It’s 8pm in Hanoi’s labyrinthine Old Quarter and shop-owner Tran Thu Hien places her last $100 bill on the crackling street-side fire. I’ve watched her burn through thousands of dollars, but it’s still not enough. Hien, crouched over the blaze and dripping with sweat, has exhausted the cash. So she unpacks a box of personal items, pre-prepared for incineration: a gold Rolex, a pair of designer sunglasses, a pack of Cuban cigars and an iPhone X. Finally, Hien turns to a black Toyota Camry. The ca

An expedition through central Vietnam’s Son Doong, the world’s largest cave. "Don't step there," our guide says, pointing to a dubious area of brown sludge. "We might lose you." He's grinning but only half-joking: A previous wrong step pulled me deep into the gunk

Hanoi, the enigmatic 1000-year-old capital of Vietnam, is a city steeped in legend and layered with intrigue. At the city’s geographical and spiritual heart is the semi-mythical Lake of the Returned Sword, which divides central Hanoi into the chaotic tangle of lanes and alleyways that constitute the Old Quarter to the north, and the grand, tree-lined boulevards that form the French Quarter to the south.

It’s early evening and camera-wielding sightseers cluster around St Joseph’s Cathedral, the faded but iconic neo-Gothic edifice in Hanoi’s ancient Old Quarter. Overshadowed by the lofty cathedral spires is a crack between the buildings, a barely visible alley leading to a sign- less rusty door. I slip down the alley, ring a buzzer, give my name and pass through the crimson portal.

From moss-covered towers hidden in the hills to faded stone warriors proudly protecting the dead, the Hue tombs evoke the feeling of a forgotten, almost mythological world. The kings of the Nguyen Dynasty designed their own tombs, reflecting their varying temperaments, philosophies, and priorities.

Sơn Đoòng ở Quảng Bình, Việt Nam, là hang động lớn nhất trên thế giới. Một số nơi trong khối kiến trúc tự nhiên khổng lồ này có thế đặt vừa những tòa nhà cao 40 tầng ở New York.

Inspired Hanoians are blending creativity with entrepreneurial zeal, turning the city into a unique destination for boutique shoppers. Even as multinational high street chain stores sweep through other Asian cities...

Hanoi’s chequered history has created a beautiful mess of contrasting neighbourhoods. There's the labyrinthine Old Quarter; tree-studded French Quarter; lake-filled Tay Ho District; and the glistening modernity of the rapidly developing Westside precincts. Fortunately, accommodation options are spread throughout the city so you can pair your personality with the neighbourhood. From boutique charm squeezed into the Old City, to spacious modern creations from award-winning architects, there’s an

Hanoi is a city of extremes. Everything from the weather to the people and the air quality swings wildly between two polar opposites......