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Pictures of Vietnam: Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon, Mekong

Halong Bay

Pictures of Halong Bay, Vietnam

Located in northern Vietnam, near China, Ha Long Bay is considered the 8th wonder of the world by some. Thousands of limestone karsts (islands) dot this waterway. Day excursions and overnight trips on one of the 500 tourist junks are popular and affordable. Enjoy fresh four course seafood meals and watch the scenery go by, or hop into a sea kayak for some adventure. Paddle sheltered grottoes, calm bays, and explore tunnels.

Sapa Terraces

Pictures of Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa or Sa Pa is a popular destination in northwest Vietnam for trekking. This area is very mountainous and is home to dozens of ethnic minorities living traditional farming lives. Sapa is reached via an overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then a one hour winding drive up the mountain. From there you can hike on day trips to surrounding villages and return to a four star hotel in Sapa at night. For more adventure, drive 30 minutes outside of town then trek for several days among more remote villages.

Vietnam map
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Mekong Delta

Pictures of Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The middle of the Mekong River Delta is about about 3 hours drive from Saigon. We started our boating adventure in the town of Vinh Long. From there we stayed at a homestay on An Binh Island, in the middle of a fruit orchard. Narrow sidewalks, dirt paths and bridges connect the small land masses. The area abounds with fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables. The floating market of nearby Cai Be occurs daily where boats pull up to each other and buy fresh grown produce. The people here probably the most friendly in all of Vietnam. Smiling faces and waving hands are common sights here. It's a relaxing area with a hammock culture.

 

Hue40-ImperialCity.jpg

Pictures of Hue, Vietnam

Hue is located in the middle of Vietnam and was the capital from 1802 to 1945. The Nguyen dynasty emperors moved the capital here and built an Imperial City styled much like the one in China. Along the Perfume River sits the citadel complete with 10 km of walls and a moat. Inside the citadel is another walled compound, the Imperial City where the rulers lived. The Imperial City is divided further by a series of concentric walled temples, palaces, and pavilions. Some of the Imperial City is in ruins, but much of it has been restored. Outlying the city are mausoleums of the emperors. These are walled park settings with temples, lakes, and tombs.

Hoi An

Pictures of Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is located in the middle of Vietnam, 4 hours drive (with stops) from Hue. This town was an important trading port in the 16th and 17th centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage site today. Many ancient merchant homes of Japanese and Chinese influence remain. There are many assembly halls, which the Chinese built for social and religious gatherings of their communities. Hoi An is famous for tailors. It seems like half the shops in town are tailors. You can have a quality suit or dress or any other garment you can imagine made overnight.

Hanoi

Pictures of Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is located in the north part of the country. The city has an old quarter of merchant homes and shops which help retain the feel of original culture; unlike Saigon which is very westernized. Adjoining the old quarter is Hoan Kiem Lake with two islands with temples. Around the lake is a park which is active, especially in the early morning, with Tai Chi, badminton games, joggers, and more. The Temple of Literature is a large area of Confucian tranquity with gardens and temple buildings. Many Buddhist temples are also found in Hanoi.

Saigon

Pictures of Saigon, Vietnam

Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) as it's officially known, is the largest city in Vietnam and located in the south part of the counry. We loved our visit to Vietnam, but Saigon wasn't a highlight. It's a large, busy, crowded, westernized city with none of the culture of Hanoi. Traffic is even crazier than Hanoi, but is still 90% motorbikes.
 
 

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Same activities: Biking Food Hiking Markets Monuments Paddling
Same environments: Beach City Mountain
Same geography: Asia


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