Located between the South China Sea and the borders of Laos and Cambodia, the long, narrow country of Vietnam is home to a wide variety of breathtaking natural features, from the verdant rice paddies and forested mountains of the north to the picturesque valleys of the central highlands and the fertile delta and beautiful beaches of the south.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Vietnam
Vietnam has had its share of difficulties. Vietnam became a French protectorate in the 19th century after being ruled for over a thousand years by several Chinese dynasties until 938 AD. The Vietnam War followed independence.
It is easy to see why modern-day Vietnam has a sense of national pride. Certainly for its ferocious defence of its own independence, but also for its stunning natural beauty and rich heritage.
Halong Bay, a stunning collection of karst islands and formations off the country’s northern coast, is the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of Vietnam.
The capital city of Hanoi is teeming with people and bikes. Our recommended sights in Thailand will help you make the most of your time in this stunning Southeast Asian country.
1. Dalat
Dalat’s year-round mild climate and picturesque landscape of misty valleys, abundant pine trees, and colourful flowers previously made it a popular summer resort for Vietnamese emperors and French colonials. These days, honeymooners, weekend warriors, and people seeking a break from the heat flock to this picturesque village in Vietnam’s South Central Highlands.
Dalat is a charming city with French colonial architecture and houses located among picturesque scenery, and it is easily traversed on foot. The city’s prominence stems from the fact that the last emperor of Vietnam formerly called it home. Both the Hang Nga Guesthouse, the city’s most peculiar feature, and these beautiful palaces are available for excursions.
The “Crazy House,” as it is more commonly known, is a fantasy building including caves, spider webs, and shapes resembling animals and mushrooms. Locally grown fruits, flowers, and vegetables, as well as handicrafts and silk embroidered goods, may all be found at Dalat’s bustling market.
Lakes, flower gardens, plantations, and mountains beyond the city limits have beautiful waterfalls and hiking and bike trails. The Valley of Love is a must-see because of its breathtaking scenery, which includes pine forests and lakes perfect for pedal boating and canyoning.
2. My Son
My Son is a significant archaeological site in the vicinity of the Duy Ph hamlet in central Vietnam. My Son, now recognised as one of Southeast Asia’s most important heritage monuments, was formerly a major centre of religious Hindu festivities during the reign of the monarchs of the Champa Kingdom (4th–14th centuries).
My Son is a complex of ruins in various states of disarray and repair, spread out in several groups. It is believed that the complex once housed more than 70 temples built with brick and decorative carvings and sculptures depicting animals, priests, gods, mythical battles, and inscriptions in Sanskrit and Champa.
A museum is housed within the site, where visitors can learn more about the history of the ruins through displays and artefacts. There are a few cafes, food stalls, and a gift shop all within walking distance of My Son’s main entrance.
Visitors can catch live Champa dance performances at specific times throughout the day. Visitors can also enjoy hiking and kayaking in the area’s surrounding jungle, hills, and lake. From Hoi An, organised tours frequently visit My Son. Tourists can also rent motorbikes and ride to My Son.
3. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful hidden gems, located in Quang Binh Province on the country’s Central Coast. The park’s popularity has increased thanks to its proximity to a major airport and the fact that it was used as a filming site for Kong: Skull Island (2017).
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which opened to the public in 2010, is popular with city dwellers looking for a change of scenery. Here you may take things easy as you pedal at your own leisure through dense jungles in Kong.
There are hundreds of caves and hidden rivers to discover in the area’s 400 million-year-old karst mountains. You should definitely check out Son Doong Cave. It is one of the largest caves on Earth and is home to its own hidden jungle, microclimate, and Underground River.
Because of its proximity to the Laotian border, the park has a heavy military presence and entry is closely monitored. This is primarily because of the park’s war history; it contains a disproportionately high number of unexploded ordnance, making it illegal to enter without a certified tour guide.
4. Mekong Delta
More than a third of Vietnam’s population relies on the food produced in the fertile Mekong Delta, which is a network of waterways in Vietnam known for its excellent nutrient-rich soils and diverse ecosystems. The banks of the Mekong Delta are a veritable patchwork of fruit, vegetable, rice plantation, and cattle farms.
If you exclude the Amazon, this spectacular riverbank is the most biologically varied place on Earth. The Mekong Delta is an unusual region that spans most of southern Vietnam and is home to rice paddies, mangroves, lily pad canals, and an abundance of exotic wildlife.
Tra Vinh, one of the most picturesque villages in the Mekong Delta, is only one of the many places that may be easily explored by bus or motorbike. A cruise along the Mekong’s peaceful tributaries and mangroves is an adventure you won’t soon forget.
While being paddled down the river by a local, you will get to see the daily life of the riverside communities, including farms, orchards, monkey bridges, water buffalo, and floating markets. There is less of a possibility of flooding in the Mekong during the dry months of December through May.
5. Nha Trang
You’ve found the correct spot if beaching is what you’re after. Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most well-known seaside destination because to its scenic beaches, tranquil ambiance, and world-class scuba diving. Nha Trang has warm water and several scenic offshore islets, but it can’t compare to many of Asia’s other magnificent beaches.
The coastal promenade is often bustling with activity and features intriguing parks and sculptures. Nha Trang is similar to other beach towns in that most of the action happens after dark. A number of hip eateries and watering holes can be found in close proximity to the shore.
