Vietnam travel

With 1,600 limestone towers rising from its turquoise waters, Halong Bay is rightly considered one of Vietnam’s most beautiful spots. As a result, it’s on every visitor's list – and hundreds of boats offer cruise trips every day. The bay is huge, but it can still feel crowded.

Bai Tu Long Bay, just a few miles away, offers the same jaw-dropping scenery but sees only a fraction of the visitors. Here, you can explore uncrowded caves and tiny beaches, and feast on super-fresh succulent seafood.
Boat trips to Bai Tu Long Bay leave from the crowded dock at Halong City, just like the ones to Halong Bay. But you'll head off in the opposite direction, to where the islands are a little less taller and a little more spread out – but, according to locals, are just like what those in Halong Bay used to be like.

Here is the full Ha Long Travel Guide

Every Tết (Vietnamese New Year), Hoi An is transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour and light for its Lantern Festival. The celebration lasts for seven days, with the road from Hoi An Bridge to the Hoai River Square adorned with thousands of colourful lanterns.

Over 50 workshops take part in the event, each trying to create the prettiest lantern. The colours are bright and the designs are strictly traditional.

The heart of the festivities is in the old town, between the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Cau An Hoi Bridge. It’s crowded, chaotic and festive, with spontaneous singing and food stalls at every turn. It is as much a celebration for locals as it is for visitors. 

The most breathtaking sight is thousands of lanterns floating on the river; hire a sampan boat to get a closer look. For a small sum, you can buy a lantern and set it afloat too. 

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to Hoi An for New Year: smaller lantern festivals are held every full moon. In 2020, Vietnamese New Year fell on 25 January. In 2021, it will be celebrated on 12 February, and on 1 February in 2022.

Here is everything you need to know about Hoi An Lantern Festival

You can't go wrong with a visit to Cat Ba Island. The views are spectacular, and the nearby Lan Ha Bay is a brilliant Halong alternative - another breathtakingly beautiful bay, without the tourist masses.

Enjoy trekking through the pristine rainforest that makes up the vast national park. The Lookout Tower Trail is a popular and fairly easy hike. Walk upwards for around an hour, until you come out at a rusted shelter, from where you can appreciate just how untouched Cat Ba really is.

If you want more, venture up a little further to reach the stunning Ngu Lam Peak. It's worth the effort to look out over the jagged, green mountains that blur out into the distance.

For more of a challenge, book a guide and embark on the Cang Viet Hai Trail – an 18km, undulating trail that requires a good fitness level. Prepare to climb steep, slippery paths and scramble over thick knots of tree routes that block the path.

After travelling over 4,000km from the Tibetan Himalaya, the Mekong hits Vietnam and slows down to a more languid pace. With islands, rice paddies, stilted villages and a way of life that hasn’t changed for centuries, it’s as if the river wants to take it easy and soak up the view.

Hitch a ride with a cargo boat and you can do exactly that. Simply find a shady spot to hitch your hammock and gaze at faraway riverbanks as your boat, weighed down with fruit and rice sacks, ploughs the treacly brown flow.

Or, take one of the many commercial cruises that ply parts of the river. The cruise from Cai Be to Can Tho is a great way to experience a night on the river. As you travel southwards along the Mang Thit River linking the Tien Giang and Bassac systems, the channel becomes so narrow that you can peer into the riverbank’s rickety stilted houses.

Quang Binh province is a wild region of barely penetrable jungle in Vietnam’s skinny middle, close to the border with Laos. The area is riddled with hundreds of deep caves, including one of the largest in the world – Hang Son Doong. It contains a cavern so tall that a skyscraper could fit inside it.

The small town of Phong Nha is the epicentre for the area’s caving adventures, its eponymous cave another UNESCO-listed wonder well worth exploring. Here, you can hire both the guides and the gear you’ll need to descend into the caves.

If going underground doesn’t appeal, the area is also famous for trekking. The surrounding jungle is peppered with stunning waterfalls and an active (and noisy) population of monkeys and flying foxes.

Buon Ma Thuot is the regional capital of the central highlands of Vietnam, a gorgeous area of thundering waterfalls and the traditional villages of the local Ede people. Look out for stilted structures reached by a ladder and marked by carved breasts. In this fiercely matriarchal area, they can only be used by the women of the house.

Buon Ma Thuot is also the heart of Vietnam’s thriving coffee industry. The Trung Nguyen coffee company is the big player here, and there’s not a corner of paddy field or industrial zone in the area that doesn’t bear their logo. 

In the city itself, there are plenty of coffee-related attractions. Visitors can learn about the country's and the world's coffee industries in the World Coffee Museum year-round. In March 2021 and March 2023, the city's various coffee venues will be offering freebies to celebrate the local produce, during the biennial Coffee Festival. 

You'll probably come across 'weasel' coffee during your visit, also known as kopi luwak or civet coffee, which aficionados claim is the best in the world. While many believe its unique taste is excellent, it's worth knowing that recent investigations have found unethical animal welfare practices on coffee farms across the region.

Top tip: "If you can’t visit the coffee heartland, be sure to taste a Vietnamese egg coffee while you’re in Hanoi," says Wanderlust's executive director Jackie Scully. "I loved the Note coffee house right by the main lake in the capital. Covered in uplifting post-its from travellers from across the world, it was more than just a caffeine boost."

