Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. It is one of the two entry points to the country. The first impression you will have, is that this is a chaotic city. But the longer you stay, the more you will appreciate Hanoi. To visit Hanoi, you will need around seven days. Most tourists do not stay for so long here. They stay a couple of days, visit the Old District, and go to Ha Long Bay or Sapa. If you can, stay longer and explore the city and its lakes.
Ha long Bay
It is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Probably you have seen pictures of this unique bay with its thousands of islands. A two or three day tour should be enough to visit Ha long Bay. In Summer its air will be clearer and its water bluer, but it can be visited any season. You get there by bus from Hanoi.
Sapa
Sapa is the name of a town in the Northwest of Vietnam, from where you go on many trekkings and excursions, and visit the traditional ethnic peoples who inhabit this mountainous region. How long you stay in Sapa's region depends on the excursions you want to do. Most trekkings last from two to five days. Go on a weekend and you will enjoy its markets. You get to Sapa by an overnight train from Hanoi. Winters can be quite cold.
Northeast Vietnam
If you want to get off the beaten path, this is where you have to go. Babe lake is authentic, but if you go to Ha Giang and Cao Bang, you will see landscapes 99.99% of the tourists do not see. Most tours take five days. Add two or three more days, and you will get to the unspoiled areas. You travel around the region on a four wheeled vehicle.
Ninh Binh
It is a town south of Hanoi. Many agencies offer a one day excursion to Ninh Binh. Locals call it the Ha long Bay on land, because of it similarities with the world famous bay. If you want to visit its national park, add a couple more days. You get here from Hanoi on a minibus. From here you can also go to Hue.
Perfume pagoda
It is the most famous pagoda in the area of Hanoi. It is a one day excursion. Two other nice pagodas in the outskirts of Hanoi are the Thay Pagoda and the Tay Phuong pagoda.
Da Nang
"It is the third biggest city in Vietnam, but has not much interest for tourists. If you are traveling around Vietnam, you go here only to get the train south after visiting Hoi An. You can stay in Da Nang one or two days to visit a couple of interesting sites, though."
Hoi An
"It is another must see. Dedicate a couple of days to visit its picturesque streets. This is also the place to buy taylor clothes. There is also a nice beach, in case you want to stay longer. If you are traveling North, your next stop is Hue. If you are traveling South, your next stop can be Nha Trang, Muine or Saigon. To get to any of these destinations you should take the train (in Da Nang) or the plane. "
Nha Trang
It is a big town with nice beaches. A great place to relax -- although I prefer Muine. If you are into scuba diving, stay here five or more days. If not, a couple of days should be enough. If traveling North your next stop should be Hoi An. If traveling South, you can go straight to Saigon, or stop in Muine. You can get there on a bus.
Phu Quoc Island
"This island south of Cambodia is like paradise on earth. Although tourism is developing fast, it is still unspoiled. Crystal clear waters, long beaches, hassle free, ... a great place to chill out. Stay here around four days (longer if you can). If you come here at the end of your travel you will appreciate it more. My favorite destination in Vietnam (and in the world probably)." |
