Northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam
Hanoi
A thousand-year-old capital that still runs on plastic stools, motorbike horns and the smell of charcoal — and the natural first stop for the north.
CitiesCultureFood
View details
Travel style
Culture in Vietnam
The best culture destinations in Vietnam — where to go, when to visit and how to fit a culture trip into a wider route.
Northern Vietnam
Lao Cai Province, Northern Vietnam
Sapa
Terraced valleys under the Hoang Lien Son range, and the easiest place in Vietnam to spend two days walking between highland villages.
MountainsCultureAdventure
View details
Northern Vietnam
Ha Giang Province, Northern Vietnam
Ha Giang
The northernmost province in Vietnam, and the country's best road trip: three or four days of limestone plateau, hairpin passes and border villages.
MountainsAdventureCulture
View details
Northern Vietnam
Ninh Binh Province, Northern Vietnam
Ninh Binh
Ha Long Bay's limestone towers, but standing in rice fields instead of the sea — and only 90 minutes from Hanoi.
MountainsCultureAdventure
View details
Northern Vietnam
Hoa Binh Province, Northern Vietnam
Mai Chau
A flat green valley of Thai stilt villages three hours from Hanoi — the easiest overnight escape from the city.
MountainsCultureResorts
View details
Central Vietnam
Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam
Hoi An
A UNESCO-listed trading port that stopped growing in the 19th century and therefore survived intact — lanterns, tailors and a beach twenty minutes away.
CultureFoodResorts
View details
Central Vietnam
Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam
Hue
Vietnam's imperial capital from 1802 to 1945, with a walled citadel, seven royal tombs along the river and the country's most distinctive regional cooking.
CultureFood
View details
Central Highlands
Lam Dong Province, Central Highlands
Da Lat
A pine-forested hill town at 1,500 metres, built by the French as an escape from the heat and still the coolest city in Vietnam.
MountainsResortsCulture
View details
Newsletter
Vietnam travel tips, once a week
New guides, seasonal advice and the occasional route we think is underrated — straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.