10 Destinations in Vietnam Every Traveller Must Explore

May 6, 2015, 8:00 am November 16, 2016, 10:26 am

Shannon Ullman Shannon is an American girl working towards a full-time nomadic lifestyle. She doesn’t like the idea of a 9-5 career and wants to blaze her own trail by travelling and working around the globe. She has a long way to go on her journey but is having the time of her life on the way. She left her country to live in China and has been moving around Asia for the past year and half. She is passionate about inspiring others to live their dreams, facing her fears, learning new things and visiting cat cafes as often as she can.

Vietnam is one of those places that is filled with interesting sites to see from top to bottom. From bustling cities to lush countryside and a bold sense of culture, this country is a travellers’ paradise. North, south, east and west, there are things to be discovered and adventures to be had. Here are ten of the best places you should visit on your journey through Vietnam.

Also read: Travel Guide: Exploring Vietnam’s Central Coast

1. Sapa

Image credit: Khánh Hmoong

In the northernmost region of Vietnam lies Sapa, a town that touches the clouds with its rolling hills and terraced rice fields. Visitors come to this quaint mountain town for the views, the laid back atmosphere and the local villages. The town is filled with niche restaurants, handicraft markets and local village girls trying to sell their handmade jewelry and clothes. Almost every corner is home to a relaxing massage parlor and there are quite a few resorts and bars to go for cocktails or a beer. Most travelers come to Sapa for the trekking in the villages. Take a private trek led by a local villager and wander through traditional villages, rice paddies and farms. Just be careful not to pinky promise any of the local girls that you will purchase one of their bracelets when you finish your dinner. They will remember, find you and guilt you into buying one for trying to break your promise.

Also read: 10 Reasons to Go Trekking in Sapa, Vietnam

2. Hanoi

Image credit: Khánh Hmoong

Hanoi is a city that hasn’t surrendered its culture for gaudy tourist attractions and globalization. The city itself is filled with history and is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh himself. You can wander around the markets, and eat your fill of Vietnamese food from the tiny street stalls that line the alleyways. The café culture is very much still alive from the French influence and you can see the sidewalks flooded with people drinking traditional Vietnamese coffee and tea. You could spend every day trying out different cafes and never see them all. If beer is more your drink of choice, head to the backpacker area and try freshly brewed beer at a local bia hoi where you will drink your pint at a tiny plastic table surrounded by strangers doing the same.

3. Ha Long Bay

Image credit: Alan Doyle

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason. It’s stunning beauty is made up of towering limestone cliffs, lush greenery, silky blue waters and uninhabited beaches. Majority of visitors come to Vietnam to see this site and there are plenty of tour options available. Stay overnight on one of the beaches, sail through the bay or get involved through activities such as kayaking and tubing.

4. Hoi An

Image credit: Maarten Thewissen

This historical town can take you back in time as you stroll by ancient buildings and down lantern adorned streets. This village-like town is filled with handicrafts, eclectic restaurants and lively night markets. Take a boat ride rowed by sweet Vietnamese locals down the river, rent bicycles, or get clothing made by one of the affordable tailors. Hoi An is about half an hour away from Danang, which has daily flights from Singapore.

5. Nha Trang

Image credit: Khánh Hmoong

The coastal city of Nha Trang is a welcomed beach getaway from the cities and small towns. Filled with beachfront resorts and bars, visitors can take it easy while sipping on tropical cocktails and eating their weight in fresh seafood. The nightlife is rambunctious and the offer of daily activities is extensive. Beach goers can try a mix of water sports, fishing and sailing and the snorkeling tours are some of the best in the country.

6. Da Lat

Image credit: calflier001

Honeymooners and nature lovers tend to gather in Da Lat as this highland town has a romantic feel and plenty of outdoor activities. Wander the markets to sample the street food or laze around the indie cafes in the center of town. Most people use the town as a base for outdoor adventures such as motorbike tours, bicycling or trekking. Increasingly popular are the canyoning tours which teach tourists how to repel down waterfalls and steep rock faces, slide down natural water slides and jump off of cliffs.

7. Saigon

Image credit: s tsui

On the other spectrum from Vietnam’s northern city of Hanoi, Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, is more of a bustling metropolitan city. It is lined with high-end restaurants and clubs and has a thriving music scene. There is a large backpacker area full of unique shops, interesting alleyways and international restaurants. Saigon is full of history from the Vietnam war and trekking around the city to the War Museum and Imperial Palace are how tourists commonly spend their days. Within close proximity to the city are the Cu Chi tunnels where visitors can learn more about the war history and crawl around inside to see what it was like. Also a close day trip is the Mekong River Delta, the longest river in Southeast Asia. Travelers typically venture through foliage covered river pathways, taste tropical fruits and listen to traditional music performances.

8. Phu Quoc

Image credit: Daniel Hoherd

Phu Quoc is the paradise of southern Vietnam. As of now, the island is mostly underdeveloped and features tree lined roads, monkey filled forests, pepper farms and a large national park. There is a fantastic night market where vacationers can choose their own mantis shrimp, giant oysters and various fish to be cooked up for their dinner. Most of the resorts and villas back right up to their own sections of private beach. As most of these places have beachfront restaurants, it makes for easy bar hopping just walking up and down the coast. The island has a giant water park and there are multiple tour companies offering activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling tours.

9. Ninh Binh

Image credit: Tuấn Mai

Although there is nothing much to do in Ninh Binh itself, it is the perfect base for the nearby attractions. Take a boat ride to Tam Coc and pass through natural caves, towering karst cliffs, quaint villages and rice fields. After a day on the water, make a day trip to Cuc Phuong National Park. Here you can wander the rain forests and visit the Endangered Primates Rescue Center, the botanical gardens or the turtle center. You can rent a motorcycle or a bicycle and ride the forested roads stopping at prehistoric trees and small caves.

10. Hue

This sleepy town makes a worthwhile visit for backpackers and history buffs. Once the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, the citadel still stands and is open for tourists to explore. You can see temples, palaces, monuments and intricate gardens while wandering around the ancient grounds. When finished strolling through the citadel, head to the small town for some famous Hue cuisine and a few cheap beers in the backpacker bars.

Book your flight tickets to Vietnam now to experience the best that the country has to offer.