Bringing Vietnam to You
Dream today – travel tomorrow
Travel may be on pause with many countries still in various stages of lockdown but that won’t stop us from travelling in our imaginations. We’re bringing Vietnam to you – offering an escape from reality and hopefully inspiring you to plan your future bucket list adventures.
Travel to Vietnam, whether virtually or in person, and you’ll be met with surreal seascapes, craggy mountains, evocative rice fields, subtly fragrant cuisine, luxury beach resorts, diverse history and age-old customs.
Lockdown Movies
With dense jungle, sheer-sided mountains, bustling riverways and colonial architecture, it’s little wonder that Vietnam attracts adventurous film directors from all over the world. Many of the films around the Vietnam War immediately spring to mind such as Good Morning Vietnam and Apocalypse Now. However scenic backdrops like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay are now becoming regular stars on the silver screen! Our client, ICS Travel Group, has put together their favourite films that take full advantage of the exotic surroundings that Vietnam has to offer:
Lockdown Sounds
Explore the world’s biggest cave from your couch! The recently discovered Son Doong Cave in central Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is estimated to be between two and five million years old and is believed to be the largest cave passage in the world. It’s more than three miles long, with numerous chambers large enough to hold an entire city block of New York skyscrapers. It also contains many appropriately gargantuan formations, including the 200-foot “Hand of the Dog”. The cave is so surreal and spectacular it was featured in the music video: Alan Walker ft. Ava Max “Alone, Pt. II”.
Lockdown Wellness
The benefits of including yoga in your daily routine are immeasurable. From increased flexibility and muscle strength to improved energy and vitality, yoga can work wonders for your mind, body and soul. And the best part – all you need is a small space and a mat! Fusion Resort Cam Ranh is an “all-spa-inclusive” resort perched atop a 28-metre-high sand dune, offering a daily programme of yoga, tai chi, qi gong and meditation. Find out more about the many benefits of yoga from Vishnu Harshan, the resort’s resident yogi and wellness expert.
Read the full blog here and be inspired to roll out your mat!
Lockdown History
Dragons or geology? The Vietnamese believe that the stunning landscape of Halong Bay was formed by dragons sent by gods to defend the land from invaders. Their tails gouged out valleys and crevasses, and they spat out jewels that turned into islands. Geologists however, believe that the incredible landscape is the result of 500 million years of geological changes. Our client, Bhaya Cruises, has put together a fabulous blog and infographic that outlines the formation of the famous bay.
Lockdown Munchies
In an episode of ‘Parts Unknown’ on CNN, the late, great chef Anthony Bourdain sat down with President Obama in a small restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam. Together they ate local specialties such as bún chả, and Bourdain famously taught Obama how to ‘slurp’! So let’s learn how to make it for ourselves. It’s a hearty dish of grilled pork served over white rice noodles and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce. It’s a great combination of savoury and fresh flavours and is a favourite all over the country.
Lockdown Art
Award-winning landscape photographer Pham Huy Trung has built a compelling body of work that celebrates his country’s natural diversity. He captures scenes in unusual ways and from unexpected angles – often from high above thanks to his drone. In the attached blog Pham Huy Trung talks about his passion for capturing the beauty of Vietnam, in particular his favourite areas – Ha Giang, Hue, Quang Nam, Da Lat and the Mekong Delta.
Read more about Pham Huy Trung and find out which of his images he loves the most
