The country’s inland charm is also a must – the north, for example, is home to luscious mountainscapes, vertiginous rice terraces and colossal national parks, while the delta is a riot of colourful fruit farms, ornate flower temples and labyrinthine canals. From the emerald fields of Sapa, where hill tribes live among giant mountain peaks and wavy rice paddies, to chocolate box-pretty Ninh Binh – or ‘Inland Halong Bay’, with twisting rivers and silvery stalactite-lined water caves winding between lumbering mountains – rural Vietnam delivers awe-inspiring landscapes and heart-racing cultural experiences.

It’s a good idea to make homestays a regular feature of your Vietnam trip. They’re a huge part of Vietnamese culture and the best way to learn about the nation, as well as its people, is by spending time with them. Often, the hosts will invite you to join family mealtimes and to help out with daily chores.

Another great place to learn about Vietnamese history is at Hue and its Imperial City, the former seat of the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 until 1945. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is also home to some of the country’s most epic landmarks.

The Mekong Delta is a maze of waterways, dotted with floating markets and ornate pagodas. A cruise here will show you a different side of Vietnam, from the buzzing Cai Rang Market to the serene Sadec Flower Village and the mangrove forests of Vinh Trang Pagoda. If you want to see a little of the north too, try the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, a terrifying maze of booby traps used by the Viet Cong during the war. 다낭 밤문화 특징과 유흥 및 가격