Vietnam is one of the most popular countries to visit in Southeast Asia, and it is easy to understand why. It has great food (one of my favorite foods in the world), it's affordable, and it is home to some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see in Asia. This is the last part we are going to focus on today.
I spent over 2 weeks in Vietnam back in 2014, exploring all the tourist attractions and beautiful landscapes the country has to offer, and I am here to assist in finding the best places to visit in Vietnam for first-timers, such as yourself.
Without further ado, let's first take a look at the best places to visit in Vietnam, all laid out on a map below:
Best Places to Visit in Vietnam Map
1. Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is a modern metropolis full of history, and tourist attractions, and it is a great place for you to start your journey in Vietnam and get the hang of what the country is all about.
The city itself is like any other big city in Southeast Asia: it comes with traffic jams, is full of nightlife activities, and offers a ton of things to do for city-goers. It is also home to the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, which I highly recommend you visit.
Be warned, though, the content of the Vietnam War Remnants Museum is very depressing, and some photos are extremely graphic. However, in order to understand Vietnam as a country and where its people are coming from, it is important to learn about the dark past, and there is no better place than in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Ho Chi Minh is also home to some stunning colonial-era architectures like the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon and the Saigon Central Post Office, which should allow you to get a glimpse of how much the city was affected by outside influences.
There is also a ton of street food along Pham Ngu Lao street, the tourist strip, where you will be able to try all the delicious Vietnamese street food like the French-inspired Banh Mi sandwich and the delicious Vietnamese coffee, my favorite type of coffee in the world. I highly recommend you try the grilled beef rice noodles from Kiều Bảo Barbecue Rice Noodles. It's my favorite restaurant in the whole city!
Despite it being a big, crowded city, Ho Chi Minh has quite a lot to offer for first-timers as the culture and vibe here are more catered to tourists than the capital city, Hanoi. So if you are planning to visit Vietnam, be sure to start your journey in Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Cu Chi Tunnel
Only 2 hours away from Ho Chi Minh City, outside the small town of Cu Chi, you will find a Vietnam War-era network of old connecting tunnels that were used by the Viet Cong to drive the US forces out of the country, called the Cu Chi Tunnels.
This is one of the many connecting tunnels that can be visited by tourists, and there are often day trips and organized tours you can take from Ho Chi Minh.
At the Cu Chi Tunnel, you will learn a bit more about the Vietnam War and the guerrilla tactics used by the Viet Cong to overcome the US forces before you have a chance to go down these extremely narrow and humid tunnels to see for yourself.
Be warned, though, the tunnels are extremely small, and if you are claustrophobic, I would recommend against entering the tunnel. One of the guys in my group fainted due to his not knowing he has claustrophobia, and the humidity didn't help.
To think that the Viet Cong soldiers have to stay in these small tunnels for months on end is beyond me. If you are interested in the history of Vietnam and the Vietnam War, visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels is a no-brainer.
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3. Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is where the mighty Mekong River, the 12th longest river in the world, meets the sea as it makes its way from the Tibetan Plateau across 6 countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and eventually Vietnam.
The Mekong Delta is a maze of waterways that teems with life, from beautiful mangrove trees to lush paddy fields. The area is also home to several villages that live off the resource-rich Mekong River, and you will get to see firsthand how they live their lives here, what industries thrive, what types of food they eat, and more.
Surrounded by rivers, lush nature, and floating markets, the Mekong Delta is best explored by boat, and you can do just that straight from Ho Chi Minh City with a guided tour. This tour also includes a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the largest and most famous temples in the Mekong Delta, as well as a boat trip around the region’s scenic islands and more. A perfect day trip to escape the bustle of the city.
4. Hoi An
Hoi An is one of the most photogenic towns in Vietnam. It is an ancient port town that used to be an important Southeast Asian trading port between the 15th and 19th Centuries CE.
It's a beautiful blend of traditional and foreign influences on the architecture of the ancient town that draws a ton of tourists from around the world each year. It can get crowded at times, especially by the river at night, but Hoi An is just too beautiful to ignore.
You can spend your time exploring the crisscrossing streets of the ancient town in the morning, visit the Japanese bridge, and have a nice lunch break at one of the many restaurants in town eating some of the best food you can eat in Vietnam like Cao Lau (the signature noodle dish), Bahn Bao Vac (Vietnamese dumplings), and Bahn Mi (Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich).
