LARESIDENCEHOTEL& SPA,HUELa Residence is situated on the banks of thePerfume River, and many of the 122 rooms offerwonderful views across the river towards theancient Citadel and the Forbidden City. The hotelis beautifully decorated inside and out in anelegant Art Deco style. Step into the grandentrance and you will be convinced you havestepped back to the 1930s, while the gardensoutside are immaculate and incorporate abeautiful 30-metre long swimming pool. All in allthis hotel makes the perfect base to explore theancient city of Hue.VILLAHUE, HUEThis charming hotel is a practical training centreoperated by the Hue Tourism School, and is ashort walk from the river and some localrestaurants. All 12 rooms are well equipped andthe hotel offers excellent value for money. Theoutdoor dining area is a peaceful and pleasantplace to enjoy lunch or dinner and the bar is agreat place for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.Many of the delightful staff are second yearstudents from the tourism school.HueBacked by the mountains of the AnnamiteCordillera and set on the beautiful Perfume River,this is the best place to experience the country'simperial past. The last imperial family, theNguyens, ruled under French protection from1802 to 1945 and their mausoleums compete inscale and grandeur as they line the valley as itleads up to the hills. Lavishly squandering theircountry's wealth and manpower, thesemausoleums are amongst the country's mostpoignant sights. They are not the only attractionshere though. You can board a boat and travel tothe Thien Mu Pagoda, dating back to 1602 andsurrounded by graceful gardens, or explore Hue'smore recent past: the former Demilitarized Zone,the atmospheric tunnels at Vinh Moc and thebattle sites of Khe Sanh and the Citadel.14Emperor Minh Mang's mausoleum, HueSand dredging on the Perfume River, HueLa Residence Hotel & Spa, HueCyclo driver, HueCyclists in Hue

Hoi AnPrior to the arrival of the French, Hoi An wasVietnam's window on the world. Tucked awayamongst the backstreets are the houses ofmerchants from Asia and Europe, lured from afarby the prospect of high-grade silk and porcelain. It is an ideal spot to stop for a few days; strollingalong the wharf, shopping in the market ormeasuring up for a silk dress or suit. There aremany restaurants, old houses, craft shops and artgalleries where local artists exhibit their works.On nearby Cua Dai beach there are an increasingnumber of good quality resorts. As a day tripfrom Hoi An, you can visit Vietnam's grandestCham ruins at My Son. If travelling between HoiAn and Qui Nhon you can stop at the poignantmemorial to the villagers of My Lai, infamouslymurdered en masse during the war with America.LIFEHERITAGERESORT, HOIANWithin walking distance of the old town is theLife Resort, a stylish and intimate hotel in theheart of Hoi An. This charming property, set onthe banks of the river, is the only accommodationoption in the centre of town that has a full rangeof facilities. It offers guests a choice of rooms,either overlooking the river or the small pool and all are tastefully furnished.VINHHUNGMERCHANT'SHOUSE,HOIANThis unique property is located in the heart of Hoi An's UNESCO-protected old town. Therooms are simple but full of character and theones we prefer have balconies overlooking thecobbled streets below. A stay here is as muchabout the experience as anything else, with ahomely feel and original antique interiors. Michael Caine stayed here whilst filming GrahamGreene's 'The Quiet American'.VICTORIAHOIANBEACHRESORT& SPAThe 109 comfortable and tasteful rooms have allthe facilities expected of a four star hotel and aredesigned in the style of a traditional fishing village,with alleyways and ponds. The hotel is located on the lovely Cua Dai beach and there is acomplimentary shuttle service to link you with Hoi An's old town, three miles away.www.audleytravel.com/vietnam ?01993 838 140 ?Vietnam15THENAMHAI, HOIANThis spectacularly designed property is around 15 minutes drive from the ancient town of HoiAn, on a pristine stretch of Ha My beach. Themost luxurious hotel in central Vietnam, it offersan unrivalled level of contemporary style andmodern design. Spread over a large site, TheNam Hai offers 100 spacious detached villas,some with private pools. The hotel also boaststhree large swimming pools, a range of sportsfacilities and a wonderful lakeside spa. The NamHai is an excellent self-contained beach resortthat is still close enough to town for guests to beable to enjoy all that Hoi An has to offer.Deluxe beachfront Japanese style villa, Victoria ResortThe Nam Hai, Hoi AnJapanese Friendship Bridge, Hoi AnHoi An riverfrontHa My beach, Hoi AnBoat people, Hoi An