1. Six Senses Con Dao – The most romantic paradise for couples

a.  The highlights of Six Senses Con Dao

Located in one of the most appealing island destinations of Vietnam, Six Senses Con Dao will certainly give you the best moments for your vacation with your partner. Con Dao is an archipelago that takes only a 45 minutes flight from Ho Chi Minh City to get to. The resort lies along 1.6 km golden sandy beach with the magnificent mountain landscape surrounding the crystal-clear water. Six Senses Con Dao is outstanding with elegant and modern architecture. It offers stylishly designed accommodation with generous personal space, lush greenery of tropical mangroves, and stunning views. Each villa has a private infinity pool with an ocean view. The Villas can be either Ocean Front or Ocean View offering the selection of one, three, or four bedrooms.

You can also enjoy other services at the luxury class at Six Senses Con Dao. The Six Sense Spa offers four indoor treatment room, three outdoor treatment salas, Hamman treatment, and a meditation and yoga area. You can find amazing restaurants serving Vietnamese or Western cuisines that use organic vegetables harvested from the garden of Six Senses Con Dao. Some of the dining highlights are Destination Dining, Vietnamese by the Market, By the Beach Restaurant, and By the Kitchen.

b. What Six Senses Con Dao offers for your remarkable summer vacation?

The Experiences Team of Six Senses Con Dao is always available to help create a perfect experience. Six Senses Con Dao enjoys a private and secluded setting with a range of activities from beach and water sports, nature discovering to hiking to entertain all ages and satisfy the most demanding tastes. To enjoy the natural beauty of Con Dao island, guests can choose the Tropical Rainforest hiking trip and enjoy the sightseeing in So Ray Plantation. There, they may encounter the rare and signature species of Con Dao island such as the Con Dao Giant Black Squirrel or  Nicobar Pigeon. Six Senses Con Dao also offers various activities to explore marine life. Snorkeling Trip and watching the coral reefs, Scuba Diving up to 50-feet deep or Diving in the late afternoon to see the hunts of bamboo sharks are some of the experiences not to miss.

Lux Travel DMC offers 4 days vacation to Con Dao Island featuring Six Senses Con Dao. Our staff can help you to book the best rooms as well as customize the trip as your requirement. So you can rely on Lux Travel DMC for the best experience of your summer vacation.

c. Contact information:

• Address: Dat Doc Beach, Con Dao District, Con Dao, Ba Ria – Vung Tau
• Website: Six Senses Con Dao Resort
• Tel: (+84) 254 383 1222

2. Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang- The best resort for Vietnam family holidays

a. The top-notch features of Evason

If you are finding for a Vietnam beach resort for your whole family, Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang is an excellent choice for you. This Luxury classed resort is the only beachfront resort of Nha Trang. It has an ideal location that is close to the kid-friendly destinations in Nha Trang for your children, namely: Phu Dong Water Park, Institute of Oceanography and Vinpearl Land Nha Trang.

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang resort offers 74 villas with gardens, beach or sea views. Baby cots are free for each room. Deluxe Sea View and Garden View Rooms are recommended for families since they offer interconnecting doors. You can find lots of services that are suitable for your kids, one of which is the Just Kid! club for children from 4 to 12 years.  Beneficial activities embrace everything from crafts the arts, and home cooking to outdoor fun and beach games. Babysitting is available for the US $12 per hour (free at the Just Kid! club from 9 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm); you can also book a day in advance. Resort’s restaurants include a children’s menu and welcome the kids at any time.

Besides, guests can also enjoy themselves at the Six Sense Spa with five treatment rooms flanked by palm trees, open-plan pagodas with thatched roofs, where sea breezes and the fragrance of heliconias passes by.  Next to yoga classes and t’ai chi there is a wide range of traditional Thai, Indian and Vietnamese treatments, with lotions and potions made with local flowers and herbs. Over-12-year-old kids with accompaniment are allowed.

b. Activities to enjoy at Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang with your family

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang has a private water sports center that offers island excursions and activities such as fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. There are scuba diving courses with one is suitable for kids at 8 and above and the other is suitable for kids at 10 and above. The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program allows you to have the thrilling experience of diving under the supervision of a PADI professional in similar conditions to the pool. Another popular activity of Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang is the Mountains of Refuge. Your whole family will enjoy traveling among green sweatshirts, finding yourselves deep in the mountainous terrain, listening to the birds’ songs or listening to the whisper of cicadas and cascading water, and observing the butterflies in the sky.

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang has won a lot of awards and was chosen as one of the best 25 hotels of Vietnam in 2015 on TripAdvisor. Therefore, Lux Travel DMC often includes this resort in our Vietnam family holidays packages to Nha Trang.

You can find out more in our Family Tour Packages.

c. Contact information

• Address: Tran Phu Street, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa
• Website: Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang
• Tel:  (+84) 258 352 2222

3. Song Saa Private Island – The greatest luxury escape in Cambodia

a. The highlights of Song Saa Private Island

This 5 stars resort offers 27 suites and villas with ocean views, plunge pools and private decks with frangipani trees. Inside, the decor stands out perfectly with the natural environment, from the cavernous thatch roofs and stone walls to the vast four-poster beds wrapped in soft blousy muslin, to the wooden bathtubs of staves dotted with candles and Aesop toiletries. All stays include breakfast, a longtail boat excursion, a 15-minute Khmer foot ritual upon arrival and snorkeling in the Song Saa House Reef.

What makes Song Saa Private Island outstanding is its unique location. This tiny resort is spread across two islands of the secluded island of Koh Rong. It is isolated from the chaotic cities, which lets you totally relax your mind.  Song Saa Private Island has been opened in 2012, therefore, the surrounding area of the resort remains pristine and untouched. You can enjoy the beauty of the ocean at almost every angle of the resort. Savoring at Vista Restaurant with a 360-degree ocean view and watching the sunset is also a great experience that you should not miss here.

Song Saa Private Islands offers a selection of spa and wellness retreats for those looking for a totally transformative experience. Refresh yourself with a retreat with a “stillness” theme, rejuvenate with an invigorating and detoxifying retreat inspired by the “blessing” treatments, or revive with a “healthy” retreat.

b. Summer activities to do at Song Saa Private Island

Aquatic activities should be the priority, with a range of relaxing activities included in the room rate. If you are staying with the all-inclusive package, all non-motorized water sports are included and you get a 10% discount on motorized water sports. Explore the coral reefs, seahorses, and rainbow-colored fishes in the Snorkeling Tour of Song Saa Island. Jump in kayaks and row around the mangroves, guided by your personal guide. Sea kayaking around the archipelago is also offered, often accompanied by a packed lunch on a deserted island. Excursions to local villages can be organized on the mainland in the nearby fishing village of Prek Svay. Koh Rong nature safaris – access to this nature reserve is included in the room rate – offer the opportunity to spot rare species of bird and a lot of waterfalls, before returning back to the resort with a longtail boat.

Song Saa Private Island has a good reputation for being eco-friendly and responsive to community programs. Hence, the travel experts usually include Song Saa Private Island in their list of accommodation for the Cambodia tour package. You can also contact us to have your room booked for a totally carefree escape vacation.

c. Contact information:

• Address: Song Saa Private Island, Koh Ouen, Koh Rong Island, Cambodia
• Website: Song Saa Private Island
• Tel: (+85) 592 609 488
• Email:  reservations@songsaa.com

4. Banyan Tree Lang Co – Mystical sanctuary of your senses

a. The top-notch features of Banyan Tree Lang Co

Banyan Tree Lang Co is the most luxurious edition of the Laguna Lang Co Complex – the first and largest completely integrated world-class hideaway in Vietnam. The resort nestled on the crescent bay near Lang Co and under the hills of Truong Son mountain range, which offers privacy and unparalleled exclusivity. This is the ideal destination for travelers looking for a luxury retreat, or having the desire to explore this beautiful area, which includes three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Hue’s Imperial Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Town, and My Son Sanctuary.

Banyan Tree Lang Co includes sixty-five villas of 3 types: The Lagoon Pool Villas, The Beach Pool Villas, and Hill Pool Villas – the most deluxe edition of the three. Each villa comes with a private pool, with a garden and a lagoon or sea view. The resort offers a wide range of services and facilities with which you can enjoy the best moment of your stay. The 18-holes golf course designed by six-time winner Sir Nick Faldo with breathtaking views will surely provide you with wonderful tee times. If you would like to stay in shape during your trip, we recommend the Gym and Yoga Pavilion. This fitness center is equipped with modern facilities and professional personal trainers to help you to relax your body and mind. There are also Kid’s club and a Children’s playground, where your kids can enjoy themselves. The Banyan Tree/ Angsana spa, boat excursion, the cooking class, Vietnamese lantern making class, hiking trail are some of the mentionable services and facilities of Banyan Tree Lang Co.

b.  How to spend your summer vacation at Banyan Tree Lang Co?

Banyan Tree Lang Co offers a wide range of summer activities. The water sports center is a perfect spot for guests who want to fulfill their trip with excitement.  Kayaks, Jetskis, speed boats, paddle boards, windsurfers,… are some of the options for you. There are also outdoor activities for couples and for the whole family. You can either take a boat excursion tour to Lang Co lagoons with your partner or to Perfume River with your family. Visiting a local fishing village is an activity not to miss when you are in Central Vietnam. Learn to be a fisherman for a day, you and your family may catch a bunch of fresh seafood. And if you would like to have a romantic dinner with your companion, the staff of Banyan Tree Lang Co can arrange an amusing dinner for you. Enjoying the fanciful atmosphere and the splendid meal with your partner would be an unforgettable experience for your summer vacation.

The guests usually express their satisfaction to the resort’s staff through feedbacks and reviews on reliable traveling websites. Banyan Tree Lang Co has won the Traveler’s Choice 2019 and got the Certificate of Excellence of TripAdvisor. And during your stay in Banyan Tree Lang Co, you can also visit the Hoi An Ancient Town, Hue’s Imperial City, and My Son Sanctuary. Luxury We offer various tours to all the mentioned destinations. Check out Luxury Vietnam tours for more information.

c. Contact information:

• Address: Cu Du Village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam
• Website: https://www.banyantree.com/en/vietnam/lang-co
• Tel: (+84) 234 369 5888
• Fax: (+84) 234 369 5999
  Email:  Langco@banyantree.com

5. Veranda Natural Resort – A hidden retreat in the wood

a. The highlights of Veranda Natural Resort

Perched on top of the verdant side of Kep National Park and viewed the expanse of the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc island and the picturesque mountain of Bokor, the Veranda Natural Resort is a natural retreat dedicated to tranquility, beauty, and gastronomic delights. From the resort, you can get to some notable destinations in Kep, such as Kep Jetty, Wat Samathi Pagoda, and Kep Market.

The exclusive bungalows on the hills are made of wood, bamboo, shells, and stone and are connected by a labyrinth of walkways on stilts. This makes Veranda Natural resort an absolutely unforgettable place for a romantic getaway. Though each room has been designed with similarities, each room has been creatively furnished to make them unique and meet the individual demands of the guests. Each room also has a private veranda with a seating area from which you can admire panoramic sunsets, the ocean, and the landscapes and enjoy the fresh mountain breeze.

You can find a couple of salt pools with poolside bars, where they offer great cocktails and unique scenery to enjoy. The Secret Bar & Restaurant serves excellent food and stunning views from the restaurant pavilion. They can also arrange private BBQ parties if the guests require. At the Kep Cambodia Bakery & Cafe Lounge, you can enjoy the tempting tastes of freshly made bread, from croissants, danishes, and pastries or over 15 different ice cream flavors.

The Kep Spa offers peace and solitude with its free foot massage and a wide range of rejuvenating treatments for complete relaxation (for tired body and soul) while enjoying a panoramic view of the sunset edged by the luxuriant foliage of the perfumed refuge with the scents of nature. Veranda is a unique place in Kep to relax for all ages.

b. How to make your summer vacation at Veranda Natural Resort remarkable?

Veranda Natural Resort can arrange various tours for the guests to explore every highlight of Kep. Kep Beach is an essential part of Kep City, where most tourists enjoy themselves when they come Kep. You can find a statue depicting a fisherman’s wife waiting for him to return from the sea at the far end of the beach. Kep National Park is an ideal hiking spot, where you can explore the wildlife of birds, monkeys, squirrels, snakes, butterflies,… and enjoy the stunning panorama of pagodas, steep valleys, plantations, Bokor mountain, nearby towns, and nearby islands. Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) is a tiny rustic island with only a few bungalows and seaside shack restaurants. There, you can enjoy the relaxation and the pristine beauty of the island. Just approach the tour desk, the staff at Veranda Natural Resort will help you to enjoy any of the mentioned destinations.

Having a vacation in a remote Asian country like Cambodia requires a lot to prepare. To get rid of the difficulties while getting your room booked, contact Lux Travel DMC and we will help you.

c. Contact information:

• Address: Veranda Natural Resort, Kep Hillside, Kep, Cambodia
• Website: Veranda Natural Resort
• Tel: (+855)128 886 19/ (+855) 366 388 588
• Email: info@veranda-resort.asia

6. InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort – A paradise of myth and luxury

a. The top-notch features of InterContinential Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Being the multi-award-winning resort, InterContinential Danang Sun Peninsula Resort amazes the guests by the world-class services and breathtaking architecture. Located on the Son Tra peninsula, the surrounding of the resort is a perfect combination of sea, rainforest, jungle and mountain. Guests can feel as if they merge themselves into the lush nature of Son Tra peninsula. The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort includes 200 rooms in total with 16 penthouse and villas. All villas are luxuriously furnished and offer private balconies. The resort’s beachfront villas are set in spectacular boulders at the mountain’s foot and feature private pools, a sundeck, and luxurious bathroom amenities. Some rooms boast a spa bath and a private dining pavilion with great ocean views.

 The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort has a free-form pool close to the beach with sun loungers and shady palm trees surrounding it. Guests can also find a children’s pool, an Olympic-sized pool and a hot tub with a fantastic view. The hotel’s beach will make you lie down and relax immediately. It is a 700 meters long stretch, completely private, manned by a lifeguard, and located in a sheltered bay with still water.

Treat yourself to a relaxing trip in the peaceful and healthy Harnn Heritage Spa of the resort, where the hanging swinging boats Hang X are always available for reflexology. Swingers of all kinds will love the two golf courses within easy reach: the 16-hole Danang Golf Club and the 18-hole links of Montgomerie near the Smith Hotel, Nam Hai. Besides, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort includes various fine dining options. Guests can savor the elegant French dishes at La Maison 1888 restaurant, or have a romantic dinner at Citron Restaurant with alfresco tables at 100 m above sea level. And for the guests who love fresh seafood and grilled meats, the beachfront Barefoot restaurant is ideal for them.

b. Why to spend summer vacation at InterContinential Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Staying among the gorgeous nature of Son Tra peninsula, it will be a huge miss if you don’t explore it. Take a Trekking Trip of  InterContinential Danang Sun Peninsula Resort and you will have a chance to see various species of plants, mammals, reptiles, and birds. And after the 4 km trekking trip, you can admire a 1,000-year-old banyan tree. If you’ve been to a Vietnam beach before, you may have noticed a round boat that looks like a basket. Those basket boats have been an important tool of Vietnamese fishermen for ages. It would be an interesting experience to learn to pilot the basket boat yourself. Therefore, InterContinential Danang Sun Peninsula Resort offers basket boat lessons for guests to enjoy this one-of-a-kind activity.

Booking a room at a Vietnam resort for a long trip may be complicated and brings you troubles if any problem comes up. In order to avoid this risk, you can contact Lux Travel DMC’s staff to get your room booked.

c. Contact information:

• Address: InterContinential Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Bai Bac, SonTra Peninsula, Da Nang
• Website: InterContinential Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
• Tel: (+61) 299 358 371

7. Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai – The masterpiece at the heart of Vietnam

a. The high spots of Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai

Having welcomed guests since 2006, Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai is continuously developed by the staff to offer the best quality services to the clients. With the reputation to be one of the top resorts of Vietnam, the resort always amazes the guests with elegance and luxury. Every section of the resort will amuse you, from the outdoor lobby, the infinity pool to your modernly furnished room. All 100 villas include outdoor showers and patios overlooking a verdant garden or the sparkling ocean. The top-notch are certainly the villas with swimming pools, which are accessible through a private entrance in the courtyard and equipped with a separate pavilion for living and dining room, butler service and a private heated pool. There are villas with up to five bedrooms, ideal for couples or families traveling together.

