Vietnam travel guide

Trang An Vietnam is not a single sight to tick off. It is a living landscape of flooded valleys, hand-rowed boats and caves that run straight through limestone mountains, set in the countryside around Ninh Binh. UNESCO recognized it in 2014 as a mixed natural and cultural World Heritage Site, a distinction shared by very...

Ho Chi Minh City rarely slows down, yet some of southern Vietnam’s most memorable experiences begin where its traffic ends. Set between the Mekong Delta, the South China Sea and the border provinces, the city makes an efficient base for day trips from Saigon that range from wartime tunnels and Cao Dai temples to mangrove...

An Bang Beach Vietnam lies roughly 4–5 km northeast of Hoi An Ancient Town, a village shoreline where seafood restaurants, beach clubs and working fishing boats share the same stretch of sand. It suits travelers who want a few unhurried hours by the sea between days of heritage sightseeing, rather than a remote island escape....

Vietnam is rarely the first country people picture on a beach holiday, which may be why its coastline still feels uncrowded outside a handful of hotspots. The best beaches in Vietnam are not hard to find. They are hard to time. The coast runs more than 3,200 kilometers from the Gulf of Tonkin to the...

Tam Giang Lagoon is a vast brackish coastal lagoon on the eastern edge of Hue, where fishing, aquaculture and village life still set the rhythm of the day. A short drive from the city leads to mangrove canals at Ru Cha, fishing communities such as Thai Duong Ha, and open water where flat-bottomed boats drift...

Vietnam stretches about 1,650 km from north to south, and each region has its own climate, pace and cuisine. Spending 12 days in Vietnam suits a first visit well: it links Ho Chi Minh City, the central coast and Hanoi with two domestic flights, one scenic drive and one overnight cruise. This guide sets out...

Christmas in Hanoi blends Catholic tradition with the energy of a capital that never slows down. Glowing church façades, crowded Old Quarter lanes and cafés strung with lights fill the cool December air. Snow and European-style markets are absent, but the city offers decorated streets, lively gatherings and food that suits the season. This guide...

The best mountains in Vietnam range from Fansipan, a 3,143 m summit above Sapa, to the limestone peaks of Cao Bang and the pine plateaus around Da Lat. Some are climbs, some are road journeys through karst country, and some are pilgrimage routes where a cable car handles the final stretch. This guide covers twelve...