Vietnam is located on the mainland edge of Southeast Asia with a population of over 100 million. It has an extremely eventful and tumultuous history over the entirety of its existence but has recently become a popular tourist destination while in Southeast Asia. Some cities to check out while in Vietnam include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, and Hoi An as well as Ha Long Bay and the Mekong Delta.

Hạ Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Quảng Ninh province in Northern Vietnam. The name Hạ Long means "descending dragon" in Vietnamese. The bay if full of thousands of karsts made of limestone and contain large amounts of vegetation on their tops. It is said that these cliffs have undergone 500 million years of formation in their lifetimes. Nonetheless, visiting Ha Long Bay is essential when it this part of Vietnam and is often a stop when visiting Hanoi.

Hue is located in the Thura Thien Hue Province in North Central Vietnam. After Vietnamese conquest in 1307, Hue served as an Imperial City through the Nguyen dynasty. Today is is home to the Hue Citadel and Complex of Hue Monuments (a UNESCO Designated Site). Perched along the Perfume River there are plenty of attractions to see in Hue such as the Tự Đức and Thiên Mụ Temples along with the Hue Citadel.

Hoi An was by far my favorite place I visited in Southeast Asia. Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and located in central Vietnam. It is a quintessential example of a 15th century Southeast Asian trading port. It plays host to the Hoi An Lantern Festival held on the 14th day of each Lunar month. On your trip here, don't miss seeing the Japanese Bridge, or take a cooking class, or even purchase custom clothing/jewelry and lanterns to take back home.

Vientiane is the capital city of Laos, located along the Mekong river, on the border with Thailand. Laos gained independence in 1953 after Japanese occupation in WWII and previous French rule starting in 1899. Significant monuments such as Pha That Luang and the Buddhist Temple Haw Phra Kaew are excellent places to visit during your time here.

Lake Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and can be found in Cambodia. Its name translates to 'Great Lake' and belongs to the Mekong River Delta. Many of the 1.2 million residents of the lake live in floating villages working as fisherman, most of which are of Vietnamese descent. Day trips to Tonlé Sap can be organized from Penom Penh.

Southeast Asia typically refers to the peninsular region in Asia comprising the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and West Malaysia, though it is often known to include many small islands in the region as well. All countries comprise about 8.5% of the world's population and 3% of Earth's total land area. SE Asia is the most culturally diverse region of the world.

When you're in this part of the world, be sure to take a ferry from Chumphon towards the East Thai islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan. These islands together all have a little something different to offer so it's worth checking out all three. You can expect to go snorkeling, paddle boarding, suntanning, diving, and plenty of eating and drinking when you're here. Enjoy!

The northern region of Vietnam boasts the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and the amazing archipelago at Ha Long Bay. Take in the sights in the capital, walk through the Old Quarter and experience Hoán Kiêm Lake while riding a scooter through the city. Then book yourself a boat to take you for a night out on Ha Long Bay with stunning viewpoints and explore Sung Sot Cave while you’re at it.

Hoi An and Hue in Central Vietnam are (IMHO) the most culturally important cities in the country. Where else in Vietnam can you ride bicycles through the alleyways lined with lanterns and through rice fields on the city outskirts, to the most picturesque beaches? The Answer: Hoi An. Hue is rich in history as well. See it all at the Imperial City and Tombs/Pagodas that dot along the Perfume river.

The southern region of Vietnam has a massive bustling city in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), and an area lush with jungle vegetation, known as the Mekong Delta. Here you can get two massively different experiences, but just as much adventure. If you desire to go to the beach and live in paradise for a few days, then Nha Trang is just for you!

The cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Thailand, several hours north of Bangkok, are a great change of pace from the country capital. In these cities you can discover great temples like Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep and the White Temple, see a Muay Thai fight, and even take cooking classes in traditional Thai cuisine.

It can be argued that the biggest draw of Bangkok (and Thailand in general) is the food. In between meals, you can make your way up and down the Chao Phraya river by boat, stopping at different attractions along the way. These include Wat Arun, Wat Pho, The Grand Palace, Tha Tian Market, and Saranrom Park.

Penon Penh and Siem Reap are the two must sees in Cambodia. The country is most well known for its collection of temples, in their highest concentration at Angkor Archeological Park (near Siem Reap). Here you can see world famous temples such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Phnom Bakheng, Pre Rup, Preah Khan, and Temple Ta Prohm.