Sao Beach is one of the most beautiful tropical sandy beaches in Phu Quoc that is very famous for swimming, sunbathing, and doing other activities as well. The beach attracts many tourists due to its wonderful natural scenery, crystal clear waters, and white-sand shores. It is truly a must-visit place for tourists when coming to Phu Quoc Island. WHERE IS BAI SAO BEACH? Bai Sao Beach is nestled on the coast of An Thoi Town, which is about 25 km from the center of Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province in the southwestern region of Vietnam. This is one of the most worth-visit beaches in Phu Quoc, with a smooth sandy shore and clear blue seawater. Setting foot on Bai Sao Beach, you will be amazed by the unspoiled beauty of the beach and the gorgeous landscape around. The beach stretches over 7 km with a white smooth sandy shore where it is defined as the whitest and cleanest sand on the island. Unfortunately, due to its reputation, there is a lot of trash in the southern part of Sao Beach. The seawater is calm, warm, and extremely blue. The further you go, the bluer the ocean becomes. [gap height="40px"] [ux_image id="4220" image_size="original"] [gap height="40px"] WHAT TO EXPLORE IN BAI SAO BEACH? Of course, the best thing to see here is the beauty of the beach. According to local people, the origin of the name Bai Sao is that there are tens of thousands of starfishes moving into the shores and under the water surface every night when dusk falls. Bai Sao Beach promises to bring the most memorable things to do in Phu Quoc. Coming to the beach, you can wander around the beach on the white smooth sandy shore and look for the crabs, snails, and other crustaceans. In the northern and southern tip of the beach, the local people created some small trails to get into the pristine forests. It is not a bad idea to explore the tropical jungle to admire the huge trees and listen to the songs of many kinds of wild birds. If you want to snorkel or dive, you can go to the sea area near the rocks in the Long Beach resort. It is the best place to see the heart of the ocean, where the reef is very flourished and home to many fish and shellfish. If you are having a day trip to Sao beach, you can relax on one of the many beach chairs and high-quality loungers which are available at the Parasido Restaurant, ordering a cup of soft drink or wine and viewing the seascape is such a fancy moment Sao Beach brings to you. [gap height="40px"] [row] [col span="4" span__sm="12" align="center"] [ux_image id="4227" image_size="large" height="141.5%"] [/col] [col span="8" span__sm="12" align="center"] [ux_image id="4219"] [/col] [/row] Besides the beach bars made of palm leaves scattered on the beach, you can go for a meal at the open restaurants. The beach restaurants around the beach are quite more expensive than anywhere else because of their prominent location. You can order a lime soda which is very sweet and cool, but the price is only 32,000 VND. It would help if you also tried sugarcane juice 'nuoc mia' for only 10,000 VND / glass. Hiring a jet ski to ride is a good thing we highly recommend; it costs 450,000 VND for 10 minutes. You can ride one of these inflatable bananas that get pulled by a motorboat or try water skiing at the cost of 700,000 VND for 10 minutes. Moreover, near the cape, you can see anchoring fishing boats of the fishermen that combine with the gorgeous view of the sunrise to create a picturesque painting seducing your eyes. [gap height="40px"] [row] [col span="4" span__sm="12"] [ux_image id="4240"] [/col] [col span="4" span__sm="12"] [ux_image id="4242"] [/col] [col span="4" span__sm="12"] [ux_image id="4241" height="125.5%"] [/col] [/row] FEELINGS OF TOURISTS ABOUT SAO BEACH Bai Sao beach leaves in the heart of tourists a lot of impressions. Stanislava Kunovska, a Russian tourist, said that: “Such a nice white sandy beach! Bai Sao beach is sheltered, with not many waves, clear water, but it is fairly shallow for quite a way out. Beware, they charge for everything here. It was 20,000 VND for a shower, 30,000 VND for a locker, 80,000 VND for a lounge chair, and the food here is also quite expensive. Bring your lunch if you can”. It shows a case that the quality of service here is not too good. The garbage is a problem on the beach, because of many tourists rushing onto the beach, they fairly throw out the rubbish on the ground. That causes the pollution and loss score in tourist’s mind.

