BENEFITS TO LIVE IN VIETNAM
Vietnam cannot be left out of your travel plans if you are considering a trip to Southeast Asia and are seeking the best places to go!
In 2017 we had the pleasure of spending four months traveling all over Southeast Asia. We also took the standard backpacker route that runs throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. There was only one winner when it came to choosing our favorite nation after the trip, as we looked back on our time in Asia. It had to be Vietnam.
It’s not that all of Asia was not fantastic. It was indeed! It’s actually easy to understand the reason Asia is the most popular destination for backpackers. It’s affordable and beautiful, and there’s plenty to do and see as well, as the locals are very welcoming. However, regardless of the reason, we suggest you go to Vietnam ahead of all other destinations when you’re in a hurry. Here is my list of ten top reasons to visit Vietnam.
1. WE FELT CONTENT AND SAFE
A large portion of Vietnam is a rural, underdeveloped and primitive country, and it’s not difficult to feel uneasy or not comfortable in these conditions. On several occasions over our global journeys to date, Cazzy and I have both felt this discomfort.
In Vietnam, we always felt comfortable and safe travelling throughout each place. We never worried that we would be scammed or could be victims of a crime unless we were extremely cautious. Obviously, we take the same safety precautions everywhere we travel, such as limiting our outings and avoiding overspending on entertainment. However, Vietnam feels like an extremely safe place to travel to.
2. IT’S SO INEXPENSIVE AND AFFORDABLE
We are budget-conscious travellers and bound to love anything affordable and offer plenty. In fact, Vietnam really is an all-inclusive package. In the end, we spent just a little bit more than £18 or $23 a day in Vietnam. That went beyond the bare requirements and added a few luxury goods, like staying in better hotel rooms, eating out in mid-range restaurants, and enjoying some drinks at night.
From Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, we travelled through Vietnam and experienced a sense of royalty. The Halong Bay cruise was by far the priciest and most opulent excursion we’ve ever taken in all of Asia, and it was not even that pricey in comparison to other travel options!
3. PEOPLE ARE SO WARM AND FRIENDLY
I read a fascinating essay by Nomadic Matt on why he would never return to Vietnam before we left for our trip to Southeast Asia. According to him, Vietnamese people are hostile and just want to respect him for financial gain.
However, we haven’t had anything like this. In fact, we were able to find everyone to be extremely friendly, regardless of whether we paid for them. I can claim that Vietnam is a country where smiles are commonplace, however, perhaps things have altered recently. It’s a little strange that Thailand is often referred to as the “place of smiles.” by foreigners. But based on my personal experience, the complete reverse is true. Thailand is by far the least hospitable country in Southeast Asia, and it only offers the land of smiles in exchange for money.
4. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PLACES TO EXPLORE
We had to squeeze into everything we wanted to do since we had just 24 days to explore Vietnam. We were happy every time our stops were along the route and were able to stop in all of them.
There are plenty of activities and sights to explore in each major town and city throughout Vietnam, and way too many to be able to squeeze into three days. We do plan to go back and spend the next month or so there. Hire a moped, in particular, to get into really rural areas off the usual route. Let me know here if you’ve experienced this, especially if you’re from the north of Hanoi.
5. THERE ARE SO MANY UNDISCOVERED PLACES
Alongside numerous tourist-oriented activities to enjoy, Vietnam still has numerous amazing attractions and sights that don’t seem to have been destroyed by tourists. Check out the less well-known places to make the most of your travels. This can be done by hiring a scooter before taking a trip to explore the area for a day. There’s a lot to see within a half hour of the main cities. My favorite activity in Vietnam was riding through the stunning countryside on mopeds.
6. THE INCREDIBLE WEATHER
It will depend on when you go, but the conditions in Vietnam are gorgeous. Be aware that I’m from the UK, so what I think is lovely may differ from what other people are accustomed to!
But while we were there in July, we were just briefly caught in the rain. We were fortunate in the event of major storms that struck the north of the country just one day before our arrival.
7. THEIR HISTORY IS FASCINATING.
Even though I’m not particularly interested in history, one can’t help but be intrigued by the country’s rich and extensive past, from their ancient civilizations, which fell apart hundreds of years ago, to the War in Vietnam, which came to a conclusion in 1975.
Every city has monuments and museums that illustrate the unique and extensive history of the country, in particular, hue.
8. IT IS EASY TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
This is a huge issue for me since I am one who is not a fan of bus rides. I get motion sickness quite easily. I think it is because of several bus rides that took all day across South America in 2015!
However, in Vietnam, there is a possibility to purchase hop-on and hop-off bus tickets for 30 dollars. This will get you to the other side of Vietnam. This means that you do not have to stress about purchasing tickets for every city, but you also get the most modern and comfortable bus that you can sleep in. The majority of journeys last between 4 and 6 hours, but certain ones are longer. There is always the option of taking a bus with lying-down pods for lengthier journeys. There were two beds on the bus that traveled from Vietnam to Laos. I’ve never gone through anything like this before!
9. EASY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE
Vietnam has been an extremely popular tourist destination, and getting around is simple. Most youngsters were raised learning English, and most older individuals have picked up the language too.
This does not mean we did not attempt to master Vietnamese and apply it. For the majority of the tasks you do, you’ll be able to get by safely knowing that someone is able to communicate in English or translate on your behalf if the requirement arises.
10. IT IS MOTIVATING
Not to put too fine a point on it, but I thought it was important to emphasize how motivational I find the country of Vietnam to be. You need to be aware of the fact that it has been slightly more than 40 years since the end of the Vietnam War.
Therefore, if you wander about in that country, you will see that practically every person you meet had their lives altered in some manner as a direct or indirect result of the war. At the time, the elderly Vietnamese were considered adults, while adults were considered children. The young adults too likely were raised by parents who had been profoundly changed in some way because of the war. The estimates suggest that close to 150,000 Vietnamese residents, as well as Viet Cong militants, lost their lives in the war that took place on its own in the Northern region of Vietnam.
It’s a lot. You’d think after what they’ve endured and witnessed their country being destroyed that it would trigger some kind of animosity toward white people. There is not. For me, it was an inspiring and inspiring experience to watch.
If you’ve visited Vietnam and have not, let me know in the comments below! What were your impressions of Vietnam, and how do you feel it performed against other nations within Southeast Asia?
