Fast facts

Geography
Area: 331,114 sq. km. (127,243 sq. mi.); equivalent in size to Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee combined.
Cities (April 1, 2009): Capital--Hanoi (pop. 6.449 million). Other cities--Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon; pop. 7.123 million), Haiphong (pop. 1.837 million), Danang (pop. 887,069), Can Tho (pop. 1.187 million).
Terrain: Varies from mountainous to coastal delta.
Climate: Tropical monsoon.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Vietnamese (sing. and pl.).
Population (2009): 85.79 million.
Annual growth rate (2007): 1.188%.
Ethnic groups (2003): 54 groups including Vietnamese (Kinh) (85.73%), Tay (1.97%), Thai (1.79%), Muong (1.52%), Khmer (1.37%), Chinese (1.13%), Nung (1.13%), Hmong (1.11%).
Religions (2008): Buddhism (approx. 50%), Catholicism (8%-10%), Cao Dai (1.5%-3%), Protestantism (0.5%-2%), Hoa Hao (1.5%-4%), Islam (0.1%), and other animist religions.
Languages: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and other ethnic minority languages.
Education (2006): Literacy--90%.

Originating in what is now southern China and northern Vietnam, the Vietnamese people pushed southward over 2 millennia to occupy the entire eastern seacoast of the Indochinese Peninsula. Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups; ethnic Vietnamese or Kinh constitute approximately 85% of Vietnam's population. The next largest groups are ethnic Tay and Thai, which account for 1.97% and 1.79% of Vietnam's population and are concentrated in the country's northern uplands.

Places of interest/attractions

Halong Bay 

The islands in Halong Bay are mainly limestone and schist islands most lying in the two main areas: the southeastern part of Bai Tu Long Bay and southwestern part of Halong Bay. These islands represent the most ancient images of a geographical site having a tectonic age of from 250 million to 280 million years. They are the result of many times of rising and lowering processes of the continent to form a karst. The process of nearly full erosion and weathering of the karst created the unique Halong Bay in the world. In a not very large area, thousands of islands with different forms look like glittering emeralds attached to the blue scarf of a virgin. The area where many stone islands concentrate has spectacular scenes and world-famous caves and is the center of Halong Bay Natural Heritage, including Halong Bay and a part of Bai Tu Long Bay.

The area is recognized as the World Natural Heritage that is the area of 434 sq. km with 775 islands.

Hanoi

Hanoi also characteristically contains 18 beautiful lakes such as Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake..., which are the lungs of the city, with their surrounding gardens and trees providing a vital source of energy.

Many traditional handicrafts are also practiced in Hanoi including bronze molding, silver carving, lacquer, and embroidery. Hanoi has many famous traditional professional handicraft villages such as Bat Trang pottery village, Ngu Xa bronze casting village, and Yen Thai glossy silk.

Sapa

Located 38km from Lao Cai City, Sapa is a mountainous district of Lao Cai Province. Sapa District is very well-known with Sapa Townlet, a beautiful and romantic resort.

At the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18oC. It is cool in summer and cold in winter.

A visitor to Sapa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day. In the morning and afternoon, it is cool like the weather of spring and autumn. At noon, it is as sunny and cloudless as the weather of summer. And it is cold in the evening. With no advance warning of a thunderstorm short and heavy rains may come at noon on any summer day. Subsequently, a rainbow appears, transforming Sapa into a magic land, which for years has been a constant source of poetic inspiration, lights up the whole region.

The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air.

Sapa has many natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave.Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.

Popular Activities

Tet

Holiday and festival

Tet falls on a time when the old year is over and the New Year comes by lunar calendar. This is also the time when the cycle of the universe finishes: winter ends and spring, the season of birth of all living things, comes.

Tet is an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. It is a time when one pays respect to his/her ancestors and grandparents who have brought up him/her. It is an occasion when everyone sends each other best wishes for a new year, stops thinking about unhappy things and says good things about each other.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth month by lunar calendar, there is a rite to see Tao Quan (Kitchen God) off. The rite to say goodbye to the old year is held on the 30th or 29th day (if that month has only 29 days) of the twelfth month by lunar calendar. The rite to welcome the New Year is held at midnight that day. The rite to see off ancestral souls to return to the other world is often held on the 3rd day of the first month by lunar calendar when the Tet holidays finish and everybody goes back to work.

