Hanoi Daewoo Hotel

This hotel is perfectly situated right at the heart of Hanoi’s diplomatic and business district. Hanoi Daewoo Hotel is known as Vietnam’s finest hotel. It offers guests with a wide range of modern facilities as well as diverse services. This 411-room hotel has thirty-three suites providing the best panoramic view of Hanoi. The hotel is also built and designed to the highest architectural standards and it also contains 4 excellent restaurants managed by top chefs showcasing superb culinary arts. Hanoi Daewoo Hotel is equipped with a fully-functional business center, a spacious grand ballroom, a large swimming pool (about 80 meters) and an attractive garden.

Ana Mandara Resort

Found in the most beautiful beach in Vietnam, Nha Trang, this resort is located in Khan Hoa Province. Ana Mandara Resort is equipped with many functional amenities such as an on-site tennis court, fitness center, on-site dining, business center, meeting rooms, banquets, spa, outdoor pool, and high speed internet access. The resort also offers its guests with tons of fun and exciting activities which include biking, fly fishing, sailing, hiking, diving, water skiing, wind surfing, scuba diving and shopping.

Six Senses Hideaway Ninh Van Bay

Offering classic luxury accommodations, this beautiful hotel is set on the dramatic and scenic Ninh Van Bay. Build on an exclusive property, Six Senses Hideaway is only accessible by water. It features fifty-eight beautiful and spacious villas providing great views of magnificent rock formations, with white sand beaches and towering mountains serving as their backdrop.

Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon

Situated right at the city center of Ho Chi Minh, Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon is just a short walk from the Reunification Palace as well as Notre Dame Cathedral, and is thirty minutes away from the airport. The hotel offers 275 well-appointed guestrooms and eleven suites which are tastefully ornamented to suit the taste of discerning guests. It also has a fitness center and a swimming pool. Two on-site restaurants serve the hotel offering sumptuous international cuisines ranging from Mediterranean and French specialties.

Rice is the staple food and it’s also made into noodles and cakes. Vietnamese people enjoy dishes that combine a variety of meats, vegetables and herbs. Lemon grass, kaffir and lime are just a few of the most commonly used herbs. On the other hand, prawn, fish, pork, beef and chicken are popular meats in the area. Soy sauce and fish sauce can be found on every kitchen and these are used as flavorings and dipping sauces. You can also find peanuts in most dishes. Food choices in Vietnam are just as diverse as the options for the policies offered by Sovereign Insurance.

As for the styles of cooking, the most popular methods are steaming, boiling, stir frying and deep-frying. The Vietnamese use a small amount of oil while cooking as compared with the Chinese because they want to preserve the natural taste and freshness of food as much as possible, hence, Vietnamese foods are considered as one of the healthiest in the world. So whether you have acquired a life insurance or not, since Vietnamese foods are known to be the healthiest, you can add more years into your life by switching to the consumption of healthy Vietnamese cuisines.

When to Visit

Basically, because of its geography, there is no one specific time to visit Vietnam. Because it spreads out from north to south, the country basically has three distinct climatic zones. What you should consider is the specific place in Vietnam that you intend to visit. It is ideal to visit when the tropical monsoons have passed, and that is in the months of May to September (in the country’s northern and southern areas) and October to April in central Vietnam. So the rest of the year will be typically sunny.

Clothing

In relation to the weather, you should also choose the right clothing to wear. If you intend to visit in the summer and lounge in the beaches in central Vietnam, loose fabrics that are of cotton or other natural fabrics is advisable as it can get as warm as 40 degrees centigrade. But if you are visiting the country during the rainy season, raingear is advisable, but you should also bring along some cool and loose clothing as it still can get warm even during the rainy season.  Your phlebotomy training classes can wait for a while if your visiting this beautiful spot. The only areas that would need warm clothing would be the northern part of the country.

Restrictions

You should keep in mind that Vietnam has a different culture than the western countries, and their religion and beliefs are also different. Remember to observe the different restrictions dictated by their religions. When it comes to clothing, shorts are not advisable, and you should consider clothing that is simple, and discreet. When visiting Buddhist temples and pagodas, you have to remember to remove your footwear as a sign of respect. The locals also consider it rude when you touch their heads, so be sure not to do that. When giving gifts or business cards, it is proper to use two hands – Vietnamese people consider that polite.

When you intend to document your trip and take pictures, make sure to always ask if it is allowed as some harbors, ports, and airports restrict picture-taking. Vietnamese people also find it rude to take their picture without their permission.

Now that you have read the aforementioned information about Vietnam travelling in and about the country should be easy breezy. Do not forget to bring a handy dandy Vietnam map and an English-Vietnamese dictionary which will help you greatly when exploring the area and talking with the local. Moreover, it is highly advisable that you book your accommodations in Vietnam way ahead of time so that you will be able to get the best room available that your money can afford.

Cultural Influences

Vietnam is considered to be one of the countries that belong to the East Asian Cultural Sphere, mainly because of its Chinese influence evident in almost all aspects of the country. In the 10^th century, when they gained their independence from China, Vietnam expanded to include the territories that used to be part of the Champa civilization and some parts of the Khmer empire.

The Chinese were not the only influence in the country, as they were also occupied for a time by the French, who brought Catholicism and the Latin alphabet to the Vietnam. Until now, Vietnam is the only Indochinese nation that uses the Latin alphabet to write their national language. Other cultural influence include Cuba, and the Soviet Union, hence the traces of communism.

