Thai Nguyen by Car: Tan Cuong Tea Hills and Ba Be Lake

Thai Nguyen by car: Tan Cuong tea hills, Nui Coc lake and on to Ba Be lake. In the 2025 reorganisation, Bac Kan province merged into Thai Nguyen, so Ba Be lake is now in Thai Nguyen too. The provincial centre is only about 75–80 km from Hanoi by expressway; Ba Be is further, around 230 km.

Mu Cang Chai by Car: Tu Le, Khau Pha Pass and the Terraces

Mu Cang Chai by car: through Tu Le, over Khau Pha pass, and the terraces outside harvest time. Since 2025, Mu Cang Chai is a commune of the new Lao Cai province (Lao Cai and Yen Bai merged). It is nearly 300 km from Hanoi, usually 6–7 hours, so plan 2 days and a night, or 3 days.

Dien Bien Phu by Car: Highway 6, Pha Din Pass, Key Sites

Dien Bien Phu by car: drive Highway 6 or fly in and hire a car locally. Dien Bien kept its provincial name after 2025. The Muong Thanh valley city is about 450–455 km from Hanoi on Highway 6; it is a long way, so most travellers split the drive with a night in Moc Chau or Son La.

Lai Chau Road Trip by Car: O Quy Ho Pass and Sin Suoi Ho

Lai Chau by car: over O Quy Ho pass, on to Sin Suoi Ho, and the best weeks before Tết. Lai Chau kept its provincial name in the 2025 reorganisation and remains a high mountain area on the north-west border. The drive from Hanoi is roughly 380–390 km, so most families plan 3–4 days, often with Sa Pa

Tra Vinh by car: Ba Om pond, Khmer pagodas, 1–2 days

Tra Vinh by car: Ba Om pond, Khmer pagodas and a 1–2 day trip from HCMC. Former Tra Vinh is now part of Vinh Long province (merged from Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh in 2025). It is about 130–150 km from Ho Chi Minh City, usually 3–3.5 hours via the HCMC – Trung Luong expressway and Ben Tre.

Phu Yen and Tuy Hoa by car: Ganh Da Dia and Mui Dien

Phu Yen and Tuy Hoa by car: Ganh Da Dia, Mui Dien and avoiding the storm season. Former Phu Yen is now part of Dak Lak province after the 2025 merger, with Tuy Hoa as a coastal ward. The eastern North–South expressway makes travel between Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa and Nha Trang easier.

Buon Ma Thuot by car: coffee, waterfalls and Buon Don

Buon Ma Thuot by car: coffee, Dray Nur waterfall, Buon Don and the dry season. Buon Ma Thuot is now the central ward of Dak Lak province (merged from Dak Lak and Phu Yen in 2025). It is over 320 km by road from Ho Chi Minh City; many families fly in and hire a car locally.

Kon Tum and Mang Den by car: wooden church and pine plateau

Kon Tum and Mang Den by car: the wooden church, communal houses and the pine plateau. Kon Tum is now Kon Tum ward, Quang Ngai province (merged from Quang Ngai and Kon Tum in 2025). It is about 50 km from Pleiku, and Mang Den is about 50–60 km north-east of Kon Tum.

Ly Son island: car to Sa Ky port, boat and windy season

Ly Son island: drive to Sa Ky port, take the boat, and why you need spare days in the windy season. Ly Son is a special zone of Quang Ngai province (merged from Quang Ngai and Kon Tum in 2025). Cars do not go to the island; you drive to Sa Ky port, then take a speedboat about 18 nautical miles offsh

Tam Dao by car: the mountain road, sights and tips

Tam Dao by car: the road up to the misty hill town, sights and pass tips. Tam Dao is now in Phu Tho province (merged from Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc and Hoa Binh in 2025). The hill resort is about 80 km from Hanoi, usually 1.5–2 hours by car.