Vietnam continues to grow in popularity on the international tourist trail. As more people visit, even more still are looking for unusual or off-the-beaten path attractions that they can enjoy. If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, consider working one or more of these unconventional activities into your itinerary. You’ll meet interesting people and gain an unusual perspective on the culture in the process.
Fire an Assault Rifle
On the one hand, you probably feel like firing an assault rifle is an indulgent and less than conscientious. But on the other hand, how many chances in your life will you have to shoot an AK-47 or M-16? The Cu Chi Tunnels outside of Ho Chi Minh City are accompanied by an above-ground shooting range where you can have your way with weapons left over from the War with America. It’s a cultural attraction, in a sense, as these caves were once used by the Viet Cong to ambush US troops. Just don’t expect a frugal outing. You pay by the bullet at this shooting range. You can imagine the bill that firing a machine gun racks up.
Canyoning in Da Lat
If contending with traffic in Vietnam isn’t giving you the spike in adrenaline you desire, consider testing your nerves on a canyoning adventure in Da Lat. Several companies offer tours, which include climbing, jumping, swinging and even repelling down a waterfall. Tour guides supply all of the equipment and give you a chance to warm up on a practice hill before taking the plunge. You’ll even have the opportunity to slide down a gradually tiered waterfall into a deep pool of water.
Saigon by Vespa
Vietnam is infamous for its helter-skelter motorcycle traffic. As any of the travel destination guides will tell you, simply crossing the street and stepping into the sea of motorbikes is akin to taking your life in your own hands. Make no mistake – riding a motorbike through the Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) is a rite of passage (notice we said ‘riding’ and not ‘driving’), but it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. If you want to join the stream and cruise with the locals, the best way to put yourself out there is on the back of a vintage Vespa with a seasoned driver at the helm. They’ll whisk you along main avenues and onto back alleys, showing all the major sites in the process.
Rock Climbing at Halong Bay
Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist attractions, and this means that it’s often plagued with tour buses and pleasure cruises. It’s easy to understand the allure. With 3,000 karst (limestone) rock formations jutting out of the water, this is a one-of-a-kind sight. If you want to see the cliffs and bay from a slightly different angle, join a rock-climbing adventure at the bay. You don’t necessarily need ropes, as long as you don’t mind letting go and plunging into the deep waters of the bay if you lose your footing. Full disclosure: there are sting rays and jellyfish in the water!
Find the Giant Turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi and it’s the legendary home of a (some would say mythical) giant turtle. There is a very large softshell turtle in the lake, though this is not the official mythical creature, which is supposed to be much larger. Legend has it that the creature once took a magical sword from the founder of the Le Dynasty and restored it to its rightful place at the bottom of the lake. In any event, occasional reported sightings have fuelled a Loch-Ness-style frenzy among locals and cryptologists.
Author Bio:
Georgia Warren is a freelance writer from Flight Centre, a New Zealand-based company that caters to the needs of those who are looking for travel destination guides as well as affordable flights and cruises. Learn more about this company by visiting flightcentre.co.nz.
