By Air to/from Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines operates international flights to/from the following destinations: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Berlin, Dubai, Frankfurt, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Siep Riem (Angkor Wat), Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Vientiane.
TIP: Fares are significantly lower for those flying to Ho Chi Minh City. Although flights are available from the capitals of most Southeast Asian countries as well as from Sydney and Melbourne. The best place is from Bangkok as visas are easiest to obtain there.
Airport Tax International airport tax is US$14. The airport tax for domestic flights is VND 30'000 (in some cases VND 15'000). Remember to leave enough money for the International Departure Tax if you're flying out of Vietnam. They prefer dollars to Dong at Saigon airport - the exchange rate is extortionate if you're paying in Dong!
Domestic Flights
It is much easier and safer to travel between cities by plane and buy your tickets in Vietnam as they are cheaper. Most routes have a daily flight and are easily available and booking isn’t necessary.
Northern Airport Flight Service has helicopter flights to Ha Long Bay. There are 2 flights per week at 8:00 and 15:30 on Saturday, departing from Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi (not the international airport). You can get the tickets at the Metropolitan Hotel or
Nha Trang has daily flights to/from Ho Chi Minh City.
National Airport Code City
BMV Ban Me Thuot
DAD Danang
DIN Dien Bien Phu
DLI Dalat
HAN Hanoi
HPH Hai Phong
HUI Hue
NHA Nha Trang
PQC Phu Quoc
PXU Pleiku
SGN Ho Chi Minh City
SQH Na San
VIH Qui Nhon
VII Vinh
VKG Rach Gia
Bicycles
It is fun to rent a bicycle and to ride around. Rates are around US$ 2 for a day. It is also possible to buy bicycles and even mountain bikes, but beware of the quality. Maintenance is widely available, but original spare parts are rare. Instead, any spare part that "fits" will be used.
Boats
There are some boats between the mainland of Vietnam and the islands. Rach Gia to/from Phu Quoc takes 6 to 10 hours and costs around VND 90000. Officially, it should leave every day at 8 am in Rach Gia and at 10 am in An Thui. In reality it waits until there are enough passengers. This can mean day...so be prepared. Ha Tien to/from Phu Quoc This is officially not allowed, since the boat crosses Cambodian waters so if you catch one of these the risk is your own as to whether you get put behind bars for your efforts or not. Vung Tao to/from Con Dao There is a boat between Vung Tao and the island Con Dao. One way takes about 13 hours.
Buses
Traveling by road from Cambodia is a slow and expensive alternative to flying. The bus system runs almost everywhere within the country, with stations built around the country dividing the territory into regions. For longer trips buses tend to be slow and unreliable it is therefore generally advised that travelers fly in instead. Nha Trang/Ho Chi Minh City Express and regular buses link Nha Trang with Ho Chi Minh City; express buses take about 12 hours.
Mini Buses
It is possible to rent a minibus if you so desire and if there are a few of you, it possibly works out to be a cheaper way of getting around the country, though risky, due to the high number of accidents in Vietnam.
Cyclos
An excellent way to tour any city in Vietnam is to rent a cyclo. Rates start from around VND 15000 to VND 30000 for a ride of up to 10 minutes in Saigon. Locals pay half that price. You can also get a tour of one hour for US$1. In Hanoi prices are more related to the distance and are a bit more expensive. Each town seems to have it’s own price structure, so ask around to get some idea at the time.
TIP: Make sure that you hold onto any belongings when traveling in a cyclo as passing motorists and the like have been known to grab these as they pass.
The routes a cyclo may use is being limited by the government because they cause traffic congestion, so what seems to be a short trip could in fact become quite a long one because of having to take an indirect route, especially in Ho Chin Minh City.
Hire Cars
Car rentals are currently not in existence. Cabs, which are unmarked cars without meters, can typically be rented for the day. The rates are about US$25 to US$150 (depending on the car, the place you rent it from, the region and your bargaining skills). As with any form of transport in Vietnam, driving is a risk you take due to the high accident rate in the country.
Motorbike hire
It's easy to rent a motorcycle to get around. Usual rates are US$4 to US$7 for a day for a 50 cc to 100 cc Honda or Yamaha. If you rent a motorbike, make sure that you don't leave your passport with them and that in the contract they don't overcharge. Buy a big lock and chain as the motorbike theft rate is VERY high.
