Shaped in the form of the letter “S”, the country of Vietnam lies in the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, with China and Laos and Cambodia as its neighbors. Tracing its rich heritage back to 258 B.C., Vietnam has been a center of activity for centuries owing to its location on the map.

Here are the top 5 places to visit in Vietnam:

1. Hanoi – Bordering the banks of Red River, the capital city of Vietnam – Hanoi, traces its long history back to 3 century B.C. Also, as the second largest city of Vietnam, this city has retained its French colonial charm and is dotted with lovely parks and lakes. The Son La Mountains, standing tall on the western edge of the city are home to several sanctuaries, grottos and pagodas. The tranquil haven of peace – Halong Bay on the north of Hanoi gives way to dramatic rock formations and harbours extensive grottos and caves. The Perfume Pagoda, The One Pillar Pagoda, The Temple of Literature, National Preserve of Cuc Phuong and Ho Tay Lake Water Park are some of the main attractions of this beautiful city.

2. Ho Chi Minh City – Formerly known as Saigon, this stunning city is located in the heart of northern Vietnam – between the northern edge of Mekong Delta and the south eastern region of volcanic red soil. This combination of geographical features ensures that Ho Chi Minh is made up of natural forests, vast plains, long coast and hundreds of rivers and canals. Once also known as the “Pearl of the Orient”, this city worked as an important trade route between China and Japan. Lined with stately trees and magnificent French villas, this is the largest city in Vietnam. The pagoda of good luck and happiness, War Remnants Museum, Museum of Vietnamese History and several other interesting attractions like the Saigon Water Park are some of major points of tourist interest.

3. Halong – Located in the northeast of Vietnam, this exquisite city is made up of about 1,600 island and islets – photographs of which have often made Vietnam quite popular. While most of the islands are uninhabited, they’re also protected UNESCO world heritage site. As the islands are a source of life for a host of flora and fauna, there are several caves within the islands which you can explore including: Thien Cung, Dau Go, Sung Sot and Bo Nau. The Bay of the Descending Dragon is often also regarded as the world’s eighth natural wonder.

4. Hue – Originally built in 1687, the city of Hue also served as the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty. Once the cultural, religious and economic centre of Vietnam, in Hue charming women with elegant Vietnamese traditional dresses and conical palm leaf hats welcome you, into their world. While no one who has been to Hue can forget the humbleness and graciousness of the Vietnamese people, enjoy the local culinary delights like steamed thin rice pancakes and several other delicious dishes. As several dozen museums and mausoleums surround Hue, most notable are: Gia Long, Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh mausoleums and the famous pagodas worth a visit are: Tu Dam and Thien Mu on the left bank of beautiful Huong river.

5. Nha Trang – Capital of the Khanh Hoa province, Nha Trang has lots of islands, coastal climate, clean beaches and lots of sunshine. Discover the beautiful towers of Po Nagar Cham, built between the 8th and 13th centuries. World famous for their architecture and sculpture, you can also admire the beautiful landscapes of the coastal region of Nha Trang, once you are atop the hill you can gaze at the beautiful landscape of the costal Nha Trang. Long Son pagoda, Hon Chong Beach, Palace of the Ocean King, Hon Mieu Island and Ba Ho Stream are of the other popular tourist attractions.