Overview
Rushing from Hà Nÿi or Hÿi An, most visitors opt to skip over the treasures of Northern Central Vietnam. Removed from the traditional backpacker beat and deprived of the safe comforts of catered travel packages, a zigzag through the region offers foreign visitors a truer taste of Vietnamese life. Vietnamese visitors are mesmerized by Kˆnh Gà and Tam C#c’s golden rice paddies topped with limestone mountains, the majestic grottoes of Phong Nha adorned with rocky formations that fire the imagination, and the mountainous coastlines that cruise over turbulent waters near the Ngang Pass. Those who take their time in the north find that the locals there are the friendliest in the country. Farther south, the countryside turns to jungles that sprawl across the Lao border. Rejuvenated by time, abandoned battlefields, bomb shelter tunnels, and cemeteries become more numerous as the roads approach the old divide between North and South, now known as the Demilitarized Zone. The city of Hu\ is the jewel of central Vietnam—as the ancient imperial capital, it is surrounded by grand tombs of intricate architecture and spotted with peaceful lotus ponds. Its historical ambience provides a tantalizing taste of the concentrated old-town beauty found in nearby Hÿi An, while its streets are spiced with culture and some of the country’s—and the world’s—best food.
One day, travelers will wise up and notice that Ninh Bình is more than just a reststop on the way to Hà Nÿi or Hu\. Until then, one of the most beautiful parts of Vietnam is yours for the taking. ...more
The streets of Phát Di_m (Kim S£n) are worth exploring for their numerous sewing shops (c t may), a plentiful but untouristed market, and the majestic Catholic Cathedral, which illuminates the surrounding ...more
Home to endangered species like the cloud leopard, the Asiatic black bear, and the red-bellied squirrel, Vietnam’s first national park was dedicated by H· Chí Minh in 1963 to preserve the dense forest ...more
A large, sprawling, and primarily commercial city, Thanh Hóa at first appears to have little to offer to tourists in search of historical or spectacular sights. However, its proximity to S+m S£n’s ...more
Historically a poor region, the Ngh_ An province—and its capital, Vinh—hosted the first Communist rebellion, the X® Vi\t Ngh_ Tænh uprisings. A convenient hub from which to explore the nearby home ...more
A short distance northwest of Vinh, C¸a Lò is a beautiful resort-filled beach town. Nearly all of the restaurants and hotels lie on one main road, Bình Minh, just steps away from the shoreline covered ...more
Despite the fantastic array of beaches and sights nearby, Hà Tænh has not yet caught the attention of the tourist industry. As a result, there are few English-speakers and no English menus in town ...more
Proclaimed by locals to be the most beautiful beach in Hà Tænh province, Thiˆn C<m is a popular beach resort in the initial stages of development. Cut off from the eastern coast by mountains to ...more
While the Qu=ng Bình province boasts historical importance as a focal point of the American War, ·ng Høi provides peace for those looking to escape the noise and tumult of most of Vietnam’s other ...more
®ng Hà is a gateway city. Largely unimpressive in its own right, but located in the center of the DMZ, the city sees an amazing number of tourists passing through on historically oriented tours each ...more
With military sights scattered along and around Highway 9, the Demilitarized Zone covers a radius of about 25km south and west of ®ng Hà. A complete visit to the tourist-approved sites takes time, ...more
Hu\ is delightful. It is Vietnam’s spiritual, artistic, and culinary center. History buffs will be fascinated by Hu\’s Citadel, originally constructed in the 19th century under the rule of the Nguy[n ...more
Phú Bài Airport, 15km south of the city off of Hwy. 1. Vietnam Airlines, 7 Nguy[n Tri Ph™£ng (☎ 824 709), in ThuÆn Hóa Hotel. Open M-Sa 7-11am and 1:30-4:30pm, Su 7:30-11am and 2-4:30pm. Vietnam ...more
About 15km inland from the South China Sea, Hu\ is bisected by the Perfume River (S®ng H™£ng). The northern bank, the cultural center of the city, is home to the Old City, hidden within the Citadel’s ...more
Cyclos swarm around the city. 10,000 per ride. Bargain like it’s going out of style. Motorbikes are often cheaper than cyclos. 3000-7000 per ride; around the city 10,000-15,000 per hr. For longer ...more
Tourist agencies: Nearly all tour agencies, restaurants, and hotels offer identical services at nearly identical prices. Most sell one-day motorbike tours of the royal tombs and the Citadel (US$5-6) ...more
Popular with backpackers, the alley at 46 Lˆ Li has a dense cluster of inexpensive and quality accommodations—some of the best for the budget traveler. Venture elsewhere for more luxurious quarters ...more
Hu\ is the culinary heart of Vietnam. It has the most region-specific dishes and the most impressive and varied flavors. According to researcher Tr£ng inh Giàn, Vietnamese cuisine has 1700 different ...more
The ancient Citadel, Imperial City, and Royal Tombs (see Daytrips from Hu\) dominate the tourist landscape of Hu\. Most attractions are pricey; only some are worth it. A few less-visited spots are free ...more
The largest festival in the country, the famous Hu\ Festival takes place every two years and is jam-packed with music, dance, art, and entertainment. Visual, culinary, and musical performers travel from ...more
The locals’ source of fruits, veggies, meat, cheap shoes, and clothes, the markets are packed with people and goods. The vastness of the markets makes shopping fun but overwhelming for some visitors ...more
Hu\’s streets overflow not only with galleries selling local art, but also with stores and stalls pitching clothing, music, and other goodies to tourists and locals alike. On the southern side of the ...more
Night owls take warning: Hu\ is known for its lack of a late-night scene. While locals and Vietnamese tourists crowd street cafes near the Citadel, the city’s streets quiet down by 10 or 11pm, leaving ...more
A trip to Hu\ is not complete without a short excursion to the history-infused, ruin-strewn countryside. The highlights, of course, are the Royal Tombs, the grandiose burial sites of Vietnam’s former ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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