Vietnam has undergone a remarkable turnaround. When the Vietnam War ended in 1975, no one thought about traveling to this part of Southeast Asia. What a difference 45 years makes. These eight spots will give you a taste of the country. You’ll surely crave more.
Cam Ranh: Escape winter for temperatures that rarely dip below 75 degrees, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, luxury resorts that line the sand, and dense jungles that guard the mountains behind them on the South Central Coast of Vietnam.
Cần Thơ: Explore the gateway to the Mekong Delta, the most important fishing region in the country, flat floodplains, rivers and canals instead of roads, floating markets, and an island resort in an area largely unexplored by tourists.
Dalat: Feel like you’re in Europe with pine-covered mountains, twisting roads, coffee plantations, mist-shrouded valleys, a cool climate, French colonial buildings, and a villa-style hotel in Vietnam’s Little Paris.
Hạ Long Bay: Discover one of the most beautiful spots in the world, limestone karsts, emerald green water, caves and grottos, stalactites and stalagmites, white-sand beaches, and floating villages in a surreal UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ham Tien: Relax in a resort town with a laid-back vibe, a relaxing resort, a villa that feels like a tropical oasis, your own little pool, and sand covered with colorful kites when you need some beach time.
Hanoi: Find the rhythm of the capital in the French Quarter with the Hanoi Opera House, the historic Hotel Metropole, the State Bank of Vietnam, countless ambassador residences, high-end shops, elegant restaurants in old mansions, art galleries that seem to pop up every other day, and your new favorite hangout spot in the center of it all.
Hội An: Ease into Vietnam with a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a beautiful Ancient Town, winding lanes, open shophouses, colorful lanterns, deteriorating buildings, terraced cafés, wooden canoes, and a resort that looks like a graceful mansion along the Thu Bồn River.
Hue: Stay in the country’s first overwater villas, start a misty morning with a yoga class, drink Vietnamese coffee, play badminton, ride a bike, go fishing, sip ginger tea, have an herbal steam at the spa, lounge by the infinity pool, watch wooden boats glide over the lagoon, or take the shuttle bus into what was the capital of the Nguyen dynasty.