Pho is a Vietnamese staple – a quick, tasty meal made from four simple ingredients: clear stock, boiled beef, rice noodles and herbs or green onions. In Vietnam, you’ll find it served on street corners and in upscale restaurants, as well as in every family home.

Hanoi has gained a reputation as the pho capital of Vietnam. Every restaurant here boasts a secret recipe. Take your time searching for the best – that's part of the fun! But if you want our advice? Head to Lo Duc in the French Quarter and sit yourself down at Pho Thin.

This unassuming pho house, with wooden benches and laminated tables, does things a little differently – such as stir-frying the beef in garlic before adding it to the soup. Local foodies insist it gives the pho an unusual smokiness, one you won't found in other restaurants. Pho Thin is always packed, but once you're inside, you'll know it was worth the wait. 

More than 60% of Vietnam’s population was born after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. But that doesn’t mean its war-torn history is ignored. As a nation, Vietnam has moved on, but the sacrifices made by both sides of the conflict are still remembered all over the country, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum has many informative exhibitions, and explains the country's bloody past through photographs, artefacts and memorabilia. It's sensitively done, without glossing over the atrocities, and (rather ironically) is housed in the Gia Long Palace, where Ngo Dinh Diem spent his final hours in power before his assassination in 1963.

The War Remnants Museum is a more grisly – but equally essential – reminder of local atrocities. From eerie bomb remnants and first-person accounts by war veterans to a bloodied guillotine and photographs of horrific napalm burns, this is a chilling reminder of life not-too-long ago.

Tây Ninh, a busy town on the Mekong Delta, is perhaps the most unlikely holy city on the planet. Here, amongst the busy streets stalls and noisy traffic sits Cao Dai Temple, the Holy See of the Cao Dai religion.

Caodaism is a Vietnamese hybrid religion founded in the 1920s. It fuses Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, occult and Islam with the ultimate aim to break free of the cycle of life and death. The sect reveres, among others: Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed and even French novelist Victor Hugo.

From a distance, the temple’s towers resemble a parochial church. But closer inspection reveals an eclectic facade with sword-brandishing gods, swastikas, a Communist red star and an Orwellian all-seeing eye.

Prayers are conducted four times a day, with the one at noon popular with day-trippers from Ho Chi Minh City.

Halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Hue marked the divide between the north and the south during the Vietnam War. Set upon the pretty Perfume River, it has always played an important part in Vietnamese history and is dotted with important historical sites.

It is also a great place to cycle. Set off in the cool of the morning and head three kilometres out of town to the Tiger Fighting arena. It was Vietnam’s version of the Colosseum, a place where elephants and tigers would fight to honour the strength of the monarchy. Next, head to Tu Duc Tomb before reaching Vong Canh Hill – the best spot for panoramic views of the Perfume River.

From Vong Canh Hill, it’s downhill to one of Hue's most atmospheric pagodas, Tu Hieu, which is located in a tranquil and picturesque pine forest. Swing by the tomb of Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, before heading back to town.

Upon reaching the walled fortress of the Imperial Citadel, you have two choices: take a leisurely cycle through the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam's version of the Forbidden City, or enjoy a relaxing drink next to the Perfume River.

Sound too much like hard work? You find any number of cyclo drivers nearby to do all the effort for you.

The market town of Sapa, in Vietnam’s mountainous north, first became popular as a French hill station in the 1930s. Set on a 1,650m-high mountain ridge, the town boasts fabulous views of the Hoang Lien Mountains and a colourful market attended by hill tribes from the surrounding countryside every Saturday.

The town has become increasingly popular with tourists, but there are still old traditions hidden in its secret corners. One of those is the Love Market, where Dao (and H’mong) men and women come from miles around to sing songs of love to each other. It was originally held at the end of trading at the Saturday markets, but over-zealous visitors taking intrusive photos has driven the tradition underground.

The Love Market still exists, but now it takes place in secret locations in the dead of night, well away from the gaze of visitors. But if your interest is genuine and you can find a local willing to trust you, the romance can still be found.

Often called ‘Ha Long Bay on land,’ Tam Coc is best explored on a boat. With Ngo Dong River snaking through the lush rice fields, towering limestone karsts and caves, the surrounding scenery is jaw-dropping.

In recent years, alongside the stunning landscape, boats that the locals row with feet have become a major attraction in the area. The flourishing tourism industry in Vietnam brought large numbers of curious travellers to the mythical Tam Coc.

The development presented Vietnamese guides with a chance to earn a living from rowing boats along the river. But the daily rowing also led to painful backaches. That’s when the locals invented boat rowing with their feet, which is surprisingly more effective than the traditional rowing technique.

You can either take a day trip from Hanoi or stay in Tam Coc for a couple of days to explore, which we highly recommend. The best way to reach the village is by catching a taxi from Nim Binh.

Most of the boat tours include a trip to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, Tràng An and Mua caves which you can climb for fantastic panoramic views (on a clear day).

If you decide to stay in Tam Coc, you can catch a sampan boat at the picturesque Tam Coc lake where the local guides will row your boat with feet.

Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam is a wildlife lover's dream: a 720 sq km biosphere reserve, comprised of botanical gardens and lowland forest, offering an abundance of rare creatures and birdlife, all kept safe and sheltered in a number of sanctuaries and rescue centres.

