Central Vietnam
Sparkling yellow-green terraced hills overflowing with greenery are set beyond calm waters, where small boats cruise placidly during the day. As the evening sets in, the stars sparkle in their quiet glory, along with the small lanterns that twinkle along with their cadence. Deep into its bosom, ornate monuments and towering pagodas beam with their rustic beauty, preserved by the people with the warmest smiles in Southeast Asia. Central Vietnam is a melody of unique terrains—grand, sandy beaches, delectable islets quirkily creating a mini archipelago, and majestic mountains that hide many unfathomable wonders.
Đồng Hới, about three hundred miles to the capital Hanoi, is home to Vietnam’s recently discovered natural treasure: a series of caves tucked underneath its rocky skirts. Once home to the Champa empire, the temple city of Mỹ Sơn near Hội An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, much loved for the romantic air resulting from its painting-worthy scenery of colourful lanes and cultural buildings all lined up by the canals and bay - a melting pot of cultures.
Huế is bequeathed with another UNESCO medal, an ancient city that traces its roots to the 4th-century, lined with dazzling pagodas in sculptured splendour singing remarkable tales of an imperial city, complete with palaces, shrines, citadel, a Forbidden Purple City and statues of warriors and horses guarding the secrets of ancient tombs. Local cuisine, including the savoury Bún bò Huế and the clam-sprinkled Cơm hến gives any ardent epicurean a taste of Central Vietnam’s bold and brave flavours.
Da Nang, a coastal city, marks the halfway point of Vietnam, blessed with beaches, marble mountains, and a unique French flare in certain quarters. The eccentric city makes a dynamic transformation, stirring up global attention with its sea-strip decked with hotels. The Dragon Bridge, on weekends, stuns with a breath of fire, while other more traditional locations cater to the ardent lovers of culture. Dramatic landscapes are on display at Hải Vân Pass, an impressive coastal road, cradling in their folds many wartime relics including gun towers and a decrepit fort.