Adventurous and developing, this narrow country between the Cambodia and Laos borders, definitely impresses myriad different ways. With profound natural beauty, characterized by forested mountains, pristine beaches, scenic valleys, lush rice terraces, charming karst formations on the north, and a fertile delta on the south, Vietnam has the power to inspire awe. Despite its struggles, being ruled for nearly a millennia by many different Chinese dynasties before it became a French Protectorate in the 1800s and prior to experiencing a brutal and fierce war, it now stands proudly and switches gears into becoming a rapidly developing nation. The places to visit in advancing Vietnam are, literally, endless. But, if one had to pick just a handful of them, these would be: Duong Dong Duong Dong is one of the most developed cities in Vietnam and the main town on Phu Quoc Island, also known as Pearl Island, ready to offer holidaymakers a VIP experience if only they ask for it. Often called “the heaven on earth” Phu Quoc is home to unimaginable beauty, characterised by sugary beaches, pristine shores, incredible views of the ocean, a rich marine life, crystalline waters, cloudless skies, and jungle-like forests; and Duong Dong is the embodiment of all this allure. Staying here comes with several benefits, as you have the opportunity to live life like a local and, at the same time, enjoy modern comforts. For that reason, you will find luxury resorts like La Veranda, whose high-end facilities, conveniences, spellbinding panoramas, and proximity to the main attractions, such as the Cau Temple, the Duong Dong night market, and award-winning restaurants, make it one of the most favourite beachside hotels among individuals, couples, and families that satisfy with nothing but absolute splendour. Dalat Dalat is a city that many French colonials and Vietnamese emperors used as a summer retreat. Can you blame them? Colourful flowers everywhere, verdant land, beautiful French colonial architecture, the scent of pine trees swirling in the air, and misty valleys treating the eyes of every weary traveler can make anybody fall in love with the place. Conveniently situated in the South Central Highlands of the country, it is a great escape for those in search of a refreshing area to chill out and cool off while pampering themselves with mind-blowing vistas. My Son If you love visiting sites of archaeological interest, then My Son will tick all of your boxes. Nicely tucked near Duy Phu village on the central coast of Vietnam, it is one of the most significant ancient sites that speaks of a glorious past. My Son was once a religious centre for Hindu ceremonies and attracted the attention of the king of the Champa Kingdom, who built temples here to honour Shiva, one of the three chief divinities of the Hindu Triad, between the 4th century and the 1300s. Ho Chi Minh City Nestled near the Mekong Delta along the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City occupies a special place in southern Vietnam. Previously referred to as Saigon, it used to be the centre of administration during the Vietnam War. Over the years, it took its place as the largest city of the country, giving tourists and Vietnamese alike many reasons to step foot on its land as it combines the modern and the traditional lifestyle so harmoniously, offering from a vibrant night scene to historical attractions. Kon Tum The north of Vietnam is not as developed as the southern regions, but places like Kon Tum make it worth exploring. Situated along the Dakbla River up in the central highlands of the country, Kon Tum is a spirited town following a more laid-back way of living. This quiet and peaceful green dot on the map is not widely known among tourists, which enables those that wish to soak in the local culture to experience exactly that. Mekong Delta Nicknamed Vietnam’s Rice Basket, The Mekong Delta is a pole of attraction for its fertile land and the labyrinth-like streams and canals that feed it. This sheer agricultural region extends from Ho Chi Minh City and goes all the way to the Gulf of Thailand, providing food via its rich rice paddies, plantations, and fish farms to more than 30% of the country. Besides rice paddies and floating markets, the Mekong Delta is also home to bird sanctuaries, sugar cane groves, fruit orchards, and Instagram-perfect fishing villages. Nha Trang The main draw of this lovely seaside resort town is its beach which is surrounded by a heart-stopping promenade, palm trees, hot springs, and beautiful resorts. Found off the coast of South-Central Vietnam, it features one of the most mind-blowing bays in the country and diverse marine life, along with pictorial mountain ranges, sandy beaches, a mesmerising sea bed, water parks, healthy reefs, and gorgeous seascapes. The coastal town is full of Catholic churches, Champa Kingdom temples and architecture, and Vietnamese eateries. No wonder it is so favoured by tourists and scuba divers that flock from all over the country (if not the world) to explore its beauties. Sapa Between rice terraces and rolling hills lies Sapa, a picturesque town in the remote northwest of the country. This isolated, quiet place is surrounded by a wide range of mountain tribes that makes a perfect starting point for trekking enthusiasts, who hike up the imposing Hoang Lien Son Mountains or