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Dalat
Dalat is a cool hill station in the central highlands at an altitude of 1475 meters. It was founded in 1897 by Alexander Yersin, who first discovered the plague bacillus. It is the jewel of the southern Central Highlands region, a favorite honeymoon spot and one of the most delightful cities in Vietnam. All the tourist attractions here are 'Asian style', meaning that they correspond more to the taste of local people. The Hang Nga Guesthouse & Art Gallery, nicknamed the Crazy House by locals was created by artist and architect Mrs Dang Viet Nga (known as Hang Nga). Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace is full of fascinating artifacts. The old French Quarter has changed very little since the French departed. The Valley of Love, 5 kilometers north of the city center has a carnival-style atmosphere, and here you can hire a paddleboat on the lake, or a horse from one of the Dalat Cowboys. There are some pleasant walks or rides in the countryside around the city, but be aware that foreigners are not permitted within the areas signposted with a C-sign. There are some hill tribe villages further out including Lat Village and the Chicken Village with a huge statue of a chicken. Dalat is also famous for its cafes and fresh vegetables.
Nha Trang: Nha Trang is the place to go for sun and partying. Here you will find beaches and crystal clear waters, snorkeling, diving and fishing, and excellent seafood. Nearby attractions include the Long Son Pagoda, and the Cham towers of Po Nagar, built between the 7th and 12th centuries on a site that had been used for Hindu worship since the 2nd century. The exotic ‘Thanh long’ (dragon fruit) grows only in the Nha Trang area, between May and September. The fruit is about the size and shape of a small pineapple, but tastes something like a kiwifruit and is often served as a drink.

Hué
The past and present is perfectly encapsulated within the ancient former imperial capital of Hué. It is n one of Vietnam's main cultural, religious and education centers. The Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the most famous structures in Vietnam; dating back 400 years the well-kept tower and the nearby temple is a popular and scenic spot. The remains of the huge 200 year old Citadel (Kinh Thanh), with its moat, was constructed by the Emperor Gia Long and contains many interesting sights and crumbling structures behind its sturdy walls, such as the Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa (the Palace of Supreme Harmony), Nine Dynastic Urns and the Halls of the Mandarins. Sadly, the intriguing Forbidden Purple City was largely destroyed during the Vietnam War. Directly opposite is the proud Flag Tower, Vietnam’s tallest, and not far away a row of old cannons. The Royal Tombs of the seven Nguyen emperors are to be found 15 kilometers south of Hué. There are also some good museums in the city. One way to visit some of Hué's main attractions is to take a sampan trip along the Perfume River. At Tu Duc in a peaceful lakeside location you will find rows of stone mandarins standing quietly in the grounds. The crumbling mausoleums are above ground and hemmed in by walls. The Khai Dinh mausoleum is a blend of Vietnamese and French styles with mandarins, snaking dragons and attractive mosaic patterned walls. Thirteen kilometers to the northeast is of Hué is the Thuan An Beach, where there's a lagoon, golden sands and a few aggressive hawkers. 5 km away is An Duong Beach, it doesn’t feature in many of the guidebooks but is very beautiful with friendly local people Hué has a long tradition of vegetarian food, which is prepared at pagodas for the monks.

Halong Bay
Magnificent Halong Bay, offering some of the most beautiful scenery in Asia, is located on the northern coast of Vietnam with 3000 limestone islands rising from the clear turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Halong Bay has inspired poets for centuries and is an essential part of a visit to Northern Vietnam; the tiny islands are dotted with innumerable beaches and grottoes created by the wind and waves. The most impressive of the grottoes is the Hang Dau Go, a huge cave with three chambers; the Thien Cung Caves are also very impressive. Taking a tour of the bay is the main activity here. The main town in the region is Halong City, Bai Chay (the western part) is the more scenic and has the most hotels and restaurants, Hon Gai (the eastern part) is connected to Haiphong by a ferry. Ao Tien or the Pond of the Nymphs is a natural lagoon on an island within the bay, accessible by boats at low tide. 3km west of Dau Go is the fertile and uninhabited Tuan Chau Island. Overlooking Hon Gai is Poem Mountain. A poem written by 15th century King Le Thanh Tong is carved on the mountain. Cua Ong Temple overlooks Bai Tu Long Bay, it was built as a shrine to Tran Quoc Tang, the son of the brilliant 14th century general Tran Hung Dao.

