While Vietnam’s countryside casts a serene spell, its cities have an appeal all their own. Get a taste of urban Vietnamese culture by spending a few days in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Here you’ll have world-class dining alongside cheap-as-chips street food, ancient pagodas next to five-star hotels, and glittering shopping malls around the corner from bustling markets. Hanoi is a city of lakes, and its historical and cultural treasures will charm those with a penchant for the past. Ho Chi Minh City has an irresistible energy, and is home to uber-cool rooftop bars, trendy coworking spaces, and colonial-chic cafes. Don’t forget to hop on a scooter at least once in your visit to truly feel the pulse of urban Vietnam.