Moon Vietnam

by Dana Filek-Gibson

Overview

Trek through lush rainforest, explore lively cities, and fall under the spell of a country on the rise with Moon Vietnam. Inside you'll find:

• Strategic itineraries ranging from two days each in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to a journey down the Dragon's Spine
• The top sights and unique experiences: Cruise the Mekong Delta and its colorful floating markets and visit beaches in resort towns like Nha Trang. Sip local bia hoi beer streetside in Hanoi or motorbike through the countryside. Sample bite-sized dumplings, rice cakes, and other delicacies at a street cart or indulge in fragrant pho. Hike to remote northern H'mong and Dao villages in Sapa, explore the limestone karsts and caves of Ha Long Bay, or take an excursion to Angkor Wat, the largest religious site in the world
• Honest advice on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay from journalist and expat Dana Filek-Gibson
• Background information on health and safety, as well as the landscape, history, wildlife, and culture of Vietnam
• Detailed maps and full-color photos throughout
• Full coverage of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and the Northern Coast, The Central Provinces, The South-Central Coast, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta

With Moon Vietnam's expert advice and local insight, you can plan your trip your way.


Focusing on cities? Check out Moon Hanoi or Moon Ho Chi Minh City. Expanding your trip? Try Moon Phuket & Ko Samui, or Moon Angkor Wat.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612388908
Publisher:	Avalon Publishing
Publication date:	08/25/2015
Series:	Moon Handbooks Travel Series
Pages:	536
Sales rank:	1,174,929
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Fresh out of Emerson College, Dana Filek-Gibson moved to Vietnam as an English teacher in 2010 and never left. Though she only intended to stay for a year, Vietnam's phenomenal street food and breakneck pace had her hooked from the very beginning. Over the next few months, she learned to speak Vietnamese, drive a motorbike, and safely cross the street—no easy feat in Ho Chi Minh City.

Since landing a job with AsiaLIFE, a local magazine, Dana has written about Vietnamese culture and tourism as well as the daily adventures that come with being a redheaded expat. In 2012, she cycled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Her wanderlust has taken her beyond Vietnam to other corners of Southeast Asia, as well as Europe, Latin America, and Africa. She is also an avid runner and hopes to one day complete a marathon in Southeast Asia.

Whether ringing in the lunar new year like a local or learning the finer details of how to judge a chicken beauty contest, she counts every day in Vietnam as a new adventure.

Read an Excerpt

From Moon Vietnam

In a thousand-year-old city, you would expect some things to get lost in the mix, obscured by cramped shops and narrow houses or buried under the incessant blare of traffic. But along the busy streets of Hanoi, every era of the city’s history shines, in its gracefully aging cathedral, sturdy Communist architecture, and the vibrant Old Quarter. It is a place to savor rather than sightsee. While Hanoi’s eclectic attractions make for a fascinating, patchwork history, the main draw of the capital is its infectious energy, which permeates every nook and cranny of its jam-packed neighborhoods.

• Hoan Kiem Lake: Take in the bustle and noise of downtown Hanoi from the shores of this legendary lake, where history and mythology meet.
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Pay a visit to Vietnam’s most revered national hero, embalmed and at peace under glass in a blocky, Soviet-style mausoleum.
• Temple of Literature: A long series of lacquered pavilions and spacious courtyards, lotus ponds, and stone stelae, this Confucian temple marks the site of Vietnam’s first university.
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology: Learn all there is to know about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, from the Kinh of the coast to the H’mong, Thai, Gia Rai, and scores of other lesser-known minorities that populate the country’s mountainous interior.
• Minority Villages: Whether perched on the steep cliffs of the Hoang Lien mountain range or sheltered by lush green river valleys, Sapa’s minority villages are a world apart from the rest of the country.
• Mount Fansipan: Reach the “Roof of Indochina” via a long, action-packed ascent that winds through clouds and over limestone ridges to the summit of Vietnam’s highest peak.

Boasting wild, uncharted jungles and karst-studded seas, Vietnam’s northern coast captivates travelers with its breathtaking scenery. Whether on water or land, the otherworldly landscapes of the region provide a stunning backdrop for adventure. If you’re seeking a respite from the urban bustle of Hanoi, these are some places you should visit.

• Ha Long Bay: Relax amid the placid waters and craggy, mist-drenched islands of Vietnam’s most storied natural wonder.
• Cat Ba National Park: Kayak, climb, and hike through the tangle of dense green jungle, still wild and untouched, that extends across the island’s northern half and into the bay beyond.
• Lan Ha Bay: Take in stunning, mist-covered views among the limestone giants of this bay, a captivating miniature version of Ha Long.
• Trang An: Explore limestone karsts, waterlogged paddy fields, ancient temples, and tunnel-like caves in what’s called “Ha Long Bay on Land.”
• Cuc Phuong National Park: With a handful of independent hikes and a top-notch primate conservation center, this park brings adventure and an up-close look at endangered Cat Ba and Delacour’s langurs.

Continue south and you'll hit the nerve center that is Ho Chi Minh City. Get anywhere near the flashing neon lights, full-throttle traffic, sardined houses, and soaring commercial towers of the country’s southern hub and it becomes clear why Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the future of Vietnam. Indisputably the economic heart of the nation, this fast-paced, ever-expanding behemoth has charged fearlessly—and sometimes recklessly—into the 21st century, carrying along a diverse and multifaceted population, a keen business acumen, and an irrepressible spirit. Step into the chaos with optimism, and you will be rewarded by life in Vietnam’s largest city.

• Reunification Palace: This opulent palace was once home to the presidents of the short-lived Republic of Vietnam.
• Ben Thanh Market: Frenetic and fast-paced, the city’s most iconic market hosts dozens of multilingual vendors and over 3,000 stalls packed to the ceilings with everything you could imagine.
• War Remnants Museum: Thoughtful and at times harrowing, Saigon’s best museum provides insight into life during and after the American War.
• Thien Hau Pagoda: A centuries-old Chinese pagoda in the heart of bustling District 5 was built by Chinese refugees as a thank-you to the goddess of the sea after their treacherous emigration.
• Street Food in Northern District 1: The best of Vietnamese cuisine finds its way to the dented metal carts and bamboo poles of Saigon’s street vendors.