From the remarkable beauty of Sam Mountain and Halong Bay to the numerous sacred temples and pagodas, Vietnam has a lot to offer. It is a country that features everything from exotic culinary delights to breathtaking scenery. Seemingly endless, tranquil rice paddies stand in stark contrast to bustling cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi which embrace all the technology and conveniences that the modern world has to offer. The well-preserved colonial buildings of Hoi An play host to a slew of charming boutiques and tempting cafes while, further north, the local hill-tribe people of Sapa sell a wide variety of exquisite crafts and handmade trinkets. Beyond the urban areas, this diverse country is characterised by vast, verdant jungles and lush mountainous regions as well as an enticing coastline peppered with golden sand, palm-lined beaches.
This group of islands off the southern coast of Vietnam is fast becoming one of the country’s star attractions, thanks to its natural beauty and rather exotic wildlife. Not many other places in the world are home to black giant squirrels or bow-fingered geckos. Con Son, the largest island in the archipelago, is flanked by gorgeous beaches, coral reefs, and scenic bays, so there’s plenty of exploring to do – on land as well as underwater. All rather far removed from its history as a prison island during the French colonial era, and Vietnam War. The old prison buildings are still standing and are open to the public, as is a small museum that traces the island’s history.
