Top 15 Places to visit in Vietnam
Whether you are looking to visit an unexplored country for travel adventure or an R&R, you will have the vacation of a lifetime at Vietnam. From adventure activities to beach and ocean fun, or soaking-in historical world heritage sites, Vietnam offers you plenty to do.
Vietnam is a geographically unique country, with extensive sea coasts, beaches, islands, deltas, and highlands. So each region has something unique to offer to the traveller. Tourists planning a holiday to Vietnam must ask themselves what they want to see or experience, and visit places based on their interests. However, make sure to find about your update visa requirements, check your Vietnam visa fees update daily and apply for your visa before your holiday dates. Visa norms in Vietnam are very stringent, and it makes sense to do the right thing to enjoy a holiday in magnificent Vietnam.
We have picked for you the best places to visit. So get your adrenalin flowing, experience culture or just unwind and detox!
NORTHERN VIETNAM
1. Ha long Bay
Interest level: karst topography, cruising, UNESCO World Heritage site
With limestone islands and rocky outcrops amidst aqua-green water, this karst seascape is a natural wonder and a must-see. Tourists to Vietnam cannot give this a miss. The spectacular views are best experienced from boats. Both, day and night cruises are popular tourist attractions.
2. Sapa
Interest level: rolling hills, serene countryside, trekking
The most beautiful countryside location of Vietnam, Sapa is a mountainous site with stretches of terraced rice fields flanked by jagged peaks. Incredible views, trekking and close encounters with village tribes, are what you can expect. Tranquillity and picture-perfect views make Sapa a sought-after destination.
3. Hanoi
Interest level: capital city, historical attractions
If you are an international traveller, you will most likely land at Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. A busting city with scores of attractions, Hanoi is a unique blend of Vietnamese history and modernity. The city is a living relic of French colonial architecture that has survived war, and a thriving medley of Chinese and S-E Asian cultures.
4. Tam Coc
Interest level: limestone formations, rice fields, caverns, boat ride
Close to Hanoi, Tam Coc is for visitors who are pressed for time and want to experience Vietnam at its best in a single day. With miles and miles of rice fields, flanked by a river and surrounded by limestone cliffs, this natural site is one-of-its-kind. The many wonders of Tam Coc are best experienced by boat.
5. Ba Be National Park
Interest level: boating, trekking, scenery
If you want to see a unique landscape, where towering karst peaks loom over still lakes bordered by forested slopes, visit the Ba Be National Park for a unique adventure. The lush greenery is marked with waterfalls and random caves. With activities like boating, caving, trekking, mountaineering and cycling, the Park offers an adrenalin-high experience.
6. Ninh Binh province
Interest level: natural reserve, wildlife
Home to the most majestic landscapes of Vietnam, the Ninh Binh province is hailed as the “Halong Bay in land” for its splendid karst topography flanking rice fields. In close proximity is the UNESCO Site of Trang An Grottoes - a network of caves accessed by boat. The wildlife reserve, Cuc Phuong, is another attraction.
CENTRAL VIETNAM
7. Hue
Interest level: UNESCO world heritage site, history, culture, architecture
Hue is a must-visit on every tourist itinerary. Once the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty, it is certainly the cultural capital of Vietnam today. A UNESCO world heritage site, this historic town houses the Citadel complex of royal palaces, a sprawling site of architectural wonders from the past.
8. Hoi An
Interest level: beaches, medieval architecture
This is an old city dating back 2,000 years to the Champa Kingdom. It was better known as a bustling trading town in the15th century. Today, Hoi An is a charming old textile town. Tourists visit Hoi An to check-out the living relics from the past and sample its famous cuisine.
9. Cham Island
Interest level: ocean adventure, marine biodiversity, beaches
This is a group of eight small granite islands, part of the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, a world Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO, in the South East Asia Sea. This is both a diving and snorkelling site, popular for its coral gardens. The islands are equally known for their beautiful white sand beaches and local seafood cuisine.
10. My Son
Interest level: archaeological site, Hindu temples
Tourists visiting Hoi An cannot miss out on My Son, the archaeological site housing remnants of ancient Hindu temple structures. Dating back to the Champa dynasty, this temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva is believed to be built between 4th and 14th century.
11. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Interest level: caving, UNESCO world heritage site, boating, wildlife
This is a protected area with the oldest karst mountains in Asia, formed about 400 million years ago. Underground rivers interspersed with ancient limestone karsts and a vast network of caves accessed by boats, make this a popular tourist destination. The tropical forests are also home to rich wildlife - tigers, black bears, elephants – are another attraction.
SOUTHERN VIETNAM
12. Nha Trang
Interest level: beaches, snorkelling, family activities
Nha Trang is a much-visted seaside resort city flanked by scenic mountains. Although its beaches are the main attraction, its proximity to scuba diving sites is another tourist draw. It is a well maintained town, with beautiful promenades, amusement and water parks for family holidays.
13. Ho Chi Minh City
Interest level: culture, shopping, dining, night life, war history
A visit to Vietnam is incomplete without a stopover at its largest city, Ho Chi Minh. French colonial landmarks vie with ancient Buddhist and Taoist relics and ultra-modern skyscrapers, to create a city of diversity. The city has two museums with well preserved war relics, for those curious to know about the Vietnam war. Ho Chi Minh is well known for its pulsating night life and amazing cuisine.
14. Cu Chi Tunnels
Interest level: adventure, tunnelling, military history
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive underground tunnel network that was in use during the Vietnam war. Today, only two sections of the subterranean passageways are open to adventure enthusiasts interested in a slice of history. Be prepared to crawl on your hands and knees in some sections. The tunnel exploration is certainly not for the fain-hearted!
15. Mekong Delta
Interest level: rice fields, floating communities, mangroves, photography
Best explored by boat, this region is home to endless rice fields, orchards and mangroves, interspersed by the canals and streams of the Mekong River. Floating markets, rustic villages, vistas of endless paddy fields and sugarcane groves, and boat trips to the U Minh Mangrove Forest and Ca Mau Nature Reserve, are the region’s attractions.
