Think you know Vietnam? Think again! Vietnam travel is sometimes best spent off the grid. So, once you’ve ticked Vietnam’s greatest hits off of your list, your next question might be, “What else can I do in this unbelievable country?” Here are your answers!
1. NINH BINH
Ninh Binh boasts a majestic countryside framed by towering karst hills and meandering waterways. Explore the beautiful Trang An Grottoes, Van Long Nature Reserve and Múa Cave. Get a double dose of nature at Tam Cốc-Bích Động, featuring a scenic flooded karst system and mountain pagodas. Tam Coc Garden (Authentic Natural Resort) provides bungalow-style accommodations in a rural setting, where restaurant ingredients are grown organically onsite. Need a place in the city? The Vancouver Hotel Ninh Binh is family-owned, serves home-style breakfasts and even offers traveling tips!
Check In to Hoang Son Peace Hotel, Step Out to Ninh Binh City Center
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2. PHU QUOC ISLAND
What once was a low-key fishing outpost is now gaining attention for sweeping beaches, coral reefs, and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. No shirt? No shoes? No problem! Live the beach bum life at this up-and-coming island destination fringed with some of Vietnam’s best beaches, including Sao Beach with its postcard-worthy shores, Bai Dai Beach with its resort life, and Bãi Trướng which hosts the island’s party scene. Dig into fresh crab at a floating restaurant in Hàm Ninh fishing village, or hire a boat, and catch your own dinner! During dry season, explore the stunning islands of An Thoi archipelago. Check in at Cassia Cottage Resort for quiet beach cottages or Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island for world-class amenities and easy access to nightlife and beach bars at Long Beach Resort.
Check In to Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel, Step Out to Duong Dong
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3. PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE
Step off the beaten path to the secluded Pù Luông Nature Reserve to follow gurgling streams along sculpted rice terraces. With each step, you’ll travel back in time while hiking to remote villages, where families welcome visitors into their traditional, stilted, wooden homes. Need some rest? For a rustic homestay, check in at Ban Hieu Garden Lodge or Kho Mường village. Want modern and charming? Try Pu Luong Retreat. Sweeping panoramic views and native décor furnish the perfect spot for unwinding, eating under the stars with a traditional Thai chef and bamboo rafting on the river.
Check In to Hoa Thuy Tien Hotel, Step Out to Sam Son Beach
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4. MAI CHAU
Life slows down in Mai Chau, a four-hour day trip from Hanoi. Arrange a tour of the valley’s limestone mountains and rice paddies with Mai Chau Ecolodge. Check in to relax and breathe in panoramic views of the forest from the top of a private hill, and connect with culture through native artwork that adorns the walls of each room.
Check In to Mai Chau Valley View Hotel, Step Out to Mai Chau (Hoa Binh)
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