Ha Giang, Wangxian Valley, Lan Ha Bay (Cat Ba), Tam Coc and more: places that rarely make the usual itinerary, plus the quieter option next to the famous spots.
A 4-day motorbike loop through Vietnam's far north, near the Chinese border. Travelers kept naming it the best thing they did in the country.
Looks like an ancient town from a fantasy film, but it was built from scratch between 2015 and 2020. Stay until the lanterns come on.
Part of the same UNESCO landscape as Ha Long Bay, with far fewer tourists and lower prices.
Two hours by boat through three caves between limestone mountains and rice fields, about 2 hours from Hanoi.
A shopping mall with thousands of trees built into it. Best seen from the park across Suzhou Creek, and surprisingly hard to find.
A farmstay with a restaurant and café in wooden and bamboo houses, among gardens and a creek. Info from the place's own Instagram.
Same limestone landscape, far fewer boats. A full-day tour with lunch and kayaking costs about US$33.
The side streets next to Khao San: late-night food and bars where you can actually talk.
More local, cheaper and still close to downtown. A 1-bedroom condo in Santitham runs 8,000 to 14,000 THB, against 12,000 to 22,000 in Nimman.
Quieter and more local, often with a pool, and well below Patong's rents.
Day-trippers leave around 3 or 4 pm. Stay the night and the evenings are calm.
Local area in the north of the city: a 1-bedroom for 7 to 12 million VND, against 12 to 22 million on the beachfront.