Golden-cheeked gibbons, silvered langurs and native pygmy lorsies are among the rare primates to be spotted in Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre. Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary homes tens of sun bears.

Asian elephants and clouded leopards are also among the rare sightings wildlife watchers have recorded in Cat Tien. Birders will have their hands full, too, with Asian barred owlet, blue-rumped and bar-bellied pittas, and orange-necked partridge sightings - just to name a few - very possible. 

Some of the park's animal residents come alive when the sky goes dark, so if you're hoping for a unique wildlife encounter in Vietnam, consider staying the night in one of Cat Tien's homestays or hotel accommodation, and embark on a nighttime drive. 

An added bonus? Those on a day trip will be zipping back to Ho Chi Minh City by then, which is approximately three hours and 30 minutes away by car, so you'll have more of the park to yourself.

Ban Gioc is the name of not one, but two colliding waterfalls along the Quay Son River - an iconic way to mark the Vietnam-China border, in the Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang on Vietnam's side, and Daxin County, Guangxi on China's.

Here, you'll be taking in one of South-East Asia's most breathtaking natural sights. Its sheer size (70m tall, and 208m wide) is marvel-worthy in itself, but the way the falls cascade down its rocky, limestone face is most eyecatching. If you're up for a climb, it is possible to trek up to the 'falls high points, as long as you're equipped with the appropriate walking gear.

Once you've soaked up the immense views, there's plenty to see and do in the Cao Bang region, which sits high up in the mountainous north-east of the country. Caves to explore, local homestays to experience, and more majestic waterfalls beckon.

Have you ever seen a bridge quite like this one? The Golden Bridge (or Golden Hands Bridge, or Giant Hands Bridge) in the Da Nang province is one of a kind.

Pedestrians can stroll across the 150m-long pathway, high above the gorgeous greenery of the seemingly-endless Ba Na Hills, and feel like they're being held in the sky by two humongous, God-like stone hands. As it happens, the stone hands are not held up by God himself, but by a sturdy steel frame and fibreglass.

The reality-warping structure was created to attract more visitors to the Da Nang region, and surely no-one can refute its social media success. There are well over 108,000 images of the bridge on the #GoldenBridge hashtag alone.

If you went to Vietnam and you didn't post a picture of the Golden Hands Bridge on your Instagram page, did your trip even happen at all?!

Off the coast of Cambodia lies the idyllic Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc: a haven for travellers hoping to get away from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam's cities.

There's no shortage of things to see and do on Phu Quoc. Wildlife lovers can head to Vinpearl Safari Care and Conservation Park, to meet, elephants, white Bengal tigers, macaques and silver langurs, among others. Head out into nature, with a hike through the dense forests of Phu Quoc National Park, and admiring the gentle trickle of Suoi Tranh Waterfall.

Once you're all walked out, ride in the incredibly long cable car to Hon Thom Nature Park, or sit back and relax on the pristine white sands of Sao Beach, Ong Lang or remote Khem Beach. Surrounded by palm trees and forest, you'll feel like you're sitting on the edge of paradise.

Go beyond the tourist trail to the rural north-western province of Hòa Bình. Here, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Mai Chau Valley, enclosed in mountains and skirted by rice fields. A 'hidden gem', if we ever saw one.

To get a small sense of everyday life in this part of the country, stay with a local, White Tai family in a homestay. Your best bet is one of two villages: Lac or Poom Coong. Whichever you choose, you'll be waking up to the site of rice paddies and the unbelievably-green Vietnamese countryside each morning. The Vietnamese Tourist Board highly recommends choosing your homestay near Hieu, for its idyllic scenery.

Once you're settled, it's time to appreciate the White Tai community's way of life. Cycle through Mai Chau on a rented bike, or pop to the markets to purchase exquisitely-bright, locally-woven textiles. If you can take your eyes off your village's natural wonders, a day trip to the glistening, under-appreciated Hoa Binh Lake makes for an excellent trek.

Located in northern Vietnam, Hanoi is such a joy to wander. For us, the Old Quarter is the highlight of Hanoi. It can be a bit chaotic, with crowded sidewalks and streets, exotic, colorful food for sale, and motorbikes zipping everywhere. But that is all just part of the experience.

If you are traveling to Vietnam for your first time, try not to make Hanoi your first stop. It can be overwhelming at first (but that is also part of its allure). You may want to visit more low-key cities such as Hoi An or Hue before visiting Hanoi.

Unless you have a severe phobia of being in tight spaces, visit Chu Chi Tunnels in HCMC. Used during the Viet Cong and the notorious Vietnam (American) war, it’s a 121km network of interconnecting tunnels.

As you crawl through the living spaces, kitchens, storages and hospitals, you’ll witness what it was like to live underground. The tunnels have since been increased in height to accommodate tourists.

Capital of the Hmong Hoa (Flower Hmong), one of Vietnam’s most vibrant ethnic groups, Bac Ha District in Lao Cai Province, Northern Vietnam is a treat for the senses. Bac Ha Market, which takes place once a week on Sunday morning, is one of the biggest and busiest in the region.

Women and men from Red and Black Dao, Nhung, Tay and Flower Hmong communities, all dressed in elaborate costume—their Sunday best, if you will—have been gathering here to trade for over a century. It’s a chance to stock up on fresh food, purchase clothing and textiles, and socialise and network with other members of the community. Many people travel long distances by foot or motorbike to attend.

The tourist appeal is a little different. Tourists flock to Bac Ha Market to catch a glimpse of the majestic costumes and buy authentic souvenirs. Visiting the market is in the bucket list of many tourists to Vietnam

Just south of Ho Chi Minh, essentially the part of Vietnam that sticks out like a curvy bottom, is the amazing Mekong Delta.

Unsurprisingly, given its name, this part of the country is dominated by the mighty Mekong River and it’s a vast lowland area of tributaries, floating markets and small local towns is a real feast for the senses.

Many people just take a day trip from Ho Chi Minh to the Mekong Delta, but you’ll certainly miss the best parts of this area then, as you can’t get into the depths of this region that way.

As such, I highly advise taking a 2 or 3 day trip into this area, which will allow you to stay overnight in a local homestay and make the best of your efforts to explore this area – it’s certainly one of the top things to do in Vietnam.

If it’s culture you’re after, or a bit of historical flair, then you certainly can’t go wrong with the former Vietnamese capital and modern-day city of Hue.

The Imperial Citadel here is UNESCO-listed and well worth a day of your time exploring and realising the grandeur of the former royal family.

There’s also a number of Royal tombs to explore around and a combination entrance ticket here is a great way to keep costs down.

Otherwise, just enjoy strolling along the riverside of this much quieter and more relaxed Vietnamese city – a night here is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Vietnam if you feel like relaxing.

Head right up to the far north of the country, and about as close as China as you can get, care of the Ha Giang province, where most people come to make the epic multi-day motorbike loop.

Many adventure seekers rated it as the “best travel experience they have had anywhere, ever” and if that wasn’t enough to convince you, then the trekking day trips from the main access town of Dong Van, as well as the various markets and lookouts around here should!

The buzzing Hanoi has a wealth of history, food and fantastic coffee to make it worth staying for at least a few days if not more. And there’s no better introduction to Vietnam than a with a sip of the most unusual coffee.

To make the most of your stay, among many other things to do in Vietnam’s capital, head to explore the Old Quarter. Here you’ll find some of the best coffee in Hanoi at the local cafes tucked away down numerous narrow passageways

The second best way to get to know Hanoi is to eat your way through Vietnam’s capital. Vietnamese food is delicious and flavoursome, but it can be very hard to know where and what to eat on your arrival in the country.

Therefore, the easiest way to find the best places to eat in Hanoi is to join a food tour right at the start of your visit. This way you’ll get to know the local cuisine, discover your favourite dishes and the best local food spots.

Otherwise, if you are an adventurous eater, simply point to the menu to choose your dishes, or even better, eat the food prepared on the streets. You’ll have many such options in the Old Quarter and beyond.

Out of all the historic things to do in Hanoi, don’t leave without visiting the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Vietnam Military War Museum. Both are located close to each other in the direction of the Ho Tay (West Lake) area to the north of the centre.

While the War Museum is one of the most popular places to visit in Vietnam, the Imperial Citadel should also make it to your list of the top things to do in Hanoi. Located in the heart of Vietnam, it’s an 11th Century UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Constructed on the remains of the Chinese fortress, the citadel is home to stunning architecture, secret bunkers and peaceful surroundings.

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Hanoi, consider booking a ticket to see the iconic Water puppet show.

Dating back to the 11th century, water puppetry originated in north Vietnam. The tiny puppets are lacquer to make them waterproof and have a wooden stick attached to them making it easy for the puppeteers to move them in the water.

To see the show head to Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi. For the best experience and the best seat, pre-book your skip-the-lines ticket in advance

Tucked into the far north-west corner of Vietnam, close to the border with China, you’ll find the picturesque alpine-style town of Sapa.

Set in a stunning mountainous region, the town sits at around 1500m above sea level with great viewpoints all around. Most visitors come here to trek amongst the rice terraces and along the winding valleys away from Sapa.

Trekking rice fields in Sapa is one of the most unique things to do in Vietnam that you don’t want to miss. This area is still home to many hill tribes and the ladies from the local villages can act as your personal trekking guides. This can often include a homestay at one of the nearby mountain villages such as Ta Van.

The easiest way to get to Sapa is to take a sleeper train from Hanoi. Here’s our detailed guide on how to travel from central Hanoi to Sapa via Lao Cai on a Vietnamese sleeper train and bus.

Also, you’ll need some warmer clothes for this experience as the valley can be misty, cold and rainy.

When planning your things to do in Vietnam itinerary, don’t miss the stunning Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set amongst the limestone karsts, it’s home to five amazing caves close by, including the world’s biggest cave (so they claim).

The latter, Thuy Cung Cave, will cost you $3000 for a 2-day trek, swim and camp in the cave. To book this specific caving expedition, contact the Tourism Centre in Phong Nha.

To explore the smaller caves, stay in the small town of Phong Nha. Some cave visits require booking in advance so read up before you go.

One of the most adventurous Chay River – Dark Cave, for example, can only be explored with a guide. The tour involves zip-lining, swimming in the mud, and exploration of the cave with headlamps and other special equipment.

Said to be one of the most beautiful caves in Phong Nha (some claim in the world), the Paradise Cave can be explored independently. It’s one of those places to see in Vietnam that’s easy to reach and doesn’t require any special equipment to explore.

