Every country has its particular talents, but here are a few that Vietnam excels at. As one of the fastest-developing countries in the world, Vietnam is well worth a visit, and these seven facts may get you booking your ticket sooner rather than later.
Coast
A long, thin country, Vietnam has plenty of coastline on the South China Sea – around 3,500 kilometres of it. Much of it is beautiful sandy beaches like in Nha Trang and Mui Ne, while there are also many dramatic islands just offshore like in the iconic area of Ha Long Bay. Most other countries are pretty jealous.
Pho
This national dish is essentially noodle soup, but it’s the nicest darn noodle soup you’ll ever try. Seen as a breakfast dish, but consumed at all hours, pho varies from region to region but is based around rice noodles and a bit of meat.
Depending on where you are, you’ll have fresh chilli with it, or bean sprouts, peanuts, ginger, lime and different kinds of leafy vegetables. Better than that tinned muck you bought on the high street.
Coffee
Vietnamese coffee is pant-wettingly tasty. Iced or hot, whatever the Vietnamese do to it, it tastes like thick nectar. It could be their habit of adding condensed milk, but even the most basic cuppa tastes like silken silver.
Scooter riding
Vietnamese people are all about their scooters – you’ll see whole shops that sell just scooter helmets. As far as riding the things goes, everybody seems to be a Zen master – they brave the overflowing streets without fear, taking the traffic in their stride.
Street salespeople
You don’t need to go to the shop in Vietnam, just think of something you need and as if by magic someone will appear with a tray of goodies. Postcards, fruit, toe-nail clippers and everything else that may enter your imagination will appear.
Most streets are also seemingly lined with hawkers selling freshly-made food, entreating you to sit in little plastic chairs and partake. Very welcoming.
Tailored clothing
Hoi An is renown for its bustling tailoring trade – everywhere you go, you’ll be offered the chance to get yourself some tailored clothing or shoes. From full swanky suits and dresses to belts, you can get it all made to measure here. Don’t be afraid to haggle either – you can snap up a real bargain.
Toilets
Ahem. You’ll have to trust us on this one. The countries of south-east Asia are sometimes seen as developing, but in regards to a certain kind of cleanliness they are technologically in the far future.
Most toilets in Vietnam are armed with a hand-held bidet that allows you to reach all sorts of places. It’s quick, clean and thorough, and will leave you wondering why on Earth western countries persist with primitive clumps of abrasive paper.
(Featured image: HudrY (de retour en France))
