When the French subjugated Indochina in the 19th century, the hope of an independent Kampuchea Krom would be forever destroyed. Even though the majority in southern Vietnam at that time were the ethnic Khmer, the French didn’t incorporate the colony with Cambodia but made it a separate protectorate known as Cochinchina. It was on 4 […]
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The epicentre of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is the largest city in the region and feels like a metropolis after a few days exploring the backwaters. It’s just as the political, economic, cultural and transportation centre of the Mekong Delta, it’s a buzzing town with a lively waterfront lined with sculpted gardens and an […]
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Things to do Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum In the tradition of Lenin, Stalin and Mao, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is a monumental marble edifice. Contrary to his desire for a simple cremation, the mausoleum was constructed from materials gathered from all over Vietnam between 1973 and 1975. Set deep in the bowels of the building […]
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Things to do War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam Address Street 28 Ð Vo Van Tan Extras cnr Ð Le Quy Don Telephone +84 8 3930 5587 Prices admission 15,000d Opening hours 7.30am-noon & 1.30-5pm Once known as the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes, the War Remnants Museum is consistently popular with Western tourists. […]
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Things to do Jade Emperor Pagoda Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam Address Street 73 Ð Mai Thi Luu Opening hours 7am-6pm, on 1st & 15th of lunar month 5am-7pm Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most spectacularly atmospheric temples […]
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Beautiful beaches The beaches of Vietnam are superb. Nha Trang is the perfect combination of a long sandy beach for relaxing days under the palm trees and a town with restaurants and bars to pass the balmy evenings. Boat trips take you out to nearby islands and divers can explore the nearby coral reefs. Alternatively, […]
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Vietnam Food and Drink Vietnamese cooking is varied and usually superb, as the profusion of Vietnamese restaurants in New York, London and Berlin contest. It is a mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese and French traditions, with a plethora of regional variations. As in all countries of the region, rice or noodles usually provide the basis of […]
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Shopping in Vietnam For anyone who likes handicrafts and a bargain, Vietnam is nirvana. Wooden water puppets, with ingenious mechanisms, silk, lacquerware, ceramics, colourful hill-tribe bags, clothing and hand-painted silk greetings cards are all a must-buy. Clothes are particularly good value and tailors can make up clothes within 24 hours in many places, particularly Hoi […]
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Don’t leave without seeing the Mekong Delta, one of Vietnam’s most interesting and scenic regions. An organized tour, even the most low-budget version, offers action-packed days with bus and boat trips to small craft villages, mangrove swamps, island orchards, and spectacular floating markets. Day trip isn’t quite enough to fully delve into the delta, so plan […]
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Introduction in Hanoi The Vietnam War helped to unfairly saddle Hanoi with a reputation as a dour outpost for Communist apparatchiks. It may not be as chaotic as Saigon, but Hanoi ranks among the world’s most attractive and interesting cities. The city’s placid air gives it a gracious, almost regal flavor, underscored by a rich […]
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