If you are in a hurry, you can try to flag down a motorcycle for a ride on the back (most drivers are not adverse to making a bit of extra money) or ask a local to find a Honda ong (motorbike taxi) for you. The biggest problem is explaining the destination to the driver because pronunciation is everything in Vietnamese. Carry a pen and paper or a map.
TIP: As in many Asian countries the standard of driving, to say the least, is atrocious and at times it will seem as if every vehicle on the road is going in the opposite direction to you. It is therefore generally advised that unless you are both a very experienced driver with a good medical insurance or a risk-taker, it’s NOT ADVISABLE to rent a motorbike at all.
Ships and Ferries
There are no official passenger services. Travelers may be able to ride on a cargo ship to Ho Chi Minh City, Danang or Haiphong from Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Singapore or France. Check with the local shipping and travel agencies for rates and availability.
A ferry service runs from Cambodia to Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta.
Trains
There are currently no train lines running between Vietnam and its neighbouring countries. The Vietnamese railway system runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi along the coast and links with Haiphong and the regions further north. Odd-numbered trains travel south and even-numbered trains travel north.
The fastest trains take at least 28 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Reservations should be made a day or more in advance. The major setback to the railways is that tourists are charged many times more than Vietnamese people in the form of an outrageously high surcharge. For long distance traveling, it is best to fly.
Nha Trang Express trains run to/from both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Please note that the above time schedules and prices are subject to change and are therefore intended only as a guide.
The history of Vietnam is one of the longest to be found in any country, with archaeological excavations revealing a past that goes back almost as far as earth’s recorded time. To study this extensive history in detail would take you, the reader literally years, thus I have cut it down, deleted some of the less important periods and have concentrated on those I feel will be of more interest to the general traveller considering visiting this fascinating and beautiful country.
The country has seen both prosperous times as well as years of slumber. Evolving over literally thousands of years Vietnam and its progressive expansions have always been under constant pressure from her powerful neighbour, China and throughout the county’s history, China features very strongly.
Vietnam has her own legends concerning the origins of the race but according to the history books the Vietnamese first
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| Hung Dao |
appeared as one of many scattered peoples living in what is now South China and Northern Vietnam just before the beginning of the Christian era.
According to local tradition, the small Vietnamese kingdom of Au Lac, located in the heart of the Red River valley, was founded by a line of legendary kings who had ruled over the ancient kingdom of Van Lang for thousands of years. Archaeological findings indicate that the early peoples of the Red River delta area were among the first East Asians to practice agriculture and by the first century BC had achieved an advanced level of civilization.
The Chinese Influence In 221 BC the Ch'in dynasty in China conquered the neighbouring states and became the first to rule over a united China. The Ch'in Empire, however, did not survive the death of its founder, Shih Huang Ti and this was soon felt by Vietnam.
The Chinese commander in the south built his own kingdom, Nam Viet (South Viet; Chinese, Nan Yüeh); the young state of Au Lac was included. In 111 BC, Chinese armies conquered Nam Viet and included it in the growing Han Empire. This conquest had fateful consequences for the future course of Vietnamese history.
Chinese rulers attempted to include Vietnam politically and culturally into the Han Empire. Administrators were brought in to replace the local rulers and political systems along Chinese lines were imposed. Confucianism became the official ideology. The Chinese language was introduced as the official language and Chinese script as the writing. Chinese art, architecture and music also influenced Vietnamese history.
Vietnamese resistance to rule by the Chinese was fierce but ineffectual and the Vietnamese during these times had a fondness for murdering anyone in power, including their families that weren’t popular, a practice that continued up until the 1600’s.
The most famous early revolt took place in AD 39, when two widows of local aristocrats, the Trung sisters, led an uprising against foreign rule. The revolt was briefly successful and the older sister, Trung Trac, established herself as ruler of an independent state. Chinese armies returned to the attack, however, and in AD 43 Vietnam was re-conquered.
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| Trung Sisters |
Independence The Trung sisters' revolt was the first in a series of uprisings that took place during the thousand years of Chinese rule in Vietnam. In 939, Vietnamese forces under Ngo Quyen took advantage of chaotic conditions in China and set up an independent state. Ngo Quyen's death a few years later prompted a period of civil strife, but in the early 11th century the first of the great Vietnamese dynasties was founded.
