Vietnam overview

Da Lat Hanoi Halong Bay Hue Hoi An Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Mekong Delta
Nha Trang Sapa Phu Quoc Island Phan Thiet (Mui Ne) Quy Nhon

Vietnam is a truly captivating destination, from the pine forests and peaks of the far North to the tropical waterways of the South. There's a wealth of unique experiences to encounter in Vietnam. An intoxicating mix of traditional Vietnamese, Chinese and French influences have shaped Vietnam's culture, language, cuisine and architecture. Indulge in sumptuous culinary delights, shop in stylish boutiques and galleries in bustling Saigon, glide past dramatic limestone scenery on a private boat in Halong Bay, and explore ancient trade streets in Hanoi's Old Quarter. You will be attracted and inspired by Vietnam and her people's beauty and charm.

Geographically Vietnam is a very diverse country with a great variety of scenery from the verdant tropical waterways of the Mekong Delta to the stunning coastline of central Vietnam, the rugged mountains of the north and Halong Bay, Vietnam's beauty is an inspiration.

The country can be conveniently divided into three distinct regions, the south, the centre and the north, corresponding to the three administrative regions of Cochinchina, Annam and Tonkin under the French colonial rule.

The north of the country was the first to be settled and is characterized by the rich farming lands of the Red River Delta. The centre contains the Truong Son Mountain Range running along the border with Laos in the west and the narrow coastal strip bordering the Eastern Sea in the east. In the south, the Mekong Delta is the country's most fertile region and Vietnam's major rice and fruit producing area.

The two great metropolises of the country are the elegant capital city Hanoi and the dynamic, economic powerhouse Ho Chi Minh City.

Since 1993 UNESCO has declared five World Heritage Sites in Vietnam, four in central Vietnam and one in the north. The four sites in central Vietnam are former imperial capital Hue, the historic trading port of Hoian, the centre of the former Cham Kingdom, My Son, and Phong Nha Caves. The fifth World Heritage Site is the spectacular natural wonder, Halong Bay in northern Vietnam.