01Halong Bay
A UNESCO bay of some 1,600 limestone islands. Sleep aboard a wooden cruise boat, kayak into hidden lagoons and wake to mist on emerald water.
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Limestone bays, lantern nights and mountain rice terraces
Vietnam
Wake up anchored between limestone towers in Halong Bay, then trade the water for Hoi An's old town, where thousands of silk lanterns come on at dusk. In between there are sampans gliding into Trang An's caves, rice terraces stacked above Sapa, and Hanoi's Old Quarter smelling of charcoal and pho at six in the morning.
Best timeOctober to April — dry, cool months in the north for Halong Bay and Sapa, while central Vietnam is sunniest from February to May.
Ideal duration7-9 days
Great forHoneymooners, families and first-time Southeast Asia travellers
Trip highlights
Overnight junk cruise in Halong BayLantern-lit evenings in Hoi AnSampan ride through Trang AnTrekking Sapa's rice terracesHanoi Old Quarter street food
Top places in Vietnam
01
02Hoi An Ancient Town
A UNESCO-listed river port strung end to end with silk lanterns. Wander the yellow-walled alleys, order a bowl of cao lau, and let a tailor take your measurements.
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03Trang An, Ninh Binh
Sampans rowed by hand carry you past riverside temples and straight through low limestone caves. It is Halong Bay's scenery, inland, and far quieter.
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04Sapa Rice Terraces
Rice terraces staircase down the mountains above Sapa, worked by Hmong and Dao families. Trek between villages, or ride the cable car towards Fansipan.
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05Hanoi Old Quarter
Thirty-six ancient streets of scooters, red flags and pavement kitchens, plus the railway line that threads between the houses with barely a metre to spare.
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