 To enjoy your relaxing time at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, you can either come to the pool, lie back and enjoy yourself with an ice cream delivered oftentimes to your lounger or savor the spa services. The Heart of Spa center offers various special wellness treatments for you to take in the essence of the Earth. There is also named “Children of the Earth” for guests at 6 to 12 so that your whole family can enjoy this great experience together. Another notorious feature of Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai is the splendid cuisine. Indian and Western dishes are served at Cafe Nam Hai – where a daily buffet breakfast is offered. And if you would like to enjoy the delicate Vietnamese dishes, dine at the La Sen restaurant with the light of the romantic lantern. You can even cook yourself a meal at the Nam Hai Cooking Academy with fresh ingredients grown in their own garden.

b. Summer vacation activities offered by Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai provides the guests with various aquatic recreation. Windsurfing equipment, single or double kayaks, bodyboard,… are included in the complimentary services. Besides, you can enjoy the waves with inflatables, waterskiing, Jet-skiing, kneeboarding, and wakeboarding,… And if you want to try out for a more thrilling experience, stand on  X-jet blades to fly on the ocean. Beside the aquatic activities, you can also take a rice field cycling trip or explore the Hoi An Ancient Town- the UNESCO World Heritage Site with the shuttle bus offered by the resort.

With the excellent location, Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai provides the opportunity to explore 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites nearby, namely Hue Imperial Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary. Lux Travel DMC offers “Hoi An Ancient Town – Free & Easy 4 days” which guests can customize to enjoy both their stay at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai and the tranquil beauty of Hoi An.

c. Contact information:

• Address: Block Ha My Dong B, Dien Duong Ward, Dien Ban Town, Hoi An, Vietnam
• Website: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai
• Tel: (+84) 912 003 100

8. About Lux Travel DMC

Lux Travel DMC –  the leading high-end DMC in Southeast Asia, offers carefree luxury holidays so that you and your family can concentrate on fun, not on details. Imagine any vacation experience you want; name it, we deliver it with style. Lux Travel DMC, headquartered in Hanoi, Vietnam, is a fully-owned, 100% Vietnamese company. It was founded by specialists in luxury travel in the 1990s when Vietnam had just opened its doors to world tourism.

Our company is a full-service travel agency with accredited and licensed luxury tour operators. We are the first luxury tourism company in Vietnam. Our company stands out for business trips and pleasure trips. We offer services not only for tour operators and travel agencies, MICE planners but also for independent travelers from all over the world.

So, if you are preparing a tour of Vietnam Cambodia contact us now.

• Address No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

<p>The post Best Hotels And Resorts For Vietnam Cambodia Summer Vacation first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

Does Vietnam Celebrate Christmas?

To begin with, Christmas is not a public holiday in Vietnam. People go to work as normal and all businesses have normal opening hours.  Next, the long-established Vietnamese religions are Buddhism and the Chinese philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism. Therefore, in the past, Christmas was only celebrated by the Christian community.

In recent days, Christmas is getting more and more popular and is considered one of the four most important festivals in Vietnam including the Birthday of Buddhism, Mid-term Autumn Festival, and Lunar New Year.

Vietnamese Christmas celebration starts in the evening of 24th December and often last to the next day. In Vietnam, the Christmas Eva is much more important than Christmas Day.

How is Christmas in Vietnam celebrated?

Nowadays, Christmas in Vietnam is greeted with enthusiasm and joy by the locals, especially those ones in the big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. They happily join the celebrations and decorate the cities.

A few weeks before the Christmas Day, many offices and shops put up elaborate ornaments with a quite Western look full of lights, bright garlands adorning Christmas trees and Santas. Many shops, as well as restaurants, offer a special promotion for this grand party.

Young people like to concentrate on the center of the city where there is the Cathedral such as the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi and Notre-Dame Cathedral in District 1, Saigon. On this eve, the celebrities and Vietnamese famous people also often show up here for the Christmas Events including the Music Concert.

Speaking of the Christian people in Vietnam, Christmas Eva is an occasion for the family gathering, a gala time and a gala time. Like people in the western countries, after attending the Midnight Mass, Vietnamese Christian return home and enjoy the Christmas food following the recipes which are changed somehow to adapt the local tastes. For example, the chicken soup and sweet fruitcakes are often replaced for the turkey and Christmas pudding.

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What happens on Christmas Eve

Vietnam used to be the colony of France, so the Vietnamese Christmas celebration is under the influence of the French tradition. On Christmas Eva, churches, and some Christian homes will have a nativity crib scene or ‘creche’. People listen to the Christmas song, throw confetti, take pictures, enjoy the magic of Christmas night, give the beautiful wishes and Christmas presents to other people. Children are eager to receive the gift from Santa Claus.

So, if you come to spend Christmas in Vietnam, but still hesitate on where to go for Christmas Eve, here are some ideas on what every major city in Vietnam offers as a celebration.

1. Christmas in Hanoi, Vietnam

In Hanoi, the weather on Christmas is colder. The temperature tends to decrease when the night falls. So make sure you don’t forget to bring a warm coat.  On Christmas Eve, young people like to put on the jackets, Christmas reindeer printed sweaters, and the scarf of the red and green color, which make the street colorful and striking.

a. Where to go in Hanoi on Christmas Eve?

St. Joseph’s Cathedral

The famous St. Joseph’s Cathedral of Hanoi (which looks a little like that of Notre Dame de Paris) attracts many people as well as the surrounding of Hoan Kiem Lake, a very central place for gatherings among locals and foreigners.

Hang Ma Street

Hang Ma, a street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, sells all kinds of ever-changing holiday decorations and adapts quickly to the Christmas spirit as soon as the winter season starts. It means that you can buy any Christmas ornament you want here as well as your favorite Christmas cards and pictures.

b. Things to do in Hanoi on Christmas Holiday?

Dinner at a prestigious hotel

Enjoy the luxury dinner buffet in Sofitel Métropole in Hanoi – Top Things to do in Hanoi in Christmas Eve

In general, during the Christmas period, hotels offer luxury buffet dinners as well as performances or performances accompanying the meal. These hotels include Sofitel Métropole in Hanoi or the Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel, Melia Hanoi or the Hotel des Arts of Ho Chi Minh City. Ask our agents for advice on choosing the one that suits you best for the Christmas meal in Vietnam.

Attend a music show at Hanoi Opera House

On Christmas Eve and on the 25th there are several musical performances held in Hanoi, especially in the area of the French Quarter near the Opera but a show at the Opera itself is a must.

Get inspired with a little taste of Vietnamese culture in Hanoi

Hanoi is the unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and traditional pagodas and temples that date back hundreds of years. Imprinted in minds of most traveler’s visiting Hanoi is the beauty of French Old Quarter with 36 special streets, the cultural highlights of Ngoc Son Temple and the Temple of Literature, etc. If it happens to you to visit Hanoi on Xmas Holiday, don’t hesitate to spend one day to discover the charm of the entire city.

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2. Christmas in Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Church spirit on Christmas Eve

Being the most major city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is very active during Christmas. People often want to celebrate Xmas in Catholic cathedrals. They close the streets nearby to cars at these times to make it easier for big crowds. Meanwhile, in Hanoi, people are eager to celebrate Christmas in the cold weather of the winter. In Ho Chi Minh, the weather will be just like summer! The weather and the energy from the crowded make the city center hotter.

As far as Ho Chi Minh City is concerned, the decorations are numerous. And you will find decorated and lighted trees, as well as Santa’s everywhere. There, the cathedral of Notre Dame is very popular on Christmas Eve.

Where to go & Things to do on Christmas Eve in Saigon

Enjoy the magic of Christmas night

The street of light and Candles in Thanh Cong Street

• The Eiffel Model in Tan Phu Church
• Buying a lucky book in Book Street (Nguyen Van Binh Street)
• Water Music Park (District 5)

• Bui Vien Street on Christmas Eve

Go shopping

In recent years, people tend to concentrate on commercial buildings to go shopping, have dinner, and take pictures. Bitexco Financial Tower used to be the most favorite building on Christmas Eve. But since 2018, due to the opening of Landmark 81 – the highest building of Vietnam, a huge number of people choose to celebrate the party in this new landmark. Some popular places for going shopping on Christmas Eve includes Aeon Mall Binh Tan, Diamond Plaza (District 1), Saigon Centre, Takashimaya

Experience the traditional Western Christmas Style in the Special Winter Festivals

Dam Sen Water Park, The Snowing village (Crescent Mall), The Snow Town ( District 2)

Have dinner on the special Saigon River Cruise

Christmas is an occasion for the family gathering. All members stay together, pray for a  lucky new year, and then enjoying dinner with the delicious local cuisines. Then, relax on the upper deck, have a nice talk, and admire the colorful, stunning cities of lights. All of these experiences will bring you an unforgettable Christmas Eve on the waterways.

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3. A magical Christmas in Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is a fishing village. Once an important port in Southeast Asia, which still retains a lot of charm and influences in its architecture as much Japanese or Chinese as French. Its picturesque location on the banks of the Thu Bon River gives it the air of Venice. Thanks to its ideal location and peaceful atmosphere, Hoi An has become the favorite breakpoint of the excursion to discover the highlights of Vietnam.

You will be able to enjoy the gastronomy of the central cuisine, take the bicycle everywhere, have clothes tailor-made to you in one of the many tailors of the city (or shoes and bags) and try activities such as fishing or farming. Moreover, it is an excellent city to come practice yoga and enjoy spa treatments. And to wrap it up, there is the beach! Just a short boat ride to the coast, you find Cham Islands or Cau Dai Beach.

Try to be there around the Lantern Festival and you will be treated to a romantic and warm atmosphere when the city is plunged into darkness and you only see the lights of the glittering lanterns floating along the river.

4. Christmas inDalat, Vietnam “little Paris”

Dalat or “little Paris” was nicknamed by the Vietnamese. During Christmas, it becomes the city of flowers in December. This year, You can attend the Festival of Flowers from 23 to 27.

Alternatively, you can admire the beautiful landscape while devoting time to your favorite hobby with the 3-day golf tour in Dalat. Vietnam was one of the first countries in Asia to create high-quality golf courses, including the last Emperors’ private 9 hole course in Dalat in the 1920s. After a round of golf here, you will want to explore even more of the country’s top flight courses.

5. Christmas inSapa, Vietnam

If you want to spend a more typical Christmas, embrace the cold and maybe the snow of Sapa in December. Hotels looking like chalets and the mountains is a bit like going to winter sports. Northern Vietnam landscapes will dazzle your eyes.

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6. Christmas in Lang Son Province and Far North Vietnam

If you want to escape from the crowded, the bustle and hustle of the big cities during your Christmas Holiday, far North Vietnam is a great choice for you. Located at 1,500 meters above sea level, Mau Son Mountain in Lang Son boasts the stunning natural scenery and fresh atmosphere. At the time of Xmas, the weather here is pretty cold. But with the heavy jacket, some hot green tea or some small cup of Mau Son Wine – the specialty of this mountain, together with hot, tasty local cuisine, you will be warmed up soon. The day escape trip to Mau Son, 200 km from Hanoi, will surely bring you a chance of refreshing yourself, find the inner peace, and release all worries of the normal lives.

7. Christmas In Pu Luong

To many people, Christmas is not only a holiday but also a time to discover and challenge themselves before the new year. If you like some adventurous for Xmas, trekking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve and Pom Coong Villages are the right things for you. Let’s begin with a soft trek this beautiful valley, going from one village to another and have a chance to get in touch with local villagers to know more about their daily business tilling the fields, logging or herding the buffalo. Then, descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat. weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savor the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.

8. Christmas in the sumptuous Halong Bay

Give yourself the best Christmas gift and come to celebrate on a family junk. You can get truly royal cruises in Halong Bay. Imagine having your family on board for a unique moment. You will experience the comfort of a 5-star boat while everything is taken care of in the tiniest details. And, added to that are entertaining activities, unlimited message and even jacuzzi in your own bathroom. The weather at this time is generally pleasant. Swimming can be a little cooler, but you can try kayaking and visiting the precious surrounding caves.

Enjoying the panoramic view of the mystical landscape from the chartered helicopter and relax on the Paradise Luxury Cruise may give your family an exceptional Christmas in one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

9. Christmas in Nha Trang, Vietnam

Nha Trang is widely known for the beautiful white-sand beach, clear water, and a wide range of high-end, luxury hotels and restaurant. On Christmas Eve, this coastal city looks more gorgeous and splendid than ever thanks to the colorful lights, candles and twinkle Christmas ornament. Like many other major cities, the locals like to visit the big commercial centers for shopping, taking pictures, and having dinner.

Some people choose to celebrate Christmas with a Barbeque party on the beach to enjoy the fresh, cool winds blowing from the sea. If you want a really sweet, romantic, and luxury Christmas Eve with your lover, spend a night with him/her on Emperor Cruises Nha Trang – the five-star all-inclusive cruise where the luxury meets the arts. Boasting a special collection of artworks of the Painter Pham Luc – the Picasso of Vietnam, Emperor Cruises Nha Trang will help you to discover the true beauty of Vietnam – the country and the people in the luxurious and unique way.

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10. Christmas in Mekong Delta

To be honest, there is nothing special in Mekong Delta during the Christmas time. The Santa Clause seems to entirely forget this land. Travel to Mekong Delta this time, you will see that everything goes on as usual: the bustling floating markets full of small boats barging and jostling for space to sell the goods, the green vegetation of the canals to the orchard with many delicious, fresh fruits, the peaceful night on river combing with the rhythms of water…

If those things are not enough for you, let’s include Mekong Delta to your amazing trip exploring the treasure of Vietnam and Cambodia. 

Tips for Christmas Celebration in Vietnam

How to say some Christmas words in Vietnamese?

Find that the choice is difficult, right? Just think of how special it will be to spend Christmas in Vietnam! Any chosen destination is already a whole new exciting experience. Some luxuries lie simply in doing something different from the usual.

With more than 15 years of experience in luxury travel, Lux Travel DMC transports you to the colors and flavors of Vietnam. Offering off-the-beaten-path itineraries and luxury vacations discovering Authentic Vietnam, our local experts will advise you throughout your preparation and stay. We will be happy to help you here.

<p>The post Best places to spend Christmas in Vietnam 2020 first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

Travel is to immerse yourself into a new culture and get a deeper understanding about other cultures and their people and cuisine. If you are wondering what to spend your summer vacation – it is worth a try to land on Vietnam and Cambodia. Cambodia and Vietnam mysterious history about prosperity and terror will be curious to visitors with a variety of amazing travel experiences and widely different geography and unique cuisine.  Wandering above the gorgeous white sand beaches under the coconut palms or through endless green rice terraces, exploring local cuisine and falling in love with the extreme kindness of the locals will make your summer time more interesting and meaningful. Due to its safety and hospitality, private tours to Vietnam and Cambodia are more preferable. Why? – Let’s have a look how private tours benefit your trips.

1. Why should you consider private tours to Vietnam and Cambodia?

a. The comfort to enjoy your customized itinerary

Private tours mean you do not have to depend on other people like a group tour – you can customize your wish list as convenient and flexible as you want. Group tours with dozens of people cover a list of places and choices,  but some which may not be of your interest – It is such a waste of time and even not fulfill your wish.

You can design your own plan with friends or family vacation. You can consult reviews online or via friends and be eager to explore primitive or adventurous places.

Unlike group travel tours, everything is planned available. By contrast, for private tours, you have to plan your own trip from scratch – from the beginning, asking for reviews, customizing the trip to the most convenient approach like traveling by plane or car, or staying at a hotel or a homestay, all are in your favor and budget. You can also add your personal touch, or adjust your plan by adding more exciting or reduce the less attractive destinations.

As a result, the final plan will be what you’ve designed yourself to be the way you enjoy it most – it will be much more encouraging and relaxing than group travel tours. And of course, larger group tours via agencies will never enable you to create and customize your journey like this.

b. Higher flexibility for your journeys

Flexibility is for sure in private tours as you are the planner and it is yours. Whatever you want, adding or deleting some places or activities is up to you. Tours can often be extended or booked for consecutive days with the very same guide if you are tired after long distances among the cities or just wish to explore the culture and new places. On the contrary, large group tours with many people have scheduled a fixed plan for that day, there is no much time to stop and take pictures or access closer to the local culture and people. In larger groups, you must follow the tour guide and even run to catch up with them, in order not to be lost.

Flexibility, therefore, is the most favorable benefits of private tours – it all depends on what you want, just inform your tour guide if you want.

c. Off-the-beaten-track destinations

Dotted with the rich history for centuries, Cambodia and Vietnam remain its intact beauty, especially in rural areas. All kinds of tourist attractions are available, islands, beaches, highlands, cultural heritages, temples, architecture structures or just local life exploration and cuisine tour are waiting for you to experience. Moreover, as Cambodia and Vietnam are safe, solo travel to off-the-beaten-track places is also ideal and worth a try.

