Vietnam
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Why Vietnam?
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Upcoming departures, new experiences, interviews, exploration or scouting stories... All brochures can be ordered or downloaded in digital format.
Discover the destination
See all cruises in Asia
Upcoming departures, new experiences, interviews, exploration or scouting stories... All brochures can be ordered or downloaded in digital format.
Discover the destination
Why can we find baguettes in Vietnam? What are the rules of good conduct? What are the reading tips before cruising there? Here are some answers that make you want to immediately explore the land of the Blue Dragon!
Best practices
To do Politeness and discretion are essential in Vietnam. If an argument breaks out in public, the angry person will be considered rude and the one receiving the reprimands will be humiliated. To avoid For all visits to temples and pagodas, proper attire is required. Legs and shoulders should not be exposed. It is also advisable to remove shoes.
Fast facts
In Vietnam, you'll find a baguette reminiscent of those enjoyed in France – a culinary legacy of the French colonial era. Banh mi, or 'wheat bread', is typically made with wheat and rice flour, giving it a light texture and crispy crust. The term banh mi also refers to the popular Vietnamese sandwich, filled with ingredients like pork, meatballs, or chicken, along with pickled carrots, cucumber, fresh coriander and a touch of chilli or pâté – an iconic fusion of French and Vietnamese flavours.
Essential vocabulary
Hello / good evening: Sinne tchao Goodbye, see you soon: Tamme biète Welcome: Douoc ao day Excuse me / please: Sinne loy Thank you: Cammonne Yes / no: Co / Congue How are you?: Ban couè congue? Very well, thank you, and you?: Zeut couè, cammonne conne banne? My name is...: Toy tèn la...
Gastronomy
One typical Vietnamese dish is pho (pronounced 'fuh'). Vietnamese people consume this hearty and inexpensive soup at any time of the day. Even though each region has its own variation with unique flavours, the base remains the same: a beef broth simmered for a long time with plenty of spices such as cloves, ginger and cinnamon, to which rice noodles are added. One of the most common versions includes beef, onions, bean sprouts, coriander, Thai basil, lime and chili.
Myths and legends
In Vietnamese popular belief, the dragon, the unicorn, the turtle and the phoenix are considered sacred animals. They represent power, knowledge, peace, longevity and elegance. They are found ubiquitously in various art and architecture.
In the spotlight
Forty-four years after the end of the Vietnam War, Agent Orange, the powerful herbicide that was sprayed over the country's forests, is still causing devastation. Entering the human body, it causes malformations and cancers in many children. While associations have been fighting for a long time for the disasters caused by this chemical to be recognised, the United States launched a cleanup campaign in 2019 on some of the main Vietnamese sites where these products were stored in the 1960s.
Culture
Book Raymond Depardon and Jean-Claude Guillebaud are on an adventure through Vietnam, like so many other tourists. This duo, however, has been here before. In 'Return to Vietnam', the photographer and the war correspondent retrace their steps from 20 years earlier. Their bittersweet journey lets them see the country in a whole new light, witnessing the aftermath of the war they left behind. Music Music is an integral part of Vietnamese culture, with five different types of traditional music appearing on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List: Hue court music, the gongs of Tay Nguyen, courtesan songs (ca tru), antiphonal songs (quan ho) and communal house entry songs (hat xoan). Film Where does the life of a little girl placed in an orphanage in Ireland in the 1950s intersect with the story of Vietnam's street children? That child from Dublin grew up to be an adult, but she was haunted by nightmares of a faraway country ravaged by war. She made the journey to Vietnam in 1989 and discovered the plight of thousands of children. For the past 30 years, the Christina Noble Children's Foundation has provided them with care and education and fought against extreme poverty in Vietnam and Mongolia. A film about her story was released in 2014. http://france.cncf.org/
Key figures – 8
In Vietnam, eight sites are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ha Long Bay, Trang An Landscape Complex, the central sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, the Complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty.
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Rice fields bordered by tranquil canals, mythical bays, colourful markets, impressive temples and pagodas... A cruise in Vietnam allows access to stunning coastal and inland treasures. An overview of the must-see visits during a stay in this vibrant country.
A city in full development, the former Saigon has managed to preserve its authenticity. Symbol of Vietnam's independence, it notably houses the Reunification Palace. The images of this former presidential palace went around the world when a tank from the army fighting for the liberation of Vietnam broke through its gates on April 30, 1975, putting an end to the conflict. The neoclassical Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office bear witness to the city's colonial past. More typical, the Emperor of Jade Pagoda where Vietnamese people gather during various festivities or the colorful Binh Tay Market are worth a visit.
Hanoi is one of the jewels of Vietnam; remnants of French colonial culture mix with traditional monuments, numerous lakes, and a millennia-old past. Built 1,500 years ago, Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest in Vietnam. Travellers can continue exploring the city with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the embassy district, which used to be the French quarter, or the Museum of Vietnamese Women, paying a true tribute to their elegance throughout the ages. Among the must-see and enjoyable walks, Hanoi's Old Quarter, with its narrow streets and shops, exudes a timeless charm, while Hoan Kiem Lake provides a breath of fresh air to the country's capital.
In the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay is one of the iconic sites of Vietnam, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Its 1,600 islands, including many limestone pillars covered with vegetation, emerge from the water to create breathtaking marine landscapes. Sailing through this natural gem of nearly 1,500 square kilometres promises splendid panoramas: emerald waters, floating fishing villages, impressive caves and lush islands.
Seaside resort on the shores of the South China Sea, Nha Trang combines an inspiring mix of coconut-lined beaches and heritage. When not relaxing by the water, guests can explore the city on foot or by cyclo. Fishing boats in the harbour, the Cham towers of Po Nagar located on a sacred Hindu site, the Long Son Pagoda, and the Dam Market are all typical discoveries of Vietnam.
Who hasn’t pictured the iconic silhouette of Angkor’s temples etched against a glowing sky or bathed in the golden light of sunset? Less than two hours by air from Hanoi, these majestic ruins rise from the forest near Siem Reap, offering a powerful glimpse into the past. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, the archaeological complex reflects the splendour of Angkor, one of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from the 9th to the 15th century. At its height, the city was home to some 750,000 people, and Angkor Wat – still the largest religious monument in Southeast Asia – stands as a breathtaking testament to that legacy. The site’s intricate hydraulic system is another marvel, revealing the Khmer civilisation’s remarkable engineering and vision.