Nha Trang is not just a place for strolls and sunbathing, though. Enjoy the longest cross-sea cable car trip in the world, or relax at the Thap Ba Mud Spa. The Cham towers at Po Nagar, which date from the 7th to the 12th century and are still used as a religious place by Cham, Chinese, and Buddhists today, provide a glimpse into the city’s past.
6. Sapa
Sapa is a fascinating, off-the-beaten-path village in the Hoang Lien Son mountains of northern Vietnam, not far from the country’s border with China. The mountain hamlet sits at an impressive 1,500 metres above sea level, making for some challenging hiking on the surrounding terraced hills and slopes. Sapa’s raw and original culture is a big part of its allure, along with the natural splendour that draws visitors to this remote part of the country.
Trekking through rice paddies, remote villages, and under the cloud-covered peak of Fansipan, Vietnam, might take several days. Besides the beautiful views, the best part of this trip is definitely getting to know the locals; curious kids will follow you to see if they can sell you their homemade jewellery or just practise their English with you.
Several of Sapa’s buildings, including the town plaza, city hall, and Gothic church, date back to the town’s time as a French colonial outpost. Sapa is an important market town where many of the local ethnic tribes go to sell their unique and beautiful handicrafts. The Sapa Cultural Museum educates the public about the region’s indigenous peoples and their rich histories and traditions.
7. Hue
Historically, the imperial capital of Vietnam was located in Hue, originally known as the Panduranga of the Cham Kingdom. Hue, a city in central Vietnam, played a pivotal part in the country’s war effort. The Viet Cong held this city for a total of 24 days, during which time thousands of civilians were executed because they were suspected of being southern sympathisers.
Currently, the Perfume River divides the city in two. There is the contemporary city to the south, and to the north is the old city with its ruined citadel. Hue is home to the Thien Mu Pagoda, the city’s unofficial icon, and the Demilitarized Zone, which marks the formal former border.
The Citadel is the city’s most recognisable landmark. The Citadel was the home of the Vietnamese emperors and is now a massive fortification consisting of palaces, temples, walls, and gates. The Citadel is home to many notable landmarks, including the Forbidden Purple City, Thai Hoa Palace, and Ngo Mon Gate.
The Thien Mu Pagoda, the city’s official symbol, is also a prominent riverside feature. The gardens lining the promenade are teeming with statues, and from there you may ride a scooter or take a boat out to the Tombs of the Emperors on the city’s outskirts. The cherry on top is the spectacular Buddhist architecture at the Tomb of Tu Doc, which dates back to the 19th and 20th centuries.
8. Hoi An
Hoi An, Vietnam is a highlight of any trip to Vietnam since it is laid-back and charming in its own unique way. Situated to the south of Danang, this old town is a feast of colour, with brilliant and colourful lanterns adorning each structure. It is also within bike distance of several beautiful warm-water beaches along the central coast.
Hoi An’s afternoons can be spent exploring the city’s historic buildings, Chinese temples, and the many shops with wooden facades that line the city’s winding, narrow streets. See the local market, haggle for a spa discount, and get a custom outfit or suit created at one of the many renowned tailor shops in the area.
The Chinese merchant houses in the town centre date back hundreds of years and are home to one-fifth of the town’s population; they feature distinctive glaze roofs.
9. Hanoi
Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi is utterly chaotic, but that’s part of what makes it so endearing. It’s one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing cities, and it features a fascinating fusion of French and Sino-Vietnamese culture.
Visitors to this bustling capital city should be well-prepared. At its most orderly, the city is a hive of activity; at its most disorderly, it is a place where crossing the street could mean taking your life into your own hands, what with automobiles, motorbikes, and tuk tuks all vying for right of way.
Legend’s Corner is a great site to witness the chaos of Hanoi firsthand. The prime location of Legend Beer makes it the perfect place to view the madness of rush hour from with a drink in hand as the sun sets. You’ll witness people on foot, dogs, automobiles, tuk-tuks, and scooters, and yet very few collisions.
The freshwater Hoàn Kim Lake in the Old Quarter is a great place to go for a stroll and people-watch, or you may learn more about Vietnamese history by visiting the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the late Vietnamese leader and revolutionary is laid to rest.
10. Ha Long Bay
Halong Bay is renowned for its emerald-colored waters, thousands of stunning limestone karsts, astounding waterside caverns, and beautiful tree-topped islands, and is located about 130 km (80 miles) east of Hanoi in northern Vietnam.
Cat Ba National Park and its surrounding area are frequented by adventurers looking to do scuba diving, kayaking, trekking, or rock climbing. There are a wide variety of cruises in Halong Bay, from the most affordable to the most luxurious, for those who just want to kick back and take in the sights.
There is a wide variety among the thousands of islands dotting the bay, from uninhabited isles where monkeys and antelope roam freely to larger, more populous islands with excellent beaches.
The greatest way to take in the breathtaking scenery of Ha Long Bay is on a cruise boat. Tours aboard one of the hundreds of boats available, from traditional Chinese junks to luxury cruisers, can last anywhere from a single day to several.
These trips typically include lodging, meals, and nighttime entertainment as well as sightseeing opportunities at islands, caverns, and lagoons. The majority of cruises depart either from Hanoi or from other major ports in Vietnam like Haiphong, Halong City, and Cai Rong.
Halong Bay is susceptible to the elements, as are water-based vacations in general. If you want to see as much as possible, schedule your vacation between March and June. Off-season travel between June and September means cheaper rates; just keep an eye on the monsoon forecast to avoid being caught unprepared.
