Halong Bay

Magnificent Halong Bay, with more almost 2'000 islands rising from the clar, emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, is a Unesco World Heritage site and one of Vietnam's natural marvels. The vegetations-covered islands are dotted with innumerable grottos and caves created by the wind and the waves. Ha long means 'where the dragon descends into the sea'. To see the islands and grottos, a boat trip is mandatory. Most of the tours include transport, meals, accomodation and boat tours. I took the chance and made a booking for a three day tour. There are a lot tour operators and many different standards of boats. Some of them offer trips for three days for USD 55.- which I find rather difficult believe. Therefore I decided to go on a more exclusive one which was really worth it. Being on the boat I could also see the other boats with and their standard. So I was happy with mine. My package included kayaking which I did on the second day to the most fantastic, unique, untouched and quiet places where the big boats obviously cannot reach.

Hanoi

Sophisticated, modern, and yet coolly romantic, the city is a self-assured blend of French colonial flair and vintage Vietnam. Late-model motorbikes pulse through the intersections of the Old Quarter's labyrinthine streets and foreign tourists slurp soup on the street alongside old men with goatees and Vietnamese fashion plates in silk and denim.
Hoan Kiem Lake is the liquid heart of the Old Quarter, a good orienting landmark. Everybody like to stay in this area as the whole place is filled with nice cafes and bars as well as nice little boutiques. It is also very easy to get around and hangout.
One of the must visit in Hanoi is definitely the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. It is divided in different buildings. The main one is certainly where Uncle Ho rests in a glass sarcophagus set deep within a monumental edifice. Bringing your camera or taking pictures is strictly prohibited! Other interesting buildings are the museum with lots of photos, manuscripts and documents followed by the stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived between 1958 and 1969.
Another highlight in the innercity of Hanoi is the Temple of Literature which was dedicated to Confucius in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong and later established as a university for the education of mandarins. A well-preserved jewel of traditional Vietnamese architecture in 11th century style with roofed gateways and low-eaved buildings.

Hue

Traditionally, Hue has been one of Vietnam's cultural, religious and educational centres. Hue served as the political capital from 1802 to 1945 under the 13 emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. Today, Hue's decaying opulent tombs of the Nguyen emperors and grand, crumbling Citadel comprise a Unesco World Heritage site.
The Citadel, the erstwhile city is one of Vietnam's disintegrating treasures and as most of the architectural attractions, it lies along the northern side of the Perfume River. Though heavily bombed by the Americans, and much of it now used for agriculture, its scope and beauty still impress.
The royal tombs are 7 to 16km south of Hue and each of them is unique and very different to the others. Emperor Tu Duc's tomb complex, is a majestic site, laced with frangipani and pine trees and set alongside a small lake. The buildings are beautifully designed. The most amazing one is the Tomb of Min Mang, who ruled from 1820 to 1840. This tomb is renowned for its architecture, which blends into the natural surroundings. The elaborate, hilltop Tomb of Khai Dinh, who ruled from 1916 to 1925, stands out from the other tombs for its unique structure. The buildings and statues reflect a distinct mix of Vietnamese and European features.