Clinging to the coast and almost marking the midway point of Vietnam you’ll find the picture-perfect fishing village of Hoi An.

With its UNESCO status, the well preserved narrow streets of the old town area draw visitors here to experience a past vision of Vietnam. There’s much to see and do in Hoi An’s old colonial town so be sure to stick around for a couple of days if not more.

One of the best ways to experience Hoi An’s beauty is to explore it at sunrise when the streets are still free from tourists. Take a seat at one of the street stalls and join locals for breakfast or coffee.

As well as a charming UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An is also one of the most reputable places to visit in Vietnam for updating your wardrobe with tailored garments.

It’s a truly amazing experience to have something custom made for you. The tailors here are known for speedy delivery, high finish, and competitive prices.

Depending on the clothing you are after, it can take from 24 hours for shorts to a few days for a 3-piece suit to be made. And with tailors on-site, alterations can be made here and now. In our case, the pieces were made so well we didn’t even need any changes.

If you can spare extra pennies, shop around for silk produce too. It’s fabulous.

When visiting Hoi An, take some time to visit a complex of Hindu temples dedicated to the god Shiva. Erected in the 4th-13th century, earlier than the Angkor temples, it’s a site that celebrates the unique Champa Kingdom that occupied coastal Vietnam at the time.

Built by the fire bricks and featuring Hinduism mythology, the temples showcase the spiritual and political life during an important chapter of the history of the Southeast Asian region.

Although the site suffered damages during WWII and the Indo China war, it has been especially badly damaged by the American troops during the Vietnam (American) war. Only a few of the remaining tower-temples survived the air raid and can be visited today.

Further south from Da Nang, on the coast of the South China Sea, Mui Ne is another beach destination that you’ll want to explore when visiting Vietnam. The white-sand beaches, clear waters and good wind conditions attract many water sports aficionados as well as sun-seekers.

Both Ganh and Suoi Nuoc beaches are studded with resorts and restaurants if you are looking to have some downtime on the coast.

But the most impressive part of the area is the giant white and red sand dunes. The white sand dunes are the most popular with plenty of activities such as quad bike rides available for adventurous travellers. The dunes are also the only place in Vietnam where you can have a hot air balloon experience.

bThe troubled Vietnam of the past is brought crashing into the modern age in the cauldron of sights, smells and sounds that is Ho Chi Minh City. Even the briefest of stays here and you’ll feel the energy of this lively metropolis embracing its bright new future.

We’d recommend heading out at night to soak up the city’s atmosphere and enjoy a cheeky beverage or two. There are two main ‘Walking Street’ areas with a real buzz to explore.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street – this is a wide plaza area in the middle of District 1, with the beautiful City Hall at one end, stretching down to the river at the other. It’s flanked on either side by some beautiful French colonial architecture and is a popular spot for locals to hang out in the evenings.

When we last visited at night time there were several folks whizzing around on flashy hover-boards or just sitting in groups and enjoying the vibe. Make sure you pop into the old tower block building at No.42. It’s now full of funky cafes which provide the perfect spot to people watch from several floors above the street.

Bui Vien Walking Street – is the Saigon’s equivalent to Bangkok’s Khao San Road, packed with rowdy bars, spots to eat and regular offers of massages. It’s a fun area to have a wander through even if loud music and cheap booze isn’t your thing, just stay alert to the usual tourist scams on offer.

If you’ve had your fill of noodle dishes then we’d recommend Baba’s Kitchen at No. 274 for some world-class curry dishes.

When visiting HCMC, don’t miss the French-influenced Notre Dame Cathedral and the striking Post Office building. The latter, built by Gustave Eiffel, is still in operation at full capacity.

Sending a postcard to your friends or family could be one of the fun things to do in Vietnam. Although the postcards are a little overpriced, it’s not every day you get to send a message from Saigon.

Saigon’s Notre-Dame was built between 1863-1880 and is an unusual sight to see in Ho Chi Minh City. Mostly due to the fact that the materials to construct the cathedral were shipped all the way from France.

Your Vietnam holiday wouldn’t be complete without trying Bia Hoi, the fresh beer especially popular in northern Vietnam. Although we found it in Hoi An too.

Bia Hoi, also known as street beer is a weak draft beer that’s brewed daily by the locals. It has a refreshing crisp taste and should be consumed within 24 hours since it doesn’t contain any preservatives.

You’ll find it on every corner in northern Vietnam, especially Hanoi. Squat on one of the tiny plastic stools on the street and give it a go. At $0.13 – $0.30 per glass, it can be cheaper than water.

Nestled in the central highlands of Vietnam, Dalat is a welcome break from the high humidity of the lowland areas. The cooler climate gives it a slightly European flavour and the French colonial architecture now sits jumbled alongside a slew of modern shopping malls and hotels.

Here you can enjoy the best of south-east Asia outdoors from hiking and climbing to canyoning. When it comes to active and adventurous things to do in Vietnam, hiking the tallest peak in Da Lat is one of them.

At 2,167 meters above the sea, Lang Biang mountain is one of the best-hiking destinations in the central highlands.

The trek, depending on your fitness level, can take up to 3-4 hours to complete due to its steep incline, but isn’t too strenuous. Take it easy if you’re not used to hiking though, wear comfortable footwear and bring lots of water with you.

For a more relaxed activity in Da Lat, one of the standout attractions is the heritage railway line. At 1,500 m high, it’s the highest railway station in Vietnam.

Resembling the Trouville-Deauville Station in Normandy, Ga Da Lat serves Lam Dong Province and conducts daily trips to Trai Mat village and the remarkable Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Due to its 49-meter-long dragon temple constructed of 12,000 beer bottles, the impressive Linh Phuoc Pagoda has earned an accolade as the special architectural mosaic of Da Lat. It’s probably one of the quirkiest things to see in Vietnam.

Talking about quirky things to do in Vietnam, staying in the Crazy House is as unusual as it gets in Da Lat. The art gallery and a guest house that looks like a giant tree trunk was built by a Vietnamese artist and has 10 themed rooms. Each represents a wild animal and can be rented for just under $100 per room per night.

The mix of weird and wonderful attractions makes Da Lat one of the most unique places to visit in Vietnam. But Da Lat is so much more than just bizarre things to see and do.

The nature surrounding the city is beautiful and you could see a fraction of it by taking a cable car up to a monastery above Da Lat.

Below the Truc Lam Pagoda, across the fresh pine tree forest, you’ll reach the Valley of Love. The park is especially loved among the local couples, therefore, expect to see many photoshoots. Nonetheless, a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and escape the noisy city.

Carrying on the nature theme, have a refreshing day at the impressive Elephant Falls 30 km outside of Da Lat. Be sure to wear comfortable footwear and beware of the slippery rocks.

To reach the waterfall, join an organised tour, hire a motorbike or jump on a local bus going to Nam Ban village at the bus stop next to the central market in Da Lat. And remember to ask the driver to stop at Thac Voi (Elephant Falls).

Alternatively, if 30 km is too much of a stretch, you could cycle to the famous Datanla Falls just 5 km outside the city. Don on your swimwear before you go and have a revitalising day out in the natural surroundings.

Bich Dong Pagoda (Tam Cốc Bích động) is a three-tiered ancient pagoda nestled into a mountainside in Tam Coc, northern Vietnam. The cluster of cave temples is surrounded by a bed of water and impressive water lilies that will have you in awe when you arrive at the entrance of Bich Dong Pagoda.

Take your time to explore the pagoda and be prepared to climb a number of steps to reach the top. The temple is open all day and should be free to enter but you might get some cheeky locals asking for a small fee.

WHERE IS TAM COC BICH DONG & HOW TO GET THERE

Bich Dong Pagoda is located 2km west of Tam Coc town center in the Ninh Binh region.

Getting around Tam Coc is really simple as it’s very easy to rent a bicycle or a scooter from your choice of half a dozen rental shops in the center of Ninh Binh town.

It’s approximately a 5-minute ride on a scooter from the town center to reach Bich Dong Pagoda. Scooter rental costs around 100,000 VND per day and bicycle costs half the price.

BICH DONG PAGODA ENTRANCE FEE

There is no entrance fee to visit Bich Dong Pagoda, however, you may have to pay a small fee for parking at the jump-off point.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT BICH DONG PAGODA

The entrance to Bich Dong Pagoda is absolutely beautiful and the most photogenic spot at this location. You will see an arched concrete walkway that stretches over the water lilies and makes its way through an impressive temple gateway and into the mountains.

There are around 100 steps from the foot of Bich Dong Pagoda to reach the top. The trail cuts through a large cave in the mountain where looming statues and small bats appear behind the haze of incense.

When you reach the top of the stairs at Bich Dong Pagoda you will be welcomed with a stunning view out of the valley of the distant mountain peaks and vast rice fields.

BICH DONG PAGODA – THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The best time to visit Bich Dong Pagoda is early in the morning around 6 am before the crowds arrive or you can visit in the late afternoon as it’s a great location to watch the sunset over the valley.

Bich Dong Pagoda can be visited year-round though between the months of November to April it’s mostly dry and cool and when most travelers tend to visit.

May to October sees plenty of rainfall and hot humid days in Tam Coc. The rainy season, in my opinion, is the best time to visit Tam Coc and the Ninh Binh region as there are fewer tourists and the landscapes are vividly green!

As we’ve already mentioned, one of the best things to do in Vietnam is to learn about the culture, and a great way to do this is to join a guided tour in some of the coolest places in the country.

You can enjoy this tour in some different cities of in Hoi An, Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.

Hopping on the back of a Vespa scooter and riding along the banks of Thu Bon River stopping off at local villages we met local families, learnt about weaving, boat building and of course ate lots of local dishes.

We highly recommend this Vespa tour in Hoi An, or anywhere else in the country. 

Riding a Vespa is a fun and popular way to explore many of the Vietnam tourist attractions.

This part of Vietnam really blew us away. Not many tourists get up here, and we have no idea why not. It is some of the most beautiful landscapes we saw in all of Southeast Asia.

With rolling mountains to rice terraces to beautiful canyons this place is different around every corner. Hire a motorbike and ride the area yourself or jump on a tour but this trip will be one you will not forget.

The Dong Van Karst Plateau is located high in the mountains in the very north of Vietnam, on the border of China. The area offers stunning narrow valleys with rocky mountain ranges.

In 2010, UNESCO recognised this area as a geological park. This area spreads out over 2,3000 square kilometres over the districts of Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh and Quan Ba.

