Vietnam Adventures

by Mary Anne Lonze

One of my favorite destinations is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. Once there, treat yourself to a night or two at the Park Hyatt Saigon. The traditional noodle soup "pho" served in their dining room is the best I've tried. There are a number of marvelous restaurants in this city. The food of Vietnam is excellent - light, fresh and tasty.

Charter a full day tour to the Mekong delta, which includes a trip to Octopus Island. There you can see how rice candy and other crafts are made. You'll visit a working farm, an opera house in the jungle, cross a monkey bridge and travel down a small waterway by canoe.

Saigon is a very safe city. I've walked around Saigon by myself at midnight. Didn't know anyone or even speak the language. It felt very safe, but be sure to carry a card with the name of your hotel printed on it. If you get lost you can show the taxi or cyclo driver the card. Even if you don't speak the language it's easy to find your way around with the help of a guide or the hotel's concierge.

If you have more time, fly or take the train to Hue - the ancient capital and culinary center of the country. Book a room at the Imperial Hotel. <

In Hue, take a Dragon Boat up the Perfume River to visit temples and the pagoda situated on the grounds of a working monastery. You can enjoy a cyclo ride that takes you to the market, the Citadel or anywhere else in town. The Ancient Hue restaurant is nearly new and it looks like an old Chinese trader's house. The food is excellent.

From Hue take another side trip through mountain villages to the DMZ to see the ruins of Khe Sahn. You can walk through its museum on the site of the former airbase. These tours are conducted in English and French.

You can also visit China Beach, Da Nang and Hoi An - all in the same region.

Make some great memories of your own in this land of many adventures. The food is terrific, the accommodations first rate, and the people are delighted to welcome Americans. Language is no barrier - a smile and a gesture goes a long way. Many of the younger people are fairly fluent in English. The $US has a very good exchange rate, and the price of just about anything is very affordable. It is one of the best travel values around. 


I've been to Vietnam 3 times and would recommend traveling there just before Tet, when flowers and festivities abound.