Under the astute leadership of several dynamic rulers, the Ly dynasty ruled Vietnam for more than 200 years, from 1010 to 1225. The rise of this dynasty encouraged a feeling of patriotism among the Vietnamese despite the retention of many of the political and social laws that had been introduced during Chinese rule.
Confucianism continued to provide the foundation for the political institutions of the state. The Chinese civil service examination system as the means of selecting government officials was retained and eventually not just men of noble background, but the general public could sit the test. The educational system continued to follow the Chinese model and young Vietnamese were schooled in the Confucian classics and grew up conversant with the ideas that had shaped Chinese history.
Vietnamese society, however, filtered through and native forms of expression continued to flourish. At the village level, social laws and lifestyle reflected native Vietnamese traditions more than Chinese.
The Ly Dynasty Primarily an agricultural state, most of the land was divided among the nobility. Some landholding
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| Ly Dynasty |
farmers also existed, however, and powerful monarchs frequently attempted to protect this class by limiting the power of feudal lords and dividing up their large estates. The Vietnamese economy though was not based solely on agriculture. Commerce and manufacturing thrived, local crafts appeared in regional markets throughout the area and trade grew.
Change and Expansion The Ly dynasty and its successor, the Tran from 1225-1400 helped Vietnam become a powerful nation in Southeast Asia. China though, still wanted to control the Red River delta and when the Mongol dynasty came to power in the 13th century, the armies of Kublai Khan attacked Vietnam in an effort to re-instate it into the Chinese Empire. The Vietnamese resisted and after several battles sent them back across the border.
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| Kubilai Khan |
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While the Vietnamese continued to fight the forces from the north an area of equal and growing concern lay to the south. For centuries, the Vietnamese state had been restricted to the area around the Red River valley. Tension between Vietnam and the kingdom of Champa, the seafaring state along the central coast, began shortly after the restoration of Vietnamese independence.
The Cham occupied the capital near Hanoi but were gradually driven further south. Finally, in the 15th century, Vietnamese forces captured the Cham capital south of present-day Da Nang. The following generations continued their drive south wiping out the remnants of the Cham Kingdom closed in on the Mekong delta.
Here it came up against, the Khmer Empire, the most powerful state in the region. By the late 16th century, however, its
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| Cham Ruins |
strength had dwindled and it offered little resistance to Vietnamese encroachment. By the end of the 17th century, Vietnam had occupied the lower Mekong delta and began to advance to the west, threatening to transform the disintegrating Khmer state into a protectorate.
The Le Dynasty The Vietnamese advancement to the south coincided with yet more trouble in the north. In 1407 Vietnam again suffered under the hands of the Chinese. For twenty years, the Ming dynasty tried to get Vietnam back, but in 1428, resistance forces under the rebel leader Le Loi won hands down and restored Vietnamese independence once more.
Le Loi became the first emperor of the Le Dynasty that maintained power for more than a hundred years. Then in the 16th century it began to decline again. Power then went to two rival clans, the Trinh and the Nguyen. When the former became dominant, the Nguyen were granted leadership in the south, subsequently dividing Vietnam into two separate areas.
By the late 18th century, the Le dynasty was near collapse. Nearly all the paddy fields were controlled by powerful lords, this in turn made the peasants angry which then led them to revolt and in 1789 Nguyen Hue, the ablest of the Tay Son brothers, a powerful family at the time revolted, briefly restoring Vietnam to united rule.
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| Paddy Fields |
Like many of his Vietnamese predecessors Nguyen Hue died shortly after ascending the throne; a few years later Nguyen Anh, one of the heirs to the Nguyen house in the south, defeated the Tay Son armies. He became Emperor Gia Long and established a new dynasty in 1802.
The French Pierre Pigneau de Behaine, a French missionary, raised a mercenary force to help Nguyen Anh seize the throne in the hope that the new emperor would provide France with trading and missionary privileges. The Nguyen dynasty, however, was suspicious of French influence.
Roman Catholic missionaries and their Vietnamese converts were then persecuted, and a number executed during the 1830’s. Religious groups in France demanded action from the government in Paris and eventually Emperor Napoleon III sent naval expedition in 1858 which he hoped would force the Vietnamese and the court to accept a French protectorate.
