Vietnam

Food Worth Travelling For

Vietnamese food is one of the great culinary traditions of the world, and eating it here, in situ, is a different experience entirely. A bowl of pho at dawn in Hanoi, a banh mi from a cart in Hoi An, fresh spring rolls beside the Thu Bon River, crab noodle soup in Hue. Each region has its own flavour identity, its own particular genius with herbs and broth and char. Street food is not a budget option here; it is simply how people eat, and it is extraordinary.

History Written Into Every Stone

Few countries carry their history as visibly as Vietnam. The Imperial Citadel of Hue, the Cham towers of My Son, the ancient trading streets of Hoi An's UNESCO old town, the Cu Chi tunnels threading beneath the earth outside Ho Chi Minh City. The 20th century left particularly deep marks, and the War Remnants Museum in Saigon is one of the most affecting spaces in South-East Asia. Vietnam does not shy away from what happened here, and neither should visitors.

Coastline, Islands and the Open Road

Vietnam's coastline runs for over 3,000 kilometres, and the islands off its southern tip are among South-East Asia's most appealing. Phu Quoc offers long white beaches and clear water, Con Dao retains a wild, unhurried pace, and the beaches around Da Nang and Mui Ne draw surfers and sun-seekers in equal measure. The country is also magnificent to drive or ride through: the Hai Van Pass between Da Nang and Hue is one of the great coastal road stretches anywhere, and the north opens into motorbike country that serious travellers circle back to again and again.