Main Cities and Attractions of Vietnam

Vietnam’s history of occupation and war has had a major impact on the country it has developed into. From its survivalist spirit to its cuisine, Vietnam shows signs of its influences while still retaining its own unique style. Vietnam is rapidly becoming an extremely popular tourist destination. The country has a series of attractions, from sites, reminding visitors of its war-torn past to interesting landscapes, that makes it endlessly intriguing to tourists. Hanoi The capital of Vietnam is also its second largest city. The city lies along the Red River. There are many lakes in the city; the most popular of which is Hoan Kiem Lake. The Old Quarter is the historic section of the city that has been around since its establishment over a thousand years ago. The Old Quarter is home to such attractions as One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Hanoi Flag Tower, and a piece of the 900-year-old Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hanoi is also the location of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum. Visitors can view the remains of the famous Vietnamese ruler and learn about the country’s history. Ho Chi Minh City Also known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and its financial center. It was the capital of South Vietnam during the country’s split and was renamed after the fall of Saigon in 1975. The city has many popular museums, including the Reunification Palace, the former presidential palace that has supposedly been left untouched since the fall of Saigon and serves as a 1960s throwback, the War Remnants Museum, a graphic look back at the Vietnam War, and the Museum of Vietnamese History.   Hue The former imperial capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802-1945 sits on the banks of the Huong River. The Complex of Hue Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes tombs of imperial rulers, pagodas, including Thien Mu, the tallest in Vietnam, temples, and Ngo Mon Gate used by the royal family to enter their palace. Natural Sites Ha Long Bay One of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam is named the “Bay of Descending Dragons.” The bay is filled with thousands of small islands filled with jungle vegetation, limestone pillars, lakes, and caves. Mui Ne Sand Dunes The Red and White Sand Dunes are a unique Saharan-like formation in Vietnam. They are very popular for sand sledding. Phong Nha-Ke Bong National Park This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the world’s largest cave, Hang Son Doong, and the oldest karst formation in Asia. A tropical rainforest filled with caves and grottos, there are endless things to explore in the park. Historical Sites Cu Chi Tunnels 120 kilometers of restored underground war tunnels used by North Vietnamese soldiers. Hoi An A fishing village and now popular tourist attraction, it has been an international port since the 16th century. The Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   (All photographs are courtesy of the original owners unless otherwise indicated)  

Top Destinations in Puerto Rico

Demography of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico lies in the Caribbean Sea. It is an unincorporated territory of the United States and acts as a self-governing commonwealth. The island has a tropical marine climate and is warm year-round. The Puerto Rican cuisine is best known for plantains and pork dishes. The island has a rich culture influenced by its Taino, African, Spanish, European, and North American history. The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan, which is located on the main island of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico also includes smaller islands, most notably Vieques, Isla Mona, and Culebra. There are many great beaches in Puerto Rico. The islands are a great place to soak up natural beauty. Some Tourist Attractions of Puerto Rico  Old San Juan: This historic neighborhood is home to many 17th and 18th centuries forts, plazas, and buildings. Calle del Cristo is a great shopping street filled with local crafts shops, restaurants, and great people watching. Plaza des Armas is a popular square that hosts the City Hall and “The Four Seasons” fountain. The two main forts are Fuerte San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal. El Morro was built in the 16th century to guard the entrance to the port of San Juan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a U.S. National Park. Take a walk through the tunnels, barracks, and prison cells. San Cristobal is one of the largest Spanish fortresses in the Western Hemisphere encompassing 27 acres. It was built in the 17th century to guard the land entrance to San Juan and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can enter both forts for one price. El Yunque National Forest: The rainforest is a great place to go hiking and spot wildlife. It is home to the endangered Puerto Rican parrot and the Coqui tree frog. The La Mina waterfalls are a must see and make for a great swimming hole. Hike to the top of Yokahu Tower for a great view of the forest. Guanica State Forest: The largest remaining tract of tropical dry coastal forest in the world is an international Biosphere Reserve. Rio Camuy Caverns: Take a tour of the 268-acre complex of caves, which include one of the largest underground rivers in the world. Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay: A trip to a bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico is an absolute must. This one located on the island of Vieques is great. Go at night for the full blue light effect. Cerro de Punta: Puerto Rico has mostly mountainous terrain, and the highest point on the island stands at over 4,000 feet above sea level.      

