S1E57 · Vietnam

The once impoverished country, tormented by colonial rule, wars and planned economy, has blossomed in the past two decades. The journey begins in the capital Hanoi. With its lakes and the bustling old town the metropolis is one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. The waterway takes you through Halong Bay with its thousands of limestone islands. In central Vietnam, the ancient imperial city of Hue, picturesque Hoi An, once one of the most important ports in Asia, and the ruins of the temple city of My Son are lined up. From Nha Trang, the Nice of the Orient it goes up to Da Lat, the former summer resort of the French colonial masters. Boiling Saigon, the economic center of the country, offers the whole spectrum: colonial splendor and modern skyscrapers, temples and pagodas, colorful markets and chic shopping streets. The Mekong Delta is characterized by waterways and floating markets. The horrors of the Vietnam War come to life in the tunnels of Cu Chi.