With graceful tree-lined boulevards, an impressive array of colonial-era buildings and an unhurried air, Haiphong is a very approachable city. It’s an important seaport and industrial centre, but few visitors linger. If you do pass through, you’ll find minimal hassles compared to Vietnam’s main tourism centres, with barely a tout to be found. Café culture [...]
Most appealing to domestic travellers, Con Son and Den Kiep Bac are potential diversions en route to Hai phong or Halong City. Con Son was home to Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), the famed Vietnamese poet, writer and general. Nguyen Trai assisted Emperor Le Loi in his successful battle against the Chinese Ming dynasty in the 15th [...]
Often refered to as the Ba Be Lakes, Ba Be National Park (0281-389 4014; admission per person 20,000d) was established in 1992 as Vietnam’s eight national park. The scenery here is breathtaking, with towering limestone mountains peaking at 1554m, plunging valleys, dense evergreen forests, waterfalls, caves and, of course, the lakes themselves. There are 13 [...]
History Dominated by the Red River basin and the sea, the fertile northeast is the cradle of Vietnamese civilisation. Until very recently, Vietnam has had challenging relations with the neighbouring Chinese. China occupied the country in the 2nd century BC, and were not vanquished until the 10th century. Any time that the Chinese wanted to [...]
Why Go? Northern Vietnam’s top tickets is the wildly popular Halong Bay, and nearby Cat Ba Island offers excellent hiking, biking and rock climbing. The karst connection continues into Cao Bang province – an essential detour are the sublime lakes of Ba Be National Park – and then west into Ha Giang, Vietnam’s emerging destination [...]
The fertile alluvial soils of the Red River Delta nurture a rich rice crop, and many of the communities surrounding Hanoi are still engaged in agriculture. The contrast between modern Hanoi and the rural villages is stark. Many tour operators in Hanoi offer cycling tours to villages near Hanoi – a great way to discover [...]
Hanoi Highlights 1. Experience Asia at its raw, pulsating best in the labyrinthine streets of the Old Quarter. 2. Step into history, and a spiritual retreat from the busy streets, at the Temple of Literature. 3. Get an authentic taste of the city while exploring Hanoi’s intoxicating street food scene. 4. Wake at dawn to [...]
Occupying a slender slice of the east Asian landmass, Vietnam combines jagged alpine peaks in the north, a pancake-flat river delta in the south, cave-riddled limestone hills in its central provinces and dense rainforest along its western border with some of the world’s most productive ricegrowing terrain. And that’s just the countryside. Climatically the northern [...]
Showcasing fresh and vibrant flavours, excellent street food and elegant restaurants in restored colonial architecture, Vietnam is packed with superb opportunities for eating and drinking. Cookery classes, market visits and walking tours all make it easy to get to the authentic heart of the country’s culinary heritage. A Day in Hanoi Surrounded by an array [...]
From South to North Making the most of Vietnam’s spectacular coastline, this route hugs the shore for much of the time and is bookended by the country’s two greatest cities. You’ll have ample opportunity to indulge in some serious beach time, and be able to hit the cultural sights and explore two national parks en [...]
Top events Tet, January – February Hue Festival, June (Biennial) Wandering Souls Day, August Danang Fireworks Festival, April Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Death, May January Winter temperatures can be bitterly cold in the far north, with snow possible. The further south you go, the milder the weather. Tet occurs at the end of the month [...]
Fabulous Food Hoi An Try herb-rich dishes and unique creations like banh bao and banh xeo, then take a cooking course. Hanoi An endlessly tasty street-food sceneincluding bun cha, sticky rice creations and crab noodle soup. Ho Chi Minh City Foodie paradise: roadside stalls, swish gourmet restaurants, to-die-for Vietnamese eateries and international cuisine. Minority Flavours [...]
The World’s Biggest Cave Finally, after years of speculation, the Vietnamese government has granted (strictly regulated) access to Hang Son Doong, the world’s biggest cave. Sign up for the trip of lifetime. Imperial Citadel, Hanoi The nexus of Vietnamese military power for more than 1000 years, Hanoi’s World Heritage-listed Imperial Citadel has recently been opened [...]
Checklist Apply for your visa in advance Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your arrival date Check your immunisation history Arrange appropriate travel insurance Inform your debit-/credit-card company Pre-book internal flights and trains What to pack Good footwear – Vietnam’s streets are bumpy and lumpy Mosquito repellent with DEET [...]
Why Go? Showcasing sweeping boulevards, tree-fringed lakes and ancient pagodas, Hanoi is Asia’s most atmospheric capital. It’s an energetic city on the move, and Hanoi’s ambitious citizens are determined to make up for lost time. As motorbikes and pedestrians ebb and flow through the Old Quarter’s centuries-old commercial chaos, hawkers in conical hats still ply [...]
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