Things tourists need to know for a trip to India.

Vehicle

Ms. Nguyet Anh visited India during the most beautiful season of the year and spent 5 days in 3 cities. Flying from Vietnam to New Delhi (the capital) still requires a layover in another country; the most convenient option in terms of layover time is with Thai Airways, transiting in Bangkok. The connecting flight from Bangkok to New Delhi is 4 hours long. Upon arrival at New Delhi airport, you'll queue at a separate, fast-paced gate. The airport is modern, not outdated as its name suggests, and is about a 45-minute taxi ride from the center of Delhi.

Visa

Vietnamese citizens can apply for an E-Visa within 3 days, which is convenient.

Accommodation

Delhi offers a wide selection of hotels from major international corporations, such as the Park Hyatt Hotel, Marriott Hotel & Resort, and Sheraton Hotel. The Grand Hotel in New Delhi is very close to a large shopping center with many designer brands for tourists to enjoy. My personal advice is that you shouldn't shop there because the fashion isn't suited to Vietnamese tastes.

Things to know about India

India is a large South Asian country with an area of ​​3,287,000 square kilometers.²(The area of ​​our country is 331,698 km²)²India's main religion is Hinduism, which accounts for approximately 80% of the country's population. Hinduism has no single founder; people believe that the gods have a relationship with humans and are in harmony with the universe. The Trimurti trinity, consisting of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, represents Creation, Protection, and Destruction.

Today, tourists visiting India enjoy exploring the culture and customs of people in some of the most remote and isolated regions. India is famous for its cultural heritage sites such as palaces, heritage hotels, and forts throughout the states, as well as wildlife tours in its vast national parks. Five-star train travel is a high-end service and a favorite among small groups. Many Vietnamese tourists have made pilgrimages to historical sites from the time of Buddha's birth (Nepal-Lumbini), his enlightenment (Bodh Gaya), to his death (Kushinagar). However, the quality of service remains low, hindering further exploration of higher-standard tourist destinations.

Trip

On my first day in India, I felt unsafe in the car because the traffic in New Delhi was so chaotic, although traffic in Vietnam is also incredibly unsafe. Drivers weaved through traffic like motorbikes, honking incessantly to overtake other vehicles, making the car feel like it was about to tip over. The driver explained that if they didn't do that, it would take forever to get there. My hair stood on end when I arrived at the hotel to check in, even though the car had a roof.

We arrived in Rajasthan, a neighboring city of New Delhi. The roads weren't too bad. Along the way, cows, elephants, dogs, and camels also participated in traffic, ignoring people and vehicles, trudging along in the middle of the road like everyone else. Cows are revered animals, so no one eats beef. The bazaars here are similar to our old-fashioned markets, selling everything from oil lamps to sewing needles. Many restaurants catering to international tourists are completely traditional Indian-style buildings, decorated with colorful patterns and characteristic Indian culture. The waiters are young men in traditional attire, wearing red headscarves. To welcome guests, the restaurant owners often send someone out to greet them and put a red dot between their eyebrows. After a few days, I broke out in pimples on my forehead because my skin was allergic to that red dot.

"Palaces" are the former palaces of Indian kings and queens, but today most are managed by large real estate corporations, transforming them into luxury hotels. Many have been converted into heritage hotels and restaurants. These hotels share common features: lush green gardens, polo grounds, and spacious grounds. The bedrooms are large. These Palaces often host themed events; despite the hot and sunny climate, roses are often scattered on the walkways, and daisies or jasmine flowers are strung together and worn around the necks of distinguished guests. Inside the cocktail lounge, there are traditional activities such as fortune telling, scarf wrapping, handcrafted bracelets, henna painting, nose piercings, and performances of traditional musical instruments or modern bands. Room rates at Palaces are typically comparable to 5-star hotels.

In Puskar, the birthplace of Hinduism, people make pilgrimages there every year, and even now, it remains mysterious with stories surrounding the Puskar pilgrimage lake. Around the area is a bazaar selling all kinds of food, clothes, and camel leather bags, before reaching the most sacred temple. Visitors must remove their shoes outside, are not allowed cameras, and undergo strict screening before entering to perform rituals. I followed the crowd inside, my feet barely touching the ground, and finally managed to squeeze my way to the main ceremonial area. There are many procedures here that visitors need to know.

In India, outdoor catering is very popular because at night the temperature drops to 25°C, the breeze is cool, and the weather is very pleasant, although during the day the temperature can reach 35°C. The party I was invited to was held in the vast sandy desert, with belly dancing performances and traditional Indian music combined with drums creating a starry atmosphere – it was fantastic. Another lavish dinner was held on the highest point of the "Fort" with shimmering lanterns under the moonlight and cool breeze, making my eyes water. Watching the young men perform, I felt like seeing young women dancing playfully around me – it was truly a feast for the eyes.

India is still full of mysteries. Festivals are everywhere, each with its own unique characteristics and identity, especially regarding food and women with their customs. People may believe in something and turn it into a religion. Some people worship anything that can make them believe, such as the story of a temple dedicated to a motorcycle, worshipping a tree, or the common sight of people walking naked in the street.

Everywhere, pigeons fly, perch, and defecate, staining the buildings. The white walls have turned a drab gray with the birds' "artistic" drawings, as my Norwegian friend observed. The people are very poor, but they still buy seeds to feed the wild birds. When I asked a girl about 10 years old, "Why feed the birds when you need to save money for candy?", she said that pigeons are a species that needs protection.

Nguyet Anh