Phu Quoc Island is Vietnam’s largest island, located in the Gulf of Siam, 62 nautical miles from the coast. The interior of the island mainly consists of dense forest and mountainous terrain, while the perimeter is fringed with stunning beaches and striking coastline.

The island once served as a base camp for French missionary Pigneau de Behaine, as well as providing shelter for Prince Nguyen Anh while he was being chased by Tay Son rebels. Fortunately, the island was untainted by the war years, but was used by the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces to imprison captured Viet Cong.

The land on the island is difficult to farm, but the water is teeming with a valuable food resource; the island’s seafood is some of the best in the country, if not the world! Most of Vietnam’s nuoc mam (fish sauce) originates from here, as well as high quality pepper.

The island is easily accessed, and can be reached by cruise ship, ferry or plane. The most charming aspect of the island is the availability of small resorts right on the beach, which is becoming increasingly hard to find throughout Southeast Asia. The atmosphere on the island is just as about as far laid back as you can stretch.

Fish and seafood lovers will be in heaven on Phu Quoc Island, the abundance and freshness of the dishes is truly sensational. The night market is a great place to sample some local specialties, but there is also an ice cream and café serving toasties, shakes and New Zealand-made ice cream for those who crave home tastes.

The Saigon Opera House is a stunning example of French Colonial architecture in Vietnam. The building was designed by award-winning French architect Ferret Eugene; construction began in 1897 and the theatre opened in 1900. After an initial buzz, the theatre’s popularity lessened as night clubs and dance halls stole the limelight on the city’s entertainment front.

After the French’s final withdrawal in 1956, the theatre underwent a programme of restoration in order to serve as the Lower House of the House of Vietnam. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the building returned to its status as a theatre. To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Saigon, the municipal government organised a massive refurbishment.

New materials were added, lighting and sound equipment were installed and fire safety measure put in place. The venue is now suitable for performances of song, dance, and traditional and modern theatre.

The design of the Opera house is based on that of the Opera de Paris. The impressive venue has a rotating stage and can seat up to 800 guests.

There is a fantastic atmosphere in the opera house during shows, and it is a focal point in the city. On hot sultry nights, many locals congregate around the illuminated fountain at the front of the building.

Details of performances at the Opera House are available from Saigon Concert; their offices are located at the rear of the building.

An Quang Pagoda is the chief meeting place for Vietnamese Buddhist leaders in Saigon and a site of the revered Institute for Dharma Propagation. The site, located on Master Van Hanh Street, has played an important role in the development of modern Vietnamese Buddhism. An Quang Pagoda is the headquarters of the School of Buddhist Studies, and the seat of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam.

Originally established in 1948, the building has expanded over the years and now is home to a library and publishing house. The pagoda has been instrumental to training a large number of Dharma teachers. Many monks and nuns spent time in the pagoda, learning about the various aspects of Buddhism.

The Pagoda gained public attention during the American War, as it was the home of a powerful monk named Thich Tri Quang. The monk rallied protest against the South Vietnamese government in attempt to promote free speech and free religious expression. This was considered anti-governemnt propagation, and led to his arrest.

Freedom of speech and democracy are still sensitive subjects in Vietnam. Although Buddhist religion is tolerated, criticism of the government or its policies is not acceptable.

If you visit a temple in Vietnam, it is important to be respectful. Conservative dress is essential and shoes should always be removed before entering. Try not to talk too loud, run or use flash photography. If you would like to take a picture, you should wait until people have finished praying.

The Reunification Palace in Saigon was originally constructed to provide an opulent residence for President Ngo Ding Diem. Formerly known as Independence Palace, the building was the site of the handover of power in 1975. The palace made international news when Viet Cong tanks bulldozed through its gates, marking the end of the war.

Today, the palace is a museum and a symbol of this reunified country. Aside from the colourful history connected to the building, the unique colour coordination of the interior design makes it a must-see while in Saigon. Embroidered carpets, green leather armchairs, pink telephones and military memorabilia evoke a distinctly kitsch tone.

Visitors can take a tour of the private quarters, entertainment lounges, dining rooms and the President’s office. Undoubtedly, one of the city’s most iconic attractions is the Communist tank that crashed through the then Presidential Palace gates. This tank is on display at the palace.

The palace is spread across five floors, including separate rooms for dancing, card playing and a casino. The War Command Room houses an interesting collection of communications equipment and ageing maps.

The basement area consists of a network of rooms screening propaganda material from the war years. The screenings are available in different languages.

The conference hall section of the Palace is still used for major events. The shabby threadbare carpet is removed and replaced with a plusher version during conferences.

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City was founded by French colonists and constructed in downtown Saigon between 1863 and 1880. After the French conquest of Saigon, the Roman Catholic Church began religious services for the French colonists.

The cathedral has many special characteristics, and all the original materials for building were imported from France. A glass company in France provided 56 glass squares and many tiles feature carvings of the name of the region where they were produced.

In 1959, the Bishop of the Saigon parish visited the Vatican to attend the Holy Mother Congress. During his visit he ordered a Peaceful Notre Dame statue to be crafted from granite. After the statue’s arrival and installation in Saigon, Cardinal Aganiannian arrived from Rome to chair the ceremony for the statue. After this ceremony the cathedral was known as the Notre Dame Cathedral.

