According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Vietnam's Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in 2021 increased by 4.7%, ranking 52nd, up eight places compared to 2019. Among the 117 countries in the list, Vietnam's growth was the highest.

The highest rated indicators of Vietnam are competitive price (15th), security and safety (33rd), ground transport infrastructure and airports (15th). In addition, Vietnam is also praised for natural environmental resources (24th), and entertainment and resort resources (29th).

According to this site, Vietnam may not be the first name that comes to mind when visitors want to experience adventurous sports, but the country offers a lot of challenging experiences in many forms.

It names a series of experiences worth trying in Vietnam as passing Hai Van Pass, getting on a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay, tasting bia hoi (draught beer) or trying insect-based dishes in the Mekong Delta.

Below are some must-try experiences in Vietnam.

Try snake wine at Hoi An night market. The main ingredient of this wine is the venomous snake soaked in white wine, added with herbs and roots, sometimes gecko. The site recommends tourists try this kind of wine in small doses such as a teaspoon. 

Ride a motorbike through Vietnam: Motorcycles are the main means of transportation in Vietnam. What could be more wonderful than exploring the country on a motorcycle. 

Immerse yourself in the nightlife of Hanoi's Old Quarter: During the day, Hanoi's Old Quarter will always be crowded with buyers and sellers. But when night falls, the area will change and become bustling with restaurants and bars, especially the bia hoi area near Chuong Duong bridge. Things are more lively after 11pm. 

Eat grilled scorpions at a roadside restaurant: Driving through the roads of the Mekong Delta, you will come across fast food stalls full of grilled insects, scorpions, and crickets. All are caught from nearby rainforests or hills. Insects are preliminarily processed, then grilled with salt, skewered on sticks or stir-fried with lemongrass and chili. The dish has a crispy crust, the meat in the middle is greasy and the flavor is very impressive.

Off-road driving on white sand dunes: Vietnam's nature is extremely diverse. Coming to Mui Ne (Binh Thuan province), visitors will have the opportunity to admire the strangely beautiful sand dunes. Many people choose to walk on the sand dunes to enjoy the scenery. But for adventurous travelers, it might be more fun if they try sliding down from the top on a mat. Or, for more thrills, they should rent a four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicle and drive a few laps around the white sand dunes.

Conquering Fansipan: This is a high mountain and climbing to the top is not easy as it takes visitors a few days. If they choose to experience this exciting activity, tourists will have the opportunity to go through dense forests and admire the wonderful nature of the mountains of Northern Vietnam.

Do An