FLEDGE TRAVEL · VIETNAM GUIDE
Vietnam: the S-shaped country, in detail
Eight regions, ten cities, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Sapa, the Mekong Delta, and the world's greatest street food. Researched street by street.
The limestone karsts of Bai Tu Long Bay at dawn. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Explore Vietnam
Hover a region to explore it. Click a city pin to open its guide.
Beyond the highlights
The pages most visitors miss: small cities, regional dishes, festivals and obsessions from the full guide.
Banh Mi
Banh mi is the baguette the French left behind and the Vietnamese perfected: a short, crackling loaf with an airy crumb, split and filled with pate, cold cuts, pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber, cilantro and chili.
Ca Phe Trung
Ca phe trung is Hanoi's strangest and most delicious drink: egg yolks whisked with condensed milk into a thick, meringue-like foam, spooned over strong Vietnamese robusta coffee.
Da Lat
Da Lat sits at 1,500 metres on the Langbiang Plateau: pine forests, French villas and flower gardens in air that never gets hot.
Can Tho
Can Tho is the capital of the Mekong Delta: a riverside city of 1.2 million where the Hau River sets the rhythm.
Tet (Lunar New Year)
Tet is Vietnam's defining festival: the lunar new year, a week of family reunions, ancestor altars, flower markets and fireworks.
War History
The American War (as it is called here) ended in 1975, and its sites are among Vietnam's most visited: the Cu Chi tunnels, the DMZ at the 17th parallel, and the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City.
Top Destinations
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1,600 limestone karsts in an emerald sea, best on an overnight cruise.
The lantern-lit trading port: tailors, temples and the covered bridge.
The thousand-year capital: Old Quarter chaos, temple calm, and pho.
Terraced valleys, Hmong villages and the Fansipan massif.
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Regions of Vietnam
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Plan your trip
See all planning tools ›Before You Go
Visas, when to visit, what to pack
Transportation
Trains, sleeper buses and domestic flights
Accommodation
Grand hotels, boutiques, homestays and hostels
Itinerary Ideas
Two weeks north to south, one week, the food route
Etiquette
Temples, chopsticks and bargaining with a smile
Money
The dong, cash, ATMs and the tipping question
Find your interest
See all interests ›Food & Drink
All Vietnamese food ›
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