Ham Lon is located in Doc Ton range, Soc Son, hanoi . It is a familiar place to young people, especially for those who plan for a long-time mountain climbing. In winter is the best time to visit vietnam, come to see here.
It is about 40 km from Hanoi center and not too hard to travel in one hour.
Sapa is a natural land where four seasons are differentiated clearly. Each season is usually symbolized by distinct and original products. Whatever season is sa pa vietnam in, this land always has its rare and distinct beauty. People who have fallen in love with Sapa said that even in each day, Sapa also has its different feature from the previous day.
Sapa is a mountainous town in Northen Vietnam where you write poem, have your cameras on for most of your time, cheer over a community wine pot, learn to appreciate indigenous culture or just to escape Hanoi heat and city noise. Sapa located in the north – west of Vietnam. It belongs to Lao Cai province, which a modest land but hides many wonders of the natural scene. The natural beauty of Sapa is combined with human creativity, the topography of the mountains, green forests, which creates romantic spot.
Being one of the most attractive tourism destinations of the country, Sapa is a precious gift that Mother Nature dedicates to Vietnam.
Location and history
350km far north-west from Hanoi, Sapa, the capital of Sapa District in Lao Cai Province, lies at the altitude of 1600m. With the temperature ranging from the lowest of -1oC to the highest of 29oC, Sapa’s climate is moderate and drizzly in summer while chill and foggy in winter.
Sapa (or Chapa- the “sandy place”) first appeared in Vietnam national map in the late 1880s when the French disembarked in highland Tonkin. The first permanent French civilian resident arrived in Sapa in 1909, and by 1920, there were a number of villas being built in this area by prosperous professionals. Going through many ups and downs, nowadays, Sapa is the prominent holiday destination, favored by both locals and foreign tourists.
Sapa – fairy home of ethnic minorities
There is nowhere in Vietnam can tourists easily meet the local ethnic minorities like in Sapa. The district is the home of a great diversity of ethnic people, including five main groups of Hmong, Yao, Tay, Zay and Xa Pho. They do not live in center area but in hamlets scattering on the valleys throughout Sapa District.
Sapa – fairy home of ethnic minorities
Actually, not until the 20th century did a majority of the ethnic people changed to sedentary lifestyle with intensive farming method on sloping terraces, instead of slash-and-burn culture like in the past. Town of Sapa is where ethnic minority people gather, trade or sell their farming products such as rice, corn, fruits, as well as handicrafts and souvenirs to tourists. There is one interesting fact about ethnic minority people in Sapa that besides their dialects, many of them, especially small children, can speak English pretty well with clear pronunciation.
Spending time visiting ethnic minorities’ villages, observing their daily’s activities or even living homestay, in order to understand more about their culture is now the top priority of visitors, especially international ones. A trip to Sapa would definitely more meaningful with participatory activities, such as learning to make handicrafts or helping the local with farm work! In case time does not allow, you can always hire a local guide for your trekking routes. Chances are these boys and girls will tell you lovely stories about their traditions, their lives or even ask you to join their family activities.
Sapa – challenging for mountainous trekking
Sapa is voted to be the best trekking spot in Vietnam, by both natives and foreigners. The whole district is dominated by The Hoang Lien Son mountain range, which also includes Mt. Fan Si Pan- the highest peak in Vietnam and the entire Indochina peninsula with the height of 3143m. This mount is not only a tough challenge to trekking enthusiasts but also an opportunity to witness the splendid mountainous vista.
Sapa- challenging for mountainous trekking
The scenery of the Sapa region represents a harmonious relationship between the minority people and nature, which can be seen perceptibly in the paddy fields carpeting the rolling lower slopes of the Hoang Lien Mountains. It was the elements wearing away the underlying rock over thousands of years that created this impressive physical landscape.
The geographical location of the area makes it a truly unique place for a rich variety of plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects, some of them can only be found in northwestern Vietnam.
Sapa- thunderstruck local food
Sapa’s specialties are another reason attracting more and more tourists travelling to this town. A wide range of sub-tropical vegetables such as white cauliflower, red beet, or chayote are planted here. There are dishes that will be a must to enjoy for every visitor – boiled chayote consumed with sesame or “lon cap nach”- pig carried under armpit, which are home pigs but are raised in the field or forest.
