Just beyond Ha Long Bay, the lagoons and beaches of Lan Ha see a fraction of the boats. Spend the night aboard a small ship, kayak into hidden coves, and swim at dawn as mist lifts from thousands of limestone islands.

Follow a local food guide through the lanes of the Old Quarter for bún chả, crispy bánh xèo, and a cup of egg coffee, the creamy Hanoi specialty invented here in the 1940s. Every stop comes with a story about the family behind it.

Often called Ha Long Bay on land, Ninh Binh is a landscape of rice paddies and towering karst peaks. Drift along the river by sampan, often rowed by local women using their feet, through caves and past ancient pagodas tucked into the cliffs.

Vietnam’s oldest national park shelters a rescue center caring for some of the rarest primates on Earth, including the striking Delacour’s langur. Meet the team giving these animals a second chance, then walk among thousand-year-old trees.

Around Sapa and Mu Cang Chai, rice terraces sweep down entire mountainsides. Hike between Hmong and Dao villages with a local guide, share lunch in a family home, and time your visit for September, when the harvest turns the hills to gold.

Each month on the full moon, Hoi An’s old town dims its electric lights and glows with silk lanterns. Release a paper lantern onto the Thu Bon River for good luck, then wander past saffron-colored merchant houses lit softly from within.

Spin through the water coconut forest in a round bamboo basket boat, then join a local cook to prepare cao lầu and fresh herbs from the village gardens.

Vietnam’s last dynasty ruled from this walled citadel on the Perfume River. Explore its palaces and royal tombs by dragon boat and cyclo, then sit down to a feast of imperial cuisine once reserved for emperors.

Limestone mountains here hide a hollow world of underground rivers and cathedral-sized chambers. Walk the glittering formations of Paradise Cave, or for true adventurers, join a multi-day expedition to Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, with only a small number of permits each year.

At dawn, boats piled high with pineapples, jackfruit, and dragon fruit gather at the floating markets near Can Tho. Glide through coconut canals by sampan, visit family workshops making rice paper and coconut candy, and lunch in an orchard garden.

Ride pillion with a local through the city’s grand colonial boulevards, hidden alley cafés, and bustling markets. Pair the city’s dynamic energy with a thoughtful guided visit to its history, from the Cu Chi tunnels to the War Remnants Museum.

This remote archipelago off the southern coast is one of Vietnam’s most important sea turtle nesting grounds. Between May and October, join park rangers on the beach at night to watch green turtles nest and tiny hatchlings race toward the sea.

For centuries, Hoi An’s merchants traded silk along the river, and the town’s tailors still carry that craft today. Choose your fabric from bolts of silk, linen, and cashmere, have every measurement taken by hand, and return a day or two later for your fitting. You’ll leave with a suit, dress, or áo dài made just for you.