The capital Hanoi is a city of broad, tree-lined boulevards, parks, lakes and elegant French villas and colonial-era buildings painted in muted hues of yellow and orange.
Over thousand years of its eventful history, Hanoi still preserves much ancient architecture throughout the Old Quarter, over 600 pagodas and temples, reminding of the city's rich cultural heritage.
Located in the Gulf of Tonkin 170 km from Hanoi, Halong Bay is an impressive collection of nearly 3,000 islands covering an area in excess of 1,500sq km forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and cliff faces. Many of the forested islands in the Bay have hidden caves and grottoes which are easily explored by boat or kayak. A full exploration of Halong Bay takes 2 to 3 days, though a day trip ex Hanoi provides enough time to get a feel for the place.
Sapa (or Sa Pa) is located in the far northwest. It is home to various tribes such as the Hmong. Brilliant landscapes due to the tiered rice patties they have built into the landscape. Home to a diverse group of hill tribes such as Tay, Red Dao, Black and Flower H’mong, Sapa boasts of ample hill tribe trekking and home stay opportunities. Beyond Sapa, Mount Fansipan (Indochina’s highest peak) is great for trekking and exploration.
Ninh Binh province is located in northern Vietnam, about 100km south of Hanoi. With its hundreds of limestone cliffs emerging from the ground scattered across the rice fields, this region is appropriately nicknamed the “Halong Bay in land”. Apart from this stunning scenery, Ninh Binh is a great opportunity to peek into the rural way of living. It’s all very laid-back and serene, just how the Vietnam experience should be.
Ha Giang province is located in the most northern part of Vietnam, about 300 km northwest of Hanoi. This remote and mysterious province is a showcase of unbelievable mountain landscapes, limestone walls, roaring rivers, smiling people and hundreds of kids. Apart from its stunning scenery, Ha Giang is a home to many different ethnic tribes like H’mongs. That is why Ha Giang is a great opportunity to peek into the rural way of living. It’s all very laid-back and serene, just how the Vietnam experience should be.
