The Can Gio nature reserve was always known for two things. One: It’s listing as Vietnam’s first UNESCO biosphere reserve and two: as probably the world’s finest example of a preserved and protected salt marsh forest.

The hydrofoil from HCMC to Vung Tau gradually reduces speed. I exit through the side door of the hydrofoil and feel at ease with the difference between the windy and sunny world of the coastal city of Vung Tau and the cramped world inside the hydrofoil.

It’s taken 18 years for a veteran of the Vietnam War to turn a heavily bombed swamp into a showcase of Vietnamese culture.

There is a problem with the Ha An Hotel – it’s just too popular. A cosy, charming and sophisticated boutique hotel, fashioned out of a French-colonial style building, the Ha An is invariably booked out over weekends.

Sailing and biking along the Red River is a wonderful chance to discover the rich cultural heritage and tranquility that surrounds the capital city.

With a series of tours for the autumn, Ben Thanh Tourist wants to promote destinations in the North for southern people who may not know about the beauty of the fall. The tour operator has recommended Hanoi and Sapa as suitable areas for visitors.

Ministry of Food may seem like a zealous name for a dessert house, but given the dedication to quality that underlies the concept, it’s not off the mark.

The Vietnamese community in Vientiane have plenty of options when they’re pining for some grub from the old country.

One café in Mui Ne has rapidly captured the imagination and the custom of local expats and visitors alike. Sarah Jordan meets the Joe from Joe’s – the Art Café

Standing in downtown Da Lat on clear days visitors can see the Lang Bian mountain range with its highest peak being at a latitude of 2,169m above sea level. Situated about 12km north of Da Lat City, Lang Bian is one of the three highest mountains on Lam Vien plateau, Da Lat.