tour traditional villages and rice paddies that come in abundance around here. On their way, they go past majestic waterfalls while also being provided with the chance to learn the local way of life, taste traditional Vietnamese food, and familiarise themselves with local customs. Hue Central Vietnam hides a gem called Hue whose citadel is an attraction on its own as it comprises of magnificent gates, palaces of incredible grandeur, and temples so elaborate that they create an unpretentious feeling of astonishment. The town that once served as the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty and seat of Nguyen emperors sits on the banks of Perfume River, narrating its glorious past through every aspect of its being, from the cuisine and culture to architecture. Its official symbol is the Thien Mu Pagoda; another sight for sore eyes. Hoi An A few kilometres off the coast of the South China Sea, the old city of Hoi An is already living through its second millennia. Tracking it back to the Champa Kingdom, some 2,000 years ago, the south-central town is a popular destination among people looking for relaxed, unique experiences infused with a local flair. Tourists love strolling the atmospheric Old Town in the heart of the city with the maze-like streets. Adorned with beautiful architecture and offering the opportunity to taste traditional flavours and go shopping, Hoi An knows how to please the discerning tourist. Ha Noi One of its most prominent landmarks is the open-air museum of historic French colonial and Asian architecture, namely Old Quarter, which stood the test of time almost in its entirety despite the Vietnam Wars and the bombings that threatened its existence. Those that have been here admitted feeling enchanted by the overall paradisiac sensation, with the cosy cafes, charming markets, and striking tree-lined boulevards. Don’t leave without visiting the Saint Joseph Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and the Grand Opera House! Ha Long Bay With limestone rock formations emerging from the sea like mythical monsters, and waters so clear and cobalt that become one with the sky, Ha Long Bay seems like a place that has popped out of a fairy tale. As you look around, you will be able to see the overwhelming natural beauty of a landscape dotted with lakes, hundreds of lush forest-covered islands carved by the hand of Mother Nature, and fascinating caves. A fantastic speck of land indeed, some 130 kilometres east of Hanoi! Vung Tau If you are like the majority of people flocking this town, you will catch a hydrofoil boat from Ho Chi Minh City and head to Vung Tau for a short, relaxing break. You can spend carefree holidays while exploring the peninsula stretching around Vung Tau, enjoying your cocktail at a local bar, and pampering yourself with some Vietnamese delicacies while the little ones run around the shore having fun. This lovely town that once was colonised by the French is now a favourite weekend destination worth stopping by. Haiphong Unlike its neighbouring cities, Haiphong is an industrial town experiencing profound growth in the last few years. Nevertheless, it still amazes with its colonial architecture and unique features that make it stand out against other industrial cities of the north. Strolling its streets will enable you to view the fantastic flame flower trees along every road. Walk a bit more up the Halong Bay, and you will be rewarded with cinematic views, a sandy beach ready to offer you unique moments of composure, and streets lined with spectacular shrines, temples, and pagodas. Ha Giang Most people visiting Ha Giang feel as if they have made a trip back in time. Being one of the lesser touristy cities of the North, sitting comfortably in the banks of Lo River, Ha Giang has a mystical vibe. Be it the mysterious mountains encircling it, the sweeping valleys that many ethnic minorities call home, the winding hills all around, or the lively markets that are packed with sellers offering handmade goods, fresh food, and animals every Sunday, one thing is for sure. Ha Giang’s cultural heritage and allure are unsurpassable. Cao Bang Verdant hills occupied by different ethnic tribes, jetting waterfalls whose waters meet with the swirling Bang Giang River, and blooming valleys consist the backdrop of this beautiful part of Vietnam. Here, you will see women coming from small nearby villages to sell their fresh produce in the local markets of this pastoral paradise. Dong Hoi Somewhere between south and north Vietnam is Dong Hoi, a city that has suffered a great deal during the war with the USA. It was nearly destroyed and then rebuilt to become a prestigious destination along the coast that attracts hundreds and thousands of tourists that love it for its fine-sand beach, crystal clear waters, and enchanting underwater ecosystem. Over the years, it has seen its seashores occupied with more and more small