Vietnam 

Small cafe in Hanoi’s Old Quarter offering full pours of decent beer for under a dollar. It’s an experience to sit near the bustling, narrow streets of the Old Quarter while sipping a refreshing cold beer. We didn’t eat here, but reviews indicate the food is pretty good, too.

Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh city serving tasty traditional Vietnamese food.

Inexpensive but delicious Vietnamese food in the Old Quarter. Don’t come here for class or ambiance, but the food and service were great.

A beautiful cafe situated on the shores of Hoàn Kiếm Lake with good drinks. It may be worth a stop for the beautiful setting if you’re in the area and want a refreshing drink. But the food and service get mediocre reviews, so we don’t recommend it for a meal.

A stunningly beautiful bay filled with thousands of tall, sheer limestone islands topped with tropical rain forests. The bay is a UNESCO heritage site and one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist attractions for a reason. Most people spend a night or more on a boat on the bay, and we highly recommend it.

A tranquil Confucian temple in the center of Hanoi. The temple is a series of beautifully kept lawns lined with trees, stone courtyards, and temples. It is a remarkably peaceful spot in such a bustling, overwhelming city.

This is the entire reason you’re visiting Hue. From 1802 to 1945, Hue was the capital of Vietnam and home to the Nguyen dynasty. The Imperial City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the citadel was built between 1804 and 1833, is a heavily fortified structure with a moat across it. Make sure you […]

A warren of narrow, congested streets, the old quarter is fascinating its own way. The streets are two-way, but narrow enough that I would consider most of them single-lane roads. There are sidewalks, but the shops tend to spill out onto them, and people park their scooters on the sidewalk. There are numerous cafes, many of which offer famously cheap beer, and Hanoi’s renowned silk district is nearby as well.

Hanoi’s French Quarter has broad streets and is dominated by colonial architecture. It’s definitely worth walking through the neighborhood; it has some interesting shops, and the wide streets are a welcome break from the narrow, busy lanes that cover most of the rest of the city.

One of several lakes in Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is surrounded by a peaceful park, and the walk around the water was quite pleasant, even in hot weather. Near the northern shore is an island with a Confucian temple, Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain), on it.

When you’re in Saigon, you should absolutely spend a day floating the Mekong River. We chose Mango Cruises’s Ben Tre tour, which was incredible. The tour focuses on local communities untouched by large-scale commercial tourism. In addition to floating the river, we visited a coconut factory, a rice paper factory, and a brick factory.

A network of volunteer local students, Saigon Free Walking Tours will take you on a tour of the city customized to your interests. Highlights will include Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, the post office, opera house, and fine arts museum.

Known as “Ha Long Bay on land,” this breathtaking part of Ninh Binh Province features incredible limestone formations and vibrant rice paddies. Take a rowboat cruise on the Ngô Đồng River on a small craft driven by a guide who will paddle you up the river with her feet. The Ngô Đồng winds through the mountains around Tam Coc, and it slides beneath three limestone caves near the village of Van Lam.

Mai Chau is a beautiful town nestled in Vietnam’s northern mountains. There are gorgeous views of the mountains, valleys, and rice fields, and the craft shops in town offer beautiful wares. We highly recommend a visit if you’re in Hanoi.

A fantastic day trip from Hanoi that mixes natural beauty with history and culture. You’ll see Hoa Lu ( Cố đô Hoa Lư), Vietnam’s beautiful historic capital, cruise the rivers near Tam Coc, and see Bich Dong Pagoda.

A beautiful hotel with large, comfortable guest rooms, and outstanding pool and fitness facilities, the JW Hanoi is designed to cater to business travelers, especially those visiting the nearby national convention center. It’s a ways outside the city center, though, so if you’re planning on spending most of your time in the city, you may want to find a place to stay in the French Quarter.

A comfortable and reasonably-priced Marriott property in a great location in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The roof has great views and a pool and bar. The guest rooms are spacious, and some offer wonderful views of the Saigon River. There’s a nice cafe on the ground floor and a great fitness center.