The Best Places To Visit in Vietnam

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Discover tradition and history in Vietnam’s charming rural villages, and see the dynamic new face of Asia in the hubbub of its thriving cities. With so many amazing places to see it”s hard to choose which are the essential must-sees.

Vietnam is a land of striking landscapes that range from the lush rice terraces and forested mountains in the north to the picturesque valleys of the Central Highlands and the fertile delta and beautiful beaches of the south. Included in the mix are booming modern cities, colonial towns, traditional villages, archaeological sites and otherworldly islands. An overview of the best places to visit in Vietnam.

Ha Noi

For the last century, Hanoi has the Indochina and Vietnam Wars to emerge as the booming capital city of a reunified Vietnam. At the heart of Hanoi is its Old Quarter, an open-air museum of historic Asian and French colonial architecture that has largely remained intact despite the bombings of the Vietnam War. Here among scenic tree-lined boulevards, tourists can browse busy markets, sip coffee at quaint cafes and visit prominent sites like the Grand Opera House, the Presidential Palace and Saint Joseph Cathedral.

Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay is the jewel in Vietnam’s scenic crown. Widely considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world, this UNESCO World Heritage listed region is simply breathtaking. Thousands of karst limestone and jungle covered peaks and isles, rise dramatically out of the emerald waters of the bay. On the famous islands of Halong Bay, caves, hidden coves and beautiful beaches await discovery and the towering peaks provide some of the best rock climbing in South East Asia. The ideal way to explore Halong Bay is onboard a traditional Junk boat which can either be privately chartered or shared. Enjoy a cruise on a Junk and explore remote offshore islands, kayak and swim in the warm waters and capture an incredible sunset over a panorama of peaks.

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is also known as the Ha Long Bay on land for an obvious reason – it looks like Ha Long Bay but on land instead of water. There are hundreds of limestone monoliths topped by dense greenery that emerge from the ground, scattered around the city with rivers flowing through them and caves formed in them. While the mountains are in the west and northwest, the east and south have coastal parts. Ninh Binh really does have everything.

Hoi An

UNESCO Listed Hoi An is a former merchant trading post, famed for its beautifully preserved architecture, ancient cobbled streets and picturesque riverside location. The influence of past traders from Japan, China and Europe is evident in Hoi An, whose backstreets are lined with large, attractive merchant houses and pagodas. Today, Hoi An is awash with art stalls and markets, fabulous restaurants and cooking schools, not to mention streets literally lined with tailor-shops, all catering for the town’s thriving tourist trade. Nevertheless Hoi An still manages to retain its traditional character and charm and with pedestrian streets devoid of the usual cacophony and chaos of traffic, Hoi An’s quiet and relaxed pace of life adds to its effortless appeal.

Hue

Situated right in the middle of Vietnam, Hue is a stunning, imperial city brimming with a rich history and cultural heritage. Much like Beijing, Hue has its own Forbidden City, which is now in ruins because of the Vietnamese-American war and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. Despite being just a shadow of their former glory, exploring the imperial citadel and tombs is an amazing experience and gives great insight into Vietnam’s turbulent past. Another historical site worth visiting is the Thien Mu Pagoda, which is the home to numerous young monks in training and has excellent views over the picturesque Perfume River. If that sparks a desire for some more natural beauty, grab a bike from one of the many rental places and go on a leisurely cycle through the lush rice paddies that surround the city.

Sapa

Located 1,500m above sea level, Sapa is a former French hill station, nestled in the rugged Tonkinese Alps and surrounded by lush valleys and verdant rice paddy fields. Here, farmers in conical hats plough the fields with water buffalo and local ethnic minority groups (such as H”mong and Dzao) maintain their age old traditions and way of life, including their own language and wearing intricately embroidered traditional clothing. Sapa is an overnight train journey north west from Hanoi, into the mountains near the Chinese border. Cooler than the city, Sapa is ideal for hiking in pristine scenery and visiting the ethnic minority villages. Depending on your fitness level you can arrange anything from gentle walks to challenging hikes.