Top Sites to Visit in Stockholm

Skyline and Demography of Stockholm Stockholm is the center of life in Sweden. The most populous city in Scandinavia is also the capital of Sweden. Culture, politics, government, commerce, all of the nation’s action begins and ends in Stockholm. Stockholm lies on Lake Malaren and thirty percent of the city is comprised of waterways, with 14 islands connected by 50 bridges. An under the bridges tour of Stockholm is a must. Another thirty percent of the city is made up of parks and gardens, which are worth exploring or just spending an afternoon in, relaxing. You can explore the region’s Nordic history. The city is also a great party scene, particularly in Sodermalm. From the city, you can also explore the greater Stockholm archipelago. In the city itself, there are a few must-see sites. Tourist Attractions of Stockholm  City Hall: The building where the Nobel Prize ceremony takes place is also the seat of Stockholm’s government. Tours of City Hall are available and take you through the Council Chamber, designed to look like a Viking longhouse, the Golden Hall, which has a large mural depicting a scene from Sweden’s history made up of 18 million pieces of gold leaf and to see a 10,000 pipe organ. The outside of the building is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Stockholm with its golden Three Crowns topped spire. Gamla Stan: The Old Town has been around since 1252. It hosts many of the city’s top architectural sights, including the Riddarholmen Church, a royal burial church, Riddarhuset (House of Nobility), Bonde Palace, and Tessin Palace. Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm, is located in Gamla Stan. You can also find many great shops and eateries. The Royal Coin Cabinet: You can’t go to Sweden without exploring the history of banking. The world’s best coin collection is filled with a collection of ancient coins as well as the world’s largest coin, made in 1644 and weighing in at 20 kilograms, and the world’s first banknote, minted in 1661. Royal Palace: The home of the King of Sweden was built in the 18th century and has over 600 rooms and 5 museums. You can tour the building to see the Hall of State, the Armory, the Hall of the Orders of Chivalry, and the Treasury. Drottningholm Palace: This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the seventeenth century. The palace has a park, a Baroque-style garden, a Chinese Pavilion, and a theater where you can attend performances that still use the original eighteenth-century stage machinery. Vasa Museum: Take a look at marine life and history at this museum built around the recovered wreckage of a 17th-century warship. The ship sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was discovered 333 years later. Much of the ship is original with some restoration. Tours of the ship are offered daily. There are also ten exhibits surrounding the ship.      

