By Amina
Vietnam has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and plenty of beautiful scenery, fascinating culture and history. It has many historic attractions and old temples. Also, there are many historical sites that we encourage visitors to our country to visit.
Here is a handy list of beautiful places you simply cannot miss seeing during your travels in Vietnam.
1. Ha Noi
As a capital of Vietnam with more than 1000 years of history, Hanoi has many cultural and historic sites that attract a lot of tourists nationwide. Hanoi is arguably Asia’s most charming capital city. Hanoi, meaning ‘where the river bends’ is a city of broad, tree-lined boulevards, elegant French villas and colonial-era buildings painted in muted hues of yellow and orange. It is also one of Asia’s greenest cities with an abundance of parks and lakes as well as a host of cafes and art galleries and an Old Quarter steeped in history. The city’s most interesting places for tourists are all relatively close to each other, which makes it easy to enjoy the best parts of the city on foot or by cycle. You could probably explore well-known landscape in Hanoi such as Literature Temple, One Pillar Pagoda, Sword Lake, West Lake, History Museum, Flag Pole, Ancient city, HCM mausoleum, Grand Opera House,
2. Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is Vietnam in high gear. To travel to Ho Chi Minh City is to be introduced to a dramatic meeting of old and new culture, a dynamic metropolis of skyscrapers and traffic juxtaposed with a wealth of ancient temples and traditional markets. Whether you're traveling to Ho Chi Minh City for a quick stop en route to other parts of Vietnam or are planning a visit to the city exclusively, you will be won over the city's frenetic energy and the many local gems just waiting to be discovered.
Things Not to Miss in Ho Chi Minh City
From buzzy new hotels and restaurants to ancient temples and markets steeped in culture and history, our Ho Chi Minh City travel guide will point you to the city's must-see sights, including:
• The underground tunnels of Cu Chi
• The Jade Emperor Pagoda
• Nha Hang Ngon, one of the city's most popular restaurants
• The War Remnants Museum
• The Cao Dai Temple in the nearby town of Tay Ninh
3. Sa Pa
Sapa is one of the most breathtaking hill stations in Vietnam which reflects the signature of French architecture and colorful hill tribal cultures. This is home to stunning mountain landscapes, verdant rice terraces, unique stilt villages and Indochina peak, the Fansipan. Travellers are invited to enjoy the best of Sapa all the year round with different taste of seasons and exciting outdoors.
4. Ha Long Bay
Halong Bay is a popular tourist destination and one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam because of its unusual rock formations, islands and caves such as the famous Kissing Rocks, Sung Sot Grotto (Cave of Surprises), Hoang Tan Island, Hon Trong Mai, Bai Tho Mountain, Thien Cung grotto (Heavenly Cave) and Cat Hai Island.
Halong Bay has twice been recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Area for its exceptional scenic beauty and outstanding geological and geomorphic values. In 2012, the New 7 Wonders Foundation officially named Halong Bay as one of new seven natural wonders of the world. Hạ Long Bay is also a member of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World.
5. Phong Nha - Ke Bang national park
Viet Nam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park has been recognized as a world natural heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 27th general assembly session being held in Paris from June 30-July 5
Phong Nha-Ke Bang park is now the fifth UNESCO recognized site in Viet Nam after Ha Long Bay, the imperial city of Hue, the ancient quarter of Hoi An and the My Son historical site.
Visit the rugged scenic beauty of the 200 hectare Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and:
- Explore Phong Nha Cave, a large, illuminated wonderland.
- See the spectacular jungle scenery & fascinating limestone formations of the karst mountains.
- Swim in clear turquoise rivers overhung by jungle greenery.
- Ride the river rapids.
- Investigate the extensive network of unspoiled caves that make up one of Asia’s largest cave systems.
- Observe the varied wild life; you may even come across a troop of rare Black Langur monkeys.
- Organized tours are the usual way to see these sights but walking, Xe Om and bicycle riding are also options.
- Mini van and or 7 seater car can be arranged for groups.
6. Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An is an old town down the Thu Bon River, on the coastal plain of Quang Nam Province, about 30 km south of Danang City
The architecture of Hoi An, which is almost entirely of wood, is of considerable interest. It combines traditional Vietnamese designs and techniques with those from other countries, above all China and Japan, whose citizens settled there to trade and built houses and community centers to their own designs.
