Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [37]
North Vietnam is also popular among the motorbiking fraternity. Specialist outfits in Hanoi organize tailor-made itineraries taking you way off the beaten track.
Sports and outdoor pursuits |
Water sports
With its three-thousand-kilometre coastline, Vietnam should be a paradise for water sports, but the options remain fairly limited at present, for a variety of reasons. One is simply a matter of access: the infrastructure is not yet in place. More crucial is the presence of potentially dangerous undercurrents along much of the coast, accompanied by strong winds at certain times of year. Many of the big beach resorts have guards or put out flags in season indicating where it’s safe to swim. Elsewhere, check carefully before taking the plunge.
Whilst many of the beaches along the central and south-central coast are great for swimming, the best are those around Mui Ne, with Nha Trang, Hoi An and Da Nang close behind. Mui Ne is also the country’s top venue for windsurfing and kitesurfing, both of which are currently hugely popular. Phu Quoc Island, off Vietnam’s southern coast, is also famed not only for its fabulous beaches but also as the country’s top spot for snorkelling and scuba-diving. The Con Dao Islands and Nha Trang are other popular places to don a snorkel or wet suit, but wherever you dive, it’s worth noting that standards of maintenance aren’t always great, so check equipment carefully and only go out with a properly qualified and registered operator that you trust.
Heading inland, the rivers and waterfalls around Da Lat provide good possibilities for canyoning and rock-climbing.
Both Mui Ne and Non Nuoc beach near Da Nang have a good reputation for windsurfing. Mui Ne even hosts an international kitesurfing competition each spring (usually February).
In north Vietnam Ha Long Bay is the watersports centre. Most boat tours of the bay allow time for swimming – weather permitting – while there are decent beaches on Cat Ba and better still on remote Quan Lan Island. For those in search of more strenuous exercise, a number of tour agents offer sea-kayaking trips on the bay – not recommended in the heat of summer.
Sports and outdoor pursuits |
Other activities
Vietnam has over 850 species of birds, including several that have only been identified in the past few years. The best places for birdwatching are the national parks, including Cuc Phuong (famous also for its springtime butterfly displays), Bach Ma and Cat Tien. The rare Sarus crane, amongst many other species, spends the dry season in and around the Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta. For more information check out www.vietnambirding.com or www.birdwatchinigvietnam.net.
Finally, there are now dozens of excellent golf courses in Vietnam – around Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phan Thiet and Da Lat amongst others – all with much cheaper green fees than in the West.
Crime and personal safety
Vietnam is a relatively safe country for visitors, including women travelling alone. In fact, given the country’s recent history, many tourists, particularly Americans, are pleasantly surprised at the warm reception that foreign travellers receive. That said, petty crime is on the rise – though it’s still relatively small–scale and shouldn’t be a problem if you take common–sense precautions. Generally, the hassles you’ll encounter will be the milder sort of coping with pushy vendors and over–enthusiastic touts and beggars.
Crime and personal safety |
Petty crime
As a tourist, you’re an obvious target for thieves (who may include your fellow travellers): carry your passport, traveller’s cheques and other valuables in a concealed money belt. Don’t leave anything important lying about in your room: use a safe, if you have one. A cable lock, or padlock and chain, comes in handy for doors and windows in cheap hotels, and is useful for securing your pack on trains and buses. It’s not a bad idea to keep US$100