/* eslint-disable */
// Auto-generated destination data — vietnam
window.VIETNAM_DATA = {
  "chrome": {
    "hero": {
      "kicker": "HowTo:Travel · Asia · Vietnam",
      "h1Lines": [
        "Spine of limestone,",
        "belt of deltas,",
        "three countries in one"
      ],
      "issueLabel": "Issue Nº 47 · Vietnam guide · Updated April 2026",
      "lede": "Vietnam is 1,650 kilometres of coast and three distinct temperaments. The north is Hanoi — French shutters, lakes, winter fog. The centre is Huế and Hội An — imperial tombs, tailors, the DMZ still visible in the hills. The south is Saigon and the Mekong — motorcycles, markets, monsoon heat. The country runs narrow along the South China Sea, mountains on one side, rice on the other.",
      "stats": "54 provinces · 3 macro-regions · 8 major cities · 1,650km of coast · 63 ethnic groups",
      "metaRows": [
        {
          "k": "Currency",
          "v": "Vietnamese đồng (₫) · ~25,000đ = 1 USD"
        },
        {
          "k": "Plug type",
          "v": "A/C/G (220V) · bring adapter"
        },
        {
          "k": "Visa for US/UK",
          "v": "45-day e-visa (tourist) · single entry · apply online"
        },
        {
          "k": "Best for first-timers",
          "v": "Hanoi → Hội An → Saigon (the spine) · Nov–Mar"
        },
        {
          "k": "Language",
          "v": "Vietnamese (tonal) · some English in cities · French remnants"
        }
      ],
      "frames": [
        {
          "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583417319070-4a69db38a482?w=600&auto=format",
          "cap": "Hạ Long Bay · 20°N"
        },
        {
          "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528127269322-539801943592?w=600&auto=format",
          "cap": "Hội An lanterns · 15°N"
        },
        {
          "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1555396273-367ea4eb4db5?w=600&auto=format",
          "cap": "Mekong Delta · 10°N"
        }
      ]
    },
    "anchor": {
      "label": "In this guide",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "intro",
          "label": "Letter"
        },
        {
          "id": "macros",
          "label": "Zones"
        },
        {
          "id": "regions",
          "label": "Provinces"
        },
        {
          "id": "drives",
          "label": "Drives"
        },
        {
          "id": "cities",
          "label": "Cities"
        },
        {
          "id": "trains",
          "label": "Trains"
        },
        {
          "id": "when",
          "label": "When"
        },
        {
          "id": "food",
          "label": "Food"
        },
        {
          "id": "festivals",
          "label": "Festivals"
        },
        {
          "id": "language",
          "label": "Phrases"
        },
        {
          "id": "neighborhoods",
          "label": "Quarters"
        },
        {
          "id": "faq",
          "label": "FAQ"
        }
      ]
    },
    "intro": {
      "lead": "Vietnam is a country built vertically. Hanoi at the top, Saigon at the bottom, and 1,650 kilometres of Highway 1 connecting them. The food changes every province. The accent changes every city. The weather disagrees with itself — when Hanoi shivers in January mist, Saigon is 32° and pouring. This is not one country pretending to be three. It is three regions that share a flag, a war, and an opinion about how to make phở. The mountains run down the Lao border. The deltas sprawl east into the sea. In between: limestone, coffee, beaches the colour of unpolished jade.",
      "side": "We spent three months driving the spine — Hanoi to Saigon, coast and highlands, wet season and dry. The best meals were in markets before 8am. The best roads were unsigned. The best conversations happened on trains. This guide reflects that route, that rhythm, and the version of Vietnam that opens up when you slow down enough to see it.",
      "credit": "— The editors · Hội An · March 2026"
    },
    "signoff": {
      "h2": "The version worth finding",
      "body": "Vietnam rewards the patient and punishes the rushed. Stay three days in each place instead of one. Eat breakfast where the plastic stools are shortest. Take the train, not the plane. The country has been open to mass tourism for thirty years, but the real textures — the morning markets, the mountain passes, the conversations over cà phê sữa đá — still belong to travellers willing to sit still.",
      "credit": "— The editors"
    }
  },
  "macros": [
    {
      "id": "north",
      "name": "The North",
      "tint": "#7A6F5D",
      "blurb": "Hanoi, Hạ Long, Sapa. Mountains, mist, motorbikes. The capital and its hinterland — cooler, older, slower to smile."
