Hanoi

Start at dawn when locals do tai chi around the jade lake, cross the Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, then lose yourself in the 36 guild streets of the Old Quarter — each street historically specialising in a single trade, from silk to tin to paper.

165km east of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay's 1,969 limestone karst islands rising from emerald water are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Asia's great wonders. Overnight 2-day cruises from Hanoi ($60–150) include kayaking, cave exploration, and onboard dining.

Visit Ho Chi Minh's preserved mausoleum (open Tue–Thu, Sat–Sun mornings only), the adjacent One Pillar Pagoda, and the nearby Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first university, founded 1070, a stunning example of traditional Viet architecture.

The French colonial prison where American POWs were held during the Vietnam War — a sobering, well-curated museum that presents both the French colonial era and the 'Hanoi Hilton' period from the Vietnamese perspective.

Hanoi's food is Vietnam's most distinctive — egg coffee (ca phe trung) at Cafe Giang, bun cha grilled pork noodles, pho bo at a street stall at 7am, banh mi, and bia hoi (fresh draft beer, ₫5,000 a glass) on a plastic stool at Ta Hien corner.

Called 'Ha Long Bay on land' — 90km south of Hanoi, Ninh Binh's Trang An limestone karst landscape (UNESCO) is explored by rowing boat through caves and rice fields. Add Mua Cave for a hilltop panorama and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.