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Editor's note: This excerpt first appeared in photographer and author Harold Davis' recent Focal Press book, Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Photography with Harold Davis.
The closer you...
The following itineraries are based on my personal experience of more than
three months of travel in Vietnam. They cover the main sites and assume that your
time is limited and your are interested in seeing as many sites as possible.
However, remember that the more you can slow down, the better.
When to come
Vietnam is quite spread out from South to North, so the climate can be
surprisingly different in different parts of the country. Because of that, there
is always an area with nice weather at anytime of the year.
The South has relatively nice weather year round. From May to November it is
the monsoon season. Skies are dramatic, the country is very green. The
precipitations are mostly brief but intense afternoon showers, however mud can
make travel more difficult. December and January are very nice. From February to
April, it gets progressively more hot and humid, and I don't recommend this
period due to the uncomfort and the fact that the Delta landscape looks too
dry.
In the Center, From November to January, it can rain continuously and floods
are frequent. Dryer weather begins in February, and it gets pretty hot starting
from June.
In the North, the best period is also in spring. Summers are hot and more
rainy. Winters are relatively dry, but often overcast and drizzly (which is OK
for many subjects) with temperatures getting below freezing in the
mountains.
Three Days (in Saigon)
Visit the temples and markets (wholesale markets are most active in the
morning), especially in the Cho Lon district, return by following the Saigon
Arroyo. Hang out around the town hall for the night atmosphere (the terrace of
the Ritz is good too), especially on Saturday evenings.
Spend an evening and morning in Vung Tau (the hydroplane boat is considerably
faster than the road). Enjoy the beaches, and take a tour around the peninsula by
renting a bicycle or a motorcycle to see traditional fishing villages.
Attend the noon ceremony at the great Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh. Many people
combine this visit with the Cu Chi tunnels.
Three Days (in Hanoi)
Starting at sunrise, stroll around the Hoang Kiem lake to see the locals
practicing morning exercises, visit the Ngoc Son temple, then stroll in the old
city for interesting shops and street life. Visit the temple of literature, the
West Lake, and the complex around the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. End up the evening
at the water puppets theater.
Visit either the Halong Bay (karstic landscape, bay trip), the Perfume Pagoda
(karstic landscapes, river trip, temples) or Ninh Binh (historic architecture,
river trip, karstic landscapes). By rushing you might be able to do two visits,
each as a long day trip.
One week (in the South)
Add to "Three days in Saigon" one of the two options:
Dalat (old hill station, hikes to lakes and waterfall, ethnic minorities)
then Nha Trang (beach, take a cruise to fishing villages on the islands).
Can Tho (floating markets), Chau Doc (temple complex, floating houses, ethnic
muslim/cham minorities), Ha Tien (fishing town, temples) Hong Chong (undeveloped
beach and fishing village, limestone formations).
One week (in the North)
Add to "Three days in Hanoi" the following four day trip:
Add to any of the "Three days" itineraries the following four day trip:
Fly into Danang. Marble Mountains. Cham Museum. Hoi An. My Son.
Danang to Hue through the Hai Van pass and Lang Co, maybe the most beautiful
stretch of road in Vietnam.
Hue: visit the citadel. Take a river trip on the perfume river to visit the
imperial tombs and the Thien Mu pagoda. Attend a night concert of traditional
music on the water. Fly out of Hue.
Two weeks to a month
Combine the previously described itineraries. Three weeks to a month will
allow you to see all sites listed on this page.
If you want travel to Vietnam, the first step you need to do is apply Visa for Vietnam. You can apply your Visa to Vietnam at local Vietnam embassy in your country or you can get Vietnam Visa online, It really easy, faster and cheap. Check out http://www.vietnam-visa.com for more information
Try at least a one-week Mekong cruise if you plan to visit the South Vietnam. It's going to be a great experience. When you are at it, you can choose an itinerary that includes Laos and Cambodia. A Vietnam holidays without cruising along Mekong delta or around Halong bay wouldn't be called complete.
