Joanna James
Vietnam has many overlooked attractions that are an absolute necessity to check out when visiting the country, let's look at some of these amazing things.
Any trip to Hanoi is considered incomplete without one of the most popular things to do, spending an evening at Bia Hoi Junction located at the centre of the Old Quarter in Hanoi. Known as the city's busiest nightlife venue, it is filled with plastic stools for everyone. Everyone flocks here to enjoy a delicious glass of local beer for as little as USD 0.5. There is an abundance of street food vendors selling beef jerky, steamed peanuts and various other snacks to enjoy while sipping on your beer.
If you're up for some enjoyment with a little education thrown in, this is an important attraction. Hoi An Ancient Town is a living museum hosting various Chinese temples, traditional markets, French colonial houses, old canals, wooden shop houses and a Japanese designed bridge. The entire space is a UNESCO listed town and is pedestrian friendly, thus exploring it can be done by walking or riding a cyclo. Your cyclo driver might speak English or French, so definitely ask as they will be delighted to give you some local insights on this town. There are many choices if you're looking for a Hoi An luxury resort to stay while you visit the many places on this list, one example is the Anantara Hoi An Resort.
Not only is it popular for some sublime picturesque landscapes, The Mui Ne Sand Dunes host a plethora of fun activities like kite flying, quad biking and most importantly sandboarding. There are plenty of tour operators here that can organize day trips for anyone. The Sahara-like white and red sand dunes makes for impressive scenery at Mui Ne.
If you enjoy browsing through local markets to find trinkets and various other things, you'll love the markets in Vietnam. These markets offer a great number of interesting things like the colourful display of stalls that feature fresh produce, vendors that sell household items, apparel and most importantly the authentic Vietnamese food. You'll even find fresh meat stalls and might even see old ladies smoking hand-rolled cigarettes. The key thing to note when shopping at the local markets is to haggle, keep bargaining as that's the best way you'll get a decent price.
History definitely creates some wonderful places to see, Vietnam is no different. The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Central Vietnam is home to over 300 limestone caves and grottoes that are an absolute must see. These are said to have formed over 400 million years ago, making it truly historical. Many tourists visit Son Doong as it is the world's largest cave. Paradise Cave is also recommended for its gorgeous limestone stalactites and stalagmites. The park is an amazing place to enjoy bird watching and for hiking or mountain biking as well.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
