10 Amazing Things to Know about Vietnam

1. 10 Amazing Things to Know about Vietnam

2. Introduction • Are you interested in visiting Vietnam? • Then, this article will help you to know more about this fabulous country. • We have listed ten amazing things you need to know before you travel to Vietnam. • At Big Bike Tours, our mission is to help you have the best trip, and this article will fit the bill perfectly! 10 Amazing Things to Know about Vietnam 2

3. It Is Bigger than You Think • Many people think that Vietnam is a small country, but when you check distances between cities, you will be in shock. • For instance, a simple train ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi will take you 35 hours, because you have to cover over 1,700 kilometers! • Therefore, consider this when planning your trip, because traveling from city to city can consume a lot of your time

4. Weather Is Varied The weather is another important factor to consider when planning your trip, because it will define what kind of clothing will fit the bill better. Generally, the weather of Vietnam is hot and humid. Nevertheless, depending on the region you visit, it can vary: 1. South: Amazing tropical weather, characterized by a rainy and dry season (December-April) 2. Center: Very hot and usually dry, especially between January and August 3. North: Cool and dry winter, and hot and wet summer

5. It Is Ideal for Motorcycle Trips – The Country of Motorbikes Many people consider Vietnam a Kingdom of motorcycles, and they are not mistaken, because it is the most popular transport. There are over 45 million motorbikes registered in the country, and cities like Saigon get flooded with 8.5 million motorbikes every single day. On top of that, its geography makes it ideal for motorcycle tours, because there is a lot to see at every city, and with frequent worthy stops, along with the landscapes of the roads, it is a dream come true for bike riders.

6. Food Is Delicious and Healthy Vietnamese is considered as one of the healthiest in the world, and in addition, it is delicious and exotic. Your visit to Vietnam is the perfect reason to taste its delicious dishes. Here you have a few examples: • Pho • Cha ca • Cao Lau • Goi cuon • Bun bo Hue That is why it is considered as one of the best cities for foodies in the world.

7. Vietnamese Coffee Is Unique If you are a coffee lover, then Vietnam will become your paradise. Promise. It is the second top coffee producing country, with a production of 1,650,000 metric tons. In addition, it is delicious and unique. They have unique preparations that include sweetened condensed milk, eggs, ice and exotic spices.

8. Weird and Exotic Drinks – Everywhere Did you know that Vietnamese like to drink snake wine for vitality? If you are already shocked, then you have not seen anything yet, because they have all sort of weird and exotic drinks: • Three-Lizard Liquor • Scorpion Wine • Pho Cocktail Are you up for a shot of three-lizard liquor, or what about a cup of scorpion wine?

9. Local People Are Lovely Local people are friendly towards foreigners, and their attitude is respectful and lovely. This is another reason why visitors fall in love, and that includes Vietnamese people from all cities and communities. If you join a motorcycle tour, you will be able prove it when you visit off-the-track communities and villages. It will fill your visit with lovely and memorable experiences.

10. Largest Caves in the World If you have a thing for exploring the world around you, then you will be happy to know that Vietnam is home to the largest cave in the world, Hang Son Doong. It has an amazing size of 200 meters high, 5 kilometers high and 150 meters wide. If you are up for a fantastic exploration, then you are going to love Hang Son Doong.

11. Tortoises Are a Symbol of Fortune and Luck Vietnamese people love tortoises and they consider them as a symbol of luck. According to local people, they bring health, fortune and happiness. Therefore, there is a lot of respect and admiration towards them. They appreciate their outstanding longevity.

12. White Skin is the Epitome of Beauty For Vietnamese, white skin is the highest expression of beauty. That is why they try to avoid the sun as much as possible, and their local industry of beauty products market skin whitening as one of their main benefits.

13. Bonus: Various Interesting Facts As you can see, there are many interesting things to know about Vietnam, and here you have even more facts: • According to Vietnamese folklore, Vietnamese people are descendants of dragons • Vietnamese people like to keep potbelly pigs as pets • Nguyen is the most popular family name • The Water Buffalo is the national animal of Vietnam • Egg coffee – a special preparation – is very popular in Vietnam (and it is delicious!) • One of their most popular local fruits receives the name of “breast milk fruit” • Vietnamese use the Latin alphabet • The sacred animals of Vietnam are tortoises, dragons, unicorns and the phoenix. 10 Amazing Things to Know about Vietnam 13