12 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam
Vietnam possesses numerous captivating and diverse destinations, ranging from beaches to plains and mountains. Each place has its own unique beauty and characteristics, so you’ll need to explore all of these places to truly understand Vietnam’s culture, history, and landscapes. In this article, we will introduce the 12 best places to visit in Vietnam, these must-see destinations are primarily chosen by international travelers in their itineraries in Vietnam.
To discover the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, please visit: Top 15 Most Beautiful Beaches in Vietnam
1. Hanoi Capital
Hanoi is the cultural, historical and political center of Vietnam. It boasts numerous attractive tourist destinations such as the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and The Huc Bridge – these are iconic landmarks of Hanoi that should not be missed. Additionally, you can learn about the culture and history of Vietnam by visiting Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Museum of Ethnology.
One of the cultural shows that tourists often experience and is unique to Hanoi is the Water Puppetry at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. This is a distinctive and longstanding form of Vietnamese art that is still being preserved. The theater is quite close to the Old Quarter, so you can walk there to purchase tickets for the show.
Hanoi’s cuisine is also something you should experience. Some of the world-famous dishes here include Beef noodle soup, Bun Cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), and Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich)…
To learn more about Hanoi, see Hanoi, Vietnam: 18 Places to Visit & Things to Know
2. Sapa
Sapa is a small town in Lao Cai province, Vietnam, situated at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level. It has a cool and refreshing climate and offers many captivating landscapes to explore.
If you’re passionate about mountain climbing, you can attempt to conquer the summit of Fansipan, which stands at 3,143 meters in Sapa. If you want to enjoy panoramic views of Sapa town, the Muong Hoa Valley, and the hidden Tả Phìn village amidst the mist, you can hike up Ham Rong Mountain, which is quite close to the center of Sapa.
Additionally, one of the activities that tourists often engage in when visiting Sapa is exploring the villages inhabited by various ethnic minority groups. Sapa is home to 6 ethnic minority groups, each with its own unique culture and festivals for you to discover.
To learn more about Sapa, see Sapa, Vietnam: 9 Places to Visit & Things to Know
3. Halong bay
Halong Bay is located approximately 150km from Hanoi, and it takes about 2 hours to reach there by car on the highway. Halong Bay is considered one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world, featuring 1,969 islands, primarily limestone formations. It is also regarded as one of the most stunning natural attractions in Vietnam. The magnificent natural landscape of Halong Bay is created by three elements: limestone mountains, the sea, and the sky. This is a unique gift of nature to Halong Bay that can’t be found anywhere else. Therefore, exploring Halong Bay is always a top priority for international tourists visiting Vietnam.
To experience sightseeing in Halong Bay, it’s best to book overnight accommodation on cruise ships here. With a 2-day, 1-night tour package, you will be taken to visit the main attractions of Halong Bay, participate in activities like swimming and kayaking, and more.
To learn more about Halong bay, see Halong Bay, Vietnam: Places to Visit & Things to Know
4. Hue
Hue, the ancient capital, is one of the cities that bears a significant historical imprint of Vietnam from the 19th century Nguyen dynasty. Some of the main attractions in Hue include the Imperial City of Hue, the Khai Dinh Tomb, the Perfume River, and more.
In addition to the historical sites, the city of Hue also boasts beautiful beaches like Lang Co Beach. This is an ideal place for those who love swimming, with its gently sloping coastline, white sand, clear waters, and an average temperature of around 25-30 degrees Celsius.
With its picturesque natural scenery and stunning coastline, Lang Co possesses most of what nature has to offer. It is the third bay in Vietnam, following Halong Bay and Nha Trang, to be named among the 30 most beautiful bays in the world. Here are the top 7 tourist destinations in Hue that you shouldn’t miss.
To learn more about Hue, see Hue city, Vietnam: Top 11 Places to Visit
5. Da Nang
Da Nang is a major city in Central Vietnam, strategically located with beautiful beaches, an international airport, and is a preferred tourist destination for both domestic and international travelers every year. One significant advantage of Da Nang is its friendly people, clean environment, diverse cuisine, and well-developed infrastructure, making it a popular choice for hosting large international events and festivals in Vietnam.