The cool weather of the region makes barbecued meat and fish with mushroom and vegetables the most preferred street foods in Sapa. People grill corn, sweet potatoes, dumpling, bamboo-tube rice, or even eggs as well. Nevertheless, tourists can try many other local foods like purple sticky rice or “thang co”- horse meat right in Sapa market.
More surprisingly, Western restaurants, from Italian to French ones, can also be found around the center of Sapa, at a very reasonable price.
How to get there?
Visitors can choose to go to Sapa by train or car, but train is more advisable because of the long and bumpy road.
Most tourists arrive in Lao Cai, the province to which Sapa belongs, by train (read more about train from Hanoi to Sapa) and it is definitely an impressive ride. The train leaves Hanoi train station in the evening and arrives in Lao Cai train station in early morning. From Lao Cai train station to Sapa is another hour bus ride, which gives your eyes a massage with the endless blue sky and colourful terraced paddy field. The road is curved around the mountain and you will just go from one surprise to another. The further you go, the closer you are to the sky and to nature.
Sapa is definitely a place to remember. And maybe to return as well!
Spring (February to April) and Autumn (August to October) is the most beautiful seasons inVietnam. This is the best time to visit Vietnam as rainfall is lighter and the temperature is more moderate. In March and April, all destinations have the lowest rainfall and temperatures are pleasant. Yet, in the far north it is still cool.
Being a mountainous town, Sapa has its climate very seasonal with temperatures reaching 29 degrees celsius in summer down to freezing in winter. The climate is the wettest in July and August. Summers are humid season and the average humidity ranges from 75% to 90%. If you are the summer kind of person, the best time to visit Sapa is in March and April, when the weather is warm and dry. Alternatively, you can go in October and November to enjoy cooler climate and clear days.
Summers cover months from May to September in Hanoi with heat waves and mild humidity. The average temperature is 32 degrees celsius and you may expect couples of refreshingly short bouts of heavy rain, which often come in the afternoon, throughout the season. The average temperature of winter is 17 degrees celsius accompanied by clouds and drizzle. October and November are the recommended months to visit the capital city as Hanoi is the most beautiful in falls. Days are not too hot with temperature averaging 21 degrees celsius and it is not too rainy, plus extra sunshine.
Mist, which often covers Halong Bay, may reduce visibility but does add to the atmosphere. You will find the beautiful blue skies and pleasant temperature of Halong from March to May. Summers arrive in May and is to stay until November. They bring warmth, humidity and refreshing afternoon showers. Weather turns quite cold when winter kicks in in December and last until February. You will have the best chance of warm days and clear skies to have perfect cruise in spring or autumn.
Possessing extensive coastline, Vietnam have a variety of stunning beaches scattering across the country for you to choose from. This means you can visit beaches in Vietnam anytime you please throughout the year as each beach has different best time to visit.
In the height of summer, July and August, the central shores around Danang and Hoi An has the temperature peaking at 38 degree celsius. Technically, the weather is warm year-round, but if you like it hot, go towards the end of the dry season, lasting from February until July. Milder temperature is popular at the beginning of the season. Rainfall increase leading to the rise in water level from August to November. During this season, occasional typhoons should be expected.
Warm temperatures dominate southern beaches year-round with highs around 30 degree celsius. Months from September to January bring effects of monsoon season to Nha Trang. They can be typhoons occasionally hitting and causing long drizzly days and torrential rain. From June to September, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc see wet season, and while Mui Ne has a microclimate with less rain, it does have some light afternoon showers. Con Dao is humid and hot year-round and experience wet bouts from May to November. Afternoon showers are brief most of time, but night heavy rain will kick in during months from July to September.
Brief and heavy rains which can cause flooding often visit the old citadel from October to November. From September to December, Hue has a wet season. Hue goes through dry season from January to August, yet still enjoys afternoon showers quite often. In the middle of summer, the average temperature may rise to the mid-thirties.
Located in the mountains of central Vietnam, Dalat has comfortable temperature year-round, only varying few degrees month to month with temperatures bottoming around 16 degrees and maximizing at roughly 24 degrees. The rainfall is heavier, coming in May to November and bringing the green season when the surrounding countryside is bursting with colour.
Ho Chi Minh city sticks to consistently warm temperature year-round as it’s much close to the equator. The tropical climate is marked by dry and wet season with balmy day averaging around 28 degrees. Expect tropical downpours in the afternoon from May to November. The rain will not affect travel much and everything is green and lush at this time.
