Centre/Mode
 |
Outline
|
|
HaNoi
A
L
X
W |
National Capital,
national monuments, water puppets, French colonial architecture, ancient guild
or craft areas. |
|
East - Ha Long Bay
A
L
X
W |
Hai Phong,
Cat Ba Island - UNESCO natural beauty heritage site. |
|
Northwest - Sa Pa
L
X |
Bac Ha, Ban Ho,
Tam Duong, Phong To - popular tourist destinations - hill tribes, scenic vistas. |
|
West - Mai Chau
L |
Son La, Dien Bien Phu; Ethnic
peoples - less visited by tourists - hill tribes - hiking trails. En route to
Son La and Dien Bien Phu
- popular with French tourists. |
|
Ninh Binh
L
X |
Cuc Phuong
National Park (45 kilometres), Hoa Lu - a former capital and scenic views (12 km), Tam
Coc - Ha Long Bay without the water (9 kilometres).
Ninh Binh is some 570 kilometres, and 11 hours, south of Ha Noi - make sure you
use the overnight express - you'll only be missing Russian-style industrial
landscapes. |
|
Thanh Hoa
L
X |
Sam Son Beach -
beach activities. |
|
Vinh
L
X |
HO, Chi-Minh’s
birthplace - likely of little interest to foreign tourists. |
|
Dong Ha
L
X |
American War DMZ, Vinh Moc
Tunnels, Quang Tri River - of particular interest to military buffs. Also
tourist access to Laos. |
| Hue
A
L
X |
Emperor's
Palaces, Perfume River; an historic city situated on the banks of the beautiful
azure-blue Perfume River. |
|
Da Nang A
L
X |
Lang Co Beach,
Hai Van Pass, Marble Mountains, China Beach, Hoi An. Lang Co - beach living; Hai
Van Pass - stunning mountain and seascapes; Marble Mountains - temples and
scenic seascapes; China Beach - beach scene; Hoi An - see below. |
| Hoi
An
L |
Shopping (exit south from Da Nang) a retail therapy centre for custom clothing, also a beach. |
| Tam Ky X |
Chien Dang Cham
Tower, Kuong My Cham Towers. Cham towers are all Hindu religious buildings. |
|
Quang Ngai
L
X |
My Lai massacre
site. |
|
Dieu Tri
L
X |
Duong Long Cham
Towers, Tra Ban, Thap Don Cham Towers, Qui Nhon. Tra Ban - former Cham capital;
Thap Don - Cham towers; Qui Nihon - beach scene. |
| Tuy
Hoa
L
X |
Phu
Lam, Dai Lanh Beach, Doc Let Beach, Ba Ho Falls, Hon Chong Promontory, Nha Trang
(travel between Tuy Hoa and Nha Trang by local bus). Phu Lam - bus point for: My
Khe - beach scene with few facilities; Dai Lanh - beach scene; Doc Let - beach
scene; Ba Ho - an unremarkable water fall; Hon Chong - a commercialised beach
scene; Nha Trang - see next. |
| Nha
Trang
A
L
X |
Po Nagar - Cham
towers - beaches - diving and sea sports - seafood specialities. (exit local bus
or Da Lat express bus and rail connection). |
|
Whale Island
W |
Two hours water
trip from Thy Hoa - beaches, water
activities. |
| Cam Ranh
Bay
L |
Note: high security
naval area - exercise behavioral caution, especially with cameras. |
|
Thap Cham
L
X |
Po Klong Cham
Towers - fine Cham tower examples; railway yards, Can Ha Beach, Po Rome Cham
Towers, Vinh Hao - thermal
springs; (road transport intersection for Da Lat). |
| Da Lat
A
L |
Lat
peoples, palace, market, park. |
|
Muong Man
L
X |
for Phan Thiet,
Mui Ne resort. |
|
Xuan Loc
L |
major battle 1975
(bus or local train). |
| Ho
Chi Minh
A
L
X
also SaiGon |
Large, exciting Vietnamese city with heavy French and
American characteristics. Has a large Chinese population, too. |
|
Tay Ninh
L |
Black Lady
Mountain, Cao Dai cathedral. |
|
Vung Tau
L
W |
day beach resort
(avoid). |
