Travel in city Hanoi

If you want to take a leisurely tour of the coastline between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi , the night train is the best way: you’ll travel as you sleep, leaving days free for exploring, and save money on hotel bills. Join Rough Guides writer Heidi Fuller-Love on her Vietnam railways adventure.

At the 123-year-old Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the finest suites have long been named after the most memorable guests—Graham Greene, for one. Now those spaces, along with the rest of the hotel's original Heritage Wing, have reopened after an extensive renovation. New touches include imported Italian marble and hand-tufted carpets, while the hand-painted artwork adorning the elevator car shines as bright as it did in 1901. The grand original wooden staircase also remains—be sure to descend it in a wardrobe that would befit those glamorous visitors of the past. To help you look and feel as luxurious as this iconic hotel, we gathered a list of chic and sophisticated packing essentials inspired by the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, from silk midi skirts to printed one-piece swimsuits.

3,300 departures per week, 160 destinations around the globe.

Hanoi's Old Quarter has many constants, from its French Colonial architecture, Opera House and 1,000-year-old Temple of Literature to its vibrant street food and the chaotic two-, three- and four-wheel traffic that swirls all day and much of the night around picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake.

Around 1,600 towering karst pillars and forested islets spring from the emerald bays off Vietnam’s northeastern coast. Traditional sailing junks, cabin cruises, and yachts drift through the Ha Long, Lan Han, Bai Tu Long bays, and the Cat Ba Archipelago. Most travelers spend at least one night aboard with kayaking, climbing, and short yet steep hikes immersing you further in this spectacular landscape.

From the islands of Indonesia to the skyscrapers of Singapore, these are the hot new hotels in Asia to bookmark for your next trip.

With a rate of $1190 for the cheapest room, New Orleans emerged top of the rankings.

New Year’s Eve can be an expensive affair if you plan on traveling—even, as it turns out, if you plan on doing a staycation stateside. In a recent study conducted by TravelMag.com, New Orleans was found to be the priciest city in the world to book a hotel room on New Year’s Eve.

New Orleans is the most expensive destination in the world for hotel stays over this year’s New Year’s Eve period, a new survey has revealed. he survey by TravelMag.com compared accommodation rates across 60 major global cities. For each destination, the price for the most affordable available double room for a 3-night stay from December 30 to January 2 was recorded. Only hotels with a central location and rated three stars or more were considered.

Whether you’re daydreaming about navigating the glittering beehive of Ho Chi Minh City, criss-crossing the chaotic streets of Hanoi, or tanning on the beaches of Da Nang, you’ll eventually encounter the question of what documents you’ll need to travel to Vietnam.

Hanoi is the bustling capital of Vietnam. This storied city is known for showcasing a stunning array of centuries-old buildings with impressive architecture, and a rich culture blending Southeast Asian, Chinese, and French influences.

STR reported that China hotel RevPAR was up 36.9% in the week ending July 22nd. That was up against a drop of -15.7% in the year-ago week. Versus the week in 2019, RevPAR was up 5.4%. The South China Morning Post published an article on how cash-rich investors are looking to buy hotels in Hong Kong, taking advantage of discounts of as much as 30%.

Vietnam has long drawn travelers in search of street food—traditional dishes passed down and perfected over decades by multi-generational food hawkers. Never was this more apparent to global audiences than when Anthony Bourdain and President Barack Obama famously met over bowls of bún chả, a northern Vietnamese grilled pork noodle salad, at a family-owned establishment in Hanoi back in 2016.

The results follow a year-long search for the world’s leading culinary brands. Votes were cast by culinary industry professionals and the general public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.

Viking has revealed the new Viking Tonle, set to debut in October 2025, sailing between Kampong Cham, Cambodia, and Mỹ Tho, Vietnam, as part of Viking’s popular 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary.

Oceania Cruises has launched its annual Best-Ever Black Friday Sale, offering up to $5,400 off per stateroom on over 100 voyages in 2024. 

Vietnam’s cuisine has been shaped over generations by a rich tapestry of cultural influences. French colonialism introduced baguettes, leading to dishes like banh mi sandwiches; Vietnamese spring rolls are made with Chinese-style rice paper; and Indian and Thai influences are showcased via the widespread use of spices like star anise and curry powder.

Raising my family in Singapore has meant that air travel is second nature to my two young kids. Between long-haul flights to visit family back in the US to weekends spent exploring Southeast Asia, I frequently take advantage of living 20 minutes from Changi International Airport, which is consistently ranked among the world's top airports. 

While metropolises like New Delhi and Mumbai continue to be on the travel list, leisure destinations like Udaipur, Puri, Goa, Jaipur and Munnar are some of the top searched domestic destinations during the festive season (between November 10-14), according to Booking.com.

The White House said on Monday that Vietnam Airlines’ deal to buy 50 737 Max jets from U.S. planemaker Boeing is worth $7.8 billion.

The 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2023 (ITE HCMC 2023) is scheduled from September 7 to 9, 2023, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), District 7. Themed “Connectivity, Growth, and Sustainability,” ITE HCMC 2023 aims to propel Vietnam’s tourism industry, ensuring sustainable development while showcasing its allure globally.

Anyone who has stayed in an exuberantly designed hotel in Asia has most likely experienced the designs of Bill Bensley: the Bangkok-based designer is the creative force behind The Siam Hotel Bangkok; Rosewood Luang Prabang, Shinta Mani Angkor and Capella Hanoi among others. Apart from his hotel designs, though, Bensley is also an artist and philanthropist and those three interests combine in the first Bensley Art Trail, a 12 day tour for those interested in art, design, luxury and conservation from November 28th-December 10th. Bensley will lead it, taking 12 guests behind the scenes of several of those hotels as well as his home, with itinerary details constructed by the Bangkok based luxury, bespoke travel company Smiling Albino. Proceeds will go to the Shinta Mani Foundation which is based in Cambodia to fund 32 scholarships for students of the Shinta Mani Foundation Hospitality School, Class of 2024.