14 Things to Do in Vietnam

2,000 limestone islands rising from jade water in the Gulf of Tonkin — one of the most otherworldly natural landscapes on earth, best experienced on a 2-night junk boat cruise with kayaking through grottoes, swimming at private beaches and sunrises that turn the bay pink and gold.

A UNESCO heritage port town where Japanese merchant houses, Chinese clan halls and French colonial shopfronts share streets lit by hundreds of silk lanterns at night. The Hoi An full-moon lantern festival, when the town extinguishes electric lights and floats candles on the river, is among Asia's most magical events.

Hand-carved rice terraces cascading down mountain valleys in northern Vietnam's highlands — tended by Hmong and Red Dao hill tribe women whose traditional dress and silver jewellery have changed little in centuries. The trekking here, especially in September-October when the rice turns gold, is among Southeast Asia's finest.

Vietnam's chaotic, energetic south — 10 million people, a thousand scooters per block, rooftop bars in former colonial mansions, and 40km of wartime guerrilla tunnels 45 minutes outside the city. The War Remnants Museum is harrowing and essential; the Cu Chi tunnel experience is unforgettable.

The largest cave passage in the world (Son Doong) sits in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park — with its own weather system, underground river and rainforest inside the cave. More accessible caves like Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave are equally extraordinary and don't require a $3,000 expedition permit.

Hanoi's 36 ancient streets are also its greatest food destination — Pho Gia Truyen for the definitive beef pho at 6am, Bun Cha Huong Lien where Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain, and the narrow alley bia hoi corners where fresh beer costs 25 cents and strangers share tables until midnight.

2,000 limestone islands rising from jade water — best experienced on a 2-night cruise where you kayak through grottoes, swim at private beaches and wake up to sunrises that make the bay look painted. Lan Ha Bay (less trafficked) or the 4-star Pelican cruise are worth the upgrade.

A 15th-century trading port preserved intact — Japanese covered bridges, Chinese assembly halls and French shopfronts all within walking distance, lit by silk lanterns that turn the streets orange at night. The full-moon lantern festival (14th of each lunar month) is when the whole town glows.

Terraced rice paddies carved into mountains by Hmong and Dao farmers over centuries — trekking between villages with a local guide, sleeping in homestays and crossing rope bridges above valleys of golden rice in harvest season (September–October) is Vietnam's most memorable land experience.

Vietnam's southern megacity on two wheels after dark — rooftop bars in French colonial buildings, street-food alleys serving banh mi and com tam, and the energy of 10 million people all seemingly on scooters simultaneously.

The former imperial capital of Vietnam — a walled citadel containing the Forbidden Purple City, elaborate royal tombs along the Perfume River, and a cuisine so refined it was prepared exclusively for emperors.

Vietnam's most underrated city — a beautiful crescent of beach backed by the Marble Mountains, 30 minutes from Hoi An and 2 hours from Hue. The Dragon Bridge breathes fire on weekend nights.

A maze of waterways, floating markets and river islands south of Ho Chi Minh City — take a speedboat to Can Tho for the Cai Rang floating market at dawn, where entire supply chains run on boats.

Vietnam's tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand — white beaches, coral reefs, fish sauce factories and a famous night market. The best beach in Vietnam for a few days of complete decompression.