"This labyrinth of tunnels between what were North and South Vietnam during the war is a testimony to the defiance and ingenuity of the Vietnamese resistance. Vinh Moc was a village that the U.S. troops believed to be sympathetic to the Communist North, so when the Americans planned to remove the villagers, the locals dug tunnels to relocate their abodes underground. What resulted is a tight warren of underground paths stretching more than a mile in total, some as deep as 100 feet below the surface. The subterranean village included kitchens, rooms, and wells, and was home to more than 50 families; a number of children were even born in this subterranean hamlet."

"The royal capital for more than 140 years during the 19th and 20th centuries, Hue is a not-to-be-missed stop on any itinerary in Vietnam . It was a political, religious, and cultural center for the Nguyen dynasty, the last to rule the country before Vietnam proclaimed itself a republic in 1945. The city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, features a dizzying array of tombs, pagodas, and monuments—but perhaps the most impressive, and certainly grandest, sight is its citadel. Surrounded by a moat and hefty stone walls, the citadel contains the Imperial City, with fortified ramparts, brightly painted pagodas and gateways, beautiful carved-stone dragons, and a palpable sense of the history that unfolded here."

"A Bounty of Nature A French-era hill station, this national park stretches from the coast to the Annamite mountain range at the Lao border. More than 1400 species of plants, including rare ferns and orchids, have been discovered in Bach Ma, representing a fifth of the flora of Vietnam. It is also a great place for bird spotting."

"Stunning Son Tra One of Danang's most amazing -- yet underrated -- drawcards is the wild Son Tra Peninsula. Unlike other coastal areas in Danang, the peninsula has benefited from a conservation order which has kept big resorts at bay. A motorbike trek encompassing the entire area, which numbers beaches, mountains and dramatic coastline among its highlights, is the best way to experience its beauty."

"My Son A UNESCO World Heritage site in a mountain valley about 40 miles west of Da Nang, My Son is a vestige of the Champa kingdom, a culture that was heavily shaped by Hindu beliefs and practices. Built between the 4th and 14th centuries, the temples pay homage to the god Shiva, though the deity is often referred to here by different names. While some of the shrines are partially restored, and others overgrown with greenery or showing their age (many were destroyed by American bombing during the Vietnam War), the sheer scope of the ruins are proof of the reach of Hinduism and the lofty ambitions of the Cham kings."

"A Chilling Reminder of War's Senseless Horror Close to Hoi An, tranquil Son My (My Lai) was the setting for one of the most horrific crimes of the American War when US troops killed at least 504 villagers in an orgy of violence. The Son My memorial -- a dramatic stone sculpture of an elderly woman holding up her fist in defiance -- is a poignant tribute to the innocents that died."

"Bike, Boat, and BBQ Hoi An Hoi An is a shopping town - but what if you aren't a shopper? Want to get away from all of the aggressive vendors in Hoi An -then ride away into the countryside of Cam Thanh villages! My niece and I loved Hoi An but were ready to get out into the country and open space - and most importantly we wanted to see how the locals lived. Our guide Thinh led us through the back roads outside of Hoi An to see various farming techniques, villages, and show us what rural life was like. After about an 90 minutes of biking, we rode to riverbank and put our bikes on a little boat to be whisked away to see another part of life that is important in Hoi An - the river life. We stopped at an island and Thinh and the boat driver made a supurb BBQ as we watched the sun set. The afternoon gave us a chance to see a different side to the heavily touristed but lovely town of Hoi An!"