Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia with a rich culture and fascinating history. The landscape is varied, with mountains, rivers, and coastal areas. There are many interesting places to visit, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Ha Long Bay. The food is delicious, and the people are friendly. Vietnam is definitely a place worth exploring.
We put together this list of the top must-visit in Vietnam. Check it out!:
Halong Bay
Halong Bay
The karst seascape of Halong Bay, in northeastern Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped with rainforests. The bay is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is popular with tourists looking to experience its natural beauty. Visitors can participate in many activities, such as kayaking, swimming, and hiking.
Hang Sung Sot is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. Every year, millions of people visit Hang Sung Sot to enjoy its beautiful scenery and stunning views. If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, be sure to add Hang Sung Sot to your list of places to visit. Here are some things to know before you go.
For most people, the highlight is simply cruising amid the karsts and soaking up the changing scenery of pinnacles as you pass by.
Where to stay? Orchid Cruise Junk Boat.
Orchid Cruise employs state-of-the-art design with a second-to-none cruise routing. Going beyond the typical itinerary, Orchid will take you through the best and most hidden part of Halong Bay: it starts from Dinh Vu port near Cat Ba island and cruises around Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
With only 14 luxurious cabins on board, the cruise will promise the best trip you can take in Halong Bay. The amenities on Orchid Cruise are also unparalleled: Beauty spa services, theme party on request, pick-up services by Limousine car, luxury bar and restaurant, gym room, and so forth. Plenty of thrilling activities like kayaking, sunbathing, squid fishing, discovering amazing caves and islands, cooking lessons, etc., are awaiting you on the Orchid trip.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
As Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City offers something for everyone. History buffs can explore the war museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels, while shopaholics can enjoy the many markets and malls. Families will appreciate the kid-friendly attractions like the zoo and Water Park. And foodies will be in heaven with all the delicious Vietnamese cuisines.
So why not add Ho Chi Minh City to your travel list? You won’t be disappointed!
Where to stay?: Hotel des Arts Saigon
If you’re looking for a unique and memorable hotel experience in Saigon, look no further than Hotel des Arts. This one-of-a-kind hotel offers guests the chance to stay in beautifully designed rooms inspired by different Vietnamese art periods. Whether you’re interested in traditional art or contemporary pieces, you’ll find something to love at Hotel des Arts.
But it’s not just the rooms that make this hotel worth a visit – the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, going above and beyond to ensure your stay is perfect. They can help with everything from booking tours and restaurants to arranging transportation. And if you need any advice on what to see and do in Saigon, they’ll be more than happy to share their insider knowledge with you.
Hue
Hue
One of Vietnam’s most historic towns, Hue is packed to the brim with relics from the reign of the 19th-century Nguyen emperors.
Sitting along the banks of the gorgeous Perfume River, the Imperial Enclosure is a huge site set within walls that sprawl for 2.5 kilometers.
While touring the grounds check out the gorgeous Ngo Mon Gate, the Thai Hoa Palace with its finely lacquered interior detailing, the Dien Tho Residence where the Queen Mothers would live, and the Halls of Mandarins with its preserved ceiling murals.
A dazzling number of historic sites lie outside the Imperial Enclosure walls as well.
One of the nicest ways of visiting a collection of outlying sites is by taking a riverboat cruise on the Perfume River. A day cruise can take you to visit several royal tombs along with some pagodas.
If you’re short on time, the best tomb to visit is the Tomb of Tu Doc and the most important pagoda in the area is the Thien Mu Pagoda, with its tower that soars for 21 meters high.
Where to stay?: Azerai La Residence – Situated among the palaces and pagodas of Vietnamese history, this beautiful hotel encompasses the rich culture of its surroundings. Azerai La Residence overlooks the picturesque views of the river which offers great sightseeing and walking opportunities.
Great care and detail has gone into the 122 luxury rooms and suites. The atmosphere of a bygone age is perfectly captured through the use of colours, materials and stylish art deco design. Due to its brilliant location, most rooms have spectacular views across the Perfume River; make sure you get up early one day, pick up a complimentary bicycle from reception and go a peaceful river-ride during sunrise.
Food is passion at Azerai La Residence, every dish is created from fresh produce and top quality imported speciality ingredients. You can get involved in purchasing some of the vibrant produce at the local market then create some delicious traditional dishes with one of the hotels accomplished chefs.
My Son
Hindu temple ruins at My Son
Surrounded by lush jungle-covered mountains, My Son is a ruined Cham era temple city that dates from the 4th century.
This old Hindu religious center was still very much in use during the 7th to 10th centuries and only fell into complete decline and abandonment during the 13th century.
There are around 20 temple structures still standing here, all built of brick or sandstone blocks and showing interesting influences from various Asian empires, including Indian and Malay.
