Vietnam Highlights

Special Interests
In recent years Vietnam has become one of the hottest destinations for adventure and eco-tourism operators with biking tours being particularly popular. Seeing a country from the saddle of a bike allows you to really experience the country at close quarters, meet the locals and become totally immersed in all the sights, sounds and smells of the landscape. With its beautiful, often spectacular, scenery and friendly, smiling people it is easy to see why Vietnam is so popular for bike touring

Halong Bay
A natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, magnificent Halong Bay lies 160km to the east of Hanoi. Over three thousand jagged limestone islands emerge from the emerald green waters of Halong Bay. While some islands are no more than large rocks others are much more substantial and contain huge cathedral-like caves of stalactites and stalagmites

The Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta, often referred to as Vietnam’s rice basket, is the biggest rice-growing region in the country, the rich alluvial soils producing three harvests a year. Despite being a predominantly rural region, the Mekong Delta is one of the most densely populated areas in Vietnam and most of the land is under cultivation. Other delta products include coconut, sugar cane, fruit and fish

Nha Trang and The South Central Coast
The south central coast has Vietnam’s finest beaches and the best-known beach resort is Nha Trang with its white sandy beach and swaying palm trees. Most of Nha Trang’s accommodation is directly opposite the beach and one, the 5-star Ana Mandara Resort, is right on the beach. Needless to say life in Nha Trang revolves around the beach and the sea for both visitors and locals. A boat trip on the clear blue-green waters of Nha Trang Bay with some snorkelling among the coral reefs and a fresh seafood lunch is a great way to spend a day in Nha Trang

Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it is still known to many, is Vietnam’s largest city with a growing population of around 7 million. This is a city on the go 24 hours a day, where everybody seems to be busy either buying, selling, studying, working or just enjoying themselves. Despite the fact that modern high-rise buildings have begun to dominate the skyline in recent years there are still many fine examples of French colonial architecture in Ho Chi Minh City such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office and the former Hotel de Ville

Hoian
Once known as Faifo, Hoi An was one of the orient’s major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. After the Thu Bon River linking Hoi An to the sea silted up ocean going ships were no longer able to sail into town and trade moved 30km up the coast to Tourane, known nowadays as Danang

Hue
Vietnam’s former imperial city, Hue, is one of the main cultural, religious and educational centres of Vietnam. Hue became the nation’s capital under the Nguyen Dynasty when Emperor Gia Long, the first of the Nguyen emperors, chose the location for the imperial city in 1802. The city remained Vietnam’s capital until 1945, when Bao Dai, the last of the Nguyen emperors, abdicated