The first French attack at Da Nang Harbour failed to achieve its objectives, but a second further south was more
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| Napoleon |
successful and in 1862 the court at Hue agreed to cede several provinces in the Mekong delta, later called Cochin China, to France. In the 1880s the French returned to the offensive, launching an attack on the north. After severe defeats, the Vietnamese accepted a French protectorate over the remaining territory of Vietnam.
French colonial rule met with little resistance. The national sense of identity, however, had not been destroyed and anti-colonial sentiment soon emerged. Poor economic conditions contributed to hostility towards these new rulers and despite the French occupation having brought improvements in transportation, communications, commerce and manufacturing, colonialism brought little improvement in livelihood to the masses.
In the countryside, peasants struggled to survive, paying exorbitant taxes as well as working hard in the fields. Workers in factories, coal mines and on rubber plantations laboured in abysmal conditions for low wages. By the 1920’s, nationalist parties began to demand reform and independence. In 1930 the revolutionary Ho Chi Minh formed an Indochinese Communist party.
World War Until World War II started in 1939, such groups laboured without success. In 1940, however, Japan demanded and received the right to place Vietnam under military occupation, restricting the local French administration to figurehead authority.
The Communists seized the opportunity and organized the Vietminh Front that prepared to launch an uprising at the 
war's end. The Vietminh (League for the Independence of Vietnam) emphasized moderate reform and national independence rather than specifically Communist aims.
When the Japanese surrendered to the Allies in August 1945, Vietminh forces arose throughout Vietnam and declared the establishment of an independent republic in Hanoi. The French, however, were unwilling to concede independence and in October drove the Vietminh and other nationalist groups out of the south. For more than a year the French and the Vietminh sought a negotiated solution, but the talks, held in France, failed to resolve differences and war broke out in December 1946.
The French leave The conflict lasted for nearly eight years. The Vietminh retreated building up their forces while the French formed a rival Vietnamese government under Emperor Bao Dai, the last ruler of the Nguyen dynasty. Unfortunately Vietminh forces lacked the strength to defeat the French and were forced to restricted their activities to guerrilla warfare.
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| Emperor Bao Dai |
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In 1953 and 1954 the French fortified a base at Dien Bien Phu. After months of siege the Vietminh overran the fortress in a decisive battle. As a consequence, the French government could no longer resist the pressure at home and in June 1954 agreed to end the war. They divided the country at the 17th parallel, with the Vietminh in the North and the French and their Vietnamese supporters in the South. To avoid permanent partition, a political protocol was drawn up, calling for national elections to reunify the country two years after the signing of the treaty.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam Today, the socialist republic of Vietnam is the unification of North and South Vietnam. Vietnam has established friendly diplomatic relations with many countries in the world.
In 1990 the European Union established official diplomatic relations with Vietnam. In 1992 Vietnam signed a 1976 
ASEAN agreement on regional amity and cooperation, regarded as the first step towards ASEAN membership, which occurred in 1996. Vietnam established diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1992, the United States removed a trade embargo in 1994 and in 1995 Vietnam and the United States agreed to exchange low-level diplomats. By 1997, the two countries had established full diplomatic relations.
Peace has settled for the first time in many years and suddenly the country is reaping the rewards. Tourism is slow but beginning to boom and the economy improves almost daily. It has become the country of new discoveries and adventures with a potential that is only now showing it’s shy and beautiful face to the rest of the world.
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| Ha Long Bay |
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| Du Hang Pagoda |
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| Cuc Phuong National Park |
Visit Phu Quoc Island the largest island in Vietnam that lies in the Gulf of Thailand, 45 km from Ha Tien and 15 km south of the coast of Cambodia. Phu Quoc Island, part of Kien Giang province, is also part of an archipelago consisting of 22 islands of all sizes. The island covers an area of 585 km2 and is 50 km long. It is also called the Emerald Island because of its natural treasures and infinite tourism potential.
Vietnam is still opening up to tourists on an almost daily basis. I have listed some of the more popular local attractions throughout Vietnam below, which will then give you some idea as to how to plan your holiday in this fascinating country.
Cantho
Cantho is the political, economic, cultural and transportation centre of the Mekong Delta. Rice husking mills provide the main source of income and the area is linked to most other main centers in the Mekong Delta via the waterways and road/rail systems.
