What is the most favorable things you want to see and try in Vietnam? Fragrant noodle soup or strong-tasted coffee? Conical hats or Ao dai? Sandy beaches or beautiful rice terraces? Lots of such things from the North to the South have made Vietnam become a must-see country among Asia. And here is the short list as a suggestion for you if you are travelling to this country.

Number 1 – Pho      

Pho  Thin 

Pho is the most well-known food dish of Vietnam. This delicious dish is made with rice noddle in very hot broth soup spiced up with herbs and meat. Meats served with pho can be either thinly sliced steak or beef tendon, beef meatballs, tripe and sometimes chicken. Pho is also easily found everywhere, from a street stalls to luxury restaurants, but it would be much nicer to enjoy it in a cold winter day with its original taste in a local restaurant.

Number 2 – Summer Rolls

Summer Roll Uoc Le

Besides Spring Rolls (fried), Summer Rolls are the best for ones who love fresh food. It is, like Spring Rolls, wrapped with many kinds of filling by a rice paper roll (softer and a little bit thicker). The filling is mainly from fresh, raw herb/lettuce with boiled shrimp/pork and vermicelli noodles. Unlike Spring Rolls (deep fried before served), Summer Rolls can be taken right after wrapped with some sort of handmade sauce (with pineapples/soybean/peanut etc.).

Number 3 – Strong-tasted Coffee

Vietnam Milk Coffee

What makes Vietnamese coffee taste so unique and strong? It is said to have almost doubled caffeine in it (2.7% vs 1.5% in Arabica’s) and 97% of it is from Robusta coffee beans. And also, the beans are roasted on a low heat naturally in around 15 minutes. This way of roasting really adds up to Vietnamese coffee a very distinguishing taste. Then, the roasted beans are grinded into powder before put into a drip-filter with hot water. For coffer lovers, trying this real and strong tasted coffee could be a very memorable moment.

Number 4 – Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels Saigon

One of the most popular tourist activities in Vietnam is a day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels, about 75 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The tunnels are part of a war memorial park where visitors can learn what life was like for the resistance fighters and even try crawling inside some sections.

During wars, the tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combats as well as serving as communication and supply routes; hospitals; food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous Vietnamese fighters. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges.

Number 5 – Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is a network of tributaries in southwest Vietnam, between Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia. The river itself starts in the Himalayas and passes through China, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia before reaching Vietnam, which partly explains why the waters are so murky.

More than half of Vietnam’s rice and fish comes from the delta region, so you can see how vital it is to the Vietnamese economy and diet. Life in the area revolves around water, from the famous floating markets to the vast agricultural industries; a variety of fruits, flowers and livestock grow in the region.

Stopping by one of the city along the delta will bring you a chance of watching flourishing rice paddies; experiencing floating markets; enjoying tropical fresh fruits; closely interacting with locals to know more about the inside appeals of this land.

To be continued!