In 2005 a rumour that the statue had shed a tear quickly circulated around the city of Ho Chi Minh. Thousands of people flocked to the Cathedral to witness the spectacle causing major traffic congestion. Authorities were forced to close roads around the site, and the Bishop made a statement denying the teardrop incident.

His statement did little to disperse the crowds who continued to swarm to the statue. The story started with a rumour that a tear had flowed down the right side of the statue.

Ben Thanh Market is not only a large market in the centre of Saigon, it is considered a symbol of the city. The market is one of the few structures dating back to the early 1900s which has survived. The market was heavily bombed during WWII, but was given new life in the fifties.

Ben Thanh enjoys a prime position in the city, unrivalled by any other market. It is situated on an area of more than 13,000 square metres, with four main gates and 12 side gates. The main gates are labelled according to their position – north, east, south and west.

The market encompasses around 1,500 stalls arranged in a complicated layout. You can find almost everything at the market, including more than 100 dishes from around Vietnam. Most vendors can speak English, and some can speak a variety of languages including French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

The market receives around 15,000 visitors each day, many of which are tourists. Japanese travellers make up the majority of the foreign tourists. Not everyone visits the market with shopping in mind; many visit out of curiosity. The market has a lively atmosphere and is sometimes chaotic; however, it is well worth a visit.

Although all goods have a price tag, the figures are usually negotiable. Vendors are required to show a price, but shoppers should bargain to get a better deal. The market is well equipped with fire safety equipment and a 40 strong team of security guards patrol the market, in order to keep shoppers safe from theft.

The War Remnants Museum is located at 28 Vo Van Tan, in district three of Saigon. It is one of the city’s chief attractions and receives visitors from all corners of the globe.

The museum opened during September 1975, originally named ‘The House for Displaying War Crimes of American Imperialism and the Puppet Government’. After this, it was renamed: ‘the Museum of American War Crimes’, and later ‘War Crimes Museum’. Liberalization of Vietnam and improvements in relations with the USA has led to another more recent name change – ‘War Remnants Museum’.

The museum is spread over a number of buildings and has a total of eight rooms, each with a different theme. There is also period military equipment on display inside a walled enclosure. This equipment includes a helicopter, F-5A fighter, M48 Patton tank, as well as an A-1 attacker bomb.

Visitors can view the tiger cages which the South Vietnamese government used to confine political prisoners. Graphic and disturbing images depict the effects of chemical sprays and phosphorus bombs.

Visitors can see the guillotine which was used by French and South Vietnamese to execute prisoners, while three jars contain preserved human foetuses which illustrate the deformation caused by dioxin.

All items and photographs have detailed descriptions in both Vietnamese and English. The exhibition starts to the right of the entrance, and begins with a catalogue of war facts and figures, moving onto biological warfare, weaponry and international peace demonstrations.

Located in the Cu Chi district of Saigon, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a large network of underground tunnels which played a significant role in Vietnam’s tumultuous history.

The 75 mile network of tunnels is a site of preservation and has been turned into a war memorial by the government. The tunnels are a huge tourist attraction, and many visitors crawl through the tunnels trying to imagine lives of locals during the war.

Some tunnels have actually been expanded so larger western tourists can enter the complex. Low power lights have also been added to allow easier navigation. Visitors can enter conference rooms where campaigns were planned and sample the simple meals the fighters would have eaten, which mainly consisted of rice.

Other facilities inside the tunnels included mess halls, accommodation, hospitals, an operating theatre and even a cinema. The soil on top of the tunnels was three to four metres thick, so heavy vehicles such as the 50 ton tanks used, could drive over the tunnels without causing any damage.

The Viet Cong guerrillas would emerge from a series of concealed trapdoors to fight and wear down the will of American and French armies. They put up a powerful fight and eventually won. However with limited air, food and water, and infestations of spiders, mosquitoes and poisonous centipedes, life in the tunnels was hellish.

During the war, US officials were aware of the tunnels and launched various campaigns to locate and destroy the underground system. However, their efforts were largely unsuccessful as the tunnels were well designed and resisted the various onslaughts.

Saigon features a delectable blend of old and new. Crumbling old buildings sit next to gleaming modern complexes; while vintage Vespas buzz by amongst a swarm of shiny Hondas. It’s also an east meets west fusion, with new ideas and dreams born out of a newly flourishing economy.

The district of Cholon is home to Saigon’s Chinatown and was established in 1879. There are many interesting sights to see in this district including Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Paogoda, Quan Am and the Cholon Mosque. Chinatown is a vibrant area of the city, well worth experiencing.

The Saigon Opera House is an elegant structure situated close to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the central post office. The 1,800 seat venue has undergone a programme of restoration and is now used for performances of opera, ballet, music and traditional dance.

Visitors to Saigon can attend mass in the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica. Built between 1863 and 1880, the cathedral is a charming example of Neo-Romanesque architecture.

The Reunification Palace was brought to the world’s attention in 1975, when footage was broadcast of Communist tanks breaking down the gates and a soldier unfurling a North Vietnamese flag from a balcony. Visitors can take a tour of the building including its intriguing basement tunnels.

Saigon Zoo is a fantastic attraction for all the family, featuring an array of wildlife and over 100 different types of animal. The zoo is situated close to the Reunification Palace and has a temple and museum on site.

The Revolutionary Museum charts Vietnam’s Communist-inspired struggle from the reigns of France and the USA. This stunning white Neo-classical building was constructed in 1885 and was used for various other purposes before becoming home to the museum in 1978.