Halong Bay

Halong Bay, appropriately named the Emerald Bay, boasts stunning scenery of craggy limestone pillars, draped in velvety vegetation, that seemingly rise from the water to give way to a quiet serenity. The stunning display of natural wonder here is equally as incredible as the historical preservation of the site.

Over 1600 islands dot the bay—the majority of which are uninhabited. However, a few larger islands, including Cat Ba—Halong’s largest island—are home to developed towns and thriving tourism industries. The bay also hosts four floating villages—Cửa Vạn, Ba Hang, Cống Tàu and Vông Viêng—that utilize the water as a base for their homes. These villages are comprised of boats and hundreds of floating homes that are typically occupied by fishermen and their families.

Despite the large tourism industry and fishermen who utilize Halong Bay for their businesses, the area has remained in near pristine condition, which led to Halong Bay’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Experience Halong Bay with O.A.T. on:

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• Pre Trip:Vietnam: Hanoi & Halong Bay Cruise on South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures

Mekong Delta

The Mekong River snakes 2700 miles down through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before slithering into the South China Sea. The River is the twelfth longest river in the world and the seventh longest in Asia.

Life along the river is fairly consistent in each country where agricultural businesses thrive. Rice is one of the leading industries along the Mekong due to the rich soil that lines the river and the wet landscape—Vietnam’s land that hugs the Mekong is referred to as the “rice bowl.” Fishing also contributes greatly to the region’s economy. This industry has a positive impact on the GDPs of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand where in recent years, an estimated 4 million tons of fish caught along the Mekong made up 13% of the world's fishing business.

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• Pre Trip:Vietnam: Hanoi & Halong Bay Cruise on South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures

Ho Chi Minh City

Feel the exhilarating energy of life in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, as a dizzying array of motorcycles, mopeds, and cars whiz through the chaotic streets. The city has a history that is equally as exciting as its present-day atmosphere.

Most notable is Saigon’s role in the Vietnam War. The southern Vietnam city was used as a haven for American soldiers fighting against the communists of the north. After the last American forces left Vietnam in 1973, the northern troops began moving down south. In 1975, the northern Vietnamese forces took control of Saigon, renaming it Ho Chi Minh City after their leader Ho Chi Minh. His name means “bringer of light” and he is credited with unifying northern and southern Vietnam.

Today, locals still call Ho Chi Minh City Saigon, but despite this old name, the city has a youthful feel. Of the eight million people living in Ho Chi Minh City, more than half of them are under 35. This young population has contributed to Ho Chi Minh City being named the second most dynamic city in the world—a ranking based on innovation in technology. While Ho Chi Minh city has an identity all its own, it draws major culinary and architectural inspiration from France and America.

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• Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam

Hué

Everywhere you explore in the historically-rich city of Hué reveals part of its imperial past. They city’s location along the Perfume River, a picturesque landscape where mountains peak from behind placid waters and boats seemingly glide across the river, was ideal for controlling the movement of trade and boats on the river. When the Nguyen family came into power in 1802, ruling over all of Vietnam, they chose Hué as their capital. This dynasty ruled until 1945, making it Vietnam’s last dynasty.

Before the Nguyen's reign, they contributed the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda, which stands as the country’s tallest religious structure. Generations of the Nguyens have helped preserve this temple since its construction in 1601. Inside, the temple holds an important, historical, vintage car. In the early 20th century, Catholicism was widely accepted while Buddhists faced fierce discrimination. In protest of this prejudice, one man set himself on fire outside of his car in Saigon, which led to a wave of similar protests. The car at the scene is the one you currently see inside the temple today.

It’s hard to imagine violence in such a tranquil city, but in addition to the Buddhist self-immolations that swept through the country, Hué was also the site of a bloody battle during the Vietnam War. In 1968, the Viet Cong attacked the forces protecting the walled city. After bloodshed and partial destruction of the city, American troops recaptured Hué. Today, statues of a dragon and a tiger stand watch over the city and are symbols of protection.

Hué was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 due to the abundance of historical sites and the significance of the city through the nation’s history.

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Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary

Journey back to antiquity to one of Vietnam’s famous sites, My Son Sanctuary. These red-brick ruins were originally built between the fourth and 13th centuries as the cultural center of the Champa Kingdom. The Champa are an ancient group that descended from the Han dynasty, and were greatly influenced by Indian culture. They ruled from the second century to the 17th century.

The detailed architectural wonders were built to honor Hinduism and serve as a political capital for the Champa. Each of the temples boast religious and mythological symbols, including Vishnu, Krishna, and Shiva, which are represented as relief sculptures. The ruin’s main structure is named after Mount Meru. Similar to Greek mythology’s Mount Olympus, this sacred mountain is home to Hindu gods.

As you traverse the mossy pathways, you'll pass remnants of the Vietnam War. During an American air raid focused on eliminating the Viet Cong in this area, several temples were caught in the bombings and suffered irreparable damage. The preservation of what was left after the war and the cultural importance of these ruins resulted in the sanctuary’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in in 1999.

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Tho Ha Village

Get an authentic taste of rural life during a visit to Tho Ha Village where we'll get to know the villagers, learn about traditional healing techniques at an eastern medicine store and stop at a local restaurant to learn how to make banh da, a sesame rice cracker.

During this intimate glimpse into the village’s daily routine, you’ll be welcomed into the home of the village chief, a veteran who fought with the Viet Cong along the Ho Chi Minh trail and survived the war to start a family. We'll also sit down to lunch prepared by his wife and other villagers to get to know each other while enjoying some traditional Vietnamese dishes. 

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Hanoi

Situated on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi is one of the world's most ancient capitals. Hanoi's Old Quarter, an ancient enclave of crowded, narrow streets lined with shops, markets, bars, and restaurants, has a history that spans 2,000 years. Also known as "36 Old Streets" for the 36 streets named after guilds whose artisans worked for early emperors of Vietnam. To escape the bustle of the Old Quarter, the city's former French Quarter is home to tree-lined avenues and stately colonial villas, along with numerous restaurants and cafés. Just west of the Old Quarter is the Ba Dinh District, home to many of the city's important historic monuments. Dominating Ba Dinh's main square is Ho Chi Minh’s monolithic mausoleum, along with venerable sites such as One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature, historic relics of the Ly Dynasty.

Other notable attractions include the French-designed Opera House, built on a base of 35,000 bamboo piles; the Museum of Ethnology, the place to go for insights into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups; and Hoa Lo prison, better known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” where POWs were held during the Vietnam War, known as the American War in Vietnam. From the bustle of the Old Quarter and atmospheric French Quarter to the tranquility of Hoan Kiem Lake and arguably some of the best street food in Asia, Hanoi is easy to fall in love with.

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• Pre Trip:Vietnam: Hanoi & Halong Bay Cruise on South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures