There are many Asian countries which are diverse in culture, traditions, natural landscape, filled with an ancient history like Incredible India, Thailand, Dubai etc. One such country located in southeast Asia is Vietnam, holding the title of the thinnest country in the world. Still, it holds a topmost attractive and worth visiting destination which is rich in ancient history, culture and quintessential natural landscapes.
There are a lot of things to see and do in Vietnam, so we’ve selected a generic list of Vietnam’s must-see attractions Plan your travel itinerary accordingly.
Introductory Tour of Vietnam
Asia’s most beautiful country Vietnam tempts travellers to its lush mountains, bustling cities and golden sand beaches. There are numerous ancient landmarks, colonial structures, ancient villages to war museums, Citadels, delicious food to savour in this country filled with fun activities. This country has something for everyone.
Attractions like the Cu Chi tunnels located outside Ho Chi Minh City, or War Remnants Museum which depicts the reality of war, fabulous Hue Monuments, along with the My Son Sanctuary will surely excite your travelling bug. Tropical forests, Sand Dunes of Mui Ne, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi, ruins and pagodas dwelled throughout the country are excellent destinations for you to visit in Vietnam.
Let’s discuss every city and popular attractions that will make you fall in love with the Vietnamese lifestyle.
Soak up the Sights of Hanoi with Motorbike Ride
Starting with the capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi is the best place to experience city life with a motorbike ride. Wander around the twisted streets of the Old French Quarter, admire red-roofed houses, attractive temples and alluring One-Pillar Pagoda.
Check out the impressive Opera House, and visit the many cultural and historical sites, such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Military History Museum and Museum of Ethnology. If you love luxury then you can visit it. You can also take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. Recently the in Hanoi, world-first Gold Plated Hotel is pulling the attention of many vacationers. Its staying cost is around Rs 19000/- per night.
Everywhere you go, you’ll be struck by the aroma of delicious street food. Though you must savour the traditional breakfast dish of Pho, a beef noodle soup, Bon Cha before leaving the city.
Cruise Around Ha Long Bay
The journey of Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam is a must for every traveller touring to Vietnam. It is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and covers an area of over 1,500sqkm. Cinematic limestone rock formations in the gleaming water of the bay look mesmerising via Cruise or boat ride.
Visit the enchanting caves via taking travel and tours guides and you can also spend a night at sea. Apart from this, Ha Long Bay is perfect for swimming and kayaking around bright green water. So, Enjoy the magical scenery while swimming in the emerald green waters around Titov island beach and take a cruise ride along the bay.
Travel to Ha Giang Province.
Ha Giang is mountainous, exclusive and striking Vietnamese Province which highlights some of the best landscapes in the country. A big draw is the terraced rice paddies and deep valleys that have been carved over thousands of years into the limestone mountains. Take a road trip on two wheels to experience the best of Ha Giang, soaking up the beauty of the countryside and the culture of small towns and minority villages.
During your ride be sure to check out either the Quan Bạ Pass or the Ma Pi Leng Pass. As Quan Bạ is the gateway to the UNESCO appreciated Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark and take a stroll to Sa Phin H’Mong Palace. Apart from this Thon Tha village is also a great spot to visit over in this province. Our special recommendation is that you must visit the ‘Heaven gate’ via bike ride.
Discover Hoi An – Venice of Vietnam
Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most impressive and worth visiting town of Vietnam. Earlier it was a major trading post in Southeast Asia in the 16th and 17th century. Now the city is famed for its great food and pagodas, colonial houses, picturesque landscape, friendly people and the cosy atmosphere. The most notable heritage buildings which you can visit are Chinese temples, a Japanese bridge, pagodas, wooden and French-colonial houses, and majestic old canals.
Furthermore, Hoi An Riverside is the perfect place for a vibrant nightlife as the surroundings are illuminated with lovely and old-fashioned lights, giving it a wonderful atmosphere. Hoi An has a bewildering variety of good mouth-watering restaurants offering specialities such as rice-flour noodles from Cao Lau and croutons from pork rind.