hotels and restaurants offering delicious seafood. Those that visit Dong Hoi also adore it for the long list of adventurous endeavours they can try in the surrounding areas, exploring the mystical Phong Nha Cave networks being one of them. Can Tho Can Tho is famous for its floating markets, where one can find a plethora of merchants (even coming from the connecting Mekong Delta) trading goods, including food, on the convergence of the Hau and Can Tho rivers, which basically feed this city one way or another. Some locals like to call this town the rice bowl of Vietnam. Can you blame them? The fish, rice, and fresh veggies that comprise the raw materials of the town’s restaurants are all traded through the city. This means that if something is guaranteed around here is that you will treat your palate with mouth-watering tastes. As for the evenings, the idyllic sunsets and star-lit sky turn this place into a dreamland that hosts friendly locals and guests that enjoy relaxed vibes. Hue Another town that was once Vietnam’s imperial capital and home to the governing class. Unfortunately, most parts of its radiant Imperial Palace was completely damaged during the war with America. The remaining ruins are reminders of a once glorious city (though some sections of the palace are still intact) and attract the interest of history fans who make a stop here and explore the area, which also encloses tombs the emperors had self-built and some excellent dining facilities alongside the Perfume River. Wherever you look, you will find cities crammed full of colonial architecture, creativity, and culture with great appeal and magnetism. Depending on what you wish to experience coming in Vietnam, there will always be a town to meet your unique requirements, from bustling, motorbike-filled hubs to towns with historical heritage, sparkling beaches, exclusive resorts, winding waterways, lush greenery, or floating markets. And, as they continue to push into the future, they will surely have lots more to impress the world with.

Vietnam’s history is so redolent and profoundly rich as anywhere in this world. Going back many centuries, way before the American War in Vietnam monopolised the attention of the people of the West, the country was struggling to, well, stay alive and, if possible, thrive. Being the object of desire for the Mongols, the Chams, the Khmers, and the Chinese the Vietnamese did manage to shape a civilisation that rivals in sophistication that of their powerful neighbours in the north, China, from which they were significantly influenced after almost a millennium under their ruling.Then came the French, and Vietnam barely survived the colonialism period. The Americans were the last ones to try to gain lordship over them in the second half of the 20th century. These invaders were too pushed back and away, writing another black page in the history of this country that had to endure a horrible and unprecedentedly brutal war, some of whose atrocities are displayed at the Coconut Prison now turned into a war museum in Phu Quoc. If you walk along the streets throughout Vietnam and pay attention to the names of the roads, you will realise that some names appear repeatedly in every town, city or village across the country. These are the names of national heroes, who had helped lead the nation out of foreign invaders’ imperialistic plans and inspired forthcoming generations of patriots.  In greater detail: The Early Days of Vietnam The Vietnamese are believed to be descendants of nomadic migrants from Indonesia and Mongols from China. Mythology places the first breaths of Vietnam somewhere in 2879 BC when Hung Vuong founded the nation. However, recent archaeological finds suggest that northern Vietnam was inhabited way before that, some 500,000 years ago while the first agricultural activity here dates back to 7000 BC! Southern Vietnam was part of the Funan Kingdom (under Indianised Cambodian reign), called Nokor Phnom by the Khmers, from the 1st to the 6th century. It was then when the first (admittedly, elaborate) irrigation and transportation canals were created in the country, and Oc-Eo in the Mekong Delta became the principal port of Funan. When the Champa Kindom (Hindu) emerged in the late 2nd century AD, the country received influences from the Indian culture and art. During that time, Sanskrit was adopted as a sacred language, but Champa’s desire to rule over the entire coast of Indochina eventually cost them their kingdom and were forced to squeeze themselves between the powerful Khmers to the south and the equally might Vietnamese to the north. It did not take long before the Red River Delta was conquered by the Chinese, in the 2nd century BC, which allowed a great number of settlers, scholars, and officials to head south and “saddle” the Vietnamese with a centralised state system, which did not please local rulers, some of whom raised an army and led