Top 10 Things to Do in Vietnam

Vietnam is a beautiful country with a narrow strip of coastline stretching from Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta. Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), a mixture of colonial architecture and Southeast Asia's humid atmosphere, link Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Menai, and Da Lat, a string of beautiful towns. This is Vietnam, a country with unique features. Vietnam offers beautiful beaches and delicious local food. From the ancient imperial cities with 1,000 years of civilization in the East to the century-old Catholic churches in the West, from the grim war museums to peaceful pagodas, from the bustling tourist areas to the endless coastline, you can feel the rich and colorful culture and irresistible charm. During your trip to Vietnam, you can experience the rich and exotic culture and experience extraordinary scenery. Today, let's take a look at the top 10 things to do in Vietnam. Let's explore this beautiful country together.

Explore the Halong Bay

Halong Bay is a famous scenic spot in Vietnam. It is famous for its magnificent and beautiful scenery. In 1994, UNESCO placed Halong Bay on the World Heritage List as a natural heritage site. On November 12, 2011, Halong Bay was selected as one of the "New Seven Natural Wonders of the World" list. There are more than 2,000 rocks of different sizes standing on the sea. November to February of the coming year is a good time to visit. A cruise tour is a common way to visit Halong Bay. You can not only immerse yourself between the islands to enjoy the sea scenery but also visit some of the beautiful karst caves on the island. In the towns around Halong Bay, many of the local houses are in the French style, and fishermen selling their wares from boats are ubiquitous, giving the area a strong local feel. The terminal in Halong Bay is located at Bai Chay in Halong City, which is a popular tourist destination for foreign tourists with many shops and restaurants nearby.

It is said that more than half of the strange rocks in this sea area with many small islands have been named, such as Dog Island, Elephant Island, Cockfight Rock, orangutan rock, and other rocks named after animals. It takes a bit of imagination to get a sense of the rock's vivid gestures.

Halong Bay

Taste the Vietnamese Cuisine

Travel to Vietnam, it is necessary to taste Vietnamese cuisine in order to have a real treat. Usually, the hotel where tourists reside generally provides monotonous breakfast, the options are very limited, for example, western food usually are bread, butter, fried eggs and so on. If you really want to try Vietnamese cuisine, it is worth to go to the most famous restaurants, where you can taste authentic Vietnamese foods. The most iconic Vietnamese foods are Pho noodle soup, Broken Rice with Grilled pork, Banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich), Vietnamese hot pot, Bánh xèo: crispy Vietnamese crêpes) and etc. Hanoi, Saigon and Hoian are the best places to try these cuisine. In another article, I have listed the top 10 most popular foods and restaurants in Vietnam, hope it will give you some direction of where you can enjoy these gourmets.

Cruise the Mekong Delta

How to visit Ho Chi Minh City? Rafting on the Mekong River is a must-do activity. Mekong Delta is in the south of Vietnam, this is where the Mekong river finally spills into the ocean. The Mekong River is Vietnam's mother river, and the scenery along the way highlights Southeast Asian customs. Regarded as an important element of daily life by locals, a cruise in Saigon gives you a panoramic view of Ho Chi Minh City's riverfront architecture, dense forests, low-slung houses, and well-lighted high-rise buildings. On the cruise ship, you can see the industrial traces of the city which has a strong sense of history. You can charter your own boat or join one-day or two- day trips of the Mekong River from Can Tho or Ben Tre. If you get up early, you can have a visit the local floating markets where the villagers sell goods, and catch fish. With the shouts of the hawkers, you will experience the lifestyle of local people.

Cruise the Mekong Delta

Phu Quoc Island

In the South of Vietnam, there is an island called Phu Quoc Island. Phu Quoc Island, with an area of 589.23 square kilometers, is the largest island in Vietnam. Star Beach is one of the must-see attractions, where the sand is fine and very white, different from other places. Due to geographical reasons, Star Beach is located in the southeast of Phu Quoc Island. The whole beach is in the shape of a half-moon, surrounded by mountains on three sides. In addition, you can also visit a temple which is located on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. Former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung donated 100 billion dongs to build it. It is said that when Dung was running for prime minister, he promised to build a temple in return for his hometown if he won. Temples in Vietnam keep their doors open for worshipers.

