Best places to visit in Vietnam

Vietnam – a hidden charming country in the South East Asia is an attracted destination for most of travellers. If you are looking for unspoiled nature landscape, beautiful beaches, culture or even diverse cuisine, this country has many things to offers. Let’s discover best places to visit recommend by Travel Sense Asia:

Hanoi

Capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is certainly your starting point because it has a large international airport where many flights arrive. There are some main sightseeings that you shouldn’t miss: the Old Quarter, Literature Tempel, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake etc. From Hanoi it is easy to make excursions to other places such as Halong, Ninh Binh, Sapa… nearby before you move toward the south.

Halong

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of best places to travel in Vietnam. The Bay is located about 180km from Hanoi and known for its spectacular unique landscape with thousands of limestone islands. To discover Halong Bay visitors usually join a cruise. On the way cruise will make some stops for you to visit the caves or take some activities such as swimming or kayaking. Overnight on board is also a nice experience for tourists.

Sapa

If you are fan of nature you will definitely be attracted by Sapa, a smoggy town in the northwestern. Surrounded by range of mountains, Sapa has cool weather, which is good condition for hiking and trekking activities. Here you can visit many hill tribe villages and enjoy the stunning view of extraordinary local rice terraces. In the past travellers usually take a tourist night train to Sapa but nowadays it can easily approached by highway, 5-6 hours driving from Hanoi.

Hue

For those who don’t know, Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam under Nguyen Dynasty, located in the middle country. By visting Hue you will learn more about Vietnam’s history as well as admire beautiful imperial architectures, for examples: Imperial City, Royal Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, Tu Duc, Khai Dinh… Hue offers not only historical sightseeings but also natural landscapes such as Bach Ma national park, Dam Chuon lagoon and quiet beaches for few days relaxing. If you are a food explorer, it’s recommend to have a dining experience in garden house restaurant.    

Da Nang – Hoi An

From Hue you can drive in 3-4 hours over a well-known beautiful pass along the coastline (Hai Van Pass) to Da Nang, a young and modern city in Central Vietnam. It is also a favourite place for beach holiday, not only for local people but also for almost international tourists. Not so from Da Nang located Hoi An, a charming small town with well-preserved yellow ancient houses, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly known as Saigon, is the largest metropolis of Vietnam and a economic hub of the south. Like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is an important destination on your trip in Vietnam due to a large number of international flights in and out. There are some tourist attractions in Saigon that you shouldn’t miss: Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office – symbol of Saigon and French Colonial Architecture, Independence Palace one of best places to visit if you want to learn more about Vietnam War, Cu Chi Tunnel – a famous war sightseeing on city outskirt, Bui Vien Street – favourite meeting point for young people…

Mekong Delta

This name means labyrinth of rivers, water canals and islands, home to floating markets, rice paddies and fruit orchards. The name is used to describe several provinces and cities in the area. Most visited by tourists are Ben Tre and Can Tho. Ben Tre is famous for coconut groves and narrow waterway. Can Tho is well-known for its floating market – Cai Rang. To explore this region tourists will join a boat trip that bring you through the canals. For high budget travellers an overnight cruise trip is highly recommended.

Phu Quoc

The farest island of Vietnam is a paradise for beach lovers and one of best places to visit in Vietnam. Unspoiled picturesque white sand beaches, transparent turquoise water and colorful coral reefs make it remarkable for every tourists. Not only relax on the beach but you can also do some some sightseeing, for examples: visit Phu Quoc national part, fish sauce fabric, pepper garden, pearls farm, fishing villages or go on a snorkeling… The best time to enjoy a beach holiday in Phu Quoc is in dry season from November to April.

There are many more beautiful places in Vietnam that you can visit. It is up to your trip length and your way of travel. Since 15th March Vietnam has re-opened its borders to foreign travellers. No more travel restrictions due to Covid-19. Now it is time for you to plan and discover this hidden charm.