Vietnam Travel Blog

Few spectacles embody Vietnam’s festive spirit like the lion dance, where vibrant costumes, rhythmic drumbeats, and agile dancers create a captivating, lifelike performance at festivals, Lunar New Year, weddings, and business openings. Beyond its dazzling display, this cherished tradition holds profound cultural and spiritual meaning, believed to dispel bad luck, attract prosperity, and foster community joy, with unique regional styles and rich origins that reveal a deeper story waiting to be explored.

Motorbike touring in Vietnam is unlike anywhere else in the world. From the winding passes of the North to sunlit coastlines and endless rice fields, it’s the ultimate freedom trip. As a blogger and tour guide who has clocked thousands of kilometers, I can tell you: this isn’t just travel; it’s transformation. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need before hitting the road: visas, licenses, rentals, epic routes, and the secrets that most tours won’t tell you.

Among Hanoi’s most iconic architectural symbols, few embody the French colonial era as strongly as the Long Bien Bridge. Built in 1899, this more-than-120-year-old iron bridge was once nicknamed the “horizontal Eiffel Tower” of Hanoi. Far beyond its function of linking the two banks of the Red River, Long Bien stands as a living gateway to the memory and history of the Vietnamese capital.

If a Hanoian had to name the most iconic and expansive traditional market in Hanoi, Dong Xuan would undoubtedly top the list. As a child, many Hanoians fondly recall their first visit, hand-in-hand with a parent, staring in awe at the sea of colors, fabrics, kitchenware, and the endless hum of voices. The experience here is also a must-try if you’re a foreigner.

Welcome to Cat Ba, the jewel island of the Gulf of Tonkin! To reach this destination from Hanoi, you will combine several means of transport. Common choices include a bus, a limousine van, or even a train to the nearby city of Hai Phong, followed by a speedboat or a ferry to get to the island. Here are the 4 main options on "How to Get from Hanoi to Cat Ba", explained simply so you can visualize each step and choose the one that suits you best.

Right in the center of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is more than just a scenic spot. It's a place where history, culture, and everyday life come together. Locals know it for morning walks and quiet moments. Visitors come to see Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, and The Huc Bridge — all linked to the legend of King Le Loi and the magical sword returned to the turtle god. In this article, we explore the story behind Hoan Kiem Lake and what makes it such a special part of daily life in the city.