22 Of The Best Places To Visit In Vietnam [Cities, Islands, Nature & More]

Thanks to its epic karst landscapes, mouth-watering meals, insanely bustling cities, and distinct tradition, Vietnam is a fully basic Asia journey vacation spot.

Where you journey in Vietnam could have a huge impact in your journey, nevertheless, and also you’ll little question have some powerful decisions to make. To enable you to out, let me spotlight a few of the high locations to go to in Vietnam.

Top locations to go to in Vietnam

Not to throw only one lengthy listing at ya, listed below are some fast solutions:

Classic Vietnam itinerary stops

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City

Best cities in Vietnam

Hanoi for historical past/ambiance/markets, Ho Chi Minh City for nightlife, museums & energetic vibe

National Parks

Ba Be National Park, Phong Nha, Cat Ba National Park

Trekking

Sapa, Phong Nha, Da Lat

Islands

Cat Ba, Con Dao Islands (laidback), Phu Quoc (business resorts)

Hidden gems… or simply holding it actual

Ha Giang, Con Dao Islands, Phong Nha, Ba Be National Park

 

1. Hanoi

Experience the frenetic northern capital

No different place in Southeast Asia gave me extra of a way of surprise than the primary time I visited Hanoi. It’s really a frenzied place. There are so many motorbikes dashing by means of the streets that it typically feels such as you’re caught in an enormous swarm of wasps. So a lot of life takes locations on the road; individuals eat and drink there, get their haircut, learn the newspaper and play video games.

Having visited a number of occasions now, I put collectively some insider tips about learn how to get the genuine Hanoi expertise.

 

2. Ha Long Bay

Cruise round beautiful karst islands

Ha Long Bay most likely wants little introduction! This UNESCO World Heritage website is well Vietnam’s most well-known. The bay is house to over 2,000 small limestone islands, scattered round an space of 334 km2.

The typical method to go to is to ebook a cruise on a crusing boat, with journeys starting from 1 to three days. You can take a look at a 2-day Ha Long Bay journey right here.

It’s little question a must-visit in Vietnam. The location is magnificent and positively value it, although anticipate it to be very touristy. Most boats cluster round a single bay the place there are a number of viewpoints and caves and right here it may well get very crowded.

For the very best expertise, go for at the least a 2-day cruise, so that you simply’re not in a rush. Also think about excursions that embrace the Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay. These are additionally a part of Ha Long however as a result of they’re a bit farther from shore they’re quieter and have fewer day-trippers.

3. Cat Ba Island

Stay on the big island close to Ha Long Bay

Cat Ba is a less-touristy various to a few of the islands in Ha Long Bay. It remains to be common and so there may be some vacationer infrastructure within the island’s major metropolis, however a lot of the island is a protected wild jungle begging to be explored.

It has three major seashores excellent for a lazy day sunbathing or swimming, however in the event you’d moderately do one thing lively, you possibly can snorkel or lease kayaks from the seashore or rock climb the steep limestone rock face. Day journeys are straightforward from Ha Long Bay, with three day by day ferries that dock on the island’s northern coast. It’s a 40-minute drive to Cat Ba City, with buses and taxis to take you there.

You can get round most of Vietnam fairly simply utilizing buses and taxis, however for essentially the most flexibility, mopeds or motorbikes are the easiest way to discover Cat Ba.

4. Sapa

Stay or hike amongst terraced rice fields

During French colonial occasions, the occupiers present in Sapa an appropriate retreat to flee the scorching warmth of Vietnam’s decrease lands. Today, it’s a preferred beginning place for mountain trekking, in addition to a well-liked spot for rural homestays.

My primary tip for Sapa is to not keep within the city itself in the event you can, because it’s seen fairly a wild development of lodges, therapeutic massage parlors, and vacationer eating places. Think of it as a handy hub, not the vacation spot itself, which may be very a lot the encircling space.

The greatest method to take pleasure in Sapa is to ebook a homestay simply out of city amid the rice fields, or in a close-by village. Another nice method to expertise Sapa is to trek the paths between the highland villages of native minority tribes, together with the Hmong and Lao Chai individuals.

The rice terraces are greenest from July to September. They’re golden yellow round harvesting season in September and October.

