By JANE ATKIN, Lonely Planet
Northeast Vietnam’s top ticket is Halong Bay, and while visiting the World Heritage site is an essential experience, the region also showcases craggy limestone peaks, tropical forests, caves, waterfalls and historic sights.
A tourist boat sails past the stone islands of Halong Bay. (Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
To the south of Halong Bay is Cat Ba, a verdant island renowned for its hiking, biking, sailing and world-class rock climbing. To the east, Bai Tu Long Bay continues nature’s spectacular show all the way to the Chinese border, and Quan Lan Island is emerging as a destination for pioneering travellers.
Cao Bang
Looming above the coast, the karst continues into Cao Bang province, and the brooding mountains are one of Vietnam’s most idiosyncratic landscapes. With Sapa and northwest Vietnam firmly on the tourist map, head northeast instead to explore remote backroads and the sublime lakes of Ba Be National Park.
Beyond a boat cruise, visitors to Halong also come to explore the caves. There are few real beaches in Halong Bay, but Lan Ha Bay has idyllic sandy coves a short boat hop from Cat Ba town.
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