Things to do in Vietnam

Wondering what to do in Vietnam? Start with Hanoi for an assault on the senses. There’s all that colonial architecture to look at, while the hum of motorbikes invades your ears. And wafting through the city is the delicate scent of delicious street food. Pull up a plastic stool and people-watch over a beer.

We can’t pretend UNESCO World Heritage Site Hoi An isn’t a tourist magnet. But it still has to be on your list of things to do in Vietnam. Why? Because it’s just so charming. The riverside town has a gentle old-world atmosphere with its centuries-old merchants' houses in shades of mustard yellow and wooden-fronted shops. Take a stroll during the day and sip a sundowner by the river.

Sun worshipping wins over sightseeing in Nha Trang. Plonk yourself down on that sunlounger and just chill – the grand 6km scythe of soft yellow sand provides ample space. As evening approaches, swap beach bumming for bar hopping and party the night away.

If you thought puppet shows were just for children, think again. Water puppetry (mua roi nuoc), a tradition spawned in the rice paddies of the northern Red River Delta, is a delightfully quirky form of theatre. Dragons, unicorns, phoenixes and frogs spout smoke, throw balls and cavort on a stage of water, manipulated by hidden puppeteers.

One of the best things to do in Vietnam is get around on your own pair of wheels - either by bike or motorbike. Explore back roads, quiet villages and those harder to reach beaches, as well as nip in and out of traffic. Pedal between rice fields in the Mekong Delta, surrounded by classic Vietnamese scenery; discover Phu Quoc Island’s mountainous interior on a motorbike.

Powdery white sands backed by swaying coconut palms, gentle lapping waves...when you’re daydreaming about that perfect beach, this is it. You’ll find it on Phu Quoc Island, located at Vietnam’s southern tip. Long Beach is, unsurprisingly, long - almost 20km, perfect for sunbathing, swimming and sunset-watching.

You’ll no doubt have seen the pictures: unbelievably scenic and mystic looking, jagged emerald islands jutting out of the sea in their thousands. And it really is that pretty. Take a boat tour to pass through the maze of limestone pinnacles punctuating the water and pass hidden coves. Spend the night at sea on a two- to three- day tour.

The fresh breezes that fan the quaint hillside town of Da Lat in the central highlands are a relief from the heat of the lowlands. Use it as a base for adventure activities in the scenic surrounds: try canyoning, whitewater rafting, kayaking, biking and hiking.

Which memories will stick long after you return home? A visit to the minority groups in the spectacular nature reserve of Pu Long, south of Hanoi, will surely be one. Even more so if you take up a homestay and bed down in one of their simple, thatched stilted houses. Eating with families of the White Thai and Muong groups and joining in with their daily routine offers insight into their traditional way of life.