11 reasons Vietnam should be on your bucket list

If the first thing that pops in your head when you hear the word Vietnam is “war”, then it’s time we changed your perspective on this unique country. There’s no denying the war dramatically altered the country and people around the world, but there’s much more to modern day Vietnam. In addition to museums and monuments dedicated to the war, Vietnam is filled with natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and some seriously delicious food! Here are our top reasons Vietnam should be on your bucket list.

RELATED: Vietnam War attractions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Make time to see some of the war history and the interesting propaganda around the country (statue of Ho Chi Minh) | Photo by GettingStamped.com

War history

Let’s talk about the war first because that’s probably the first thing you thought of when we said Vietnam. The war that took place here in 1955–1975 left a mark on Vietnam that will be with its people for many years. Throughout the country, you can find museums and monuments to the war, with some of the most substantial in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the capital of Hanoi. The War Remnants Museum in Saigon is one of the largest collections and is nicely presented. However, when visiting any war-related attraction be aware the story will be told from the Vietnamese perspective and is called the American War. Also, the exhibits and stories are sometimes spiced up with a bit of propaganda.

The seemingly endless rice paddies of Sa Pa Vietnam | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Rice paddies

A stark contrast to the war, the rice paddies in rural Vietnam feel like some of the most peaceful places on earth. In the far north, the rolling hills of Sapa have terraced rice paddies carved into their sides and filled with bright greens as the rice begins to mature. Rice is grown throughout the country, but the fields are the most beautiful in the mountainous areas when terrace farming has been used.

The delicious báhn mì Vietnamese sandwich is worth the trip alone! | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Vietnamese food

If you think just chicken noodle soup is called pho, then you have a lot more to experience. Pho is pretty amazing, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the interesting and varied cuisine of Vietnam. From South to North the dishes and ingredients change greatly. Many visitors find central Vietnamese cities like Hoi An to have some of the tastiest foods in the country.

Phú Quốc | Flickr CC: Ronan Crowley

Beaches

Not many people associate Vietnam as a beach destination, but there are many beautiful beaches in the country’s long coast. An astonishing fact about Vietnam’s coastline line is that it’s roughly as long as the coastline of both California and Florida combined. There’s bound to be a few good beaches among that much sand. Vietnam’s most popular beach town is Nha Trang, but if you are looking for turquoise waters and white sand head to the island of Phú Quốc.

The Imperial Citadel of Hue | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Ancient history

When most people think of Vietnam they focus on the modern history of the war and everything that happened from 1960 onward. However, people have been living in Vietnam for thousands of years and it’s a country with some pretty rich history. Unfortunately, many buildings and parts of the history were lost in the war. Nevertheless, there are still many sites around the country to get a glimpse back in time to see what Vietnam was all about before the war. One of the best intact cultural sites is the Imperial Citadel in the central Vietnamese city of Hue.

A boy sitting near the river in Hoi sells lanterns for the Hoi An Lantern Festival | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Lantern festivals

Among the main cultural ceremonies in Vietnam, one of the most beautiful are the lantern festivals surrounding the full moon. Many towns and villages perform the lighting of paper lanterns, but one of the largest and most beautiful is in Hoi An Vietnam. Every full moon, thousands of lanterns are lit and sent floating down the Thu Bồn River during the Hoi An Lantern Festival.

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

Vietnam’s prized natural gem in the far north is a picturesque bay filled with towers of limestone rock jutting up out of the water. The bay can often be misty making for a very otherworldly scene. Halong Bay is among the top tourist spots in the country and easily one of its most photogenic.

RELATED: See it in Viet for less by signing up for Orbitz Rewards!

Sơn Đoòng Cave | Flickr CC: vtoanstar

Sơn Đoòng Cave
Vietnam’s second natural wonder is the world’s largest cave, called Hang Sơn Đoòng. Located in between Hanoi and Danang, close to the border with Laos, is a 5.5-mile long cave. What’s possibly even more fascinating is that Sơn Đoòng has only recently been discovered and explored. The entrance was only discovered in 1991 and was not formally spelunked until 2009. This epic cave is definitely bucket list material.

The frenetic streets of Saigon | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Crazy Saigon

Love it or hate it, Ho Chi Minh City is a sight to see. The streets of Saigon are abuzz with the sounds of motorbikes and chaos. Every day a sea of motorbikes descend on the streets making crossing them by foot seem nearly impossible. As overwhelming as the city can appear at first glance, there are also small quiet alleys full of amazing food and drink. Ho Chi Minh City is a place that grows on you the more you explore.

ALSO: Dirt cheap Vietnam is even cheaper when you join Orbitz Rewards!

10¢ beer

Any place where you can get a beer for a dime should be on your shortlist of places to visit. Locally brewed “fresh beer” as they call it is served from a draft keg for as little as 10¢ and is actually pretty good beer. Generally brewed with slightly lower alcohol levels closer to 3% ABV goes well with some delicious Vietnamese food. Some travelers avoid this beer claiming it’s not hygienic, but that’s unfounded and also very unlikely. The presence of alcohol and CO2 carbonation will keep the beer safe to drink. Go ahead and enjoy 10¢ beers.

Cheap luxuries

There are very few places in the world where your money will go as far as Vietnam. For accommodation and food, Vietnam is considerably cheaper than it’s already budget-friendly neighbors Thailand and Cambodia. In Vietnam, you can truly live like a king or queen for a fraction of what you’d spend in other countries.

Tagged: Uncategorized