Hanoi’s Must-Visit Attractions

Hanoi, the beautiful cultural capital of Vietnam, has many things to see and do. A few days in the city doesn’t do justice, but luckily, most attractions are located within walking distance of one another. You can easily map out an itinerary for yourself and enjoy a day of wandering around, taking in the contrasting beauty between the old and new. Make sure to visit as many of these attractions as possible to fully enhance your experience in Hanoi.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese, who pay tribute to the man who led the fight for a unified Vietnam. Queues to see his corpse can stretch for hours, and once inside, talking, photography and hands in pockets are banned. Please behave and dress respectfully.

One Pillar Pagoda

One-Pillar pagoda

This pagoda is built on a single wooden pillar of 1.25meters in diameter. The story is that heirless emperor Ly Thai Tong dreamt that he met Quan The Am Bo Tat, the Goddess of Mercy. Soon after, he married a young peasant girl who gave him a son. The pagoda was built in 1054 to express his gratitude to the event.


Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

This UNESCO World Heritage Site, often used as a symbol of Hanoi, stands at 40 meters high. The complex comprises of the royal enclosures built during the Ly Dynasty. Close to many other attractions in Hanoi. Closed on Mondays.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

Water puppet

The ancient art form of water puppetry has long been associated with Hanoi. Watch as puppets dance elegantly, controlled by a whole troupe of puppet masters, telling a story of the famous Legend of the Restored Sword of King Le which is about Hoan Kiem Lake and the giant tortoise.

Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

Hoan Kiem lake

Hoan Kiem Lake ( Sword Lake) is a popular hangout spot for locals and foreigners alike. On an island in the center lies Ngoc Son Temple, linked by a graceful red bridge. Ngoc Son Temple or the Temple of Jade Mountain is the most visited temple in the city. It sits on an island on Hoan Kiem Lake. This serves as a beautiful background for photos, and perhaps you may even catch couples doing their engagement photoshoots.

West Lake ( Ho Tay)

West lake

West Lake is a freshwater lake with a shore length of 17km. You will find many of the upscale hotels and beautiful villas surrounding West Lake. I didn’t spend much time around here but would be keen, as it’s becoming the more fashionable area of the city. Lots of new restaurants and boutiques can be found here along with the upscale hotels.

Dong Xuan Market

Dong Xuan market

Dong Xuan Market is the largest market in Hanoi. Four storeys tall, you can find all sorts of apparel, electronic items and food. Great for some shopping or to just experience the day-to-day life of the locals. You can practice some bargaining here as it is a popular tourist market, and prices quoted may be slightly inflated.

Hanoi Old Quarter

Street Hair-cut

The buzzing heart of Hanoi for more than 1,000 years, the Old Quarter is still a hub of everyday life for locals. Its 36 streets were originally named after the goods once traded there, and a few still specialise, such as P Hang Gai, lined with shops selling textiles. It’s a fascinating area to wander around, whether you’re haggling for souvenirs or people-watching over a cool Hanoi beer.

Temple of Literature

Temple of Liturature

This charming temple complex hosts the Imperial Academy, the oldest university in Vietnam. It was originally built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong’s dynasty to serve as a center of learning, dedicated to the Chinese scholar Confucius.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

This museum showcases the 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam, all under one roof. It is interesting to browse through the displays and learn about the ethnic history of Vietnam.

Vietnam Women’s Museum

Vietnam Women’s Museum

The Vietnam Women’s Union decided to establish this museum (womenmuseum.org.vn), exploring women’s contribution to the country’s culture. Admire elaborate bridalwear, learn of the toil of women’s agricultural labour and discover the female fighters who played a key role in the Vietnam War.

Vietnam Military History Museum

Vietnam Military History Museum

This is one of the seven national museums in the country and is perfect for those interested in wartime artillery. There are both, indoor and outdoor displays of military-related artifacts. The exhibitions depict times as far back as the Huong Vuong Era, which is considered the start of Vietnam as a country.

