For the first time, you can now book direct
flights from UK to Vietnam, Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh City to be more specific, courtesy of Vietnam Airlines
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| flights from UK to Vietnam |
With
its poignant mixture of beauty and tragedy, few countries are as
compelling as Vietnam. From the lush, steamy Mekong Delta in the south,
to the ancient temples and hill tribes of the north, this is a country
that stuns visitors with its variety and seduces them with its energy
and charm.
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| flights from UK to Vietnam with VNA |
So it’s great news that Vietnam Airlines are launching the first non-stop
flights from UK to Vietnam,
starting 9 December 2011. Served by the latest B777s, the flights from
UK to Vietnam will run four times a week and depart from London
Gatwick’s North Terminal, landing in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. With these
two great cities now a direct flight away, travellers can start their
journey from one end of the country and depart from the other, taking in
historic towns, tropical beaches, sizzling food and dreamy landscapes
en route.
Built
on the banks of the Saigon River, the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh
(formerly Saigon) is a great place to start (or finish) your adventure.
Fly in to Tan Son Nhat international airport, and head south to the
Mekong Delta where, despite its past upheavals, the locals maintain a
rhythm of life that reflects the ebb and flow of the waters surrounding
them. Why not take a boat tour and explore the floating markets of Can
Tho and Chau Doc?
West
of Ho Chi Minh are the white sand beaches of Phu Quoc island, while to
the north are the forested peaks of the Central Highlands, where
wildlife is once again burgeoning thanks to conservation efforts. On the
central coast, you’ll also find two of Vietnam’s Unesco World Heritage
cultural sites: the old Chinese merchant town of Hoi An, and the citadel
of Hue, lording it over the Perfume River.
Arriving
in the north, take in the popular Ha Long Bay area, with its
fascinating karst islands that you might recognise from the Bond film
Tomorrow Never Dies. But this isn’t the only blockbuster sight on offer:
the stunning scenery to the east of the Red River Valley in the Ba Be
National Park is a must-see. It’s also home to the largest lakes in
Vietnam, with rare wildlife like the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey.
As
for Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, these two cities at either end of the
country are also cultural opposites. Commercial Ho Chi Minh is brash,
Westernised and brimming with energy, its ancient pagodas rubbing up
against modern high-rises. It’s also home to some of the finest
restaurants in the world.
The
nation’s capital in the north is more traditional. The Old Quarter is a
tangle of vibrant streets with boutiques, cafés and market stalls
maintaining its old world feel. It is here that you will depart (or
arrive) from Hanoi’s international airport Noi Bai.
Whichever way you travel, one thing is certain: you’ll come away with memories to last a lifetime.
