Vietnam


Vietnam’s modern-day popularity among U.S. travelers


is perhaps best illustrated by highlighting a couple of visitor statistics. Two decades ago, in 1997, the country drew a total of 40,400 American visitors across the calendar year. Te corresponding figure for 2017 — for the first six months alone — was 320,204. Today’s Vietnam is a tourist destination that’s proven


itself in the long term. Putting to one side the now distant echoes of war — the cultural and historical remnants of which still resonate with U.S. travelers — it has many obvious selling points. Tey’re summed up by Vo Ti Bich Ha, of Haivenu


Tours. “Although it’s still a ‘new’ destination, it’s a place of natural beauty, friendly people, delicious food, exotic ethnic cultures, spectacular beaches and off-the-beaten- track experiences,” she says. “It’s also a vacation spot for all budgets.” She explains that U.S. visitors are typically middle-aged,


something backed up by Brian Mei of Eastern Travel. “Te visitor demographics to Vietnam haven’t changed too much over the years,” he says. “And for U.S travelers, it’s almost always visited as part of a combination program.” Indeed, Vietnam’s proximity to countries such as


Cambodia, Laos and Tailand continues to be a major factor in its popularity. Vacations that take in one or more of these neighboring nations hold real appeal, with Mekong River cruising between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Cambodia a common option.


“In recent years, Vietnam has seen a big increase in


those looking for river cruises,” says James Mundy of InsideVietnam Tours. “Te number of luxury vessels on the Mekong has grown steadily, but passengers can now enjoy a longer cruise on the Red River in Northern Vietnam.” On which note, it’s important to stress that the country


serves up far more than just its headline attractions. So, stepping away from the established set-piece sights, here’s a rundown of what else Vietnam has to offer.


Beaches & islands Vietnamese tour operators often talk about the five ‘H’s,


namely Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. Between them, they cover all the bases that most first-time visitors would expect to encounter — frenetic street life, imposing history, colorful traditions and giddying scenic beauty. Comparatively lesser-known are Vietnam’s beaches. Tis is a country, let’s not forget, with more than 2,000 miles of coastline. Te southern city of Nha Trang has long been the most celebrated of its beach resorts, thanks to its long golden sands and the various vacation trappings to be found, from watersports and scuba diving to beach massages and fresh pineapple vendors. Hotel chains such as Sheraton, InterContinental and Six Senses all have properties in or around the city. Elsewhere in the country, the southern island of Phu Quoc is another focal point for beach bums. Accessible ▶


From left: Red River; flower seller, Hanoi ASTAnetwork | Fall 2017 | 99


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