Explore Vietnam

25 provinces

North Vietnam

Four seasons, dramatic mountain passes, and a thousand years of history carved into every stone. From the limestone peaks of Hà Giang to the ancient streets of Hà Nội, the north feels timeless, rugged, and deeply rooted in culture.

Bac Giang

Lychee orchards, Tay Yen Tu pilgrimage, rural north

Rural · Pagodas

Mar – May (lychee season), Oct – Dec

Bac Kan

Ba Be Lake, Tay ethnic villages, untouched nature

Ba Be Lake · Off the beaten path

Sep – Nov, Mar – May

Lao Cai

Sapa trekking

Mountain · Nature

Sep – Nov, Mar – May

Quang Ninh

Ha Long Bay cruises

Beach · Nature

Oct – Apr

Bắc Ninh

Quan họ folk singing, Lim Festival, ancient pagodas

Folk Music · Pagodas

Oct – Apr (cool and dry)

Cao Bằng

Bản Giốc Waterfall, limestone karst, ethnic minorities

Waterfalls · Karst Landscape

Sep – Nov (post-monsoon, rice harvest golden season)

Điện Biên

Battle of Điện Biên Phủ, ethnic minorities, remote highlands

War History · Ethnic Culture

Oct – Mar (cool and dry)

Hà Giang

Hà Giang Loop, Đồng Văn Karst, H'Mông culture

Karst Mountains · Motorbike Loop

Sep – Nov (buckwheat flowers, rice harvest) or Mar – Apr (cherry blossoms)

Hà Nam

Tam Chúc Buddhist complex, limestone landscape

Buddhism · Limestone

Oct – Apr (cool and dry)

Hà Nội

Old Quarter, street food, Hoan Kiem Lake, cultural capital

City Life · Street Food

Oct – Apr (cool and dry; avoid July–Aug humidity)

Hải Dương

Con Son-Kiếp Bạc temples, green bean cake, Trần dynasty relics

Temples · Pilgrimage

Oct – Apr (cool and dry)

Hải Phòng

Cát Bà Island, French colonial architecture, bánh đa cua

Cat Ba Island · Colonial City

Oct – Apr (cool and dry)

Hòa Bình

Mai Châu valley, White Thai culture, Hòa Bình Reservoir

Rice Valleys · Homestay

Oct – Apr (cool and dry; May–Jun for green rice paddies)

Hưng Yên

Nhãn lồng longan, Phố Hiến ancient town, Chử Đồng Tử temple

Longan Fruit · Ancient Town

Oct – Apr (cool and dry; Jul–Aug for longan harvest)

Lai Châu

Remote northwest, rare ethnic minorities, Fansipan border, Sìn Hồ plateau

Remote Highlands · Rare Minorities

Sep – Nov (rice harvest, clear skies) or Mar – May (spring blossoms)

Lạng Sơn

China border trade, Tam Thanh cave, Tày-Nùng culture, quả hồng persimmons

Karst Mountains · Tày-Nùng Culture

Sep – Nov (persimmon harvest, cool weather) or Mar – Apr (spring)

Nam Định

Phủ Dầy Mother Goddess temple, textile industry, phở Nam Định

Pilgrimage · Textile Heritage

Oct – Apr (cool and dry)

Ninh Bình

Tràng An UNESCO landscape, Tam Cốc, Hoa Lư ancient capital

Karst Landscape · River Caves

Sep – Nov or Mar – Apr (avoid summer crowds and heat)

Phú Thọ

Đền Hùng Kings Temple, xoan singing UNESCO heritage, tea hills

National Pilgrimage · Xoan Singing

Feb – Apr (Hùng Kings Festival on 10th day of 3rd lunar month)

Sơn La

Mộc Châu plateau, tea and fruit farms, Black Thai culture, French colonial prison

Fruit Farms · Highland Plateau

Sep – Nov (fruit harvest, rice terraces golden) or Apr – May (plum and peach blossoms)

Thái Bình

Chèo theatre, silk weaving, coastal rice paddies, bánh cáy

Chèo Theatre · Silk Weaving

Oct – Apr (cool and dry)

Thái Nguyên

Tân Cương green tea, Núi Cốc Lake, tea culture

Tea Capital · Tea Hills

Oct – Apr (cool and dry; Sep–Oct for harvest season)

Tuyên Quang

Nà Hang reservoir, Tày culture, lantern festival, revolutionary history

Nà Hang Lake · Lantern Festival

Sep – Nov (clear skies, cool weather) or Jan – Feb (lantern festival)

Vĩnh Phúc

Tam Đảo hill station, Tây Thiên pilgrimage, Đại Lải Lake

Hill Station · Pilgrimage

Oct – Apr (cool and clear; avoid summer fog at Tam Đảo)

Yên Bái

Mù Cang Chải rice terraces, Nghĩa Lộ Thái culture, cinnamon production

Rice Terraces · Photography

Sep – Oct (golden rice harvest) or May – Jun (green terraces, water season)