Vietnam Travel Guide: Destinations
Every region, city and landmark covered in this guide, in one index.
Northeast
Ha Long Bay · UNESCO-listed karst seascape: some 1,600 limestone islands, best seen on an overnight cruise.
Ha Giang Loop · The great northern motorbike loop: Ma Pi Leng Pass, the Dong Van karst plateau and Hmong market towns.
Ban Gioc Waterfall · One of the world's largest border waterfalls, on the Chinese frontier in Cao Bang.
Bai Tu Long Bay · Ha Long Bay's quieter northeastern neighbour: the same karsts, far fewer boats.
Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark · UNESCO Global Geopark of limestone peaks and Hmong villages around Dong Van.
Ba Be Lake · Vietnam's largest natural lake, in Ba Be National Park: boat trips and Tay stilt-house villages.
Nho Que River · The emerald river threading the Tu San Canyon below Ma Pi Leng Pass.
Ha Long · Ha Long City Guide
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Northwest
Sapa · The former French hill station: markets, the stone church, and treks into the Muong Hoa Valley.
Fansipan · 3,143 m, the roof of Indochina: climb it in two days or ride the cable car to the summit.
Mu Cang Chai terraces · The great golden terraces of Yen Bai, at their best in the September harvest.
Muong Hoa Valley · Sapa's classic trekking valley: Hmong villages at Lao Chai and Ta Van.
Mai Chau · A gentler valley of Thai stilt-house villages, rice paddies and easy cycling.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve · Terraced valleys and jungle between Mai Chau and Ninh Binh, still quiet.
Moc Chau · Tea hills, dairy farms and plum blossom in the Son La highlands.
Dien Bien Phu · The 1954 battlefield that ended French Indochina: bunkers, the museum and Hill A1.
Sapa · Sapa Town Guide
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Red River Delta
Hanoi Old Quarter · The 36 guild streets: street food, coffee, and a thousand years of commerce.
Temple of Literature · Van Mieu, Vietnam's first university, founded 1070: courtyards, stelae and scholars.
Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex · UNESCO-listed karst valleys near Ninh Binh: boat rows through caves and temples.
Tam Coc · 'Three caves' by sampan through the rice fields of Ninh Binh.
Perfume Pagoda · The great Buddhist pilgrimage: boat and cable car to the Huong Tich cave shrine.
Cuc Phuong National Park · Vietnam's first national park (1962): primate rescue centre and ancient forest.
Bat Trang pottery village · Seven centuries of ceramics on the Red River, an easy half-day from Hanoi.
Hanoi · Hanoi City Guide
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North Central Coast
Hue Imperial City · The Nguyen dynasty citadel: Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden Purple City.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang caves · Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave, in the park that also holds Son Doong.
Tombs of the Nguyen emperors · The riverside tombs of Tu Duc, Khai Dinh and Minh Mang, south of Hue.
Vinh Moc tunnels · The village that lived underground for six years: 2.8 km of wartime tunnels.
DMZ sites · The 17th parallel: Hien Luong Bridge, the Ben Hai River and Khe Sanh.
Thien Mu Pagoda · Hue's 1601 riverside pagoda, the city's unofficial symbol.
Hue · Hue City Guide
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South Central Coast
Hoi An Ancient Town · UNESCO-listed trading port: lanterns, the Japanese Covered Bridge and tailor shops.
My Khe Beach · Da Nang's long white-sand beach, one of the country's best city beaches.
My Son Sanctuary · UNESCO-listed Cham brick towers in a jungle valley, an hour from Hoi An.
Da Nang · The Dragon Bridge, Han River waterfront and Marble Mountains.
Nha Trang · The resort city: island boats, Po Nagar Cham towers and a long beach.
Marble Mountains · Five limestone hills south of Da Nang: caves, pagodas and viewpoints.
Po Nagar Cham Towers · The 7th-12th century Cham towers above Nha Trang.
Quy Nhon · The quieter beach city: Ky Co, Eo Gio and Cham towers without the crowds.
Da Nang · Da Nang City Guide
Hoi An · Hoi An City Guide
Nha Trang · Nha Trang City Guide
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Central Highlands
Da Lat · The city of eternal spring: villas, flower gardens and the Crazy House.
Hang Nga Crazy House · The surreal concrete guesthouse of architect Dang Viet Nga.
Xuan Huong Lake · The crescent lake at the city's centre, best at dawn.
Buon Ma Thuot · Vietnam's coffee capital: plantations and the Coffee Festival.
Lak Lake · The highlands' largest natural lake, with Mnong longhouses on its shore.
Kon Tum wooden church · The 1913 wooden church of the Bahnar highlands.
Da Lat · Da Lat City Guide
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Southeast
Ho Chi Minh City · Saigon: Ben Thanh Market, the Reunification Palace and District 1's energy.
Cu Chi tunnels · The 250 km underground network, an hour northwest of the city.
War Remnants Museum · The essential, sobering museum of the American war, in District 3.
Con Dao islands · Pristine reefs and the old prison: the country's most remote archipelago.
Reunification Palace · The 1960s time capsule where the war ended on 30 April 1975.
Vung Tau · The weekend beach escape, 90 minutes by hydrofoil from the city.
Bitexco Financial Tower · The 262-metre tower with the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor.
Ho Chi Minh City · Ho Chi Minh City Guide
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Mekong River Delta
Cai Rang floating market · The great dawn market: boats trading fruit on the river at Can Tho.
Ben Tre coconut canals · Sampan rides through palm canals and coconut-candy workshops.
Phu Quoc · Vietnam's largest island: long beaches, night markets and fish sauce.
Chau Doc · Border town of Cham villages, floating fish farms and Sam Mountain.
Tra Su cajuput forest · A flooded melaleuca forest near Chau Doc, rowed through in sampans.
My Tho · The delta's gateway: orchard islands and the Vinh Trang Pagoda.
Vinh Long and the An Binh islets · Orchard homestays between the Tien and Hau rivers.
Can Tho · Can Tho City Guide
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