Hoi Aan is one of the most tourist-focused cities in Vietnam, and with good reason because, in addition to its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city has everything to attract tourists: charming restaurants and narrow streets, exceptional local cuisine, and idyllic beaches. Hoi An will also charm lovers of ancient ruins, who will enjoy discovering the remains of the Cham city of My Son.

Fall under the spell of Hoi An and the surrounding area

Dien Bien Phu is the capital of the province with the same name. It was the location of a battle which took place in Tonkin from 20 November 1953 to 7 May 1954 against the French Union forces. It is considered to be the place of victory for national liberation.

Dien Bien Phu and its history

The town of Sapa is located at the summit of a hill, at 1,600 metres of altitude. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery and sits above the Muong Hoa valley, where it is dominated by the famous Fansipan at 3,143 metres. An obligatory stopover during your tour of Vietnam.

Sapa and its surroundings

I'd like to give an insight into&nbsp;Hué, a tourist town that was once an imperial city and is famous throughout the country for its food! But what tourists often don't realise is that there are numerous wonderful sites just a few kilometres from this town that are seldom visited but are nonetheless authentic and magnificent&nbsp;

Hué and the riches of its surroundings

Asia

Someone talks about Vietnam and you automatically think of spring rolls, pointed hats or shoulder yokes, those large sections of bamboo and their two suspended woven baskets. Our collective imagination has been flooded with these images... But do they correspond to the current reality of Vietnam? Even if they are not all representative of life in the cities, they still subsist in the countryside... However, Vietnam cannot be summarized by these few clichés. Its people have come far with a particularly turbulent 21st century. The country is now decidedly turned towards the future: Vietnam changes and evolves. The former children of the “boat-people” are returning to Saigon to fulfil their dreams and seek success. Hanoi has opened superb art galleries... For many, Vietnam consists of mountains and plateaus, Vietnam is marked by two major waterways, the Red River to the north, and the mother of all rivers, the Mekong to the south. Between equatorial plains, temperate plateaus and high summits, you will be awestruck by the tender green rice paddies, the canyons of Red River and the superb Mekong Delta.... And if beyond its people and nature you still need a reason to visit Vietnam, let’s mention gastronomy! Vietnamese cooking is one of the most renowned worldwide, light and refined by the same token: spring rolls of course, but also Pho, Cha cà, Oc nhoi and other delicious meals...

Vietnam

Lào Cai

Bac Ha is a village in northern Vietnam, a quiet and peaceful village except on Sunday mornings, which is market day, attracting all the ethnic minorities to the area.

Bắc Hà

Sapa

Vallée Muong Hoa

Haiphong, is an industrial port which is the departure point for excursions to Ha Long bay and Cat Ba island.

Haiphong

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The first thing that comes to mind when in Haiphong, is that it is not really a city that lives for tourism. Passing the touts at the station that jump on you as they do throughout Vietnam, the city is relatively quiet and you can move around freely without being solicited at every step. I walked along the tree-lined promenade that runs along Tran Phu past the theatre, a vestige of Indochina and that continues towards Sat Market, alongside the canal. Let's be clear, Haiphong is not a beautiful city but it has a certain calm and this, believe me, is significant in Vietnam. A walk through the busy shopping streets around the station is a must, especially in the morning around the fish and seafood market, still impressive when you are not used to it. Most of the temples and pagodas are situated to the east of the city. But everything is done on foot. To the south, I headed to Ben Binh pier to continue my <a href="/vietnam/">journey around Vietnam</a> via Cat Ba island.

Haiphong is a coastal city but also an important trading port situated 70 kilometres from Hanoi.

It's a big town where I quickly felt lost as there is lots going on and no signs! I had just arrived from Ninh Binh and had no idea where the bus had dropped us. It was difficult to find out where we were or to make contact with someone to ask them. Haiphong is a place people usually stop during a <a href="/vietnam/">trip to Vietnam</a> mainly because you can get to Ha Long Bay from there! I advise you to prepare the trip in advance or you will be assailed by Vietnamese on the jetty and you won't know what to do with yourself! What route should you choose? And for how much? Where? How? From Haiphong you can take a speed-boat to Cat Ba island, a natural reserve which is only 25 km from the town. In brief, the only thing that I remember I liked in Haiphong was the bridge of Haiphong's imposing port, which is also called Binh bridge. It was impressive - big and pretty!

Haiphong, is an industrial port which is the departure point for excursions to Ha Long bay and Cat Ba island.

Haiphong Vacations

Haiphong: How to get there?

Haiphong: See when to go ?

Haiphong: For how long?

Haiphong: What to see nearby?

Vietnam: our articles for your vacations