Top Sites in Bermuda

Demography of Bermuda Bermuda is the ultimate relaxation destination. Laying on beautiful, pink sand beaches and working on your tan are the main activities of vacationers of the island. But Bermuda has a host of other attractions that worth a visit in between sips of your margarita and dips in the Atlantic Ocean. Tourist Attractions of Bermuda Town of St. George: This UNESCO World Heritage Site was one of the first British established settlements in North America. You can often find period actors roaming the streets and re-inactions of early settlement events. The top sites in the neighborhood include Old Statehouse, the oldest stone building on the island, Town Hall, Old Rectory, King Square, to see replicas of punishment instruments, and Unfinished Church. Royal Naval Dockyard and Bermuda Maritime Museum: The dockyard was once the base of the British Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic Ocean. It now serves as a ship docking port and a quaint tourist attraction filled with shops, eateries, and art galleries. You can also take part in Dolphin Quest, for a fun-filled adventure swimming with dolphins. By Keep Fortress, the dock also hosts the Maritime Museum, devoted to the island’s history and naval heritage. Accessed by a drawbridge, the museum houses 350 shipwreck artifacts, along with exhibits on slavery, immigration, tourism, and war history. Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo: Built in 1926, this complex is great for taking in wildlife as if the wild wildlife on the island wasn’t enough. At the aquarium, the North Rock Exhibit, a 140,000-gallon coral reef replica, is the highlight. The zoo houses 300 birds, reptiles, and mammals and 200 species of fish. The zoo is also a great place to stop for lunch at the AZU Beastro for great food and an even better view. Crystal Caves: The inside of the limestone caves was discovered by accident in 1907 when two boys ventured in attempting to retrieve a lost ball. You can now take a guided tour of the 55-foot-deep subterranean lake. Head across a pontoon bridge to spot stalactites dripping from the cave ceiling and stalagmites on the cave floor through the clear water. Horseshoe Bay: If you must go to the beach, which in Bermuda you really should, Horseshoe Bay Beach, the most famous and most popular beach on the island, can get rather crowded, but it is also luxurious. It is one of the few public beaches on the island with lifeguards on duty. There are also snack bars. Spittal Pond Nature Reserve: This 64-acre park is home to 30 species of waterfowl as well as migrating whales. It is great for hiking. The most popular site in the reserve is the Portuguese Rock. Initials were carved into the rock with the date 1543. The original has been removed but a cast remains in its place. Bermuda Botanical Gardens: The 36 acres of gardens were established in 1898. You can find 150 species of plants, including orchids, cacti, and ferns along with a hibiscus garden, an aviary, and a mini-forest. Gibbs Hill Lighthouse: The tallest lighthouse on the island was built in 1844 and was one of the first lighthouses to be made with cast-iron. At the base, a stop in at the Lighthouse Tea Room is a must for a snack.    

Top Destinations in Morocco

Morocco Geographical Views Morocco is a unique place on the map. It mixes Mediterranean living with an African flair. It is less expensive than many other travel destinations. It has coastlines that run along the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, one of only three countries to bordered by both bodies of water. It has a unique geographical landscape offering no shortage of things to do and see. Tourist Places of Morocco Marrakech: The most popular tourist destination in Morocco is home to many of the country’s top museums and attractions. No trip to Morocco is complete without a stop at Jemaa el-Fna, a market square turned nightlife scene that’s great for people watching. Other sites in Marrakech include the Saadian Tombs, the Majorelle Gardens, the Badi Palace, and the Koutoubia Mosque.  Fez: The medina (old town) in Fez is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sprawling 2.6 square mile of twists and turns filled with market stalls and hidden treasures. Make sure to stop in a tannery, where the hides are skinned from animals and turned into leather. Other sites include the Merenid Tombs, the Boujeloud Gardens, and the Bou Inania Madrasa. Casablanca: Made famous by the movie of the same name, the real site in Casablanca is the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world that took 6,000 artisans five years to build. The city’s architecture mixes Art Deco and Moorish. It is one of the more Westernized cities in Morocco and great for a day trip. Rabat: The capital of Morocco is not the most popular tourist destination, but the city is easy to navigate and still offers plenty to see and do. It is the second largest city in the country but quieter than the others. Top sites include the Archaeological Museum, the Palace Museum, and the Andalusian Gardens. Meknes: A beautiful city with Moorish architecture that easily blends European and Islamic cultures. The city is walled and surrounded by an impressive gate, El Mansour. Other top sites include Dar Jamai Museum of Moroccan Arts, Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, Habs Qara, an underground prison, and Volubilis, the largest Roman ruins in North Africa just outside the city.  Sahara Desert: Take a 4x4 or camel tour of the Sahara Desert. Spend a few nights camping in a Bedouin tent. On your journey, make sure to check out the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the Todra Gorge, and Ait-Benhaddou, a traditional mud brick city that has been the filming location of many popular Hollywood movies. High Atlas: Home to the highest peak in North Africa, Jebel Toubkal, the mountains are about an hour outside of Marrakech. A hike up the High Atlas will provide an incredible panoramic view of Morocco.