Vietnam is a peaceful, beautiful and safe country for all foreign tourists. When you plan to go to Vietnam, you should not miss these must-see places.
Furthermore, Vietnam’s culture, delicious local food, original architecture, friendly people…are things worth your visit.
1- HAVE A WALK IN HANOI OLD QUARTER
It is an area well-known for the history, the architecture, the enormous amount and diversity of products and even the everyday life of its residents.
Most tourists are eager for exploring the old streets well-known for each one’s specialized industry. Hang Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Tich Street connects the above two and is still the wood turner’s street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders, etc. Coming here, you may feel as if you were in a classical-styled area in terms of both architecture and product types!
36 old streets or more? Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the “36 Old Streets,” there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of “plenty.” Nine times the four directions make 36, which simply means “many”. In fact, there are now more than 70 streets in the area.
2- TAKE AN OVERNIGHT CRUISE ON A BOAT ON HALONG BAY
Imagine waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of Halong Bay, one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural wonders. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed bay, dotted with impressive limestone islands, on a traditional junk boat. You’ll enjoy a guided tour of the limestone Cave of Surprises as well as free time to sunbathe, swim and kayak in secluded lagoons.
Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, within Quang Ninh Province, in the northeast of Vietnam, is 165 km from the capital of Ha Noi. Covering an area of 43,400 ha and including 1,969 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabited and unaffected by humans, it forms a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and is an ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate. The property’s exceptional scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
The outstanding value of the property is centered around the drowned limestone karst landforms, displaying spectacular pillars with a variety of coastal erosion features such as arches and caves which form a majestic natural scenery. The repeated regression and transgression of the sea on the limestone karts over geological time has produced a mature landscape of clusters of conical peaks and isolated towers which were modified by sea invasion, adding an extra element to the process of lateral undercutting of the limestone towers and islands.
3- EXPLORE THE DAILY LIFE OF ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE IN THE NORTH & VISIT BAC HA MARKET
Trekking along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages Lao Chai & Ta Van, home to Black H’mong, and Dzay people. This is a spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Once on the valley floor, you can appreciate the wonderful scenery that surrounds you. The walls of the valley are covered with multi-layered rice terraced fields and scattered villages.
Bac Ha market is the biggest now, connecting between the local village in Sapa and the local market. Tourists have a chance to enjoy the huge rice paddy terraces as well as a colorful market. Thousands of peoples from different ethnic groups in their colorful traditional costumes who gather at regional markets for their most important event of the week. Everyone will quickly be absorbed by a festive atmosphere and understand the important role of these markets in the spiritual life of local ethnic peoples.
4- EXPLORE PARADISE CAVE, PHONG NHA CAVE & SON DOONG CAVE
– Son Doong cave is the world’s largest cave, located in Son Trach, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh province, Vietnam. It is found by a local man named Ho Khanh in 1991 and was recently discovered in 2009 by British cavers, led by Howard Limbert. The name “Son Doong” cave means “mountain river cave”, It was created 2-5 million years ago by river water eroding the limestone underneath the mountain Where the limestone was weak, the ceiling collapsed creating huge skylights. Son Doong cave is more than 200 meters wide, 150 meters high, and approx 9 kilometers long, with caverns big enough to fit an entire city street inside them, twice as large as Deer Cave in Malaysia (currently considered the world’s largest with 90 meters wide, 100 meters high and 2 kilometers long). Son Doong cave was classified as the largest cave in the world by BCRA (British Cave Research Association) and selected as one of the most beautiful in the globe by the BBC news.
– Paradise Cave has only been open to travelers since 2010 and it really does live up to its name and all the fuss. This is an awe-inspiring cave that’s been well set up for visitors.
Paradise Cave is both naturally stunning and well managed (especially by the lax tourism standards of Vietnam’s other World Heritage sites – think Halong Bay). The lighting is subtle, the 1km walking platform is well constructed with good lookout space and the cave is well protected from overexcited tourists And that’s all incidental to the incredible beauty of the cave.
Paradise Cave was only discovered in 2005. When the global caving fraternity cast their eyes over it, they knew something special had been found – both in beauty and scale. The cave is 31kms long and at times reaches up to 100 meters. The 1st km path opened to travelers is filled with exquisite formations.
– Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is located in the middle of the Northern Central Mountain Range in Quang Binh province, Vietnam and shares its boundary with the Hin Namno Nature Reserve in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the west. The property comprises an area of 85,754 ha and contains terrestrial and aquatic habitats, primary and secondary forest, sites of natural regeneration, tropical dense forests and savanna and is rich in large, often spectacular and scientifically significant caves.
The property contains and protects over 104 km of caves and underground rivers making it one of the most outstanding limestone karst ecosystems in the world. The karst formation has evolved since the Paleozoic period (some 400 million years ago) and as such is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the karst landscape is extremely complex, comprising a series of rock types that are interbedded in complex ways and with many geomorphic features. The karst landscape is not only complex but also ancient, with high geodiversity and geomorphic features of considerable significance.
The karst formation process has led to the creation of not only underground rivers but also a variety of cave types including; dry caves, terraced caves, suspended caves, dendritic caves and intersecting caves. With a length of over 44.5 km, the Phong Nha cave is the most famous of the system with tour boats able to penetrate inside to a distance of 1,500 m.
5- TAKE A SAMPAN TRIP IN TRANG AN LANDSCAPE COMPLEX (NINH BINH)
Located within Ninh Binh Province of North Vietnam near the southern margin of the Red River Delta, the Trang An Landscape Complex (Trang An) is a mixed cultural and natural property contained mostly within three protected areas; the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich Dong Scenic Landscape, and the Hoa Lu Special-Use Forest. The property covers 6,226 hectares within the Trang An limestone massif and is surrounded by a buffer zone of 6,026 hectares, mostly rural land with rice paddy fields. There are about 14,000 residents, the majority of whom are families involved in subsistence agriculture, but much of the property is uninhabited and in a natural state.
the Trang An Landscape Complex is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, many of them partly submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. Exploration of caves at different altitudes has revealed archaeological traces of human activity over a continuous period of more than 30,000 years. They illustrate the occupation of these mountains by seasonal hunter-gatherers and how they adapted to major climatic and environmental changes, especially the repeated inundation of the landscape by the sea after the last ice age. The story of human occupation continues through the Neolithic and Bronze Ages to the historical era. Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Viet Nam, was strategically established here in the 10th and 11th centuries AD. The property also contains temples, pagodas, paddy-fields and small villages.
6- EXPLORE HUE IMPERIAL CITADEL & ROYAL TOMBS OF NGUYEN’S DYNASTY
Hue Imperial citadel started in 1805 under the reign of Emperor Gia Long and completed in 1832 under the reign of Emperor Ming Mang. Under Nguyen’s reign, Kings have ordered to build ramparts, palaces and constructional works of royal. Over 200 years to now, it is still original with nearly 140 small and large constructions.
The Citadel, square in shape and almost 10 km in circumference, 6 m high, 21 m thick and 10 entrances. On the top of the walls that surround it, 24 bastions are established for defensive purposes. Besides, the Citadel has an ancillary gate connecting the Tran Binh Bastion called the Thai Binh Mon (Peace Gate).
Minh Mang’s royal tomb is one of the two largest compounds of royal tombs in Hue. It spans an expansive area of 18 hectares in Cam Khe village, 12 kilometers from the city center. The construction was started in 1840 by King Minh Mang but completed three years later by his successor, King Thieu Tri as the father king passed away while everything was going on. The whole premises consists of 40 structures, including gates, palaces, temples, pavilions, altars, yards, statues, etc. All are enclosed in a concrete rampart of 3m high and 0.5m thick. You may enter it by two side gates. The imposing Central Gate (Dai Hong Mon) was opened only once for the King’s coffin to be brought in. The tomb’s magnificent architecture represents nothing more than the majesty of the emperor.
7- EXPLORE THE PEACEFUL HOIAN ANCIENT TOWN
Hoi An is an ancient town located in the lower section of Thu Bon River, Quang Nam Province, about 30 kilometers south of Danang city. Hoi An was a bustling international trading port, a meeting place of the trading ships of Japan, China and the West during the 17th and 18th centuries. Before this period, there were here also traces of a Champa port which was known as a site on Silk Road along the sea.
Hoi An ancient town today is a special example of a traditional port city in Southeast Asia which has been well preserved. Most houses here are of traditional architecture dating from the 17th to the 19th century and are along the narrow main streets. Hoi An is also a landmark recorded much of the mixture of acculturation. The architecture of the city reflects the influence of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French and British traders. Hoi An still maintained an intangible cultural diversity and richness. Hoi An is considered as a living museum of architecture and urban lifestyle.
