Early Wednesday morning, Swedish crown princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée and Prince Daniel took a leisure stroll around the iconic Hoàn Kiếm (Returned Sword) Lake in the historical centre of Hà Nội.

Hà Nội, HCM City and Hội An are becoming Việt Nam’s tourist hotpots and are among the most affordable in the world for backpackers.

Ngọc Chiến Commune in Sơn La Province attracts tourists to its untouched picturesque beauty and generous local people. The remote region has been developing a community-based tourism approach for one year now, and hopes to attract more nature-lovers.

It’s March and the orchid trees of the northern province of Điện Biên are in bloom. Hoa ban (orchid) flowers, the flowers of the northwest region, are in full bloom across mountainsides and along paths leading to villages in Điện Biên Đông, Mường Chà, Tuần Giáo and Tủa Chùa.

As one of eight bloggers invited to speak at TravelFest in Hà Nội, Ngô Trần Hải An has probably forgotten more about travelling than most people will ever know.