LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Coastal Classic
THREE TO FOUR WEEKS
Kick off in the capital, Hanoi; soak up the sights, dine in style and prepare for the long ride south. A short hop south is Ninh Binh, gateway to the surreal scenery of Tam Coc and Hoa Lu, and the animals of Cuc Phuong National Park .
Visit Hue, imperial capital of old, then take the awesome Hai Van Pass to Danang, home to the Museum of Cham Sculpture - a must before encountering the legacy of their ancient empire. Hoi An is the place for some time out - sightseeing, shopping and sunning yourself on the beach. Spend a day at My Son, the best preserved of the many Cham temple cities that dot the coastal regions south of here.
Enter Nha Trang, the biggest, possibly brashest, beach resort in Vietnam, and try a hedonistic boat trip to nearby islands. If it's all too much, carry on south to Mui Ne Beach, a tropical idyll with smart resorts, blissed-out budget options, and towering sand dunes.
Wind up in Ho Chi Minh City, where you can spend any excess cash in the best restaurants and bars in the country.
Many tour companies offer this trip in a two-week timeframe, but this barely allows enough time to unpack your bags in each place. Train, bus or opt for a car and driver for this 1710km epic.
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
