THE NORTH

 Hanoi

Hanoi , situated in the heart of the Red River delta, was chosen to be the capital of Vietnam by King Ly Cong Uan in 1010. This millennial capital city is considered to be the pearl of the Far East. A visit to Hanoi will bring you a memorable view of the Ngoc Son Temple floating on Sword Restored Lake, the Temple of Literature considered as the symbol of  the Vietnamese culture, the Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, the Quan Thanh Temple, the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, the Ethnology Museum, the History Museum, and especially the ancient quarter which gives you a quite full image of Hanoian's daily life.

 Ha Long Bay

This fairy place was classified as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1992. A boat trip among nearly 3,000 scattered islands and picturesque islets in emerald water is an indispensable part of a visit  to Vietnam. A holiday on Cat Ba, the biggest island in Ha Long Bay, and a trek through its National Park covered by a lush vegetation will be an experience for life.

 Hai Phong

Hai Phong is situated just 100 km from Hanoi and 85 km from Ha Long Bay. It is one of the three biggest cities of Vietnam and the main harbor of the North. The colonial quarter, the Municipal Opera and the flower market will fascinate every visitor.

 Hoa Lu , Tam Coc and Kenh Ga
Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam until the early 11th century, is situated 90 km south of Hanoi, in a natural fortress consisting of mountains and chalky pegs. Tam Coc (Three Caves) is a setting of stunning limestone rocks and mountains rising from the magnificent green rice paddies, which gives this pretty place another name; Ha Long Bay on land. About 15 km from Ninh Binh Town, the floating village Kenh Ga is located in a region surrounded by water. Here you can view picturesque sights and taste the authentic life of local people who row with their feet in tjeir little boats and live on the water during the whole year.

  Pagodas and temples in provinces bordering Hanoi.
The Red River Delta with its millennial history is the cradle of the wet-rice civilization. Strongly influenced by Buddhism and Taoism, the pagodas and temples in this region offer a typical mixture of these two religions. Visit the impressive Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong),  the Master Pagoda (Chua Thay), the Tay Phuong Pagoda in Ha Tay Province, the Thap But Pagoda and the Den Do Temple in Bac Ninh Province…

  Sapa and the Northern Highlands

The mountain ranges in the Northern Highlands are cousins of the far away Himalayas. This region in uneven relief possesses a big potential for "green tourism" with calcareous rocks and mountains and tropical jungle covered by lush vegetation. Along rough roads in a 4x4 jeep or simply on foot, you will encounter an impressive variety of ethnic minorities. H'Mong and Dzao people live on high altitude in their traditional villages. Thai, Nhang and Lu minorities inhabit the surrounding valleys. These hill tribes still preserve their authentic lifestyle and customs, despite influences of modern life.

From Sapa, the French former hill station at an altitude of 1,640 m, a stunning view is offered over Sapa Valley and the numerous traditional villages of the hill tribe people.This is the place for those who are seeking traditional cultural values.

 THE CENTER

 Hue  

Hue , the former capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 under Nguyen dynasty, was classified as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1994. Hue is often known as the most beautiful city in Vietnam. The Forbidden Citadel, the tombs of the Emperors, the Celestial Lady Pagoda and the very romantic Perfume River flowing through the city stayed unchanged and untouched despite turbulent historical vicissitudes. School-girls in Ao Dai (traditional long dress for young Vietnamese girls) and the peaceful life of local residents give Hue a charming character that cannot be found elsewhere in the country.

 Danang

Da Nang , the former capital of Cham Kingdom, is also called the Harbor of Tourane. Occupied by the Cham until the 16th century and then by the Viet, Da Nang was the strategic military base of Southern Armed Forces during the war against the Americans. Da Nang is well known for its Cham Museum and Marble Mountains.

 Hoi An

Stretching along the Thu Bon River, Hoi An used to be the major trading port of South-East Asia during the 17 th and 18 th century. In 1999, Hoi An was classified as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. A visit to this charming small town gives visitors a quite precise insight of what the oriental city was like in the past. The Chinese quarter, the old houses in pastel colors, the small fishing port and the tranquil life of the local inhabitants make a visit to Ho An unforgettable. Diving into the past of Vietnam!