There are a lot of things to do and a ton of beautiful photo spots waiting for you to explore in Hoi An. If you are planning to visit Vietnam and are looking for a photogenic place to capture awesome photos, Hoi An is the place to be.
5. My Son
My Son Sanctuary is an ancient ruin dating back from the 4th to the 13th Century CE, located around an hour away from Hoi An. You can visit the remote ruin via a day trip or an organized tour operated in the old town.
My Son Sanctuary is a great example of the prowess craftsmanship of the people of the Champa Kingdom that reigned over this part of Vietnam back in the 4th Century. The temples and towers found at My Son have a Hindu background and resemble those old ruins scattered throughout Cambodia and Thailand, such as the famous Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.
If you are interested in history and looking for something to do for a day in Hoi An, then I highly recommend visiting My Son Sanctuary. This is one of the few places where you will see this type of ruins in Vietnam, and it would be a shame if you came all the way to Hoi An and did not see this ancient ruin with your own eyes.
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6. Phong Nha
If you are looking for a little adventure in Vietnam, the cave region of the country that has been steadily gaining popularity is Phong Nha. It is home to the largest cave in the world, the Son Doong Cave, and is a must-visit.
Phong Nha is probably one of the few places on this list that is still considered off-the-beaten-path in Vietnam, and for good reasons. The area is extremely remote and surrounded by nothing but rice paddies and sandstone mountains.
Underneath these sandstone mountains and hidden in plain sight are some of the most beautiful natural caves in the world. Some claim that the largest cave in the world, the Son Doong Cave located right here in Ninh Binh, is so massive that the cave has its own weather system.
That said, getting there is extremely expensive, with an expedition costing over 3,000 USD to reserve. Fortunately, there are several other caves as well that are worth a visit in Phong Nha, like the Paradise Cave, a beautiful cave full of stunning stalactites and rock formations.
If you love adventure and would like to do something unique in Vietnam, like going caving, Phong Nha is definitely worth a visit. I highly recommend going on a tour into the Paradise Cave, where they will take you even deeper than the designated area to explore the dark cavern, which is the size of a football field and more.
7. Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh, a small town located only an hour away from Hanoi, is another great place to visit that you may not have heard of. The city itself is nothing special in particular, but what makes Ninh Binh worth your visit is all the beautiful nature surrounding the city that you can explore.
Places like Hang Mua Cave Viewpoint will allow you to see clearly just how beautiful the landscape around Ninh Binh is. To get to the viewpoint, you will have to climb 500 steps up the stone stairs before you arrive at the top, where you will be able to see the stunning limestone mountains surrounded by rice paddies as the Tam Coc river runs through them.
You can also hire a boat and explore the Tam Coc River up close, as well as visit some of the most stunning mountain temples in the region, like the Bich Dong Pagoda, where you will find an ancient tiered pagoda nestled into a mountainside.
All in all, Ninh Binh is a great place to visit if you like nature. It is not too far from Hoi An, making it a great side trip to do. It also offers a great escape from the bustling capital city and allows you to be immersed in nature. To explore Ninh Binh effectively, be sure to rent a scooter and take a ride around the rice paddies here. You will love it!
8. Hanoi
Hanoi is a bustling capital city of Vietnam, where motorbikes weave through the roads like unstoppable water flowing in a river. One of the best things to do in the city is to go out and try all the delicious street food there.
Tourist attractions worth visiting in Hanoi are the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, which is located on the West Lake. It is another great place to walk around in the evening.
Within the same area, you can also drop by and admire the stunning Presidential Palace and visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
As you can see, there is quite a lot to offer in Hanoi, and if you are looking to experience the bustling city and energy of the young generation of Vietnamese, there is no better place to be in Vietnam than Hanoi.
9. Halong Bay
Halong Bay is undoubtedly one of the most popular and touristy things to do in Vietnam, and it would be a shame if you came all the way here and did not see it for yourself.
At Halong Bay, you will find yourself in this dreamy landscape of hundreds of sandstone mountains scattered out into the ocean as you cruise around, stopping at remote beaches and villages as you go. It is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam and definitely worth a detour from Hanoi.