Hanoi Train Street

Railways

This is a narrow street in the Old Quarter, where train tracks run right down the middle, allowing trains to pass terrifyingly close to the houses. The daily life of the locals that live there have to be packed up multiple times a day when a train is scheduled to pass. Similar to Maeklong Railway Market in Thailand.

Edelweiss to open Zurich - HCM City direct flight from Nov 2018

Switzerland’s leisure airlines Edelweiss, an affiliate of the Swiss International Airlines will open seasonal direct flights from Zurich to Ho Chi Minh City, as part of the carrier’s plan to expand its flight network in Asia.

Accordingly, Edelweiss will launch direct flights linking the two cities twice a week using A340-300 aircraft, starting from November 15, 2018.

CEO of Edelweiss Bernd Bauer said that the airline hopes to carry about 10,500 passengers to HCM City a year, raking in 32 million USD.

Besides bringing tourists from Switzerland and Europe to Vietnam, the new air route is expected to create favourable conditions for passengers to travel from HCM City to other places in Europe, with various destinations in the Swiss International Airlines’ network.

More information on Edelweiss’ flights could be found at website:
https://www.flyedelweiss.com/en/inform/travel-information/timetable/pages/ho-chi-minh-city.aspx 

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Hanoi launches double-storey bus service

The first double-decker bus was put into service on May 30 with hop-on and hop-off at 13 stops, running through 25 streets and taking tourists to 30 attractions in the capital city of Hanoi.

Each bus has 80 seats and is equipped with modern technology, including the GPS system, free Wifi, USB gates, refrigerator, a TV screen and safety cameras.

An automatic narration system in various languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean is also installed in the buses, giving visitors an overall insight of over 30 most typical tourist attractions of the city.

Route 01 departs from the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square near Hoan Kiem Lake, passing Le Thai To – Trang Thi- Dien Bien Phu – Doc Lap – Hoang Van Thu – Hung Vuong – Thanh Nien – Yen Phu – Thanh Nien – Hung Vuong – Phan Dinh Phung - Hoang Dieu – Le Hong Phong – Hung Vuong – Nguyen Thai Hoc – Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam – Ton Duc Thang – Nguyen Thai Hoc – Cua Nam - Phan Boi Chau – Ly Thuong Kiet – Phan Chu Trinh – Hai Ba Trung – Le Thanh Tong – Trang Tien - Dinh Tien Hoang and ends at the bus station (starting point).

In the weekend, as the pedestrian streets open, the route changes to Hanoi Opera House – Trang Tien – Ngo Quyen – Ly Thuong Kiet – Quang Trung – Trang Thi – Dien Bien Phu – Doc Lap – Hoang Van Thu – Hung Vuong – Thanh Nien – Yen Phu – Thanh Nien - Hung Vuong – Phan Dinh Phung  - Hoang Dieu – Le Hong Phong – Hung Vuong – Nguyen Thai Hoc – Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam – Ton Duc Thang – Nguyen Thai Hoc – Cua Nam-Phan Boi Chau – Ly Thuong Kiet – Phan Chu Trinh – Hai Ba Trung – Le Thanh Tong – Hanoi Opera House.

The operation time of the service is from 9:00 to 18:10. One bus will depart in every 30 minutes. Ticket price is 300,000 VND (13.2 USD) for a four-hour tour, 450,000 VND (19.8 USD) for 24 hours and 650,000 (28.6) for 48 hours.

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Mandarin Oriental to manage a new hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, opening in 2020

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a new hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, scheduled to open in 2020.

The property, which will be called Mandarin Oriental, Saigon, will form part of Union Square Saigon, a commercial building in the heart of the city, that is currently under renovation. The hotel will be situated on the upper floors of this mixed-use complex, which will also house a variety of international luxury retail outlets. The project owner is Union Square Company Limited.

Mandarin Oriental, Saigon will comprise 227 guestrooms and suites, six restaurants and bars, a range of meeting and banqueting spaces, a fitness centre, a Spa at Mandarin Oriental and an outdoor swimming pool.