Note that the temples of Group B are the oldest, while Group A once contained the site’s most important monument but was destroyed deliberately by US forces during the Vietnam War.
A good museum on-site houses plenty of information on the Cham.
Access to My Son is from Hoi An.
Where to stay? : My Son Heritage Resort & Spa – A poolside bar, a terrace, and shopping on site are just a few of the amenities provided at My Son Heritage Resort And Spa. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna or steam room, and indulge in a manicure/pedicure, a body scrub, or a facial. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities such as a coffee shop/cafe and a garden.
Other perks at this hotel include:
An outdoor pool and a children’s pool, with sun loungers and pool umbrellas
Free self parking
A water dispenser, a gift shop, and a computer station
Free newspapers, meeting rooms, and barbecue grills
Room features
All 50 rooms offer comforts such as premium bedding and pillow menus, as well as perks like air conditioning and separate sitting areas.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
Rainfall showers, free toiletries, and hair dryers
Balconies or patios, separate sitting areas, and free infant beds
Hoi An
Hoi An
Beautiful Hoi An is the most atmospheric city in Vietnam, with bags of surviving historic architecture.
The old town quarter is a joy to explore, packed to the brim with well-preserved merchant houses that hark back to Hoi An’s trading center heyday of the 15th century, when the town was a major meeting point for Japanese and Chinese merchants who flocked here for the local silks.
Plenty of the old merchant houses have been opened to the public, so you can get a taste of these times. The best is 17th-century Tan Ky House, with fascinating architectural and decorative elements.
Hoi An’s major symbol is the delightful Japanese Bridge at the western end of Tran Phu Street, while nearby, the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation is the old town’s most highly decorated temple.
There are numerous small pagodas and museums dotted about town, but Hoi An’s true charm is found in simply rambling the old town streets admiring the well-preserved facades.
Where to stay?: The Watermark Beachside Hotel – This hotel has a restaurant, free bikes, an outdoor swimming pool and bar in Hoi An. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The hotel has a garden and features a terrace.
At the hotel, rooms include a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen and towels. Rooms are equipped with a safety deposit box, while certain rooms are fitted with a balcony and others also boast pool views. The rooms will provide guests with a wardrobe and a kettle.
The Watermark Beachside Hotel offers a continental or buffet breakfast.
Sapa Countryside
Sapa Countryside
The verdant rice field countryside surrounding Sapa, bordered by the jagged peaks of the Hoang Lien Mountains (often still known by their French colonial era name of the Tonkinese Alps), are home to Vietnam’s most beautiful rural vistas.
The deep valleys here are home to a diverse mix of the country’s ethnic minorities, including the Hmong, Giay, and Red Dzao people, while the rippling hills are terraced with rice fields and overlooked by the country’s tallest peak, Fansipan Mountain.
This is the top trekking destination in Vietnam with oodles of options to trek or day hike between tiny villages and experience the staggering mountain views.
Sapa itself is the main base here – an old hill station and now a bustling and forever growing tourist center that is a stark contrast to the sumptuous tranquil countryside right on its doorstep.
Where to stay?: Hotel De La Coupole – With an air of nostalgia of the French Indochine era, Hotel de la Coupole fuses high-fashion glamour with colourful, hill tribe style. Featuring 249 luxurious rooms and suites, signature restaurants and rooftop bar, a peaceful wellbeing spa, and banquet venues for bespoke destination meetings and events. Hotel de la Coupole is an ideal hideaway for romantic breaks, family vacations, and inspiring events.
Our facilities are built to provide the best possible service to all our guests – if you’re looking for something relaxing, take a dip in our indoor heated pool, pay a visit to the sauna, or treat yourself to a massage.
Hanoi
Hanoi
Vietnam’s capital is the frenetic heartbeat of the nation and a place that befuddles travelers as much as it charms them.
The motorbike frenzy, pollution, and constant clamor of street vendors can get too much for some travelers, but if you want to dive into Vietnamese city life, Hanoi is the place to do it.
The old town quarter has plenty of dilapidated charm on offer, while history fans should make a beeline here simply to see the bundle of excellent museums.
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Vietnam Fine Art Museum are both brilliant introductions to the diverse artistry of the country, while the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is an important tribute to the founder of modern Vietnam.
Where to stay?: Sofitel Legend Metropole – If you want to stay in the most luxurious hotel in all of Hanoi, then you must book a room at the Sofitel Legend Metropole. Not only is it a stunningly beautiful 5-star hotel, but it’s been a historic landmark since 1901. And with a prime location right near Hanoi’s Old Quarter, you’ll be close to plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops to keep you occupied
Nha Trang
Nha Trang
For sandy fun in Vietnam, Nha Trang is king. The well-maintained beach trundles for six kilometers along the shoreline of central Nha Trang city and during summer is jam-packed with local families on vacation, as well as foreign visitors.
