The Times reveals 12 best places to visit in Vietnam

In the article, Boobbyer revealed her top 12 best places to visit across Vietnam, with the capital city of being her first choice.

She revealed that the thousand-year-old city of lakes, founded on a bend in the Red River, is full of history, charm, museums, shops, markets, and wonderful street food.

“Don’t miss the Old Quarter, the heart of the city, where you’ll find lots of food, hotels and temples cheek-by-jowl with shops,” the author noted.

The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang ranked second on the list due to its otherworldly landscape filled with sugarloaf peaks, mountain passes, and rice paddies.

Boobbyer suggested that visitors should find villages inhabited by the Red Dzao, Flower Hmong, and other local minorities. Other places to visit include local markets and eco-stays which offer a window into rural life full of timeless traditions such as weaving.

Located in the northwest of the nation, Pu Luong and Mai Chau are idyllic retreats found amid neon-green rice paddies, according to the travel writer.

At Pu Luong nature reserve, which boasts both homestays and eco-retreats, visitors are able to trek past the paddies and orchards of the Muong people and cruise down a river whilst on a traditional bamboo raft amid a landscape woven with traditional water wheels. The area is home to the rare Asian black bear, Owston’s palm civet, and endangered Delacour’s langur.

“North is the exceptionally beautiful Mai Chau Valley, a serene landscape of rice paddies. Stay at the lovely Avana Retreat, built by local Hmong, White Thai and Black Thai people,” she suggested.

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site located in the northern province of Quang Ninh, is the locality full of thousands of craggy limestone outcrops, proving to be her favourite destination in Vietnam.

“It’s an ethereal landscape and with each turn of weather can bring dense fog or crisp blue skies. It won’t matter — it’s all enchanting,” she revealed.

Boobbyer shared that to make the most of it, visitors should head out on a boat for at least two nights in order to cruise to the outer “fortress” of towers — Bai Tu Long Bay.

“It’s more magical and it escapes the crowds of one-day and one-night boats,” she concluded.

The UK writer also introduced other attractive places to visit in Vietnam, including the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, the central city of Da Nang, the Ancient Town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam, Ninh Van Bay in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa, Da Lat City in the Central Highlands of Lam Dong, the Mekong Delta, and Con Dao archipelago.