Hanoi
The charming capital city offers an impressive collage of cultural influences from the Chinese and French, yet it has managed to retain the local Vietnamese traditions. Explore the labyrinth of over thousand-year-old streets in the well-preserved Old Quarter which sits between the Red River, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the remaining walls of the citadel. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh is buried are must experiences, while more than 600 pagodas and temples, shady boulevards, and picturesque parks all add to the appeal.