With outstanding value, at the end of 1999, UNESCO has recognized the ancient town of Hoi An as a world cultural heritage.
Walk around small and peaceful streets lighted by lanterns and enjoy local specialties is an amazing experience. If you have time, just visit the Chàm island and take a scuba diving to explore beautiful coral reefs.
8- ENJOY A DIVE AT MUN ISLAND – NHA TRANG BAY
Mun Island is a small island in the Nha Trang Bay complex. You can realize that all the rock fields on the southeast of the island are as black as ebony. That is why the island is called Mun Island. According to research, Mun Island has great ecological diversification with regards to coral reefs. On the island, 340 out of 800 world species of coral reefs have been found here. From 2001, Mun Island Sea Reservation Zone has been set up, covering a total area of about 160 square kilometers (include many other islands like Tre Island, Mieu Island, Tam Island, Mun Island, Cau Island, etc.). This is the first Sea Reservation Zone to be established in Vietnam.
9- EXPLORE THE DAILY LIFE OF LOCAL PEOPLE IN MEKONG DELTA
The Mekong Delta forms both the far southern region of Vietnam and one of the country’s two main rice-bowls. Dominated by the Mekong River and its many tributaries, the surrounding lands are comprised of low lying rice paddies and the rivers are bordered by dense mangroves and palms. The tributaries of the hectic Mekong River highway provide a comprehensive network of canals and channels acting as on and off-ramps to the main thoroughfare. For the independent traveler, these rivers and tributaries can be the best method to explore the Mekong Delta at a leisurely pace and offer the opportunity to experience the truly unique Mekong River lifestyle.
By embarking on a comprehensive exploration of the Delta, you will have the opportunity to observe and participate in an extra dimension of Vietnamese life and culture.
If you have enough time, you should stay a couple of days there to explore the local people’s daily life. Visit floating markets such as Cai Be & Cai Rang markets – an original daily activity taking place on Mekong rivers every morning. Spend one or two nights with friendly local people at a homestay in Ben Tre, Vinh Long or Can Tho provinces. You may know how they earn their lives…
10- VISIT THE IMPRESSIVE TUNNELS SYSTEMS OF CU CHI (HO CHI MINH CITY)
Cu Chi Tunnels are located approximately 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City center in Cu Chi Rural District. They consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. The main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels.
Cu Chi District is known nationwide as the base where the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The tunnels are between 0.5 to 1m wide, just enough space for a person to walk along by bending or dragging. However, parts of the tunnels have been modified to accommodate visitors. The upper soil layer is between 3 to 4m thick and can support the weight of a 50-ton tank and the damage of light cannons and bombs. The underground network provided sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, tourists can understand more about the prolonged resistance war of the Vietnamese people and also about the persistent and clever character of the Vietnamese nation.
11- RELAX ON A BEAUTIFUL BEACH ON PHU QUOC ISLAND
It’s rare to find an island as unspoiled and yet so bursting with possibility as Phu Quoc Island, which rises like an emerald from the waters off the south-west coast of Vietnam. Gorgeous scenery might be dime a dozen in Vietnam, but the landscapes on Phu Quoc belong to a different order of loveliness altogether. This is due to the island’s isolation and low population, and its location smack bang in the middle of the sublimely beautiful Gulf of Thailand. Here you will find is solitude, and gorgeous scenery piled on in spades.
Imagine soft secluded beaches, the water a thousand different shades of turquoise. Stunning sunsets, thunderclouds heaped on the horizon. Palm trees protruding perpendicular over the gentle waves. That’s Phu Quoc. Everywhere you look you’ll want to take a photo.
More than a dozen stunning beaches with a total length of 150km, calm and near-transparent seas, a whole armada of pristine islets massed off the southern coast. Pristine and blessedly uncrowded, the beaches are Phu Quoc’s main drawcard. Fishermen roam the waters at night, their lights dancing on the horizon. By day you will have the waves largely to yourself.
Coral reefs swarming with tropical fish, of every possible color and design. Phu Quoc is a Shangri-La, one of those dwindling numbers of the locations are truly unspoiled. But it won’t be unspoiled for long. Phu Quoc is a place where you can swim on beaches which until a few years ago were not only off the radar of foreigners, they were off-limits by the military authorities. You could have been arrested just for strolling on these fine sandy shores. Those days are over, but with the ending of isolation comes a new urgency, the need to see this island before it is too late. The innocence of Phu Quoc will not last for long.
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