Vietnamese tourism on the rise
Nowadays, many Russians, when planning their next vacation, increasingly choose one of the countries of Southeast Asia, especially since tours to Vietnam can now be bought relatively cheaply. At the same time, the most "advanced" domestic travelers try to get to the interior of the country, for example, to the city of Ankhe.
It is located in the central region of Vietnam, in its mountainous part. According to the latest data from omniscient statistics, the population of Ankhe is about 64 thousand people, and its total area is approximately 199 square kilometers. And although this city cannot be called an important tourist center, it has a rather interesting history, which attracts the attention of travelers.
Scientists still find it difficult to say exactly when Ankhe was founded, but it is reliably known that it already existed during the early Middle Ages. Already at that time, it was a fairly important transport and trade center of the region, and largely for this reason it often became a "bone of contention" among the states that periodically arose on the territory of modern Vietnam. Ankhe gained great fame during the war with the USA, since it was there that a large American military unit was based from 1965 to 1968. During French colonial rule, this city was the administrative center of a small province.
Travelers going to Ankhe cannot expect to see many architectural sights there. By and large, only a few pagodas, built, as experts believe, back in the century before last, and which are now in very good condition, can be considered such.
It should be noted that Ankhe is located on a very picturesque plateau, which is its main natural attraction. Not so long ago, two entire national parks were created in the vicinity of this city to preserve the unique ecosystems that have developed there. Although access to these reserves is limited, excursions are periodically organized there for guests of the city.
As for the tourist infrastructure, it is not yet very well developed in this city, but there are also undoubted advantages. Brave travelers - lovers of exoticism, coming here, usually stay not in modern hotels (which have not yet been built there), but in small but very cozy huts or bungalows, as well as in colonial-style houses converted into peculiar mini-hotels.
From Ankhe you can make many very interesting excursions to the surrounding villages, which are especially interesting for fans of ecological and ethnic tourism. The fact is that the inhabitants of these settlements have almost completely preserved their traditional way of life, and modern civilization has only minimally affected the settlements. In particular, you can see how rice is cultivated there, and if you are lucky, you can also watch how the locals celebrate some of their holidays - you will hardly be able to see such things anywhere else.
Special mention deserves the local cuisine, the dishes of which are worth trying in the cafes and restaurants of Ankhe. They are quite diverse and somewhat unusual for the taste of Europeans. The main ingredients here are rice, pork and a wide variety of vegetables. A distinctive feature of these little culinary masterpieces is the abundance of various sauces.
Trips to Vietnam are by no means an expensive pleasure nowadays, since prices for tours there have dropped significantly in recent years. The cheapest vacation in Hoi An or Ankhe (which, by the way, assumes a very decent level of service) is quite affordable for people with average incomes.
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