Cuc Phoung National Park
Set up in 1962 as Vietnam's first national park, Cuc Phuong is a thriving mountain rainforest with over 250 bird and 60 mammal species, including leopards, tigers and the most unusual red-bellied squirrel. It's the ideal location for a good hike, and includes many points of interest such as a waterfall, a 1,000-year-old tree, and a cave where prehistoric human remains have been found. There is accommodation for staying overnight here if you so wish.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay comprises of 3,000 islands located in the Gulf of Tonkin. It has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It takes about a 4-hour drive from Hanoi along particularly bad roads, and would usually include an overnight stay in order to make the journey worth while. It's best to organize the trip through an agent or tour operator as the whole enterprise can be a logistical headache if trying to arrange yourself. A guide can be of great benefit when it comes to looking for accommodation and places to eat.
Hoa Lu
Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam from A.D. 968 to 1010. It is situated in a beautiful valley surrounded by breathtaking limestone formations. There are some very interesting temples in the valley, most of which were renovated in the 17th century. Hoa Lu can easily be seen by taking a day trip from Hanoi. Coach tours run from the city and cost about US$12 per person.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem is a small lake in the very heart of Hanoi. According to a legend dating from the 15th Century, the Emperor Le Loi received a magic sword from a giant turtle in order to use it against the Chinese invaders. It was given under the condition that the Emperor return the sword to the turtle once victory was secured. Since then, the lake has been known as Hoan Kiem, or "returned sword."
The area can be quite busy in the morning as people take their exercise on the footpath surrounding the lake. Most people are practicing Tai Chi - particularly popular among the older generation - while the younger crowd can be seen out jogging or stretching.
Later in the day the lake becomes populated with tourists and office workers from the surrounding offices buildings. Taxis and tour busses line up at the North end of the lake near the foot bridge that leads to the Ngoc Son Pagoda. You'll find a lot of young people hanging out in this area; most of them are selling maps, post cards and paperbacks. There are others who will offer to shine your shoes or have your photograph taken. While they can be quite insistent, they are rarely, if ever too pushy or rude.
Sa Pa and Bac Ha Markets
Sa Pa is an old hill station perched high up on the edge of a plateau surrounded by stunning scenery among the Hoang Lien Mountains, which includes Fransipan -Vietnam's tallest mountain. Sa Pa serves as a market town and gathering place for local traders who come here to exchange goods every weekend. It is an excellent place to come and buy handicrafts and take in the atmospheric bustle of the marketplace. The clothing and decorative ornamentation on some of the local tribes is particularly striking.
Also famous for its market - particularly on Sundays - is the small town of Bac Ha in a valley nearly 50 miles away from Sa Ha. The market is a great splash of colour and noise; a place where socializing is as important as trading. The roads leading into the town are crammed with people - young, old and everything in between - some arriving on horseback and others on the backs of water buffalo. You'll see various clusters of people gathered around pots of food talking animatedly and laughing with each other. There is a great selection of produce for sale; farm animals, artwork, vegetables, clothing and particularly flowers; the Hmong Flower being among the most noticeable. The markets have become quite popular with tourists and it is worth remembering that visitors to the area should be respectful of the local traditions and not be too intrusive - particularly when taking photographs.
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