Marvelous and charming highlands

One of the most amazing spots for adventure and culture lovers in Vietnam is Hagiang. Scenic mountainous landscapes, pristine scenery and diversified cultures of over 20 ethnic minority groups are what remind visitors when thinking about Ha Giang. The mountain ranges soaring up will give a breathtaking view when we are at mountain summits. Deep valleys, dense forests together with amazing waterfalls create incredible scenery. In late spring and early autumn, the region looks colorful with rice terraces, while in the winter, the mountains are crowned with snow. The rustic beauty, the tranquility of the small plants, the peach blossoms and a long stretch of circuit triangle flowers together with and a lot of rare and brilliantly-colored roses attracts thousands of both local and foreign tourists every year. Riding on over 180 km on passes and admiring the marvelous natural beauty of Vietnam will be such a memorable experience.

What about Cambodia? Exploring the Cardamom Mountains (Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforest) with a swathe of rare and endangered flora and fauna makes any your adventurous travel more incredible.

The Floating Markets

If you wish to get closer to the countryside, Mekong Delta Vietnam and Siem Reap floating markets are really great suggestions. Every year it attracts millions of visitors coming here to explore dense rivers, canals system, house stilts and lifestyle of the locals.

Floating markets have long been a part of the locals in Southern Vietnam and Siem Reap from generations to generations. Spending their most lifetimes on rivers, people are used to living on floating boats. For them, floating boats can be not only their houses and but their place of trading fruits, food, agricultural products and many others as well.

The floating market is where the locals can sell and buy their products and fresh food hung on the poles while visitors can travel around just to enjoy their vibrant life or buy something to try to make a bargain. You can find floating bars, floating restaurants and the same kinds of shops as on the land. And, sitting on the boat and sipping a coffee or tasting a Southern Vietnam noodle is such an incredible moment.

d. More personalized attention from tour guides

It is understandable as small groups will get greater attention from tour guides (if any). They will communicate, introduce you about the local culture as well as tricks to avoid tourist scams and tips to take care of yourself better.

When visiting new lands, communication with the locals will give you more chances to get closer to their culture including their customs, festivals, rituals, handicrafts or cuisines. Private guides will be your interpreters in case you cannot understand and communicate in the local language, which will minimize the cultural barriers and embarrassments, especially in limited time.

Moreover, local tour guides enable you to explore primitive landscapes and several spots unavailable on the Internet.

e. Real life movie set to yourself after the busy life

As small countries lying on the east coast of the Pacific Ocean and possessing naturally favorable conditions, Vietnam and Cambodia are perfect choices for a retreat with many different kinds of attractions and tours. Especially, naturally blessed with over 4,000 islands, it is no surprise when Vietnam has become such a hit with tourists wishing to spend their vacation on an isolated and peaceful island. Clear crystal blue water, white smooth sand beaches, charming scenes together with unique local life create an irresistible appeal to every tourist coming to these islands at the first sight. This is really a great chance to relax or just simply spend quality time enjoying a new place together away from the bustle and hustle of modern life.

The floating market is really such a highlight in Cambodia and Vietnam. Hundreds and thousands of boats packed with vivid colors of abundant fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, handicraft goods, regional goods or aquatic products or even the supply different animals such as snakes, tortoises or birds will amaze every tourist. You should not miss Cai Rang, Cai Be and Tra On floating market and Siem Reap floating markets.

The rural characteristics, the vibrant atmosphere of the floating market and the friendliness of locals will certainly give you memorable moments to conquer new land, to experience a new culture uniqueness and even to ease your mind after the bustling life.

The peace, hospitable people and cultural diversity will definitely ease your soul and give you the best moments to escape from the busy life.

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2. Why should Vietnam & Cambodia be on your list?

a. Primitive natural beauty

Despite as a small country, Vietnam has become such a hit in Southeast Asia with tourists by hundreds and thousands of natural wonders, fantastic natural beauty and cultural complexities, and dynamic megacities and hill-tribe villages. Each region impresses visitors by different landscapes ranging among three most wonderful destinations in the North, the Middle and the South of Vietnam.

Naturally blessed with diversified landscapes ranging from highlands, valleys, forests, national parks, temples to beaches, bays and islands, Vietnam is undoubtedly a great destination which enables travelers to enjoy different kinds of tourism. The irresistible appeal of the top tourist attractions in Vietnam such as Halong Bay, Moc Chau, Ba Na Hills and Hoian has attracted millions of travelers each year.

What about Cambodia? A mysterious land “the Kingdom of Wonder” with friendly locals is dotted with an array of unforgettable views, people and experiences. It is ideal to explore the Cardamom Mountains (Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforest), riding up Bokor Mountain, hiking through Kep National Park, hanging out with Mondulkiri’s elephants or explore Kirirom’s pine forests.

Especially, both two lovely countries are home to many world’s cultural heritage sites such as Angkor Wat or Halong Bay.

b. Hospitable locals

With a Buddhism-based culture and traditions, Vietnamese and Cambodian people are very friendly and kind. Although they are sometimes quite conservative but still willing to help foreigners. They are eager to help you if you get lost or attentively show their cuisines, handicrafts or festivals if you wish to travel like a real local.

The way that Cambodian and Vietnamese people help others may surprise you a lot. Many travelers to these countries are humbled by the kindness and generosity of the locals. If you are in clear need of help, they will assist at anytime and anywhere. Whoever you are, don’t worry, even it is your first time in these countries, the locals are eager to invite you to join them at their table with share snacks, attend their family meal or take part in festivals, or even just simply say hello to you in the street.

c. Cultural diversity

Both Cambodia and Vietnam are home to ethnic minorities. Just in Vietnam, over 50 different groups create the culture diversity. So when coming to Vietnam and Cambodia, tourists will not only explore the stunning and primitive natural beauty but the unique culture of the locals as well. For example, not only famous for its high-valued cultures, Central Highland Vietnam attracts travelers by the wild of mountains and herds of elephant. Especially, taking a deeper discovery into the jungle, tourists will be amazed by its stunning beauty with different kinds of flowers and trees as well as the marvelous waterfalls and rivers. High-valued cultures are also Central Highland’s identity.

The ethnic minority groups here still well remain their traditional lifestyle as well as cultural activities and festivals or ceremonies. The houses on stilts, heroic epics and the Space of Gong are what appear on our minds when talking about this mysterious and heroic land. Especially, the traditional music of the ethnic people, with unique musical instruments like T’rung and Klong Put, is such a hit of Central Highlands in particular and Vietnam culture in general with tourists. Also when coming to this diversified and unique cultural land, we can Gong Culture, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and a pride of Vietnam culture in the world. Naturally blessed with amazing mountainous landscapes as well as charming and distinctive cultural identity, Central Highland Vietnam is such a great choice for highland discovery.

d. Diversified cuisine

When coming to a country, not only the local people, places or experience, but also the cuisine impresses tourists. Vietnam is divided into three regions, including the North, the Central and the South. Although there are common features in the dining style still have different characteristics in each region. It can be resulted from the differences in geography, culture, climate, and taste, but above all, it contributes to bringing richness and diversity to the cuisine of Vietnam. What about Cambodia? Located on the Southwest of Vietnam, Cambodia’s cuisine will also amaze you with different dishes reflecting its culture and climate.

3. How to enjoy private tours to Vietnam and Cambodia? – 5 easy step to book a tour/travel with Lux Travel DMC

Private tours give you freedom, independence and flexibility to explore whatever you want and your wishlist. Safety, cheapness and friendliness really make Cambodia and Vietnam must-see destinations on your list. However, if you need a private assistant for your plan, feel free to contact us, just 5 easy steps to get your journey started right now! Just:

• Send us your inquiry
• Get the first draft within 24 hours
• Customize your holiday
• Make payment through a secure system
• Get ready for your dream trips

Hope this review can be helpful and assist your amazing experience in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Contact Us:

• Address No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

<p>The post Top 5 benefits of Private tours to Vietnam and Cambodia first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

If one says making a plan of where to go is not easy, choosing a suitable accommodation is much more challenging. To help you get rid of those difficulties, Lux Travel DMC will provide the top luxury hotels and resorts that suit your demand for wellness. Consequently, on any tour to Vietnam and Cambodia, you will apply those recommendations into your itinerary.

1. Galina Hotel Mud Bath & Spa – Best space for enjoying mud-bathing service

Situated in the central part of Nha Trang, Galina Hotel Mud Bath and Spa is truly one of the best options for travelers. The place offers a unique combination of luxury accommodation and mud-bathing. When coming and staying here, visitors can both enjoy the magnificent view of the beach, which is five minutes walking from the hotel and deepening themselves in the healthy mud-bathing package. The natural hot mud-bath service has provided a special kind of relaxation and enjoyment for the high-end customers.

As you know, mud-bathing can bring a lot of benefits to our health. Even more, when coming to Galina Hotel Mud Bath and Spa, you can not only rejuvenate yourself but also indulge in this type of liquid. The staff are very friendly and professional.

With those reasons, travel experts always include Galina Hotel Mud Bath and Spa into their available packages.

• Address: 05 Hung Vuong, Loc Tho ward, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa
• Website: http://galina.vn/hotel
• Hotline: (+84) 901 7000 89
• Email: booking@haidanggroup.com
• Class: Premium

2. Mia Resort Nha Trang – ideal getaway and enjoyment

Within Nha Trang, you can also choose Mia resort as your destination. This place provides the high level of convenience and comfort for the customers. With the target of putting the guests in the best satisfaction, they will definitely bring you the ideal taste of enjoyment and wellness. The travellers will be extremely well-treated even with the reasonable price.

The rooms are built on the surface of the ocean. Therefore, you are always able to deepen yourself in the fresh and cool water. The view is also fantastic for a luxury holiday.

For further information, please contact the local expert.

• Address: Bai Dong, Cam Hai Dong, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa
• Website: http://www.mianhatrang.com/
• Hotline: 0258 3989 666
• Email: info@mianhatrang.com
• Class: 5-star luxury

2. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – a great choice for couple’s summer vacation

What makes Six Senses Ninh Van Bay so popular to foreign visitors, especially to honeymooners?

Six Senses has got four typical types of accommodations: Hill Top Pool Villa, Beach Front Pool Villa, Rock Pool villa, Water Pool Villa. Those villas create a wide range of options for tourists to take into consideration. People who enjoy private wellness vacation will be definitely impressed by the majestic surrounding scenery and the pristine beauty of nature. Staying here, apart from the luxurious services that the hotel offers, you can also make a spa reservation for therapy and massage, join in a cooking class or include a hiking trail tour into your package.

The spa service in Six Senses will absolutely help you to rejuvenate and also relax yourself as if you are lying on an extremely comfortable King-sized bed. Only being there, you can be relaxed by the meditation treatment and fully-traditional massage served by the well-trained staff who are highly required to bring the best service for the customers.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay has become one of the indispensable elements within the tour package of Lux Travel DMC. It results from the fact that more than 80% travellers who stay in Six Senses Ninh Van Bay recommend this destination for the post-visitors. It also receives a bunch of good comments on TripAdvisor such as:

“Private, peaceful & unforgettable place. Good service, nice personnel. Love the gorgeous bay view from our hilltop villa, the romantic private pool & the smell of citronella products (presents in their lotion, shampoo, shower gel, shower salt, welcome drink…) Best choice for couples, and people who’re looking for harmony between nature & comforts.”

• Address: Ninh Van Bay, Ninh Hoa District, Khanh Hoa Province
• Website: https://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-van-bay/destination
• Hotline: (+84) 258 3524 268 l (+84) 258 7307 788
• Email: reservations-ninhvan@sixsenses.com

3. Vinpearl Resort and Spa Phu Quoc – best accommodation for self-indulgement

Vinpearl Resort and Spa Phu Quoc will completely suit your demand for relaxation, wellness and spa. Located in the private island, this resort has owned its advantage of creating a personal and healthy environment for the visitors. Along with the significant coastline providing a space for sunbathing and water sports, Vinpearl Resort and Spa also makes spa service available for couples, families and other people to enjoy. Accordingly, the menu runs diversely from therapy to body and treatment, from traditional to modern method.

While coming to Phu Quoc – the so-called “Pearl Island” is a treasured exploration, having a chance to stay in Vinpearl Resort and Spa Phu Quoc is another worthy experience. In general, it has gradually left domestic and international travellers a remarkable impression of wellness and spa availability.

• Address: Bai Dai, Ganh Dau, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
• Website: https://www.vinpearl.com/resort-spa-phu-quoc/
• Hotline: (+84) 297 355 0550
• Email: res.VPRSPQ@vinpearl.com

4. Almanity Hoi An Wellness Resort – deepening in the high-end spa service

Accidentally catching Almanity Wellness Resort on the way visiting Hoi An, you will be attracted by its luxury and convenience. The resort is originally located on the peaceful ancient town Hoi An, therefore it is well-fixed for the fan of quietness and privacy.

Here is one of the good feedbacks that can be easily got from Tripadvisor.

“The hotel is in a great location and it is a short distance to restaurants and old town. The staff is very courteous and professional. Rooms are very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was very good and there was a wide range of choices (everything American). I had lunch in the restaurant and everything I had was excellent and flavorful. I used the spa and the pool. Spa staff was awesome – Thank you for the relaxation!!! Pool was nice and pool was very clean and well maintained. There were enough sunbeds near shade or with sun exposure!! Overall – I highly recommend this hotel!!”

Almanity Hoi An Wellness gives the suggestion of the holistic spa inclusive retreat for tourists ranging from 1 day to 7 days, even more than that. If you make reservation for an all-inclusive room package, you are able to receive an unlimited daily Sauna and Steam service, a daily 60-minute treatment at My Chi Wellness and Spa and join the daily-scheduled yoga and Taichi session at the poolside.

Unlike other luxury resorts and hotels, Hoi An Wellness Resort not only brings you the sense of true relaxation by the four-star nature-like design but also offers different kinds of medical treatment to rejuvenate and refresh yourself.

• Address: 326 Ly Thuong Kiet, Tan An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
• Website: https://almanityhoian.com/en/
• Hotline: (+84) 235 3666 888 / (+84) 235 3666 110
• Email: reservation@almanityhoian.com

5. Anantara Angkor Resort and Spa – your pampering spotlight

Standing in the outskirt of Siem Reap, Anantara Angkor Resort and Spa is a luxurious escape destination for holiday travellers. This resort resembles the royalty of a grand Khmer villa. From the exquisite rooms, you can take a look over a beautiful courtyard beside the ancient-like swimming pool.

Anantara offers 39 extended rooms and suite which is built based on religious architecture. From there, you can easily approach Angkor Wat complex as it is only about 15 minutes driving to this place. The resort also provides VIP tours for arranged on the basis of your demands. After a day travelling around this famous tourist attraction, you can pamper yourself in the traditional massage and therapy session. Khmer massages and ingredients have drawn a significant effect into the facial and body parts. You will feel relaxed after a long discovering journey.

• Address: 6 National Road, Krong Siem Reap
• Website: https://www.anantara.com/en/angkor-siem-reap
• Hotline: +66 (0) 2 365 9110
• Email: reserveanantara@anantara.com
• Class: Luxury

6. Navutu Dreams Resort and Wellness Retreat – A journey to wellness

If you enjoy chilling in the hub of spirituality – Siem Reap, it is highly recommended that you choose Navutu Dreams Resort and Wellness Retreat as a place to stop and experience. Here, there are various kinds of meditation sessions used local ingredients, yoga, detoxes, traditional Chinese medicine and holistic treatments and a range of classes and outdoor programs for tourists to join, balance and rejuvenate their mind, soul and body.

Especially, the resort offers the luxurious grand suite, which is a perfect luxurious homie for families during summer vacation in Siem Reap. Staying in this villa, you can both have the same feeling while staying in your house and admire the high-end and unique design of the whole resort. Therefore, this is one of the most highly-rated resorts on Tripadvisor.

All you decide to take this resort as your getaway, please leave the local experts a message and you are all set.

• Address: Angkor High School Road, Tropeang Treng Village, Sala Komreuk Commune, Siem Reap
• Website: https://navutudreams.com/siem-reap/
• Hotline: 855 (0) 63 964 864 or +855 (0) 92 141 694
• Email: reservations@navutudreams.com

7. Aquarius Hotel and Urban Resort

Arriving at Aquarius Hotel and Urban Resort, the charming stop located right in the centre of Phnom Penh Capital, you will discover the specialities that the hotel offers. It is surrounded by magnificent landmarks. From the leak of the window, you can witness the bustling city of Phnom Penh. While other hotels just have got a normal swimming pool, Aquarius has applied this kind of fresh salt-water, which provides various minerals for your bodies to absorb.

Moreover, you also receive a blissful retreat from the high-qualified and professional masseurs as long as you include the spa and treatment session into your package. What could be more wonderful than relaxing at the spa after a busy-exploring day in Phnom Penh?

