Vietnam is both unusual and captivating, with breathtaking natural beauty and cultural intricacies, bustling megacities, and hill-tribe settlements. Vietnamese culture is varied and diverse, and it serves as a historical lesson. The country's convoluted, bustling commercial districts are rich in indigenous crafts and represent centuries of mercantile influences. Ancient temples in the north have obvious Chinese influences, while those in the south have Hindu origins. Meanwhile, the capital's spacious, tree-lined boulevards and majestic state buildings originate from the French colonial period. And, with its cities marked by clusters of glass-and-steel corporate HQs and slick luxury hotels, Vietnam's important position close to the epicenter of East Asian power and affluence is impossible to overlook.