8 things you should (and will) see in Vietman

Having travelled in and out of Vietnam countless times in the last one year or so, there are many things that never fail to amaze me. Vietnam is a country one should visit when in the region. For most Western tourists, the cost is still relatively low when compared to surrounding countries like Thailand and Malaysia. A decent room in a 3 star hotel smack in the middle of Hanoi won't cost more than USD 100. While most meals will cost less than USD 5 per person.

Note that this list is not exhaustive. And will be biased slightly to things in the countryside because I spent most of my time in the countryside in Northern Vietnam.

1. Ha long bay

Listed as one of UNESCO’s natural heritage site. The thousands of limestone islets in the bay, some big enough to contain it’s own cave system, is truly a sight to behold.

Ha Long bay is 3 to 4 hours by road from Hanoi, where most tourists will start the tour. You can choose to have a day tour, 2 days 1 night or 3 days 2 nights. I would strongly recommend to spend at least 1 night on one of the many floating junks where they take you out to the bay, sleep in the luxurious cabin for 1 night and then bring you back to Ha Long and Hanoi. Tour price and level of luxury varies, so do your research in advance.

A less traditional tourist boat for an overnight cruise into the bay.

Sunset in Ha Long

For those who have a fear of going out to sea, it is possible to (have a limited) view the islets without going on a cruise, but you'll have to take a local transport to cross the Bai Chay bridge to Ha Long City and drive along the coast.

2. Burial ground in the middle of paddy fields

While most of us living in big cities typically associate graves and cemeteries as eerie places to be avoided, the Vietnamese seems to think otherwise. The moment you travel out of the cities, it became apparent that there are what seems to be graves placed right in the middle of paddy fields where farmers work their field and children play. I can only imagine that the villagers choose to be buried within the land which they farm all their life. It also makes prayers by the later generations easier.

3. Vietnam style cafe

Vietnam style cafe can be found everywhere from the big cities to the countryside, even along major roads which are used for transportation. The rule is, as long as there are vehicular traffic along the road, cafes will take foothold at the roadside.

Almost all the cafes have chairs which tall people will find it difficult to sit.

Because the chairs are around 40-50cm off the ground. Nevertheless, cafes are a good place to sit down with a cup of Vietnamese coffee and watch others as they go by their daily lives.

4. Bia Hoi

Fresh beer which are unique to Northern Vietnam (at least that is what my friends from South Vietnam tell me). It is dispensed from taps very much like other beers. The only difference is, it is brewed fresh daily and has very light alcohol content.

5. Seafood

Being a country with more than 2000km of coastline, seafood made up a major part of Vietnamese diet, especially for those who lives near the coast. Be sure to look out for restaurants advertising “Hai San”, which means seafood. Though I would advise having an english speaking local to do the translation as many locals outside the big cities do not speak English.

6. Motorcycles.. swarms of them..

Once you get out of the airport terminal, you’ll notice that there are swarms and swarms of motorcycles. Even in the countryside, there are still many of them around.

This is due to the fact that import tax for cars in Vietnam is very high, which makes owning a car out of reach for many Vietnamese.

With the number of motorcycles around, you'd think that crossing the road will be a nightmare. The reality is much easier than you think. The key is to cross with a constant speed and don't make sudden stop or change in direction. Be predictable. The swarms of motorcyclist will weave around you. (This rule DOES NOT applies to cars)

7. Odd looking shop houses

For some reasons, land plots in Vietnam assigned for shophouses are abour 3-4m wide, but can be quite long/deep. And there don't seem to be any height limit. Which have some interesting result. Depending on the owner's budget, some shop-houses will be built to 5 or 6 stories high, while the one beside it is only 1 or 2 stories.

8. Snake wine

While not unique to Vietnam, snake wine are commonly found in the streets of the major cities. Snakes (preferably venomous ones) are put whole into the rice wine and kept for months while awaiting the ethanol to deactivate the venom protein, rendering it harmless.

If you're thinking of buying a bottle back home, just take note that the cobras commonly used in the wine are considered protected species in many countries and you may just end up on the wrong side of the law.