It is worth mentioning that the coffee here is very famous and has a strong taste. The locals can sit all afternoon with a cup of coffee. If you like, you can have a cup of coffee with your friends or sweetheart as well and wait for the sunset by the sea.

Hoi An Ancient Town and Local Market

The Hoi An ancient town is located on the north bank of the Chupen River on the outskirts of Da Nang in central Vietnam, about 30 kilometers from the city of Da Nang. It belongs to Quang Nam Province of Vietnam and was once the famous Eastern Seaport in history. In 1999, UNESCO placed it on the World Cultural Heritage List. Since Hoi An is home to the largest number of Chinese in Vietnam, it has historically been an important center of trade and exchange in Southeast Asia, where different cultures and architectural styles come together. In Hoi An, you can find Chinese and Japanese buildings everywhere with complete preservation. They have not been damaged by war, let alone demolished because of the construction of high-rise buildings.

Lanterns are a major feature of Hoi An. It can be seen everywhere, the house door, the old trees, and the street side show all kinds of lanterns with different shapes and bright colors. Decorated inside and outside, Hoi An ancient city has become a world of lanterns. Moreover, you can visit the local market, where you can buy a variety of fruits, such as durian, lychee, mango, and other tropical fruits.

There are no vehicles in Hoi An, so you can rent a bicycle or walk slowly around the old town. When you're tired, you can have a cup of tea or coffee. Renting one of these tricycles is also ideal for touring the ancient city.

Hoi An Ancient Town

Explore The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, and is more than a national park. It is the oldest major karst structure in Asia. The karst formations in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park were formed during the Paleozoic era (about 4 billion years ago). Due to the intense crustal movements, the karst landform in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is extremely complex and has many important geomorphologic features. The karst landscape here is unique, its limestone structure is discontinuous, mixed with sedimentary layers of shale, sand, and stone, and the area's slate and granite make it a unique topography. The park's vast karst landscape stretches 65 kilometers to the Lao's border, marked by caves and underground rivers, and its large area and numerous caves. Phong Nha Kerbang National Park is mainly composed of four scenic spots: Thien Dong, Tu Lan Caves, Phong Nha Caves, Hang En Caves, and Hang Son Doong. Tourists mainly visit Thien Cave and Phong Nha Cave, also known locally as Heaven Cave and Water Cave. It only takes one day to visit the Thein Cave and Phong Nha Cave, which is suitable for most people.

The most recommended spot is Phong Nha Cave which is suitable for people who don’t want to walk for long distances. Phong Nha Cave needs to be entered by boat, and the cave landscape of the "Underground River" is its feature. The cave landscape of "Underground River" is very beautiful. It is worth visiting and gives you a visual shock.

Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum

Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels is a 200 km tunnel system located 40 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, west of Phu Mei Hing Township in Cu Chi County. It was built by the South Vietnam National Liberation Front during the Vietnam War.

Built during the war between Vietnam and France, the Cu Chi Tunnel system has played a huge role in all the wars that Vietnam has experienced. Today, it is one of the most famous places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City. There are hospitals, meeting rooms, sleeping rooms, battle rooms, and other equipment in the tunnels. The planning is complete, just like an underground city. But during war times, underground life can be extremely difficult: soldiers spend most of the day working or resting in tunnels and come out at night to fight or forage for supplies such as food, water, and ammunition. Sometimes, due to the continuous bombardment of the enemy, the soldiers could not get out of the cave and had to hide in the tunnel for a long time. There was a serious shortage of water and food, and the tunnel would give rise to ants, poisonous centipedes, spiders, mosquitoes, and other insects, and many people were sick or infected with malaria. Therefore, the scenic spot is used to educate people to cherish today's peaceful life.

War Remnants Museum

The war remnants museum was built in 1975 in Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam's largest city, on the site of the Central Intelligence Agency's Saigon field office. The museum's symbol is a dove of peace under the bombs of three American bombers. The War Remnants Museum contains a vast collection of artifacts used by the U.S. military and the Vietcong during the Vietnam War. Such as transmitters, military kettles, cameras, tanks, shells, fighter jets, and so on. There are many war reporters on the battlefield shoot news pictures of the war theme.