It is believed that the rocks of Dong Van contain fossils from up to 600 million years ago. Because you are travelling near the Chinese border, you do need a permit which you can get from Ha Giang.

We recommend giving yourselves at least a week to properly explore the area.

This is one of those things to do in Vietnam that you can tackle in just about every town, and is something that will probably become part of your daily routine anyway.

Vietnam has amazing local produce, and staring at the huge array of fruits and vegetables is sure to leave you not only feeling hungry, but also curious about all the different kinds!

Visiting a local produce market is a great way to see how everyday life works in Vietnam. Go for a wander, check out all the different fruits, savouries and other creations, and chat away to the locals.

The best way to really explore a produce market is with a local guide. They will explain how the market is set up, they can translate for you if you have questions for the sellers and farmers and they can explain the weird and wacky foods.

Once you get your head around them, make sure you always have a pocketful of Dong with you whenever you’re out and about to stock up on fresh fruit for the day!

No matter how short your stay is, make sure to visit a local market – it’s a Vietnam must see!

Immersing yourself into the local food is a great way to learn more about a country, and luckily Vietnamese food is some of the best in the world!

There are cooking classes all over Vietnam, and each class will offer different dishes and experiences. There is such diversity in the food from North to South, so you can literally do one in each major town and you’ll probably learn a new dish each time.

Some of the cooking classes will take you to the markets where you can buy the ingredients and cook it together. We love this type of class as you get to be part of every step of the process.

Coming home from your holiday and knowing how to cook some different dishes is a win, and will ensure you’re forever popular with your friends and family!

You go on holidays to see the new place but also to meet people. Don’t be shy to chat with locals. Practice your Vietnamese and they can practise their English.

It is amazing who you can meet by putting your guard down sometimes. It can be hard to have a real, authentic experience with locals when you travel, so do everything you can to be open to genuine invitations.

If you are interested there are local university students in the bigger cities that have groups where you can contact them for a time and day.

They love chatting with foreigners, just buy them coffee or lunch. Check out Saigon Hotpot in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi Kids in Hanoi.

One of the most interesting parts of travelling is trying all the different food available, and Vietnam isn’t any different.

Every country has their own styles and twists on cuisine, so be adventurous and give them a try. Vietnamese food, in general, is very delicious, but it can also be pretty unusual.

We had duck blood soup when we were in Northern Vietnam and surprisingly it was not too bad. We tried monkey brains in Phong Nha, which was a local delicacy served for very special occasions.

If you are invited over to a locals house for a meal, give all the food a try, even if it’s something you’d never normally try.

If you want to learn more about the local cuisine, take a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang or Hoi An.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both very busy cities, and one of the best places to admire the hustle and bustle is from above on a rooftop.

We found a lot of great bars and cafes near busy intersections or roundabouts, and watched day turn into night with the thousands (and thousands) of scooters zipping around below.

It was crazy watching all the traffic take on the large roundabout and the occasional scooter bumps which causes some quick arguing, looking and then they move on.

Check out the EON51 Restaurant and Lounge on level 50 of the Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City. This has a great view, but you do play for with the prices of the drinks and food.

The rooftop views are some of our favorite things to see in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s third-biggest city is quite awesome, so don’t be surprised if you end up spending more time here than you expected.

Da Nang is in the centre of the country and has a wonderful cultural vibe about it. The food is amazing, the people are cool, and there’s so much to see and do!

If you love beaches, then Da Nang has you covered. There are long stretches of sand perfect for swimming, surfing or sunbathing, and you can find lots of cheap hotels and resorts along them.
The peninsula is a great spot to spend the day, with lots of cool little hikes and coves to check out.

But one of our favourite places in Da Nang is the Marble Mountains, a collection of hills that have been mined for marble over the years and are now left rising out of the flat city landscape.

You can climb them to visit some temples and get gorgeous views over Da Nang. Definitely worth visiting!

Don’t forget to include this highlight on your list of what to see in Vietnam!

You can do this all over Vietnam. From the Mekong Delta in the south to Sapa in the north, there are homestays in a lot of rural areas.

A homestay is where you stay with locals in their home (not a hotel or bed & breakfast) and you share incredible experiences with them, such as eating together as a family.

You can help the family cook their meals or be involved in daily chores just by showing an interest is why the locals do this.

The Vietnamese people love showing visitors how they live, and are happy to teach you more about their culture.

If you want to get out of the city and be in nature check out Bach Ma National Park. With amazing hiking and biking, these scenic trails will amaze you.

You can organise tours out of Hue or hire a scooter, explore the park for the day or more, and enjoy the trails that are offered from easy to difficult levels with various lengths.

There are fresh ponds to take a dip, hike to waterfalls and great view spots to take a break and take it all in. Be prepared for wet conditions and make sure you have some good shoes.

There are leeches so check your body for these suckers. We highly recommend spending a few days in the park and even getting a guide so you get the best out of the area.

For nature enthusiasts this is one of the more popular Vietnam attractions.

• Location: Lộc Điền, Phú Lộc, Thua Thien Hue
• Opening hours: 24h/7
• Price: 40,000 VND

We bet you didn’t know Vietnam had its own version of Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway! Well, now you do, and it’s definitely one of the most unique things to do in Vietnam.

Ganh Da Dia in the south is a spectacular rock formation that juts out from the coast and into the sea.

