Nestled away in Yen Bai province, 170km from Hanoi, on the banks of the quiet Thac Ba Lake, is La Vie Vu Linh. It’s an eco-lodge, built according to local traditional techniques in the midst of the Red Dzao minority Ngoi Tu Village. It promotes eco-tourism in harmony with the local population and the environment.

Almost 250km directly north of Hanoi is Ba Be National Park, home to three lakes, breathtaking scenery and the Tay ethnic minority. Words and photos by Julie Vola

Tucked into the coast on the way to Vung Tau is an island that is still untouched. Vu Ha Kim Vy heads out of town for a short break

Want to know where all those birdcages come from? Just do what Jesse Meadows did and drive out to Canh Hoach Village

Many visitors to Vietnam are fascinated by the Vietnam War era. They seek out the places where well-documented battles took place, they visit war-museums, they comb war-surplus markets for helmets, bits and pieces of uniform, canteens, rusty dog-tags and the like.

While much of Vietnam has moved on from its war-torn past, for people living close to the former Demilitarised Zone it is inescapable. Words and photos by Nick Ross

When Ben and Bich Mitchell first opened Phong Nha Farmstay in December 2010, the local consensus was that they had a screw loose.

Until Dec. 31, Pullman Danang is offering a 24% to 32% discount for three (more) night stay at the resort.

Set up in late 2015, Phong Nha has a new day trip for those not lucky enough to get on the tour to the largest cave in the world. It’s worth every penny. Words and photos by Nick Ross

Stay in a five-star or boutique hotel, and you got one type of experience. Stay in a homestay and you get something altogether quite different. Words and photos by Jesse Meadows