 

5. Ninh Binh

Stay among the many karst cliffs within the ‘Ha Long Bay on land’

In the nationwide park of Trang An (and Tam Coc) you’ll discover lovely karst mountains poking out of the landscapes. Different from Ha Long is that they’re surrounded by rice fields and wetlands as a substitute of the ocean. The major exercise is to take a paddleboat by means of the rivers and wetlands to see the beautiful mountain surroundings, caves, and wildlife.

Ninh Binh could be achieved as a day journey from Hanoi, but it surely’s value staying an evening or two for the complete expertise. I particularly suggest staying within the city of Trang An on the fringe of the park, which is actually a hidden gem.

There you keep in guesthouses and eco-resorts alongside the river with cute bamboo docks with deck chairs and fairy lights.

You can learn way more suggestions for Ninh Binh in my detailed information.

6. Ba Be National Park

Outdoor adventures in northern Vietnam

Located within the mountains of northeast Vietnam, it’s no straightforward process to get to Ba Be, but it surely’s some of the genuine touring experiences you possibly can have in Vietnam resulting from its being undiscovered by most vacationers.

There are numerous group excursions that you are able to do in Ba Be, like biking excursions, waterfall hikes, cave expeditions, and in a single day tenting. Most of those are organized by means of native corporations and so they’re simpler than making an attempt to go to independently.

Be ready for an extended journey to get there. It’s doable to lease motorbikes, however you’ll be taking a look at an 8-hour journey to get there from Hanoi, so that you’re higher off taking a bus from My Dinh bus station, or a direct shuttle from Hoan Kiem district (each in Hanoi).

7. Phong Nha Ke-Bang

Marvel on the world’s largest caves

The nationwide park of Phong Nha ke-Bang in central Vietnam is named among the best locations to go caving in Asia. In current years it’s really turn out to be the journey journey and ecotourism capital of Vietnam.

There are over 500 caves within the space of which 30 could be visited by the general public. These embrace the world’s largest cave and the world’s third-biggest cave, that are really epic places and fairly probably essentially the most spectacular in all of Vietnam.

The mega-caves can solely be visited on multi-day expeditions (which begin at $330). My tour to Hang En, the world’s third-biggest cave, ranks amongst my favourite journey experiences wherever. If you’re on a smaller funds, then there are a great deal of different caves in Phong Nha that you may go to.

The city itself is nice, with an unhurried vibe and a stunning riverside location — simply one of many actual gems of Vietnam.

8. Hoi An

Kick again on this cute and calm historic city

Despite being moderately full of vacationers, Hoi An nonetheless will get constantly rated by vacationers as their favourite place in Vietnam. Any time I do any casual polling amongst different vacationers I meet in Vietnam, Hoi An is on the high of their listing!

The delightfully well-preserved city of Hoi An was as soon as a key publish for Vietnam’s spice commerce with China, Holland, Portugal, and different nations. Today, all of the small two-story service provider quarters function all method of eating places, memento outlets, and tailors (the city is known for promoting custom-tailored garments at unbeatable costs).

Hoi An’s UNESCO-protected Old Quarter may be very tourist-friendly with quite a few cute cafes, eating places, and arty memento outlets. The growth has all been very tasteful and all of the colourful lanterns hanging over the streets lend Hoi An a ton of attraction. The middle can also be largely pedestrianized, providing you with some welcome aid from the chaotic visitors of the larger cities.

There are many issues to do in Hoi An and it has some worthwhile seashores and sights close by, making it a must-visit for anybody on their first journey to Vietnam.

9. My Son

Explore a posh of ruined Hindu temples close to Hoi An

My Son is one in every of Vietnam’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Located in Quang Nam province, simply an hour south of Da Nang. It’s a posh of ruined Hindu temples courting from as early because the 4th century.

My Son has been in comparison with Indonesia’s Borobudur and the Angkor Wat complicated in Cambodia, although on a smaller scale. The method the jungle has overtaken the ruins provides it a mystical high quality that makes it well worth the journey. Next to the ticket workplace is the Champa Museum, which explores the historical past of the temple complicated, and in the event you occur to be there within the morning, there are conventional dancing performances at 9:45 am day by day (besides Mondays).

Roundtrip taxi rent to and from the positioning is round 10 USD from Hoi An, but it surely’s about half that to lease your personal motorcycle, which then provides you added flexibility if you wish to discover different close by sights, resembling My Son Lake (the place you possibly can lease kayaks) and the Bang An Tower, an Eleventh-century tower nonetheless visited by worshippers.

10. Hue

Explore temples, tombs, and luxuriate in a smaller Vietnamese metropolis

Hue (pronounced like ‘way’) is the right cease in central Vietnam in the event you’re concerned with seeing many tombs, temples, and pagodas.

The major draw inside Hue metropolis itself is the Imperial Citadel, however understand that practically every little thing at this website was bombed within the struggle so it may be seen comparatively shortly.

Much extra worthwhile are a few of the sights round Hue. The Tombs of the Emperors, for example, may be very spectacular and virtually fully intact. The sights round Hue provide some attention-grabbing examples of Vietnamese Buddhist aesthetics and structure and are properly value a go to.

11. Ha Giang

Ride a motorcycle by means of beautiful mountain surroundings

This is sort of probably the very best factor I’ve achieved in all of Vietnam. The northern Ha Giang area close to the border with China has a few of the most beautiful mountain surroundings in the entire nation, which has solely turn out to be extra accessible in recent times because of improved roads. The distant area is house to minorities such because the Hmong, who costume in vibrant apparel.

In Ha Giang, it’s all concerning the journey. The surroundings is solely spectacular and greatest loved on a motorcycle journey. Many vacationers do a loop beginning and ending in Ha Giang metropolis.

You will pay for motorcycle drivers or go on an organized group tour, however the easiest way is to drive by your self.

Ha Giang is maybe not a spot to tick off the listing shortly in the event you’re in Vietnam on a shorter vacation. It’s greatest to have a while for Ha Giang to actually take pleasure in it. Plan for at the least 3 days, but it surely’s higher to have 5.

12. Mui Ne

Go sandboarding and kitesurfing

A pleasant spot to remain a few nights is the small city of Mui Ne on the southern coast. The seashore shouldn’t be the primary attraction, as it is rather skinny and extra loved by kitesurfers than sunbathers, but it surely’s the resorts round Mui Ne and the enjoyable sights within the space that make it value a cease.

The outdated fishing village of Mui Ne extremely picturesque and famed for its vibrant fishing boats.

There can also be an incredible little river canyon stroll close by, in addition to white sand dunes the place you possibly can watch the dawn or strive sliding down the dunes on a board. When you end up on this sandy desert, you’ll absolutely surprise in the event you’re in Vietnam or within the Sahara Desert.

Mui Ne additionally has a giant traveller scene and is a superb place to calm down with loads of nice budget-friendly lodging.

13. Vinh Moc

See the Vietnam War tunnels

There are a variety of insightful Vietnam War museums and websites — or the American War, because it’s recognized in Vietnam. The better of the bunch is the War Remnants Museum in Saigon, although you possibly can anticipate it to be uncomfortable and heart-wrenching.

Not too far north of Da Nang and Hue are the tunnels of Vinh Moc, an elaborate complicated of shelters constructed by villagers in the course of the struggle. The tunnels have been a hit and no villagers misplaced their lives, although they needed to reside in completely terrible situations. It’s a really insightful place to see, and there are additionally the same Cu Chi tunnels close to Ho Chi Minh City within the south of Vietnam.

14. Da Nang

A bite-sized Vietnamese metropolis makes for a pleasant cease

Vietnam’s fifth-largest metropolis can also be one in every of its liveliest. Danang is only a quick distance up the coast from Hoi An, so it might be straightforward to lump these two collectively in the event you’re already visiting the one.

The metropolis is a mixture of coastal and concrete, so you can begin your day on the common My Khe seashore (over 6 miles lengthy), or go to a few of their well-known theme parks. Visit SolarWorld within the Ba Na Hills to see the well-known bridge held up by two hand sculptures and exquisite views over the town, or Danang Wonders for thrill rides. Don’t miss the golden dragon bridge for an incredible picture op.

Immerse your self in Vietnam’s historical past and structure by visiting the Marble Mountains, 5 limestone hills named after the 5 components. The towering karsts have underground caves, trails, pagodas, and 360° views of the town.

