For travel enthusiasts, the passing of a year means that more destinations are marked on the travel map of life. Among them, many destinations in 2018 are countries with unique cultures and countless stops for exploration and experience.
Little Tibet - Ladakh
Located in the northeast of India, Ladakh is the land of majestic Himalayan mountains, towering passes, vast deserts, and peaceful holy places that have stood the test of time. Ladakh is located on the Tibetan plateau, so it possesses unique Tibetan cultural features in addition to its beautiful nature. That is also the reason why this place is known as Little Tibet.
Coming to Ladakh, visitors' experiences will be more profound than ever before with the outstanding architecture imbued with spiritual colors with a history of hundreds and thousands of years old. Standing in the middle of the poetic valley, looking at the Buddhist monasteries perched precariously on the cliffs, you will surely feel the surreal beauty of this land.
More information
- Visa: India allows online visa application, fee 80 USD, latest 2 weeks before flight.
- Itinerary: There are currently no direct flights from Vietnam to Ladakh, you need to fly to Dehli and then continue to Ladakh.
- Cuisine: Ladakh people are usually vegetarian and use curry as a spice in most dishes. If you are staying here for many days, you should bring extra food to ensure adequate nutrition throughout the journey.
- Time: May to October is the best time to explore Ladakh because this is summer, Ladakh is less cold and the roads are not covered with ice and snow.
Crossroads of East-West civilization - Türkiye
Turkey is a country with a unique geographical location in the world, 97% of its territory is in Asia and the remaining 3% is in Europe. This location gives Turkey a diverse ecological environment and beautiful natural terrain with 40 national parks, 189 nature parks, 31 nature reserves, 80 wildlife reserves and 109 natural monuments. Moreover, located at a strategic position of the ancient Silk Road, Turkey is considered the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations.
The beautiful ancient architecture in Türkiye with the cultural blend of civilizations from ancient to modern (Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman) has made this land of world wonders the center of the tourist map.
More information
- Visa: Turkish tourist visa is valid for 3 months, allows single entry, maximum stay of 30 days. Documents must be prepared 1 month before departure.
- Route: There are now direct flights from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Istanbul by Turkish Airlines.
Within Türkiye, you can travel by many different means such as train, boat, car, bus...
- Cuisine: Muslim dishes. In addition, dishes such as Kabab, Simit, Pide are also part of the cuisine here.
- Tip: Leather goods, carpets and handmade ceramics are famous products of Türkiye. If possible, you should buy some souvenirs.
One Thousand and One Nights - Morocco
Morocco is a kingdom located in North Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean on both sides. This place is known as the land of magical stories, the most famous of which is the story of Scheherazade - One Thousand and One Nights. Coming to Morocco, you will discover a unique land, which possesses a combination of mountains - sea - plains - deserts and ancient Islamic cities that have existed for thousands of years.
One of the great experiences when coming to Morocco is riding a camel through the sand dunes of the Sahara desert. Here, you will enjoy the feeling of peace, watch the sunset and explore a mysterious and colorful Middle East. Besides, the cultural life of the Moroccan people still preserves the ancient customs, giving visitors interesting experiences.
More information
- Visa: Visa application must be submitted to the Moroccan Embassy in Hanoi at least 3 weeks before departure.
- Itinerary: Currently, Vietnam does not have direct flights to Morocco, so you need to transit in some intermediate countries.
- Cuisine: Don't miss Tagines, a very special Moroccan dish cooked in earthenware pots.
- Note: Morocco is a Muslim country so you need to follow some rules when coming here such as asking permission before taking photos of people, wearing modest clothes, not too short.
Tea and Old Town Paradise - Taiwan
Taiwan is famous for its ancient Asian villages such as Jiufen, Shifen or the Palace Museum - one of the places that stores the largest works of art in the world. In addition, many tourists also come to Taiwan because of their love for tea and milk tea. Here, you can visit the famous tea fields or simply sit and enjoy tea in the ancient villages.
You can also participate in the magical and sparkling sky lantern release festivals - an activity considered a part of the culture of the people here. In addition, immersing yourself in the bustling night markets is also an experience that you should not miss when coming to this island nation.
More information
- Visa: Taiwan currently issues visas in two forms: paper visas and online visas. The fee is 50-75 USD/person, depending on the processing time. The validity period is 90 days, the maximum stay for paper visas is 14 days, and for online visas is 30 days.
- Journey: From Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat, there are always direct flights to airports in Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Cuisine: Milk tea and famous street foods.
- Time: Taiwan is beautiful in all four seasons, but the best time to travel is autumn from September to November.
- Note: English is not widely spoken in Taiwan, so if you plan to stay here for a long time, you will need an interpreter.