    },
    {
      "id": "centre",
      "name": "The Centre",
      "tint": "#C8986B",
      "blurb": "Huế, Hội An, the DMZ. Imperial tombs, tailors, the narrowest part of the country. History pressed between coast and cordillera."
    },
    {
      "id": "south",
      "name": "The South",
      "tint": "#5B8C7A",
      "blurb": "Saigon, the Mekong, Phú Quốc. Tropical, chaotic, sweet-toothed. The delta feeds the country; the city never sleeps."
    }
  ],
  "regions": [
    {
      "id": "hanoi-region",
      "name": "Hanoi & Red River Delta",
      "capital": "Hanoi",
      "macro": "north",
      "hue": "#7A6F5D",
      "knownFor": "Lakes, French villas, egg coffee",
      "area": 3329,
      "pop": 8.4,
      "signature": "The capital. A thousand years old, laid out around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, still governed by the rhythm of street food and state bureaucracy.",
      "best": "Oct–Apr"
    },
    {
      "id": "ha-long",
      "name": "Quảng Ninh (Hạ Long)",
      "capital": "Hạ Long City",
      "macro": "north",
      "hue": "#6B7C8C",
      "knownFor": "Limestone karsts, junk boats",
      "area": 6178,
      "pop": 1.3,
      "signature": "The bay. Three thousand limestone islands, best seen from a wooden boat in November fog, worst seen from a cruise ship in July.",
      "best": "Oct–Dec"
    },
    {
      "id": "sapa",
      "name": "Lào Cai (Sapa)",
      "capital": "Lào Cai",
      "macro": "north",
      "hue": "#5D6F57",
      "knownFor": "Rice terraces, H'mong markets",
      "area": 6383,
      "pop": 0.73,
      "signature": "The highlands. Terraced rice, hill tribes, the Chinese border. Freezing in January, green beyond belief in September.",
      "best": "Sep–Nov, Mar–May"
    },
    {
      "id": "hue",
      "name": "Thừa Thiên Huế",
      "capital": "Huế",
      "macro": "centre",
      "hue": "#B8926A",
      "knownFor": "Imperial City, royal tombs",
      "area": 5062,
      "pop": 1.2,
      "signature": "The old capital. Nguyen emperors, Perfume River, bún bò Huế that clears your sinuses. Rainy from September to January.",
      "best": "Feb–Apr"
    },
    {
      "id": "hoi-an",
      "name": "Quảng Nam (Hội An)",
      "capital": "Tam Kỳ",
      "macro": "centre",
      "hue": "#D4A574",
      "knownFor": "Lanterns, tailors, old town",
      "area": 10438,
      "pop": 1.5,
      "signature": "The port. Japanese bridge, silk lanterns, a tailor every eight metres. Tourist-heavy but earned — the old town is the real thing.",
      "best": "Feb–May"
    },
    {
      "id": "da-nang",
      "name": "Đà Nẵng",
      "capital": "Đà Nẵng",
      "macro": "centre",
      "hue": "#7FA0B8",
      "knownFor": "Beaches, Dragon Bridge, Bà Nà Hills",
      "area": 1285,
      "pop": 1.2,
      "signature": "The growth city. Resorts, expats, a ridiculous cable car to a fake French village. Use it as a base for Hội An and the Hải Vân Pass.",
      "best": "Feb–May"
    },
    {
      "id": "saigon",
      "name": "Hồ Chí Minh City (Saigon)",
      "capital": "District 1",
      "macro": "south",
      "hue": "#6B8C78",
      "knownFor": "Motorbikes, markets, phở 24/7",
      "area": 2061,
      "pop": 9,
      "signature": "The engine. Seven million motorbikes, colonial post office, rooftop bars in District 1. Still called Saigon by everyone who lives there.",
      "best": "Dec–Apr"
    },
    {
      "id": "mekong",
      "name": "Mekong Delta",
      "capital": "Cần Thơ",
      "macro": "south",
      "hue": "#5A7A60",
      "knownFor": "Floating markets, rice paddies",
      "area": 39734,
      "pop": 17.5,
      "signature": "The delta. Nine dragon tributaries, floating markets at 5am, coconut candy workshops. The country's rice bowl and fruit basket.",
      "best": "Dec–May"
    }
  ],
  "drives": [
    {
      "id": "hai-van-pass",
      "num": "01",
      "name": "Hải Vân Pass",
      "nameEm": "Ocean Cloud",
      "region": "Đà Nẵng–Huế",
      "regionId": "da-nang",
      "from": "Đà Nẵng",
      "to": "Lăng Cô",
      "km": 21,
      "hours": 1.5,
      "elevMax": 496,
      "elevMin": 0,
      "season": "Year-round (foggy Jun–Aug)",
      "surface": "Paved switchbacks",
