The vivid beauty of Vietnam

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It is a sad fact that most people only really know of Vietnam from the succession of war films that the US has put out seemingly every other year. Although in recent times Vietnam has taken a back seat to Iraq biopics, but mention the place and people will mention the war. In reality, it''s a fantastic place to visit and a must see for international travellers.

That said, its history is a very bloody one. During the 20th century the country was at war for almost 50 years with varying countries, but in this hard fought peacetime there ahs never been a better time to visit.

After being a French and sometime Spanish colony since some time in the early 1800''s, the dawn of the country''s new era began with the communist declaration of independence after the second world war in 1945. France were not happy and came back with a vengeance, but soon the US was dragged in trying to keep communism at bay, making one of its biggest military mistakes of all time.

Despite this, it was the Vietnamese who were successful and it was them, after many years of warfare, who finally managed to bring peace to their own country.

Knowing all this history helps get a flavour for the place, especially in the capital of Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it was renamed after the war. You will also appreciate the culture that has sprung up more as well. Buddhist monasteries sit happily alongside communist propaganda museums, and you are more than welcome to visit both.

If history is not your thing then the scenery will take your breath away. Tropical rainforests abound in the protected area of Ba Be National Park, located close to the Chinese border in the north. You can take an elephant ride through the expansive Yok Don National Park for a chance to see monkeys, birds and even leopards and if confined spaces don''t trigger nightmares, the Phong Nha Cave is a must see.

You could also travel to Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, a World Heritage Site, which is dotted with more than 3,000 tiny islands with cliffs and white sand beaches that cascade into the surrounding sparkling waters. All you need to do is find the time, which is no mean feat in itself.

The greatest thing about Vietnam is its relative openness. Only forty years ago it was the most dangerous place on earth, now it is only second to Thailand in the most open South East Asian countries. You can do anything you want; stay in a four star hotel, book a cheap hotel though a company like Thomson Cook or slum it with the backpackers in insanely cheap hostels. Vietnam caters to all and sundry, and does so very well.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Milo Sprygada is an expert travel writer who regularly books online through Thomas Cook, the leading travel company that provide very cheap hotels for many destinations.

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