Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng

Located on the Perfume River in Central Vietnam, Huế served as the national capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyễn Dynasty. You visit for the Citadel with the Imperial City and the upstream Imperial Tombs, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.The Citadel, housing the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, is located on the north bank of the river, while buildings from the French colonial era stand on the south bank. Along the upper Perfume River, the imperial tomb complexes are spread out, along with temples such as the Thiên Mụ Pagoda, the city's landmark. You should plan at least two full days for the Imperial City and the tombs.Huế boasts its own unique cuisine, rooted in the imperial court: spicy and served in small portions. The most famous dish is Bún bò Huế, a beef noodle soup. Since 2025, Huế has been a centrally administered city, encompassing the area of the former province of Thừa Thiên Huế.

Central Vietnam is the narrow central part of the country between mountains and the South China Sea. Here lie the ancient imperial city of Huế, the Old Town of Hội An, the beach city of Đà Nẵng and further north the caves of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park.The region has its own weather calendar: The rainy season here is mainly from October to December, when typhoons can also hit the coast. The first months of the year are usually pleasant and dry.

Đà Nẵng is Central Vietnam's largest city, situated on the Han River between mountains and the South China Sea, approximately 764 kilometers south of Hanoi. Most travelers arrive via the airport in the city center, using Đà Nẵng as a base for Hội An and Huế, though many also stay for the long urban beach Mỹ Khê and the Marble Mountains.The Han River divides the city center: The Han Market and Cham Museum are on the west bank, and the Dragon Bridge spans the river. North of the city, the mountainous Sơn Trà peninsula juts into the sea; to the south are the Marble Mountains, and to the west, the Bà Nà Hills mountain resort with the Golden Bridge. The Hải Vân Pass separates Đà Nẵng from Huế; a 6.28-kilometer tunnel has shortened the journey since 2005.As of July 1, 2025, the city will also encompass the former province of Quảng Nam, which includes Hội An. With approximately three million inhabitants, it is now the country's fourth-largest city.

Hội An is a small port city at the mouth of the Thu Bồn River in central Vietnam, about 30 kilometers south of Đà Nẵng. You go there for the Old Town, an exceptionally well-preserved trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.Over 1,000 wooden houses, assembly halls of Chinese merchants, pagodas, and ancestral homes stand in its narrow alleys, where Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences mingle. Its landmark is the Japanese Bridge with its small temple. In the evenings, lanterns illuminate the riverside alleys.About five kilometers to the east lies An Bàng Beach, easily reachable by bicycle. Approximately 40 to 45 kilometers to the west is the temple city of Mỹ Sơn, a popular day trip. As of July 1, 2025, Hội An will administratively belong to the city of Đà Nẵng.

Ninh Bình is a city in the southern Red River Delta, about two hours by bus or train south of Hanoi. You come for the surrounding karst landscape, where you travel by rowboat on rivers and through caves amidst rice paddies and limestone cliffs. The centerpiece is the Tràng An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (mixed cultural and natural) since 2014. It spans around 6,226 hectares, encompassing the ancient capital Hoa Lư, the waterways of Tràng An and Tam Cốc, and protected forests. Discoveries in the caves prove that people have lived here for over 30,000 years. From 968 to 1010, Hoa Lư was the capital of Vietnam before the court moved to Thăng Long, today's Hanoi. The city itself is primarily a transport hub. Many travellers stay overnight in Tam Cốc village, where boat docks, restaurants, and bicycle rentals are located. Good times to visit are September to November and March to May. Local specialties include goat meat from the karst slopes and Cơm cháy, deep-fried crispy rice.