      "car": "Motorbike (rent in Đà Nẵng)",
      "blurb": "The single best road in Vietnam. Twenty-one kilometres of banked curves above the South China Sea. Clouds roll in from the east, jungled mountains to the west. Start early — the fog is atmospheric until it isn't. Stop at the French bunkers at the summit. Finish with lunch in Lăng Cô lagoon.",
      "stops": [
        "Đà Nẵng",
        "Summit bunkers",
        "Lăng Cô"
      ],
      "tip": "Skip the tunnel. The old road is the whole point.",
      "profile": [
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    },
    {
      "id": "ha-giang-loop",
      "num": "02",
      "name": "Hà Giang Loop",
      "nameEm": "The Extreme North",
      "region": "Hà Giang Province",
      "regionId": "sapa",
      "from": "Hà Giang City",
      "to": "Đồng Văn–Mèo Vạc–return",
      "km": 350,
      "hours": 18,
      "elevMax": 1500,
      "elevMin": 50,
      "season": "Sep–Nov, Mar–May",
      "surface": "Paved + gravel sections",
      "car": "Motorbike (semi-automatic, 110–125cc)",
      "blurb": "Three to four days through the northern mountains. Karst peaks, H'mong villages, the Chinese border visible from Lũng Cú flag tower. Hire a guide or ride solo — either way, the road is the whole trip. Sleep in homestays. The Mã Pí Lèng Pass is vertigo on two wheels.",
      "stops": [
        "Hà Giang",
        "Yên Minh",
        "Đồng Văn",
        "Mèo Vạc",
        "Mã Pí Lèng",
        "Du Già"
      ],
      "tip": "Register your permit in Hà Giang City (photocopies, 30 minutes).",
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    },
    {
      "id": "central-highlands",
      "num": "03",
      "name": "Dalat to Nha Trang",
      "nameEm": "Central Highlands descent",
      "region": "Lâm Đồng–Khánh Hòa",
      "regionId": "hoi-an",
      "from": "Đà Lạt",
      "to": "Nha Trang",
      "km": 135,
      "hours": 4,
      "elevMax": 1475,
      "elevMin": 0,
      "season": "Nov–Apr",
      "surface": "Paved mountain highway",
      "car": "Motorbike or car",
      "blurb": "The descent from the highlands to the coast. Đà Lạt (the city of eternal spring) sits at 1,475 metres — pine trees, strawberry farms, French villas. Highway 27A drops through coffee plantations and waterfalls to Nha Trang beach. The temperature rises fifteen degrees in ninety minutes.",
      "stops": [
        "Đà Lạt",
        "Datanla Falls",
        "Prenn Pass",
        "Cam Ranh",
        "Nha Trang"
      ],
      "tip": "Stop for cà phê sữa đá at any roadside stall with a view.",
      "profile": [
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        310,
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        90,
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    },
    {
      "id": "northwest-loop",
      "num": "04",
      "name": "Northwest Loop (Sơn La–Điện Biên Phủ)",
      "nameEm": "Mai Châu–Sơn La–Điện Biên",
      "region": "Northwest Provinces",
      "regionId": "sapa",
      "from": "Hanoi",
      "to": "Mai Châu–Sơn La–Điện Biên Phủ–return",
      "km": 950,
      "hours": 30,
      "elevMax": 1200,
      "elevMin": 100,
      "season": "Oct–Apr",
      "surface": "Paved, some rough patches",
      "car": "Motorbike or 4x4",
      "blurb": "Five to seven days through the Thái and H'mong highlands. Mai Châu valley (rice, stilt houses), Sơn La (hot springs), Điện Biên Phủ (the French defeat, 1954). Remote, beautiful, logistically harder than Hà Giang. The roads are empty. The guesthouses are basic. That's the appeal.",
      "stops": [
        "Mai Châu",
        "Mộc Châu Plateau",
        "Sơn La",
        "Tua Chùa",
        "Điện Biên Phủ"
      ],
      "tip": "Bring cash. ATMs thin out after Sơn La.",
      "profile": [
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    },
    {
      "id": "mekong-backroads",
      "num": "05",
      "name": "Mekong Backroads (Cần Thơ–Cà Mau)",
      "nameEm": "Delta to the tip",
      "region": "Mekong Delta",
      "regionId": "mekong",
      "from": "Cần Thơ",
      "to": "Cà Mau (southernmost point)",
      "km": 180,
      "hours": 6,
      "elevMax": 5,
      "elevMin": 0,
      "season": "Dec–Apr (dry)",
