Photo: flickr.com

Halong Bay

Listed as one of the Unesco World Heritage Sites, Halong Bay is simply mesmerizing. The whole site is studded with 800 islands and islets lying in the beautiful Gulf of Tonkin. 
Halong is not only a sailing destinations. For thrill seeker, Cat Ba island has something to keep you occupied : biking, kayaking, caving or tropical jungle trek. For leisure traveler, after scanning the bay on a traditional boat, you can enjoy the world class cultural show at Halong city or simply embark on a market hoping for a sense of local. 

Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam has an intrigue mixture of East and West, Old and New. While the Old Quarter represents both French colonial architect and traditional values, the south hub of the city witness the rising of skyscapers. 
It is said that there is no better place to start your Vietnam Holiday than Hanoi as it conveys both cultural and culinary characters that no other destinations can rival. 


                                                                                                       Photo: Mai Chau Ecolodge

Mai Chau Valley

Nested in the serene province of Hoa Binh, Mai Chau valley is home to friendly Thai people. It is a perfect place to seek for authentic mountain experiences for 2 or 3 days. 
Here is our suggestion to appreciate Mai Chau : take a guided hike with visits to local villages, seeing the morning market and attend a Thai dance for the first day. The second day is to explore the rice culture and go further to off beaten track path or Da lake before travel onward for the next day.

Ninh Binh

Another must-see destination in north Vietnam with diverse landscapes, Ninh Binh boasts combination of karst mountains, rice paddies and traditional villages. 
When at Ninh Binh, make your time to scan the ancient capitals of Le and Dinh Dynasty, seating for a leisure local boat to tackle the Ngo Dong river which is famous for its limestone karst mountains surrounded by green rice paddies. 
Another site that you should drop in is Cuc Phuong National park which offers various hiking trails through thousand years old jungle and wildlife spotting opportunities.

Sapa

This is the most picturesque hill station in North Vietnam. The main reason why travelers flock into Sapa is to enjoy the breathtaking trek under the foothill of Hoang Lien Son national park. However, Sapa has more than that to entice its visitors. 
Beside the magnificent rice terraces, there are many regional hill tribe markets which features encounters to different hill tribes including Flower Hmong, Tay, Nung, etc. 
Since the town becomes more touristic, a further exploration to the southern valley of Ban Ho will be something unique. 

Babe Lake

Tucked away in the far north Vietnam, Babe is the biggest fresh water lake in Vietnam. It is one of the most beautiful places to soak in local culture from doing a homestay. 
Babe is best explored within a 3 days itinerary which allows you to see the lake`s gliding view by open boat, meeting the friendly Tay and Hmong people at their traditional residence. 



                                                                                                         Photo: Andrea Pepoli

Ha Giang

If you are seeking for an off beaten track destination which is full of characters then Ha Giang is the place to be. Voted by our travel experts as one of top 10 places to see in Vietnam, Ha Giang treasures the sublime mountainscapes that is perfect of many kinds of adventures. 
It is said that all motorcycle adventures should mark Ha Giang as the premier destination. If hundreds of dirt trails does not satisfy you much, prepare for waterfall hopping, overwhelmed ride across river valleys and historic Hmong palace. 

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Vietnam`s most stunning fall is what Vietnamese think when they mention about Ban Gioc Waterfall. Lying by the border of China and Vietnam, this waterfall-also the border has 2 names: Ban Gioc ( Vietnam) and De Tian ( Chinese ). The photo has everything to describe about it. 
We recommend a long journey covering the highlights of northeast for those who want to capture the Vietnam at its less-visited side. 

                                                                                                              Photo: Nguyen Xuan Thu
 

Pu Luong Natural Reserve

Another site that does not appear much on tourism radar. Pu Luong is about 4 hours drive from Hanoi. The compensation for this scenic ride is huge : photogenic rice fields, cascading waterfalls, striking mountain panorama. 
For the best itinerary, contact our partner at www.vietnamecotourism.com for some intricate eco travel. 

Lan Ha Bay

Next to Halong Bay is Lan Ha Bay, however, this small archipelago is more valuable as it is more pristine and less visited. There are certain luxury cruises set sails in the area, allowing to soak up the amazing seascapes that north Vietnam has to offer.