Where to go in Vietnam

Vietnam’s most enchanting and famed tourist destination, Halong Bay covers an area of roughly 600 sq km, made up of some 2,000 islands and islets. A mesmerising network of limestone karst pillars and rocky outcrops, set against a backdrop of placid turquoise waters, it has an otherworldly outlook and is rightly designated among UNESCO’s seven natural wonders of the world. A small few of its islands are inhabited – making for fascinating visits to floating villages – but most are completely empty, ready to be explored by means of hiking, kayaking, caving, or climbing. The best and only way to experience Halong Bay is taking a luxurious overnight (or multi-night) small ‘junk’ cruise; these atmospheric vessels providing the perfect accommodation for watching the scenery slip by. We also recommend visits to neighbouring Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bay – part of the same coastline, boasting similarly dramatic scenery, but seeing a fraction of the visitor numbers.

Set along the banks of the Perfume River in Central Vietnam, Hue is one of the country’s most historic towns, , and former home of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Although Hue suffered heavy bombing during the ‘American War’, most of its cultural treasures thankfully still stand, and it remains a pleasant, laidback city with an easy-to-explore center and enticing riverside night market. It blends old and new with chic modern hotels soaring over crumbling 19th-century citadel wells, with majestic palaces, temples and gates. There’s also an active Buddhist monastery, built in 1601, and just outside the city are a number of Nguyen Emperor tombs, including Minh Mang Tomb, the final resting place of one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s staunchest Confucians.

Ho Chi Minh City is among Asia’s most dynamic and enthralling cities. Older travellers will know it by former name Saigon – it was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976, although you’ll find many locals still use the former name. Today’s HCMC is a dynamic metropolis of skyscrapers and shopping malls, juxtaposed with sprawling traditional markets and ancient temples. The former colonial centre is especially charming, with French institutions such as the Opera House, Post Office, and Cathedral still standing in all their gothic splendour. Shopping enthusiasts will find practically an endless number of options, while foodies will delight in sampling an endless array of outstanding food outlets – both out on the street or in high-end refinement. HCMC has seen all sorts of comings and goings over the years and as you’d expect it’s a treasure trove for history lovers, with impressive collections of artefacts at the HCMC Museum, and sobering exhibits on the ‘American War’ in the War Remnants Museum.

Cover off all of Vietnam on our Complete Vietnam example itinerary

A coastal resort town, Nha Trang offers an idyllic beach escape with a laid-back atmosphere perfect for end of trip r&r. The “Golden Coast” of Vietnam is famous for snorkelling and diving, and also offers the full range of water-based activities – jet-skiing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, and parasailing. On land, you can explore waterfalls, cycle, hike or possibly even arrange a round of golf. As the seafood is excellent here, be sure to sample some of it in one of the excellent restaurants nearby. Nha Trang is also well known for an abundance of health and wellness experiences. You may be able to take advantage of your hotel’s spa or head to another spa for a blissful mud bath, massage therapies, facial and body treatments.