International tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the first nine months totaled 7.265 million, an increase of 25 per cent year-on-year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

It’s October, autumn in northern Vietnam, and the sunflowers in the fields with their golden heads as wide as sombreros lifted towards the sun are more beautiful than any other time of the year.

 Tour operators in HCM City have had to drop so-called floating tours to the Mekong Delta from September to November, which is supposed to be the flooding season in the delta, as floods have not come to the region this year.

 VietNamNet Bridge - The Huong or Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi is an autumn venue for photographers because of the lily blooming season on the Yen stream.

 VietNamNet Bridge - You may experience camping on the coast, on the windswept highlands or along the forest not too far from Hanoi. The following destinations are good for those who want a true feeling of camping. 

Passing through sloping mountain passes, going to mountainous markets, saluting the national flag at the north pole and touching the most remote border landmarks are things you should not miss when visiting Ha Giang.

VietNamNet Bridge - Cuc Phuong, Tam Dao, Pu Luong and Ba Be are among the most famous national parks in Vietnam, which attract a lot of tourists. 

 Any traveller who has trekked through the Thung Khe mountain pass knows enchantment; they know the sight of a vast plain that sits among mountain clouds and chilled fog, among the rocky mountain range and the Da River reservoir.

Travelling along the coast, tourists can taste famous rice dishes, from com lam of the northwestern region to com hen of the ancient capital city of Hue to com nieu and com tam of the southern region.

Mu Cang Chai terraces, Muong Lo field, Suoi Giang tea hills and Thac Ba Lake resort are beautiful landscapes in Yen Bai that should not be missedon your trip to the Northwest region of Vietnam, particularly in spring.

 The Mariner of the Seas, a luxury cruise ship of the US Royal Caribbean International harboured at Chan May Port in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue on October 13. 

About 200 km from Hanoi, Moc Chau is one of the most pristine beautiful plateaus in the northern mountainous region.

VietNamNet Bridge - Tran Quoc is an ancient pagoda located in a corner of Hanoi’s West Lake and is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Vietnam. 

 Ha Long Bay and pho in Hanoi have been named among 50 can’t-miss attractions, foods and experiences in Asia by US news website Business Insider. 

Hanoi has introduced free walking tours around the Old Quarter to mark the opening of the Center for Tourist Information and Assistance at 28 Hang Dau Street in the capital’s ancient area.

 The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has won the 2016 Asian Townscape Award from the Asia-Pacific regional office of the UN Human Settlements (UN-HABITAT) programme. 

 Quang Ninh People's Committee has approved a pilot plan to allow private cars to travel between Vietnam’s Mong Cai Town and China’s Dongxing City from 2017.

With autumn in full swing, here are four excellent homestays near Sapa that offer a perfect combination of comfort and luxury for a holiday that travellers will cherish for a lifetime.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Nature Museum is a wonderful destination for tourists and students in Hanoi. The museum is an interesting journey from 3.6 billion years ago to now. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Green sticky rice is given by friends and family as an autumn gift in Hanoi.