Vietnam is a land in transition, rushing towards modernization while keeping a firm grip on ancient traditions and culture.

Still shaking off the stigma of a war, which ended more than 30 years ago, the Vietnamese people seem as determined to forget the conflict as foreign visitors are to seek out its remnants.

Today, this land of incredible beauty; a masterpiece of green rice paddies and unspoiled beaches; dramatic seascapes and cool, rugged mountains, beckons the intrepid adventurer.