Hanoi

Vietnam has skyrocketed to the top of many Southeast Asia itineraries. Despite its challenging past, it’s a flourishing country, with poverty rates dropping nearly 10% from 2010 to 2020 and 99.4% of the population having access to electricity. But you understandably might be wondering—is Vietnam safe? Vietnam is a very safe country. Crime rates are […]

Hanoi is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. Not only does it have an old town charm that the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City lacks, but it’s also an excellent base for taking trips to Ha Long Bay and the Sapa rice fields. But if you’re a first-timer to Vietnam, you’re

If you’re like me, you enjoy visiting a country’s capital. But if you’re short on vacation days or the travelers in your group have varying interests, Vietnam poses an interesting problem: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have both been Vietnam’s capital. So, what’s the difference between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City? Hanoi has

Whether you’ve already booked a 2-day Halong Bay cruise or are on the fence about how long you want to stay in the Gulf of Tonkin, you’re in good hands. I took a 2-day Halong Bay overnight cruise and gathered many takeaways that I’ll share with you. Some of the information here may go against

Taking a Halong Bay cruise is at the top of many Southeast Asia itineraries. Halong Bay is known for its stunning 1,600+ limestone islands and islets that dot the seaside landscape in northern Vietnam. UNESCO declared Halong Bay a World Natural Heritage Site in 1994. Since then, tourists have flocked to the Gulf of Tonkin,

Visiting Sapa is a destination on many travelers’ wish lists. But because of Sapa’s distance from Hanoi, many people pass on traveling there. I’m glad you’re not among them—Vietnam’s idyllic countryside is a refreshing change of scenery from bustling Hanoi. The Vietnamese government is working on building an airport in Sapa. But since it’ll take