Northern Vietnam is teeming with culture and adventurous experiences. In the north a mountainous border is shared with China, where places such as Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Sapa present opportunities to immerse in distant cultures and interact with remote hilltribes from the region. In this rugged and spectacularly stunning part of Vietnam, a number of markets exist where ethnic minority groups trade goods with each other and can be seen wearing their traditional, and always colorful dress.
Its greatest attraction remains the enigmatic Halong Bay – a site steeped in history and fables, where stories of dragons descending into the sea gouged valleys and gorges. Over 2000 islands rise from these mirror-like waters, surrounding visitors in a transcendent landscape, best explored on an overnight cruise, stopping at hidden beaches, mysterious grottos and remote islands of indefinable beauty.
To the west the terrain changes yet again, small local villages become even more dispersed as the land rises, forming towering evergreen peaks leading down into fertile river valleys, swathed in green swatches of rice paddies. Glistening in the sun, the emerald green rice fields provide a sumptuous landscape to explore by bike or on foot.
Vietnam’s capital is often described by many as “an old-fashioned city”. This description may be because of the elegant parks, low-rise buildings and an area called the Old French Quarter where houses are crammed into narrow alleyways that are still named after the goods that were originally traded in abundance such as Silk Street. Hanoi still evokes strong images of the French colonial days and with over a thousand years of history, remains one of Vietnam’s most culturally diverse destinations.
Over 3,000 spectacular limestone karsts, cliffs, arches and coves dot the most dramatic land and seascape in the country. Halong means “Bay of the Descending Dragon”, and this is where many islands reach up to 100-meters in height with sheer vertical cliffs on all sides. Awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994, the bay is best explored on board a traditional wooden Junk, allowing guests to disembark at many of these compelling islands.
Located 1500m above sea level, Sapa is a town that clings to the mountains in Vietnam’s remote northwestern region. A heart-achingly picturesque town surrounded by many hill tribe villages, this culturally diverse destination offers an array of superb trekking routes through lush fertile valleys. Even when shrouded in cloud, the scenery is simply breathtaking, with a number of local markets selling traditional wares.
