If you like…

Fabulous Food

Hoi An Try herb-rich dishes and unique creations like banh bao and banh xeo, then take a cooking course.

Hanoi An endlessly tasty street-food sceneincluding bun cha, sticky rice creations and crab noodle soup.

Ho Chi Minh City Foodie paradise: roadside stalls, swish gourmet restaurants, to-die-for Vietnamese eateries and international cuisine.

Minority Flavours Taste H’mong, Tay and Muong ethnic minority food at specialist restaurants like Quan Kien and The Hill Station.

Hue This city is famous for its complex imperial cuisine tradition, but is also great for a casual bite.

Markets

Bac Ha One of the most colourful markets in Southeast Asia where you can see the unique costumes of the Flower H’mong.

Mekong Delta’s Floating Markets Early birds get to catch the delta’s panoply of river markets, selling everything from durian to dog meat.

Sinho Experience an authentic minority market in this isolated highland town, which now has a good new hotel.

Ben Thanh Market HCMC’s most famous and most central market is a hive of activity.

Remote & Hidden

Ha Giang Crammed with jaw-dropping scenery, this rugged area abuts Vietnam’s northern border with China.

HoChiMinh City Tours Sample food from the backstreets, speed on Vespas along alleys and dig out the city’s hidden pockets.

Ganh Da Dia An isolated coastline boasting empty beaches, lonely fishing villages and impressive sand dunes.

Phu Dien Buried in sand dunes for centuries, this small Cham temple is surrounded by magnificent coastal scenery.

Bai Dam Trau A half-moon crescent of pale sand, bookended by forest-topped rocky promontories on the Con Dao islands.

Tombs & Temples

Hue Vietnamese emperors built dazzling monuments around this city. Don’t miss the tombs of Tu Duc and Minh Mang.

My Son Unquestionably the most impressive Cham site; the forested hilltop location is very special too.

Hanoi Come face-to-face with history in Ho Chi Minh’s austere mausoleum.

Cao Dai Great Temple A brightly coloured, magnificent hybrid of Chinese temple, Islamic mosque and Christian cathedral.

Jade Emperor Pagoda Taoism and Buddhism achieve a notable fusion at HCMC’s most famous temple.

Beautiful Beaches

Mui Ne Squeaky sands along the shore, towering sand dunes nearby and expanses of empty beaches up the coast.

Quan Lan Island Join friendly Vietnamese families for beer and seafood on sleepy Minh Chau beach.

Nha Trang Flop on the inviting sands, then explore the bay’s islands by boat.

Con Dao Islands We suggest a self-imposed exile of at least three nights.

Phu Quoc Island Long Beach is the natural choice, but Sao Beach has beautiful sand, sapphire waters and fewer people.

Lan Ha Bay Kayak to hidden sandy coves amid the karst labyrinths of this spectacular bay.

Road Trips

Mai Pi Leng Pass Negotiate this mountainous route from Dong Van to Meo Vac cut into a narrow pass high above the Nho Que River.

Phu Quoc Island Straddle a motorbike to tame the red-dirt distances of this island.

Mekong Delta Whiz about the delta, hopping aboard the occasional ferry when you run out of road.

Ho Chi Minh Highway Forgo Hwy 1 for a while: this inland route is light on traffic and big on scenery.

Spectacular Treks

Hang SonDoong For the ultimate finale, hike through pristine mountain and valley trails to the world’s largest cave.

Sapa Join chatty H’mong guides to explore the ethnic minority villages around Sapa, framed by cascades of verdant rice terraces.

Mai Chau Take-it-easy trekking in spectacular scenery around sleepy Mai Chau.