Traditional wooden junk boats among the limestone karsts of Halong Bay
Destinations · Asia & the Pacific · Vietnam · Northern Vietnam
Vietnam · Northern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam

Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the karsts of Halong Bay.

2 guides
A cruise ship among the limestone karsts of Halong Bay at golden hour, Vietnam
1-2 nights aboard

Halong Bay

How I'd plan Halong Bay as the overnight-cruise centerpiece of northern Vietnam — the karst seascape done right by staying a night on the water, in the quieter bays that escape the crowds. The vessel is the whole decision.

October–April · Cruise + karst seascape · 1-2 nights aboard
Open the guide →︎
The red Khue Van Cac pavilion at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Vietnam
2-3 nights

Hanoi

How I'd plan the northern start of a Vietnam trip — two or three nights in Hanoi, the thousand-year-old Old Quarter, the lake temples, the French Quarter, and a street-food culture worth coming for. The city I plan with a lighter, independent-friendly touch.

October–April · City + old quarter + street food · 2-3 nights
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Plan it together

Planning Northern Vietnam?

Tell me what you're looking for in Vietnam and I'll point you at the right combination of these 2 guides — and the trips behind them.

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