      "surface": "Paved + dirt levee roads",
      "car": "Motorbike",
      "blurb": "Flat delta roads through orchards and shrimp farms. Cần Thơ's floating market at dawn, then south through Sóc Trăng (Khmer temples), Bạc Liêu (salt fields), to Cà Mau — the southernmost point of Vietnam, marked by a modest monument and a lot of mangroves. Slow, hot, no elevation. The reward is the emptiness.",
      "stops": [
        "Cần Thơ",
        "Sóc Trăng",
        "Bạc Liêu",
        "U Minh forest",
        "Cà Mau"
      ],
      "tip": "The floating markets start at 5am. Sleep in Cần Thơ the night before.",
      "profile": [
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  ],
  "cities": [
    {
      "name": "Hanoi",
      "pop": 8.4,
      "region": "Red River Delta",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509233725247-49e657c54213?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "3–4",
      "mood": "Lakes, scooters, propaganda art",
      "best": "Oct–Apr",
      "quote": "Walk the Old Quarter at 6am. Sleep in the French Quarter."
    },
    {
      "name": "Saigon (Hồ Chí Minh City)",
      "pop": 9,
      "region": "Southeast",
      "regionId": "saigon",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583417319070-4a69db38a482?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "3",
      "mood": "Motorbikes, markets, rooftop bars",
      "best": "Dec–Apr",
      "quote": "District 1 for hotels. District 3 for coffee. Bình Thạnh for real life."
    },
    {
      "name": "Hội An",
      "pop": 0.15,
      "region": "Central Coast",
      "regionId": "hoi-an",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528127269322-539801943592?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2–3",
      "mood": "Lanterns, tailors, riverside charm",
      "best": "Feb–May",
      "quote": "Tourist-heavy but earned. Stay two nights. Get a suit made."
    },
    {
      "name": "Huế",
      "pop": 1.2,
      "region": "Central",
      "regionId": "hue",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1608137289030-d1f6defae32a?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2",
      "mood": "Imperial tombs, rainy season",
      "best": "Feb–Apr",
      "quote": "Rent a motorbike. Visit the tombs. Eat bún bò Huế for breakfast."
    },
    {
      "name": "Đà Lạt",
      "pop": 0.43,
      "region": "Central Highlands",
      "regionId": "hoi-an",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1632506111649-66de2abd0867?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2",
      "mood": "Pine trees, strawberries, honeymoon kitsch",
      "best": "Nov–Mar",
      "quote": "The city of eternal spring. Wear a jacket at night."
    },
    {
      "name": "Nha Trang",
      "pop": 0.42,
      "region": "South-Central Coast",
      "regionId": "hoi-an",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1559592413-7cec4d0cae2b?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2",
      "mood": "Beach resorts, Russian tourists",
      "best": "Jan–Aug",
      "quote": "Skip the resorts. Stay north of the bay. Dive the islands."
    },
    {
      "name": "Cần Thơ",
      "pop": 1.2,
      "region": "Mekong Delta",
      "regionId": "mekong",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583417527635-5e7a7e923aa6?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2",
      "mood": "Floating markets, river life",
      "best": "Dec–Apr",
      "quote": "Base for the delta. Floating market at 5am. Be on the boat by 4:45."
    }
  ],
  "trains": [
    {
      "route": "Hanoi → Saigon",
      "time": "33h 00m",
      "op": "Reunification Express (SE1/SE3)",
      "note": "The full spine. Four-berth sleeper. Book SE1 or SE3 (newer cars)."
    },
    {
      "route": "Hanoi → Huế",
      "time": "13h 30m",
      "op": "SE1/SE3",
      "note": "Overnight. Sleep through Nghệ An, wake in the centre."
    },
    {
      "route": "Huế → Đà Nẵng",
      "time": "2h 30m",
      "op": "Local trains",
      "note": "Coastal views. Better by motorbike (Hải Vân Pass)."
    },
    {
      "route": "Đà Nẵng → Nha Trang",
      "time": "10h 00m",
      "op": "SE trains",
      "note": "Daytime or overnight. Mountains to coast."
