Top 4 destinations in Vietnam

This UNESCO World Heritage Site truly is one of the wonders of the world. Located near the border with Laos, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is known for being home to the oldest karst mountains in Asia, as well as at least 300 caves and grottoes. The current length of the national park’s impressive cave system is currently estimated at being a massive 126km. However, it is known that many caves are still yet to be discovered. In 2009, the Son Doong Cave was discovered there; it is the largest cave in the world at more than 200m high, 150m wide and 5km long! When visiting Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, it is possible to explore the caves by kayak, go ziplining, enjoy a mud bath and go swimming in the lakes.

For a completely alternative insight into Vietnam, head to the far north of the country to Ha Giang. This province is home to a number of Vietnam’s ethnic tribes, who enjoy a traditional way of life in rural communities and small towns and villages. This isn’t a common stop on the traveller and backpacker trails, meaning that Ha Giang is a place to go for a truly authentic experience of Vietnam. Ha Giang town is an interesting place to explore and is surrounded by gorgeous mountains, valleys and rice terraces, ideal for trekking and exploring remote villages. When visiting Ha Giang province, it’s possible to find overnight accommodation in the form of homestays, giving incredible insights into the lives of local people.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site may be well-recognised from movies such as King Kong: Skull Island, but it is totally revered by everyone who visits for a good reason. This is a place where hundreds of limestone karsts spring mysteriously from the emerald waters to form up to 2,000 islets. The best way to explore and get an immersive feeling for Halong Bay is to climb aboard one of the traditional junk cruise ships for an afternoon or for a few days. Swim in secluded coves, discover empty beaches and generally soak up life out on the water.

The final place that must be on your Vietnam visit list is the Mekong Delta in the far south of the country. Known as Vietnam’s ‘rice bowl’, at least a third of the country’s food is produced in this region alone. Characterised by hundreds of waterways that criss-cross agricultural land, this is all about lush greenery, twinkling waters and locals living according to the rhythms of the growing seasons. This all comes together at the Mekong Delta’s famous floating markets, where food is bought and sold between hundreds of boats floating on the water.