Vietnam is a popular travel destination in recent years, with a total of 15.5 million foreign tourists visiting this famous Asian country in 2018.
This is not surprising, with its 331,690 km² in area, full of magnificent places that will transport you to a world of dreams. Whether through its rice fields, its temples or its beaches, its landscapes are breathtaking, in addition to its cities mixing current and past architecture.
If you are thinking of visiting Vietnam and you don’t know where to start, here are some ideas to make the most of your stay, whether you are in the north, south or even in the center of the country!
1. Hanoi
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is a must-see destination! Mixing modern landscapes and others that seem to be from another era, Hanoi is one of the most touristic cities in the country. You will be able to see vestiges of different eras, starting with the old quarters, but also by visiting the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison or the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
2. Halong Bay
Crédit Photo : Shutterstock / De Simon Dannhauer
Halong Bay, called Vịnh Hạ Long in Vietnamese, is a must-see tourist attraction located in northern Vietnam. Located between Hạ Long and Cát Bà National Park , this bay extends over one thousand five hundred km² and has a total of one thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine islands whose richness, both in its flora and its fauna, make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
3. Phong Nha Cave
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / By Dmytro Gilitukha
is Phong Nha Cave located in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, five hundred kilometers south of Hanoi.
The cave is only accessible by boat and you can visit a total of one kilometer of rock formations, both stalactites and stalagmites lining the huge walls of these cavernous tunnels, making the sight before your eyes breathtaking. .
4. Dragon River Bridge
Photo credit: Shutterstock / De Tang Trung Kien
The Dragon River Bridge , also called Dragon Bridge or Cầu Rồng , is in Đà Nẵng and spans the Han River. It is a suspension arch bridge whose design represents a gigantic golden dragon.
The best time to see this bridge is in the evening, when the play of light seems to bring the dragon to life. If possible, it is best to go there on Saturday evening, as the dragon’s head often spits fire during the evening.
5. Hue , the former imperial capital
Hue is a city located on the central coast of Vietnam. If it is today the capital of Thừa Thiên province, the city of Hue was the imperial capital of the country between 1802 and 1945, and if you are looking for interesting places to visit in Vietnam, then it is acts as a destination of choice.
The most interesting places to visit in Hué are the old imperial city , Đại Nội in Vietnamese, as well as the South Gate, also called Ngo Môn , an important place at the time, because it was there that the emperor used to do part of all its decisions.
6. The Golden Bridge
The Golden Bridge, called Cầu Vàng in Vietnam, is a hundred and fifty meter long bridge located on the green hill of Bà Nà , in the center of the country.
It stands 1,400 meters above sea level and is supported by two gigantic hands made of concrete, often referred to as the hands of God. From the bridge, you can enjoy the panoramic view that the altitude will give you, but also admire the wild vegetation of the surrounding hills.
7. The rice fields of Sa Pa
Located in the far north of Vietnam, the rice terraces of Sa Pa are worthy of a postcard landscape. The rice terraces extend for several kilometers, on the sides of the mountain, and are colored between yellow and green throughout the year.
Many hikes are organized there and you may have the chance to meet the Hmong people as well as other ethnic minorities living there.
8. The Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta , which the Vietnamese call đồng bằng sông Cửu Long , stretches across the south of the country and is one of the largest and vastest deltas in the world.
It is possible to visit it on your own or through organized excursions, but it takes four to five days on average for this. You can enjoy varied landscapes, ranging from the largest cities in the country and their famous floating markets, such as Cần thơ, to wilder places filled with vegetation.
Located in the far north of Vietnam, the rice terraces of Sa Pa are worthy of a postcard landscape. The rice terraces extend for several kilometers, on the sides of the mountain, and are colored between yellow and green throughout the year.
Many hikes are organized there and you may have the chance to meet the Hmong people as well as other ethnic minorities living there.
8. The Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta , which the Vietnamese call đồng bằng sông Cửu Long , stretches across the south of the country and is one of the largest and vastest deltas in the world.
It is possible to visit it on your own or through organized excursions, but it takes four to five days on average for this. You can enjoy varied landscapes, ranging from the largest cities in the country and their famous floating markets, such as Cần thơ, to wilder places filled with vegetation.
9. Les cascades de Dray Nur et Dray Sap
Photo credit: Shutterstock / From Nemo67
Located twenty-five kilometers from Buôn Ma Thuôt in the province of Đắk Lắk, in the central highlands, the Đray Nur waterfall and the Đray Sáp waterfall are two places not to be missed if you visit central Vietnam.
You can enjoy an incredible view of the waterfalls and the relaxing sound of them, but also visit the three kilometer long cave and walk among the surrounding vegetation.