Boat Trips are available that take you across the water or through the local canals on many interesting sightseeing excursions that definitely require a camera. Larger boats venture up the Mekong River and this is a definite MUST DO if you are in the area.
Cantonese Congregation Pagoda was built on a different site originally but now stands where it is today. The pagoda occupies a splendid location facing the Cantho River.
Central Market is where you should go to stock up on fresh produce either direct from the farms or the fishing grounds nearby.
Floating markets are the Delta's prime attractions. Unlike those found in Bangkok, these markets aren't for the benefit of camcorder-toting tourists. Early each morning the Bassac River and its tributaries swell with vendors in sampans, houseboats and longtails jammed with fresh Delta produce: jackfruit, mangosteen, durian, papaya, mango, bananas, pineapple, guava, fresh vegetables and smuggled sundries from cigarettes to shampoo. The best market to visit is about 30 km south of Can Tho in Phung Hiep.
Ho Chi Minh Museum is the only museum in the Mekong Delta devoted to this ruler. It is a large museum, if you haven't been to a similar one elsewhere, is worth a visit.
Chau Doc
Chau Doc is a riverine commercial centre and is not that far from the Cambodian border. Once known for it's dug-out canoe races it is now better 
known for it's Cham and Khmer temples in its environs.
Chau Doc Church was constructed in 1920 and although small is interesting and for those of the Christian faith they hold mass here seven days a week.
Chau Phu Temple was built in 1926 and is decorated with both Vietnamese and Chinese motifs. Inside are funeral tablets with the names and biographical information on the dead.
Floating Houses, are well worth a few photos and it's worth it to hire a boat to see them better.
Mosques in the area consist of the Chau Giang Mosque and the Murbank Mosque. There are others in the area but those mentioned are the largest,. Visitors are permitted but please respect the faith and do not enter them during 'calls of prayer' which occur 5 times a day unless you are of the Islamic faith.
Sam Mountain is the place to go if you want to see dozens of temples, pagodas and the like and is well worth visiting. Located about 6 km from the city. Not only do temples abound but the trek to the top of the mountain is also popular though one can go by motorised vehicle if you so desire.
Tay Anh Pagoda is renowned for its fine carvings of hundreds of religious figures most of which are wooden. The building reflects both Hindu and Islamic influences and outside stand a black elephant (with 2 tusks) and a white elephant (with 6 tusks) as well as various monks tombs etc.
Temple of Lady Chua Xu faces Sam Mountain not far from the Tay An Pagoda and was founded in the 1820's. The original was built of bamboo, but this has been replaced over the years and the last reconstruction took place in 1972.
Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau who was a high ranking officer that served the Ngyen lords and later the Nguyen Dynasty is buried here. Nearby are several other tombs of similar officials serving under Thoai Ngoc Hau.
Cavern Pagoda also known as Phuoc Dien Tu is about halfway up Sam Mountain and is well worth a visit. 
Dalat
The city of Dalat is the main centre of the Southern Highlands region. In the past it was renowned as a cool, green city with a park-like environment. This is changing fast, as the economy booms and life speeds up. Still, Dalat is definitely worth a visit and it's a good base for trips into the surrounding highlands, which remain tranquil. In Dalat, make sure you visit the Hang Nga Guesthouse & Art Gallery, nicknamed by locals the Crazy House. It's created by artist and architect Mrs Dang Viet Nga (known as Hang Nga).
Dalat is famous for its coffee shops, and is extremely popular with domestic tourists and honeymooners. You can fly to Dalat from Ho Chi Minh City. The airport is 30km from town; express buses also link the two cities. 
The Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace is stuffed with interesting art and everyday objects, and is well worth a look. It's also interesting to stroll around the old French Quarter.
The Valley of Love, 5km north of the city centre, is a bizarre place where you can hire a paddle boat on the lake or a horse from one of the Dalat Cowboys (no relation to the Dallas Cowboys), who are, indeed, dressed as cowboys. There are some pleasant walks or rides (on horseback or bike) in the countryside around the city, but be aware that areas signposted with a C-sign are off-limits to foreigners.
Prenn Falls are worth a visit and are located at the foot of Prenn Mountain Pass. The 10km long pass is on the route from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City.
Further out, you can visit the villages of some of the hill tribes, such as Lat Village and the Chicken Village (with a huge statue of a chicken).
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