Vietnam has always been one of my favorite countries to travel in, no doubt about that. There’s always something new to see, something new to discover and people to meet. The scenery is out of this world too, and as tourism is developing rapidly, more places are being discovered. Vietnam is one of those destinations you just have to visit once in your life. Here are the 10 reasons why I love Vietnam (and why you will too!).
1. Food is so good in Vietnam
If you’re a big foodie like I am, you’ll love Vietnam. I’ve unfortunately traveled to many countries where the food was mediocre and I got tired of eating the same dishes over and over again (Sri Lanka!). But that’s definitely not the case with Vietnam. Even if you’re not very keen on the local food, there’s all kinds of food here. Vietnam is becoming very international so it’s no wonder that you can find food from all corners of the world. Although it’s difficult to resist a good bowl of ‘pho’ or a ‘banh mi’. The Vietnamese are very passionate about food and you can tell that. The Vietnamese kitchen is healthy, full of delicious spices and is simply delicious.
2. Nature is spectacular
Nature in Vietnam is abundant and also very diverse. You have mountains, massive rice fields, caves, beaches, jungle, rivers, and much more. Vietnam is home to the world famous Halong Bay, one of the seven wonders of the world. It consists of thousands of limestone islands and islets that’s risen up from the sea. Exploring it is easy; you can join a day or overnight cruise to get up close.
3. The people are really hospitable
Say what you want about the Vietnamese, but I find them very hospitable and kind. There’s probably travelers who disagree with me, but I’ve never had an issue with the locals. On the contrary, they’ve always invited me over for food or tea, helped me find my way, given me free fruit in the markets and just tried to talk and find out more about me. When I travel, it’s so important for me to get along with the locals. Thankfully, I do in Vietnam.
4. It’s so cheap!
Vietnam is probably one of the most affordable countries I’ve traveled in and that has really helped me when I was on a tight budget. When I was younger, I had a huge desire to travel somewhere in the world, but I didn’t have a lot of money for it. But since Vietnam is such an affordable place, I managed to save up enough to go there for a whole month when I was younger. It felt like a huge accomplishment then and I wouldn’t have been able to travel if it was more expensive.
5. There’s a huge diversity
Sure, it’s fun to travel to a country that has a ton of beaches, but after a while you crave more. Especially if you’re traveling for a longer time. During my month in Vietnam, I visited big cities, smaller towns, hiked in mountains, relaxed on one of many beaches, took a bout tour around Mekong Delta and flew to the island of Phu Quoc. There’s so much to do and see in Vietnam, and that’s why I keep returning.
6. It’s easy to travel there
I love a bit of challenge, but I don’t want to feel frustrated all the time when I travel. I’ve been to countries where everyday felt like a battle and after a while, it wore me down. But traveling in Vietnam is almost like a piece of cake. Everything’s so developed, at least when it comes to tourism, and it was so easy to travel around in the country. If you wanted to go somewhere, there were always tourist information centers or locals who were willing to help you out, book a bus to you or direct you where to go. Sometimes you just need things to go smooth and luckily, I never encountered any problems while traveling in Vietnam.
7. Hanoi is a great city
If you’re looking for a city with the perfect amount of atmosphere, you should go to Hanoi. You’ll probably be a bit scared of all the motorbikes at first, but once you get used to it, it’s almost difficult to not love it. Hanoi is a charming city, full of astonishing architecture from the French colonialism era, massive selections of restaurants and cafes, and a lively vibe that’s difficult to beat. There’s always something to do in Hanoi so it’ll be difficult for you to feel bored. One of my favorite things to do in Hanoi was find all the hidden cafes in the city and go to music venues.
8. Vietnam is both crazy and calm at the same time
I love the combination of craziness and calmness, if that makes any sense? There are days when we want a pulsating city with millions of inhabitants on the streets, and there are other days when we just want to be by ourself hidden in a quiet town. I think Vietnam balances it perfectly. You can go to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi for good nightlife, shopping, socializing and to get a big city vibe. But then you can also escape to Hoi An, Hue or Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park for example, and just feel the calmness.
9. You can drink the cheapest beer in the world here
Did anyone say cheapest beer in the world? Yeah, that’s enough of a reason for me to visit a place. You can get a ‘bia hoi’ for about 50,000 VND, which equals about 0,23 cents! How crazy isn’t that (and terrific for those who loves beer but is on a budget).
10. I love Vietnam because it feels like home
Last but not least, I love it because it has a homey feeling to me. After tourism boomed in Vietnam, more and more expats are moving here because of career opportunities, etc. There’s just something special about Vietnam that’ll make you want to stay for longer. The more time you spend here, the more you’ll understand the culture, befriend a few locals and