There is excellent swimming here with designated swimming areas and manicured lounging areas that make this a great option for relaxing days soaking up the sun and sand.
If you do get bored of sunbathing, the ancient Po Nagar Cham Towers are just to the north across the Xom Bong Bridge and have been used as a place of worship here since at least the 7th century (with some historians saying the site itself has been a place of active worship since much earlier).
There is also an excellent museum dedicated to the work of Alexandre Yersin who discovered the cause of the bubonic plague and founded Nha Trang’s Pasteur Institute (which still carries out vaccination programs in Vietnam today).
Where to stay?: MerPerle Hon Tam Resort – This hotel offers 5-star beachfront bungalows with flat-screen TVs along Nha Trang Bay. It boasts an outdoor pool, spa and fitness centre. Cool breezes accompany Vietnamese and Western dishes at the beachfront restaurant. MerPerle Hon Tam Resort is 5 km from popular Nha Trang Beach and 7 km from the city centre. Free WiFi is available. MerPerle Hon Tam Resort’s air-conditioned bungalows feature wood furnishings and a private balcony with outdoor seating. For convenience, free tea/coffee making amenities are provided. Private bathrooms have separate bath and shower areas. Traditional Vietnamese body treatments and massages are on offer at Spring Spa. Diving trips and tours can be arranged at the travel desk. Meals can be served in rooms. It is easily accessible from attractions like Thap Ba Hot Spring, Nha Phu Lagoon and Alexandre Yersin Museum.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels
An absolutely fascinating experience for all travelers, not just those interested in Vietnam’s modern military history, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive tunnel network that during the war, stretched for more than 250 kilometers, allowing VC troops to operate and communicate in the area surrounding Ho Chi Minh City.
Two short sections of the network can be visited with a guide who’ll take you down into the narrow unlit confines, which definitely are not for claustrophobia sufferers.
You will literally be crawling on your hands and knees and some points. You can access the tunnels at either Ben Dinh village (the more popular choice) or Ben Duoc village.
Where to stay?: Hotel Des Artes Saigon
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The far south of Vietnam is where the mighty Mekong River finally finds its way to the sea in a maze of waterways that crisscross the floodplain.
Incredibly lush, with paddy field vistas and mangroves, and full of local life, with chaotic floating markets to explore by boat, the delta is one of the most interesting regions for travelers to discover.
Can Tho is the most popular town to use as a base, as it’s close to the floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang, while boat trips from Ca Mau allow you to explore the U Minh Mangrove Forest and Cau Mau Nature Reserve.
Where to stay?: Azerai Can Tho – Set 1.5 km from Ninh Kieu Pier and 2.5 km from the city centre, Azerai Can Tho features air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi throughout the property in Can Tho. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage for guests.
All rooms in the resort are fitted with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom equipped with free toiletries, while certain rooms will provide guests with a patio. Guest rooms have a seating area.
Guests can dine in at the on-site restaurant, which serves a variety of Vietnamese and grilled/BBQ dishes.
The accommodation offers a year-round outdoor pool and a fitness centre, which featues pilates and yoga studio, spa and sauna facilities.
Phu Quoc Island
View of colorful fishing boats from the Phu Quoc cable-car
Sitting 45 kilometers off the southern coast of the country, in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is a densely forested island, speckled by sweeps of white-sand beach that attract plenty of sunseekers during the winter dry season.
Dry season (November to May) is also when the island’s underwater and on-the-water tourism attractions spring into action, with plenty of dive sites in the waters just offshore, as well as opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, and boat trips.
Many of the main boat excursions head to the An Thoi Islands, just to the south of Phu Quoc, which is home to the best snorkeling in the area.
Off the water, the Phu Quoc cable-car provides bird’s-eye views for eight kilometers, soaring over the seascape and islands, all the way from Phu Quoc to the island of Hon Thom in the An Thoi Islands.
Phu Quac is accessed by plane or regular ferries from the mainland towns of Rach Gia and Ha Tien. As Ha Tien lies very close to the southern border crossing with Cambodia, the island is a popular first (or last) stop-off in Vietnam for overland travelers.
Where to stay?: La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc – Located on the southwest coast of the island, La Veranda Resort blends classic style with traditional Vietnamese elements to create a unique tribute to a bygone age. The resort is surrounded by lush tropical gardens, and at the centre sits a French colonial-style mansion taking you back in time to old Phu Quoc.
Rooms are tiled, with claw foot baths, four-poster beds and wooden elements contrasting minimal colour palettes. Enjoy dining at one of the restaurants, cafes, or bars and watch the world go by here.
