Things to do in Vietnam

In the north, Hanoi's Old Quarter, lakes and temples make a captivating capital, and the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay rise from emerald water to the east, an easy road trip from the city. The rice fields and karst peaks of Ninh Binh and the terraced hills of Sapa lie within reach for those with more time.

The centre holds Hue, the old imperial capital with its citadel and royal tombs, Da Nang with its long beaches and Marble Mountains, and Hoi An, a lantern-lit trading port of merchant houses and tailors. In the south, Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon, buzzes with scooters, colonial landmarks and street food, and the waterways of the Mekong Delta and the Cu Chi Tunnels lie close by.

Vietnamese cooking is fresh and fragrant, from pho and bun cha to banh mi, spring rolls and strong coffee with condensed milk. The climate varies by region: the north has cool winters and hot summers, the centre is wet in autumn, and the south is warm all year with a rainy season from about May to November. Trains and flights link the long country end to end.