Try a vacation in Vietnam
Vietnam is the latest Asian destination to enjoy heavy incoming tourists attracted by low prices and pleasant hospitality
An enormous and tragic event of the past century was the war between the United States and Vietnam. Yet despite a bitter conflict of many years with heavy casualties, the U.S. government is today encouraging Americans to visit the land of this onetime enemy.
Based on the recent experience of returning tourists from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), that surprising official attitude is well supported.
Visitors rave about the many courtesies and heartfelt welcome extended to recent U.S. visitors. Apparently, and especially among the younger Vietnamese representing a majority of the population, scarcely anyone even refers to that era of conflict or displays the faintest antagonism toward Western visitors.
Join that era of goodwill with the low cost of visiting there, and you have the formula for strong incoming tourism.
The local currency is 23,000 units for one U.S. dollar, and a meal bought from a street vendor costs $1.
A similar meal of several courses in a good restaurant costs the equivalent of two dollars. Good custom-made clothing purchased in the popular tourist city of Hoi An costs a fraction of the usual price at home.
Tourists can begin their stays in the surprisingly beautiful capital city of Hanoi, move on from there to an overnight cruise on Halong Bay, spend a night in Hoi An, another in Hue, and end their stay in the former Saigon,
The prevailing cost of a heavily inclusive package is around $1,599 from the U.S. west coast. This type of package is offered by several U.S. tour operators, including round-trip airfare, all transportation within Vietnam, 12 nights of good hotel accommodations, breakfast daily, considerable escorted sightseeing, the boat ride on Halong Bay and many extras.
This is a remarkable per person charge for an awesome vacation experience, and probably the lowest price in all of travel for a similar vacation. You might very well consider it.
Arthur Frommer is the pioneering founder of the Frommer’s Travel Guide book series. He co-hosts the radio program, The Travel Show, with his travel correspondent daughter Pauline Frommer. Find more destinations online and read Arthur Frommer’s blog at frommers.com.