That said, I would recommend you stay clear of party boats and look for a more nature-centric option if you want a more immersive experience at Halong Bay. You can book a live aboard for around 50 - 150+ USD, depending on the duration and the quality of your experience. Remember, there are a lot of terrible tours out there, so be sure to keep an eye out for red flags. After all, you will get exactly what you paid for at Halong Bay.
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10. Sapa
Sapa is one of my favorite places in Vietnam. The area is full of beautiful mountains and hills with rice terraces for me to hike around in the cool breeze of the highlands. Sapa is also home to the Black Hmong minorities, and they will make themselves known immediately when your bus rolls into Sapa.
Sapa is a prime place for tourists to hang out and for the Hmong minorities to make money, so you might get overwhelmed by the number of people trying to sell you trinkets. Do not let that deter you from visiting Sapa, though, as the place has a lot to offer: a unique experience of staying in a homestay with the locals in the mountains, hiking around the rice fields, and exploring the hills of Sapa on a two-wheeler. That's gotta be some of the best motorbiking in Vietnam!
To do Sapa justice, I highly recommend you rent a motorbike, go out, and explore the stunning landscapes at your own leisure. On your way, you will find plenty of rice paddies as far as the eye can see, beautiful mountain villages, and lovely locals who will be happy to see you visiting their remote villages.
You can also go and visit Love Waterfall and Silver Waterfall, located not too far from Sapa town center. You can also take the cable car up to the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam, which stands at 3,143 meters (10,311 ft.) above sea level.
There is no shortage of awesome things to do in Sapa, and if you are looking for a nice place to see an example of how beautiful nature in Vietnam is, Sapa is the best place to be.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Backpacking in Vietnam
Are you looking for more information about traveling in Vietnam? Here are a few more articles that can help you with your trip to Vietnam:
- Looking for a complete travel guide and itinerary for Vietnam? 2 Weeks Itinerary for Vietnam.
- Are you planning to travel to Vietnam as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? Check out our 3-month backpacking itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City and not sure where to begin? Here are the Explore Ho Chi Minh City: 13 Best Things to Do and Places to Visit.
- For a complete itinerary for Ho Chi Minh City, check out: 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City: A Backpacking Itinerary.
- Looking for the best street food to try in Ho Chi Minh City? Check Out Saigon Street Food: 11 Incredible Places to Eat & Drink.
- Looking for things to do in the ancient port city of Hoi An? Here are the 10 Best Things to do in Hoi An.
- Hoi An is known for its beautiful lanterns that illuminate the entire town at night. If you want to see what it is like in Hoi An at night, check out: The Colorful Lanterns Of Hoi An's Ancient City
- If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination in Vietnam, do not miss a chance to go caving in Phong Nha, and there is no better place to do that than Paradise Cave. Here is a complete hiking guide to Paradise Cave and Dark Cave in Phong Nha.
- Ninh Binh is only an hour away from Hanoi, and it is a great place to escape from that bustling city and be among nature. Here is the 8 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh.
- If you love mountains, cool breeze, and rice terraces, you are going to love Sapa. Here is the 9 Best Things to Do in Sapa.
- Not convinced by my words about Vietnam? Here are 33 photos that will inspire you to visit Vietnam now.
- You can see all of my Vietnam-related articles on my Vietnam Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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3 Comments
Love your articles. It helps a lot. We are planning a trip to vietnam in april for 8 days 9 nights. Any recommendations which cities to stay as a base ? How to get around city to city ? My trip will start from saigon ho chi minh and flight leave from hanoi. Trip to sapa is a must. How many night would you recommend.
Thanks
Traveling between cities, you can rely on buses and trains. They are not the most comfortable but they are the best option other than flying. If you want to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi then flying is your best bet. You can also fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An, etc. Some times, it is cheaper if you are able to get a discounted price on airfares.
2 weeks should be perfect for this itinerary. I have an article written about it so you can follow that as well.
Since you are flying in and out in different cities, you won't need a base. You just have to continue to move up north until you are in Hanoi. Stops I recommend are Saigon, Hoi An, Hue, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, and Sapa. For more information on how to travel the route, check out my 2 weeks itinerary for Vietnam.
Vietnam's allure is beyond compare, from bustling cities to serene landscapes. The highlight? Waterfalls in Vietnam. Their ethereal beauty captivates the soul, offering a serene escape amidst nature's grandeur. A must-see on any traveler's itinerary, they embody Vietnam's enchanting essence.