Da Nang’s tourist attractions are also very diverse, including My Khe Beach – one of the most charming beaches in the world, Dragon Bridge, Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills, and more. Particularly, Ba Na Hills Mountain Resort has received significant investment for tourism development, offering world-class entertainment and recreational activities.
To learn more about Da Nang, see Da Nang, Vietnam: 14 Places to Visit & Things to Know
6. Hoi An
Hoi An, characterized by its ancient town with old wooden houses, colorful lanterns, and slow-drifting wooden boats on the Hoai River, holds a special allure for international tourists. Over the years, Hoi An has received millions of accolades from famous world travel news outlets and blogs, which are well-deserved recognition for this beautiful town.
Hoi An’s cuisine is also highly praised, with traditional dishes such as Hoi An-style baguette, Cao Lau, Quang noodles often being savored by tourists when they visit.
To learn more about Hoi An, see Hoi An, Vietnam: 15 Places to Visit & Things to Know
7. Nha Trang
Nha Trang is the beautiful coastal city of Vietnam, known as the “Pearl of the Far East.” Nha Trang boasts stunning natural landscapes with long white sandy beaches and offshore islands with incredible coral ecosystems. Nha Trang has been voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
To learn more about Nha Trang, see Nha Trang, Vietnam: 14 Places to Visit & Things to Know
8. Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) is the most economically developed hub in Vietnam. The first impression for international tourists when visiting Ho Chi Minh City is its vibrancy, dynamism, and modernity. The city features luxurious buildings in the central area, bustling markets, restaurants, bars, and entertainment districts that stay open until the early hours.
Initially, many travelers may find the traffic “chaotic” in the busiest areas. However, if you have the opportunity to explore the small streets on a motorbike, you will notice that things are quite different from your initial perception. Most vehicles move at a slow pace, and conflicts on the road are rare.
Ho Chi Minh City also offers a diverse range of tourist attractions. With an array of 11 museums, primarily focusing on historical themes, it has the largest number of museums in Vietnam. The largest and oldest museum in the city is the Vietnam History Museum with 30,000 artifacts. While most foreign visitors head to the War Remnants Museum, the Ho Chi Minh Museum attracts the most domestic tourists. From Ho Chi Minh City, you can also spend a day visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, a wartime relic with an extensive tunnel system.
To learn more about Ho Chi Minh city, see Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam: Top 20 Places to Visit
9. Can Tho, Ben Tre, Vinh Long
These are cities in Southern Vietnam located in the Mekong Delta region. This area is characterized by a dense network of canals and rivers. The most exciting experiences in this region are the floating markets early in the morning, visits to fruit orchards and farms where various fruits and agricultural products are grown, and the opportunity to explore the life and culture of the local people.
To learn more about Can Tho, see Can Tho, Vietnam: 13 Places to Visit & Things to Know
10. Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc is an island located in the southern part of Vietnam with a total area of about 589.23 square kilometers. It is considered a major tourist hub in Vietnam. In recent years, Phu Quoc has seen strong tourism infrastructure development with significant investments from the government and multinational corporations.
Key tourism activities in Phu Quoc include beach resorts, exploring pristine forests, and various water sports activities.
To learn more about Phu Quoc, see Phu Quoc, Vietnam: Places to Visit & Things to Know
11. Quang Binh
Quang Binh is a province in North Central Vietnam, renowned not only for its beautiful beaches but also for having the most magnificent and mysterious cave systems in Vietnam. One of the world-famous cave systems recently discovered is Son Doong Cave.
Additionally, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, is an incredibly attractive destination with over 400 caves, totaling 220 kilometers in length.
To learn more about Quang Binh, see Quang Binh, Vietnam: 9 Places to Visit & Things to Know
12. Quy Nhon and Mui Ne
While these two destinations belong to different provinces and are quite far apart, we group them together because of their similarities. They both have beautiful beaches and have received significant investments from international corporations, positioning them as excellent seaside vacation spots.
To learn more about Quy Nhon, see Quy Nhon, Vietnam: 8 Places to Visit & Things to Know
To learn more about Mui Ne, see Mui Ne Beach, Vietnam: Top 11 Things To Do
Conclusion
With these 12 best destinations in Vietnam that we have just introduced, you will certainly not miss any of Vietnam’s outstanding highlights on your trip. We wish you an exciting journey to Vietnam. If you need to book a Vietnam tour package, do not hesitate to contact us for the best offers.
