Destinations

Hanoi

Hanoi, one of the most beautiful of the colonial Indochinese cities, is often the start or end point of a trip to Vietnam, and what a great welcome or farewell it is. Oozing with charm, Hanoi has gone through wholesale changes since Vietnam swung open its doors to tourism, but it remains true to its

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Ever wondered about finding an amazing masterpiece of nature in the north of Vietnam? For the duration of just 2 days, a tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang Province) should be the first thing on your bucket list to get rid of the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of

Pu Luong national preserve

One glance at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and you'll see why the ethnic Thai people made this enchanting valley their home long ago. The slow pace in Pu Luong is a striking contrast to life in the capital just a few hours away. Endless mountains, fertile valleys and pristine jungle are just a few go

Mai Chau

The Mai Chau's proximity to the capital makes it an ideal escape for nature lovers. Here, small ethnic minority villages sit among a patchwork of paddy fields surrounded by green mountains. Spend a night or two immersed in Vietnam's rural culture, dining on delicious home-cooked cuisine, and learnin

List of World Heritage Sites in Vietnam

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Vietnam accepted the convention on 19 October 1987, making its natura

Ha Long Bay

A HIGHLIGHT A cruise on Ha Long Bay -- or the Bay of the Descending Dragon -- for many represents the pinnacle of their experience in Vietnam. easily one of the most popular destinations in the country, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay is both mystical and magnificent, an incredible feat of

Sapa

TREKKING CENTRE WITH GREAT VIEWS Choice views of the Muong Hoa valley and Mount Fansipan are the prime commodity on sale in Lao Cai's signature destination, Sapa , a hill station high in the mountains and a vestige of the French colonial era.

Fansipan Mountain

A breathtaking experience awaits at the top of Mt. Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam. It used to take travellers two days of hard trekking to reach the summit. Now, you can reach the 'Roof of Indochina' in just 15 minutes. Jaw-dropping views of swirling clouds and forested slopes from the top of

Killing Field

The Killing Fields are a number of sites in Cambodia where collectively more than one million people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime (the Communist Party of Kampuchea) during its rule of the country from 1975 to 1979, immediately after the end of the Cambodian Civil War (1970-1975).

kampong phluk floating village

Kampong Phluk which is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them.

Weather in Laos

Wet season in Laos The wet season in Laos runs from around May to October, and as with many Southeast Asian countries, the monsoon is characterised by a downpour for a few hours each day, rather than all-day torrential downpours. While the rainy season tends to strike Laos pretty much uniformally, t

GETTING TO, FROM & AROUND VIETNAM

Introduction Vietnam's days as a pariah state, cut off from the rest of the world are long gone. Today the country boasts numerous land crossings with all of its neighbours and international flight connections to Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, Singapo

Vietnam for beginners

Currency Vietnam's currency is called the Vietnamese dong (VND). It's around 20,000 dong to US$1. International access ATMs can be found in most tourist centres across the country. You will be expected to use dong for cash purchases is rural area, but in larger centres US dollars are accepted. Credi

Ha Giang

A border province and official Frontier Area, Ha Giang lies in the remote far northern region of the country. To visit this province is to journey back in time and encounter some of Vietnam's most rugged and grand landscapes. Ha Giang is best experienced as a road trip on two wheels, soaking up the

Ho Chi Minh City

Vibrating with energy, innovation and traffic - lots of traffic - Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the economic heart of Vietnam and the main hub of the southern region. A freewheeling, cosmopolitan metropolis, HCMC's dynamic cityscape draws together old and new Vietnam in the most com

Củ Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi tunnels are a testament to the perseverance of communist forces in survival and aggression--and they are very much worth seeing but visitors need to do their own research to fully appreciate the site.

Hoi An

There is no better place in Vietnam than Hội An , with a mixture of beach and city life it's the perfect destination. Hội An is located 845 km North East of Ho Chi Minh City , right by the coast and is home to 120,000 people. The beaches are lined with white sand and the sea is a bright turquoise. I

Da Nang

With broad beaches, fantastic street food, the fabled Hai Van Pass, and a growing collection of cafes, restaurants, and bars, it's no wonder the residents of Da Nang sport some of the broadest smiles in the country. The warm sands of My Khe Beach sweep south from the mountainous Son Tra Peninsula. D

Phong Nha

Not long ago the sleepy village of Phong Nha barely got a mention in guidebooks, but the surprise discovery of one of the world's largest caves has catapulted it into the adventure tourism spotlight. The Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park is a rugged swathe of limestone mountains riddled with gigantic

Ninh Binh

Far too few travellers make it to Ninh Binh, a mesmerizing area known locally as 'Ha Long Bay on Land' thanks to its magical riverine landscape, with sheer limestone mountains rising up from the paddies. The best way to get a sense of this UNESCO-protected site is by taking a paddleboat tour along i

Banteay Srei

The temple of Banteay Srei or the Citadel of the Women, boasts superbly well-preserved and highly intricate stone carvings that adorn the pink-hued sandstone of the delightfully small and intimate site.