Vietnam's French Colonial Hill Stations: Tam Dao, Ba Na, Da Lat, and Sapa Compared
France built four highland retreats across Vietnam to escape the lowland heat. Here is what survives at each, and which ones are worth the trip today.
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France built four highland retreats across Vietnam to escape the lowland heat. Here is what survives at each, and which ones are worth the trip today.
Six cities, ten days, one through-line: the ochre facades, wrought-iron balconies, and colonnaded streets the French left behind — and Vietnam quietly kept.
Escape the city center for a day to explore the quiet imperial architecture and craft villages hidden along the Perfume River.
Dien Bien Phu sits 480 km west of Hanoi in a wide valley ringed by forested hills — part open-air history site, part gateway to Thai and H'mong villages that most travelers skip entirely.
Skip the crowded tour buses and head to the Cu Chi Tunnels on your own terms. Here is how to spend a full day exploring the history and rural landscapes just outside Saigon.
Escape the city center for a day to explore the quiet, atmospheric royal tombs and pagodas scattered along the Perfume River.
Escape the Da Nang coast for a day to explore the brick ruins of My Son, the heart of the ancient Champa Kingdom.
Three ways to reach Cu Chi from Saigon — public bus, guided minivan, or speedboat — each at a different price and pace. Here's what you actually get for the money.
From the jungle sanctuaries of My Son to the brick towers above Phan Thiet, this 7-day road trip traces the architectural legacy of the Cham kingdom down Vietnam's central coast.
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