a revolt that resulted in the Chinese governor making a quick exit in 40 AD. Three years later, though, the Chinese counterattacked and strangled every rebellion against them from the 3rd to the 6th century, imposing tyranny and forced labour, among others. During their ruling, Vietnam was an important opening to the sea for the Chinese and Indians alike, who both influenced Vietnam in several different ways. The Indians introduced Theravada Buddhism while the Chinese brought Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism while also sharing their medical and scientific knowledge. Shortly after, Vietnam started producing its own great scholars, botanists, and doctors and was also beginning to understand the principles of building irrigation channels and dikes to help prevent flooding from the sea. All that combined contributed to the birth of paddy agriculture and farming rice. But, Vietnam felt too small a country to the ever-growing population who had to seek new lands. With the Truong Son Mountains being an inhospitable place, their only way out was to the south. Breaking Free From China When the Tang Dynasty collapsed in the early 10th century, the Vietnamese saw it as an opportunity to revolt and regain their autonomy, which eventually happened after patriot Ngo Quyen pushed back the Chinese army. After a millennium under China’s reign, Vietnam was finally free and, even though the Chinese, the Cham, and the Khmer kept on launching attacks to Vietnam, they were all repelled. At the same time, Vietnam’s expansion to the south was a work in progress, enabling the Vietnamese to gradually take control of the Cham Kingdom. Five centuries after, the Chinese regained control of Vietnam, causing a significant blow in the Vietnamese civilisation after carting off the national archives, among others. An era of slave labour and heavy taxation followed until Le Loi, a wealthy philanthropist, rallied the Vietnamese against the Chinese and declared himself Emperor after the Chinese were defeated. Slowly, but steadily, he turned Vietnam into a mighty country, even for a little while. The Portuguese’s Impact on Vietnam In 1516, the first Portuguese sailors and a party of Dominican missionaries stepped foot at Danang. In the decades to follow, the Vietnam-Portugal trade thrived while the Catholic Church had a profound impact on Vietnam, much greater than on any other Asian country besides the Philippines, which remained a Spanish colony for nearly four centuries. Between the 17th and 18th century, though, Vietnam found itself in the middle of a rivalry between the rulers of the North, the Trinh Lords, who bore Dutch armaments, and the lords of the South, the Nguyen Lords, who were supported by the Portuguese and their powerful weaponry; each of them wanting to subdue one another. The latter clan won and further expanded to the south, absorbing regions of the Mekong Delta along their way. The Fall of the Nguyen Family A rebellion that took place in 1765 led by the Tay Son Rebels (who were controlled by the Nguyen brothers) allowed the Nguyen family to control the entire central Vietnam in less than 10 years. They also defeated the Chinese army in 1789; a victory that holds a special place in the Vietnamese history. By 1802, the country was united again for the first time in 200 years thanks to the Nguyen Lords, and Hue was the new capital. The Clan’s expansionistic policies continued, seizing areas of Lao territory, pushing into Cambodia, and clashing with Thailand to grab a share of the divided Khmer empire. The countdown began when the French arrived in Vietnam in 1874 with military activity. They attacked Danang harbour, seized Saigon, and got an agreement that provided them with three eastern provinces of Cochinchina, which put an end to the independent state of Vietnam. However, under the French colonialism, Vietnam saw impressive public works being carried out, such as the construction of the Hanoi-Saigon railway, which was paid from the peasants who were enforced utterly heavy taxes. As expected, this devastated the economy and raised frustration (to say the least) among the Vietnamese. Between 1917 and 1944, it is said that more than 12,000 Vietnamese workers at a single rubber plantation died of malnutrition and disease (out of the 45,000 in total). Of course, all those hardships kept the fire for independence burning inside people’s hearts. And, it turned out that the communists were, in fact, the most successful anti-colonialists as they managed to channel people’s demands for more upright land distributions. The Break Out of WWII Vietnam escaped the ravages of Japanese occupation (Japanese troops had been sent to Vietnam when France fell to Nazi Germany) when the latter decided to leave the French administration to help their country with its daily running, which allowed the Vietnamese to go back to their normal, everyday rhythms. Unfortunately, 