Capital: Hanoi
The country has a lot of coastline but also has mountains, remote villages, and big cities. The nation was once a French colony. Given the past war between Vietnam and the US, I was curious how I would be received as an American. There were no issues. Most Vietnamese people today just want to work and live their best life, like everyone else.
Many tourists start in Hanoi and work south. However, I started in Ho Chi Minh City and worked north.
Pro Tip: Vietnam used to allow multiple entry visas, making it easy to visit Laos and Cambodia between locations in Vietnam. People I talked to expected the multiple entry visa to return but politicians weren't in any rush to address it. Check the current status before you plan your trip.
Ho Chi Minh City: Locals still call it Saigon.
Da Nang / Ba Na Hills: A beach town with high-rise hotels and access to an odd mountain-side theme park.
Hoi An: A UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its Japanese, French colonial, and Vietnamese architecture.
Hue: The seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802-1945.
Hanoi: A metropolis with lots of colonial history.