Vietnam’s territory cover a length of over 1,000km and the country has huge regional diversity. As a result, if you intend to see the whole country, it can be complicated to decide on the best time to visit Vietnam. However, it is like a year-round destination, so you can travel to any part of Vietnam during any season is possible. This is your guide on what to expect, where and when.
Once coming to “the city of thousands flowers” – Dalat - in Vietnam Central Highlands, it would be a huge mistake for tourists to skip its collection of flower gardens. From the city’s immense one to local farms, people are supposed to be drown in the beauty of this “Kingdom of flowers”.
Cham Island is a group of 8 small islands, which has been recognized by UNESCO as theWorld Biosphere Reserve (Cu Lao Cham Marine Park). This ideal destination is endowed with marvelous topography of mountain slopes and biological diversity. From Cua Dai Beach, Quang Nam province, it takes about 30 minutes to arrive at Cham Island by express boat, though tourists may choose 45-minute-boat instead, to enjoy the feeling of travelling by fishermen’s boats.
Cu Lao Cham
An Untouched Paradise for Adventurers
What appeals to tourists in Cham Island is its wide variety of leisure activities in a picturesque and pristine setting. Traditional forms of recreation range from swimming on crystal-clear beaches, sunbathing on long-stretching white-sandy coast to exploring the forest. For those who are interested in marine life exploration activities, there are available facilities for water sports like: swimming, water skiing, paragliding, kayaking, kite flying, boat racing and scuba diving. This kingdom of aquatic animals is a collection of marine algae, sea grass, sea creatures and especially coral reefs. Tourists are expected to encounter a beautiful marine world with an abundance of colorful fishes, lobsters, mollusks under the clear water-surface.
In addition to recreational activities, Cham Island also gains fame for its cultural attractions such as: an exhibition of nature and Cham island people’s culture, Lang Ong, Hai Tang – a 300-year-old-pagoda, the old well and Huong fishing village. Cham Island is a cultural-historic site, which grows along with the establishment and development of Hoi An City and also has some relics of Cham people’s civilization, dating back hundreds years ago.
Hospitable people and environmental friendly practices
Leading a simple and hospitable life, local residents on Cham Island are also well-known for their environmental-harmonizing lifestyle. In a country where nylon bags are thought to be vital, visitors would find it surprising to see a big panel saying: “Please don’t bring nylon bags to the island” at the entrance of the ship dock and also with a complete lack of this material in the area.
How to get there
Interested tourists can book a tour from Hoi An, which departs daily in the morning to the island. The tour usually includes guide, transportation and a decent meal on the island. If you want to explore the island on your own, take a taxi to Bach Dang pier. Boats usually depart at 7:30 AM and fare is $2 per person. Make sure you sit on the second level for the best view on the way to Cham Island.
Driving 16km from the center of Thanh Hoa and 170 km from Hanoi, tourists in Vietnam travel will reach Sam Son Beach in Thanh Hoa province. This place has been a famous spot for Vietnam tourism since the beginning of the previous century, when the French begun building facilities there to serve themselves and the courts of the Nguyen regime. In addition to the gifts that the nature presents, Sam Son also has many attractions for the travelers to explore.
Sam Son Beach- One amongst the Most Beautiful in Northern Vietnam
This is a long and beautiful beach reaching more than 16km in length. Visitors will have some unforgettable moments when they wallow in the cool blue sea, listen to songs of the wave and the wind, and take a nap on the sunlight sandbanks or build sand castles. Also, this is a good place to try various local seafood varieties such as shrimps, crabs, fishes and also to bring back home some nice souvenirs. The very flat and gentle sandbank, combined with the clean and blue water makes the scenery of Sam Son beach magnificent and attractive.
Sam Son attracts a larger number of tourists in Vietnam travel in summer vacation annually
Besides the beaches, Sam Son also has another fascinating destination with many natural attractions and historical relics: the Truong Le Mountain range. The part that is contiguous to the sea is called Co Giai Islet. On top of this islet, there is a small pagoda named “Doc Cuoc”, which means “One Leg”. The pagoda is the place for the local people to recall the epic legend of a giant that manages to slay a sea monster and to guard the sea in the past. Also, there is a special rock name “Trong Mai”, formed with two huge boulders on a flat rock. There is a story that these rocks represent a pair of husband and wife, who love each other passionately even when both have been transformed into birds.
