Vietnam: details

After China, we plan to go to Vietnam for a couple of weeks. So how much could we fit into a two week trip?

The country can be divided into three areas, the north, central and south regions. We are very interested in the north because of the natural beauty, particularly along the coast where there are thousands of limestone islands and caves. We plan to spend about a week in the north. We will stay at the city of Hanoi (known for it's history and architecture) for a few days and go for a few days to Halong Bay as well.

Then we will go to the central area for a week. Our trusty Lonely Planet guide tells us that Hue and Danang are the two main cities in the central region, but they are not highly recommended. Instead we plan to go to Hoi-An which is a little quieter, but has beaches nearby and natural attractions, mountain tours, etc.

We've decided to skip Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south. It would have been an interesting city for Nadim and I to see, but we felt that it would not be a great choice for the whole family. Instead we will travel to Thailand after visiting the north and central regions of Vietnam.

CM