead fan, oriental-themed cupboards and a good-sized balcony. On the outside, there are two pools and a breakfast café. The hotel also offers a reading area, tai chi, cooking and language classes.

Travellers to Vietnam to entered the country on visa waivers or tourist visas are given automatic visa extension until July 31, 2020. After officials allow people to travel again so people in travel, tourism, hospitality etc can work, earn and feed their familes, here are some fantastic UNESCO sites to visit in Vietnam.

The Complex of Hue Monuments

The Hue Imperial City is found on the banks of Perfume River or the Huong River as some call it which is north of Da Nang in the city of Hue, central Vietnam. Hue was the first Vietnam city under the reign of King Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty. The imperial city of Hue functioned as the administrative capital from 1802 until 1945 when the Nguyen Dynasty collapsed. This city is of symbolic significance as it is home to the last vestiges of the last dynasty in Vietnam. It features an imperial royal city, royal tombs, temples, libraries, monuments, flag towers, pagodas and a museum. Even though, the city was badly destroyed during the Vietnam war between 1954 to 1975, hundreds of monuments still stand strong.

It was the first-ever Vietnamese cultural centre to be recognized by UNESCO as a heritage site in 1993. It has a rich architecture, and the building designs heavily borrows from Beijing's Forbidden City's model. Even though the Nguyen dynasty ruled for over a century most of the monuments were built in the 19th century, tourists from other cities in Vietnam can fly to the Complex of Hue Monuments as it is accessible by air and only 700km from Hanoi. However, it is advisable not to travel to the site between October and December due to the monsoon rains experienced at the region during that period.

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An was a commercial centre of great importance between the 15th and 19th centuries. Merchants came from across different parts of the world to trade along the bustling port. The port's population mostly consisted of the Chinese, Europeans and Japanese traders. About 30 hectares of the ancient town along the famous Thu Bon River were marked as areas of great historical importance by UNESCO in 1999. The exceptional historical district has a mixture of indigenous and foreign culture. Hoi An means a ‘peaceful meeting place' and is a great tourist attraction site famous for its amazing textiles and ceramics. Tourists can explore the vast city by use of kayaks, motorboat rides, bicycles and motorbikes.

The months of June to August are the best to visit Hoi An since the climate would be conducive for tourist exploration. Visitors of the ancient town will get to enjoy dragon dances, boat rides and a view of thousands of lanterns lighting the streets. Also, tourists can partake in cooking lessons to learn how to cook local foods such as 'cau lau' which is the signature dish of the city.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

It is found in the mountainous region of Annamite in Quang Binh Province. The national park has dense tropical forests that cover most of it and has underground rivers. Phong Nha is home to the second-largest cave in the world, Hang Son Doong. It hosts many different cave types that tourists can explore. Friendly guides are available to provide multi-day excursions for adventurous tourists into the spectacular taverns. Other parts of the park are only accessible via boats. There are plenty of boats to carry visitors through the intersecting caves down to the Son River.

The park was marked as a UNESCO heritage site in 2003 because it contains many endemic animal species. Tourists can access the park from Hanoi using a bus or train. Depending on which part of the park or the caves one wants to visit. It's advisable to carry swimwear. Lastly, this heritage site discovered two decades ago is home to the Asian black bear, saolas and other wildlife.

My Son Sanctuary

This amazing site was the political capital of the Champa kingdom which reigned from the 2nd to the 15th century. It is one of the most top rated heritage sites in Vietnam and a popular tourist attraction in the region. The sanctuary is located in Duy Xuyen District and about 40 km west from Hoi An. It usually takes an hour from Hoi An to reach the Heritage site. The sanctuary has about 71 ancient temple structures and royal tombs. It also served as a religious centre with the sculptures and structures showing strong evidence of Hinduism.

The site is open all days of the week between 6 am to 5 pm to tourists. Moreover, the entrance fee is usually 150, 000 dong charged at the main gate of the park. Inside the sanctuary, there's a walking trail to follow. The trail is easy to navigate, and it leads to the magnificent Hindu ruins.

Have you never been in Vietnam? As a matter of fact, it is among the top heavens on planet earth for vacations and holidays. Preparing for a trip in this country surely needs more information. This is important. This article provides necessary details to travelers who are going to Vietnam for the first time in life.

When to visit Vietnam? It is the first question tourists must search when they plan. Vietnam has a diverse geography. It has three main parts. The country is divided into North, Center and South regions. Remember, these three regions have a different weather at the same time. It is necessary to focus on weather conditions in each region of the country. The best time to visit this inexpensive country is from December to April. But why it is? Remember, the months of July and August period are not good because of storms so the weather remains bad. Months of May to October are rainy in the South region. Similarly, the North and Centre remain dry and cold.

Where to go in Vietnam? This is second most important question for the tourists. The terrain in this country is complicated so reaching your destinations could be difficult. First time travelers must choose the destinations carefully according to geography.

The North: This region is very attractive for tourists. Hanoi is the first place to visit. It contains numerous destinations such as Vietnam Capital, Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem), Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, and more. Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, and Sapa are other famous destinations in North.

The Central: Vietnam has its center which is a hub of culture, history and tradition. It has so many attractions such as Hue Citadel, Dong Ba Market, Thien Mu Pagoda, Con Hen and more. Also, visit Da Nang which is a famous city in center. It has a wide range of attractions such as Golden Bridge, Dragon Bridge, Marble Mountain, Son Tra Peninsula and Ba Na Hills Complex.

The South: Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in South. It is popular and attractive for many reasons. It is a financial hub in Vietnam. Don't forget to have a City Tour whenever you visit Ho Chi Minh. Also visit War Remnants Museum, China Town, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office and Cu Chi Tunnels. Mekong Delta is far from the Saigon City. This city is famous for Mekong River. The Cai Rang Floating Market, Paddy Fields, River Bank Villages, Fruit Gardens, and Specialties Factories are some other popular places to visit.

Currency and Money: The official currency of Vietnam is Dong. Check the exchange rate on Google. Tourists can get the exchange at airports, banks and other financial institutes. Always bring neat and clean US dollars because banks will never accept notes having stains or texts.

Passport and Visa: Check your passport. It needs to be valid for at least 3 months. Tourists will need a tourist visa before entering in Vietnam. Residents of different countries require visa but several nations are having visa-free entry. Check the name of your country in either list. Make sure that you need a visa or not. Also bring necessary apparel, electronics (Phones, Power Savers or Headphones). Those who want to visit shopping centers must bring reasonable cash. Keep a toothbrush, shaving machine, shaving cream and other personal items in your bag.