Welcome to Vietnam – Budget Travel Paradise

Vietnam is becoming a very popular tourist destination. People have included Vietnam in their itinerary for 2 main reasons: traveling to Vietnam is a great bargain for the tourist on a budget and when they arrive in Vietnam they are greeted by great hosts.

Airfares to Vietnam are a bargain if you buy. You can be in Ho Chi Minh City (known as Saigon to the South Vietnamese) from the west coast of the United States in less than 19 hours and this includes a 1 ½ hour layover.

National transport is cheap! An open sightseeing bus ticket from Saigon to Hanoi costs less than $ 30.00 and you can see some of the best scenery imaginable. Don’t you want to take the bus? Comfortable trains and fast planes are available. A two hour flight from Saigon to Hanoi costs around $ 100.00.

Tourist hotels are cheap and attractive. The staff are helpful and courteous. You can travel from city to city without reservation and always find suitable accommodation.

As mentioned above, the scenery is fabulous: misty mountains to lush green rice paddies and sunny beaches. Vietnam is home to 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Halong Bay. Bring 2 cameras, you will probably use one.

I’ve saved the best for last. Vietnamese cuisine is amazing. Most restaurants still get their daily fresh rates from the local market. Fresh herbs, spices, vegetables, and local meat make great foods. Seafood and chicken dishes are specialties, along with those made with pork and beef. Vietnamese food is light and tasty at the same time. Oriental and a little French influence create the right mix for the western palate.

Feel free to include Vietnam in your travel plans. You will not regret. And you will not forget it.