Land of Pagodas - Myanmar
Located in the northwest of the Central Indian Peninsula, Myanmar is always mentioned as a beautiful spiritual destination. This land owns many temples located peacefully among majestic mountains and blue lakes. The most beautiful is Inle Lake, with countless floating houses on the clear, calm water. Coming to Inle Lake, you will enjoy a peaceful life as well as meet the friendly and hospitable people.
In addition, watching the sunrise and sunset on a hot air balloon in the capital Bagan is also one of the indispensable experiences when coming to Myanmar. You will see thousands of reddish-brown towers glowing in the sunlight and hundreds of hot air balloons flying. And if you visit the capital, do not forget to visit the famous pagoda covered with 90 tons of gold - Shwedagon Pagoda.
More information
- Visa: Vietnamese tourists are exempt from visa to Myanmar, you only need a passport valid for more than 6 months.
- Journey: From Vietnam to Myanmar takes only 2 hours.
- Transportation: Taxis or richshows (similar to cyclos in Vietnam) are very popular in Myanmar.
- Cuisine: Shan rice, Myanmar curry, Nan Gyi Thohk noodles...
- Time: November to February is the best time to visit Myanmar because this season the weather is cool and there is not much rain. And only during this time can visitors see the whole view of Bagan from a hot air balloon.
- Note: Myanmar is a Buddhist country, you need to prepare appropriate clothing when visiting temples.
Where love songs are sung forever - Korea
Korea is a rare country that is beautiful all year round. Coming to Korea in any season, you will have a new and exciting feeling. Especially, Korean tourism has long been known through popular TV dramas. You will not be able to miss Korea if you have ever watched Winter Sonata, Autumn in My Heart or Summer Scent...
In addition, Korea also attracts tourists with its unique culture, delicious cuisine and extremely romantic scenery. Coming to Korea, you can visit the bustling Dong Dae Moon market, the splendid royal palace, the pearl island of Jeju and participate in the cherry blossom festival in Jinhae district - where the beauty in the picture is realized.
More information
- Visa: Fee is $20 for stays under 90 days, visa validity is 1 year, maximum stay is 30 days. Application review time is 3 - 5 days.
- Itinerary: There are many direct flights from Vietnam to Korea.
- Time: Korea is beautiful in all four seasons, but the most beautiful is from March to May, the time of spring and cherry blossoms.
- Note: The number of people applying for visas to Korea is very large, you should come to the Embassy early to avoid having to wait in long lines.
Land of Symbols - Japan
Japan is known as a country with a unique culture and a long history. If you love exploring world culture, there is no reason for you to miss Japan - a country famous for its unique symbols in all fields. This place attracts tourists by the perfect beauty of Mount Fuji, the ancient beauty and mysterious historical curtain around Himeji Castle, the quiet beauty of the ancient capital Kyoto or the bustling life of the richest capital in the world, Tokyo.
On the other hand, when coming to Japan, do not miss the opportunity to learn about the world-famous cultural features of this land of the rising sun. That is the sophistication in the art of tea ceremony; the mysteriousness of Geisha, the absolute sophistication in each Wagashi cake or simply wearing a kimono or yukata and leisurely strolling on the peaceful streets of Japan.
More information
- Visa: Fee is 610,000 VND for a single entry visa, valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Processing time is at least 8 days from the date of receipt of application.
- Itinerary: There are currently many direct flights from Vietnam to Japan.
- Cuisine: Sushi, fresh seafood, Ramen noodles, Soba noodles and don't forget to try Japanese bento rice.
- Note: Japanese people are absolutely punctual, it's like an unwritten law of Japanese people.
The cradle of human civilization - Egypt
Located in the middle of the wild "black continent", Egypt has always been considered the cradle of human civilization, a place that contains mysteries that humans have not yet discovered. This place is also blessed by nature with the Nile River, the river of life, which for thousands of years has deposited layers of fertile alluvium, creating the most fertile land in Africa and turning this place into the cradle of the brilliant ancient Egyptian civilization, bringing pride to all mankind.
Discovering Egypt is a series of days where you go from one surprise to another. The mystery of the pyramids that shelter the thousand-year sleep of the Pharaohs, the architecture and spirituality of two famous temples: Karnak temple and Luxor temple or the world-famous Sphinx statue. All will bring visitors unforgettable experiences in this mysterious land.
More information
- Visa: Visa fee is $25, apply at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Hanoi.
- Itinerary: There are currently no direct flights from Vietnam to Egypt, you need to transit in some intermediate countries.
- Cuisine: Koshari, Ful medames or Haman Mahshi are dishes you should try in this country.
- Note: The weather in Egypt is very harsh, it is often too hot during the day and too cold at night. Therefore, you need to prepare suitable clothes as well as necessary medicine to prevent heat stroke.
