Asia destination
Notes from Vietnam, including Northern Vietnam, Cat Ba, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, Mai Chau.
Asia Red River Delta & Northern Highlands, Vietnam
A realistic two-week Northern Vietnam itinerary balancing Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, and the Ha Giang Loop with honest budgets and transit tips.
Asia Hai Phong, Vietnam
Two quiet days on the water: limestone karsts, cave kayaking, a floating village and no crowds.
Why we based ourselves on Cat Ba Island, skipped the mainland cruises, and spent two quiet days cruising, kayaking and exploring Lan Ha Bay instead of Ha Long.
Asia Hanoi, Vietnam
A four-day Hanoi guide to Hoan Kiem Lake, water puppets, the Old and French Quarters, temples, Train Street, food and a day in Đường Lâm.
Asia Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Two slow days of bicycles, limestone mountains, temples, caves and a boat through Trang An.
Two days in Ninh Binh: cycling from Tam Coc to Bich Dong, Buffalo Cave and Mua Cave, with a quiet Trang An boat trip.
Asia Northern Vietnam, Vietnam
Three days on the Ha Giang loop with an easy rider: what it cost, what the route covers, what to bring, and the Sunday market at Dong Van worth waking for.
Asia Hòa Bình, Vietnam
A place for riding slowly through rice fields and letting the valley set the pace.
Mai Chau is a quiet rice valley in northern Vietnam, with bike rides through bright green fields, White Thai village life and waterfalls beyond the valley.
