Its ongoing 1,000th anniversary celebrations and its quirky colonial charms have made Hanoi one of the hottest travel destinations of the region at present. Qatar Airways (www.qatarairways.com/th) are the latest to try and get in on the action when they start flying from Bangkok to Hanoi (on Wed/Thu/Sat), as well as offering a new route to Ho Chi Minh (on Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat), from Nov 1. Prospective travelers can book tickets now with prices starting from B8,865 for Hanoi and B7,840 roundtrip for Ho Chi Minh. Both rates include taxes and surcharges.