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Vietnam. What images
spring to mind? Conical
hats emerging from
lizard green rice
paddies? Grainy black
and white colonial-era
photographs of slender,
dark-haired women in
flowing white ao dai
tunics? Soldiers red
flags? Stunning
white-sand beaches
fringed with coconut
palms? Luxurious resorts
and golf course?
Vietnam is all these
things and more, a
country with a past as
the soil in the blazing
green deltas. This past
reads like a romantic
legend, full of heroic
struggles and astounding
victories, whereby this
small country retained
its culture, absorbing
and adapting the
strengths of its foes
but never losing its
traditions or its sense
of history. In Vietnam,
traditions carry real
meaning. Ancient heroes
are still venerated at
colorful temple
festivals, people honor
their ancestors, and
village elders teach
values of hard work,
hospitality, and filial
loyalty. With 54 ethnic
groups, most of whom
live in remote areas and
follow age-old customs,
Vietnam offers
unparalleled
opportunities for
cultural exploration.
Vietnam’s
fascinating culture
comes in a stunning
package. It is a
beautiful country –
a long, hour-glass
of land, stretching
1,600km up the
eastern coast of
Indochinese
Peninsula.
Vietnamese people
describe their
country as a bamboo
shoulder pole slung
with two baskets of
rice - the fertile
southern Mekong
Delta and the
northern Red River
Delta. From these
lowland paddy fields
stretch vast rubber
plantations, rolling
hills covered with
thick jungle, and
jagged mountains
rising more than
3,000 meters in
height. Over 3,200km
of coastline
features endless
stretches of empty,
white sand beaches.
Vietnam’s varied
topography allows
for an incredibly
varied travel
experience. The
country offers
everything from
tropical coastal
lowlands to
temperate zones
above 2,000 meters.
In the south, the
rainy season lasts
from May to
November, but the
showers are usually
limited to brief
bursts in the late
afternoons. Along
the central coast,
the driest season
runs from June to
October, Visitors to
the north are often
surprised by the
region's distinct
season; summers are
hot and humid while
winters are
invigoratingly cool.
As well as fine
weather,
spectacular
natural scenery
and historic
sites, Vietnam's greatest
resource is its
friendly,
welcoming
people. Long
closed to the
outside world,
Vietnam retains
a charming
innocence that
more touristed
regions lack.
Yet in the
decade since the
country opened
its doors to
visitors, the
country has
built
world-class
hotels and
tourism
facilities. With
international-standard
lodgings and
traditional
Vietnamese
hospitality,
Vietnam is ready
to take you on
an unforgettable
adventure. Join
us and explore
the legend.
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