Destination:
Vietnam

Vietnam's small and pleasant capital lies at the heart of the northern Red River Delta, and is a city of lakes, leafy boulevards and open parks with a French colonial feel.

Hanoi was founded in 1010, and became the centre of government for the Indochina Union under French rule in 1888. In 1954 it became the official capital of independent Vietnam. Today ancient crumbling buildings dating from the 11th century lie scattered among grand French colonial residences, while shrines and monuments to Vietnam's first president, Ho Chi Minh, sit in the shadow of modern high-rise buildings. The streets of the Old Quarter preserve age-old customs, where trade takes one back half a century, and temples, pagodas and monuments reflect the historic character of Vietnam.

Although a city of historical importance, and the social and cultural centre of Vietnam, it is a surprisingly modest and charming place, far slower and less developed than Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Hanoi has retained its appealing sense of the old world, despite the onset of a brisk tourism trade in 1993, absorbing the boom of hotels, travellers' hangouts and Internet cafes, and the gradual infiltration of western-style food and fashions into the once inaccessible city.

As the early morning mist rises from the serene Hoan Kiem Lake, tracksuit-clad elders perform the slow movements of tai chi, like park statues coming to life. Streets fill with activity, mopeds and bicycles weave among pedestrians, while cyclo drivers (three-wheeled bicycle taxis) clamour for attention, and postcard vendors cluster around tourists like bees sensing an open honey pot.

Hanoi is fast becoming one of the most enticing and interesting cities in Asia. As a cultural centre there are traditional water puppet shows, and music and dance performances. It is also a good base for excursions to the beautiful Halong Bay, or into the Hoang Lien Mountains inhabited by several hill tribes.

Former capital of the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty, the royal city of Hué is situated on the country's central coast, midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is a serene place, a small city of canals boasting splendid historical sights, and is dominated by its massive Citadel, and the former Forbidden Purple City. Most of its beautiful imperial architecture was destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, when the North Vietnamese launched an attack on the south, yet despite a tumultuous history it retains much of its cultural identity and has been recognised as a Cultural World Heritage Site.

Hué is also an important centre for Buddhism and hundreds of temples and pagodas exist around the city, such as the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous structures in the country. The Perfume River lies between the city and the remains of the mighty Citadel with many attractions along its banks. Sampan boat trips on the river offer an enchanting way to see the main sights in and around Hué, including the splendid tombs of the Nguyen emperors a few miles south of the city.

Along with its historical sights, Hué is also the main starting point for day tours to the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone), a historical area spanning both sides of the former border between North and South Vietnam, and the Vinh Moc underground tunnels.

Ho Chi Minh City, better known by its former name of Saigon, is a brazen, industrious and dense metropolis, the largest city in Vietnam and the business capital of the country. With a population of five million, it is crowded, noisy and dirty, yet it is also exciting and historic, the essence of the nation.

Located on the Saigon River on the edge of the Mekong Delta, Saigon became the capital of the Republic of South Vietnam and was the American headquarters during the Vietnam War. Two years later the Communist north took control of the country, the city's name was changed to Ho Chi Minh City, and recession and poverty ensued.

Today Ho Chi Minh City has a cosmopolitan and energetic atmosphere, and having actively welcomed the new capitalist principle, the business-minded spirit of the people is much in evidence. Although relatively modern, it has still managed to hold onto its Asian character, and fine restaurants, smart hotels and chic bars line the sidewalks crammed with noodle stands, markets and shoeshine boys. The buzzing of motorbikes and scooters merges with the cries of street vendors and the urgent business of stall owners, selling barbecued dog, writhing snakes and tropical fruits. The sight of a family of four balanced precariously on a scooter, a squealing pig strapped onto the back of a bicycle, bowed heads topped by pointed lampshade-style hats and orange-clothed monks are just some of the vibrant images the city has to offer.

Although overshadowed by modern and Asiatic influences, a little of Ho Chi Minh City's French colonial charm still remains, evident in the graceful architecture, wide boulevards, and a sidewalk cafe society. It is not for the attractions that one visits Ho Chi Minh City however, but for the vibrancy of its street life, and its proximity to the Mekong Delta.

The quaint riverside town of Hoi An was an important port town and one of the major trading centres in South East Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries. The cultural influences of the Japanese and Chinese merchants are still evident today in the town's architecture, with the famous Japanese Covered Bridge and the distinctly Chinese atmosphere of the Old Quarter forming part of its unique character.

Lining the narrow streets are two-storey Chinese shops, with charming wooden facades and tiled roofs, merchants' homes, Assembly Halls and temples that preserve an ancient character. On the 15th day of every lunar month, the ancient character of this sleepy town takes on fairytale proportions, as porches, streets and windows are lit by the glow of coloured lanterns; a practice reminiscent of the old days and aimed at retaining the spirit of the past.

Hoi An is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, not only for its attractive old-world atmosphere and genuine friendliness, but also for its quaint restaurants, serving delicious Hoi An specialities, and tailor-made clothes. Rows of little tailor shops with rolls of fine silk offer the chance to have beautiful garments made up within hours; however, the insistence of the tailors can be annoying.