Religion and Philosophy

The popular religion in Vietnam is typically an East Asia mix of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, or otherwise referred to as Tam Giáo (“triple religion”). Other religions include Catholicism and Vietnamese Buddhism. But whatever religious practice they choose, most Vietnamese have ancestor altars in their homes to practice ancestor worship and native animism. This plays a crucial role in their culture where family and kinship is of utmost importance.

Kinship, marriage, and family dynamics

As mentioned above, the importance of kinship and family is evident in the Vietnamese culture. But unlike what most would expect, the Vietnamese culture values the clan over family. But most inhabitants of each clan in a village are also related by blood. There is then a complex web of hierarchy within a village, and this is where the clan is considered more important than family, meaning a clan member’s hierarchal position in his family will not be considered important than his actual position in the clan.

Marriage in modern Vietnam is already considered to be influenced by both traditional and western cultures, but tradition is pretty much predominant in most Vietnamese families. They are expected to be married at a young age and most marriages are arranged by the parents.

Business and companies looking to increase morale and productivity within their staff often choose such luxurious places as France to hold their events. It’s not every company that does this, but some of the best and most successful make sure that they take time to give back to their employees. Villas in France make an excellent option for business that want to and can afford to go all out for a few days.

There are a few good ideas for companies taking their corporate events to France, and following some of these can make the time spent in the country even better.

Idea 1: Go Rural

Paris might be the most well-known area of France, but many of the best places in France are the rural areas. French countryside is incredible, especially if you choose the right areas during the right seasons. If you choose properly, you and the whole gathering could get to enjoy France at its finest. Most villas in France that are set in the countryside are just so placed so that they offer visitors the best possible views.

Of course, you will probably want to be sure that there is access to basic necessities and conveniences. Most of the villas that do offer corporate events hosting ensure this, but it’s best to double check.

Idea 2: Beach Fun

France isn’t the most famous place in the world for its beaches; it’s nothing like the Caribbean. Yet France’s beaches are special in their own way, and can provide visitors with hours of fun and lots of great views. When the meetings are over, people can head down to the beaches for a few hours to freshen up and catch some waves. Beach scenery in France is unique and attractive, and should make those attending glad they could visit.
Seaside food in France is also pretty spectacular, and if you can, you should see about villas in France that serve such delicacies. If the place you choose to go to isn’t all inclusive or doesn’t serve meals, then there are always little local stands and restaurants that visitors can hit. This can be a good way to increase the bonding and sense of unity from the corporate meetings after hours.

If you are coming to Vietnam to experience the beauty of its scenic and captivating beaches, be sure to check out the top beaches in the country which include:

Nha Trang Beach

This white sandy beach with swaying palm trees is a very popular diving destination.  Travelers often go to Nha Trang to experience its luxurious boat cruises, where they can enjoy good food and drinks while taking pleasure from scenery along the beach. Nha Trang has a public beach, Tran Phu, which gets really crowded during the summer season. So if you are looking for a serene beach experience, you could always head to the north side of the beach. This lush beach also provides travelers a spectacular view of the Charm Temples. The Na Thrang beach is home to two five star resorts, the Evason Ana Mandara and Six Senses Spa and the Vinpearl Resort and Spa.

Phu Quoc Island

This pristine beach has the whitest sand in the entire country of Vietnam. Because of this, it is fast becoming as Vietnam’s number one summer destination. This sandy white beach is also a great place to catch the romantic sunset.  It is dubbed as one of the best spots in Asia for a stunning sunset view. Phu Quoc Island is also home to several untapped and unspoiled beaches in Vietnam.

China Beach

This beach is known as the surfer’s secluded paradise. China beach is very famous as a surfing spot and once hosted an international surfing competition. It is a historical spot too, as it is the place where the US troops first landed during the 1970’s Vietnam War. China beach is a popular beach resort that offers travelers with daytrip excursions to several tourist destinations in Vietnam.

Doc Let Beach

The Doc Let Beach lets travelers experience a more private beach encounter. This beach has lesser tourist services, which makes it a less frequented destination. Because of that, Doc Let Beach lends a more serene and peaceful retreat from the crowed beach of Nha Trang.

To help you make the most out of your Vietnam vacation, here is a list of the some of the top attractions in the country that you should never miss.

Sa Pa Terraces

The Sa Pa Terraces is an abode of interesting landscape of rice terraces. This type of landscape was meant to avoid erosion and to preserve rainfall for the land’s crops. This indigenous work not only provides vegetation and rice crops to the locals, it is also considered as one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.

Chu Chi Tunnels

This series of hand dug underground tunnels served as hiding spots of the guerillas during the Vietnam War. It was also used as a sanctuary of several militaries and civilians in the Indochina war.

Hoi An

It was once considered as Vietnam’s international port in the 17^th century. This former fishing village was able to preserve its ancient architecture. This old town is Vietnam’s version of Venice, thus it is dubbed as Venice of Vietnam due to its narrow canals that are similar to Venice itself.

Ha Long Bay

This bay showcases an extensive display of Vietnam’s thick jungle vegetation. It is home to hundreds of islands that form an interesting seascape of limestone pillars. Limestone monolithic islands are abundant in the Ha Long Bay, several of which have enormous caves.

Hoa Lo Prison

This ancient prison cell became a symbol of the exploitation of Vietnamese by the French. This prison served as a torture chamber for Vietnamese revolutionists. The southern part of this chamber was preserved and became a memorial for revolutionaries who have experienced death by horrendous ways. The original cells with the leg irons were preserved for the public to take a glimpse on Vietnam’s long struggle for freedom.