The Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, is a charming mix of East meets West where the city’s fascinating layers have been forged across over 1,000 years of history. Temples, pagodas and ancient Chinese architecture are tumultuously packed together along winding alleys in its quaint Old Quarter and hopping on a cyclo (three-wheeled bicycle) is a thrilling way to explore this twisting maze. A few streets beyond, though, and everything opens up as lemon-hued grand colonial mansions flank tree-lined boulevards in the neighboring French Quarter. Hoan Kiem Lake adds to Hanoi’s openness, being a lovely place to stroll and watch locals practise early-morning tai chi. For an enriching dose of traditional Vietnamese culture, watch a show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, an ancient art form that dates back to the 11th century.

The UNESCO-protected Halong Bay is said to have been created after a Jade Emperor ordered a dragon to spray pearls from its mouth into the sea to help protect Vietnam from invasion. But today it looks like the dragon’s teeth fell out of its mouth with the pearls, creating an ethereal collection jagged forested peaks that rise magnificently out of the turquoise waters around them. It’s a sight that’s lusted after by many a traveller and while you won’t be alone when visiting Halong Bay, it’s still a scene that will totally transfix you while on a luxury holiday here. Lying south of its more famous sibling, Lan Ha Bay serves up more epic limestone karst scenery but without the crowds, if you really want an intimate glimpse. For another alternative, Ninh Binh, a short drive just south of Hanoi, is often nicknamed ‘Halong Bay on land’, where limestone hills are intersected by rice paddies and lakes.

For many, Hoi An is the Vietnam they’ve imagined. In-between the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An is an oasis of calm that has stayed so true to its traditional roots it’s been honoured with UNESCO World Heritage status, its historic core brimming with Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese influences. Small wooden shophouses line narrow streets that come alive once nightfall descends, enchantingly lit up by strings of colourful lanterns. Wander the city for Vietnam’s finest food scene, where wafts of pho and cau lau (pork and noodles) can be smelt from street stalls and local kitchens, and a thread of fine tailors that owe their legacy to Hoi An’s history as a pitstop on the silk trading route.

A fast-paced flurry of urban excitement, Saigon is Vietnam at its most rapid. Its streets are swarmed with scooters that can seem overwhelming at first but if you can’t beat them, join them – Vespa tours are a great way to explore its less busy streets, passing spectacular sights such as Binh Tay, a market so big it’s like a city within a city, and Thien Hau pagoda. But Saigon is a great base for exploring further, with a day trip to the tiny tunnels of Cu Chi an eye-opening reminder of the Vietnam War. Beyond lies the legendary Mekong Delta, where timeless traces of life still thrive alone the riverbanks, with markets and villages floating on streams and rivers that weave the impossibly green landscape like arteries.

Though Vietnam’s cities are thoroughly enthralling, many don’t realize the country has plenty of incredible beaches to relax on, too. As well as its quaint old-world wonders, Hoi An lies close to several fine stretches of sand and further south, the boulders which hem in a brilliant beachy crescent add natural drama to Ninh Van Bay. Offshore, though the island of Phu Quoc has experienced a surge in visitors in recent years, its northern coast still offers a sleepy tropical sanctuary. For an even more off-beat escape, the Con Dao islands serve up unspoilt beaches and coral reefs home to eye-popping snorkeling and diving.