• Address: No 5, St 240, Sangkat Chakto Mukh, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
• Website: https://aquariushotel.worldsecuresystems.com/
• Hotline: +855 23 972 089 / 092 559 155
• Email: info@aquariushotel.asia

8. Palace Gate Hotel & Resort –  a true wellness paradise

The so-called Royal Palace is located just 11.5 kilometres from the Phnom Penh International Airport. All of the designs are based on French colonial villa, from the window up to the whole constructions. Staying in such a luxurious hotel, you’ve truly received a unique wellness treatment. The meal is both served in French Fine Dining or Royal Khmer options.  The playing a relaxing ground is high-end enough for tourists to blend themselves into. Overall, it creates a perfect palatial oasis, which is totally ideal for a summer escape.

Furthermore, the views of the room offer different outstanding scenery. With the room package including the balcony, you can get up early in the morning to witness the peace of Phnom Penh and the majestic sunrise. Meanwhile, the royal suite creates an extremely impressing view of the beach and religious architecture.

Have you fallen in love with the specialities that Palace Gate Hotel and Resort? Contact us now and we’ll carry the rest for you!

• Address: 44B, Street Sothearos Blvd (corner of street 240), Sangkat Chey Chumneas, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
• Website: https://palacegatepp.com/
• Hotline: +855 (023) 900 011 / 23 900 012
• Email: info@palacegatepp.com / reservation@palacegatepp.com

9. Special retreat: Halong Bay wellness and spa overnight cruise

Have you ever imagines that there is a luxurious spa area right in the cruise flowing across Halong Bay? It is no longer an unreal context, as today, there are many cruises offering the all-inclusive tours, which comprise of a spa package for travellers. The unique thing that you can get when trying this kind of enjoyment is that you can both admire the majestic beauty of Halong natural landscape and pamper in the special skin and body treatment (hydrotherapy, mud masks, and facials) from the professional staff in the cruise.

Halong Bay wellness and spa overnight cruise has become an incredible choice for tourists, as it is the combination of nature enjoyment and mental treatment. In order to actively make a respondent to the demand of the customers, Lux Travel DMC has published some of the sightseeing-spa tours to create the best environment during your summer holiday. Nothing is wonderful than combining the nature and self-enjoyment within a trip in Vietnam and Cambodia.

About Lux Travel DMC

Here you are in the recommended famous hotel and resort list regarding the wellness and spa requirement. If you ever visit Vietnam and Cambodia, put this article and those accommodations in your mind. Then, you are worry-free about where to stay.

With the slogan “Creating Authentic Experiences for discerning travellers”, Lux Travel DMC has continuously attracted thousands of high-end travellers and get a huge range of contracts and reservations from domestic and international visitors. We are making effort to offer the best tailor-made itinerary for the customers. Everything we suggest is beneficial to your specific demands.

Let us be a part of your summer holiday!

Contact Us

• Address No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

<p>The post Top luxury hotels/resorts for wellness and spa in Vietnam and Cambodia first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

Owning multiple tourist attractions and natural heritages, Vietnam and Cambodia will definitely give you a feeling of enjoyment, acknowledgment, and pleasure.

Sightseeing tour has no longer been unfamiliar with travelers. Nowadays, people have designed a variety of sightseeing and discovering tours, in order to meet the tourists’ demand. There we have a tour to go through Vietnam and Cambodia, such as sightseeing city tour by cyclo, Seaplane tour, Luxury Cruise tour, Trekking and Hiking tour and Waterway exploring tour.

Let’s follow to discover those frequent and famous types of sightseeing activities!

1. Appealing sightseeing city tours by cyclo that you should never miss

Cyclo appears as a witness for Vietnam and Cambodia in the 1960s. Especially, booking a cyclo tour to explore the bustling of old streets, the peace within every alley will be a worthy experience for you.

a. Cyclo sightseeing tour in Hanoi – Discovering the beauty of 36 old quarters

Hanoi 36 old quarters is the home of multiple traditional and ancient streets of Vietnam. Here, not only the architecture but also the distinguishing features are preserved. Some tourists would say they prefer to walk and enjoy everything in the old quarters of Hanoi. However, this attraction seems to be too large for them to walk and discover simultaneously. Of course, if you want to make an exploration into every corner, stop here and there, it is impossible for a cyclo tour. But the cyclo driver will be the best tour guide that you need, as they have them on a little leash.

You are highly recommended to kick off your trip by the late afternoon or the early morning since you’ll witness the harmony of the vibrant and peaceful atmosphere at the same place. The drivers will pedal you to the historic remnants of Hanoi. The streets are named after different types of a commodity such as comb, silver, bamboo, etc.
He also takes you to the surrounding famous destinations like Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Citadel, and The Opera House.

b. Cyclo sightseeing tour in Hoi An – Admiring the ancient atmosphere in the old town

Hoi An has been recognized as one of the world heritage sites since 1999. It is located in the center of Quang Nam province, right next to the bustling Da Nang. The town comprises of 1,107 timber-made buildings with the reflection of indigenous and foreign cultures. Throughout time, Hoi An still remains its outstanding ancient beauty in a remarkable way.

A cyclo tour around Hoi An to admire the pristine beauty of this ancient town will be the ideal decision for you. Let’s tell the cyclo driver to take you along Hoi An river bank. At this point, you can enjoy its simple but poetic scenery. They will keep you passing through the fields of corns, potatoes, rice paddy and local fruit-garden one by one. If you love the peace of Riverside, you can get on a boat for a two-hour-discovery tour along Thu Bon river, then down to Cua Dai estuary, and witness the glorious sunset right on the river.

Hoi An and Hanoi would be the perfect destinations if you choose to discover by cyclo! If you need more assistance in terms of places and activity plans during this sightseeing tour, please contact the local experts for specific instruction.

2. Sightseeing tour from high above – enjoy the majestic beauty of Halong Bay

a. Halong Bay – famous world natural wonder

Have you ever expected to discover the gorgeous beauty of Ha Long Bay within the height of 150 meters from above? If yes, the Seaplane sightseeing tour would be the best luxurious choice for a completely enjoyable sightseeing tour within Vietnam.

Ha Long Bay is a complex of the natural landscape, including more than 1,900 big and small islands, limestones mountains and green forests. Just imagine you were in a seaplane, under the plane comes the majestic Ha Long Bay. You are taking a view like a bird’s eyes to glance every single corner of this UNESCO-listed landscape. The trip would let you deep into the poetic but glorious fairness of nature. You could also witness one of the most impressive scenery: the water is clear enough for you to look deeply into the bottom, the mountains are imposing enough for you to get surprised. All in one, create a flawless picture, pleasing the eyes of every visitor.

Should you intend to visit Halong Bay by seaplane, Hai Au Aviation will appear as one of the most famous seaplane agencies whenever you conduct a research on the internet. This enterprise has been joining the tourism sector for more than 14 years. This is also the only airline offering direct seaplane tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

You can visit their website for more information.

b. Overlooking the magnificence of Siem Reap on a hot air balloon flight

We guess you must feel fantastic about the first real balloon flight tour in Cambodia!

Siem Reap is originally famous for its natural and architectural beauty for recent decades. However, finding an extraordinary way to explore the attractiveness of this place is seemed to be a ridiculous adventure. Whether you believe or not, a sightseeing tour where travelers are sitting inside a hot air balloon and overthrowing their eyesights to every corner of Siem Reap, has not been a dream anymore.

Float up in the sky in the late afternoon, pass through the majestic Angkor, the peaceful Tonle Sap Lake and the crowded floating villages and rice paddies a non-stop line of palm trees, take a range of incredible photo shoot, and indulge your eyes deep into the breathtaking scenery right in front of you: The sun is on the way to settle down, leaving the dark red color for every single creature and things in Siem Reap. This is the second that you will never forget in your lifetime.

3. Luxurious sightseeing tour with Halong Bay cruise

a. What is special about Ha Long cruise tour?

There are multiple reasons why you should choose our Ha Long cruise tour as a way to kick off your sightseeing tour. Firstly, you would be able to enjoy the perfect view from the short vision, as the speed of the cruise is slow enough for you to feast your eyes. Secondly, the cruise tour offers you a large place for sightseeing activities, dining and relaxing. Thirdly, the duration will be much more flexible for those who desire to spend a longer time here than seaplane tour.

The itinerary will be flexible due to the weather, the visitor’s demand and the length of the journey. You can spend one, two, even three days crossing the whole complex of Ha Long Bay. It consists of Cat Ba island, Virgin Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Hon Trong Mai, Bai Chay, Cua Van fishing village, Quan Lan island, etc.

b. Some of the recommended cruises to put into your package

Of all Halong Bay cruise company, Emperor Cruise is the first recommendation, as it can provide tourists with the best service, which exceeds their expectations. Emperor Cruise offers you the unique all-inclusive Vietnamese cruise tour package. You will have to do nothing except for booking a tour to enjoy the comfort and relaxing atmosphere during your journey.

Besides, you can take some of the other cruises such as Paradise Luxury Cruise, Bhaya Cruise, or Ha Long Lavender Cruise.

4. Trekking & Hiking adventure for sightseeing tour: Catching the marvellous moment of nature

Trekking and Hiking tour has become the common discovering activities for those who are the fans of adventure. Natural landscapes have so far attracted their legs, their souls and even their desire to travel. Let’s check out some of the worth-trying places for hiking and trekking!

a. Sapa – the city of heaven

Sapa is an extremely ideal destination of the adventurers because of its breathtaking scenery. It is the highland region belonging to Lao Cai province. “In the clouds” is the phrase that can describe the beauty of Sapa in an outstanding way, because it gives the feeling of fresh, comfortable and relaxing.

The Sapa Trekking journey starts by approaching Cat Cat village, the home of some of the ethnic minorities such as Thai, H-mong, and Hoa. Don’t forget to try the traditional costumes of those peoples, as it would perfectly match with the atmosphere and give you the best photoshoot ever. Then, if possible, you can decide to hire a motorbike to reach Thac Bac Waterfall and Love waterfall.

The most impressive thing that you must never forget to do is to reach Fansipan – the so-called “rooftop of Indochina”. Conquering Fansipan used to be the dream of many explorers.

Nowadays, the exploration becomes much easier as tourists can choose to go either by cable car or by their own scheduled path.  Standing at the highest point of the three countries, you’re absolutely happy with what you’ve done. Let’s throw your eyes down to the surrounding areas, far to the other provinces, and admiring the clouds sluggishly floating through the slopes.

Sapa is here waiting for your exploration!

b. Puluong – the emerging paradise in the north of Vietnam

If Sapa is known as the rooftop of Indochina, Puluong is the place that can bring you the vibe of countryside lifestyle in Vietnam in particular and in Indochina in general. Puluong is located up to the northeast of Thanh Hoa province. It stands for outstanding beauty, the mixture of culture and diverse biodiversity spreading from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong National Park.

Trekking Puluong would be a meaningful memory during your discovery journey if you intend to go within summer. This is the right perfect time to admire the shining moment of rice terraced fields. They show out the amazing picturesque combination: the green colour of the growing period together with the yellow colour of harvesting crops.

Moreover, Pu Luong Nature Reserve also offers the stunning panorama of a village, challenging the explorers from easy to moderate trekking. You can visit the bat cave at Kho Muong, raft on Ma river, camp on Pu Luong mountain and pleasant life in Thai villages.

It is better to discover Pu Luong by a bicycle journey. After going through the beautiful Mai Chau, the tour guide will reveal the most adventurous but interesting route for their tourists.

Together with Sapa, Pu Luong is also an ideal destination!

c. Elephant trekking through the Angkor Wat Complex

Ways to Angkor Wat has never been so hazardous with elephant trekking tour!

It is really essential that you decide how to explore Angkor Wat, whether in the normal way that everyone usually does or in an abnormal way but you will remember during the rest of your life. Discovering Angkor Wat on the back of an elephant will make you feel the feeling of wideness, a bit scary and challenging yourself.

You should arrange in advance if you choose to book a Cambodia sightseeing tour package, as there are some travel agencies which do not include this adventurous experience in their package.

Together with cars, buses, and tuk-tuk, elephant trekking has joint a part of their journey. Starting from Bayon Temple, the riders will take you to The Terrace of Elephants, where you can stop and take a brief second of contemplation. Then there comes Angkor Thom – the long-lasting ancient capital of Cambodia. This is another break time to enjoy sightseeing around this architectural construction.

Should you approach the highest places of Angkor Wat in the late afternoon, you will definitely catch the breaking moment when the sun is gradually laying down to take a rest after a hard-working day. This is the perfect ending point of one-day discovery tour.

Apart from elephant trekking tour, you can also allow yourself to visit other surrounding places such as Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Phluk floating village.

If you are interested in this kind of exploration, do not hesitate to let us be your consultant!

5. Exotic Vietnam – Cambodia waterway sightseeing tour

Vietnam Cambodia sightseeing tours can be experienced by the waterway route. Fortunately, the two countries have the linkage with each other by the long Mekong river. It spreads from China, going through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and flows out to the South China Sea. This landform not only creates the trade opportunities, but also bring great benefits in terms of tourism for those member countries. This kind of exploration has put into practice for such a long time, as waterway discovery is seen as the favourite activity of a majority of tourists.

a. When is the best time to try the waterway tour?

In fact, it doesn’t really matter what period of time you choose to start your travelling schedule. There are two junks of time in a year, when the water level is rising higher, and when it comes into the low water season. The tour package will extend your options almost any time of the year, even in the extremely dry season. However, there will be a stormy season that you must consider. It takes place from the middle of August to the end of September.

b. The waterway exploring itinerary from Vietnam down to Cambodia

You can make a reservation in advance for a waterway tour, lasting from eight to ten days and initially departing from Ho Chi Minh City. From this station, you are taken through the Mekong Delta to the town of Vinh Long (belonging to Can Tho province). Then, you will be instructed to get on a cruise and start your sightseeing itinerary. You will be given a certain amount of time to explore the bustling atmosphere of floating local market and orchard gardens as well. As the ‘children’ of water-based life, the residents here are always the ambassadors to engage the tourist into their daily activities. It will take you from four to five hours to get around this crowded place.

The next destination is Chau Doc. It lies in the territory of An Giang province. It is interesting that if you head up to Sam Mountain to admire the great sunset scenery, you can also take a bird-eye view over the rice fields, which belongs to Cambodia, as Chau Doc is situated right next to Cambodian border.

Turning the steering wheel into another country, you’ll immediately catch Phnom Penh – the capital of Cambodia. There, just enjoy a luxurious breakfast and prepare well before continuing the sightseeing tour. Up arrival at Phnom Penh, you will be taken to some of the famous tourist attractions such as the lavish Royal Palace, the huge National Museum, where there are a lot of remains of Khmer sculptures and Angkorian artifacts, Wat Phnom, the Choeung Ek Memorial, and the Russian Market. Try to record every moment of the sightseeing itinerary so that when you come back, you will memorize what happened with you during your sightseeing trip.

Temples and ruins – these are the unique features that only remain in the next stop – Angkor Wat. You will be able to learn a lot about the Khmer’s culture and history, as all of the architecture is originated from all of the spiritual heart of the Cambodian. Preservation and restoration plans are keeping the pristine beauty of this archaeological site. Therefore, running an exploration from temple to temple would help you to both satisfy your eyes and broaden your knowledge. Don’t forget to go with your companion, a tour guide.

Lastly, let’s visit the watery heart of rural Cambodia – Tonle Sap Lake. This so-called ‘tiny inland sea’ is filled up with a bunch of traditional floating villages, many of which are influenced by the ethnic Vietnamese culture. On the way sailing the boat to visit the surrounding floating houses, you will see that somewhere appears a small boy jumping on board with a box of candy and cans of soda in his hand and selling with a reasonable price. He and also other residents are the representative of difficult life but still reserve their optimism. Let your sightseeing journey explores the rest of the specialities in this peaceful place.

Before the transnational sightseeing tour, there are a lot of things that you have to make plans. So why not design your own tour right now?

6. An eight-day sightseeing tour – going through the two countries

If Vietnam is famous for the complex of bustling atmosphere and majestic nature, Cambodia attracts the tourists by its religious and distinguish beauty, emerging from the ancient architecture and design.

As suggested by Lux Travel DMC, it is a completely perfect itinerary for you and your companions to plan yourself a trip to discover the two nations. Here are the recommended plans that I, together with my family have experienced before.

a. Day 1,2: Da Nang – bustling cities with pleasant life path

Da Nang is originally well-known as one of the worthiest city to live once in a lifetime. Choosing Da Nang as the place to kick off our family journey has never been our regrettable decision. We visited this tourist attraction on a random day in June, which is the perfect time for relaxation and enjoyment.

