North Vietnam:
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam located in Northern Vietnam. The city itself is a popular destination for tourists from around the world who travel within it and its surrounding areas, but it also serves as a departure point for fascinating trips in Northern Vietnam, such as to the magical Ha Long Bay with its towering islands, to "Tam Coc" with its cliffs and caves among the rice fields where the largest pagoda in Vietnam is also located, or to the city of Sapa surrounded by villages with rice terraces.
DHa Long City is located about 160 km east of Hanoi, about two and a half hours drive on the modern highway. The city lies on the shores of a bay of the same name: Ha Long Bay. This bay is one of the must-see destinations for travelers in Vietnam thanks to the multitude of islands (nearly two thousand) rising from the sea in the bay and creating a spectacular and unique landscape.
The Ninh Binh area is located in northern Vietnam, 95 km south of the capital, Hanoi. In my opinion, it is a must-visit site for anyone visiting northern Vietnam. This area surprises visitors thanks to the impressive natural phenomenon of steep, towering limestone mountains resembling giant camel humps, interspersed with rivers and streams that sometimes cross beneath these mountains through caves..
In the village of Pu Luong, in the mountains at an altitude of about one thousand meters above sea level, is located the hotel Pu Luong Retreat, which overlooks a charming mountain landscape with terraced rice fields.
The city of Sapa is located about 320 km northwest of
Hanoi. The city is situated in a mountainous region at
an altitude of about 1500 meters above sea level. The
main attraction of Sapa is the many villages surrounding
it, which cultivate their fields on breathtaking
terraces across the hills and mountains.
In Sapa,
there is an impressive new SunWorld cable car, about 6.3
km long, climbing from Sapa to the highest mountain in
Vietnam, Fansipan.
For anyone wanting an authentic yet pampering trip in Northern Vietnam: it is highly recommended to visit for a day or two a trip to the village "Yen Duc" Yen Duc located about an hour's drive west of Halong Bay and about 2:20 hours east of Hanoi.
Central Vietnam:
Da Nang is located in central Vietnam on the coast. It is the third largest city in Vietnam by population, and one of the main port cities in the region. Da Nang has several destinations worth spending time on, either on the way to/from the airport or after one of the tours in the area such as Ba Na Hills or the My Son ruins
The city of Hoi An is located in central Vietnam on the coast, about thirty kilometers southeast of the city of Da Nang. Hoi An is a charming, preserved, and colorful port city with ancient buildings from hundreds of years ago. Colorful spherical street lanterns throughout the old city create a festive atmosphere for travelers there.
The city of Hue served as the capital of Vietnam from 1802 during the reign of the Nguyễn Dynasty until 1945, and it contains many important historical sites such as the Royal Palace, pagodas, and tombs. The city is bisected by a wide river named the Perfume River.
The place with a large concentration of battlefields, underground tunnels, preserved structural remains, and memorial and commemoration sites for the millions who lost their lives in the bitter and unnecessary war (like all wars...) is located in Central Vietnam near the old border between North and South Vietnam.
The most impressive stalactite caves in Vietnam and also the most famous ones, where famous Hollywood movies (or at least scenes from them) were filmed, are the Phong Nha Caves, located about 50 minutes (45 km) north of the city of Dong Hoi, in Quang Binh Province in the northern part of Central Vietnam.
South Vietnam:
Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam and in the past, it served as the capital. This is a comfortable point to start your tour in Vietnam – this is a vibrant and energetic city where the airport in it is busy and is the largest in the country. Saigon is the economic center of Vietnam where there are most of the commercial centers, shopping and entertainment. There are over 8 million residents in the city
An authentic tour through villages, agricultural crops, floating markets, pagodas, and nature reserves among simple, friendly people who will be happy to show you their way of life and pamper you with a variety of delicacies.
The Viet Cong guerrilla fighters' tunnel site is located about 45 km northwest of Saigon, about a hour and fifteen minute drive.
At this site, many tunnels were dug over a length of about
120 kilometers (!) and on several levels by the Viet Cong
who fought the Americans in the Vietnam War.
Phu Quoc Island, located in southern Vietnam, a short and cheap flight away from Saigon (see our article on Saigon Trip), is a resort and entertainment island with luxurious hotels on sandy, palm-fringed beaches with calm and warm waters. The island features the best and most successful beaches in southern Vietnam.
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Sigalit Bar, this site owner, is a travel advisor and licensed travel agent. She has written several travel books about various destinations around the world.
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