Beautiful Landscape of Truong Le Mountain Range
If you are a lover of beach travel and making tours to Vietnam, Sam Son beach that is in top of beautiful beaches in the North Vietnam should be listed on your trip.
With over 250 days of sunshine each year, some of the best hotels in Vietnam, miles of sandy beach and an ever increasing range of sports facilities, entertainment venues and nightlife, Nha Trang has plenty to offer all visitors.
Beach:
The 6km-long (4 miles) sandy beach, fringed by palms and casuarina trees, is one of the best in Vietnam with clean water, making it a perfect place for swimming. Visitors can rent a sunbed and vendors regularly pass by selling soft drinks and fresh fruit. The offshore islands and coral reefs are ideal for snorkelling and scuba-diving and watersports centres rent out windsurfers. Beyond the beach:
Pride of place are the Po Nagar Cham Towers (in the north of Nha Trang on Cu Lao overlooking the Cai River), built by the Cham people between the 7th and 12th centuries. They are still a place of worship, and Vietnamese come here to pray and make offerings. A gleaming white Buddha, visible from all over Nha Trang, sits on top of a hill reached from the Long Son Pagoda below. To the south of the town, on a promontory jutting out into the South China Sea, are Bao Dai's villas (just north of Cau Da Dock), a holiday retreat for Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam, where you can explore the grounds. Once you have had enough culture, escape by boat to the islands for some cooling swimming and snorkelling in pristine seas or relax in the hot waters and mud baths of Thap Ba Hot Spring.
Family fun:
If the kids find the beach too tame for them the Phu Dong Water and Amusement Park on Tran Phu Street can provide hours of entertainment. There is even a night market for souvenir shopping and food stalls to end the day with a delicious meal of fresh seafood and local specialities. Children will love the opportunity to see the colourful marine life in the South China Sea on a glass bottomed boat tour. For a thrill and a day of fun take the kids on the cable car across the sea to the Vinpearl Resort on Hon Tre Island where there is an amusement park, food village and shopping. Take a boat excursion to the aptly named Monkey Island and feed the resident troop of monkeys.
Exploring further:
Two hours from Nha Trang is Whale Island, a resort where you can really get away from it all. Stay in beach bungalows and explore the unspoilt island with its impressive array of birdlife or you can sail, canoe, windsurf or go diving and see colourful fishes and coral and even whales and whale sharks on their annual visit from April to July. Explore the highland areas with an overnight excursion to Buon Ma Thuot passing rubber and coffee plantations en route and stopping at a waterfall for a refreshing swim. In Buon Ma Thuot visit an ethnic minority village and ride an elephant.
Buon Ma Thuot lies about 190 km inland from Nha Trang and around 200km north of Dalat. A large town in a coffee plantation area, it’s the provincial capital of Dak Lak province but its main interest for visitors are the natural surroundings and the thirty or so ethnic groups in the area. Dak Lak is warmer and more humid than Dalat, with a rainy season from April to November.
The town itself is nondescript apart from the Kha Doan Pagoda, an unusual combination of the features of an Ede long house with a roof designed in accordance with Hue imperial architecture. It was built to commemorate the wife of Emperor Khai Dinh – her son was Emperor Bao Dai, the last of the dynasty.
Gia Long WaterfallMost of Buon Ma Thuot’s attractions lie well away from the town. They include the excellent Gia Long and Dray Nur waterfalls, both little visited. Gia Long is adjacent to ancient forest – Emperor Bao Dai used to hunt there.
The forest is spectacular – enormous trees, vines, and a profusion of insects. Nearby is a natural swimming pool, an almost rectangular basin with a sandy bottom.
On the other bank are the remains of a bridge and lake built by Bao Dai, now being slowly strangled by the lush vegetation.
Dray Nur is a complete contrast. Set in dry, arid land, its waters thunder over black volcanic rock. Its comparatively barren surroundings enhance the impact of the falls – standing at the bottom among the swirling mist, the noise is deafening.
Serene Lak Lake offers travel in a dugout canoe across the lake to ride working elephants and meet their mahouts through ethnic villages, some with homestay facilities.
About thirteen miles from the town there is a settlement of Ede people who live in distinctive longhouses on stilts. It's a good starting point for a hike through Nam Kha Forest.
