Travel to Vietnam part 2

Since Vietnam opened to tourists in early 1990s more and more people have been to this beautiful land. First travellers visiting Vietnam were Scandinavian backpackers from Denmark, Sweden and the Nethelands, most of them booked their tours through travel agents which were found everywhere in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and Pham Ngu Lao area in Ho Chi Minh city.


In the early days of Vietnam travel, there were few choices in accommodation, transports, food and drinks, little information could be found on internet with some sketchy recommendations from Lonely Planet, and travellers had to get information from tour desks at the hotels, most agents had their name as Sinh Cafe, named after a man selling open tours for backpackers in Sai Gon.

At that time there were no company offering full tour packages, and travellers had to book their trips when they arrived, and most travel agents offered tours to provinces around two main cites Hanoi and Sai Gon.

Halong Bay were one of the most visited site in the north, most travellers went on 2 or 3 day tours, combining with 1 night in Cat Ba island. However due to disordered organization and quality of these tours Catba were losing its attractions and today only local tourists go to Cat Ba in summertime.

Another destination in Vietnam which were favoured by budget travellers were Sapa, located in the north and close to Chinese border, Sapa were famous for Bac Ha Sunday markets, young backpackers preferred to go on budget tours organized by open tour companies in Hanoi, most travel by bus which took almost a half day drive.

In those days there were few choices of hotels in Sapa, the best hotel in Sapa was Victoria resort, actually it was the only decent for high class travellers, most hotels were basic, catering for backpackers who travel in big groups. Transportation was limited to bus or 4WD as the road was very bumpy, later tourists were offered night trains from Hanoi which left only at weekends, only tourists booking through big companies could managed a place on train.

Beside Halong Bay and Sapa, Ninh Binh was also a popular destination in the north, with picturesque mountain landcapes, Ninh Binh was good for a day trip or two. Travellers coming to Ninh Binh would enjoy a sampan trip on Ngo Dong river for 2-3 hours, visit Bich Dong pagoda, the temples of King Dinh and King Le, those who loved cycling would find Hoa Lu the best place, Ninh Binh was also famous for Kenh Ga floating village, Tam Coc caves and Bai Dinh pagoda, the biggest pagoda in South East Asia built in 2010.