Russian arrivals in Vietnam topped 1 million in the first eight months of 2026, up about 166%, as travelers increasingly plan their own trips, stay longer and seek more varied experiences.

Dao Hoang Long, 22, spent around six weeks riding across Vietnam, reaching its four geographical extremes, seeing the northwest’s golden rice terraces and exploring the Truong Son route on a budget of about $540.

As rice terraces turn gold, the moss-covered roofs of Xa Phin stand out against the mountains, offering a glimpse of a Vietnamese village where homes and nature have grown together.

Co Le Pagoda in Vietnam’s Ninh Binh province is known for its unusual architecture. It also preserves the story of 35 Buddhist monastics who left religious life to fight for their country.

Giant drums carved from single blocks of wood can take months to finish and sell for up to $19,000 in Lam Yen, a Da Nang village where artisans are working to preserve a craft spanning more than two centuries.

Beyond its two international architecture awards, Ka Don church in Vietnam has another role: safeguarding Chu Ru culture through its museum, worship services and support for traditional pottery.

Autumn, when many temperate nations enter the season of yellow and red foliage, is  the peak time drawing Vietnamese tourists abroad.

Cooler air, cloud-covered mountains and seasonal fruit make October an inviting time to explore Vietnam, from Moc Chau’s orchards to northern highland villages and the misty hills of Da Lat.

After completing her PhD program in the US last August, Huynh Nguyen Nhu Quyen, 24, a university lecturer from HCMC, treated herself to a solo trip across four Central Asian countries.

After taking a chance on a piece of undeveloped land occupied by local residents, a Hanoi couple invested in upgrading the site with modern facilities and turning it into a homestay for visitors seeking views of clouds and a cool mountain retreat.

Da Nang has launched its “I Love Da Nang” campaign, offering more than 5,000 gifts and discount vouchers to South Korean visitors from September 21-27 during the Chuseok holiday.

Hanoi’s tourism sector continues to grow, but expanding hotel supply, particularly in the high-end segment, is prompting businesses to seek new sources of demand and encourage longer stays to improve operational efficiency.

Ho Chi Minh City ranked 205th among the world's 1,000 largest cities in the 2026 Global Cities Index by Oxford Economics, climbing 81 places from 286th in the 2025 edition.

For more than seven centuries, Kiep Bac Temple has drawn Vietnamese to the banks of the Luc Dau River to honor Tran Hung Dao, the revered general who helped defend Dai Viet in the 13th century.

Mo Temple in Hai Phong preserves centuries of northern Vietnamese history and belief, from the story of a Tran Dynasty princess to ancient trees and a 400-year-old gilded palanquin.

After nearly three years in Hanoi, Japanese expat Hitoshi Mission has eaten his way through the Vietnamese capital’s street-food scene, from a 60-cent serving of sticky rice to bowls of crab noodle soup and cold snail noodles.

Stone elephants, horses and dogs stand guard beside a 350-year-old terracotta tower at An Xa Temple, preserving traces of a rare Taoist spiritual world in northern Vietnam.

From crisp fried dumplings to sweet soups served in antique bowls, these five enduring snack shops offer a taste of Hanoi’s everyday food traditions in the heart of the capital.

Amid mountains and terraced fields in northern Vietnam, a Thai ethnic community is turning century-old stilt houses, traditional food and crafts into tourism experiences and new livelihoods.