Places to visit in Vietnam
11 places most Vietnam trips are built around, in the order a first visit usually takes them. Five days covers one region well, Hanoi with a Halong Bay cruise or Da Nang with Hoi An; seven days joins the north and the centre; eight to ten days runs the whole country from Hanoi to Saigon, or adds Phu Quoc or Cambodia.
- Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake: The 36 streets of the old city, the lake with the red bridge to Ngoc Son temple, and the weekend night market.
- Halong Bay: An overnight cruise among the limestone karsts, with kayaking, a cave and a sunrise on deck; three hours from Hanoi.
- Ninh Binh: The "Halong Bay on land": a rowing boat through the Trang An or Tam Coc caves and the steps up Mua Cave for the view, a day trip from Hanoi.
- Golden Bridge and Ba Na Hills: The bridge held by two giant stone hands above Da Nang, reached by cable car, with the French village and gardens on the hilltop.
- Hoi An Ancient Town: The lantern-lit old port town with the Japanese Bridge, the tailors and the river boats at night, 40 minutes from Da Nang.
- Da Nang: My Khe beach, the Marble Mountains and the Dragon Bridge that breathes fire on weekend nights.
- Hue: The former imperial capital: the Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, the royal tombs and a boat on the Perfume River.
- Ho Chi Minh City: The War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame and the Central Post Office, Ben Thanh market and the rooftop bars of District 1.
- Cu Chi Tunnels: The wartime tunnel network outside Saigon, with a stretch you can crawl through; a half day.
- Mekong Delta: A day trip from Saigon to the river islands: sampan rides in the canals, coconut candy workshops and the floating markets.
- Phu Quoc: The island off the south coast for the beaches, the cable car to Hon Thom and the night market, usually the last stop.
