Vietnam was better known for American war movies on the Vietnam war than perhaps for tourism and food. Leading today, as a coffee producer and a textile outsourcer, Vietnam has firmly put itself back on the Asian map, as the latest ‘it’ destination.

Remember one thing about Vietnam; everything has a story. The locals are convinced that they’re born of the dragon, the moon is inhabited by Chu Cuoi: the vagrant miracle worker, the street vendor you brought a souvenir from practices a craft that has been practiced ceaselessly since the 13th century and Lac Long Quan has restored a permanent state of order in the land and the sea. For a city whose reality has been as surreal as its mythology, stories have become a way of life. So if you encounter dirt bikes on the streets of Hanoi that the local biking groups use for their road trips, remember to ask why they’re called Minsks. And if you stop at one of the roadside bars of the city, remember to ask them how they’ve brewed the beer. In a country full of pristine beaches and limestone islands that will make you marvel at the geometric histrionics of nature, it’s the stories that will shine through your memory when you’re home.

International interest in Vietnam spiked after a sharp decline in tourism in 2008- and they had the Great Recession to thank for it. Because of its ethereal landscapes, Vietnam has always seen a heavy influx of tourists from China, South Korea and Japan. But post the re-cession, Vietnam emerged as an exotic getaway that didn’t burn a hole through your pocket and tourists from the States started pouring in. For a formerly physiocratic country that relies heavily on foreign direct investment as a means to sustain its economy, this meant a boom of investments in tourism, especially in the hotel industry. As of 2012, Vietnam has seen 6.8 million international arrivals and South-East Asian tourists are a small part of the number. It’s a given that the 3G economy has wowed the United States. Now, Europe has their attention.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has been praised for his liberal international policies, but a decline in tourism for the past thirteen months has earned him a lot of flak. Because of the Euro’s depreciation against the US Dollar, a trip to Vietnam has begun to cost 15-20% more for European tourists. Also, a Vietnam Visa costs $45, as opposed to the $30 one must pay for other South East Asian Visas and most tourists are unwilling to spend so much, given the state of their own economy. To woo European tourists, the PM has waived off a Visa for five major European countries-UK, Italy, France, Spain and Germany. He has also ensured that the Vietnam International Airlines is the second airlines in the world to fly AX350WB air-crafts, with the first flights being operational between Paris and Hanoi and Paris and Ho-Chi-Minh. The fleet will also have additional Boeing-787-9 Dreamliners in the next three years, solely to cater to the needs of international travellers.

Infrastructure-wise, Vietnam is growing into its new capitalist shoes. While capital city Hanoi has jumped aboard the urbanization train and found its way to second place on TripAdvisor’s 2014 Traveller’s choice awards, it’s usually the limestone islands of Halong Bay and the cave systems in Phong Nha Ke Bang National park that most tourists visit Vietnam for.

This slew of Euro-friendly policies is already leading to some promising numbers. The tour-ism industry is slated to grow anywhere between 8-18% in the next fiscal year and a project-ed 10% increase is guaranteed if the current Visa exemption extends to the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In fact, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report, Vietnam Tourism has a current potential to garner 200 million dollars per year if the current policies are implemented and sustained. That is a significant increase from the 4.6% contribution that tourism currently makes to the Vietnamese GDP.

Infrastructure-wise, Vietnam is growing into its new capitalist shoes. While capital city Hanoi has jumped aboard the urbanization train and found its way to second place on TripAdvisor’s 2014 Traveller’s choice awards, it’s usually the limestone islands of Halong Bay and the cave systems in Phong Nha Ke Bang National park that most tourists visit Vietnam for. But there’s a lot more than just the topography to consider. At Ho-Chi-Minh, you can pick up anything from bespoke fashion to high-end designer brands at one-tenth the price you’d pay anywhere else in the world. There’s Khaisilk, where the Princess of Thailand is known to shop, Gucci-alumni Luis Antonio Torres’ boutique Massimo Ferrari and Vietnamese power-designer Do Manh Cuong’s brand DMC.

Vietnam is also a renowned Asian culinary superpower, as vouched for by celebrity chef An-thony Bourdain. Whether it’s the snail soup from the Ben Thahn Market at Ho-Chi-Minh or the Com-Nieu-Saigon’s otherworldly seafood, Vietnam will ensure that you crave Saigon cuisine long after your vacation is over.

Vietnam has grown into a warm and welcoming country, with a diverse set of experiences to offer. No two vacations to Vietnam will be alike, even if they’re undertaken by the same per-son. It’s not a just a location to visit, it’s a reality to experience. Make sure you experience it as soon as you can.