If different cities are too chaotic or polluted in your liking, you would possibly fairly take pleasure in Da Nang. While missing the historic ambiance of Hanoi or the hustle-and-bustle of Saigon, Da Nang has the next high quality of life, attracting the eye of many expats and digital nomads.

15. Da Lat

Vietnam meets France on this former hill station

Da Lat is a mountain city within the Central Highlands. Once used as a hill station in colonial occasions (a spot to flee the warmth in summer season), right this moment it’s usually referred to as The City within the Forest resulting from its lush environment and sweeping greenery.

Its historic French affect is mirrored within the structure, which supplies it the native nickname of ‘Little Paris’. The European really feel is contrasted with Da Lat’s farming trade because it’s the very best place for rising produce because of a year-round temperate local weather (this additionally makes it colder and wetter than different components of Vietnam, so costume accordingly).

There are farms and produce markets scattered all through the town, so you’ll want to choose up some fruits or veggies when you’re right here. Other than discovering the right artichokes or avocados, Da Lat’s metropolis has a lot to supply: varied botanical gardens, pagodas and temples, and the gnarled and twisted “Crazy House”.

16. Nha Trang

Enjoy an unpretentious seashore resort

Nha Trang is the right stopover in the event you’re craving just a few days of rest. This coastal metropolis is understood for its white sand seashores and wonderful climate, with little rain and many sunshine. It is understood for its many beachside lodges and has fairly an array of spas. One of the preferred is the I-Resort, recognized for its mud baths and thermal swimming pools.

In earlier occasions Nha Trang catered closely to Russian vacationers and it’s often known as a little bit of a backpacker social gathering hub. While it’s not primarily for the sights, there are nonetheless a number of issues to do. You can go temple hopping on the Long Son Pagoda and the Ponagar Tower, or go cliff-jumping and swimming on the Ba Ho waterfalls.

Families will ant to go to the massive Vinpearl water & amusement park, which is by itself island reached by cable automobile from the town. It’s additionally a enjoyable day trip in the event you’re with a gaggle of buddies and craving a break out of your cultural discoveries in Vietnam.

If you don’t have time to cease between Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, maximize your time by taking one of many in a single day sleeper trains. When searching for lodges on a funds, don’t ebook too near the seashore. Instead, get monetary savings by staying additional inland.

 

17. Ho Chi Minh City

Visit the southern business capital, a.okay.a. Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City (beforehand referred to as Saigon) is Vietnam’s second-largest metropolis. Being on the far reverse aspect of the nation to Hanoi, it has a really totally different vibe.

Hanoi is extra conventional with windy market streets, outdated temples, and tree-lined streets. Saigon is much more cosmopolitan and Western-oriented, having turn out to be the fast-paced business capital of Vietnam.

Many backpackers love Saigon as a result of it’s an incredible place to social gathering. But it’s additionally an attention-grabbing cultural cease, because of its War Remnants Museum, big avenue markets, and distinct delicacies.

18. The Mekong Delta

See floating markets and rural scenes

South Vietnam is the place the mighty Mekong river splits into tons of of smaller tendrils, forming the Mekong Delta. It’s fashioned an unlimited maze of rivers, rice paddies, and riverine islands.

One of the highlights of the Mekong Delta are the floating markets, the place boats dock collectively on the river to promote all method of fruit and greens. One of the very best locations to see floating markets is on the metropolis of Can Tho.

There are many organized excursions to the Mekong Delta, together with day-trips from Saigon, however they are often fairly cookie-cutter. I like to recommend staying in a guesthouse or homestay someplace in or close to Can Tho, and trying out the markets by your self or with a neighborhood information. Driving across the rice fields and waterways on a scooter can also be a pleasant method to get a style of life within the Mekong Delta.

19. Bao Loc

A mild metropolis among the many tea fields

Although Bao Loc is on the route from Ho Chi Minh to Da Lat, it’s ignored by many vacationers and nonetheless passes largely underneath the radar. If you think about your self a tea lover, this will likely be an fulfilling place to go to, because the Lam Dong province is understood for its tea manufacturing.