Thousands of hexagonal basalt columns come out of the earth in mesmerising ways, often with not even a millimetre of space between them.

It’s pretty off-the-beaten-path, so chances are you’ll have this entire site to yourself.

Most tourists skip the cool town of Kon Tum near the border of Laos, and it’s a real shame because those that do make it out here are always blown away!

The city of Kon Tum itself is quite a standard city, with lots of traffic and little parks along the river you can get away from the noise, but the true highlights are when you escape the downtown area.

Rent a bicycle or motorbike and head out into the hill tribe villages and farmlands, where you will come across some of the coolest ethnic structures in Vietnam!

The hill tribes around Kon Tum are known for their huge Long Houses, steep-pitched wooden shelters that act as community halls.

If you’re really lucky you might come across a traditional ceremony as well. Kon Tum is well worth a visit if you’re looking to get off the beaten path in Vietnam.

There are so many beautiful and iconic pagodas to visit throughout Vietnam. These pagodas are full of traditions, beliefs and interesting architecture, with the stunning decorations.

Some of the most famous pagodas to visit are Perfume Pagoda and Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi, One Pillar Pagoda near HCMC, Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Linh An Pagoda and Van Hanh Pagoda in Dalat.

When visiting the pagodas please be mindful to respect the culture. Walk into the pagodas on the right and exit on the left, take off your shoes when entering, be respectful of people praying, don’t point your feet at the alter or statues and dress conservatively, so no hats, no exposed shoulders and no shorts.

The best time to visit a pagoda is in the morning before the crazy crowds come in.

Why not give yourself a challenge and climb the highest mountain in Indochina, Mount Fansipan. Located just outside of Sapa, this hike will challenge you, but you will be rewarded with stunning views.

We did the hike in one day but if you do not hike often, we recommend doing the hike in 2 days and camp at the hut up the top. Enjoy sunset and sunrise all alone.

You can book tours through most of the guesthouses in Sapa. There is a gondola now that goes to the top. So if you are not a hiker, you can still go to the top of Mount Fansipan to enjoy the views

Each way on the gondola takes approximately 15 minutes and will set you back 600,000 Vietnamese Dong per adult.

Vietnam isn’t known for being a Mecca for diving, especially with hotspots like Indonesia and the Philippines close by, but if you love getting under water then there’s some good spots to do it.

Nha Trang in the south is quite a popular place for Russian tourists, and if we are completely honest with you, it really isn’t that nice.

It’s busy and the beaches are quite developed, but there’s a couple of good reasons you should go here anyway.

First of all the motorbike ride from Dalat to Nha Trang is amazing, and well worth checking out.

If you’re a certified diver then once you get to Nha Trang why not head out for a couple of fun dives?

We did two dives in Nha Trang and were pleasantly surprised with how good it was. We weren’t expecting much, but it turned out to be really enjoyable, with a couple of caves to swim through and a decent amount of fish.

Vietnam has a number of beautiful tropical islands, which are all worthy of taking a relaxing island getaway to.

Check out Con Dao Island in the south. This is a quieter option compared to Phu Quoc, which is very overdeveloped. The Con Dao Archipelago is one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam.

You will find stunning mountains, thick canopies of forest and amazing marine life. Yep, it is a diving paradise. If you are in the north check out Cat Ba Island, which is the bigger island of Halong Bay.

There are 3 lovely beaches located near the main town on Cat Ba and a gorgeous national park for exploring.

Buy a bike, rent a bike or hire a driver. Either way, seeing part of Vietnam on motorbike is the way to go.

There is something about having the wind in your face and taking travel slower than usual, and riding a motorbike is the best way to do it in this country.

It’s almost become a rite of passage for a lot of travellers, and you’ll find hundreds of people riding motorbikes the length of the country from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, but those in the know head up to Northern Vietnam to see the most striking scenery in the country.

Another popular trip is the Hai Van Pass between Hoi An and Hue, which will give you epic ocean views and a dose of war history too.

If you are not a confident rider head to the beautiful town of Dalat and sign up with a company called Easy Riders. They offer trips (from one day to one week) as a passenger on one of their large bikes with an experienced rider.

When you are booking in town just make sure it is the legit company, not a fake one, as there are plenty of them around Dalat. 

No trip to Vietnam would be complete without spending a decent amount of time learning about the local culture.

A fascinating mix of beliefs and customs has resulted in Vietnamese culture developing a fascinating mix of spiritual elements, and all it takes is spending a bit of time in the temples or with people in their homes to discover how beautiful it really is.

Do yourself a favour and spend some time immersing yourself into the local culture, and you will gain a much deeper understanding of the Vietnamese people.

The best way to do this is to do a homestay, visit different temples and try to head out to some ethnic minority villages. The north is particularly good for this.

This one is for history lovers. The Vietnamese Demilitarised Zone was an area where a dividing line between North and South Vietnam was drawn as a result of the First Indochina War.

You can visit the DMZ Area include Ben Hai River, Hien Luong Bridge, Hamburger Hill, Khe Sanh Combat Base, Truong Son National Cemetery and learn about what happened in the area by visiting a small museum.

You will visit the Vinh Moc Tunnels and see how people lived underground during the war. You will learn all about the Vietnam/American War that had a big significant impact in the area also.

You can get a tour out of Hue or Phong Nha.