    },
    {
      "route": "Nha Trang → Saigon",
      "time": "8h 00m",
      "op": "SE trains",
      "note": "Overnight sleeper. Arrive Saigon at dawn."
    },
    {
      "route": "Hanoi → Sapa (Lào Cai)",
      "time": "8h 00m",
      "op": "SP3/SP5 (night trains)",
      "note": "Overnight to Lào Cai, then bus/van to Sapa (1h). Book two weeks ahead."
    }
  ],
  "when": [
    {
      "m": "Jan",
      "n": "Hanoi: cool, 15–20°C, dry. Sapa can freeze. Hạ Long: clear, beautiful.",
      "s": "Saigon: dry season peak, 28–32°C. Delta: perfect. Beaches: ideal (Nha Trang, Phú Quốc)."
    },
    {
      "m": "Feb",
      "n": "Tết (Lunar New Year) — dates shift. Cities empty, prices rise, trains book out. Hanoi warming.",
      "s": "Saigon: hot, dry. Mekong: low water, easy travel. Best beach month (south-central coast)."
    },
    {
      "m": "Mar",
      "n": "Hanoi: warming (22–28°C). Hội An: dry, lovely. Huế: transitional, still good.",
      "s": "Saigon: getting hot (32–35°C). Mekong: dry. Beaches still excellent."
    },
    {
      "m": "Apr",
      "n": "North heating up. Hanoi: 25–32°C, humid. Hội An: end of dry season. Hải Vân Pass: clear.",
      "s": "Saigon: hot (33–36°C). Delta: harvest season. Beaches: hot but manageable."
    },
    {
      "m": "May",
      "n": "Wet season starts (north/centre). Hanoi: rain begins. Hội An: transitional. Hạ Long: avoid (storms).",
      "s": "Saigon: monsoon begins. Daily afternoon storms. Delta: wet but navigable. Beaches: mixed."
    },
    {
      "m": "Jun",
      "n": "Wet. Hanoi: hot, humid, rain. Sapa: green, misty. Hội An: rainy. Not ideal.",
      "s": "Saigon: wet season peak. Heavy rains, flooding possible. Mekong: high water. Skip if possible."
    },
    {
      "m": "Jul",
      "n": "Wet continues. Hạ Long: typhoon risk. Hội An: avoid. Sapa: lush but slippery roads.",
      "s": "Saigon: rain easing slightly. Mekong: very wet. Beaches (Nha Trang): wind, rough sea."
    },
    {
      "m": "Aug",
      "n": "Wet season ongoing. Hanoi: humid, 28–33°C, storms. Hải Vân Pass: foggy. Not recommended.",
      "s": "Saigon: rain tapering. Delta: floods receding. Phú Quốc: transitional (west coast better)."
    },
    {
      "m": "Sep",
      "n": "Transition month. Hanoi: rain slowing. Sapa: rice terraces golden (best visual month). Hà Giang: perfect.",
      "s": "Saigon: rain ending. Delta: still wet. Beaches: improving (Nha Trang, Mũi Né)."
    },
    {
      "m": "Oct",
      "n": "Best month overall. Hanoi: clear, cool. Hội An: dry. Hải Vân Pass: stunning. Book ahead.",
      "s": "Saigon: transitional, pleasant. Mekong: drying out. Central Highlands (Đà Lạt): ideal."
    },
    {
      "m": "Nov",
      "n": "Excellent. Hanoi: 18–24°C, dry. Hạ Long: clear. Hà Giang Loop: last good month. Huế: dry begins.",
      "s": "Saigon: dry season starts. Delta: water receding. Phú Quốc: perfect. Best all-around month."
    },
    {
      "m": "Dec",
      "n": "Hanoi: cool (14–20°C), dry. Sapa: cold, possible frost. Hội An: lovely. Huế: good.",
      "s": "Saigon: peak season. Dry, warm, crowded. Mekong: ideal. Beaches: Phú Quốc, Côn Đảo, Mũi Né all perfect."
