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.