Vietnam’s captivating natural beauty and fascinating history make it a rising star on the Southeast Asian tourism circuit. Its charming colonial-era cities, lush green countryside and fabulous beaches provide excellent attractions for one and all.
Beaches, Culture, Food, Colonial Architecture
In Vietnam, the seasons vary greatly between the monsoonal north and the tropical south. The best time to visit the north of Vietnam is from September to December when it isn't so humid. December to May would be right for the south with short downpours that can provide a welcome respite from the dry heat.
Happier days are ahead! For now, virtually escape to these 10 cheerful places.
An alternative to mainstream hotels, serviced apartments offer more space, in-room facilities and privacy.
Rojak gin? Fancy Thai rum? Bring these bottles home instead of the elephant print pants.
Stepping out of the shadows of French fine dining, a new guard of visionary young chefs is capturing the city’s culinary zeitgeist.
A new luxury ship with a focus on wellness carries cruisers to a quiet corner of Halong Bay, promising a mindful journey through 500 million years of history—if that thought gets too heavy for you, just faceplant on a massage table and commune with working out your kinks instead.
On the banks of the Thu Bon River, this little colonial portico–lined haven is conveniently tucked just a couple of blocks from the center of old town, so you can retreat to its garden pool when touristing gets too hot at midday then head back out for dinner. hoi-an.anantara.com
Cascading down the Son Tra Peninsula, this Bill Bensley-designed carnival-chic resort deserves its reputation as one of Vietnam’s finest.
Although expansive, there’s scope for intimacy at this excellent luxury all-rounder.
Twenty places to visit this year, including the majestic Hunza Valley, Bangkok for those with an appetite, and a new-look Kyoto.
A hot-spring resort plunges Angela Goh into the mineral-rich waters of central Vietnam.
This is the city’s most historic and celebrated luxury address, in the most salubrious part of Hanoi, next to the Opera House.
How to prep a corner of paradise for the outside world while keeping it as pristine as possible is on the minds of many in Phu Quoc these days. It’s shockingly easy to get to this on-the-up Vietnamese idyll— just please don’t eat the sea urchin.
While its war with America may be long over, Vietnam is still dealing with unexploded ordnance at an all-too-high cost. Now, as Veronica Inveen discovers, there are safe ways any visitor can help out.
Formerly the manor of a French governor during colonial times, La Residence retains a stately grandeur befitting its 1930 build.
You know that phrase, “do it for the gram”? We’re pretty sure floating breakfasts were born from it, and, well, as long as we get the shot, we’ll welcome the trend from every angle.
Vietnam’s last dynasty may have built extravagant monuments around its imperial citadel, but Lester V. Ledesma says the enduring monarchic influence is found in the food of the commonfolk—the banh Hue.
Asia’s craft suds scene keeps getting better. Craig Sauers checks in with six exciting breweries using local flavors and ingredients to push beer boundaries.
Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s seminal novel, John Pemberton turned his homebrewing hobby into a full-time profession in 2015. Vietnamese beer hasn’t been the same since.
Young, discerning cocktail drinkers and single-malt connoisseurs are raising the stakes in Vietnam. Connla Stokes sips his way to the source of this intoxicating tale.
They may have no Michelin stars, they might not rank on any best- restaurant lists, and, well, they’re not even trained as chefs, but the cooks who in infiltrate the kitchen twice weekly at The Anam Cam Ranh have something even more special to offer: a heaping portion of motherly love.
Following the well-trod pilgrim path to Vietnam’s most spiritual peak, features editor Eloise Basuki spends a few nights at Yen Tu mountain’s new designer resort, a sprawling palace that honors the mountain’s regal history.
Overlooking Bai Dai beach, on the fringes of Cam Ranh Bay in southern Vietnam, the two-, three- and four-bedroom villas at this luxe resort are spacious enough (300 square meters should do it) to ensure a wholly relaxing stay, even with kids in the next room over.
The one-of-a-kind design at this Bill Bensley haven makes a creative backdrop for events you want etched in your memory.
Marvel at local Cham ruins or doze off in Anantara’s tree-canopy spa: life in this fishing-dominated town is a breeze.
With its whiter-than-white façade, hanging plants and asymmetrical windows, the Myst has been a breath of fresh air for Saigon’s ever-rising, but rather generic, skyline since opening in 2017.
Downtown’s artsiest little cocktail bar is an eclectic affair. You might catch a stand-up comedy act, live band, or simply a DJ playing mellow electronica melodies on the higher, seventh floor—that’s also the ideal spot to enjoy sundowners with a cooling breeze coming off the Saigon river.
The interior might be rather sleek and modern but you’re coming for the best of Haiphong’s street-food scene at this family-run restaurant up the stairs at 103 Dong Khoi.
Wander up the well-lit staircase at 59 Dong Du to find this modern haven of sake and small plates with a shared-table concept.
Duck through the art arcade at 151 Dong Khoi (never mind the cheap knickknacks and ersatz Klimts), head down the hallway and turn right, then walk up to the third floor to find Red Door, where a discerning crowd of coffee lovers confabulates over cold brews and drip pours.
From a former royal guesthouse to a room with sweeping Mount Fuji views, these intimate, extravagant and picturesque resorts are just the spots to celebrate those once-in-a-lifetime moments.
With its landmark heritage buildings, and now shimmering skyscrapers, Dong Khoi Street is undoubtedly Saigon’s most prestigious address. But it’s the drag’s more inconspicuous charms, squirrelled away in century-old apartment blocks, that continually coax Connla Stokes to the area.
The Sofitel Legend Metropole has long been the go-to dining hub for high-society Hanoi (not to mention our hangover cure: Bamboo Bar’s croque monsieur is doctor’s-orders cheesy), but the sparkly new two-story Angelina adds a fresh rendezvous to the century-old hotel.
A once-sleepy suburb of Saigon is coaxing art lovers, shoppers, and even the scenesters and socialites away from downtown.
Taking photos of people you meet while traveling can be a great cultural exchange. Jeninne Lee-St. John heads out of Hoi An with a pro and learns how to turn on the charm.
A rebranding has only enhanced the status of the Nam Hai as perhaps Vietnam’s preeminent top-end property.
Vietnam’s narrow waistline is bursting with indigenous dishes and inviting eateries. Duncan Forgan dines and drives from Hue to Danang to Hoi An.
Catching the spirit of collaboration, Asian breweries are teaming up with bold beer hounds, artisanal chocolatiers, coffee roasters, and more to produce some serious suds.
A retro cafe in the heart of the city is just one reason verdant Dalat evokes the romance of old Vietnam.
It took seven years to realize this dream of a hotel decked out in crystal, ostrich-covered couches, and blinged-out statement pieces like a Baldi Firenze clock and a 19th-century piano covered in glittering malachite.
The stylish InterContinental Saigon has become one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most luxurious landmarks.
Located at Lam Son Square in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the nine-story Park Hyatt Saigon hotel is within walking distance of main tourist attractions, restaurants and parks.
