Welcome Cholon Tourist - Vietnam

by Jos.Christan Nguyen
www.cholontourist.com.vn

Like a dragon floating in the sea, Vietnam winds its way some 1,030 miles up from the South China Sea to the Gulf of Tonkin, with its head caressing the border of China to the north and its back resting snuggly against her Southeast Asian neighbors - Laos and Cambodia -- to the west. The total land area of Vietnam covers about 128,000 square miles (larger than Virginia, Carolina, and South Carolina combined). Vietnam's main cities, for population and importance, are Hanoi, Haiphong, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Vietnam's northern terrain is mostly mountainous or hilly, with some highland areas covered by a thick green blanket of jungle (about half the total land area). The Red River Delta and coastal plains in the lowland part of the North are heavily populated and intensively cultivated (almost entirely by rice fields). Although much of this Delta region is seasonally flooded, a complex network of dikes and levees help to prevent serious flood damage.

The southern part of Vietnam is dominated by the estuary of the Mekong River system and is low, flat, and frequently marshy. The rich soil in the Mekong Delta is the most fertile in the country. Areas immediately north and east of Ho Chi Minh City in the Mekong Delta are much more varied - with low-lying tropical rain forest, upland forest, and the rugged Annamite Mountain chain.

Vietnam is largely a tropical monsoon country. In the north, a hot rainy season prevails from May to September. The average temperature in Hanoi is about 86F during this period, with very high humidity. Due to the lack of proper drainage, flooding caused by heavy rainfall and/or typhoons can create hazardous conditions to one's health and property. Flooded streets slow down traffic and provoke accidents. Houses and furnishings can suffer as a result of leaky roofs and other sources of water damage. Food supplies are also affected. During the cooler, dry season in the north from December to March, the average temperature is 68F, with overnight minimums sometimes around 40-42F. Due to the lack of heating in most shops and offices during the dry season, it will feel considerably colder.

In the south, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta experience a year-round tropical climate with daily temperatures normally exceeding 88F. The rainy season in Danang and Hue in the center of the country lasts from October to March.

SOME TRAVELLING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FROM ONE OF OUR CLIENTS

What advice do you have for someone traveling to Vietnam or Asia for the first time?

Read and learn as much as possible about the country and its culture before you go. A large part of the success, or otherwise, of any trip depends on your expectations and how well- prepared you are.

Secondly, I'd recommend building in a couple of days at the beginning of your trip to adjust, especially if it's your first time to a tropical or semi-tropical country. Apart from recovering from the flight, the heat, noise, bustle and new diet can really take it out of you, though you may not realize it at first because of the inevitable excitement.

Related to this, don't try to pack too much into your schedule. I personally feel that it's better to experience (not just "see") a few places in depth rather than dashing from one place to another covering all the main sights, but not actually learning much about the country and its people. It also helps to keep a fairly open schedule and not to expect everything to go like clockwork. If it does, that's great, but it's by no means guaranteed. Some degree of flexibility also means that if you really like a place you can simply stop for a while.

Keep an open mind. Things will certainly be different from what you're used to - but that's why we travel. Be open to the new experiences and, again, try to learn as much about the country and the culture as you can. This means not always sticking to the "safe" tourist places. After you've found you're feet and are attuned to how things work, try eating in local restaurants, taking public transport, talking to local people. It's also worth trying to get off the beaten track at least once. It will require more effort, and things may not work quite as planned, but it the rewards are likely to be far greater.

Finally, try to be aware of the local culture and remember you are a guest in another country. I've been horrified by some of the insensitive behavior I've witnessed - a bikini- clad woman sunbathing near Sa Pa, a group in Hoi An teaching kids to swear, others sticking cameras in the faces of hill tribe women with no please, no smile, no nothing, just as if they were in a zoo. It makes me sad and ashamed to be part of the whole tourism business. Fortunately, it's only a tiny minority that acts so appallingly, and many tourists try very hard to fit in and not cause offense. However, it's still a point worth repeating - please try to be sensitive to your impact on the local culture and the local environment.

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