Vietnam stretches more than 1,600 km from north to south, packing an astonishing variety of landscapes, cultures, and experiences into one extraordinary country. Here are the ten places every traveller should add to their Vietnam bucket list.
1. Ha Long Bay
No trip to Vietnam is complete without a cruise through Ha Long Bay. More than 1,600 limestone islands and islets rise from the emerald Gulf of Tonkin, creating a seascape unlike anywhere else on Earth. Choose at least a two-night cruise to properly explore the caves, kayak the lagoons, and watch the sunrise from the deck.
2. Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An is arguably Vietnam's most charming town. The UNESCO-listed Ancient Town bristles with 400-year-old merchant houses, silk tailors, lantern shops, and restaurants serving some of the country's finest food. Come at dusk when the streets glow with hundreds of coloured lanterns.
3. Sapa Rice Terraces
In Vietnam's far northwest, the mountain town of Sapa overlooks some of the world's most spectacular terraced rice fields. Trek through the Muong Hoa Valley and you'll pass through H'Mong, Red Dao, and Tay villages where traditional ways of life are very much alive.
4. Hue Imperial City
Vietnam's former imperial capital sits on the Perfume River and is home to a moated Citadel, elaborate royal tombs, and a culinary tradition regarded by many Vietnamese as the country's finest.
5. Ninh Binh
Often called "Ha Long Bay on land", Ninh Binh's dramatic karst landscape is best explored by rowing boat through the Trang An cave system or by bicycle through Tam Coc's flooded paddies.
