Hanoi, Hoi An, Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh City… this might have been a favourite H. Instead, I’ll put all these destinations together in my list of favourite ABCs in the country where they are found: Vietnam.

Singularly each destination has its own charms – frantic city, pretty little town, scenic bay and islands, lively metropolis. However, connecting them together is the journey of a lifetime.

Vietnam is (understandably) often still associated with the US war there in the 1960s and ‘70s, and certainly the legacy of the event is not far from the surface (war sites and museums, the famous Cu Chi tunnels near Saigon to name but a few legacies), but one need not be a military buff to appreciate the southeast Asian country.

My indelible memories including wandering through timeless temples and pulsing markets for hours with my camera, a thrilling scooter tour in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), lotus-clad canals, and a cruise through the unique islands of Halong Bay, chock full of colourful sampans.

I didn’t make it to the beach, an activity for some, but not one I was interesting in spending time on in Vietnam; instead I sampled scorpion wine, sipped chai in a typical Hanoi tea shop, learned to cook a Vietnamese dish in Hoi An, discovered traditional water puppets, and did a host of other unique things I couldn’t do anywhere else.

In Vietnam, every morning was a good one.

Honourable mention: Vancouver, Vatican City
Bucket list: Vanuatu

Unlike the song, I have not been everywhere, so please don’t wonder why one of your favourites wasn’t one of mine. Instead, tell me at baginski@travelindustrytoday.com. I’m already thinking about my next list.

Stay tuned to future issues for the rest of the list. And for previous entries, click HERE.