The typical house conforms to a corridor plan, the following elements occurring in sequence: house, yard and house. The buildings are:
family cult houses, dedicated to the worship of ancestors;
the community houses, used for worship of ancient sages, founders of settlements, or the legendary founders of crafts;
the pagodas are almost all from the 19th century, although inscriptions show them to have been founded in the 17th and 18th centuries. They conform to a square layout and decoration is largely confined to the elaborate roofs. In the case of the larger examples, they constituted nuclei of associated buildings with religious and secular functions. Some of the larger pagodas also served as meeting halls. These are located along the main street (Tran Phu).
Hoi An Ancient Town was recognized as World Cultural Heritages by UNESCO in 1999.
Today, Hoi An is also known as a shopping paradise that attracts tourists towards its wonderful souvenirs, handicrafts, antique pieces, silk materials and art paintings, and so on. Hoi An old town with colorful lantern lit nights, with pristine old plain houses and special mysterious cultural elements, and with the etiquette & culturally hospitable and friendly people are warmly welcoming you.
7. Hue Citadel
Hue has chosen to be the capital city of the Southern Kingdom by all Nguyen Lords and officially became the capital under Tay Son'reign. For approximately 400 years, Hue has become a great landscape and architectural site. Hue' royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site (1993).
Situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River, with an area of 500 ha and a system of three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh (Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel).
The Ngu Binh Mountain in the South is used as a front screening elevation. The Con Hen and Con Da Vien (both are sand dunes) on the Perfume River are chosen as geomancy condition "dragon on the left, tiger on the right" to protect the capital city.
8. Nha Trang
Nha Trang, capital of Khanh Hoa province, is Vietnam’s most famous seaside resort-town and its most prominent scuba diving destination. Nha Trang is also known for the best weather in Vietnam. The city is bordered by beautiful mountains and an amazing, long beach along a bay impressively dotted with many scenic islands. It offers plenty to tourists – from island-hopping boat trips, scuba diving and many other water sports, trekking, mud baths, historic sites to golf.
Today, Nha Trang attracts a large number of domestic as well as international tourists from all over the world, mostly in summer. If you plan to visit Nha Trang from June to August, it is advisable that you book your hotel well in advance.
Nha Trang is famous for its culinary specialties like fresh seafood and barbecued pork rolled in rice paper, which are available in many restaurants in Nha Trang. In addition, the swallow’s nest soup – with bird’s nests collected from the wild, is regarded as the best in Vietnam.
9. Da Lat
Located 200 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh and at an altitude of 1,500 meters, Da Lat has the appearance of an old French city. It was founded in 1897 when Doctor Alexandre Yesin recommended that the area be developed as a resort.
Da Lat has many natural and artificial such as Ho Xuan Huong, Than Tho, Da Thien and Tuyen Lam, which are all bordered by rows of pine trees, one of Da Lat’s best-known features. A trip to Da Lat is not complete without a visit to the Flower Garden. The temperate climate is suitable for orchids, roses, lilies, camellias and a wide variety of other flowers.
Tourists can go on from Da Lat to nearby Langbian Highlands, home to many ethnic minorities. Langbian Mountain’s highest peak (2,165 m) is very tempting for climbers. From Lom Bieng Klo peak, one can see endless green mountains reflecting the golden rays of the sun. There are many organized tours in the area, including parachuting and climbing.
Some traveler ever said: “If you are in love, a week in Da Lat – a rhythmic land of flowers and romance- will make your love turn into a happy ending!”…
10. Phú Quốc Island
Phu Quoc is an almost unknown destination in Vietnam. International tourists and Vietnamese alike just recently discovered Phu Quoc. It is not hard to see why many tourists are boasting of the splendid natural beauty and untouched remote beaches of this spectacular tropical island.
This peaceful tropical paradise, floats in the warm turquoise waters in the Gulf of Thailand, 50kms from the Vietnamese mainland and a 50 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Open year round with a peak season from November to March, Phu Quoc is becoming well known for stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, the easy going and relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals, and fantastic scuba diving and snorkelling.
The majority of Phu Quoc Island is dedicated to National Park and protected marine environment, providing a memorable experience, with plenty of exciting activities and places to visit to keep you and the family entertained during your stay.
Phu Quoc is blessed with favorable natural environment like the virgin forest of over 37,000 hectares, white sandy beaches, coral gardens offshore, varieties of wildlife species, so it is not hard Long Beach, Phu Quocto see why the island has great tourist potential.
For the time being, tourists visiting Phu Quoc can still enjoy the experiences of finding a remote beach lined with coconut trees and calm blue waters.