Limestone bays, lantern-lit old towns and some of Asia's best street food.
Vietnam stretches over a long S-shaped coastline. In the north, Hanoi's Old Quarter hums with scooters, Ha Long Bay's limestone islands rise from the sea, and Sa Pa's rice terraces climb the mountains. The centre has the imperial citadel of Hue and the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, while the south brings Ho Chi Minh City and the waterways of the Mekong Delta.
Street food is a daily joy: pho for breakfast, banh mi on the go and bun cha for lunch. Sleeper trains, buses and cheap domestic flights connect north and south. Weather varies by region: spring is pleasant nationwide, the south is driest from December to April, and the central coast sees heavy rain and typhoons from September to December.
Best time to visit Vietnam
February, March, April.
Places to visit in Vietnam
Hanoi: Vietnam's capital, with the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, French colonial boulevards and famous street food.
Ha Long Bay: Around two thousand limestone islands and islets rise from the Gulf of Tonkin, best seen from an overnight boat.
Hoi An: A beautifully preserved old trading port of yellow shophouses, lantern-lit streets and tailors who can make a suit in a day.
Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam's largest city, still widely called Saigon, with French colonial landmarks, war history and a lively food scene.
Hue: Vietnam's former imperial capital, with the walled Citadel, royal tombs and pagodas along the Perfume River.
Ha Giang: Vietnam's northernmost province, famous for a spectacular motorbike loop through limestone mountains and hill-tribe villages.
Sa Pa: A mountain town in the far north, surrounded by rice terraces, hill-tribe villages and Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang: A national park of vast limestone caves, including Son Doong, the largest known cave passage in the world.
Ninh Binh: Limestone peaks rising from rice paddies, explored by rowing boat through caves at Trang An and Tam Coc.
Essentials
Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Language: Vietnamese; English common in tourist areas
Plugs: Type A / C, 220 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+7
Tipping: Not traditionally expected; small tips are appreciated
Getting around: Domestic flights, sleeper trains and buses; ride-hailing in cities
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking