Vietnam is a place that has something for everyone. The food, the environment, the people and the culture are all unique to this fascinating country located in Southeast Asia. To this day, there are still many markers of its colonial past, as Vietnam is a country that has been invaded, divided and occupied by neighboring countries for many years.

Visiting Vietnam

The official name of today’s Vietnam is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. While the Communist Party of Vietnam currently governs the country, an overseen, government-selected prime minister runs the country. It’s capital is Hanoi and the official language is Vietnamese. While many people choose to visit Vietnam because they are interested in learning more about its past history, there are many other reasons to visit this culturally diverse country.

The Food: Vietnam is well-known for its street food, which is always freshly made using a variety of healthy ingredients – pho noodle soup, spring rolls, banh mi sandwiches. It is also known for its impressive variety of fresh fruits and is the second largest exporter of coffee.

The Scenery: The scenery in Vietnam is absolutely spectacular, with its gorgeous white sand beaches, spectacular mountains, natural caves, lush green forests, waterfalls and impressive rice terraces.

The Locals: The people who live in Vietnam are said to be some of the most accommodating and friendliest people in all the world.

Unraveling the Past

Visiting Vietnam is becoming more and more popular by those who are interested in visiting locations that have a history. People are free to not only visit the museums and more that are in place that are full of historical information, the locals are also a great source of information as many are more than willing to share their stories. The culture of Vietnam dates all the way back to 2000 BC, which helps to explain the Chinese, Indian and French colonialism influences.

• Hanoi was once the capital of North Vietnam. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must see when visiting Vietnam.
• Hue is one of the areas that was heavily hit during the Vietnam War, with some of the most well-known war battles being fought here, i.e. Hamburger Hill.
• Ho Chi Minh was once called Saigon and offers visitors the ability to see the contrast between what once was and what now is.

Jody’s Travel Inc