woman diving off of a boat in Halong Bay Vietnam

Helena And Laurent Martin / Stocksy United

Northern Vietnam

Wow, the vistas. This is Vietnam's big-sky country; a place of rippling mountains, cascading rice terraces and the winnowed-out karst topography for which the region is famed.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Unoccupied beach at the Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam

    Lan Ha Bay

    Cat Ba Island

    Lying to the south of Halong Bay off the north-eastern coast of Vietnam, the 300-or-so karst islands and limestone outcrops of Lan Ha are just as…

  • Cannon Fort, Cat Ba Island.

    Cannon Fort

    Cat Ba Island

    For one of the best views in Vietnam, head to Cannon Fort, where there are astounding panoramas of Cat Ba Island's jungle-clad hills, the harbour and the…

  • Bac Ha Market in Vietnam.

    Bac Ha Market

    Bac Ha

    This Sunday market is Bac Ha’s big draw. There's an increasing range of handicrafts for sale, but it’s still pretty much a local affair. Bac Ha Market is…

  • Hong Van beach in Co To Island.

    Hong Van Beach

    Bai Tu Long Bay

    Most Vietnamese visitors make a beeline for Hong Van Beach – and justifiably so. It's nearly 3km of fine, white sand lapped by blue water and backed by a…

  • Thuan Chau Craft Market

    Thuan Chau Craft Market

    Northwest Vietnam

    Take a local bus or xe om to Thuan Chau, about 35km northwest of Son La, early in the morning, when its daily market swells with colourfully dressed hill…

  • Navy Museum

    Navy Museum

    Haiphong

    The Navy Museum is interesting for visiting sailors and US Vietnam veterans.

  • Cat Ba National Park.

    Cat Ba National Park

    Cat Ba Island

    Cat Ba's beautiful national park is home to 32 species of mammal, including most of the world's 65 remaining golden-headed langurs, the world's most…

  • Hang Coc Bo

    Hang Coc Bo

    Northeast Vietnam

    After 30 years of exile, Ho Chi Minh re-entered Vietnam in January 1941 and took shelter in this small cave in one of the most remote regions of Vietnam,…

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Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Northern Vietnam

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I high vantage point image of a collection of tour boats and cruise ships passing by limestone islands in Halong Bay

Beaches

Visiting Halong Bay: tips to plan your cruise

Apr 18, 2019 • 7 min read

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Go Beyond

Northern Vietnam and beyond

Beyond Northern Vietnam
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