As a nation inundated in impressive natural beauty, cultural complexities and a fascinating history, planning a trip to Vietnam can cause a few headaches if time is a factor. With 3,260km of coastline, this tall, skinny nation naturally puts some considerable distance between some of its highlights. With the likes of Phu Quoc Island, the Mekong Delta, Dalat and Mui Ne surrounding the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City in the South and fan favourites such as Hoi-An, Da Nang and Ph

Sapa, a charming region in northern Vietnam, is another of Vietnams top tourist destinations and one of the country’s leading trekking bases. Offering tours which enable you to hike through the small hill-tribe villages and green rice terraces it is a great way to do some exercise whilst enjoying the spectacular landscapes and of course meet the locals! With most tours offering overnight stays with a local family it really gives you an insight into their life and the stories

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Vietnams most iconic features and understandably a very popular tourist destination. Situated in Quang Ninh Province it is easily accessible from Hanoi. The only way to visit this magnificent bay is via cruise, whether it be a day, overnight or a weeks voyage. From the top deck you are able to enjoy the breath taking seascape of endless limestone karsts. The two day one night Bhaya Classic Junk Boat was our cruise of choice. The staff

We began our trip not too far out of town, at some small nature park where we were given our introduction by our guide Black Buffalo. Here we were told what we were going to be doing and taught exactly how everything was going to be done. Essentially we were going to be abseiling down both dry and wet falls. Our first abseil was down the dryer edges of a 15m waterfall, however due to the large volumes of water, we found ourselves letting go a couple of metres from the bottom