Bao Loc is roofed in lush, mountainous tea fields, with essentially the most well-known tea area being Tam Chau tea hill. This a part of Vietnam is well-known for its oolong tea manufacturing, and in the event you take a tour of the fields you possibly can study concerning the rising and harvesting course of. Finish by visiting the tea store, the place you should buy just a few souvenirs and pattern the various kinds of tea (together with artichoke tea).

Another common place with locals is the Dambri Waterfall, which additionally has a vacationer middle with a pool and amusement rides for teenagers. The waterfall itself is spectacular to see and would make a notable cease throughout your go to. If you’re spending the evening, begin your morning by watching the solar rise over the Linh Quy Phap An Pagoda.

20. Phu Quoc island

Vietnam’s premier resort island

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s reply to Thailand’s Phuket, having designated it as a key tourism growth zone. It presents Vietnam’s greatest collection of upmarket resorts, villas, and seashore golf equipment.

It’s not practically as built-up as Thailand’s counterpart although, so you possibly can positively discover uncrowded seashores in Phu Quoc.

If you wish to be on the seashore, Sao Beach is the very best spot for snorkeling or simply stress-free on the sand. If you wish to strive one thing extra memorable, go to a pepper farm or study to make a fish sauce (vestiges left from the island’s pre-tourism days when meals export was its major trade). There’s additionally an incredible evening market with tons of avenue meals. Try bún kèn, a wealthy, fishy soup with lemongrass and papaya over rice noodles.

Although its tourism attain is increasing and new lodges are being constructed left and proper, the perfect space to remain is round Duong Dong city. Long Beach, one of many island’s hottest seashores, is an efficient alternative for central entry to the remainder of the island.

21. Con Dao Islands

A hidden gem in the event you’re in search of less-touristed islands

In spite of journey bloggers and Instagram pictures, the Con Dao islands are nonetheless one of many best-kept secrets and techniques of locations to go to in Vietnam. The archipelago has 16 islands; Con Son is the most important and can be the very best place to base your keep.

There is a plethora of issues to do right here. Because of the low tourism, the seashores are pristine and because of being to this point offshore, provide a few of the greatest diving and snorkeling in Vietnam. The water right here is a few of the bluest and clearest ever, so positively make time to hit up the seashore! Otherwise, you possibly can discover Con Dao National Park, go to the Con Dao Museum to see the outdated 18th-century French colonial prisons, and even ebook a wellness retreat at a personal lodge.

We don’t doubt you’d go to Con Dao for the seashores, so understand that a lot of them are skinny and solely accessible at low tide. Do your analysis forward of time with tide schedules to keep away from being upset.

22. Ben Tre

Lovely riverside surroundings within the Mekong Delta

Located alongside the Mekong Delta, Ben Tre is a straightforward day journey from Ho Chi Minh City. The metropolis is in an space famend for its coconut manufacturing, so hold a watch out for indicators saying dừa xiêm—small, extraordinarily candy coconuts.

Most Mekong Delta excursions cease by the bigger Can Tho or My Tho, making Ben Tre a pleasant various. Nevertheless, many outings to Ben Tre are organized by tour corporations so even in the event you forge your personal path, this gained’t be a low-key, off-the-beaten-track sort of tour. But you get to expertise some attention-grabbing sights so it’s well worth the journey.

The boat journey down the delta exhibits one other lifestyle since many Vietnamese nonetheless make their dwelling alongside the delta. Visit a coconut grove and style recent fruit at an island orchard by boat, earlier than following the agricultural roads inland to go to a honey farm and style recent honey. You may even catch snakehead fish for lunch and have it cooked recent.

Vietnam planning suggestions

There’s way more to see in Vietnam than most individuals can match right into a single journey, so in the event you’re having hassle deciding in your precise itinerary, you shouldn’t miss my suggestions for planning a Vietnam journey.

Don’t underestimate Vietnam’s dimension; its size is just like that of your entire West Coast USA. If you wish to see a number of locations within the north, middle, and south, rely on needing at the least 3 weeks.

A standard Vietnam itinerary is to go to Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, and eventually Ho Chi Minh City. Yes, that’s loads of locations beginning with an ‘H’. If you want extra inspiration, simply jump over to my Vietnam nation overview for all of the related articles.