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Hanoi, Vietnam
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Cát Bà Island, Vietnam
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Ninh Bình, Vietnam
Unremarkable but ridiculously friendly town. Get ready for locals, especially
children coming to say hello to you in the street. It is a short moto or cycle
to the caves at Tam Coc, which are the main reason travellers come to Ninh Binh.
You could just stay for one day and see Tam Coc, which is like an inland version
of Ha Long Bay. However the area is great for cycling or long walks in the
countryside so an extra day may be worth it. By night, there’s not much to do in
Ninh Binh except head to a local restaurant or bar and enjoy some Vietnamese
food, and maybe a few beers with the locals.
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Da Nang, Vietnam
Da Nang is a big city but has few sights. For most travellers it simply serves
as a gateway to nearby Hoi An, around a 20 minute taxi or moto ride from Da Nang
Station (shouldn’t cost much more than $5).
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Hội An, Vietnam
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Nha Trang, Vietnam
Vietnam’s biggest seaside resort destination. The beach here is actually quite
dirty and there are much nicer offerings elsewhere in the country, but it is
long and has plenty of water sport options including kite-surfing. The nightlife
is livelier here than in most other stops on this route with popular bars such
as Why Not Bar and a decent one on the beach open until well into early hours*
(it can be very hard to find places that stay open after midnight in Vietnamese
cities). Some travellers find Nha Trang a little bit seedy, but there is a
beautiful temple near the train station if you want a slightly more cultural
experience.
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Mũi Né, Vietnam
Mui Ne isn’t really a town, more like a long coastal road about 20 km or so long
with many hostels, hotels and restaurants dotted around it. The beach is quiet
and very relaxing, while the hot sand dunes are perhaps what the area is most
famous for and great for exploring, although avoid the middle of the afternoon
when your feet will burn!
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam