In a country where each visit could potentially uncover something new, a British journalist describes 12 places, from buzzing cities to hideaways, that capture the essence of Vietnam.
According to Claire Boobbyer, Vietnam, home to 99 million people and over 3,000 kilometers of coastline, is bursting with reasons to explore.
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She first visited the country in 2004 and has returned many times since.
In her article for The Times, she recommends 12 destinations, each one rich in identity, culture, nature, and experiences.
- Hanoi’s Old Quarter
“Hanoi is noisy, traffic-choked and beautiful all at once,” she writes of the capital city.
The city is full of lakes, charm, and history.
At its heart is the Old Quarter, a maze of temples, food stalls, shops, and hotels packed into narrow streets. Boobbyer recommends learning how to dodge motorbikes while on a street food tour or while exploring French villas and historic landmarks like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Museum of Ethnology.
Up in the far north, Ha Giang borders China and offers what Boobbyer calls “an otherworldly landscape.” It is a region of sugarloaf peaks, mountain passes, and rice paddies carved into steep hills.
She suggests exploring Red Dao and Hmong villages, browsing local markets and glimpsing traditions like weaving.
On the way, she recommends stopping in Mu Cang Chai for its terraced fields.
Ha Long Bay (also written as Halong Bay) is one of Vietnam’s most famous natural landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ha Long Bay has one of Vietnam’s most iconic landscapes, with limestone outcrops rising from the waters. No matter the weather, misty or sunny, the bay always feels magical.
Ha Long Bay made up of thousands of limestone karsts and islets that rise dramatically from the emerald waters. This place formed over 500 million years through processes of erosion, tectonic activity, and sea level changes. Some caves, arches, and grottoes are scattered throughout — popular ones include Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) and Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Cave).
For a more peaceful experience, Boobbyer recommends venturing farther out to Bai Tu Long Bay, just east of Ha Long. The “fortress” of limestone towers, as she describes it, lies beyond the reach of most cruises and offers an escape from the crowds.
You also can enjoy as trekking Bai Tu Long National Park on islands like Ba Mun and Tra Ngọ; wildlife spotting, cave exploration (Bat Cave), and archaeological sites within Van Đon port area and join local fishermen for squid fishing, aquaculture tours, or pearl farming visits in Cap La or Vung Vieng to learn about traditional livelihoods in some authentic villages there.
She suggests spending at least two nights to explore a place where the scenery is just as stunning but with fewer boats.
Pu Luong sits in western Thanh Hoa Province, near the Vietnam – Laos border, and spans more than 17,000 hectares. Boobbyer highlights its landscapes of green rice paddies, Muong villages and streams lined with water wheels. Here, travelers can trek through orchards, glide down rivers on bamboo rafts or unwind at eco-retreats tucked deep inside nature.
Hue was home to Vietnam’s last emperors, and traces of that royal past still shape the city. Boobbyer highlights the citadel, built in the style of Beijing’s Forbidden City, and the tombs set along the Perfume River, where gardens, statues and streams reflect Confucian and feng shui design.
Often skipped for Hoi An, Hue deserves a stop for its history and cuisine. Many of the dishes once served to emperors are still enjoyed today. From here, it is also possible to visit the former border that once divided North and South Vietnam.
To Claire, Da Nang blends modern energy with echoes of the past. The city’s long curve of golden sand, once known to American GIs as China Beach, is now home to luxury escapes like the Four Seasons and the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula.
Beyond the beaches, Da Nang invites discovery. Claire highlights the Museum of Cham Sculpture, where sandstone carvings offer a window into the ancient Cham civilization. And at night, the Dragon Bridge bursts to life, breathing fire and water in a show that reflects the city’s spirit.
Though Hoi An has become one of Vietnam’s most popular destinations, it still holds on to a sense of calm. A trading port in the 17th century, the town retains its heritage in the form of Chinese temples, shop-houses and age-old crafts.
Ocher homes line narrow streets beside the Thu Bon River, glowing with lanterns at night. Boobbyer recommends Hoi An for its atmosphere, street food from cao lau (thick rice noodles) to banh mi, and its tailors, who can craft made-to-measure clothing in just a few days.
For a quieter escape, Claire suggests heading a few kilometers out to An Bang Beach, where you will find palm trees and gentle waves.
With more than nine million people and nearly as many motorbikes, HCMC pulses with nonstop energy.
Boobbyer describes it as “heady”, full of street food, neon lights and a growing scene of craft beer and cocktails. She suggests exploring the city from the back of a motorbike, the most immersive way to take in its chaos.
- Mekong Delta
“The liquid fingers of the Mekong slink through southern Vietnam into the sea,” Boobbyer writes, describing a region shaped by water.
Its appeal lies in everyday moments: floating markets, fruit farms, temples and churches, and a rural life shaped by Vietnamese, Khmer and Cham heritages.
- Da Lat
Boobbyer calls Da Lat “a quirky place.” Once a French hill station in the pine-covered highlands, it is filled with early 20th-century villas, some now hotels or museums, flower gardens, waterfalls, markets, and even a golf course. Today the town is filled with bars and cute cafés.
- Con Dao Archipelago
Once used as a prison island by the French and later the Americans, Con Dao has transformed into a nature destination. Today this archipelago is a Ramsar-recognized wetland, and home to sea turtle nesting sites, coral reefs, dugongs, and dolphins.
Much of the island is protected, making it ideal for hiking or snorkeling. Visitors can also explore historical landmarks like the Con Dao Museum and Hang Duong Cemetery, where thousands of Vietnamese revolutionaries are buried.
A different perspective on the people, the scenery or even a local dish yet to be tried was what Boobbyer discovered during her visits. She says she is drawn back by the hospitality, energy and variety of experiences Vietnam has to offer.
“Vietnam is one of those countries where every return reveals something new.”
Source: VNExpress International.
Photo: Collected.
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