The capital of Hanoi is your gateway to the treasures of the north: spectacular mountains, valleys and bays studded with limestone karsts. Smack in the center, up-and-coming Danang is one of Vietnam’s most progressive cities. From here you have easy access to photogenic riverside towns, national parks and long, sandy beaches. The southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City will entice you with its cool culture and captivating streets (just watch out for those motorcycles.) Nearby, the Mekong Delta runs to the sea, passing on-the-water villages and mangrove forests along the way. And all down Vietnam's S-shaped coast, you’ll find islands big and small, just waiting to be explored.