Danang, Hoi An, and Hue together make up “Vietnam’s Golf Coast”. In 1965 Danang was the location of the first landing of US forces in Vietnam when it was aptly coined “China Beach”. The same area is now home to one of Asia’s best beaches, many world-class resorts and Vietnam’s best golf courses. Stroll along the Han riverfront and you'll find gleaming new modernist hotels, and apartments and restaurants are emerging. Close by, Hoi An, with its lovely wooden shop-homes was set up in the 16th century. For those looking a glimpse of the real Vietnam in the protected old town, or just a fun night out, Hoi An is perfect. Hue is another ancient capital that has undergone centuries of development.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the country forward with its pulsating energy. From the finest of hotels to the cheapest of guesthouses, the classiest of restaurants to the tastiest of street stalls, the choicest of boutiques to the scrum of the markets, HCMC is a city of energy and discovery. Wander through timeless alleys to incense-infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers.