The world's best museums in 2018 were all in Europe and North America, with the Vietnam War Remnants Museum being Asia's only representative.

Get Lost in the Imperial City in Hue

The Imperial City is located in the center of Vietnam, 654 kilometers to the north of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, 1,071 kilometers to the south of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city of Vietnam, to the west of Changshan Mountain range, to the east from the South China Sea, with an area of 150 square kilometers. The city of Hue is built on a narrow plain on the banks of the Xiangjiang River, next to the lush hills of Yuping Mountain. It was listed on the World Heritage List in 1993. The Imperial City is in a square shape, about two and a half kilometers long on each side, and surrounded by a moat. The wall is 8 meters high and 20 meters thick, all made of brick. There were 10 city gates, each about 16 meters high. The main part is the Imperial City, which uses the architectural drawings of the Forbidden City in Beijing, so you will find yourself in a miniature version of the Forbidden City in Beijing. There is the Forbidden City which is divided into two parts. The front part was used by the emperor to deal with the government affairs hall, and the latter part, Qiancheng Hall, where the emperor lives, the empress lived in Kuntai Palace, the crown prince lived in the Guangming Palace, other concubines lived in Shun Hui Yuan, etc. The imperial city also has the flag platform, the Taihe Palace the Gongguang Palace, and the temple to worship the emperors. The whole building is quite spectacular, and is the largest and most complete existing ancient building complex in Vietnam.

Imperial City in Hue

Visit the Coffee Making Heartland, Buon Ma Thuot

If you are addicted to coffee, the Coffee World Museum shouldn't be missed. The Coffee World Museum is a new and interesting destination in Vietnam's Dak Lak province. It is located at Nguten Dinh Chieu Street, Xinli Fang, Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province. Here, visitors not only have the opportunity to understand and explore the world of coffee culture but also to see unique architecture. The Coffee World Museum is a modern and harmonious combination of local characteristics and unique with eastern factors. The architecture of the Coffee World Museum is still unique to the sacred Siwon area.

There are showroom, exhibition room, sunshine library, coffee tasting room, meeting room, and so on. These rooms connect to the open spaces of the Coffee Park. In the exhibition space on coffee History and culture, visitors can learn more about the history and culture of coffee and the industry, from the cultivation, cultivation, harvesting, and preservation of coffee to the processing, mixing, and tasting of coffee.

Watch a Water Puppet Show

The water puppet show is the most distinctive traditional folk stage show in Vietnam, and it is also the unique puppet show in the world. Watching a wonderful water puppet show is the first choice for foreign tourists to visit Vietnam. Water puppet show has a history of more than 1,000 years. It originated in the Red River Delta, where there are many lakes, ponds, and paddy fields. In slack farming or when the river is flooded, farmers would set up tents in the water and wave puppets for entertainment. The amazing part of the water puppet show is that the whole show is performed in the pool. The performers have to soak in the water for a long time and use their strong arms and rope control skills to make the dolls come alive to perform various legends. At the end of the show, the puppeteers would all walk from the bamboo curtain behind to take a curtain call, and many of the audience would suddenly realize that the puppeteers had been standing in the water all along. It also makes the audience feel respect for the performers and feel the difficulty of artistic creation. Hanoi's Sheng Long Theatre puts on a puppet show every night and draws the huge attention of foreign tourists.

Water Puppet Show

After viewing the above contents, I hope that you can’t wait to come to Vietnam to enjoy your unforgettable holiday. As one of the most beautiful countries in the world, every scenic spot is amazing, and every visitor to Vietnam is full of praise. As a country with a blend of cultures, you can appreciate not only the Eastern culture but also the exotic taste of Western customs. You will feel the irresistible charm of the locals. Have a visit to the local markets, enjoy some local cuisine, and experience the local customs. If you're planning to take a visit to Vietnam and have a hassle-free travel experience, please don't hesitate to contact us, just simply tell us your interests and needs, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24 hrs.