Vietnam among 20 best destinations to visit in 2015

According to Telegraph travel site, Vietnam is one of the world’s best countries to visit for 2015.

With a new year of travel about to begin and a bewildering array of holiday options to choose from, it can be almost impossible to decide where on Earth to go.

Mẹ Hoa hâu Kỳ Duyên: Không có chuyện con tôi vô lễ !

Hoan Kiem Lake in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

Forty years since the Fall of Saigon, Vietnam has come a long way as a holiday destination, writes Iain Stewart.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleumis in Ba Dinh Quare, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleumis a large memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is located in the centre of Ba Dinh Square, which is the place where Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh. Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 1951 until his death in 1969, read the Declaration of Independence on 2 September 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. It is an ideal place that attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Nha Trang is the most popular tourist beach destination in Vietnam .

Why Go Now?

2015 will mark the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon – and Vietnam has come a very long way since then, emerging as an increasingly popular destination for British visitors.

Hoi An, Viet Nam attracts many tourists ech year.

Its cities are absurdly in-your-face, driven by the buzz of a million motorbikes and the palpable thrust of energy and commerce, yet this is a nation that also does subtle - just try the food. Banh vac (steamed minced shrimp dumpling), for example, delicately combines salty, sweet and sour flavours with a topping of crunchy, crispy shallots.

Banh vac in Hoi An, Viet Nam.

Vietnamese cuisine has many intricate layers, so for a true understanding of it, take a course in Hoi An, a Unesco World Heritage Site which is loaded with cooking schools. While you’re in town, be sure also to find time for a quintessentially Vietnamese experience, a two-wheeler trip. Guided motorbike daytrips run by Hoi An Motorbike Adventure (motorbiketours-hoian.com) use meaty Minsk machines. Alternatively, you can glide about on a vintage scooter courtesy of vietnamvespaadventures.com

Pho

What list of Vietnamese cuisine would be complete without pho? It’s almost impossible to walk a block in Vietnam’s major cities without bumping into a crowd of hungry patrons slurping noodles at a makeshift pho stand.

This simple staple consisting of a salty broth, fresh rice noodles, a sprinkling of herbs and chicken or beef, features predominately in the local diet -- and understandably so. It’s cheap, tasty, and widely available at all hours.

Just look out for a mass of people on plastic stools -- or try a tried and tested favorite: Pho Thin, 13 Lo Duc, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi; +84 43 821 2709.

Nem Ran

Vietnam’s bite-sized crunchy spring rolls might not enjoy the same popularity as their healthier fresh equivalent, but they deserve a special mention.

Fried Spring Rolls (Nem cuon) is a traditional dish in Viet Nam.

The crispy shell with a soft veggie and meat filling dunked in a tangy sauce gets the gastronomic juices flowing before a main course. In the north these parcels go by the name nem ran while southerners call them cha gio.

Address: 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Cha ca

Hanoians consider cha ca to be so exceptional that there is a street in the capital dedicated to these fried morsels of fish.

This namesake alley is home to Cha Ca La Vong, which serves sizzling chunks of fish seasoned with garlic, ginger, turmeric and dill on a hot pan tableside.

Xoi

Savory sticky rice is less of an accompaniment to meals in Vietnam, more a meal itself. The glutinous staple comes with any number of mix-ins (from slithers of chicken, or pork to fried or preserved eggs), but almost always with a scattering of dried shallots on top.

Address: Xoi Yen, Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Banh xeo

A good banh xeo is a crispy crepe bulging with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, plus the garnish of fresh herbs that are characteristic of most authentic Vietnamese dishes.

To enjoy one like a local, cut it into manageable slices, roll it up in rice paper or lettuce leaves and dunk it in whatever special sauce the chef has mixed up for you.

Banh Xeo 46A has mixed reviews but judging by the crowds that swarm there each night they must be doing something right. Banh Xeo, 46A Dinh Cong Trang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)

North of Hoi An, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is Vietnam’s hottest region for 2015. Riddled with an astonishing number of cave systems, including the Hang Son Doong (the world’s largest cave) the scenery is spectacular with rainforest, towering karst peaks and jungle rivers. In the last couple of years, accommodation choices have mushroomed to meet demand, including the Lake House Resort (http://phongnhalakehouse.com), though there’s still only one ATM in the one-horse access town.

Hoi An ancient town in Viet Nam.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam.

Local tour operator Oxalis, co-run by British cavers, offer superb trips to the sublime swim-through caverns of Tu Lan and Hang En (the world’s third largest cave). Trips to Hang Son Doong itself are currently suspended (as authorities consider licensing a cable car attraction inside the cave, a proposal that’s been roundly condemned by conservationists).

Son Doong Cave in Viet Nam.

New options will help tourists explore beyond the cities, whether they spend their night on a boat adrift the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, Viet Nam.

When to Go

November through March are peak times for sun in the south without too much heat or rain; the north will be cooler. April to June and September and October are less busy. Avoid the busy Tet New Year festival in January or February.

How to go

Responsible Travel (01273 823700; responsibletravel.com) offers a 16-day Vietnam Adventure Holiday that includes HCMC, Hanoi and Hoi An and costs from £1769 including flights from UK.

Insider Tip

Vietnamese markets, including floating ones, provide windows onto daily life that shouldn't be missed. The best times to mingle with locals as they shop are earlier in the morning and in late afternoon and at night.