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 caves. It's also home to endangered wildlife and ethnic minority groups. The gateway to this land of adventure is Phong Nha, a welcoming village on the banks of the graceful Son River. Top things to do in Phong Nha Join a cave expedition Enter the magical world of Phong Nha's caves, which number 300 and counting. At Hang Nước Nứt, you can camp at the base of a limestone cliff, and Hang Én features a colossal main chamber with shimmering turquoise pools. Go in search of wildlife The ultimate way

Unlike the famed Cu Chi tunnels , which were used by the Viet Cong for combat, the Vinh Moc Tunnels were bomb shelters predominantly for civilians. During bombing raids, village life carried on underground: kids attended school, women gave birth and families watched movies. The tunnels are an amazing achievement of human toil, engineering and perseverance. If you only have time to see one site in the DMZ, this is it. The Vinh Moc Tunnels are located on the coast 37 kilometres north of Dong Ha . When the DMZ, the dividing line between North and South Vietnam, was created along the Ben Hai River, the village of Vinh Moc found itself at the precarious southern edge of Northern Vietnam. Secretly built between 1966 to 1967, the red soil had to be dispersed under the cover of night to avoid dete

a symbol of the everlasting desire for peace Hien Luong Bridge is a bridge that spans the Ben Hai River in the Vinh Linh District of Quang Tri Province on Vietnam's North Central Coast. It will always be a symbol of Viet Nam's eternal desire for peace, national independence, and reunification. History of Hien Luong Bridge Hien Luong Bridge was built in 1928 by residents of Vinh Linh District. Back then, it was only 2m wide, made of wood with iron poles, and could only accommodate pedestrians. In 1950, France constructed a concrete bridge 162 meters long and 3.6 meters wide that could withstand a weight of 10 tons for military purposes. Then again, in May 1952, the French rebuilt a new bridge between Vinh Linh and Gio Linh districts, connecting the two banks of the Ben Hai River. The bridge

Ho Chi Minh Trail , elaborate system of mountain and jungle paths and trails used by North Vietnam to infiltrate troops and supplies into South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos during the Vietnam War. The trail was put into operation beginning in 1959, after the North Vietnamese leadership decided to use revolutionary warfare to reunify South with North Vietnam. Accordingly, work was undertaken to connect a series of old trails leading from the panhandle of North Vietnam southward along the upper slopes of the Annamese Cordillera (French: Chaîne Annamitique; Vietnamese: Truong-Son) into eastern Laos and Cambodia and thence into South Vietnam. Starting south of Hanoi in North Vietnam, the main trail veered southwestward to enter Laos, with periodic side branches or exits running east into South

Hue is a city chock-full of stories. The Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty built their feudal capital along Hue's fertile riverbanks and atop its forested hills, but their imperial legacy is just one of many reasons to visit. Hue's refined cuisine is the stuff of legend, and its leafy streets are lined with mossy pagodas, art déco mansions, and eye-popping markets. Through the whole scene flows the Perfume River, setting a languid pace the rest of the city is happy to follow. Top things to do in Hue See Imperial Vietnam Get acquainted with Vietnam's last royal dynastic family by exploring what survives of their 143-year reign. Roam the palaces, pavilions and theatres of the Hue Citadel and make time to visit the tombs of emperors Tu Duc , Minh Mang and Khai Dinh . Eat like a king You're never fa

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. Da Nang hosts some of Vietnam's top luxury resorts, but much of the beach still belongs to the people who make it their playground, gym, and source of livelihood. Top things to do in Da Nang Enjoy the beach Be sure to set the alarm clock early at least once on your stay. Along the shore, fishermen sell the day's catch, football and volleyball matches spring up all around, and people jog, stroll or simply relax on the sand. See the Son Tra Peninsula The Son Tra Peninsula strikes out into the ocean

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. In the city of Hội An there are tons of unique little restaurants and clothes shops that produce "made to measure" clothing. The city is separated by a river with small bridges, making it easy to cross, and hundreds of scooters fill the winding roads. In the first century, the city owned the largest harbor in South East Asia known as Lam Ap Pho . Between the 7th and the 10th century it became extremely wealthy due to a strategic spice trade, being controlled by the people. It was then in the 14th