As the vibrant heart and soul of Vietnam,Hanoi is a tantalizing place of extremes. From a maze of ancient backstreetswhere hawkers and street stalls abound and traditional Vietnamese life isplayed out on the kerbside, to modern buildings and shady, tree-lined boulevards, Vietnam's capital is sure to delight.

Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.