Why You Should Visit Vietnam In 2019 | A Guide By Locals

Why should you visit Vietnam in 2019? Being one of the fastest-growing countries in the world, Vietnam is also bringing a lot of wonderful events and preparing to wow its visitors in every way in 2019.  If you are pondering on which countries to visit this year, Vietnam should definitely be on top of your wish list. Here are the reasons why:

1. The Exhilarating Cultural Festivals

Carnaval Ha Long 2018

One of Vietnam’s most exciting carnivals is coming back to Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province) on April 28th, 2018. Hosted annually, Carnaval Ha Long is a celebration of Vietnamese culture as well as the beauty of Ha Long Bay. This year, the most-looked-forward-to carnival will be held at Sun World Ha Long Park.

This electrifying carnival generally lasts for a couple of days from the end of April to the beginning of May. Just like every other year, over 1600 actors, singers, dancers, and public figures will bring outstanding performances to the celebration. Many unique acts and cultural performances are also in the line-ups, promising an unforgettable experience for every attendee. From captivating dance performances to the traditional Ha Long fishermen’s wedding ceremony, you will have the ultimate experience of Vietnamese culture at Carnaval Ha Long 2018. Make sure you visit Vietnam for Carnaval Ha Long 2018.

Ha Long Bay – Vietnam’s precious gem and UNESCO’s World Heritage Site – is famous worldwide for its unparalleled beauty and gorgeous landscape and attracts just under 10 millions visitors last year.

Have you ever seen Ha Long in real life? Check out this amazing video by Alexander Travelbum during his trip to this stunning site:

10th Hue Festival 2018

Another most-looked-forward-to event in Vietnam is the Hue Festival, hosted every two years. The festival will, of course, be held in Hue City and showcase Vietnam’s unique heritage. This year, the Hue Festival will begin on April 27th and conclude on May 2nd, 2018.

The biannual festival is organized at an international level and welcomes the participation of foreign artists as well. It is a unique occasion for both Vietnamese and international friends to gather around and celebrate cultures.  This year festival also coincides with a few other celebrations such as the 15th Anniversary of Hue’s Royal Court Music being recognized by UNESCO and the 230th Anniversary of the Nguyen Hue’s Reign (2nd Great Emperor of Tay Son Dynasty).  

Just like the previous festivals, the 10th Hue Festival in 2018 has many exciting line-ups for its spectators. By attending festivals, visitors will witness some of the most beautifully-arranged traditional dance performance and art exhibitions. Additionally, other unique showcases, such as Hue’s Poetry Performance, Ao-Dai Fashion Show, Traditional Percussion Drum Performance, will also amaze you. This is why you must visit Vietnam in 2018, for this special occasion.

Here is a quick teaser for Hue Festival in 2018:

Hue Ancient City – was the national capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and held many of the country’s most valuable heritage. The complex within the imperial city was also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and attracts millions of visitors each year. Hue is also known for its carefully and uniquely-crafted delicacies, such as Vietnamese’s favorite Bun Bo Hue (Hue’s Traditional Beef Noodle).

Many Others

Besides Carnaval Ha Long 2018 and 10TH Hue Festivals are many other thrilling events and breathtaking carnivals throughout Vietnam in 2018, such as the monthly Hoi An Lantern Festival and the popular annual Monsoon Music Festival, to list a few.

The Hoi An Lantern Festival is a monthly celebration on full-moon day. It is when locals as well as tourists gather around to pick, prepare and decorate their lantern. After the preparation process, people will let their lantern flow freely on the stream of Hoi An and light up the colorful city. This is when the magic happens!

In 2017, Monsoon Music Festival was held for 3 days and it blew up Hanoi. For an entire weekend, it was the center of attention and attracts many concert goers in Hanoi as well as nearby cities. Last year, the festival featured some of the hottest Vietnamese artists (Ngot, Da Lab) as well as international icons (Lost Frequencies). Monsoon is coming back in 2019 in another city!