Further away to the northwest is Yok Don, Vietnam’s largest national park. Several ethnic groups live within it, notably the M’nong people who traditionally specialised in hunting and domesticating the wild elephants that roamed in the area.
However, the effects of US bombing and defoliation, together with loss of habitat from agricultural encroachment have drastically reduced their numbers. The journey to Yok Don is quite taxing, but the forests are striking and there are many species of flora and fauna, some very rare.
Although depleted, there are still plenty left, both wild and domesticated. Elephant riding in Yok Don is the real McCoy rather than the gentler tourist version at Lak Lake. During the dry season, two-day safari-style forays into the deep forest can be arranged. Homestays are possible, and there’s a few bedrooms available in the park’s headquarters – either way, don’t expect anything other than the most basic accommodation.
At the southern extremity of the Central Highlands is the city of Dalat. Originally built by the French colonists, Dalat still bears a passing resemblance to a French town, an impression that is diminishing as Vietnamese-style buildings proliferate.
Dalat can be reached by air, but only from Ho Chi Minh City. However the drive from the south is quite satisfying, especially as you climb up through rubber, mulberry, coffee and tea plantations. The road from Dalat to Highway 1 and Nha Trang is also gratifying with plenty to see on way.
There are some good hotels, the crown going to the excellent Sofitel Dalat Palace, arguably one of Vietnam’s best, but there are very few restaurants serving anything other than Vietnamese food.
‘Discovered’ by Dr. Alexandre Yersin at the end of the 19th century, Dalat grew into a large hill station attracting French civil servants, administrators and military personnel seeking a refuge from the heat and humidity of the Mekong and the coastal plain.
Dalar marketLocated high in the mountains nearly 1500m above sea level, Dalat is now popular with Vietnamese visitors because it has a cool and equable climate usually remaining between 10º C and 20º C throughout the year. This ‘eternal spring’ is responsible for its increasing importance as a fruit and flower growing area. First class blooms, soft fruits and vegetables are grown for export and airlifted all over Asia.
You’ll come across the first label quite frequently, but don’t be misled. It’s equable temperatures make Dalat a popular choice for Vietnamese summer newly-weds who don’t want to consummate their union in a pool of sweat. If you are hoping to find peaceful seclusion with tucked-away bijou restaurants, the gentle refrains of violins or classic guitar, and secluded strolls by the light of the moon – forget it!
In reality, the most accurate description of Dalat’s ‘romantic’ features is ‘off the wall’. Forget about the much-touted, and mostly tacky and over-commercialised, attractions and look upon Dalat as an expedition in to the bizarre.
Dalat’s real attractions
Approached in a different way, Dalat has a lot to offer. Here’s a few examples, not in any particular order.
The Ugly Duckling
Most cities would yearn for a large water area with plenty of space as a central feature. Dalat has Xuan Huong, a splendid artificial lake with a seven kilometre perimeter. However, the local tourism authority has ‘enhanced’ it by the addition of a fleet of two person plastic ‘pedaloes’ shaped as huge swans. It’s an introduction the kitsch that is to come!
Welcome to wonderland.
The quintessence of counter-culture, Hang Nga’s ‘Crazy House’ is a truly memorable guest house if you don’t mind being uncomfortable. It defies description – seeing is believing!
Warm weather, beautiful beach,… Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa is an ideal destination for tourists from cold countries to have a winter vacation.Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Province
Till October, 2010, Khanh Hoa Province welcomed 308,000 foreign tourists, increasing 14.34% year-on-year and fulfilling 86.72% the year’s target. They are good figures. However, the season of international tourism is between November and January. Before this winter vacation, the provincial tourism department has made careful preparations such as marketing of tourist products via media, joining international fairs and linking with international tourist centers, according to Nguyen Van Thanh, director of Khanh Hoa Tourism Promotion Center.
In addition, travel firms have got everything ready to welcome foreign tourists on their winter holidays. Hotels have been renewed, dishes of many countries have been waiting for foreigners from every countries and special programs for Christmas and New Year seasons have been arranged. Big hotels in Nha Trang such as Vinpearl Land, Novotel and Ana Mandara so far have received a number of books.
