HanoiHà Nội
Vietnam's capital in the Red River Delta, with the narrow trade streets of the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and the UNESCO-listed Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Destinations in Vietnam, north to south
When to go, how to get there, and the tours that start there, for each place.
The north: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh
Ha Long BayVịnh Hạ Long
A bay of limestone islands and islets in Quang Ninh province, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, seen by day boat or overnight cruise.
Ninh BinhNinh Bình
Limestone karsts, rice fields and river caves south of Hanoi, home to the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex and the old royal capital at Hoa Lu.
The centre: Hoi An and Da Nang
Hoi AnHội An
A former trading port on the Thu Bon River, now part of Da Nang city, whose UNESCO-listed Ancient Town keeps the merchant houses, assembly halls and lantern-lit streets of the 15th to 19th centuries.
Da NangĐà Nẵng
A city on the central coast with My Khe Beach, the Son Tra peninsula and the Marble Mountains, which since July 2025 also governs Hoi An and the former Quang Nam province.
The south: Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc
Ho Chi Minh CityThành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Vietnam's southern metropolis on the Saigon River, with colonial landmarks, Ben Thanh Market and Cho Lon, which since July 2025 also takes in the former Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.
Mekong DeltaĐồng bằng sông Cửu Long
The river delta south-west of Ho Chi Minh City, with orchards, canals and floating markets, seen on day trips to My Tho and Ben Tre or on overnight stays in Can Tho.
Phu QuocPhú Quốc
An island off Vietnam's south-west coast, now the Phu Quoc special zone of An Giang province, with beaches, an international airport and a visa exemption for foreigners who arrive directly.