After checking-in procedure at Sheraton Grand Danang Resort for a two-day-one-night room package, we started our discovery. First, following the tour guide’s step, we visited Linh Ung Pagoda. This is considered one of the largest religious achievements of Vietnam in terms of the area and architecture.

We had taken some of the recommendations of what to do here for reference. It was over our expectation. As soon as crossing the threshold of Linh Ung pagoda, it made us feel as if we were entering a fairytale with the immortals only. There came marvelous and breathtaking statues of 18 Arhats, each of whom represents discrepant emotions of human beings. We ended the first afternoon by admiring the fantastic sunset view site on the beach nearby.

Danang night tour was our second exploration here. Not until we came back from the Han market – one of the must-try destinations here – did we really started taking a view towards the sparkling and bustling city. All the street lamps were immediately turned on, which made the city look like it was shining to praise itself on a higher position. We drove through famous streets along My Khe Beach like Bach Dang, Vo Nguyen Giap. We were continuously gazing at the gorgeous bridge spanning the Han river. This is the first time in my life I had to scream out loud: “Oh my god, what a perfectly beautiful scenery that I’ve ever experienced!”

On the second day, we chose the Marble Mountains as our next destination. This attraction really caught visitors’ attention as it is so-called the “Landscape of Southern Sky”. Not only did us have a chance to catch every single moment of this beautiful scenery, but we could also understand more deeply about the meaning of five surrounding mountains here, which names after five elements of the galaxy: Metal – Wood – Water – Fire – Earth.

b. Day 3,4: Phu Quoc – the pristine destination to discover

After arranging flight tickets to leave Da Nang, we continue our holidays by paying a visit to Phu Quoc. This so-called pearl island is situated in Kien Giang province, inherently representing for one of the most gorgeous islands Vietnam.

Coming to Phu Quoc, you can make a plan of where to go, what to eat and where to stay. Firstly, we booked a luxury room package at the Marriott hotel. The reason simply is it’s near all of the famous destinations that we desired to go. We book a one-day taxi with a reasonable price, then show our itinerary for the taxi driver. We explored the vibrant everyday scenery of this pristine island in Ham Ninh fishing village. We admired the natural but shining beauty of the ocean from the view of Ho Quoc pagoda. We enjoyed the sunset at Sunset Sanato, one of the places owning the best sea view within Phu Quoc.

We spent our whole evening to discover the bustling atmosphere of Duong Dong night market. Here, a variety of seafood and Vietnam traditional cuisine are sold. Don’t hesitate to try those pieces of food specialities as it will make you remember Phu Quoc in your mind forever.

c. Day 5: Battambang – the river-based city

Here comes Battambang – the city located right on the Sanker river, so it is usually nicknamed as “The river-based cities”. If you have never experienced the rural life, this chance will be perfect to be put into your Vietnam Cambodia sightseeing tour.

My family and I rented the bikes and set off to explore this place. Phnom Sampeau Killing Caves was our first intention to go and we actually did it. There were numerous ancient temples and Buddhist architecture in this place that we should never miss to discover. I thought this was the perfect stop-point for all of my family to refill the energy for the next exploration. There is no beach, no bustling atmosphere, no majestic landscape. But there are peaceful sceneries, beautiful lifestyle and worth-trying customs still remaining in Battambang.

d. Day 6,7: Siem Reap – admiring the religious architecture

I guess no one can deny the fame of Siem Reap. This popular stop is the harmony of historical stories and the wonderful natural landscape. We really got a good taste of the real Siem Reap after spending the rest two days here.

First came the Angkor Wat. We woke up and got to Angkor Wat in the early morning. Many people have praised the magical fairness of the sunrise scenery up to the top point of Angkor Wat. It’s magic. It’s absolutely magic. Never in my life did I witness such a fabulous moment like this. The sun is rising, gradually shining every corner of Angkor Wat, creating the glorious colour for this landscape. Try and you will see what I’m telling is upon your expectations!

After discovering the religious features of Angkor Wat, we turned our way to Tonle Sap Lake. This famous stop is one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders. Kayaking this immense lake and exploring the life of the villagers was indeed an interesting sightseeing activity for us. We saw floating houses, floating schools, floating boats and even floating markets. Everything was gathered together to create a perfect environment for the residents here. In spite of the poverty, the smiles never seem to disappear on their faces

If you intend to try some Vietnam tour activities as well as visiting several Cambodia sightseeing attractions, don’t hesitate to place your own package.

About Lux Travel DMC

So far, we have already gone through many kinds of sightseeing activities together. We hope that from our recommendation and suggestion, you and your companions can absorb a quick look at how what and where to have an over-expected discovery tour will each other. Vietnam Cambodia sightseeing tours are absolutely what you should not miss whenever you decide to put your luggage on your back.

So, who will you decide to set your expectation on? Let us be a part of your holiday!

Lux Travel DMC is an agency which focuses on the high demand of customers. We offer the best enjoyable, luxurious and pleasant tour package to every traveller. If you want to enjoy your holiday without taking your time thinking about where to go, where to stay, what to do, what to eat, just contact us right away and you will definitely have got an incredible experience within your holiday time.

• Address: No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

<p>The post Vietnam Cambodia Sightseeing Tours: The best selection for your holiday first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

How about you? This year, will you choose any Asian countries like Vietnam and Cambodia as your next destinations? Should you consider this idea, let us give you some of the recommendations about the best things you must experience in the two nations once in your lifetime.

1. Kitesurfing in Mui Ne, Phan Thiet

Once coming to Mui Ne, one of the coastal cities in Vietnam, you should not forget to try kitesurfing service.

Kitesurfing will be an intelligent choice, as the oceanic water together with the flow of the wind will provide the dynamic force for the kite to reach the highest point in the sky. Especially, there are a range of kitesurfing classes that you can join to approach this kind of activity. Meanwhile, when taking a rest by lying on the beach, you can witness many colourful kites with different size and height hung on the blue sky, under the constant sunshine, creating a perfect scenery for the summer.

For booking a course, you would spend about $60 per person. There are also some extra fees for hiring kites and other commodities. But don’t forget to make a room reservation, because it is the real peak season in Phan Thiet at that time.

If you are still hesitant to finding and choosing luxurious accommodation, let’s contact us to get the reasonable answer.

2. Sea-walking in Nha Trang

Nha Trang beach is also considered as an indispensable part of your Vietnam and Cambodia summer vacation. Nha Trang owns itself one of the most diverse and colourful marine environment. This makes sea-walking become so famous recently. You can enjoy diving with your companions to discover different creatures like starfish, tropical fish, and also corals and marine plants. No matter how good your swimming ability is, this kind of sport will make you get over the scare of water and give you an extremely interesting experience. What could be more wonderful than deepening in the cool water and explore the ocean in the hot summer holiday?

For booking procedure, you can visit the official website – Nha Trang Sea Walker.

3. Taking an overnight cruise in Halong Bay

Ha Long Bay is originally reviewed as one of the unforgettable destinations of many tourists when coming to Vietnam. Its beauty resides in the combination of natural limestone mountains emerging among the marvellous ocean with beautiful islands and floating villages. As taking a tour on a luxurious cruise for 3 or 4 days, you will completely discover all the mystery of this wonder. Let’s try enjoying the beauty of nature, admiring the sunset in front of an infinitive space, and indulge yourselves in the best service of a five-star cruise.

Some of the trustable addresses that you can contact:

La Vela Premium Cruise

• Address: No. 01 Tuan Chau Marina, Halong Bay, Ha Long, Quang Ninh
• Booking here: https://goo.gl/iLTjB6

Bhaya Legend Cruise

• Address: 47 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Booking here: https://goo.gl/jL2fC4

Paradise Luxury Cruise

• Address: Unit 201, 2nd Floor, Hanoi Towers, No. 49 Hai Ba Trung Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi
• Booking here: https://goo.gl/xq7unU

It appears as the initial suggestion for you to take into consideration. To get the best experience that will suit your abilities and the weather conditions on the way, always take the advice of our travel expert.

4. Walking along Hoi An Riverside

The next thing that should be picked into your itinerary during Vietnam and Cambodia summer vacation is strolling along Hoi An Riverside to discover its poetic beauty.

Hoi An used to be the hotspot of merchants from different countries. They came here to exchange and purchase the commodity. Nowadays, the bustling market has no longer remained. In contrast, Hoi An now attracts the curiosity of tourists coming from various countries. The traditional and cultural features come together, creating a remarkable Hoi An in the eyes of travellers.

Hoi An Riverside is mainly the significance of this Vietnam tourist spot. If you decide to go during the daytime, it is easy to capture the ancient beauty of the residential houses which were built more than 300 years ago. Or else, you can also walk along the streets in the evening to witness many colourful handmade lanterns hung on the road. Nearby, many out-of-town visitors are hanging out on the pavement. All in one, those elements make Hoi An more friendly and impressive. Don’t forget that this is the perfect time to get the best picture during your summer excursion.

5. Scuba diving and Snorkeling in Phu Quoc

The nickname “Pearl Island” of Phu Quoc comes from its distinguished features of the water, ocean and environment here. Phu Quoc is a private island located in Kien Giang province, just about 26 kilometres to the border of Cambodia.

Visitors coming to Phu Quoc always try to conquer the ocean by participating in many sports such as scuba diving and snorkelling. As Phu Quoc has no winter, these activities are popular and available almost in every period of time of the year. Deep into the sea, you can be able to admire the splendid beauty of coral reefs, the liveliness of different kinds of marine fish and plants. The water is fresh enough for you to see clearly everything through the glasses.

To get rid of any difficulties in making a reservation, you can choose to stay in the hotel where they offer available scuba diving and snorkelling services like Vinpearl Phu Quoc, JW Marriot, Intercontinental Hotel, Novotel Resort and so on.

For further information, please leave us a message, then we will be here to support you.

6. Relaxing on the Beach at Koh Rong Island

Situated in the off-coast area of Sihanoukville (Cambodia), Koh Rong island has gradually conquered the heart of visitors coming for holidays.

Koh Rong Island will truly mesmerise you because of its breathtaking and unique natural beauty. Blue ocean, pristine white-sand beach and glorious sunshine create a mixture of picturesque and peaceful scenery.

Its special location provides private spaces for a true summer escape. Standing in front of a huge coastline, admiring the beautiful sunrise, sunset picture, enjoying the spa and therapy treatment at the luxurious spa, capturing every moment that you have spent, what do you expect more than that?

However, it is not easy to find and reserve a good accommodation in Koh Rong, especially when you design a trip in the peak season. Therefore, in order to avoid any risky and unexpected inconvenience during your holiday, you should ask the local guide for any assistance. Otherwise, you can combine Koh Rong tour with other destination to offer an all-inclusive summer vacation from the travel agency.

7. Taking a boat to the floating villages in Tonle Sap lake

Your summer vacation in Cambodia will make a big mistake unless you intend to go to Tonle Sap Lake, one of the biggest lakes in Southeast Asia. And it could be a regrettable thing if you do not visit the floating villages located on a side of the lake.

Kompong Phluk is the cluster of three different floating villages on Tonle Sap lake. This place is not only the home of more than 3000 residents, but also an interesting tourist attraction of domestic and international travellers. Everything happens on the water. The residents build their houses on the boat, create a mobile market to exchange and purchase goods. Therefore, the only way to get access to the village is by sailing boat.

You can offer a day-time tour to follow the villagers and discover their routines, daily activities and even the unique culture of a floating village. You will also witness the lively life of the children here. However poor they are, their smiles have never disappeared on their faces. Even their welcoming, friendliness and kindness will make your discovering trip more meaningful and notable.

If you have a tendency to come to Siem Reap, do not forget this special destination!

8. Admiring the beauty of Popokvil Waterfall

Visiting National Park is now a trend of spending the summer holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia. Popokvil becomes more and more popular and well-known for providing good scenery for the travellers when they discover this wide park.

The waterfall has become a real highlight for trekking tour in Bokor, as huge blocks of bright and dark stones accidentally appear in a special way. They create a picturesque paradise deep into the forest. Take a rest near the waterfall, listen to the whistling of water, hang out with your companions about the upcoming plans, pamper yourselves in the fresh cool water flow. Thé pristine life appears right in front of your eyes.

In order to get here, you should make sure that the accommodation is available for you to get into Bokor National Park. Consider the option of making an all-inclusive tour from travel agency to prevent unexpected situations!

9. Trekking in Kep National Park

Instead of lying on the beach, enjoying the sundowners, taking part in water sports, discovering the distinguished lifestyle of Vietnamese and Cambodian people, some prefer to go trekking to explore the pristine beauty of nature.

Kep National Park offers the trekking tour for travellers. You can choose to take either an eight-kilometre route trekking around the place, or a partial trekking way (with the help of the trail to go through the park). There, you will witness a breathtaking picture of Cambodia jungle with exotic plants and animals. Standing on the highest mountain of Kep National Park, you can easily take a view of the whole countryside region of Cambodia, and admire the sunset view from the Sunset Rock.

Before the journey, try to bring as much mineral with you as possible, because the trip will make you exhausted. Also, wear decent shoes and bring provisory clothes in case you get wet.

10. Visit archaeological sites at Koh Ker

Situated approximately 120 from Siem Reap, Koh Ker stands as one of Cambodia’s special archaeological constructions of the Khmer people.

Sam Osmanagich, one of the explorers to Koh Ker commented: “After I saw many temples, I arrived at the conclusion that the Koh Ker pyramid is the only true pyramid on Cambodian land. It seems that it has nothing in common with the other pyramidal temples, largely decorated with Hindu symbols.” This temple gives not only him but also other visitors a unique sensation of the architecture. Here, the architect carefully designed the structure, water surfaces, and water channels in an appropriate way, so that the whole pyramid could balance itself even in the worst weather condition.

Therefore, you must come here once in your lifetime to reveal all of the mystery in this outstanding construction.

About Lux Travel DMC

You’ve gone over the recommended things that you should try during your summer vacation in Vietnam and Cambodia. Those are just the suggestion for you to experience the best holiday when coming to our countries. If you prefer any ideas, put it into your itinerary and complete the plans as soon as possible. Share your ideal intention to our Lux Travel DMC and you are all set.

Lux Travel DMC is not only an assistant but also a friend of many international visitors to Vietnam and Cambodia. We have been continuously making effort to create authentic experiences for discerning travelers. We are confident that spending the holiday with us will be the most memorable one for you and your companions!
Contact Us:

• Address No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

<p>The post Top 10 things to do during Vietnam and Cambodia summer vacation first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

Meanwhile, honeymooners are now hungry for a super-romantic couple holiday with their special companions. They want to refresh and make the relationship better. They also may desire to uncover the beauty of the two neighboring countries. Vietnam and Cambodia, therefore, are the ideal countries that can suit your demand and expectation.

However, to make the honeymoon trip perfect, what should you take into consideration? Let’s be with us to discover the things that can make your holiday wonderful in Vietnam and Cambodia. To ensure that everything is on the right track, you should make a list of indispensable things during your trip.

1. Consider the weather condition during the vacation

Unlike other adjacent countries, the weather in Vietnam runs diversely. In the north of Vietnam, the climate is annually suitable for tourism. If you plan to spend your honeymoon trip in this area, the perfect time will be from January to June, when the weather is dry and sunny enough for you to visit different places and try different activities.

The weather in the middle of Vietnam has been convenient for relaxing activities almost every time of the year, except for the stormy season (from July to November). From January to April, the temperatures are more pleasant, vacillating from 16 to 23 Celsius degrees. Meanwhile, southern Vietnam has created a good chance for the travelers as the climate are distinctively separated into dry (November to April) and wet (May to October). Therefore, if you want to go through Vietnam with your partners, the best time that you can choose is from January to May.

Conversely, Cambodia is one of the countries owning the simplest weather condition in Southeast Asia. There are only two seasons during the year: wet season (Early/Mid May – October) and dry season (October – April/Early May). The temperature is quite stable during the two seasons, so tourists do not have to worry too much about their plans.

In case you want more information about your honeymoon trip, please take the advice of the local experts.