Two miles (4km) to the east of Hoi An is the beach of Cua Dai, considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Central Vietnam, with its long white sandy stretch. From Hoi An, visitors can make trips to the large marble rock formations 'The Marble Mountains', which are closer to Da Nang, or take a short river cruise. Travellers going north or south can make this a great stop, if only to step back for a while into Vietnamese history.

Nha Trang - the capital of Khanh Hoa province, and located on Vietnam's southeastern coastline - is an increasingly popular tourist destination, and an almost 'must-stop' on any backpacking trail through Vietnam. With a reputation as a glamorous 'party city' - it has hosted the Miss Universe pageant in 2008, the Miss World pageant in 2010, and is due to host the 2016 Asian Beach Games - Nha Trang boasts fabulous, pristine white-sand beaches, and awesome scuba-diving and snorkelling opportunities. The beautiful bay on the shores of the South China Sea is dotted with islands you can access and explore, and is home to the five-star Vinpearl holiday resort, an opulent, Disneyworld-like structure that caters for the well-heeled. One of those wonderful coastal destinations, that are as popular with locals as with foreigners, and as popular with backpackers as with more affluent travellers, Nha Trang also features some interesting cultural fare that the more discerning traveller will enjoy seeking out. Must-see tourist attractions include the Po Ngar Cham Towers (a beautiful collection of ruins dating from the 9th century); the Long Son Pagoda; the Alexander Yersin Museum (constructed in honour of the French-Swiss bacteriologist who spent 50 years living in Nha Trang); Nui Hon Chong beach; and the Lanterns Cooking Class, offered by one of the best restaurants in downtown Nha Trang. While in Nha Trang, be sure to try the local specialities, which include fresh seafood and barbecued pork rolled in rice paper. The best time to visit the area is between March and June, when daytime temperatures are bearable, and it is not as windy. However, Nha Trang is fortunate in that it is spared the worst effects of monsoon season, meaning one could visit it all year round.

Capital of Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam's central highlands region, Da Lat is a popular tourist destination, offering sun-burned travellers an Alpine haven, ideal for rest and recuperation. Full of beautiful French Colonial architecture, the city's natural surrounds are also staggeringly picturesque - attested to by the fact that in Vietnamese, 'Da Lat' means 'city of thousands of pine trees'. There is much to see and to explore in the city's misty surrounding valleys, including Truc Lam, a working Buddhist monastery in a pristine pine forest setting; Lang Bian, a nearby mountain with spectacular scenery, that you can hike up in three hours; the Da Lat Flower Park, where the area's famous orchids and roses take centre-stage; and Elephant Falls, a picture-perfect collection of waterfalls that is guaranteed to thrill the most jaded of travellers. Boasting a wonderfully temperate year-round climate - it is nicknamed 'the city of eternal Spring' - Da Lat, much like Darjeeling in India, is often used by travellers as a restful place to stop and catch their breaths. The best time to visit Da Lat is in the dry season, which lasts from November to April.

Located in the Gulf of Siam, Phu Quoc is Vietnam's largest island, and is fast becoming a heavyweight tourist destination. The densely-forested, mountainous island is ringed by some of the most beautiful, unspoilt beaches in the whole of southeast Asia - in fact, in February 2008, ABC News declared that Phu Quoc possessed 'the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in the world'. Accessible by sea or air, Phu Quoc is the ideal place to spend a week or two, relaxing on the beach, sampling some of the famous seafood, shopping for pearls in the fishing village of Ham Ninh, or heading off to Phu Quoc National Park to hike and swim in a tranquil mountain pool. The island is famous for its fish sauce ( nuoc mam) - an essential ingredient of all southeast Asian cooking, and a wonderful gift for friends and family back home. For those looking to be active on the island, Rainbow Divers offer excellent opportunities for snorkelling and scuba-diving; and it is highly recommended that you rent a scooter or moped for your time on Phu Quoc, as it has to be the coolest, easiest way to zip around the place. The best time to visit the island is in the dry season, which lasts from December to May. Make sure you see Phu Quoc while it is still so underdeveloped and paradisal - Phuket used to be the same way, apparently.

Located on the south central coast of Vietnam, at the mouth of the Han River, Da Nang is a modern, bustling port city, boasting the highest urbanisation ratio of any centrally-governed city in the country. Central Vietnam's commercial and educational heartland, Da Nang is also an important tourist destination, attracting about 1.3 million local and international visitors every year. Popular tourist attractions in and around Da Nang include the Museum of Cham Sculpture; the Montgomerie Links golf course, roundly considered the best in Vietnam; the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone hills, famous for their caves, tunnels, carvings and sculptures; and the My Son ruins, an unmissable UNESCO World Heritage Site, consisting of Hindu temples first built in the 4th century. Da Nang is a popular stop-over point for travellers looking to access the even more bewitching, close-lying areas of Hoi An and the imperial city of Hue; and also features a few slightly more resort-style areas, such as Non Nuoc Beach - a white-sand beach renowned for both its spectacular beauty, and for its history as an 'R&R' destination for American troops during the Vietnam War - and the Ba Na Hills, a mountain resort with a 3 mile-long (5km) cable car system. Easily accessible by train, bus, plane or boat, Da Nang is a worthwhile stop for those looking to dip into Vietnam's fascinating and varied cultural trove. Go between February and May, when it'll be dry, and daytime temperatures will be bearable.