“Ho Chi Minh City is the leading commercial hub in Vietnam and at the heart of the country’s rapidly growing economy. We are delighted to be opening a hotel in such a prime location in the city. We look forward to working with our partners to create a world-class experience and to bringing Mandarin Oriental’s renowned level of service excellence to Vietnam for the first time,” said James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental.

“With its exceptional design, locale, history and culture, Union Square Saigon is destined to become a landmark destination. We are delighted to welcome Mandarin Oriental to this project, which will not only raise the level of luxury hospitality in the city, but will also increase awareness of Vietnam internationally,” said Jonathan Au, General Director of Union Square Saigon.

Mandarin Oriental, Saigon is adjacent to the Saigon Opera House and the People’s Committee Building and within walking distance of most of the key landmarks in the city. Its position is ideal for guests wishing to enjoy the city’s vibrant dining and shopping areas.

About Union Square Saigon
Union Square Saigon is located in the heart of the city, and at the centre of local and international art activities. On completion, the property will successfully combine a mix of Vietnam’s historic aspects with contemporary facilities, and will be the perfect place in which to experience the best of the city’s culture and values.

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Vietnam extends visa waiver for five European countries from until 30 June 2021

( Hanoi ) - Vietnam extends visa waiver for five European countries from until 30 June 2021

Recently Vietnam Government has decided to extend visa waivers program for visitors from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

This information was announced by the Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung announced at the meeting on 03 May, 2018. Thus, visitors from 5 Western European countries (including: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) are exempt from visa from 01 July, 2018 to 30 June, 2021, if the stay is less than 15 days, applicable to all kinds of passport and travel purposes.

Besides, citizens from 40 countries can apply for the Vietnam e-visas at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/

List of Countries that allowed E-visa issuing.

1. Azerbaijan 2. Argentina 3. Armenia 4. Ireland 5. Poland 6. Belarus 7. Bulgaria 8. Brunei

9. South Korea 10. Germany 11. Chile 12. Colombia 13. Czech Republic 14. Cuba

15. Denmark 16. Timor Leste 17. United States of America 18. Hungary 19. Greece 20. Italy

21. Kazakhstan 22. Russia 23. United Kingdom 24. Luxembourg 25. Myanmar 26. Mongolia

27. Japan 28. Panama 29. Peru 30. Finland 31. France 32. The Philippines 33. Romania

34. Spain 35. Sweden 36. China (not applicable to Chinese e-passport holders)

37. Uruguay 38. Venezuela 39. Norway 40. Slovakia

List of International Airport allowed foreigners enter and exit Vietnam by E-visa.

1.      Cat Bi Int Airport (Hai Phong)

2.      Cam Ranh Int Airport (Khanh Hoa)

3.      Can Tho International Airport

4.      Da Nang International Airport

5.      Noi Bai Int Airport (Ha Noi)

6.      Phu Bai Int Airport

7.      Phu Quoc International Airport

8.      Tan Son Nhat Int Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)

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Cửa Vạn fishing village an attractive destination in Hạ Long Bay.

Travel-In-Style#Insight Asia Travel - Cửa Vạn, a small fishing village in Quảng Ninh, has been recognised as one of the world’s 16 most picturesque villages by travel blog Journeyetc.com.

In an article compiled by bloggers on the renowned travel site, the village is listed 14th out of the 16, and described as a hidden gem in the world heritage-listed Hạ Long Bay.

There, visitors can gaze at the beautiful limestone karsts and isles of Hạ Long Bay, take photos of the floating village with its colourful raft houses and witness first-hand the daily lives of local fishermen.

According to the website of the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism (vietnamtourism.com), Cửa Vạn is home to more than 170 households who depend mainly on fishing for their livelihoods. Last year the village had made it to a list of the top 30 travel destinations around the globe as voted by readers by the US-based Travel + Leisure magazine.

In 2015 it had been named the world’s most charming little town by the US online newspaper Huffington Post.

