My first stop in Vietnam is the old capital, Hue, home to the splendid tombs of the Nguyen Emporers as well as beautiful pagodas and the remains of the old citadel.
The picturesque river town of Hoi An is worth exploring with it’s amazing Vietnamese architecture and nearby villages specialising in pottery and wood-carvings. The cuisine here is excellent.
Further south I encounter the emerald waters and unspoiled beaches around Nha Trang and Mui Ne, perfect for spending the days sunbathing and the evenings out partying !
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has many highlights but the War Remnants Museum is surely the most sobering. Learn all about the atrocities committed during the futile Vietnam war. The Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral are also worth a visit and the Mekong Delta day tour is highly recommended.
From HCMC it is also possible to take a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an area with an elaborate underground network that housed thousands during the war.