Destination Guide: Vietnam

Vietnam was originally higher on the list, because my dad fought in the Vietnam War. I have always been interested to see what he saw as a young man on his first and only trip abroad. However, it lost the top spot, like its neighbor Thailand, because of the low likelihood of me learning and retaining the language. Natural beauty, extremely low cost of living, and proximity to the rest of the SE Asian jewels has kept it in the 4th slot…for now.

Reasons to Go:

Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam. Cambodia, which is only a few kilometers away from the island, has always been contentious over the territory. Just last year, Vietnam granted tourists the ability to travel to the island without a visa for up to 30 days. Due to the new regulations, even more spoiled rich kids can drop their Louis Vuitton luggage on these white sand beaches. Phu Quoc is known for its seafood and its fish sauce. Not for the feint of heart: Take a visit to Nuoc Mam Hung Thanh, the fish sauce factory on the island. Beware, the smell is pretty rank, but the end product tastes amazing and they will allow you to sample it in the store. Or just grab a book, a hammock, and a coconut filled with rum. You do you, boo.

The Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is an area in Southern Vietnam where the Mekong River meets the sea. Rich in biodiversity, over 10k new species have been discovered here, and even a few species that were thought to be extinct have been rediscovered. Due to its location and the effects of global warming, it is believed that the Mekong Delta region will be flooded by the year 2030, so you better see it now before it disappears forever. Many people who have visited Vietnam say that no trip is complete without a tour of the Mekong region, as so much of life in Vietnam relies on this part of the country. Just don’t fall off the boat, because that water looks pretty rank. While you are here, check out the floating market, where all the vendors hawk their ware via long boat.

Sapa

Are you perpetually single? Does your mother call you every weekend begging for grandchildren, while you sob hysterically into the phone? If so,better make your way to Sapa ASAP. Every Saturday night, this northwestern Vietnam town hosts what is known as the “love market.” I know what you are thinking…South East Asia, love market, prostitution. Normally, my thought progression would run the same course. However, this “love market” is actually the regions largest singles night. Because the town is very isolated, and market day is Sunday, people would come to town the night before to set up their stalls. This would allow the younger folks to meet, and mingle with other stand operators. What it has evolved into is a cultural event that should not be missed.

Cu Chi Tunnels

If you happen to be in Ho Chi Min City, and have a couple hours to burn, why not check out the Cu Chi Tunnels. They are a network of tunnels under the capital that extend to a much larger system of tunnels the run below much of the country. They were originally used by the Viet Cong as hideouts during battle, pretty interesting right? During the war, many people lived nearly full time in the tunnels for safety, and a good portion of those people died of malaria. After the war ended they cleared the malarial bacteria out and turned the tunnels into tourist attractions. Glad you got the malaria vaccine now aren’t you? Oh wait… it’s not required for Vietnam…Get it anyway.

Ninh Binh

Nihn Binh is a tiny little village in North Vietnam. However, the town itself is not the driving force behind its place on this list. I added Nihn Bihn to my list of reasons to visit Vietnam because it is a great base camp for exploring the vast countryside surrounding it.Tam Coc, pictured above, is just one of many examples of the natural beauty that exists in this region of the country.

Ha Long Bay

The first time I heard about Ha Long Bay was when Avatar was in theaters. I remember doing an image search and just scrolling through page after page of pictures of this place. The bay is filled with over 1,900 limestone islands. The name means Bay of Descending Dragons, which is really fucking cool. Bo Hon Island, one of the most popular islands in the bay, is home to the Virgin Cave. According to local legends, the shire inside was build to honor a young woman who commit suicide in the cave because she was being forced to marry against her will. The plot thickens…

Dalat

Dalat’s location in South Central Vietnam and its mountainous terrain makes it a welcomed escape from the heat and humidity experienced in the rest of the country. The mid-sized city offered everything anyone could want. It has a small urban center, surrounded by a fusion French-Vietnamese architecture, rolling hills, and coffee and tea plantations. The French influence has resulted in a more Western feel to the town, which makes it feel very out of place in Vietnam.

Climate:

The landscape variation in Vietnam is so vast, that there is no way to sum up the climate of the entire country. The majority of the climate is tropical, with the mountainous regions being cooler and drier than the coastal regions. The rainy season runs from April to September. Just know that the winter “dry” season is only dry by comparison to the monsoon season, not actually dry. Humidity is constantly hovering near 100%, so be prepared to feel damp at all times.

Languages:

As you could have guessed, the official language is Vietnamese. What you probably didn’t know is that in its early stages, Vietnamese used Chinese characters in their writing. It wasn’t until the 13th century that they developed their own characters. Much of the educated population also speaks French, dating back to the colonial rule. In other news, only 12% of the population speaks English, so I am screwed.

Government:

Vietnam and its neighbor Laos are classified as socialist republics, though in actuality they are two of only 5 remaining countries that identify as a single-party socialist states. What are the other countries on the list? Well, they are the countries that get picked last in recess: China, Cuba, and North Korea. So Vietnam is a communist country… you learn something new every day, I guess.

Health Care System:

This is a direct quote from the State Department’s page on Vietnam: “medical facilities in Vietnam frequently do not meet international standards and may lack medicines and supplies.” That is pretty much all you need to know.

Safety:

Of the countries that I have researched so far, Vietnam’s list of safety concerns is by far the longest. The more I read, the more I consider removing Vietnam from my list entirely, which is sad because of its history and the connection it holds to my father. Le sigh.

• Avoid the borders with China, Cambodia, and Laos, as US citizens are forbidden in certain areas, which are not marked…helpful.
• Motorcyclists are known to snatch purses and bags while traveling along at light speed. If the bag is attached to you, you will be dragged along with it.
• Pedicab drivers sometimes kidnap people…
• Don’t use motorcycle taxis known as “xe oms” as they are unregulated and unsafe.
• Tourist Scam: Someone will invite you over to meet someone who is interested in studying or working in the US and they will invite you into their home, offer to play a game of cards while you wait, hustling you out of thousands of dollars by the end of the night. Also, gambling outside casinos is illegal.
• They have roofies here too.
• Possession of drugs results in VERY harsh punishments.
• Don’t drink bottled water or any drink with ice.
• Watch out for rabid animals (most often dogs and monkeys).

The emergency number in Vietnam is 113, just in case one of these “safety concerns” happens to you.

Visa Requirements

To visit Vietnam, you need a tourist visa and at least $5,000 USD in your bank account. Vietnam also requires two fees to obtain your visa, the visa fee and the visa processing fee. Even if you arrive with your visa and the required bank documentation, thinking you are good to go, you may be denied entry to Vietnam because they require you to “only undertake the activity for which your visa was issued.” If you are volunteering abroad, you are not a tourist and vice versa. If you change the purpose of your trip after you are issued a visa, you will need to apply for a new visa. Particular, aren’t we?

Vaccination Requirements:

Vietnam does not have any “required vaccinations,” which is surprisingly terrifying. For a third world country that is plagued by rabies, cholera, and other dangerous diseases, I wish there WERE required vaccinations. And that is coming from someone who is afraid of needles.

Suggested Vaccinations:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Malaria
• Rabies
• Yellow Fever

Cost of Living:

Rent:

Depending on where I was looking, I found apartments that cost as little as $150 USD per month, and as much as $1200 per month. The average cost was about $450 a month, which is reasonable considering the standards of living, but still higher than both Ecuador and Thailand.

Food:

A meal at the local street vendor will run you anywhere from $0.50 to $2.50 depending on what you choose. A domestic beer will cost you less than a dollar, which is much cheaper than the doctors visit that you will need if you choose water instead. I would expect my average monthly food budget to hover around $350.

Local Transportation:

Local transportation is DIRT CHEAP. I am talking less than $8 USD for a monthly pass. I would honestly forego this from my budget since it is such a nominal cost.

Health Care:

After reading about the state of the health care in Vietnam, I would just buy travel insurance before leaving the US. This will run you about $1000 or more depending on your length of stay.

Travel and Sightseeing:

As Vietnam and the surrounding countries are relatively inexpensive, I would say that my normal $200 a month for travel and sightseeing would be accurate.

So this post was pretty eyeopening… Vietnam is astonishingly beautiful. The mountains, vistas, coastline and culture are all undeniably breathtaking. However, the country is governed by a communist system which is opposed to women’s rights, gay marriage, and a host of other topics that I feel passionately about. Safety and health care are both HUGE concerns which lack the proper development here. But, it’s cheap, right?. My total yearly budget for Vietnam would be $19,000. The price tag may seem low compared to the cost of living in the states, but Vietnam is more expensive than both Thailand and Ecuador, which means it has, unfortunately, dropped it out of the running for the Top 5 Destinations spot.

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Day 11/560