    }
  ],
  "food": [
    {
      "dish": "Phở (Hanoi vs Saigon)",
      "where": "North vs South",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region",
      "note": "Hanoi: clear broth, flat noodles, no herbs. Saigon: sweeter, loaded with basil and sprouts. The divide is real.",
      "emoji": "🍜",
      "span": 2
    },
    {
      "dish": "Bún chả (Hanoi)",
      "where": "Hanoi Old Quarter",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region",
      "note": "Grilled pork patties, cold rice noodles, dipping broth. Lunch only. Eat at Đắc Kim or any sidewalk stall with smoke.",
      "emoji": "🥢",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Cao lầu (Hội An)",
      "where": "Hội An",
      "regionId": "hoi-an",
      "note": "Thick noodles, pork, greens, crispy rice crackers. Made with water from one specific well. Allegedly.",
      "emoji": "🍲",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Bún bò Huế",
      "where": "Huế",
      "regionId": "hue",
      "note": "Spicy beef noodle soup. Lemongrass, shrimp paste, pork knuckle. Clears sinuses and self-doubt. Breakfast staple.",
      "emoji": "🌶️",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Bánh mì (everywhere, differently)",
      "where": "Saigon, Hội An, Hanoi",
      "regionId": "saigon",
      "note": "French baguette, Vietnamese filling. Saigon's are the best — pâté, pickles, chili, coriander. 20,000đ, perfect.",
      "emoji": "🥖",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Cà phê trứng (egg coffee)",
      "where": "Hanoi",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region",
      "note": "Whipped egg yolk, condensed milk, coffee. Invented in the 1940s. Drink at Café Giảng or Café Dinh. Spoon, don't stir.",
      "emoji": "☕",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls)",
      "where": "Mekong Delta, Saigon",
      "regionId": "mekong",
      "note": "Rice paper, shrimp, pork, herbs, vermicelli. Dipped in peanut or fish sauce. Clean, fresh, every market has them.",
      "emoji": "🥗",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Bánh xèo (sizzling pancake)",
      "where": "Mekong Delta",
      "regionId": "mekong",
      "note": "Turmeric rice-flour crepe, shrimp, pork, bean sprouts. Wrap in lettuce, dip in nước chấm. Crispy, messy, correct.",
      "emoji": "🥞",
      "span": 2
    }
  ],
  "festivals": [
    {
      "num": "01",
      "name": "Tết Nguyên Đán (Lunar New Year)",
      "where": "Nationwide",
      "when": "Jan–Feb (lunar calendar)",
      "text": "The biggest holiday. Families reunite, cities empty, trains and hotels book out two months ahead. Hanoi's Old Quarter goes quiet. Saigon's flower markets explode. If you're here, you're here by accident or devotion. Avoid unless you've planned six months out.",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region"
    },
    {
      "num": "02",
      "name": "Hội An Lantern Festival",
      "where": "Hội An",
      "when": "14th of every lunar month",
      "text": "Monthly full moon. Electric lights go dark, paper lanterns fill the old town, candles float down the Thu Bồn River. Tourist-heavy but genuine. The 14th lands mid-month — check the lunar calendar. Stay for the night market.",
      "regionId": "hoi-an"
    },
    {
      "num": "03",
      "name": "Huế Festival",
      "where": "Huế",
      "when": "April–May (biennial, even years)",
      "text": "Week-long imperial pageantry. Dragon boat races on the Perfume River, court music, ao dai parades. Held every two years (2026, 2028). The Nguyễn Dynasty's aesthetics, performed for tourists and history majors. Worth planning around if you're in the centre.",
      "regionId": "hue"
    },
    {
      "num": "04",
      "name": "Perfume Pagoda Festival",
      "where": "Hương Sơn, near Hanoi",
      "when": "Feb–Mar (lunar calendar)",
      "text": "Pilgrimage to cave temples in the limestone mountains. Boat up the Yến River, hike to Hương Tích cave. Thousands of incense-bearing pilgrims. Crowded but atmospheric. Go midweek if possible.",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region"
    },
    {
      "num": "05",
      "name": "Whale Festival (Lễ hội Cá Ông)",
      "where": "Coastal villages (Vũng Tàu, Phan Thiết)",
      "when": "March–April (lunar calendar)",
      "text": "Fishermen worship whales as ocean guardians. Processions, offerings, boat parades. Most visible in Vũng Tàu. A coastal animism festival dressed in Buddhist language. Locals only, mostly — which makes it better.",
      "regionId": "saigon"
    },
    {
      "num": "06",
      "name": "Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu)",
      "where": "Nationwide, best in Hanoi",
      "when": "September (15th lunar month)",
      "text": "Children's festival. Lion dances, mooncakes, lantern parades. Hanoi's Old Quarter fills with paper lanterns and drum troupes. Saigon does it too, but Hanoi does it louder. Eat mooncakes (lotus seed, salted egg). Buy one in a tin. They last forever.",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region"
    }
  ],
  "language": [
    {
      "lc": "Xin chào",
      "tr": "Hello",
      "note": "Universal greeting. Pronounced 'sin chow'. Add 'ạ' at the end to be polite (xin chào ạ). Works everywhere."
