If the only gondola you're familiar with is the kind being paddled around the canals of Venice, then you've been missing out. In Vietnam, a gondola ride entails a comfortable and scenic ride in an enclosed cabin that will take you effortlessly to the top of the rugged mountainous landscape via a series of cables and stanchions. A ride in one of Vietnam's gondolas or cable …
Ma Pi Leng Pass – Ha Giang
Far from the crowds of Hanoi, tucked into a mountainside in Vietnam’s Northern frontier, there’s a little-known paradise for any road-trip junkie. One of the region’s “Four Great Passes,” and arguably the most spectacular, the Ma Pi Leng Pass is a place of extremes… Gorges plunge away from the roadside, jagged mountaintops skim the clouds, and the locals’ rugged culture is a …
Hai Van Pass – Da Nang to Hue
The saying goes: “It’s not about where you’re going. It’s about how you get there.” In central Vietnam, draped across the hillsides and clifftops, is a road that could define this well-worn motto. Here’s everything you need to know about one of the most inspiring roads you will ever travel: The Hai Van Pass. It connects Da Nang to the south with Hue to the north. And there …
How to Drive a Motorbike Safely in Vietnam
Driving your own motorbike in Vietnam adds to the already high thrill of visiting this amazing land. It grants you the freedom that you can't get with taxis or even riding on the back of a Grab motorbike (like Uber). There are certain things that you need to know before renting a motorbike and driving out into traffic. We'll review the laws surrounding riding a motorbike as …
How to Get From Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang
While it's not the closest beach to Ho Chi Minh, Nha Trang is probably the best beach destination nearer the city. It's certainly the most popular and largest in the south at more than 535,000 full time residents. It lies approximately 440 kilometers by motorbike, 411 km by train and 406 km by flight. What's the best way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang? There …
How to Get From Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi
Vietnam's two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, are naturally its most visited. However, they lie at opposite ends of the long country, separated by around 1140 kilometers of air travel, 1600 km by road, and 1700 km on a train. Either way, you trek it, the trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, or vice-versa, covers a lot of distance. So what's the best way to get from Ho …
Vinh International Airport (VII)
Vinh International Airport (VII) is a French colonial airfield turned major north Vietnam airport turned aspirational international airport. It's constantly updated to match modern trends but as of yet still not really fulfilling its potential. Like other regional airports near major international terminals, the airport might have all the makings of greatness but still …
Van Don International Airport (VDO) – near Cam Pha
Van Don International Airport (VDO) is the gateway to the amazing Ha Long Bay (known for its famous limestone pillars that cascade into the ocean), located only 50 km (31 miles) away from the bay itself. The airport is brand new, modern & clean and only just celebrated its first birthday in 2019. History at VDO With tourism expanding rapidly in the north of Vietnam to Ha …
Phu Bai International Airport (HUI) by Hue
Phu Bai International Airport (HUI) is located on the stunning Vietnam coastline just south of the former capital of Hue. However, unlike other coastal airports like Nha Trang and Da Nang, this airport has not seen the result of government funding yet and is very much overcapacity. History of HUI The Vietnam government has fast-tracked this airport for development and even …
Cat Bi International Airport (HPH) by Hai Phong
Cat Bi International Airport (HPH) is located between the Chinese border and Hanoi. It's because of its unique political location that the airport has a long history of military use during the Indo-China War and the subsequent Vietnam War, before transitioning into a modern civilian airport. To avoid confusion, the airport also goes under the name Hai Phong International …
Lien Khuong International Airport (DLI) by Da Lat
Lien Khuong International Airport (DLI) is one of Vietnam’s modernization success stories, with a flashy new terminal, modern runway infrastructure and growing popularity as an international destination. The airport itself is located around 30km (18 miles) from Da Lat, and offers a range of domestic and international flights. History of DLI The airport itself is steeped in …
Chu Lai International Airport (VCL) by Tam Ky
There is nothing cooler than coming into land at the massive, sprawling former US military base to set the mood for your Vietnam adventure and Chu Lai International Airport (VCL) ticks all the boxes. The airport is a great way to reach two of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the golden beaches of Tam Ky and the picturesque Cham Islands. The airport is also a great …
Can Tho International Airport (CVA)
Can Tho International Airport (CVA) is one of the lesser-known entry points to Vietnam but offers a unique way to access the Mekong delta and avoids many of the overcrowding issues found at major Vietnam airports. History of CVA Originally built in 1965 by the US forces, the airport served as an air force facility for the 4th Air Division of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force. …
How to Get From Hanoi to Sapa
Sapa is one of the most visited destinations in North Vietnam, with tourists arriving year round from Hanoi. There are several ways to reach this mountain town from Vietnam's capital city, including train, bus, shuttle and motorbike. The closest airport to Sapa is Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, so that’s the one you’ll fly into to start your journey. From Hanoi a …
Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC)
Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) is the main international airport for the Vietnam island of Phu Quoc and one of the youngest airports in Vietnam. Construction of the terminal building and the 3 km long runway was completed in December 2012 with the first flight landing just before New Years Day. What issues other Vietnam airports might be challenged with, Phy Quoc seems …
Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) in Nha Trang
The city of Nha Trang actually has two different airports. Whilst the original Nha Trang airport used to serve both civilian and military traffic, today it is a military airbase and normal air traffic is redirected to Nha Trang’s second airport, Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR). Cam Ranh International Airport had its humble beginnings as a US Air Force base before …
Da Nang International Airport (DAD)
Da Nang Airport (DAD) is the port of entry for the city of Da Nang, the largest city in central Vietnam, as well as many different regional attractions, such as the popular My Khe beach or the UNESCO recognized cultural village of Hoi An. The airport may have humble origins as a small regional airfield for colonial France, but thanks to the region swapping hands between so …
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is the biggest airport in Vietnam and an essential part of the tapestry of Vietnam's history. Naturally, this airport’s international code reveals much more history than it may suggest, with the code SGN standing for Ho Chi Minh City’s original name of Saigon. This city was the capital of the southern half of the …
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi
Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport is the gateway to North Vietnam, and will likely be one of the first places you tread upon arriving in the country. For those airport trivia buffs out there, it's also the nation’s second-biggest airport seeing 27 million passengers in 2018. Originally built in 1978, the airport only took on its modern facade in 2001 with the construction of today’s …
Reunification Express Train from Hanoi to Saigon
Vietnam is beautiful, sprawling, and diverse. The landscapes to explore feature everything from high mountains to white sand beaches. The country’s vast size and small width mean that one of the easiest ways to travel is by train. There is only one main railway line crossing the whole country, and that is the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City line. While it is not a modern bullet …