In recent years, beside the US, Australia, France, Britain and Germany, Russia has become a potential tourism market to the Central region in general and Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa in specific. The number of tourists from Russia showed sharp increases year by year. In 2009, 20,000 Russian tourists came to Nha Trang. The figure is forecast to rise more deeply this year when Vladivostok Air opens 14 direct flights from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok to Cam Ranh Airport with 140 passenger on each.
‘Most of Russian visitors to Vietnam are from Moscow. New direct flights from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok will be a chance for Vietnam to welcome tourists from Far East Russia”, said Le Van Nghia, director of Nhat Minh International Tourism Company from Hanoi.
“Opening flights from Far East Russia to Cam Ranh Airport is a good thing for Khanh Hoa’s tourism. Travel firms should take advantage of this chance to attract more Russian arrivals in order that these routes will be kept”, said Bui Xuan Luong, an official of Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Trang Tien Street leading to the Opera HouseHanoi and the surrounding area have plenty to interest visitors. Its central area is compact – most of the main attractions are within walking distance. Tree-lined boulevards, colonial buildings and many lakes make pleasant routes for a pedestrian tour. If you don't mind becoming an attraction for the Vietnamese, a ‘cyclo’ tour can be a less strenuous way of seeing some of the sites. Visitors that are more adventurous may be attracted by cycling or riding on the back of a motorcycle – however, this is a decision best made after you've seen the traffic situation!
It’s also a remarkably safe city. The level of crime is low, and what exists hardly ever involves violence. Apart from commonsense precautions, extra security measures are unnecessary.
The heart of Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter in central Hanoi are thronged with people throughout the day. Nearby, in an attractive setting, is the Hanoi Municipal Theatre, better known as the Opera House, a smaller version of its cousin in Paris and now restored to its original grandeur. The adjacent Hanoi Opera hotel is one of the few modern buildings that enhance an architectural classic anywhere in Vietnam.
Haivenu guests will be offered tickets for any interesting performances at the Opera House during their time in the capital. You'll also be invited to a performance of water puppetry, an art form unique to North Vietnam and an interesting, humorous introduction to its traditional culture.
The area dedicated to the late President Ho Chi Minh is well worth a visit. Viewing his embalmed body in an imposing mausoleum is a somewhat macabre experience, but the nearby museum and his modest small stilt house provide a valuable insight into the life and times of one of the most successful leaders of the 20th century. Close by is the magnificent Presidential Palace, unfortunately not open to visitors.
Van Mieu
Van Mieu, (the Temple of Literature) dates back to the 11th century and is the oldest university in Vietnam (and one of the oldest in the world). Recently restored, it is a now an attractive and informative monument not far from the city centre.
Museums
Further out is the Museum of Ethnology - we rate it as the best museum in Vietnam. It gives an in-depth overview of the complex life-styles, traditions and handicrafts of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam, well-presented and effectively interpreted. Also of note, but more traditional in their approach, are the History Museum, the Army Museum and the Fine Arts Museum. On a much smaller scale, both physically and financially, the Women's Museum focuses on the role of women in the community and that of the ‘Long-haired Army’, the many women who fought and died alongside the men of the Viet Minh and the Viet Cong.
The Citadel area
The ancient Hanoi Citadel is currently occupied by the army, but is in the process of restoration prior to making sections accessible to the public during 2004.
Across the road, a large archaeological 'dig' currently taking place on the site of what will be the new National Assembly building has unearthed what appear to be the remains of an ancient palace and its ceramics kiln. Ceramic articles were the sole property of royalty, and were thought to have been imported from China during its Song period. The findings have revealed that Vietnam not only made its own ceramic articles, but also developed a unique style during the Ly Dynasty from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
Amenities
Hanoi currently boasts Vietnam’s most modern airport, Noi Bai, opened only a couple of years ago 35 km from the city, and already planning a second terminal. The city has seven five-star hotels and a wide range of hotels at lower standards. There is a large variety of restaurants offering most of the main international cuisines and nearly all of the differing styles of Vietnamese food. They range from top-flight gourmet establishments with prices to match, to street-side ‘cafés’ where a filling meal often costs less than a dollar.
It’s a shopper’s paradise. There are retail outlets ranging from massive indoor markets to humble street stalls, upmarket designer brands, western-style supermarkets and, of course, the commercial centre in the Old Quarter where you can find practically anything from ripped-off DVD's for less than a dollar to a tastefully designed tombstone with your likeness inscribed into the stone.
