The Best Of Vietnam Tour With A Blend Of Culture And History

Undoubtedly, Vietnam is one of the most beautiful tourist spots in the world, marking its relevance in the global tourism industry with its rich culture and ancient history. You can plan the best tour of Vietnam if you include a cultural and historical visit in your itinerary. Without understanding the history and cultural diversity of Vietnam, your trip will be like a crown without jewels. To know more about Vietnam, you need to interact with various Vietnamese communities and understand their lifestyles. The Vietnamese are a friendly bunch of people, who open-heartedly welcome tourists. They maintain strong family values.

Ancestor cult
They believe in ancestor cults. Every household has an ancestor altar, and its members, no matter how busy they are, make time to remember their ancestors. During the last day of the lunar year celebration, they host special prayers and invite ancestors to return home to celebrate the Tet holidays with their families.

Wet rice civilization
The Vietnamese culture is closely associated with the wet rice civilization. Out of the 54 ethnic Vietnamese communities, those who settled in the Red River Delta are the inevitable force in wet rice cultivation. The rice cultivation and the wet rice civilization of the Red River delta play an important role in the rice production of the nation.

Ethnic minorities
Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country, and there are 54 ethnic communities, of which 53 groups are recognized as minority ethnic communities. The Viet (Kinh) community is the largest of the 54 ethnic communities, with 87% of its members living in the Red River delta, Mekong delta, and central coast delta. Their costumes vary according to the ethnic groups but are colorful and traditional. To enjoy the best Vietnam tour and know the pulse of rural life, you must visit the ethnic minority areas and opt for a homestay. Many tour operators, including Vivutravel, offer homestays with ethnic minorities.

Festivals
A visit to any country becomes complete only if you can participate in cultural festivals. Vietnam has many festivals, so it would be enjoyable if you could plan the tour program to correspond to the festival seasons.

The most popular festival in Vietnam is the Lunar Festival, Tet, which is rooted in the Chinese Lunar Festivals celebrated in the last week of January to the first week of February. It is a religious festival, and Hanoi is the best place to participate, even though it is celebrated all over Vietnam.

Similarly, to make your trip the best Vietnam tour, plan your trip during the Lim Festival, First Full Moon Festival, Perfume Pagoda Festival, Hue Festival, Reunification Day, etc., in association with Vivutravel.

Old Town of Hanoi
With a rich history, Hanoi offers a bunch of delights for tourists. The length of Hanoi's history is more than enough for a rewarding tour experience. Ancient temples dating back more than 1500 years and French colonial structures, particularly in Hanoi's Old Quarter, are worth seeing. The Old Town of Hanoi is an amalgam of pagodas, temples, and French colonial structures located on the outskirts of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. It is a busy area with commercial and manufacturing activities.

Most of the structures and houses in this neighborhood date from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Quarter is a network of 36 streets, each with an entrance gate, but only the Quan Chuong gate remains to welcome the tourists. Migrants colonized the streets and started their traditional jobs or engaged in arts and crafts work to live. Shortly, the Old Quarter established itself as a commercial center. The streets are known after the craft works. You can see the French colonial influence in the construction. It is a must-visit location to experience the soul of Vietnam.

Ancient Street of Hoi An
The legacy of the Champa Kingdom is visible at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a well-preserved historical site. It is a traditional Vietnamese port city from ancient times, located in Quang Nam Province on the bank of the Thu Bon River. It was an active trading port, and as a result, traders from Japan, China, and

Portugal marked their presence with traditional native constructions, which are the main tourist attractions.

Some of the locations are restricted and require an entry fee, but many are free to explore. The best locations to visit here are the Quan Cong Temple, the Cau Bridge, etc. Besides, there are museums, ancient houses, and churches worth exploring. There will be daily cultural shows and street performances, which are other attractions you can enjoy at Hoi An.

Temples in Hue
Until 1945, Hue was the imperial capital of Vietnam. Hue and its surrounding impressive monuments, pagodas, and ornate temples are notable for establishing cultural and traditional values, and they provide tourists with a visual treat. Among those architectural wonders, many temples and pagodas adorn the landscape of Hue. Some of the most impressive pagodas are the Dieu Du Pagoda, Tu Dam Pagoda, Tu Hieu Pagoda, and Thien Mu Pagoda. The seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda, built during the 19th century, is an iconic landmark of Hue.