Hanoi
Hanoi is located in the north of Vietnam on the banks of the Red River and is a city dotted by lakes. Paris of The East with its wide tree lined boulevards and French architecture. The influences of colonialism and revolution are very much in evidence in this unique city full of character and tradition. The Hoan Kiem Lake divides the different city quarters and has a red wooden bridge at the northern end leading to the Ngoc Son Temple that dates back more than 600 years. The Water Puppet Theater offers a show enacting local legends and scenes from everyday life including duck rearing, fishing and dramatic dragon dances. Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum faces an impressive square and here visitors can pay their respects to the embalmed body of “Uncle Ho” himself. Nearby the Presidential Palace is a stunning chateau built by the French in 1906, but Ho Chi Minh refused to live here, preferring the simplicity of the Stilt House behind. The One Pillar Pagoda is the latest in a line of temples succeeding the original that was built on a tree trunk in 1049. The Army Museum exhibits war pieces outlining Vietnam's impressive victories over the Chinese, French and American. The Flag Tower is a military watchtower with panoramic views of Hanoi. The Fine Arts museum is a lovely building with paintings, pottery and sculptures from over the centuries. The Temple of Literature is 1000 years old, marking Vietnam's first university and dedicated to Confucianism teachings. The traditional Old Quarter northwest of Hoan Kiem Lake is a pulsating maze of narrow streets, buzzing with throngs of people sitting, selling and browsing. South of Hoan Kiem Lake is the stylish French Quarter, a superb example of surviving colonial architecture. St Joseph's Cathedral is a neo-gothic structure with imposing towers and stained glass windows. The 17th century Ambassadors Pagoda is the center of Buddhism in Vietnam, featuring ornate statues and carvings. The Air Force Museum displays a collection of captured fighters and helicopters including a captured Mig fighter that visitors can climb into. Steam trains are still operating in Vietnam and chug into the rail yards of Giap Bat station. To the north of the city lies the serene and romantic West Lake. Phung Hung is a traditional Vietnamese house. The Chuc Thanh Pagoda just outside town goes back 500 years and has some interesting antiques. A 10-minute drive from town takes you to the Cua Dai Beach, the sea is clear but the beach is very ordinary, although laid back with a few simple snack bars and stalls nearby.

Da Nang
Da Nang is an industrial city, but worth visiting are the Marble Mountains and there is a good beach. It takes about 15 minutes to climb to the top of the Marble Mountains where there is a little temple and some small dripping caves and grottos. The Cham Museum is in a historic colonial building and has a good presentation outlining the Chams, a civilization that once dominated Central Vietnam. The 30-kilometer length of nearby coast is famous for having been the landing point of the US Army during the war. There are superb white sands, shady trees and water sports near the Furama Resort.
Ha Tien: Situated on the Gulf of Thailand, 8 kilometers from the Cambodian border, Ha Tien is well known for its white-sand beaches, fishing villages, seafood, black-pepper tree plantations, towering limestone formations, caves and cave temples.
Sam Mountain: This area in the Mekong Delta, not far from the Cambodian border, is famous for its numerous pagodas and cave temples. The shrines feature tombs and fine examples of traditional Vietnamese design. The views from the top of the mountain are magnificent.

Western Central Highlands
The western region of the Central Highlands area, along the border with Cambodia and Laos, sees few visitors, but the region's varied agriculture and the presence of possibly 31 distinct ethnic groups make it a fascinating destination.

Hoi An
Hoi An is a strategic and picturesque river port that is rich in history due to the fact that it attracted Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese trading vessels and boasts merchants' homes, pagodas, public buildings, a Japanese covered bridge and colonnaded French buildings.

Sapa
Remote Sapa was built as a hill station for the French in 1922 and offers spectacular scenery, set at an altitude of 1650 meters in the northwest. Travelers come here to visit the hill tribes who live in the area. The Saturday market is the best place to buy handicrafts. Just 9 kilometers away is Fansipan Vietnam's highest mountain and a hike to the top and back takes about four days.

Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu is situated in the Muong Thanh Valley near the Lao border. This is one of the remotest parts of Vietnam and is inhabited by hill tribes, notably the Tai and H'mong.

National Parks
National Parks in Vietnam include Cuc Phuong, the primary tropical forest here is the habitat of an amazing variety of animal and plant life including the yellow macaque and the spotted deer and 320 species of bird. Meanwhile, Cat Ba Island offers diverse ecosystems including tropical evergreen forests, freshwater swamp forests, coastal mangroves, freshwater lakes and waterfalls, grottoes, caves, sandy beaches and offshore coral reefs. It is home to monkeys, boars, deer, squirrels and hedgehogs, is on the migration route for waterfowl, Cat Ba Island’s offshore waters are populated by fish, mollusks, arthropods, seals and dolphins.

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