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Vietnam’s urban settlements are very varied- as far as geography, architecture, and the pace of life are concerned. The best-known city, of course, is Ho Chi Minh City previously Saigon- the most famous or infamous of cities in the Orient. Ho Chi Minh City is the core of the country- throbbing, vibrant and exciting. It’s a city of vivid contrasts, with jazz bars and karaoke lounges along with old cathedrals, beautiful pagodas and music halls.
Hué is generally acknowledged to be Vietnam’s most beautiful city and its architecture pure poetry. Hué was Vietnam’s capital for nearly a century and a half from 1802 to 1945 and has been a centre of religious, cultural and educational activity for much longer than that.The city had, at one time, a number of impressive historical monuments, of which unfortunately a few survive. Among the monuments you can see are Emperor Gia Long’s Citadel (constructed in 1804, and encompassing the Palace of Supreme Harmony, the Imperial Enclosure, the Halls of the Mandarins, and the Purple Forbidden City - the last now barely visible). On the whole, Hué has some lovely examples of Vietnamese architecture (much of it Sino-Vietnamese). Not far from Hué are the Royal Tombs , and if you’re looking for relaxation, you can head for nearby Thuan An Beach , or the Perfume River , where sampans are available for trips up the river.
The country’s capital, Hanoi is reserved, elegant, with a very quaint French charm to it; it’s not as jazzy as Ho Chi Minh City, but definitely worth a visit. Other major cities in Vietnam include Dalat , up in the mountains, with some stunning views, interesting buildings and the chance to go boating or horse-riding. No matter which of the cities you go to- whether Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, Dalat or Hué- there’s sure to be something to see and something to remember.
The city of Dalat lies amongst the mountains, and is a lovely green city renowned for its beauty. Although it’s now deteriorating a bit because modernization is replacing parks and gardens with steel and concrete, it’s still a pretty city. Among Dalat’s attractions are the old French Quarter still charmingly colonial, even after so many decades, and the Summer Palace of the Emperor Bao Dai, now a veritable museum with a good collection of ethnic art and other interesting items. Further out of Dalat are some places worth a visit - lots of them great for walks, treks, boat rides and more. You can also visit, somewhat further away, traditional tribal villages of the hill tribes: these include the Lat Village and the strangely named Chicken Village , with its large statue of a chicken.
Halong Bay is easily one of Vietnam’s most beautiful sights. Spectacular in its sweep, the bay and its clear green waters encircle some 3000 islands, all very small but covered with beaches and amazing grottoes and caves.
'Halong’ means 'where the dragon descended into the sea’- the legend behind the name is that the flailing tail of an ancient dragon created the bay and the islands in it. Although not many people believe in dragons anymore, a mythical creature, called the Tarasque, is supposed to still haunt the bay. If you want to spend some time at Halong Bay, probably the best thing to do is to base yourself at Halong City (which is partly on the mainland and partly offshore), and hire a boat to go around the bay. Remember to take your camera along- it’s one of the loveliest places in Vietnam.
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