Lush green mountains, scenic beaches, ancient pagodas, and the allure of a fascinating culture attract millions of visitors to Vietnam each year. The country offers adventures and curiosities around every corner. Be ready for a wild ride in a colourful and chaotic land – along the way, you’ll discover tranquil places and opportunities to connect with local people.

Vietnam is a nation going places. Its people are energetic, direct, sharp in commerce and resilient in nature. This is an outrageously fun country to explore, the locals love a laugh (and a drink) and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to socialise with them and hear their tales. The American War is over, and yet its impact endures – you’ll find reminders of that cataclysmic conflict everywhere you travel. That said, the country was never broken and emerged with its pride intact. Poor in parts but never squalid, Vietnam is developing at an astonishing pace. For travellers, there are issues to consider (including minor scams), but little real danger – on the whole it’s a safe, wonderfully rewarding and incredibly varied country to explore.

Unforgettable experiences are everywhere in Vietnam. There’s the sublime: gazing over a surreal seascape of limestone islands from the deck of a Chinese junk in Halong Bay. The ridiculous: taking 10 minutes just to cross the street through a tsunami of motorbikes in Hanoi. The inspirational: exploring the world’s most spectacular cave systems in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. The comical: watching a moped loaded with honking pigs weave a wobbly route along a country lane. And the contemplative: witnessing a solitary grave in a cemetery of tens of thousands of war victims.

You’ll witness children riding buffalo, see the impossibly intricate textiles of hill-tribe communities and taste the super-fresh and subtle flavours of Vietnamese cuisine.

The nation is a budget traveller’s dream, with inexpensive transport, outstanding street food, good-value accommodation and bia hoi – perhaps the world’s cheapest beer.

Vietnam’s long alluring coastline boasts some of the world’s best beaches with spectacular ocean-washed stretches of sand and offshore islands with delightful coves. While beautiful beaches can be found along the entire coastline, it’s the south-central coast that is home to the best beaches in Vietnam. Mui Ne and Nha Trang are the big hitters, but there are hundreds of kilometres of empty beaches to discover, including the invitingly empty shores of the Con Dao Islands. Vietnam’s beaches are the perfect place to relax and chill out with each area having its own specialty – Mui Ne Beach has a burgeoning water-sports scene; Nha Trang has the hottest nightlife in central Vietnam, while China Beach has the best surfing.

Best of Vietnam’s beaches & islands:

Best places to sample Vietnamese cuisine:

Taking in some of Vietnam’s most spellbinding scenery from the water is a supremely relaxing and rewarding experience, and there are several such journeys that should be considered when visiting this beautiful country. The watery deltas at the northern and southern ends of the country provide the greatest interest for people seeking to explore Vietnam by boat. Cruises in Halong Bay and boat rides through the Mekong Delta are the main highlights here. Travellers can get a taste of the Mekong Delta aquatic life in journeys ranging from paddle-powered explorations of the canal networks to luxurious overnight cruises heading into Cambodia. Meanwhile, an overnight trip on a junk boat with ethereal, misty morning views of limestone cliffs is Halong Bay’s primary attraction.

Best of Vietnam’s boat trips:

If you want visual dramatics, Vietnam delivers in spades. Cruise an azure ocean pierced by surreal-looking limestone islands in Halong Bay, slalom through the majestic island karst mountains of Cao Bang. Hike mountain tracks and explore tribal villages near Sapa and Bac Ha. Then witness the spectacular sandy bays of the central coastline and explore the reefs and coves of the Cham and Con Dao Islands. See the astonishing cave systems of Phong Nha, national parks like Cat Tien, and the bewitching backwaters of the Mekong Delta.

Best of Vietnam’s natural landscape:

There’s a lot more to Vietnam’s cultural scene than bootleg DVDs and karaoke. Experience the ancient art of water puppetry, before graduating to the more challenging cultural spectacle of hat tuong (Vietnamese opera). Experience the diversity of northern Vietnam’s ethnic minorities from the Black H’mong around Sapa to the Flower H’mong people of the Bac Ha region. Get to know them with a traditional village homestay. If you can time your travels, visit the northwest’s fascinating and incredibly colourful weekly markets for a unique experience.

Not-to-be-missed cultural experiences:

Vietnam’s long history of foreign invasions has left a legacy in the form of diverse architectural styles and war remnants found throughout the country. The ancient buildings of the central coast indicate the Cham influence, while Chinese elements are reflected in the pagodas, especially in Hanoi and Hue. French influence is pervasive in the colonial buildings in Hanoi, and to a lesser extent in Hoi An.

Understand Vietnam’s war history and the tumultuous events of the 20^th century in the museums, war cemeteries and battlefields around the isolated town of Dien Bien Phu and in the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Military and history buffs will find plenty to interest them here.

Must-visit historical places in Vietnam: