Hanoi.

A thousand-year-old capital where motorbikes flow like water and the coffee comes topped with whipped egg. Stay for the street food, then sail east — Ha Long Bay's limestone towers are only a few hours away.

Hanoi is Vietnam's thousand-year-old capital and the launchpad for everything spectacular in the country's north. Wander the Old Quarter's tangle of lanes, then let the tours take over: overnight luxury cruises through Ha Long Bay's limestone seascape, quieter sailings into Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long Bays, trekking trips to Sapa's terraced hillsides with village homestays, and multi-day packages stringing together Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and the coast. Day cruises and comfortable limousine transfers make even short stays count.