According to Claire Boobbyer, Vietnam, home to 99 million people and over 3,000 kilometers of coastline, is bursting with reasons to explore.
She first visited the country in 2004 and has returned many times since.
In her article for The Times, she recommends 12 destinations, each one rich in identity, culture, nature, and experiences.
Hanoi's Old Quarter
"Hanoi is noisy, traffic-choked and beautiful all at once," she writes of the capital city.
The city is full of lakes, charm, and history.
At its heart is the Old Quarter, a maze of temples, food stalls, shops, and hotels packed into narrow streets. Boobbyer recommends learning how to dodge motorbikes while on a street food tour or while exploring French villas and historic landmarks like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Museum of Ethnology.
Photo by Hoang Giang
Ha Giang Province
Up in the far north, Ha Giang borders China and offers what Boobbyer calls "an otherworldly landscape." It is a region of sugarloaf peaks, mountain passes and rice paddies carved into steep hills.
She suggests exploring Red Dao and Hmong villages, browsing local markets and glimpsing traditions like weaving.
On the way, she recommends stopping in Mu Cang Chai for its terraced fields.
Photo courtesy of Hoang Su Phi Lodge
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Pu Luong sits in western Thanh Hoa Province, near the Vietnam - Laos border, and spans more than 17,000 hectares. Boobbyer highlights its landscapes of green rice paddies, Muong villages and streams lined with water wheels. Here, travelers can trek through orchards, glide down rivers on bamboo rafts or unwind at eco-retreats tucked deep inside nature.
Photo by Nguyen Trong Cung
Hue City
Hue was home to Vietnam's last emperors, and traces of that royal past still shape the city. Boobbyer highlights the citadel, built in the style of Beijing's Forbidden City, and the tombs set along the Perfume River, where gardens, statues and streams reflect Confucian and feng shui design.
Often skipped for Hoi An, Hue deserves a stop for its history and cuisine. Many of the dishes once served to emperors are still enjoyed today. From here, it is also possible to visit the former border that once divided North and South Vietnam.
Photo by Vo Thanh
Da Nang
To Claire, Da Nang blends modern energy with echoes of the past. The city's long curve of golden sand, once known to American GIs as China Beach, is now home to luxury escapes like the Four Seasons and the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula.
Beyond the beaches, Da Nang invites discovery. Claire highlights the Museum of Cham Sculpture, where sandstone carvings offer a window into the ancient Cham civilization. And at night, the Dragon Bridge bursts to life, breathing fire and water in a show that reflects the city's spirit.
Photo by Nguyen Dong
Hoi An
Though Hoi An has become one of Vietnam's most popular destinations, it still holds on to a sense of calm. A trading port in the 17th century, the town retains its heritage in the form of Chinese temples, shop-houses and age-old crafts.
Ocher homes line narrow streets beside the Thu Bon River, glowing with lanterns at night. Boobbyer recommends Hoi An for its atmosphere, street food from cao lau (thick rice noodles) to banh mi, and its tailors, who can craft made-to-measure clothing in just a few days.
For a quieter escape, Claire suggests heading a few kilometers out to An Bang Beach, where you will find palm trees and gentle waves.
Photo by Nick M
Ho Chi Minh City
With more than nine million people and nearly as many motorbikes, HCMC pulses with nonstop energy.
Boobbyer describes it as "heady", full of street food, neon lights and a growing scene of craft beer and cocktails. She suggests exploring the city from the back of a motorbike, the most immersive way to take in its chaos.
Photo by Thanh Tung
Mekong Delta
"The liquid fingers of the Mekong slink through southern Vietnam into the sea," Boobbyer writes, describing a region shaped by water.
Its appeal lies in everyday moments: floating markets, fruit farms, temples and churches, and a rural life shaped by Vietnamese, Khmer and Cham heritages.
Photo by Dang Le
Da Lat
Boobbyer calls Da Lat "a quirky place." Once a French hill station in the pine-covered highlands, it is filled with early 20th-century villas, some now hotels or museums, flower gardens, waterfalls, markets, and even a golf course. Today the town is filled with bars and cute cafés.
Photo by Nguyen Ngoc Thien
Con Dao Archipelago
Once used as a prison island by the French and later the Americans, Con Dao has transformed into a nature destination. Today this archipelago is a Ramsar-recognized wetland, and home to sea turtle nesting sites, coral reefs, dugongs, and dolphins.
Much of the island is protected, making it ideal for hiking or snorkeling. Visitors can also explore historical landmarks like the Con Dao Museum and Hang Duong Cemetery, where thousands of Vietnamese revolutionaries are buried.
A different perspective on the people, the scenery or even a local dish yet to be tried was what Boobbyer discovered during her visits. She says she is drawn back by the hospitality, energy and variety of experiences Vietnam has to offer.
"Vietnam is one of those countries where every return reveals something new."
Photo by Vinh Gau