2. Make a list of ideal destinations in Vietnam and Cambodia

It is extremely important for couples to come into agreement about where they would spend their honeymoon vacation together. As the places of romance and relaxation, Vietnam and Cambodia offer you a range of ideal destinations. After busy and tired days preparing for the wedding, the couples really want to find a place to enjoy themselves. There are couples who either love the peace of the countryside in Vietnam and Cambodia or desire to stay in a private area, where everything is perfect for a truly relaxing vacation. Therefore, those following destinations will be the recommendations for you.

a. Hoi An Ancient town

Hoi An is famous for its ancient architecture and the slow path of life. There are a lot of old but beautiful constructions, creating a nostalgic significance for the whole town. Couples when attending there can choose to enjoy their honeymoon trip by staying in a  place, walking along Hoi An Riverside, joining some private cooking classes, pampering themselves in the comfort and relaxation of five-star spa service or even grasp all the beauty of the surrounding Hoi An by taking a private Eco-tour.

b. Dalat – City of Eternal Spring

Located in the south central highland of Vietnam, Dalat has owned one of the best weather condition for tourism all over the year. Couples often go there to experience new things together, such as visiting a range of garden there and admiring the beauty of different kinds of flowers, wandering Xuan Huong lake and witnessing other couples taking photographs for their wedding days. Everyday silently and peacefully flows with the happiness and satisfaction of the two people spending their time in Dalat during their honeymoon.

c. Koh Rong Samloem – Private space for honeymooners

If you enjoy being in a real private place, Koh Rong Samloem is a perfect choice. Located in the untouched Koh Rong Island, this place brings a brand-new atmosphere for young couples. Everything is peaceful and convenient enough for a planned getaway after wedding days. The couple holiday will become incredible when you visit this attraction during the summer time. Hand in hand, you are walking under the long fresh lines of palm trees, admiring the majestic beauty of the beach, trying water sport and discovering the marine life by diving together. You can also consider the option of celebrating a romantic dinner right on the beach to mark this memorable stage of your life.

Those are just the recommended places that you should spend your honeymoon trip. If you find out other places that you desire to go, feel free to design your own holiday.

3. Be willing to try different types of experience

A honeymoon trip should be special in its own way. No matter what their hobbies are, trying new things is worth for them during their honeymoon vacation.

Before the trip, don’t forget to make a discussion with your wife/husband about how to experience your couple holiday in the worthiest way you can do. It could be a simple getaway, just staying somewhere and going around that place. It could also be a special thing. If you love traveling and exploring the magnificence of nature, let’s try a transnational adventure tour through Vietnam and Cambodia. You can challenge yourselves by go trekking to Sapa, then go to Halong Bay, Hue, or Ho Chi Minh City.

Or else, you can choose to spend your honeymoon on a sightseeing tour around the two countries, wandering the simple beauty of the natural scenery, and typical construction and enjoying the moment going and coming together.

There is another special way to exploit your honeymoon. If you want to combine self-learning with enjoyment with your partner, you can book a culture tour, which comprises the diversity of cultural specialties from various peoples, groups, and areas all over Vietnam and Cambodia.

4. Make use of local experts’ instruction and recommendation

Every time coming to a new country, you are advised to take the suggestion from the local, who have already been familiar with anything in their nations. Therefore, during your trip, you can get rid of troubles or any unexpected problems.

As the local travel experts, we give you some of the noticeable things:

Firstly, before the trip, you should remember to research specifically the place that you intend to go and your accommodations. There are a lot of things that depend so much on the place that you will stay. You must consider it in case it might affect both you and your partner in a positive or negative way. Besides, choosing a good accommodation is a convenient way to boost the satisfaction of the trip. You can choose to stay in a luxurious hotel or resort, where you and your wife/husband can refresh and relax and enjoy their best services.

What would be more wonderful than staying in high-end accommodations, indulging yourselves in the spa and therapy treatment, and spending a romantic night with each other? You and your partner only want to be happy at that time, right? So, take note of this point. Get review from others and from the internet.

Secondly, you should also conduct an online survey about the custom and taboos of Vietnam and Cambodia, so that during your honeymoon journey, you would not get any disruption from the local residents. It is also good for you to avoid any unpredictable situations.

If you want to take more specific advice from the local experts, please leave here a message and they will be your productive assistants.

5. Special tips for a private honeymoon trip

In order to fulfill your honeymoon trip, we are here to bring you some special tips that you can apply during your enjoyment with your partners.

Initially, the honeymoon means something private, you definitely don’t want anyone to bother your own space. Therefore, you should search and identify some of the honeymoon packages that are privatized and served only for 2 people. For example, if you include Halong Bay in your honeymoon itinerary, you should ask the local travel agency for luxurious private transportation like a Limousine or other similar means. In addition, as we have mentioned before, if you specially design your trip as a personal and private tour, do exclude the bustling and busy hot attractions, as they might cause you some trouble in terms of traveling, resting, and enjoyment.

Arrange and make reservations for all the available accommodations where you intend to stay. In case the peak season is right at the time you take your honeymoon vacation, be aware of the booking procedure. Moreover, it is better for you to take the guidance of local experts. They will assist you to pick up the most suitable resorts or hotels. Or else, you just simply had better book an all-inclusive tour package for being worry-free.

Then, you should also draw a list of activities that both of you are going to do during the vacation. It may comprise of spa indulgent, couple cycling and wandering to enjoy the beautiful moment of the natural scenery and admiring the sunrise on the beach. To get full use of the trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, you might consider a high-end cruise tour. There come luxurious services, fantastic views of sight, and a huge private space for only the couple. What is more meaningful than spending all day satisfying the eyes, hand in hand standing in front of the majestic nature, and together spend over the nicest time in your lives?

As you might wonder, is there any local agency which is holding special personal parties or celebrations for young couples? The answer is Yes. You can absolutely find out a bunch of companies offering romantic honeymoon parties for their guests. Among all, we would recommend you to spend a worthy night on Emperor Cruise. Here, you can freely ask the staff for special requirements and even for an all-self-requested party to make your partner surprised and extremely happy. Candles, wine, Eastern food, and the two main characters in the party, all in one create the best experience for you and your wife/husband.

Furthermore, if you are looking for fascinating ideas about how to make your couple’s holiday perfect and private, you can take other previous couples’ first-hand honeymoons for reference. However, never totally copy their ideas, because the honeymoon is yours, not theirs. If you have any interesting plans or ideas, feel free to contact us, and we will give you the most enthusiastic recommendation and suggestions.

If you want your holiday to be as comfortable as you expected, just leave yourselves some days off before the trip. During that time, you can make a plan, buy necessary things, prepare luggage or spend your time with your partner and relax after those busy and exhausting days.

Those are all the things that we recommended you take into consideration. The rest, it’s up to you! Let’s make your honeymoon trip incredible and worth remembering!

About Lux Travel DMC

With the best respect to the customers, Lux Travel DMC is now making effort to bring good experience and satisfaction for the travelers. We are offering a range of tour, diverging from group to private tour size, the place spreading from ethnic to bustling areas. As long as the customers are happy, we are willing to bring them any luxurious services.

We are turning into the age of 15, which means more enthusiasm and profession are being put into our job. We hope to be a part of your journey, regardless of the honeymoon, family vacation or group escape. Let’s make your trip incredible together with our guidance and support.

Lux Travel DMC – Your Inspirations – Our Expertise

Contact Us:

• Address: No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

<p>The post How to make your honeymoon trip perfect in Vietnam and Cambodia? first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

Welcome to Vietnam and Cambodia, the countries which will absolutely reveal many amazing secrets for you during your holiday enjoyment!

Here, the two nations within Indochina is located in the Southeast of Asia, and also famous for the diversity of nature, culture, a variety of peoples and cuisine. Vietnam has been well-known as the combination of a-thousand-year-old civilization, the bustling atmosphere of modern cities, together with slow life path and peaceful natural landscape of the mountainous areas. Meanwhile, Cambodia has caught millions of tourists’ attention because of its long spreading beaches, unique architecture and majestic scenery lasting for every season.

Coming to Vietnam and Cambodia as a way to relax after hard-working periods of time, you should prepare multiple things in advance. Otherwise, you will have to handle a lot of unexpected problems during your summer vacation there. So, why don’t you take notice of these following recommendations? They will be applicable to any tour that you intend to take.

2. Consider weather condition in your summer holiday time

Summer is such an ideal time to visit Vietnam during your holiday. You can plan a vacation to explore the wonderful beauty of lines of beaches in the north during May and July to avoid the stormy weather. You can have a tendency to take a holiday tour to enjoy the fresh and comfortable seaside in the middle and the south of Vietnam within May till August. The temperature varies from 30 to 37 Celsius degree. The west of Vietnam provides the most ideal climate for domestic and international visits, as it is dry and sunny within the whole year. However, travelers prefer to come from May to August. For hiking and trekking activities during summer vacation, it is recommended that tourists’ stopover time is in the period of February and May, as the weather is cool and safe enough for a hazardous adventure.

If Vietnamese weather creates the best opportunity for tourist to come and relax, the weather in Cambodia seems to go further wet and rainy. However, the rains often come suddenly and the stop right away, with the temperature oscillating from 18 to 20 Celsius degrees. It could be a factor to make their visits challenging, going to Cambodia at this time of the year can really give them the best enjoyment, as there are peaceful, quiet and private tourist attractions for the families, couples, and friends.

3. Draw up your budget during the summer holiday tour

Let’s consider how much you will have to pay for a summer vacation package in foreign countries while this is the first time you have taken your step on those nations?

• First, decide how long you will stay for your holiday tour
• Second, draw out where you desire to go, research them and put them into your list.
• Third, make a discussion with your companions to figure out the limitation of your budget.
• Fourth, make a reservation of the summer holiday tour as soon as possible, as you will get some promotions or discount from the travel agent.
• Finally, save an extra reserve for unexpected circumstances such as hiring vehicles, tasting out food specialties or other activities.

However, if you don’t even care about the cost, feel free to go as it’s your summer holiday, it’s time for you to enjoy the best thing included in Vietnam and Cambodia summer tour package.

4. List out holiday destinations

Going to Vietnam and Cambodia for a summer holiday, here are the best destinations to put into your itinerary!

a. Sapa – the appealing stop for hiking and trekking

Sapa would be a perfect holiday for you to try within summer if you are a fan of nature and discovering activities. It provides you with the majestic view from the highest peak of Indochina – Everest and the flowing lines of terraced rice paddies. From Sapa, you can pay a visit to the minority groups in the mountainous area.

b. Ha Long Bay – the best nature complex wonder

Halong Bay is recognized as one of the New Seven Natural wonders of the world in 2002. Being on a luxury cruise tour, enjoying sightseeing on a seaplane trip or paying a visit to different limestone caves in Halong Bay will be an incredible remark for your summer vacation.

c. Visiting Nha Trang to explore the enjoyable lifestyle

Vietnam has also got a long line of beach running from the north, passing the middle part and even to the south-central coastline. Nha Trang has taken advantage of the intermediate flow to be of the finest and most worth-visiting beaches in Vietnam. You can choose to explore Nha Trang by deepening in the cool fresh water of the sea, starting a cycle tour to visit Thap Ba hot springs, Po Nagar Cham towers, and other stops. On the island, there comes a range of luxurious and high-end beachside facilities (spa, bar, restaurants, and resorts). All in one, it will leave the highest satisfaction for your summer vacation.

d. The must-go destinations for bustling lifestyle ‘zealots’ – Da Nang

The golden terminus that most young travelers enjoy coming to Vietnam is probably Da Nang. Danang resides its beauty in the great Marble Mountains, Son Tra Peninsula, Hai Van pass, Non Nuoc beach, and its own fantastic unique look when the night drops.

One of the most trendy and attracting places that you must visit is Da Nang golden bridge. Having been constructed for nearly one year, the Golden Bridge brings the magnificent view sights for tourist when visiting Da Nang. This artificial achievement was built by the support of the two giant stone hands. From there, you can admire the scenic overlook of Ba Na Hill. Therefore, it is becoming more and more famous than ever.

Coming to Da Nang, not only can you experience the immense space of the beach, the special taste of traditional cuisine, but you can also set yourself in the free mode to absorb every good, great and even perfect things during your getaway time.

e. Phnom Penh – the impressive capital for international tourists

Whenever arriving in Cambodia, the first place that everyone will pay attention to is its beautiful capital city – Phnom Penh. This ideal place has long been synonymous with a wide range of museums and architectural designs (Silver Pagoda of the Royal Palace, the National Museum of Art and Wat Phnom).

Tourists can also consider the option of taking either an interesting food tour or cultural discovering tour, as Phnom Penh has many stops of exceptional interest. You can enjoy the sense of the crowded, lively and true lifestyle of the residents here by following them step by step to approach their daily lives. Never forget to put Phnom Penh into your summer holiday itinerary!

f. Visiting Siem Reap to an open-minded exploration

Just four to six hours getting a taxi from Phnom Penh, you can reach the major tourist hub of Cambodia – Siem Reap. If you are finding a kind of cultural getaway, this place will suit you perfectly.

As you drift across Tonle Sap Lake, a picture of daily working in the floating village is appearing right in front of you. They make use of the lake surface to build houses, create the market and tourist attractions for travelers to come and enjoy. Meanwhile, if you intend to visit the Khmer’s architectural achievement, Angkor Wat complex, will be the next discovery point. It’s worth trying to admire the fantastic sunrise moment going over Angkor Wat. We just leave it here and let you explore more of Siem Reap when you really get into the summer vacation.

g. Song Saa private Island – lay claim to its name

It’s Song Saa private island that will serve you the best private, peaceful and enjoyable summer holiday on the beach. Its situation in the untouched Koh Rong archipelago gives Song Saa the fresh and clean atmosphere. The island is so picturesque that you can even lie on the lounge under a long line of coconut trees, close your eyes, and admire the breathtaking sense of nature. For summer activities, it will be wonderful to try a variety of water sport like kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming.

What could be more buoyant than a spa and meditation session after sunbathing on the beach, then gather together with your partner, family or friends to enjoy the luxurious dinner while pampering yourself into the fresh wind from the mysterious ocean?

In general, those destinations are just seven of the whole list of where to go in Cambodia and Vietnam. You can absolutely plan a mixture of those recommended places and other stops that you want. It all depends on your tour itinerary and the amount of time that you desire to go. Tell us what you want and we’ll let you know what we can do for you.

5. Work out types of traveling

There are basically two main types of traveling.

Self- traveling is considered one of the most attractive and challenging activities nowadays. People list out the things to do and to spend, then they just feel free to go anywhere they want, to proactively do whatever they desire to do. All they need is freedom, exploration, and satisfaction. However, during their journey, they will get some unexpected troubles. Specifically, they probably have to spend a lot of time finding their accommodation which fits their budget, making a list of what to do, what to eat, what to buy, etc.

In contrast, following a travel agency tour will be the best supporter for you during your summer holiday. Just imagine you are from Western countries, and you have never been to Vietnam and Cambodia before. You have to spend a week, a month, even longer to make a plan of what to experience in your trip. Instead of that, why shouldn’t you leave your trust in a travel company like Lux Travel DMC, where you can customize your type of activities as well as your itinerary? This is the biggest discrepancy between the three-star agency and five-star company.

6. Make accommodation reservation in advance

After deciding the length of your summer vacation in Vietnam and Cambodia, you should carry out the resort or hotel that suits your demand, budget, and purpose. We recommend you to book a room package with enough luxury, good services, suitable scenery, and location. Moreover, it must also include extra services such as spa, golf, dining and water sports for you to experience.

Up to now, many resorts, hostels, and hotels are continuously offering a variety of appealing summer holiday package. However, you can not ignore the case that the hotel that you tend to stay is fully booked, and you have to take another option. In order to reduce the risk of having no chilling accommodations, don’t hesitate to contact us to get more information.

7. Proper luggage preparation beforehand

Before departure, you should research some information about luggage stipulations or advice from those prior travelers. It’s your choice to bring with you the best outfit and accessories that you prefer to wear during your Vietnam and Cambodia summer vacation. Then, don’t forget to buy the skin care cosmetics such as moisturizer, suncream, face soap and so on. To avoid the boredom when you are on the way to Vietnam and Cambodia, let’s prepare something to chill out like magazines, headphone, books or your favorite snacks. Make sure that you’ve got all the things serving for your photo shooting activities.

In addition, you must also double check the passport, credit card, cash, and other essential things. Especially, you are traveling abroad, so ensure that you have exchanged money and brought an international credit card with you. In case of sickness or any arising diseases during your summer holiday, you are recommended to buy aspiring, anti-diarrheal medicines, etc.

8. About Lux Travel DMC

There is nothing ridiculous and awesome than spending a week, 10 days or even 15 days on discovering a new land like Vietnam or Cambodia in your summer vacation. It is true that Vietnamese and Cambodian economics have not developed that far, but day by day, they are making effort to bring you, the customers, the best services and tourism strategy. It can be clearly seen during the recent decade.

Paying a visit to Vietnam and Cambodia, you will witness how much you love those places, whether you could leave their tourist attractions without any meaningful memory in your mind. Therefore, right now, right here, let’s plan a trip for you, and for your beloved ones!

Here we are, Lux Travel DMC! We commit to providing the luxurious summer vacation tour package for domestic and international travelers. From the enthusiastic and high-qualified staffs, we ensure that you are trusting the right people. Let us fulfill your summer holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia!

