In Vietnam

Population: 92 million
Capital: Hanoi
Approximate number of tourists per year: 7.5 million

Whilst it might not be first choice for many wishing to book a holiday in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. The staggering beauty of this fascinating country is no better understood than by taking a trekking holiday in Sapa or a boat cruise in Halong Bay. Both these regions are in the north of the country. Halong Bay is a 600 hundred square mile paradise of beautiful sea dotted with 1960 karst islands that just out of the water to create a different vista every few minutes. The only way to see the bay is to take one of the many cruise boats that sail in the area. Sapa in the mountainous region to the north west of the nations capital is where travellers can witness the incredible rice terraces vice into the hillsides.

The capital, Hanoi is more old school Vietnamese and therefore the base of the country’s communist government. Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City to give it its newer less glamorous name, is a huge modern vibrant city, full of life, food and fabulous boulevards. Vietnam is definitely Southeast Asia’s home of the motorbike and some 37 million are on the streets every day. A secular country by nature there is a strong representation of Christianity here, the most being Catholics.

The fabulous Mekong Delta is home to 17 million people and some of the most amazing scenes of humanity. Floating Markets, such as Cai Rang are world famous, but the tiny rivulets and streams that are formed as the Mighty Mekong reaches the end of its two thousand seven hundred mile ride from the Himalayas provide some of the highlights.

Vietnam is home to an astonishing 54 ethnic minority tribes. That they have survived at all is something of a miracle; that they have hung on to their traditional way of life is almost beyond belief. It is not surprising in anyway that Vietnam is the fastest growing tourist destination in Asia.