Travel Articles: Vietnam

A trip to Vietnam takes travelers to a nation with one of the oldest and most continuous histories in the world! The best way to gain understanding of this intriguing nation and culture is to experience it first hand. However, this brief overview gives travelers some insight into ancient and modern Vietnamese history prior to a visit.

Vietnam is as rich in environmental wonders as it is in cultural expressions. From its complicated history to its inviting cities, Vietnam has a variety of attractions to satisfy any inquisitive traveler. This country will captivate you with its intriguing culture, unique cuisine, distinct geography, and so many more interesting characteristics.

Taking advantage of a winter break to return to Asia.

The Mekong River Cruises are some of the most unique trips you can take in the world. Usually, the trip either begins or ends in Ho Chi Minh the capital of Vietnam, and/or in Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia. Adventure life offers breathtaking trips from both of these destinations.

Adventure Life offers a lot of Mekong River cruises and you might be uncertain about which one will offer the best trip for you. Each cruise will just be a bit different with a variety of highlights explained below.

The Mekong River is a year-round travel destination but depending on when you go, you?ll have a different experience. The best time to take a cruise down the Mekong is during the dry season, between November and April. Though November through January is the ideal time because the usual temperature won?t be too high and the wet season has already passed.

Four crazy kids, three countries, two weeks...it was my first trip to Asia and I'm hooked. We experienced the authentic facets and features of Southeast Asia: the bustling city life and lights of Hong Kong, the never ending traffic of motor bikes, the serene, peaceful sights of rice fields and cattle of Hanoi, and the steaming curries of Cambodian …

Over the course of 12 days, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos stole my heart. Charming cities, stunning ruins, amazing food, ancient cultural ceremonies and some of the nicest locals you will ever meet will surely make any traveler say they just HAVE to go back.

Our two week trip in Vietnam was wonderful! Warm, welcoming people, delicious food and amazing sights!

Adventure Life travelers visited the Kien Giang Orphanage in Vietnam where their adopted son was born. The center provides for approximately 68 orphans. The family visited and brought donations of pens, pencils, notebooks, rice, milk, sugar, salt, oil, and instant noodles for center. Adventure Life provided additional funding in order to meet …

Vietnamese cuisine varies from the north to south and everywhere in between based on foreign influences and regional crops. However, travelers will find the constant staple ingredients of rice, fish sauce, and a multitude of herbs & spices. Discover the different foods throughout this country and experience the local flavor of each region!

The epic scenery in the misty hills and tribal villages spread throughout the area make Sapa a premier destination for trekkers wanting an up close and personal cultural experience while being active. Sapa is home to several ethnic minority groups but also has strong French influence, creating a unique local culture.

Halong Bay, located in the Northeastern region, is a fantastic area to visit during a Vietnam trip. The bay and surrounding islands are comprised of limestone, which creates an awe-inspiring karst landscape, as well as cave formations to explore. See Halong Bay in by boating, snorkeling, caving, or cycling.

Southeast Asia's history is extensive and diverse. This article will discuss how geography, cultures, and foreigners have influenced Southeast Asia's history.

Planning your trip to Vietnam is sure to result in a few questions. Our FAQ article answers some of the things most commonly asked by our travelers. From what currency is used to what to expect the food to be like, we give you the vital details before your journey. Hopefully, this better prepares you for the adventures that await!

Well, to start, we flew into Hanoi which I don’t know why I thought I was still in the tropics but was rudely exposed to cold weather. The whole northern part of Vietnam was cold, and I should have known this. But at the time I was living in Malaysia and wasn't really keeping a stockpile of coats or long underwear, as I did in Montana. …

Itinerary:

Kulala Lumpor, Malayasia to Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi to Cat Ba and surrounding islands

Cat Ba South by bus to Hoi An

Hoi An South to Ho Chi Min City

Ho Chi Min City to Siem Reap, Cambodia

(still traveling by bus mind you..)

Siem Reap to Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi to Phuket

Phuket to Kuala Lumpur, …

Hanoi was followed by a luxurious overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay aboard the Peony. We were greeted at the boat by friendly staff and a hearty buffet lunch as we cruised across the bay. After our humble experience of Hanoi and the havoc of the big city, kicking back on our cabin’s balcony watching the limestone karst formations drift from …

After our two days in Hoi An, we caught another flight from Da Nang north to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. I was excited but not quite prepared for the next level of sensory overload; nearly everything I knew of Hanoi was gleaned from TV, mostly food documentaries like Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown series. It all seemed condensed into …

The overwhelm of Hong Kong was nothing compared to the rush of our first cab ride in Vietnam. I didn’t realize the level of motorbike traffic until we were right in the thick of it — there seemed to be no rules, no braking, just a steady stream of people weaving in and out and around each other, hitting roundabouts and entering the …

Ha Long Bay is one of the incredible natural wonders of Vietnam. I was looking forward to our 2-day, 1-night cruise on a junk boat to get the full experience.

First, I have to say, if you have an extra day, opt for the 3-day/2-night cruise on the Bay. The transfer time from Hanoi is long, and I felt like I spent about as much time getting to and …

I love exploring cities on my own. It can be a little overwhelming not knowing exactly where to go, but I do like to just walk and get a feel for the city. Hanoi has a wonderfully charming feel. The clash of French influence and Vietnamese styles makes for some interesting juxtapositions in the architecture but maybe more interestingly in the …

Again I have to give props to Adventure Life and Khiri Travel for their wise decisions on when to get to the airports or get picked up for excursions. We avoided most traffic and long lines at the airport. Today was one of the primary reasons for our trip... on this day we visited Kien Giang Orphanage in the Mekong Delta. Our nephew was adopted …

We are very thankful to Adventure Life and Khiri Travel for having our driver at the airport waiting for us! The culture shock is evident when you step out into a new country for the first time and do not recognize a single word. In Ho Chi Minh City our guide took us directly to our hotel and did a wonderful job of showing us landmarks along the …