Contact Us:

• Address No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

<p>The post What to prepare for a luxury summer vacation to Vietnam and Cambodia? first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

Summer is also a special occasion of Vietnam and Cambodia, the two neighbouring countries. As the attractive destinations of family summer vacation, Vietnam, in line with Cambodia has invested their passion, enthusiasm to bring the best experience for families in particular and for every type of traveller in general.

There comes a thought that during the summer vacation, ones have to try discovering the majestic beauty of a bunch of beaches stretching along Vietnam and Cambodia. However, do those nations only provide the speciality of the ocean? Absolutely not. Together with us, let’s figure out what you and your family can do during this summer holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia.

1. All-inclusive family vacation tour

Have you ever been interested in any tour that is all arranged in your certain package? If yes, an all-inclusive family vacation tour within Vietnam and Cambodia will be the best choice as you don’t have to worry about any unexpected things which might happen along your holiday. The trip will hopefully leave a significant impression on the experience-takers.

Talking about Vietnam, you might wonder the itinerary to kick off the holiday. The tour would start either from the north of Vietnam, down to the south or reversely. It would be a great chance for you to go through Halong Bay – the majestic natural wonder, Hanoi – the admirable capital, down to Danang – Hoi An, the two destinations with discrepant lifestyles, then come to Nha Trang – one of the wonderful beach getaways for families. After that, you can stop to witness the bustling atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City, and end your summer holiday at an isolated island of Vietnam: Phu Quoc.

If you prefer to spend an all-inclusive tour in Cambodia, it will also be an ideal option. There would be various places for you to discover within your journey with your beloved ones. Siem Reap with marvellous Angkor Wat and peaceful Tonle Sap, the enormous capital Phnom Penh, or Koh Rong untouched island, would be the special remarks to remain in your mind after the trip.

You can also ask for an all-packaged Vietnam Cambodia transnational tour to enjoy your summer holiday in one week, fifteen days or even longer. Or else, it is highly recommended that you create your all journey within the tour package, which is only served in five-star travel agencies like Lux Travel DMC. To get more recommendation, let’s contact the local expert.

2. Explore national parks

It would be a treasured experience for the whole family to participate together in an undisturbed environment. The national park in Vietnam and Cambodia have opened to meet the strong demand of travellers. If your family has got children, this is the all-in-one opportunity for you to let the kids make a steep approach to the pristine and picturesque nature.

a. Phong Nha – Ke Bang – the outstanding natural beauty

Phong Nha – Ke Bang (Phong Nha National Park): This national park is located in Quang Binh province. In 2003, Phong Nha – Ke Bang was recognized as one of the natural wonders remained in the world. It is also the home of several biggest caves in the world (Son Doong Cave, Tien Son Cave, Thien Duong Cave). Those caves made from limestone have been attracting international wildlife-lovers to come and enjoy the scenery. Sailing into those caves, you will witness its spectacular view. Besides, you would be impressed by the friendliness of both tour guides and the residents here.

b. Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary – the must-visit ecotourism zone

Situated in the Southwest of Ninh Binh City, this destination lays its beauty in cultural and spiritual elements, in limestone mountains and the natural biodiversity. It is one of the core visiting places of Trang An Landscape Complex, therefore, on the four-hour water exploring tour in Trang An, you, together with your beloved ones, can ask for specific activities to broaden your eyes, your mind and your background knowledge about this place.

The Sanctuary comprises of Buddha Cave, Vai Gioi Cave, especially the must-not-forget-to-come Bird garden, which is the home of multiple rare flocks of birds settling down in different areas. Just imagine you’re on the boat, taking pictures of a peaceful scenery: The bird is flying in the blue sky, the water is slowly flowing, a line of trees is trying to rustle to welcome the newcomers. Every poetic thing is continuously gathering within Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary.

c. Virachey National Park – jungle trekking discovery

This terminus is listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park. Up to now, the national domain with the deepest and most isolated jungles of Cambodia has remained its wild, unexplored and pristine features for tourists to admire. After joining a trekking tour through the mountains, your family can enjoy the comfortable cool atmosphere, indulge yourselves in the freshwater flow of the waterfall.

There are a bunch of other national parks in the two countries such as Phnom Kulen, Botum Sakor, Kirirom, Ba Vi and Cuc Phuong. For more information, let’s the local guide make an analysis for you.

3. Top beach getaway destinations for family

“A day at beach restores the soul.” Beaches are not the unique property of any country. However, beaches in Vietnam and Cambodia really have great significance on the two nations’ tourism during the summer holiday. As estimated, nearly 73 percent of family summer vacations take place spreading different beaches in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Most of the sunny, windy and relaxable beaches in Vietnam are situated in the southern area. Therefore, you can choose to pick up one or two to suit your summer escape plans with your family members. Here comes the all-white-sand beach named Nha Trang, upward are An Bang Beach (Hoi An) and Non Nuoc Beach (Da Nang). Farther from the middle part of Vietnam, you can consider visiting the isolated island Phu Quoc – the place which is nicknamed as “The pearl island”. (The name comes from the fresh and clear feature of the water.)

Turning the attention into Cambodia, there are several core beaches that you should bear in your mind. Long Beach and Lazy beach (located in Koh Rong) are offering luxurious services and experiences for private family summer holidays. This is the time for you to immerse in the tropical island life together. Just like other outstanding beaches in Vietnam, those in Cambodia have been well-protected from the pollution. Hence, don’t worry about the quality of the beach that we have recommended.

4. Cruise tours for the fan of marine life

Vietnam and Cambodia summer vacation cruise tours have offered the best qualities for customers: convenient accommodations, luxurious dining, remarkable view sight, suitable itinerary, and friendly and enthusiastic services. They are born to positively respond to the high demand for a family vacation.

a. Halong luxury cruise travel

Ha Long Bay is the complex of countless towering limestone karsts and hidden jungle caves, together with the surrounding marvellous islands. Get a two to three-day tour in the high-end cruises (Luxury Emperor, Paradise Cruise, Au Co Aviation, Bhaya Legend) and admire the majesty of this natural wonder.

b. Vietnam Cambodia Transnational cruise tour

Two vibrant cultures, two distinguished natural features, two different lifestyles, and other fascinating parallel elements, that is all you and your family can absorb after giving a try to such a luxurious waterway tour through Vietnam and Cambodia. Make a reservation and get well-prepared for what you expect to do during the trip because this tour will give you an unexpected experience.

For the itinerary, you could create your own by listing the places you would like to visit, then Lux Travel DMC will voluntarily be your assistant.

5. Discovering the typical local lifestyle

As mentioned, Vietnam and Cambodia share many similarities, yet own their discrepant lifestyle. This element depends on the destinations that you want to go.

Should you enjoy the life of upland ethnic minority, Sapa trekking tour will be your perfect option. In case you are interested in the life in the floating village, then don’t hesitate to come to Siem Reap, which comprises of Kampong Phuk, one of the outstanding tourist attractions in Cambodia.

Are you a fan of nostalgia? Do you want to explore the impression of past life? If yes, why don’t you recommend your family to come and visit the ancient town Hoi An? It will definitely give you the sense of the subsidy days in Vietnam.

If you belong to the bustling life path, then every city in Vietnam and Cambodia will be your destinations. Come to Da Nang – the most worth-liveable city, Ho Chi Minh City – where energetic lifestyle can be easily found, Phnom Penh – the combination of modern and adaptable society. You have a lot of choices right in front of you. Stick them into your itinerary!

6. Cultural and historical exploration

Of all the interesting places for cultural and historical discoveries, Hanoi and Angkor hold the lion share in the top worth-visiting destinations for families in the summer holidays.

Hanoi has long been preserved its historical value for hundreds of years. Tourists come to Hanoi and book a cyclo tour to visit many domains such as the thirty-six old quarters, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Opera House, the Literature temple, then go to enjoy the bridge of history, which has been in line with the time for nearly 30 years – Long Bien. Fortunately, if you want to combine an exploration of history and culture with other kinds of activities, there are a bunch of accommodations to choose during your stay here.

Some well-known hotels and resorts that you should consider to stay are Hanoi Emerald Water Hotels & Spa, Silk Queen Hotel and Apricot Hotel. However, choosing and making a reservation is not easy, especially when you visit in peak season. Therefore, for booking and room packaging, please contact the local expert.

Angkor is another option for your historical and cultural journey with family. Standing right into the famous tourist attraction Siem Reap, this wonderful Khmer’s architecture complex must be in your prior thought. Get up early in the morning and enjoy the fabulous sunrise via the rooftop of Angkor Wat, then go on a journey into Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and the Bayon Temple. It would be better for you if you have a companion like a tour guide or a local resident, as they will instruct you the best way to explore this interesting complex.

For accommodations, Siem Reap offers a range of luxurious hotels and resorts, which are not too far from Angkor. Here are some of the ideal stops: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa, Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa, Angkor Davann Luxury Hotel and Spa

If you need more assistance, we are right here to support you!

7. A holiday of absorbing new things

“Head cook and bottle-washer” is one of the famous idioms used for those who have the capability and passion in hand-made products. What about spending a small amount of time in your summer getaway to try something new, something that you just see on the TV screen? Does the suggestion of doing something and bring the product home appeal you? Let’s see how much it will attract your curiosity, creativity, and inquiry.

Bat Trang Ceramic village is a traditional pottery-making village in the suburb of Hanoi, just about 45 minutes taking a taxi from the centre. This village is now catching the attention of more than 300 visits per day on average. Guide your family there, try making some pottery vases, bowls or favourite characters and take them home for a souvenir.

For the fan of folk-painting, don’t forget to include Dong Ho painting village in your tour package. This attraction is right in the north of Vietnam, about six hours driving from Hanoi. It has got a good reputation for firstly creating one typical type of Vietnamese traditional painting. Go get your picture!

If you want to make your family surprised because of your cooking talent, let’s join in the cooking class which is organized in Cambodia. From then, you can discover the secret of Cambodian cuisine, how to make a good dish, how to balance the spicy, sweet, sour and salty taste, how to make a comparison between good and bad ingredients and how to create your own food style. Make a reservation and wait for the moment you enjoy with your family!

About Lux Travel DMC

Lux Travel DMC is always by your side in all the way you go! Founded in 2005, up to now, Lux Travel DMC has gained almost 15 years in the tourism sector. We have been continuously making effort to provide the best service that we have, to bring the most satisfaction for our customers.

If you are planning your summer holiday in Cambodia and Vietnam, come with us and we will try our best to fulfill your vacation!

Contact Us

• Address No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

<p>The post Top ideal family summer vacations to Vietnam Cambodia first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

I. Distinctive features of Vietnam’s culinary culture

Cuisine is an integral part of a culture. It is passed from one generation to the next. We grow up eating it, and it became a part of who we are. The act of cooking and eating traditional food is a method of preserve our culture. And because no two cultures, though may bear similarities, are the same, a diversity in different cuisines from around the world is created.  Now, let’s have a look at what special characteristics of Vietnamese’s culinary culture that make it one of a kind.

1. The diversity of variations

Vietnam is an agricultural country with a typical monsoon climate and split into three particular regions: North, Central, South. It is that geographical differences that have form culinary variations between each one, creating diversity in Vietnamese cuisine. Each respected region has its own appetite expressed in different names, ingredients, cooking technique, color, … to how to present and eat. A bowl of pho in the south usually have bean sprouts, but not in the north. Yet no matter how different the variation is, you can still taste the quintessential elements within it: light, sweet broth, soft beef and the seducing scent of aromas.

Vietnamese are curious and would value the knowledge they have yet to grasp. They are also fast and flexible learners as well. With the process of globalization, they can easily adapt the unique trait of other cuisines from Korea, Japan, China, and European countries, … combining with theirs to create new dishes, various methods of cooking that are purely Vietnamese. Take, for example, a famous Indian dish: the curry. When imported to Vietnam, they were able to make the dish less spicy yet still savory. This is an element that contributes greatly to the diversity and harmony of Vietnamese culinary culture.

2. Low quantity of fat within dishes

Vietnamese greatly respect the harmony within their dishes. A dish must have meet two requirements equally: tasty and healthy. In order to do this, they use what Mother Nature has offered. Nutritious, healthy ingredients such as vegetables and fruit are utilized extensively, to compensate the hero of the dish, and sometimes become the main ingredient. This is quite different from western cuisine, where meat is usually used as the center of the dish. Because of that, Vietnamese food has a surprisingly low amount of fat, grease, and oil, unlike western dishes which usually use too much meat or Chinese dishes with a bit excessive use of oil. You can enjoy Vietnamese cuisine to your heart’s, or stomach’s, content without being satiated and feel even better knowing that it’s one of the healthiest cuisine out there.

3. Fusion of various sauces and spices and other ingredients.

Since the very beginning of its time, Vietnamese cuisine has always had its own trademarks. There are no dishes that are too sweet, too salty or too fat, … However, every dish has its depth of flavor, so savory, yet very balanced, owing to the versatile usage of various sauces and spices.

Though the cooking process is fairly straightforward, Vietnamese chefs make good use of various spices such as salt, pepper, fish sauce, … accompanied by herbs like perilla, Thai basil, … to create flavors that are both sensational and harmonized, and to give the dish a dazzling presentation. The spices are also extremely diverse: chilling powder, seasoning, sugar, … They are used creatively and with care in order to fabricate complex favors which are the bases of Vietnamese cooking.

Dipping sauce also plays a fundamental role. No one knows since when did dipping sauce come into existence, but some say it appeared all the way back to the early days of Vietnamese cuisine and has developed with it, giving birth to an extensive variety of sauces and different methods of handling it. It has grown into something that is inseparable from a Vietnamese meal. Whether if it’s a frugal meal or a fancy restaurant dinner, cannot be completed with the absence of dipping sauce. Dipping sauces in Vietnam are varied thanks to the country’s history and geography, from fermented legume to fish or shrimp paste. Each region of Vietnam has its recipe for dipping sauces. Let’s look at fish sauce for example. While in the North, people often dilute the fish sauce with a water-vinegar infusion, along with some lemon drops and a bit of sugar, sometimes a bit of chili, garlic or crushed ginger… Southerners usually go with coconut water with fish sauce, lemon, and sugar. People from the middle region prefer to stick to the original flavor of fish sauce by adding just some lemon drops and sugar. This is just an example of one type of dipping sauce within hundreds more. The wide range of dipping sauces alone has made Vietnamese cuisine one of the finest. So important it is that it usually determines whether a dish is good or not.

Vietnamese food is a combination of multiple ingredients, from meat, fish, shrimp, to legumes, rice, herbs, … to give a composition of different tastes. Every ingredient plays an equal role, together, they create the soul of the dish.

4. Applications of philosophical importance

A dish, like every other element of life, must attain a balance. Vietnamese honor that balance, and apply ancient philosophy into their dish in order to do that. Every ingredient is used to create fragrance and flavor which response correspondingly while resembles the five elements of nature. There are five principal flavors: sweet, sour, salty, spicy and bitter. Also, Vietnamese eat using all senses: nose to smell the incredible fragrance, eyes to gaze on the colors and presentation, tongue to absorb the flavors, ears to listen to the satisfying crunchy sound, and sometimes hands to feel the texture and to take apart big chunks.

Principles of yin and yang are also applied to balance the properties of the dish. A dish with “cool” properties are served with “hot” spices. These elements are put to use to maintain the balance of our body.  “Hot” ingredients must be counteracted by using “cool” ones in the process of cooking. Ingredients which clashes with one another must strictly not be used within a dish, which can cause harms to your health. So while preparing a dish, the cook must carefully and selectively choose the right components, for the sake of gastronomes’ health and taste palate, and maintaining the balanced respected by Vietnamese.

5. Order and arrangement of dishes

Though being a minor detail, this can be a culture shock for first-time foreigners in Vietnam. Unlike the western culture where each dish is served one after another, everything from appetizers to dessert is served at once, and in most household, on a round tray. Though keep in mind that you should eat in common order.

6. Usage of chopsticks

Some consider the usage of chopsticks to be the symbol of Asian cuisine. Using chopsticks is an art that non-native Asians need to take quite some time and practice in order to master it, instead of the usual knife and fork. It is one of the most outstanding traits of Vietnamese as well because in Vietnam and some other countries, using chopstick is a way to express care and goodwill to others. Simply but putting a piece of food into another’s bowl, though might not be sanitary, is a great way to show appreciation to them.

7. The communal aspect

The western cultures are usually in favors of individualism, which somewhat affect their way of eating, where each person has their own plate. The case is different in Asia in general, and Vietnam to be specific, the sense of community can be observed in an average meal. It is conveyed through the smallest details such as how bowl, pots, chopsticks, and trays are used. In a traditional Vietnamese meal, everyone would sit on a mat, surrounding a round tray where food is served. The way Vietnamese eat also express it. They share the same dipping sauce bowl, take food from the same plate, soup and rice from the same pot, … instead of devising into portions as in western cultures.

