Cao Bang is famed for scenic natural landscape with waterfall and sublime mountains. Cao Bang was the site of famous battles during the war against the French colonialists.

Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan Province is known for forested imposing mountains, serene lakes and rivers, and genuine local ethnic people. The national park is a good place to get relaxed amid untouched nature and far from the crowd.

Dien Bien Phu is the capital city of Dien Bien Province. Dien Bien Phu is 430km from Hanoi via Route 32, Route 37, Route 6 and Route 279, and 480km via Route 6. The latter way has much better road conditions.

Moc Chau Plateau is in Son La Province in the Northwest of Vietnam. The plateau has an average altitude over 1,000m above sea level with cool temperatures all year round. At Moc Chau, you can go climbing the Pha Luong Mountain (2,000m), cycle or take photographs amid the flower fields or tea plantations, or learn about agricultural works.

Mai Chau is a bucolic valley surrounded by high mountains in Hoa Binh Province, in the north-west of Vietnam. Mai Chau Valley is inhabited by White Thai ethnic people whose ladies’ traditional attires are considered among the most graceful in Vietnam. Mai Chau is 150km southwest of Hanoi.

Halong Bay offers some 3,000 green limestone islands jutting out of the emerald sea waters of the East Vietnam Sea. Halong has long been among the must-sees on a trip to Vietnam. The bay has been inscribed to the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Visiting Halong Bay, you can either go onto a day-cruise boat and stay at the many luxurious hotels in Halong City or Tuan Chau Island or you can go on luxury boat cruises for 2 days/1 night or 3 days/2 nights with overnight on board the junk. Halong Bay is 150km east of Hanoi and traveling from Hanoi to Halong Bay is convenient.

Sapa is a hill station located on 1,500m above sea level in Lao Cai Province in the North-West of Vietnam. There are 7 ethnic groups inhabiting the mountains of Sapa. The township was built into a hill station first by the French for the colonialists to get away from the delta heat in the summer.

Ninh Binh offers idyllic countryside of rice fields, rivers running through limestone mountains. Ninh Binh is 110km south of Hanoi and traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is convenient.

Ha Giang is the northern most area of Vietnam. The provincial capital of Ha Giang is Ha Giang City, 300km north of Hanoi. Ha Giang was the last territory of Vietnam open to tourism as it had been closed to foreign visitors for security reasons.

Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai Province is home to the most spectacular rice terraces in Vietnam. The best times to visit the rice terraces are when they are flooded with water during the rice planting season in late May-early June, and when the rice turns into golden yellow colors in September and early October. Mu Cang Chai is 300km northwest of Hanoi. Let’s find out how to travel to Mu Cang Chai from Hanoi and the means of transportation available between these two destinations.