Vietnam
A long thin country read top to bottom — from the ancient north to the Mekong delta in the south, by rail, river, and motorbike.
Vietnam is a single long line on the map — from Hanoi at the top, through the imperial city of Hué, the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An, and the metropolitan sprawl of Saigon at the bottom. Most travellers do it as a one-way route, north to south or south to north, on the Reunification Express train, with side trips inland to the rice terraces and the highlands. The food shifts as you travel: northern pho and bun cha, central cao lau and banh khoai, southern French-inflected ban mi and rich coffee.
Cities & Regions
When to Go
Vietnam’s climate divides by latitude. The north (Hanoi, Halong, Sa Pa) has a four-season feel: cool dry winters (November to April), hot wet summers (May to October). The centre (Hué, Hoi An) has an October–December typhoon and flood window worth working around. The south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong delta) is hot all year, with a wet season May to October and a dry season November to April. February through April hits the sweet spot for travellers doing a full north-to-south route.