There are various customs practiced during Tet such as ancestral worshipping, visiting a person's house on the first day of the new year, wishing Tet wishes, giving lucky money to young children and old people, wishing longevity to the oldest people, opening rice paddies or opening a shop.

Mountain Resorts

Vinh Phuc

Tam Dao Tourist Area Location: Tam Dao Tourist Area is located in Tam Duong District, 86km from Hanoi, between Ban Thach, Thien Nhi, and Phu Nghia Mountains.
Characteristics: Tam Dao Tourist Area is a wonderful place with fresh, pure and cooling air, beautiful scenery.

Bac Giang

Suoi Mo Tourist Site Location: Mo Spring winds through a valley between Huyen Dinh and Yen Tu mountains belonging to Nghia Phuong Commune, Luc Nam District, Bac Giang Province; about 90km from Hanoi and 40km from Bac Giang City.

Travel programs

We offer a number of custom programs to Vietnam including:
Our popular 9 day "Highlights of Vietnam" tour.

Day 01 - Depart home country

Day 03 – Hanoi
After breakfast proceed on a city tour visiting the Presidential Palace, Tran Quoc, Quan Thanh, and the Literature Temple. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 04 - Hanoi / Ha Long
After breakfast proceed to Ha Long Bay, twice recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and historically described as "The dragon descending to the sea". Enjoy a boat trip to explore the magnificent range of Limestone Mountains and the many beautiful natural caves and grottos. Proceed to visit Cung, Dau Go & Sung Sot. Today enjoy a fresh sea food lunch on board the boat. Overnight stay in Ha Long.

Day 05 - Ha Long / Hanoi / Hoi An
After breakfast, continue to visit the numerous secluded islands on Bai Tu Long Bay and return to Hanoi. This afternoon take a walk along the old quarter's or visit the Dong Xuan Market, the largest market in Hanoi and enjoy Vietnamese specialties.Evening transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.  At leisure to explore the life in Hoi An. Overnight stay in Hoi An.

Day 06 - Hoi An / My Son
Hoi An, an ancient city, dating back to the 16th century. Discover the My Son Holy Land - former Kingdom of the Cham people with more than 70 stone buildings of many imposing palaces, towers, temples, citadels and ramparts. Overnight stay in Hoi An.

Day 07 - Hoi An / Ho Chi Ming
After breakfast, proceed to Da Nang. En-route visit the Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) and the Non Nuoc fine stone arts village. Arrive in Da Nang and transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Ming City. Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Ming.

Day 08 – Ho Chi Minh / Me Kong Delta
After breakfast, take a four hour drive to the fertile delta of the meandering Mekong River. This lowland area produces a large part of Vietnam's rice crop and is an area of traditional villages in a tropical setting. This afternoon, drive approximately 3 hours and take a boat ride on the delta and end your day with a farewell dinner. Overnight stay in the Mekong Delta area.

Day 09 - Me Kong Delta / Ho Chi Minh
Breakfast and visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network of approximately 125 miles constructed during the Vietnam War. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation and schools, and were also used as a military base by the Vietcong during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh and continue your sightseeing with a visit to the Reunification Palace, French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. Visit Cho Lon or Chinese Town, War Remnant and Revolution Museum. Late evening transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Ho Chi Minh / Home country

Land Cost - From US$ 1,595 per person sharing accommodation

Land Cost includes:
· Accommodation using 4-5* properties on sharing basis.
· Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner starting with Dinner on Day 2 and ending with lunch on day 9
· Coach class air ticket for travel Hanoi / Hoi An / Ho Chi Ming inclusive of airport tax
· Transport in air-conditioned vehicles with English speaking driver-guide.
· Entrance fees for sightseeing wherever applicable

Photos