 My Son

My Son, situated 69 km southwest of Da Nang, was an imperial city between the 4th and 12th century. This imposing vestige of Champa Kingdom, which Vietnamese people also call 'The Holy Land', is located in a wide valley. It consists of about 70 architectural works built of bricks and stone, dated between the 7th and 13th century. The architectural diversity of these buildings proves talent of ancient Cham craftsmen. In terms of culture, My Son is of the same importance  in cultural heritage as Angkor Wat, Borobudur, Vatphu and Pagan. It was acknowledged as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1999.

 Nha Trang 

Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa province, has one of the most popular municipal beaches in all of Vietnam. Nha Trang is a place to come and party, and the service on the beach is incredible; massage, lunch, cold beer, manicure, etc. The clear turquoise waters around Nha Trang make it excellent for fishing, snorkeling and scuba-diving.  A high mountain range in the West is the home of many species of birds and animals. Nha Trang is situated 450 km from Ho Chi Minh city, 600 km from Danang, 250 km from Dalat and 260 km from Buon Ma Thuot.

 Dalat

Dalat, situated 200 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City is famous for its cool climate and its wonderful scenery of hills, streams, lakes, and waterfalls. Dalat was founded in 1897 following the recommendations of doctor Alexander Yersin (inventor of vaccine against the pestilence) who wanted to turn this place into a hill-station city. A trip to Dalat must include a visit to the biggest flower garden of the country. The moderate climate makes this place ideal for cultivation of roses, orchids, camellias and lilies. Not far from Dalat, the Langbiang highlands are situated. It is the home of many ethnic minorities.

 The Central Highlands

The provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Rai and Kon Tum are located in the same mountain range, which is a part of the Truong Son Chain. This region is inhabited by Malaya - Polynesian ethnic groups  who are close cousins of the Cham people. Meet the people of the M’Nong, Gia Rai and Sedang hill-tribes. In Lak Lake or Don village, tourists have the opportunity to experience an excursion on the back of an elephant!

 THE SOUTH

 Ho Chi Minh city

Being nicknamed as the Pearl of the Orient in the 1960s, Saigon is known as the country's economical capital and shares its bustling character with Bangkok city. Saigon is also the communication center of Vietnam. Most of the internationals flights to and from Vietnam land and take off here. Tourists argue that  the infrastructure in Saigon is better than in the other cities of Vietnam. Some beauty-sites in Saigon include the Independence Palace, the Pagoda Thien Hau, Saigon’s old post office, the Jade Temple and especially the Cholon Chinese quarter in the District No.5.

 The Cu Chi Tunnels  

The Cu Chi Tunnels are situated 30 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. These tunnels stretch over a lenght of 250 km and were built on three different depths. The tunnels are 60 to 70 cm wide and 80 to 90 cm high. The superior part could resist tanks of 50 tons and bombs of 100 kilograms. The underground network includes some hospitals, bedrooms, meeting rooms and game rooms. A visit to this historical relic helps us understand how Vietnamese people's resistance for the country’s reunification and independence was.

 The Cao Dai Temple

This temple situated in Tay Ninh Province is the center of Caodaism in Vietnam. Caodaism is a bizarre and unique sect in Vietnam, which represents a mix of Taoism, Christianity and Confucianism. Saints who are praised here are Jesus, Buddha and legendary people like Victor Hugor, Churchill and Nguyen Binh Khiem! Their religious ceremony is celebrated everyday and we will have the chance to get to know more about this mysterious sect.

 The Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is formed by nine tributaries of the Mekong River and is often referred as the ‘rice bowl’ or the ‘garden from heaven’ of Vietnam. Because the soil is very rich you will find here countless green rice paddies and dozens of tropical fruits, which only grow in this certain area. A visit to this region allows us to explore the ‘life on the water’ of the local people. Because of periodical floods the local people adapted their lives to he water. Experience their floating houses, floating schools, floating mini-supermarkets and even their complete floating markets! You will be overwhelmed by the wet rice civilization.

 Phu Quoc Island  

Phu Quoc island, the biggest island of Vietnam has a surface of 585 square km, located in the gulf of Thailand, 45 km from Ha Tien and 15 km of the South of Cambodia's coastal line. This island is a district of Kien Giang province, circled by 22 other small islands with numerous fine sandy beaches, extremely beautiful!