10. L’île de Phu Quoc
If you are looking for a heavenly place to relax and enjoy the Vietnamese flora and fauna, then Phú Quốc Island is a place you absolutely must visit!
It is located off Cambodia , in the southwest of Vietnam, and more than half of its surface makes up Phú Quốc National Park. You will find all types of terrain, from mountains to tropical forest, passing by white sand beaches, and the choice of activity is very wide, ranging from organized hikes to various local markets.
11. Củ Chi Tunnels
Crédit Photo : Shutterstock / De daphnusia
Located about fifty kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, the Củ Chi tunnels are a network of galleries and chambers of approximately two hundred and fifty kilometers that were dug in time of war, and which have served many times, mainly during the Vietnam War.
The tunnels are now open to the public and you can visit them at any time thanks to the many guided tours organized every day.
12. Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a well-known beach town in Vietnam that is ideal for you if you want to enjoy the azure waters and long white sandbanks of the area.
Nha Trang is on the southern coast of Vietnam and, besides relaxing on the beaches, you can enjoy multiple activities in the middle of the surrounding nature, such as hiking or discovering Hòn Mun Island and the reefs of coral near the seaside resort.
13. Vung Tau
Crédit Photo : Shutterstock / De Hang Dinh
Vũng Tàu is a port city located east of Ho-Chi-Minh-City. It is a former French colony which currently attracts many tourists thanks to its heavenly beaches, such as Pineapple Beach or Front Beach.
But the beaches are not the only tourist spots. You can visit many museums, including the famous Upside Down House , stroll through the old districts of the city, but also admire the statue of Christ the King which is located on the heights of Vũng Tàu.
14. Dance Cave
Hang Múa is a mountain located in Ninh Bình , known for its breathtaking view, but also for its cave bearing the same name.
Climbing the four hundred and fifty immaculate white steps along the side of the mountain, you will arrive at a location with a panoramic view of the region, passing from the rice fields below to the multiple hills, sometimes rocky or green.
15. The Reunification Palace
Crédit Photo : Pxhere
Si vous ne savez pas quoi visiter à Hô Chi Minh-Ville, le palais de la réunification, appelé Dinh Thông Nhât au Vietnam, est un incontournable pour une visite réussie de la ville.
This building, built by French settlers and dating from the 19th century, is an important part of the country’s history, since it is the monument testifying to national reunification, after thirty years of war. You can discover more about the palace and the history it hides during the many guided tours organized throughout the year.
16. Hoi An Old Town
La vieille ville d’Hội An est un ancien port marchand datant du XVe siècle et qui fût utilisé comme tel jusqu’au XIXe siècle. Si vous visitez le centre du Vietnam, alors il s’agit d’un lieu à mettre sur votre liste de visites et qui vous permettra de découvrir les vestiges d’une architecture unique mêlant la culture vietnamienne de l’époque aux nombreuses influences étrangères.
17. Le festival des fleurs de Đà Lạt
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / De xuanhuongho
The Đà Lạt Flower Festival, also called Hoa Đà Lạt Festival in Vietnamese, is a colorful festival held every year at the end of December in Đà Lạt , a town located about three hundred kilometers to the south -east of Ho Chi Minh City.
This festival has a different theme each year and you can see flowery fields, bewitchingly colored flowerbeds, but also various sculptures accompanying the many varieties of plants on display to the public.
Be careful though, the date of the festival changes every year, sometimes set for the last week of December, and sometimes straddling between December and January.
18. La pagode Tran Quoc
Photo credit: Shutterstock / De Hang Dinh
Located in Hanoi and built in the 6th century, the Trấn Quốc pagoda is the oldest in the city. The structure is fifteen meters high, for a total of 11 floors, and although it has undergone many changes over the years, it still reflects a particular atmosphere linked to its original era.
But that’s not all, since around it you can find, in particular, a house to burn incense, but also a museum where you can find many vestiges related to the monument and the city of Hanoi. , as well as numerous statues, all of which have unique facial features.
19. Le temple Cao Dai
Built in the 1930s, the Cao Đài temple is one of the must-sees in the south of the country. This monument is located nearly one hundred kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City and is a place of worship that is a little different from those we are used to seeing: the Cao Đàists believe that all religions, whether be it Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam or any other religion, are in fact one and the same belief.
As for the temple, it is open to the public and you can attend the daily ceremonies, every six hours, but also take photos of the faithful with their magnificent robes and appreciate the marvelous architecture of the place.
20. Suối Tiên Theme Amusement Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock / From Tropical studio
For amusement park lovers visiting Vietnam, Suối Tiên theme park Ho Chi Minh City’s is probably the best thing to do. Indeed, it is the largest and newest park in the Saigon region and you will find many attractions there, but also an aquatic part as well as many shows, and even excellent
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