As a result of those special ways of eating, Vietnamese usually interacts with each other more in a meal. In addition, Vietnamese love to chat and make small talks during a meal. Parents ask about their kids’ school day, friends talk about their job, grandparents telling their children stories, … which bonds every individual, creating a lovely, warm atmosphere.

8. Hospitality during a meal

Before eating, Vietnamese usually “invite” others in the same table to eating, somewhat similar to the Japanese “itadakimasu”, but rather to invite others to start eating. This is one of much Vietnamese cultural beauty.

Vietnamese also love to invite guests to have a meal with them, or even invite them to join during a meal. More guests mean more bowls, chopsticks, … and everyone eats a bit less to spare some food for the guests. The host of the meal usually pick up food and put them in the guests’ bowl as a polite and generous manner. And keep in mind that the host never finishes before their guests. As a conclusion, a Vietnamese meal not only fun but also represent their hospitality

II. Most renowned dishes of Vietnamese cuisine

Possibly the trinity of Vietnamese cuisine, the jewels on the crown, pho, banh mi, and spring rolls are the most famous dish of this country. So well known, that pho has entered the Oxford dictionary on September 20th, 2007 and later, banh mi, on March 24th, 2011, becoming relevant among 600,000 existing English words. You can find these in every corner of Vietnam, from high-end restaurants to simple sidewalk with some plastic stools and tables. Even in other countries, around the globe from east to west, they are loved by everyone from common tourist to the most fastidious food critics. So what kind of magic did the Vietnamese put on their plate, or bowl, that just mesmerizes all taste buds? Let’s find out.

1. Pho

Ah yes, just a rustic, simple, rustic bowl of sweet, savory broth, some rice noodle, a few slices of beef and some herbs to go along. Yet without a single doubt, it has become the heart and soul, the symbol of Vietnamese cuisine.

Business Insider has published a list of 40 most delicious dish in the world that everyone should try at least once. And the first name of the list comes as no surprise: our beloved pho. And it’s not there for no reason. Behind a seemingly plain bowl of pho are the compositions of a number of meticulously selected spices and ingredients, along with time taking a process of preparation and cooking.

Pho has a place in every Vietnamese heart. It basically represents the Vietnamese culinary culture. You can find a pho restaurant everywhere you look in Vietnam, from the rural countryside to busy metropolis. You can enjoy this dish at any meal, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or breakfast, and even multiple times a day without feeling satiated.

Not only does pho satisfy the taste buds of Vietnamese, but also to foreigners, as if it a dish that they grew up with. There is something about pho that easily makes the first try an experience of a lifetime. The light broth infused by the essence of its ingredients. The soft, pearly white rice noodle. A slice of a perfectly, sometimes precooked, beef. The aromas of the herbs. All elements come together, compensate and perfect one another, creating a magical flavor that words can’t describe.

Vietnamese take great pride in this rice noodle dish. And when they travel to other countries, they bring it with them. Pho restaurant is now a common thing around the globe, yet still attracts quite a number of gourmets.

2. Banh mi

Nothing reflects the nature of a cuisine better than its street food. If not, then why would Gordon Ramsay – a world-renowned chef awarded with 16 Michelin stars, willing to travel all the way to the far south of this small Southeast Asia country to get a taste and how to make a bowl of noodle on a tiny boat? Because street food is directly related to common people, who play a major role in the formation of a culture. And with pho as a symbol of Vietnamese cuisine in general, there is also banh mi which is the most outstanding representative of Vietnamese street food. It’s simple, uncomplicated, with little preparation required, and effortlessly fast to make. But don’t be fooled by how humble it is, as its influence is something comparable to that of pho.

Proving this is as easy as pie. Just look up on Google with the keyword: “banh mi”, you can find from hundreds to thousands of articles dedicated to its history and recipe. The strange thing is that most of them aren’t actually written by a native Vietnamese. The author can be a famous connoisseur or just a traveler. All they have in common is their recognition of banh mi as Vietnamese number 1 street food.

Banh mi is a phenomenon everywhere it reaches. And in Vietnam, all it takes is a minute walk from your hotel to the nearest alley to get a bite of this global food trend. Perhaps banh mi has become such an ordinary item within Vietnamese’s daily life that they have forgotten to make a standard recipe for it. Right in its birthplace, there are already so many different kinds, from pork skin banh mi in the south, to fish stick banh mi in the middle region, … Every banh mi maker has their own recipe, making a list of hundreds of variations that can only be found in Vietnam. Banh mi has followed Vietnamese footsteps to travel the globe, building famous brand such as Banh Mi Saigon in New York, Banh Mi Boys in Toronto, Banh Mi Ba in Prague, … Though you can even make your own banh mi at home, it will get nowhere near to taste as good as one from its home country.

3. Spring rolls

In 2011, spring rolls made its appearance in CNN Travel’s “50 best dishes in the world”, becoming the runner-up and came in a close second only after pho for best Vietnamese dishes. Many are convinced that should there be a dish from Southeast Asia that is capable of rivaling Japanese’s finest – sushi, it would be spring rolls, based on the fact that it’s tasty, nutritious without putting you on weight.

Perhaps, spring rolls are one of the most “easy-going” dishes in Vietnamese culinary culture. You can either eat it as a quick, delicious meal to satisfy your rumbling tummy or enjoy as a fancy delicacy. It’s probably because of this attribute, with the fact that it has a signature flavor of North Vietnam or to be more specific, Hanoi, making it one of the most important, indispensable dish within the menus of every Vietnamese restaurant in the far West. The French named it “Rouleaux de Printemps” – the rolls of spring. Maybe This is probably because of the combination of colors of spring rolls. Just take a bite, feel the chewiness of those rice papers, the juiciness of the pork and the sweetness of the shrimps, dipped in savory sauce with a hint of spice, the freshness of raw vegetables, all come together to create a symphony of flavors.

Spring rolls without the presence of its dipping sauce would only half as good. The savory fish sauce deepens the flavor of the vegetables and fillings. From spring rolls, you can sense the balance of elements from ancient philosophy. It’s a gathering of the five tastes: the sweetness of the rice noodle, the savoriness of the eggs and meat, the heat of garlic and chili, the acridness of green bananas, the sourness of star fruits or pineapples, … yet each of them only has a specific tone that is just right. Should one flavor outpowers one another or become absent from the dish, the balance would be destroyed, leaving nothing but unsatisfied gastronomers.

There’s no specific recipe for spring rolls. It varies depending on the climate and geography of different regions, with each version comes with different fillings. Everyone can even select their own preferred fillings. Therefore, within the same meal, sharing the same name but every roll has its distinguished flavors, or even having different dipping sauces. This dish possesses every distinctive feature of Vietnamese cuisine. Hence, it’s not wrong to say, spring rolls is a true Vietnamese dish.

III. Different taste of Vietnamese cuisine by the region

1. Northern cuisine, dishes which surpassed time

The existence of the Red River Delta Civilization in the North of Vietnam dates back pretty far, all the way back to around the 2nd century B.C, bringing along an exquisite culinary culture. Northerners don’t opt for a particular spice or flavor. Instead, because of their special food palate, their dishes generally have a mild flavor, with a light touch of acerbity, but the colors are extremely vibrant. They also consume a fair amount of vegetables and freshwater fishery such as shrimp, crab, fish, clams and other shellfish, …  Northern dishes usually have a harmony of flavors, not as forcefully spicy like the Middle region’s or as sweet as the South’s. This harmony is the foundation of the delicacy within Northern cuisine. Being rather reserved, Northern dishes adamantly follow the recipes of their predecessors, as they value traditions and customs, and they are convinced that the recipes are the best, because of the experience accumulate throughout generations.

With that said, don’t jump into conclusion that the cuisine of the North isn’t creative.  As every family has their own recipe, hundreds of variations are brought about. The different shapes and sizes of the rice power strand decide whether it’s pho, bun or vermicelli, and the different process of cooking comes different dishes such as bun tron, pho cuon, ….

Hanoi is recognized as the bearer of Northern cuisine’s quintessence in the most comprehensive way, from delicacy such as pho, bun thang, bun cha, Vong village’s green rice flakes, banh cuon, … fully reflects every signature of North Vietnam’s appetite.

2. The central region, offering a taste of the imperial culinary

Moving down the map is the Central region, or the Middle region, where spicy is a distinction of its dishes. There’s a saying that sums up the culinary culture here: “chặt to kho mặn” which roughly translate as “big chops and heavy seasoning”. This is because the weather here isn’t favorable for its inhabitants, with heavy rains, scorching sunlight and frequent, unforgiving natural disasters. Due to these conditions, the good people there have adopted a habit of eating sparingly, in small bowls and dishes.

Central region inhabitants have a taste for spiciness and savoriness. Their dishes are eye-catching presented, with the main colors being red and dark brown. What special about the culinary culture here is the harmonization between two styles: imperial food and street food. Within this region, there is also the city of Hue – the former capital of the Nguyen’s dynasty, the final dynasty of Vietnam. As a result, dishes in this region are carefully prepared, cooked with complex techniques and possess fancy aesthetic. While the imperial cuisine is undeniably sophisticated, street food is rather frugal to compare with, yet it is more or less as incredible. This co-existence and parallel development have given Central cuisine its diversity. Bun bo Hue, mi Quang, cao lau, and hundreds of variety of banh such as banh dap, banh beo, … are dishes that have fully represented the culinary culture of the Central region.

3. Southern cuisine, exotic and diverse

Even though they weren’t blessed with such history like the North and the Central Region, the cuisine of the South is exceptionally exquisite. With perfect geographical conditions, food of the south not only retains special characteristics of other ethnic groups such as Champa, Chinese but also many other countries. In addition, it clearly shows the influence of the French during their colonization in the past, with the perfect example being Banh mi.

Southern dishes are generally sweet, juicy with the use of sugar, coconut juice and other exotic ingredients and spices from Mother Nature. Moreover, with abundant natural resources and their open-minded personality has created diversity in their cuisine. From unusual ingredients to lesser-known cooking techniques, … form trademark dishes of the South. From sauces such as snakeskin gourami sauce, three-striped crab sauce, … to out-of-this-world dishes such as fried field-mouse soaked in coconut juice, stir-fried large flying fox marinate with bean curd cream, coconut worm, date palm worm, hay-grilled naked snakeheads, …

4. The cuisine of ethnic minorities – the hidden gem

Vietnam is home to more than 54 ethnic minorities, each of which possesses its own unique traditions and customs. Consequently, this leads to various different culinary culture. Though they lack the diversity in ingredients due to living in remote areas such as mountains, deep forest, …. It would be wrong to underestimate their cooking techniques. Take, for example, the five-colored sticky rice. Colors used to dye this dish is found in local flora: white from the glutinous rice, red from gac fruit, green from pineapple or raspberry leaf, purple from com den or sau leaf, … Smoked buffalo is another example: buffalo meat must be marinated with a complex concoction of various spices: jungle pepper, diced chili, special wine, cape yellowwood seeds, … then hanged and smoked day after day for two long months. Many other dishes such as pa pinh top, black banh chung, grilled piglet with Vietnamese curry leaf … To conclude, they all reflect complex and unconventional cooking methods, taking part in diversifying Vietnamese cuisine.

IV. Some facts about the Vietnamese cuisine

As you can see at this point, Vietnamese cuisine is among the most amazing. Yet the surprise doesn’t stop there. There are facts that might still come to most travelers as a shock, and the following is just to name some specifics:

1. Flavorful breakfast to start the day

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, no doubt. Vietnamese have the same idea. It provides energy for you to make through the day, thus, Vietnamese rarely skips breakfast. Foreign travelers are especially impressed with how Vietnamese have their first meal of the day in moderation and how nutritious it is.

Scarcely do travelers find Vietnamese have cereal, salad or sweet food for breakfast. Instead, they take their time to enjoy a big, wholesome meal, with banh mi, pho, rice, congee or a bowl of steaming hot sticky rice with dried pulled or braised pork, eggs, … to start the day right. Housewives in Vietnam also get up very early to prepare dishes for their family so they can make the most of the time their family are together.

2. Having dessert for snack meals

Some humorous travelers take on Vietnam’s climate as “unforgivingly hot”. It’s more than true, but the Vietnamese have learned to adapt to this. They came up with refreshing desserts such as sweet soup or gruel, juice, mixed yogurt, … Travelers coming to Vietnam will get the chance to enjoy these, and some dishes that really struck an impression are sweet bean soup, Thai sweet gruel, douhua, …

In common sense, these dishes are only used in small portions after the main dish, but the case is different in Vietnam. Vietnamese tend to have these as afternoon snacks, in small shops or vendors. This is why traveling to Vietnam requires a pot belly to experience all of it.

3. The coffee culture

Coming second only to Brazil in the field of coffee production, it’s not much of a surprise to see foreigners find the culture of this signature drink in Vietnam a bit odd. Being exquisitely flavorful, Vietnamese coffee will utmost certainly be a highlight of travelers’ holiday.

Iced coffee with milk is a generally popular Vietnamese drink. In every town or city, foreign travelers can easily find a decent coffee shop on the street. It’s not a tough task to see Vietnamese enjoying their cup of black or brown coffee on every street. No need for big, fancy coffee shop, but only some plastic stools and a couple tables, and you’ll get a decent place to sip some caffeine with a view of the old quarters, or the busy streets in the breezy weather. Also, Vietnamese don’t waste their weekend morning by waking up really early to stop by a coffee shop for a chat with some friends or to read a good book.

4. Blood soup, abnormal yet palatable

Vietnamese cuisine is a compound of many dishes, varied from delicate, even high-class dishes such as pho, to unusual and exotic dishes such as sandworm pancakes. Though not as notorious as the infamous balut, blood soup is quite an unorthodox dish that is familiar to every born-and-bred Vietnamese.

This particular dish is made of animal blood, specifically poultry, pig, goat, …. In Vietnamese tradition, when butchering one of these animals, in order to make the most of it, as a way to honor its sacrifice, blood soup is made. Making a perfect bowl of blood soup requires experience as well as refined techniques. In every bowl of blood soup, there is diced pre-cooked meat, fish sauce, herbs, peanut, …

Not every foreigner, or sometimes even Vietnamese have the guts to taste this dish, can only know about its taste through description: savory with a bit of acidity. In many local regions, this dish is made with other delicacies from meat to celebrate a special event or festival

5. The widespread use of fish sauce

From reading the above, you can understand how important of a role fish sauce plays. It is and has been the key spice and sauce to Vietnamese dishes. You can’t call it a Vietnamese family meal without a small bowl of fish sauce in it.

Fish sauce is made by brewing anchovies and salt until fermented. At the right point of time, the base sauce won’t retain such an overpowering flavor, but rather a pleasant taste. The sauce is elevated even more when combined with other ingredients.

Fish sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for many Vietnamese dishes such as spring rolls, bun cha, sweet and sour grated salad, … Were fish sauce to not exist, Vietnamese cuisine wouldn’t be able to stand where it is now among others.

6. Culinary tours available in Vietnam

According to a survey conducted by the US Travel Association, a quarter of leisure travelers agreed that local food is a priority for choosing a destination. And because of how diverse Vietnamese cuisine is, and how strong its connection to the country’s history is, it is recommended to take a culinary tool to experience the most of what it has to offer. A culinary tour, or a food tour, allows you to get a better inside look into what, when, where and how locals eat, as well as their delicacies and their backstories. Some tours take you to landmarks, as normal tours do, but also focus more on local restaurants and locations similar to such. Others include cooking workshop in its itinerary, providing you with hands-on experience. A local guide will also be there to explain what the dish is about: its ingredients, its origin, and history, what role it plays in the local culinary culture, …

A quick Google search can give you numerous information about culinary tours in Vietnam. From food taste culinary and sightseeing tours to tours with cooking classes, food and culture exploration tours, …  If this is too overwhelming, don’t worry. Our company – Lux Travel DMC, is there to provide you with the best high-end experience culinary tours. We offer a variety of tours from half-day gourmet tour sampling to 16-day tours that allow you to feast on Vietnamese cuisine’s finest. We are dedicated to providing our customers with nothing but satisfaction, and gastronomes are no exceptions. Come with us, and dine in some of the finest, most exceptional restaurants in this country, and have an experience of a lifetime for you and your taste buds.

About Lux Travel DMC

Lux Travel DMC offers high-end packages in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. The company has 15 years of experience in travel industry and specialize in high-quality vacation. To bring the most authentic travel experience to the customers, Lux Travel DMC has the experts with thorough knowledge about all aspects of travel and care skills. You will be supported by the team in many different languages: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

Contact Us:

• Address: No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
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• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

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