    },
    {
      "lc": "Cảm ơn / Cảm ơn anh (m) / Cảm ơn chị (f)",
      "tr": "Thank you",
      "note": "Cảm ơn (general). Cảm ơn anh (to a man). Cảm ơn chị (to a woman). Gendered politeness matters. Pronounced 'gam un'."
    },
    {
      "lc": "Bao nhiêu tiền?",
      "tr": "How much?",
      "note": "Essential for markets. Pronounced 'bow nyew tee-en'. Write the number down if tones fail. They will fail."
    },
    {
      "lc": "Một cà phê sữa đá",
      "tr": "One iced coffee with milk",
      "note": "The national drink. Pronounced 'moat ca-fay sua da'. Sweet, strong, over ice. No one will judge you for ordering five."
    },
    {
      "lc": "Không cay",
      "tr": "Not spicy",
      "note": "Pronounced 'cohm kai'. Useful in the centre and south. They will still make it spicy. Order it anyway."
    },
    {
      "lc": "Tôi ăn chay",
      "tr": "I'm vegetarian",
      "note": "Pronounced 'toy an chai'. Vietnam has excellent vegetarian food (Buddhist influence). Many places do 'cơm chay' (vegetarian rice plates)."
    },
    {
      "lc": "Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?",
      "tr": "Where is the toilet?",
      "note": "Pronounced 'nya vay sinh ur dow'. Squat toilets common outside cities. Bring tissues."
    },
    {
      "lc": "Tạm biệt",
      "tr": "Goodbye",
      "note": "Pronounced 'tam bee-yet'. Formal. Most people just say 'bye' (in English) or nod and leave."
    }
  ],
  "neighborhoods": [
    {
      "num": "01",
      "name": "Old Quarter (Phố Cổ)",
      "nameEm": "Hanoi",
      "city": "Hanoi",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region",
      "text": "Thirty-six streets, each named after its medieval guild. Silk Street, Silver Street, Paper Street. Narrow houses, motorbikes, street food before 8am. Tourist-dense but still functional. Stay here or in the French Quarter.",
      "why": "The version of Hanoi you came for."
    },
    {
      "num": "02",
      "name": "French Quarter (Hoàn Kiếm District)",
      "nameEm": "Hanoi",
      "city": "Hanoi",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region",
      "text": "Tree-lined boulevards, colonial villas, the Opera House, St. Joseph's Cathedral. Quieter than the Old Quarter. Better cafés. Hoàn Kiếm Lake at the centre — walk it at dawn before the crowds.",
      "why": "Hanoi with breathing room."
    },
    {
      "num": "03",
      "name": "District 1 (Saigon downtown)",
      "nameEm": "Saigon",
      "city": "Saigon",
      "regionId": "saigon",
      "text": "Hotels, rooftop bars, Ben Thanh Market, Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street. Packed, polluted, expensive by Vietnamese standards. Stay here if you must. Eat elsewhere if you can.",
      "why": "Convenient. Soulless. Every city has one."
    },
    {
      "num": "04",
      "name": "District 3 (Saigon creative quarter)",
      "nameEm": "Saigon",
      "city": "Saigon",
      "regionId": "saigon",
      "text": "Cafés, vintage shops, Turtle Lake (Hồ Con Rùa), independent bookstores. Less traffic than D1. Better coffee. Where young Saigonese actually spend time. Stay in D1, come here for mornings.",
      "why": "The Saigon you'll remember."
    },
    {
      "num": "05",
      "name": "Bình Thạnh District (Saigon east)",
      "nameEm": "Saigon",
      "city": "Saigon",
      "regionId": "saigon",
      "text": "Residential. Markets, apartment blocks, canals. No tourists. Excellent bánh mì, bún riêu stalls, cơm tấm stands. Rent a motorbike and explore. This is where Saigon lives.",
      "why": "Real life. No English menus."