For now, you can check out Monsoon Music Festival in 2016, Hanoi:

2. The Best Bang for Your Buck

Your Favorite Delicacies at an Unbelievable Price

Vietnam is widely known for its amazing traditional cuisine that can be found anywhere in its cities. From locals’ favorites Phở and Bún Chả to local specialties Bún Bò Huế and Bánh Bột Lọc (Hue), you will want to bring the entire cuisine with you back home. Besides being super mouthwatering and complexed at times, Vietnamese dishes are mostly offered within an extremely attractive price range (from 30.000 vnd / 1.32 USD to  150.000 vnd / 6.61 USD). This allows everyone to enjoy a great amount of delicious food without worrying too much about breaking their budget. In case you would prefer high-end restaurants, the latter is definitely available and also very popular among locals.

Let’s hype you up with a quick video by The Food Ranger for his street food tour in Hanoi:

Gush Over the Best-Value Accommodations and Transports

In additional to the well-priced delicacies, Vietnam also offers some of the best-value accommodations and transports. Hotels in Vietnam are generally recent, with new facilities and modern design, especially in bigger cities. For instance, a one-night stay at 4-star hotels for two people generally costs from 50 USD to 130 USD.  

For commuting, it is recommended that visitors rely on taxis as Vietnamese public transports can be overly-crowded and confusing. Some of the most reliable taxi brands in Hanoi are:

• Open99
• ABC Taxi
• Ba Sao
• Sao Hanoi
• Thanh Cong
• ECO Taxi
• Thanh Nga
• Phu Dong
• Taxi Group.

In Ho Chi Minh City, you will most likely spot taxis by Mai Linh and Vinasun. Anyhow, it generally cost you less than 1 USD per 1 km traveled.

For those who prefer to order a cab via their smartphone, Grab is also widely available alongside its competitor. If you choose to visit Vietnam in 2019, the amount spent on accommodations and transports should be the least of your worries.

3. The Unspoilt Natural Beauty

One of the top recommendations given to our foreign friends is “travel Vietnam while its beauty remains unspoilt”. As you may have already known, Vietnam is a fast-growing country with many infrastructural improvements underway. While the latter will tremendously improve your travel experience, it also contributes to the slow-paced destruction of Vietnam’s natural heritage.

Charming Beaches

Currently, some of the hottest destinations in Vietnam are the marvelous beaches. That being said, you should definitely consider Bai Dai (Long Beach) on Phu Quoc Island, Mui Ne beach in Phan Thiet, Ninh Van Bay in Nha Trang, among Vietnam beaches with spectacular scenery for your visit to Vietnam.  As a result, it is highly recommended that you visit Vietnam in 2019 to contemplate Vietnam’s raw and natural charm. This short clip filmed at An Lam Retreats will make you fall in love with Ninh Van Bay!

Spectacular National Parks

Another highlight of Vietnam is its natural reserves. Vietnam is blessed with amazing scenery, forests, karst caves alongside fascinating biodiversity that keeps the heart of the country breathing. Beside prominent national parks such as Nam Cat Tien (Dong Nai Province – Southern Vietnam), Pu Mat (Nghe An Province – Northern-Central), Cuc Phuong (Ninh Binh Province – Northern), one is taking the spotlight in recent years – Phong Nha Ke Bang (Quang Binh Province – Central Vietnam). Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Phong Nha Ke Bang’s beauty is overwhelming and unparalleled in every way. In addition to that are the two Son Doong and Phong Nha Caves, which have recently been glorified by international medias.

Check out one of the first filmed explorations of the Son Doong Cave by a group of Russian explorers below!

4. The Fantastic Improvements to Tourism Industry

Have a Smoother Trip

Vietnam is determined to improve its visitor travel and overall experience throughout the country. The biggest infrastructure improvement is happening in Quang Ninh Province (Ha Long Bay). The new highway underway linking Hai Phong to Ha Long Bay will decrease the travel time down to 1,5 hours. Additionally, the completion of the new international port in Ha Long Bay in mid-2019 will also facilitate your future journey. As a result, Quang Ninh Province is garnering a lot of attention for its effort put in this year. You should definitely visit Vietnam in 2019 and be there to experience a big change.  

Get Ready for a Better Experience

The Vietnamese Government is also directing each province to strengthen their control over illegal touristic activities and protect its visitors. In 2019, visitors should expect enhanced services, better regulation, and greater protection while traveling in Vietnam.

Recently, the World Economic Forum also voted Vietnam as the 5th most tourism-friendly country in South East Asia, just behind other big players like Singapore and Malaysia.

If you have any question or comment, feel free to drop one below in the comment box.

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