The best way of seeing the real Vietnam is to take a guided tour that includes the main historic and natural points of interest. Popular itineraries fly into Hanoi from Bangkok, and travel south through the country taking in Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Min City (formerly Saigon) as well as other places on the way.
For independently minded travellers, there are flights into many parts of Vietnam that go via Thailand, and once in the country, an efficient internal network of flights operates between major cities, and this is supplemented by local buses and taxis.
