Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

30 November 2024

4-minute read

Vietnam is a land of contrasts where rich history and natural beauty abound. Living in the country for the past 7 years, in Ho Chi Minh City, South African born Yaqub, a revert to Islam, spoke about Vietnam.

For South Africans travelling to Vietnam, a visa is required and can be obtained at the Vietnamese Embassy in Pretoria or on arrival in Vietnam, for the period that one is in the country.

When visiting the country, the main cities to tour would be Hanoi for its cultural and historical significance and endless tourist activities. Tourists can visit the Old Citadel, Old Town which is the oldest part of Hanoi, and soak up the political history of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has a fast-paced international feel, and other cities like Da Nang, Hoi An, Hui and Kamta are also worth touring.

The beaches in middle Vietnam around Da Nang and Nanchang, and Ku Quac Island on the Southern tip, are rated the best in the country, boasting blue seas, white sands and tall palm trees. Beaches in the South are more lake-like, and those in the North are dark and still with a European feel about them.

The best and most affordable modes of transport in the country are motorbikes which can be hired just about anywhere if you know how to drive one. Taxi-hailing apps like Grab make it easy to get a motorbike taxi to just about anywhere. Tourists should be wary of motorbike drivers who aren’t registered on the app as they charge exorbitant rates for a ride.

Language can be a barrier for most tourists, but many locals in the bigger cities do speak English. In the smaller outlying rural areas, where the vast majority of Vietnamese people live, communication is a problem, but translator apps help one get by. In the last 5 years, Vietnam has introduced English as a subject at schools so most younger Vietnamese can “communicate fluently in English”.

Due to the French Colonial period, Vietnamese people are mostly Catholic or Buddhist, and many also practice an indigenous style of ancestral veneration where they honour their ancestors. A very small percentage of the indigenous people practice Islam but immigrants from Morocco, Algeria, India, Pakistan, and other regions have increased the Muslim population. Vietnamese are very tolerant towards Muslims and “there is no prosecution of Islam” in any of the cities. A large number of Muslims reside in the Southern part of Vietnam which has many masaajid while the Muslim population in the North is very sparse. The Islamic centre is based in Kamta

Halal food is easily available amongst the immigrant population, many of whom have opened restaurants. Locally prepared halal Vietnamese cuisine is more difficult to come by but can be found if one looks around. Pork is a staple food in Vietnam so tourists should be careful before eating at non-Muslim owned establishments.

Listen to the full interview on The Early Breakfast show with Ml Ibrahim Daya and Ml Muhammad Kara.