From the remarkable beauty of Sam Mountain and Halong Bay to the numerous sacred temples and pagodas, Vietnam has a lot to offer. It is a country that features everything from exotic culinary delights to breathtaking scenery. Seemingly endless, tranquil rice paddies stand in stark contrast to bustling cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi which embrace all the technology and conveniences that the modern world has to offer. The well-preserved colonial buildings of Hoi An play host to a slew of charming boutiques and tempting cafes while, further north, the local hill-tribe people of Sapa sell a wide variety of exquisite crafts and handmade trinkets. Beyond the urban areas, this diverse country is characterised by vast, verdant jungles and lush mountainous regions as well as an enticing coastline peppered with golden sand, palm-lined beaches.
With its wide boulevards, ancient pagodas and tree-lined lakes, Vietnam’s capital is also the country’s most atmospheric and beguiling city. There is an energy and charm here arising from the genteel mix of French colonialism and Asian grace and tradition. Enjoy a showcase of synchronised t’ai chi at Hoan Kiem Lake; stroll around the lively Old Quarter with its narrow streets with traders and hoards of scooters weaving in and out, and don’t miss the chance to see a water puppetry show at the Thang Long Puppet Theatre. Other places to visit include the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the Perfume Pagoda temple complex and the Hanoi Opera House in the heart of the French Quarter.
A former French Hill station, Sapa is fast becoming a trekker and tourist hotspot. Situated on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range of northwest Vietnam, the town overlooks terraced rice fields, often shrouded in heavy morning mist. Aside from the spectacular view, the town’s charm can be also be attributed to the local H’mong and Dzao hill tribe people, who trade clothing, trinkets and handicrafts in the town most days. Trekking expeditions can be arranged to nearby villages and, for the fit and energetic, Fansipan peak (Vietnam’s highest) can be climbed. Or head out onto the Tram Ton Pass for stunning scenery, stopping off en route at the Thac Bac waterfall, with its multiple cascades.
