Vietnam offers visitors a rare opportunity to see a country of traditional charm and beauty. With an area of 329,566 sq km (128,527 sq mi)and a population of 80 million, it has been able to attract over two million foreign tourists annually of whom 200,000 are Taiwanese visitors, said Jack Tsai, president of Hong Yi Travel Service.
China Airlines offers two daily Taipei-Saigon flights while EVA Airways has 10 flights a week. Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines also offer Saigon-Taipei flights seven and six times a week respectively. A joint venture between Vietnam Airlines and China Airlines provide one daily Taipei-Hanoi flight. There are also flights from Kaohsiung to Ho Chi Minh.
Only a three hour flight from Taipei, Vietnam is an excellent place to visit all year round. When one region is wet, cold or extremely hot, there is always somewhere else that is sunny and warm.
Hong Yi Travel Service Co, Ltd, established in 1986, is a specialist in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia individual and tour package. Jack Tsai, president of Hong Yi Travel Service said, "You have to visit Vietnam to experience its culture, food, and distinctive lifestyle. Food aficionados can relish authentic French cuisine for only US$15 amidst classical European decor."
Jack Tsai recommends various scenic places to visit in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the heart and soul of Vietnam, is where visitors can feel the romance of Paris. It's a bustling, dynamic and the cultural trendsetter. There are at least 10 five-star hotels and one even claiming to be a six-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh. There are myriad of elegant shops, as well as stalls and vendors selling their merchandise on sidewalks. Some recommended sights to visit include the Giac Lam Pagoda, the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Hall and Cholon market.
The city of Dalat, Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace is famous for its cool temperature and green city environment. It's an ideal location for trips into the surrounding highlands, which remain serene. Places to visit include the Hang Nga Guesthouse & Art Gallery, nicknamed by locals Crazy House, the old French Quarter, Valley of Love, villages of some of the hill tribes -- Chicken Village (with a huge statue of a chicken).
Dalat is famous for its coffee shops, and is extremely popular with domestic tourists and honeymooners.
In Nha Trang, visitors can enjoy snorkeling and diving. As a major fishing port, there are numerous excellent seafood restaurants.
Hoi An features a rich history and where you can find Chinese and Japanese cultural influence. It's like going back to the past century. There is a magnificent collection of old structures and intact streetscapes as well as pagodas, public buildings and a whole city block of colonnaded French buildings.
One of the most beautiful cities in Vietnam is Hue. It has long been a major cultural, religious and educational center. Interesting sights include Nine Holy Cannons, Imperial Enclosure, the Palace of Supreme Harmony and the Halls of the Mandarin.
Halong Bay which means "Where the dragon descended into the sea," has some 3,000 islands and is one of Vietnam's natural marvels. Visitors can find numerous beaches and grottoes formed as a result of the wind and waves.
Hanoi, the capital, features lakes, shaded boulevards, various architectural treasures (1,500 year old pagoda), colonial French homes and modern skyscrapers. An exciting nightlife and excellent food attracts visitors from around the world to this ancient city. Art and coffee is very prevalent.
Sapa, located at an altitude of 1600m (6,112 ft), is where you can find minorities (mostly Hmong, Dao and Kinh people) who up until now still don their traditional clothes. All people (including kids) in Sapa can speak English as a result of an influx of tourists visiting all year round.
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