Nha Trang

Considered to be the beach capital of Vietnam, Nha Trang is famed for its sweeping stretch of beautiful beach with offshore islands adding to the appeal. The turquoise waters offer fantastic diving opportunities while the imposing mountains that loom over the city make for a stunning setting. The beachfront offers plenty to keep visitors entertained with various parks and sculpture gardens, high rise resorts, stylish restaurants and sophisticated bars. With its coastal location, the city, unsurprisingly, has a wealth of seafood dining options. Nha Trang is something of a party town with great nightlife though for those who prefer a little culture, century-old Cham towers still stand in the centre of town.

Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta in south-east Vietnam is one of the world’s greatest river regions. The delta is a hive of activity and serves as a crucial transport and agricultural hub. Known as the ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’, it has lush rice paddy fields and colourful fruit orchards, enchanting villages and bustling floating markets. Life thrives on the delta, which is home to hundreds of species of animals and fish, not to mention its human inhabitants. Maintaining a very traditional way of life, the locals have adapted well to life on the water, travelling, fishing, trading and even sleeping on their sampans and boats. Discover the magic of the Mekong Delta aboard a traditional sampan boat or travel in comfort on an overnight ‘Bassac’ rice barge cruise and barter at the floating market in Can Thou.

Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon, or formally Ho Chi Minh City, is the vibrant, cosmopolitan hub of Vietnam and the original ‘Pearl of the Orient’. In this thriving metropolis, old and new collide. Gleaming sky scrapers, expensive restaurants, bars and designer shops, stand in stark contrast to the ancient pagodas, colonial era landmarks, ramshackle markets and wandering monks. Saigon is a feast for the senses, fast paced, colourful, loud and utterly mesmerising. Whilst it hurtles head first into the 21st Century, Saigon is a city with a compelling and unforgettable history. Key sites such as the historic Reunification Palace, the Revolutionary Museum and the War Remnants Museum provide a fascinating insight into the Vietnam War and the historic fall of Saigon in 1975. 70kms north west of the city, the historic Cu Chi Tunnels which played such a vital role in the war, are another highlight.

Dalat

Year-round cool weather and idyllic scenery of misty valleys, lush pine trees and colorful flowers are some of the reasons that Dalat was once used by Vietnamese emperors and French colonials as a summer retreat. Today, this charming town in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam is a popular destination for those looking for relief from the heat. A walkable city, Dalat is a beautiful scene of French colonial architecture and villas set amid picturesque landscapes.

Mui Ne

Mui Ne is a beautiful beach resort built around a charming fishing village. The sea-front resorts are low-rise with landscaped gardens, making Mui Ne a developed yet attractive beach complex. With a reputation as the adrenaline capital of southern Vietnam, Mui Ne is a popular surf destination between August and December when the waves arrive, while the gales from October to April attract the wind and kite surfers. The famous red and white sand dunes are a perfect photo opportunity as the changing winds sculpt the vivid sands while for the more adventurous sand-sledding is possible. A scenic trek to Fairy Spring follows the stream from the sea all the way to its source, while the 9th century Cham tower affords sweeping views of Mui Ne town.

Con Dao Island

A chain of 15 islands and islets, Con Dao is one of Vietnam’s star attractions. With stunning deserted beaches, coral reefs, scenic bays and thick forests, the islands are the perfect place to sit back and relax or make the most of nature with trekking through mangroves, diving around the islands and wild-life watching. 80% of the islands’ land mass forms the Con Dao National Park which protects sea turtle nesting grounds. Nesting season is from May to September and visitors can spend a night at a conversation site on one of the islands to see the turtles in their natural habitat. Con Son island is the main hub and has so far avoided mass tourism making it a relatively untouched paradise with access to the surrounding islands and their idyllic beaches.

Phu Quoc Island

This peaceful tropical paradise, floats in the warm turquoise waters in the Gulf of Thailand, 50kms from the Vietnamese mainland and a 50 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

Open year round with a peak season from November to March, Phu Quoc is becoming well known for stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, the easy going and relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals, and fantastic scuba diving and snorkelling.

The majority of Phu Quoc Island is dedicated to National Park and protected marine environment, providing a memorable experience, with plenty of exciting activities and places to visit to keep you and the family entertained during your stay.

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