Beautiful landscapes
The fascinating and beautiful country of Vietnam has a unique geography and wonderful landscape. It is hardly possible to focus on one particular area, be it in the north, south, or center of Vietnam. Every bit of Vietnam has something so attractive to offer. Refreshing hill stations, amazing rice terraces, and pristine beaches can make your holiday a wonderful experience.

Amazing rice terraces in Sapa
Sapa is the final word for natural beauty in its full swing. The serene, lush rice terrace attracts tourists with its magnificent landscape. The best view of the rice terraces of Sapa is in Muong Hoa Valley. Trekking is the best tour format to enjoy visiting the rice terraces. It is important to choose the right season to visit the rice terraces to extract the best of Vietnam tour when the paddy field turns golden for cropping. Sapa is best visited in September and the first half of October. Tourists can also go for a homestay with ethnic minorities for good exposure to mountain life.

Besides Sapa, there are many other beautiful rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai, Y Ty, and Hoang Su Phi. You can visit Mu Cang Chai without any seasonal restrictions. The best months to visit Mu Cang Chai, however, are May–June and September-October. Located in Yen Bai province, Mu Cang Chai is 300 kilometers from Hanoi.

Y Ty is another beautiful terraced rice field near the China border that is home to the hill tribe ethnic minorities of Kinh, Dao, Ha Nhi, and Mong. Y Ty is located 2,000 meters above sea level and is a serene, cloudy location rich with natural beauty.

Rice terrace tours are one of the highlights of the Vietnam tour. Hoang Su Phi is one of these stunning rice terrace fields that has been designated as a national monument. It is one of Vietnam's highest mountain terraces, close to the Chinese border, with very little tourism activity. The best time to visit Vietnam is between September and October.

Scenic locations
Vietnam is a serene country blessed with natural beauty at its peak. Wherever you go, you can experience the lavish natural glam of Vietnam. Out of the many scenic and adventurous locations, Ha Giang and Cao Bang are so enthralling and less crowded that you should include them in your bucket list of activities.

Ha Giang
Ha Giang is the capital of Ha Giang province, popular for its steep mountain trails, beautiful karsts, and spiral motorways. It is a spectacular location for adventure motorbike tour enthusiasts. For the best experience, go for a 3 to 5-day Ha Giang loop tour with a pillow-rider guide. The tour will take you to new locations every day. On your trip, you can interact with many minority groups settled in the village. Minorities include Lo Lo, Hmong, Tay, and Gay, each with their own culture, attire, and language.

Things you can do at Ha Giang
•    Take a ride to Dong Van Geopark.
•    Visit the ethnic minority villages.
•    Explore the rice terraces.
•    Visit the Lung Cu flag tower.
•    Enjoy shopping at the local market.
•    Pay a visit to the Hmong King's Palace.

Cao Bang
Cao Bang province is another adventurous tourist spot located close to the China border. It is 280 kilometers from Hanoi. Its extraordinary diversity is one reason for declaring it a UNESCO Global Geopark. With 47 lakes, five major rivers, many waterfalls, pagodas, and caves, the province offers so much for tourists.

Things you can do at Cao Bang

Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall: It is the fourth-largest waterfall in the world, located on the border of Vietnam and China.

Truc Lam Phat Tich Pagoda: Built in traditional Vietnamese architectural style, the pagoda is 500 meters from the Ban Gioc Waterfall. A 1.5-ton bronze statue of Dai Hong Chung Thien Bao is the main attraction here.

Nguom Ngao Cave: The unique stalactite cave complex is 2,144 meters long and is an attractive tourist spot.

Thang Hen Lake: It is a group of 36 mini lakes connected through caves and underground rivers. During the rainy season, when the water level rises, it forms a large lake.

Ethnic minorities: It is a settlement area for nine ethnic minority groups, each with their own way of life and crafts.

Pac Bo Historical Complex: It is a memorial museum with historical relevance related to Ho Chi Minh and his freedom movements.

Conclusion
The best Vietnam tour can be organized within your budget and expectations, covering all the important locations, if you have the right tour organizer. When you are planning a Vietnam holiday tour, contact Vivutravel, one of the best Vietnam tour operators, who can offer the best package tours and tailor-made tour programs that match your budget.