Vietnam Destinations
Vietnam splits neatly into three travel regions — the mountainous north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh), the UNESCO-rich centre (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang), and the steamy south (Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta). Pick a city to see its best day trips and things to do.
North Vietnam
Hanoi
Vietnam's 1,000-year-old capital and launchpad for the north.
Ninh Binh
Limestone karsts, rice fields, and river caves two hours south of Hanoi.
Ha Long Bay
UNESCO seascape of 1,600 emerald-green islands and junk-boat cruises.
Sapa
Terraced rice valleys and hill-tribe villages in the far northwest.
Ha Giang
The Ha Giang Loop — jagged limestone mountains and hill-tribe villages on Vietnam's Chinese border.
Cat Ba Island
Largest island in Ha Long Bay — hiking, kayaking, and cheaper base for Lan Ha Bay cruises.
Central Vietnam
Da Nang
Beach-city hub and gateway to the Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills.
Hoi An
UNESCO-listed lantern-lit trading port on the central coast.
Hue
Imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty on the Perfume River.
Da Lat
Cool-climate mountain town of pine forests, French colonial villas, and coffee farms.
Nha Trang
South-central beach resort with island-hopping boat tours and Cham towers.
Phong Nha
UNESCO karst park with the world's largest caves and jungle river trails.
South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam's biggest, loudest, most energetic metropolis — aka Saigon.
Phu Quoc
Vietnam's largest tropical island — white-sand beaches, snorkelling, and resort stays.
Mui Ne
Red and white sand dunes, kitesurfing beaches, and fishing-village seafood.
Mekong Delta
Fruit orchards, floating markets, and stilt-house homestays on Vietnam's rice-bowl delta.
Planning shortcuts
Once you have picked your cities: how to travel between them, what it all costs, when to go, and which festivals fall on your dates.