Relax on Phu Quoc Island
Phu Quoc island is a postcard-worthy destination and heaven for beach lovers. This island is the best-kept secret of Vietnam. The majestic white-sand beaches facing splendid sunsets, its dense jungle, and the laid-back ambience of the island make special and distinct from other cities and popular among sightseers. This island, just off the coast near the border with Cambodia, has some of the most pristine beaches you’ll ever see.
With a kayak, you can even paddle around the bays or dive around the reefs, moving around colourful tropical fish and maybe a hawksbill tortoise. Within its tropical rainforests, you can find hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife. So take a halt at beachside resorts and rejuvenate yourself under sun-kissed beaches and wavy palm trees.
Ninh Binh – Known as Ha Long Bay on Land
This is probably the most popular out of Hanoi’s many excellent day trip choices and it’s no wonder why. The calcareous karsts, the serpentine rivers and the lush scenery make great holiday pictures. Many trips to this area are also paired with a tour of the Tràng An caves and grottoes. Ninh Binh is a mesmerizing region known locally as ‘Halong Bay on Land’ due to its beautiful riverine scenery, with pure limestone mountains rising from the paddies.
Taking a paddleboat tour along its shimmering rivers and climbing to the top of its fabled peaks is the perfect way to get a sense of this UNESCO-protected location.
Explore Ancient Buildings at Ho Chi Minh City
Embrace the bustle of the metropolis and see some of the city’s main sights: the Notre Dame Cathedral, the History Museum, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum. Wander around Cho Lon, the city’s Chinatown, sample street food at Ben Thanh market and, come sundown, stroll along with Nguyen Hue.
Take a day-trip from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi tunnels at Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc, a system of tunnels created by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam war. Ho Chi Minh is definitely the most popular political figure in Vietnam, and is known to his people as ‘Uncle Ho’. His body is preserved in a glass case at Mausoleum which you can visit at Hanoi trip.
Da Nang
Half distance from the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang is located. It is Vietnam’s fourth-largest city. Like other towns which have numerous historical sights, DA Nang is well-known for beaches and thus most travellers frequently stay here for two-three days. It has My Khe Beach which was once a popular spot for American soldiers during the Vietnam-US War and it is a great locality for water sport activities.
Another one is Lang Co Beach is dotted with pine trees, the crystal-clear and tempting water of the nearby ocean, lapping over white sandy beaches. Besides that, you can visit My Son Sanctuary which is a group of deserted and partly destroyed Hindu temples in Quang Nam. At Da Nang enjoy its calm atmosphere cool water and go fishing, try water skiing, diving and yachting.
Visit Vietnam’s Lost Imperial City at Hue
Travel to the engaging city of Hue and take a day-long boat trip along the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and Hon Chen Temple, the Imperial City, and the Tu Duc mausoleum. Take bicycle tour along the north bank of the river to tranquil Kim Long village, where mandarins and other Imperial officials built their houses surrounded by lush gardens, in the late nineteenth century.
The Complex of Hue Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the city of Hue in central Vietnam. The massive complex features hundreds of monuments and ruins, such as the Forbidden Purple City, once the residence of the royal family and badly damaged during the Vietnam War, the royal tombs, flag tower, pagodas, temples, a library and museum.
Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
This national Park is the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Quang Binh Province in north-central Vietnam. Covered with tropical rainforest, Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park is one of the Indo-Pacific’s most important environmentally friendly-regions. It also provides other important geologic features including underground rivers, dendritic caves, dry gorges, suspended caves, and terraced caves.
There are also many endangered animal species roaming the country including Black Bears, Tigers, Elephants and many more. If you love explored caves and hidden places then this may be a great option for you.
Admire the Rice Terrace at Sa Pa
The views around Sa Pa in Vietnam’s far north are spectacular on a clear day. The steep valley is filled with green terraced rice fields, and mountains loom on either side. It is the gateway to a beautiful country for trekking and the reason most tourists come here. Visit the Hoang Lien Son Mountain range, home to Fan Si Pan, the highest mountain in Vietnam, and visit the small ethnic groups that still live a traditional way of life.
So, saw hoe many hidden places and attractions are there in Vietnam which you can discover in this smallest country of the World. The main speciality is its hospitality and serene environment. So take time out from busy and social schedule and plan next holiday trip to Vietnam.
