Vietnam, place by place, without the fluff.

The capital: Old Quarter alleys, lakes, street food and the gateway to Ha Long, Ninh Binh and Sapa. Best Oct–Apr · 2–3 days.

Limestone islands and overnight cruises; choose between Ha Long, Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha. Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov · 1–2 days.

The island base for Lan Ha Bay: quieter water, kayaking, a national park. Best Apr–Oct · 2 days.

"Ha Long on land": Tam Coc and Trang An sampans, Hang Mua viewpoint, easy from Hanoi. Best Mar–May · 1–2 days.

Rice terraces, Hmong and Dao villages, treks and Fansipan. Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov · 2–3 days.

The Ha Giang Loop: the most dramatic mountain road in Vietnam, by motorbike or easy rider. Best Sep–Nov, Mar–May · 3–4 days.

A gentle valley of stilt houses and rice fields, three hours from Hanoi. Best Sep–Nov · 1–2 days.

Tea hills, plum blossom in February, dairy farms on a cool plateau. Best Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov · 2 days.

The 1954 battlefield and a valley of Thai villages near the Lao border. Best Mar–May, Oct–Nov · 1–2 days.

Ban Gioc waterfall on the China border, karst valleys and the Nguom Ngao cave. Best Sep–Nov · 2–3 days.

The most photographed rice terraces in Vietnam, golden in late September. Best Sep–Oct, May–Jun · 2 days.

The imperial capital: citadel, royal tombs, the Perfume River and the most refined food in Vietnam. Best Jan–Apr · 2 days.

Cave country: Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave, and the world’s largest cave, Son Doong. Best Feb–Aug · 2–3 days.

Beach city with the Dragon Bridge, Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills; the hub for Hoi An and Hue. Best Feb–Aug · 2–3 days.

Lantern-lit ancient town, tailors, An Bang beach and the best-loved photoshoot backdrop in Vietnam. Best Feb–Aug · 2–3 days.

Under-the-radar beaches (Ky Co, Eo Gio), Cham towers and seafood without the crowds. Best Mar–Sep · 2 days.

Coffee capital of the Central Highlands, waterfalls and Ede villages. Best Nov–Apr · 2 days.

Saigon: rooftops, French-colonial squares, the best food scene in the country and the door to the Mekong. Best Dec–Apr · 2–3 days.

The classic beach resort city: islands, diving, mud baths and a big Russian-speaking scene. Best Feb–Aug · 2–3 days.

Cool-climate hill town of pines, waterfalls, flower farms and French villas. Best Nov–Apr · 2 days.

Red and white sand dunes, kitesurfing, a long resort strip. Best Nov–Apr · 2 days.

Vietnam’s big island: beaches, the world’s longest sea cable car, visa-free entry for many nationalities. Best Nov–Apr · 3–4 days.

Remote islands with empty beaches, turtles and a heavy prison history. Best Mar–Sep · 2–3 days.

Floating markets, canals, fruit orchards; Can Tho is the base. Best Dec–Apr · 1–2 days.

Saigon’s weekend beach, two hours by hydrofoil or road. Best Nov–Apr · 1–2 days.

Cat Ba Island draws visitors seeking seafood and Vietnamese fare, but Western food cravings are real. We've tested the m

Ha Long Bay attracts two types of travellers: those booking multi-day cruise packages and those staying on land in nearb

Halong Bay hotels range from luxury cruise cabins to budget guesthouses on Cat Ba Island. Choosing depends on your trip

Ha Long Bay's UNESCO limestone karsts, emerald waters and cave systems offer kayaking, junk cruises and limestone hiking

Street food in Ho Chi Minh City ranges from 20,000 VND (around $0.80 USD) for a basic banh mi to 80,000 VND (around $3.2

Ho Chi Minh City's night street food scene is where locals eat best—from bánh mì stands to crab noodle soups served from

Street food in Ho Chi Minh City costs far less than restaurants, but prices vary by district. Learn which neighborhoods

Ho Chi Minh City's food scene moves fast. We track what's opening, closing, shifting neighborhoods, and which trends mat

Ho Chi Minh City's food scene sprawls across districts—Saigon's old quarter, the Binh Tay Market warren, riverside Thao