On this day in 1976, north and south Vietnam were officially reunified.

To be found on the South China sea, this southeast Asian country is known for its busy cities, beautiful pagodas and its jungle terrain. Capital Hanoi pays homage to Vietnam’s Communist-era leader, Ho Chi Minh, and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), remembers the Vietnamese War with its military history museums and former tactical sites.

This pocket guide takes a look at three of the many must-see sites that Vietnam has to offer its visitors.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a coastal city on Vietnam’s south central coastline and one of the most important tourist hubs in the country. A tropical Savannah climate, fine and clean sand and clear open water attract   people to sunbathe or participate in water sports such as scuba diving and kite boarding.

Nha Trang Bay was chosen as one of 29 most beautiful bays in the world by Travell & Leisure for two successive years and the Hon Mun marine area is one of the first four marine protected areas in the world.

There are several resorts – Diamond Bay, Vinpearl and Ana Mandara – in the city and on nearby islets, as well as amusement and water parks.

See: Tran Phu Street, the most scenic route in Nha Trang; and mid-10th century Po Nagar Tower, dedicated to the country’s goddess, Yan Po Nagar.

Try: Two local dishes to try are banh canh cha ca (cake soup with fish patties) and bun ca sua (rice vermicelli soup with jelly fish).

Củ Chi tunnels

This network of connecting underground tunnels is just one section of a network that underlies much of Vietnam. They were the site of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War and were used by the Viet Cong as its operational base and hiding spots during combat.

Tourists can visit the 75-mile-long network tunnels and experience the “Black Echo” conditions that made life in the tunnels so difficult for the Viet Cong. Visitors are able to crawl around parts of the tunnel system in Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Examples of booby traps set by the Viet Cong are on display, and above-ground visitors can fire assault rifles such as the M16, AK-47 or a light machine gun like the M60.

Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta, or Nine Dragon River delta is in southwestern Vietnam, and encompasses a site of around 40,500 square kilometres. Dubbed a “biological treasure trove”, the site is home to more than 1,000 animal species (as recorded 1997-2007), as well as new species of flora, fauna, reptiles and fish including a rock rat thought to be extinct.

Nine sprawling rivers, lush fertile lands, travelling through the delta will show you a way of life that has sustained, unchanged, for hundreds of years. Paddle through the floating markets of Cai Rang, walk through the sleepy port of Sa Dec or cruise the delta on a converted rice barge.  Best time to travel is late September when the harvest is underway and the monsoon rains have left lush foliage across the area.

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