    },
    {
      "num": "06",
      "name": "Hội An Old Town",
      "nameEm": "Ancient quarter",
      "city": "Hội An",
      "regionId": "hoi-an",
      "text": "UNESCO World Heritage core. Japanese Covered Bridge, Phúc Kiến Assembly Hall, riverside lanterns. Every fifth building is a tailor. Pedestrian-only after 6pm. Stay inside the old town — it's small enough.",
      "why": "The whole point of Hội An."
    },
    {
      "num": "07",
      "name": "Tây Hồ (West Lake)",
      "nameEm": "Hanoi",
      "city": "Hanoi",
      "regionId": "hanoi-region",
      "text": "Hanoi's largest lake. Expat enclave, international schools, weekend markets. Trấn Quốc Pagoda on an island. Good for long stays, less atmospheric for short trips. Rent an apartment here if you're staying a month.",
      "why": "Quiet. Green. Not quite Hanoi anymore."
    },
    {
      "num": "08",
      "name": "Bùi Viện Walking Street",
      "nameEm": "Saigon backpacker strip",
      "city": "Saigon",
      "regionId": "saigon",
      "text": "District 1's party zone. Hostels, beer towers, live music, gap-year chaos. Loud every night. Avoid unless that's your scene. It has its place — just know what you're getting.",
      "why": "If you miss Khao San Road."
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Do I need a visa?",
      "a": "US/UK/EU passport holders can enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days (as of 2023, subject to change). For longer stays, apply for an e-visa (single entry, 90 days max, $25, processed in 3 business days). Apply online via the official immigration portal. Overstaying triggers fines and exit bans. Check current rules six weeks before departure."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is it safe?",
      "a": "Yes. Violent crime against tourists is rare. Petty theft (bag snatching, phone grabs) happens in Hanoi and Saigon — keep valuables out of sight on motorbikes. Traffic is the main danger. Crossing streets requires confidence and slow, steady movement. Drivers will go around you. Don't run. Tap water is not drinkable. Stick to bottled or boiled."
    },
    {
      "q": "When should I go?",
      "a": "November to April for the whole country (dry season, manageable heat). October and November are ideal — post-monsoon, pre-peak tourism. Avoid June to August (wet season, typhoons, humidity). If you must go in summer, stick to the south or the northern highlands. Tết (Lunar New Year, late January or early February) shuts down the country — book six months ahead or skip it entirely."
    },
    {
      "q": "How do I get around?",
      "a": "Trains for long haul (Hanoi to Saigon, 33 hours, four-berth sleeper). Motorbikes for everywhere else. Rent a semi-automatic 110cc bike for $5–8/day. International Driving Permit required (rarely checked, but carry it). Buses are cheap and miserable. Domestic flights (VietJet, Bamboo Airways) work for Hanoi–Saigon or Hanoi–Phú Quốc. Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber) works in cities."
    },
    {
      "q": "What about the language barrier?",
      "a": "Vietnamese is tonal (six tones). English proficiency is low outside tourist zones. Hanoi, Saigon, Hội An — you'll survive with gestures and Google Translate. Countryside and small towns — almost no English. Learn basic phrases (hello, thank you, how much). Write down addresses in Vietnamese. Menus rarely translate. Point at food other people are eating."
    },
    {
      "q": "Can I drink the water?",
      "a": "No. Bottled water only. Restaurants serve filtered water in sealed bottles or boiled tea. Ice in tourist areas is usually fine (made from purified water). Ice in countryside markets — skip it. Brush teeth with bottled water. Street food is safe if it's cooked in front of you and served hot. Avoid raw vegetables washed in tap water unless you're in a reputable restaurant."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much cash should I carry?",
      "a": "ATMs are everywhere in cities, sparse in rural areas. Withdraw in Hanoi, Saigon, Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang. Daily limit: 3–5 million đồng (~$120–200). Cards (Visa/Mastercard) work in hotels and upscale restaurants; cash is king elsewhere. Carry small bills (20,000đ, 50,000đ notes). Street vendors don't break 500,000đ notes. Tipping is not expected but appreciated (10% in nice restaurants, round up for taxis)."
    },
    {
      "q": "What's the food situation for vegetarians?",
      "a": "Excellent. Buddhist influence means 'cơm chay' (vegetarian rice plates) are common. Many temples run vegetarian kitchens. Phở chay (vegetarian pho), bánh mì chay, spring rolls — all easy to find. Say 'tôi ăn chay' (I'm vegetarian). Be aware: fish sauce is in everything. Strict vegans should specify 'không nước mắm' (no fish sauce). It won't always work. Expect some flexibility."
    }
  ]
};