Con Dao Islands
An Hai Beach on Con Son Island
This remote island group lies around 160 kilometers offshore in the South China Sea and is renowned among divers as one of the best places to visit in the country, both for the variety of sea life and for the coral reefs.
Much of the Con Dao Islands, and the surrounding water, is a protected wilderness area, with the island shores home to nesting turtles, and dense forest still covering the island interiors.
The main island, and prime base for visitors with all the accommodation and things to do, is Con Son Island, which has sweeps of sand strung out across its coast that attract beachgoers looking for a relaxed sun-soaked getaway, as well as divers.
Even if you’re here mostly for the beach, make sure to explore the historic sites of Con Son Town (the island’s only settlement) including Phu Hai Prison, Bao Tang Con Dao Museum, and the prison known as the Tiger Cages, which document the dark history of this isolated island group.
Con Son’s remote position led to the island being used to incarcerate political prisoners during the era Vietnam was occupied by French colonial forces, and later by both the South Vietnamese government and the occupying American forces.
Preserved sites including Phu Hai Prison and the prison cages used by the US forces, known as the Tiger Cages, along with Con Son Town’s Bao Tang Con Dao Museum, do an excellent job of documenting this history for visitors.
Access to Con Son Island is either by flight from Ho Chi Minh City or by ferry from the coastal city of Vung Tau.
Where to stay? : Six Senses Con Dao Located in a national and marine park of Con Dao, only 40 – minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Six Senses Con Dao is the first and only 5-star resort in this island. It boasts a 1.6 km secluded beach, 2 restaurants with several dining alternatives, 1 bar, 1 spa, fitness facilities and swimming pool.
Comprising 50 private infinity pool villas, the resort is contemporary in design reflecting the essence of a traditional fishing village. It offers a variety of one to four bedroom villa, which is styled to suitable for both couples and families. A spacious dining and seating area is provided in each of Six Senses’ villas. DVD players, a flat-screen TV and free WiFi are available.
Indulge yourself in a tempting selection of culinary styles, from local flavors at “By the Market” area – a Vietnamese restaurant featuring a traditional village market, to international cuisine at “By the Beach” restaurant. Most of the vegetables used in the restaurants are harvested from Six Senses Con Dao‘s organic garden. More dining options are offered to satisfy guests’ preferences for example dining on the beach, by the pool, in the villa or etc.
There is a host of activities on hand to entertain all ages. From water and beach sports to hiking, discovering nature and turtle watching, Con Dao Island has something special for all interests and ages.
Six Senses Con Dao is easily reached by a short flight from Ho Chi Minh city and 15 – minute transfer from Con Son Airport. To make your travel easier, the resort can help you purchase flight tickets and arrange transportation.
This property also has one of the best-rated locations in Con Dao! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.
Mui Né
Fishing boats on the beach in Mui Ne
Once a sleepy coastal fishing town, Mui Né has developed into a beautiful beach resort town and a prime destination for windsurfing, sailing, and kitesurfing.
Compared to other beach destinations in Vietnam, however, Mui Né remains relatively unknown – and this means pristine beaches and a quiet retreat for most of the year.
Red cliffs and river in Mui Ne
One of Mui Né’s most unique attractions is the natural Red Sand Dunes just outside town, where visitors can practice sand-sledding or rent dune buggies for a more adrenaline-charged experience.
Tucked away between nearby fishing villages and towering orange limestone formations, there’s the fairy stream, a slow-moving warm stream that almost feels like a walkway because it’s so shallow – follow it to the end to reach a waterfall.
For those wishing to explore beyond the coastline, there’s also the ruins of the Po Shanu Cham Towers – remnants of the Cham Empire that dominated the area many centuries ago.
Where to stay?: Anantara Mui Ne Resort – Undoubtedly the best hotel in Mui Ne, a chic spot in the kite surfing capital of South-East Asia.. Kite surfing, dune surfing, windsurfing, you name it, all are on offer at Anantara Mui Ne, and it’s hard not to be persuaded to join the sea of colourful kites. If that sounds too much like hard work perhaps an indulgent spa treatment using home made coconut oil, or a spot of sunbathing between lofty palms and lotus ponds is more suitable? Either way, impeccable service ensures comfort at all times. Hotel rooms are spacious and practically designed, either set within lush greenery with sea views or in the main building that looks across the garden and a giant koi fish pond. Certain villas offer the added luxury of a private pool and dining pavilion. The resort’s infinity pool is particularly inviting and contains a bar dishing out yummy snacks and cocktails to guests for whom leaving the water is far too much effort. The L’Anmien Restaurant too produces delicious freshly caught seafood dishes.