10 million people of North Vietnam starved to death due to famine after dikes broke causing massive floods and destroying crops, and the requisition of rice paddies by the Japanese just before WWII ended. During this period, the USA-assisted Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh saw the arguments between the Japanese and the French as a window to strike, which they did. After a series of events, the Japanese occupation forces in Vietnam were disarmed, and Ho Chi Minh declared its independence; but the country was in a chaotic state, being headless. The French Return In the meantime, the French reappeared on the scene to reclaim their so-called inheritance and were eventually allowed to regain control of Vietnam. That was, in fact, was a strategic move on behalf of the Vietnamese, who feared the ruling of the Chinese and allowed the French to maintain control for a specified amount of time. In return, they asked Vietnam to be recognised as a free state within the French Union. All went relatively well until the French made the mistake to attack Haiphong and kill hundreds of civilians, which sparked the France-Vietnam war. Despite the massive aid they received from the Americans, the French did not manage to take administrative control of Vietnam and eventually admitted defeat, after losing tens of thousands of soldiers. The conflict ended with the Geneva Conference, and the country made preparations for nationwide elections that were, sadly, never held. The USA In 1950, USA troops marched into Vietnam, at first, serving as advisers, and then as the main military force as a means to help the French combat the expansion of communism. They remained there for 25 years until a random incident fired up a Vietnam-USA war that started with the destruction of Vietnamese rail bridges and the destruction of every single road in the country and the majority of the villages in North Vietnam. In an attempt to get rid of Vietnamese communist sanctuaries across the border, the American started secretly bombarding Cambodia in 1969 while pushing the North Vietnamese deeper into Cambodian territory. The brutality of the war, though, that was always finding a reason (and way) to feed itself on behalf of the Americans caused great anti-war protests in the USA. Eventually, the USA and Vietnam (south and north) signed the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, providing a cease-fire, leaving behind millions of dead soldiers and civilians and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese that had decided to flee their country. The Era of Changes When the war ended the communist party renamed Saigon as Ho Chi Ming City and the country finally reunified in 1976. However, communism had to be overruled and replaced by socialism which led to the creation of prison camps for those that still had ties to the previous regime, who were incarcerated in horrendous conditions. Meanwhile, the relations with China were going from bad to worse, an anti-capitalistic campaign that was launched in 1978 led to seizing businesses and private property of Ethnic-Chinese, the Khmer Rouge kept on attacking the Vietnamese borders forcing the latter to respond, and, in the end, Vietnam entered into war mode with Cambodia, which was temporarily seized but later liberated again after the Chinese’s intervention. For a short while, the Vietnamese Communist Party saw a beam of light when President Mikhael Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 wanting restructuring and openness. But, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 forced the Party to reform to survive. Vietnam Today The relations between Vietnam and the USA have improved significantly in the past few years. The USA-imposed economic embargo was lifted in 1994, after more than 30 years while full diplomatic relations between the two countries have now been restored. Since that day, a few US Presidents have visited northern Vietnam, and the country was welcomed into the WTO (World Trade Organization) in 2006. The relations with China have also improved over the course of time despite the fact that many still believe that China never ceased to consider Vietnam a deserting traitor. Nevertheless, the righteous and forward-thinkers insist that collaboration towards the future is much more vital than remembering the past and arguing about what happened then. Northern Vietnam is now seen as a gate to the South China Sea, and Beijing does not miss an opportunity to show how appreciative they are of Vietnam’s strategic geographical location as it enables a fast route from the Sichuan and Yunnan to the Sea. That aside, Vietnam is also an ASEAN member, an organisation that was originally founded to serve as a defensive wall against communism, and all that have contributed to Vietnam’s economic prosperity. The economy is growing at over 8% annually, and tourism is on the rise.