Southeast Asia · Vietnam
Hanoi & Halong Bay
The old quarter's cafés, a night on a junk among two thousand islands, and the best pho in the country.
Our notes
Northern Vietnam pairs a city that rewards walking with a seascape that rewards sitting still. Hanoi's old quarter, French villas and lakeside cafés fill two days easily; Halong Bay, three hours east, is best seen from a private or small group junk overnight, with kayaking into caves and a swim before dinner. We choose the quieter Lan Ha Bay over the main channel, the boat with the best cabins, and add Ninh Binh or Sapa for those with a week. Pair with Hoi An and the south for a full country trip.
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