Problem
Where to start?
Answer
The country is in three sections, north, middle and south.
North and Hanoi
In the North is the capital, Hanoi.
South and Saigon
In the South is the alliterative Saigon. The city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh city after the hugely popular leader who fought to gain independence from the French.
Vietnamese names start with the surname, like Chinese names. So Ho is a common surname. As in Chinese, the personal or given names reflect good qualities. Chi means will. Minh means bright.
Language
The language is similar to Chinese, with some French and English vocabulary. Fortunately it is written in what looks like the Roman / Latin alphabet which we use in English. However, they add a few accents above, or below, (called diacritics) to help you with intonation and pronunciation. Like the French accents, your voice rises or falls or falls and rises again.
Months
The months of the year are simply the numbers one to twelve with the word month added. So, if you learn the numbers one to twelve, you will also recognize the months of the year.
Photo in public domain from Wikipedia.
The major character to know is Ho Chi Minh. His mausoleum and adjacent museum are in Hanoi, featured on the two hop on hop off bus tours (red and blue) and maps of the city (from your hotel or a tour agency shop). Also see his statue in Ho Chi Minh city, named after him, other Communist countries and several other cities of the world.
Ho Chi Minh lived all over the world and changed his name several times. If you find the account of his life on Wikipedia too long and complicated, try simple wiki.
Hanoi and Halong Bay
From Hanoi a major day trip is to Halong Bay, which I recommend.
Start Learning the Language
Wikipedia gives an overview of the Vietnamese language.
Viet Nam (Add the pointed hat symbol, called the circumflex in French, above the e to show you that you pronounce the e.)
Mo to, for motor auto or car - the hats are added above both letters o show the oh pronounciation.
You can also learn Vietnamese on Duolingo. The pronunciation used is that or the north, Hanoi, according to the comments from people living in the USA and elsewhere who are learning Vietnamese to talk to their family in Vietnam.
Places To Visit
1 Hanoi - the capital, in the north. Many boutique hotels in the old quarter.
2 Side trips to Halong Bay.
3 Central region includes the coast and Crazy House, a museum cum hotel with only ten rooms and walls at all angles, like Gaudi's buildings in Barcelona.
4 Saigon, also called Ho Chi Minh city, in the south.
5 Major attraction is the Vietcong's Cu Chi tunnels.
Useful Websites
Travel Tips
For reviews
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City#Museums_and_art_galleries
https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserReviews-g293925-d4542125-r195747380-A_O_Show_Lune_Production-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html
For hotels
booking.com
Comparison site:
https://www.clicktripz.com/rates/search/index
For airlines
travelok.com
vietJetair.com (Comprehensive list of budget airlines in Wikivoyage.)
For transport
https://www.grab.com/vn/en/
Language
Duolingo.com
(Remember to click on the sound symbol to hear how words are pronounced.)
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.
Please share links to your favourite posts. I have several more on Hanoi, Halong Bay and Vietnam.
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