Figures from Hạ Long city reveal that last year the city received 6.9 million visitors, including 2.94 million foreigners, up 12.9 per cent from 2016. — VNS

Vietnam Attractions - 5 Must See Gems

Among those long lists of Vietnam's must-see attractions, it is essential to stop at big cities Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City to understand the characteristics, lifestyle and culture. However, the most unique scene of the country lays beyond the urban hustle and bustle. Travelers, who are seeking for the best of Vietnam, should consider visiting at least one of these five natural and cultural gems. By including them in your travel bucket list, you will not only discover the country's true beauty, but also finding yourself falling in love with it.

1. SAPA - Hilltop breathtaking views

Located near the northern border, Sapa is home to Vietnam's most beautiful rural vistas that will take your breath away. This type of beauty comes at a price. Vegetation like this occurs because the weather in this region consists of overcasts, monsoons, and temperatures roughly cooler than in the south. For trekkers seeking beautiful lush green mountains, covered by rice paddy terraces, put on hiking boots and expect to get a little muddy. Aside from Sapa's main source of economy, a trip may also include scenic waterfalls, delightsome farmhouses, and local villages along the way. There is no place like Sapa in Vietnam, which is why it always appears in lists of top things to do in Vietnam.

If your trip to Sapa is on the weekend, stop by the Bac Ha market on Sunday and meet the locals from different ethnic groups including Hmong, Giay, and Red Dzao. Learn some simple greetings and share some smiles with the opportunity to see diversity and unity among the local hill tribes. The market has everything from local produce to hand-made fabrics, and souvenirs like keepsake or trinket.

2. HA LONG BAY - New 7 Wonders of Nature
 

Halong Bay was classified as a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. A boat cruise sailing around this captivating bay is one-of-a-lifetime experience and a must-do while in Vietnam. The bay's picturesque unspoiled nature is comprised of around 1,600 to 2,000 limestone islands and islets in various shapes and sizes. Halong Bay day trip or overnight cruise from Hanoi are two most popular tourist activities in Northern Vietnam.


3. The world’s largest cave, Son Doong Cave is in Northern Central Vietnam.
 

The cave is approximately 3 miles long and has its own ecosystem, underground cloud cover, tropical rain forest and flowing river. It is first stumbled across by a Vietnamese local man, Ho Khanh, who was seeking shelter from a passing storm in 1999, but his attempts to find way back to the cave were unsuccessful. It was until 2009, the cave was rediscovered by the British Cave Research Association with the help of Ho Khanh. The cave has been officially open to the public since 2013 and is now accepting tours up to 5 days costing upwards to 3,000 US dollars. A world of its own, untouched by civilization and home to multiple species of wildlife puts Son Doong Cave as a must-see attraction in Vietnam.

4. HOI AN - UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town
 

Hoi An is simply unique. There are no where in Vietnam that looks like the acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site - Ancient Town. 17th century Eastern architecture, relaxing streets, colorful lanterns, lovely tea houses, tailor shops, amazing cuisine, quiet beach and countryside scene. All combined creates the city’s attractive vibes.

Make sure to check out the icon of Hoi An, the Japanese Bridge at the end of Tran Phu Street. There are numerous museums and traditional houses for a quick visit. A highly recommended activity is renting a bike for an early morning ride around the tranquil Ancient Town, or an 2km adventure to the beach. For those who love shopping, come prepared with an extra suitcase because it is very hard to say no to gorgeous tailor-made clothes, shoes and bags here.

5. Phu Quoc Island - Vietnam’s Paradise Island
 

Gifted with the long East Coast running from North to South, Vietnam has many beautiful beaches, for instance fishing village Quy Nhon, party beach city Nha Trang, resort town Mui Ne. Phu Quoc, located way in the South West, however has the most unexposed white sand beach, crystal clear water, and well-preserved national parks. Luxurious resorts or local homestay, active boat tours or lazy day on the beach, 5-star breakfast buffets or local food stroll at night markets. Phu Quoc island is perfect for everybody no matter what they are looking for in a beach trip. 

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