Cruising around Halong Bay
From must-do activities like cruising around Halong Bay or crawling through the Cu Chi Tunnels, to brag-worthy feats like drinking snake wine or scuba diving in the South China Sea; here are 40 unforgettable experiences to have in Vietnam. See how many you can check off on your trip.
1. Ride a classic cyclo, Vietnam’s ubiquitous three-wheel bicycle taxis
2. Tuck into a bowl of steaming pho at a streetside restaurant
3. Light incense at the famous Perfume Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most famous Buddhist shrines
4. Take a bike tour of Hoi An’s charming Old Town
5. Hire a motorbike and zoom along the city streets
6. Attend one of Vietnam’s unique festivals like the Elephant Racing Festival in Tay Nguyen, the Huong Pagoda Festival or the Le Mat Snake Village Festival
7. Take a hill tribe trek through the Sapa Valley
Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam
8. Get a suit or dress tailor-made in Hoi An
9. Learn about Vietnam’s turbulent war years at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City
10. Watch a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi
11. Take a street food tour of Hanoi
12. Ride a dug-out canoe around Lak Lake
13. Visit the Cai Be floating market on a cruise along the Mekong Delta
14. Try scuba diving in Nha Trang
Hiking through the Sapa Hills
15. Crawl through the famous Cu Chi Tunnels on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City
16. Check out Vietnam’s tallest temple, the seven-story Tien Mu Pagoda in Hue
17. Top up your tan at the white sand beaches of Phu Quoc island
18. Go sandboarding down the Mui Ne sand dunes
19. Experience Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage with a show at the Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh
20. Hunt for bargains at the markets of Ho Chi Minh City
21. Enjoy wildlife spotting and bird watching in the UNESCO-listed Can Gio Biosphere Reserve
Eating out in Vietnam
22. Savour the unique flavors of Vietnamese cuisine with a cooking class
23. Visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of My Son
24. Attend a traditional Vietnamese wedding
25. Ride the scenic Reunification Express train all the way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city
26. Hike through the Cuc Phuong National Park
27. Get off–the-beaten-track and explore the natural grottoes of Tam Coc
28. Take a cruise around Halong Bay on a Junk boat.
29. Purchase some typical Vietnamese souvenirs, like a conical hat, a tailored silk blouse or local handicrafts
30. Discover Hue’s UNESCO-listed Imperial City
31. Pay your respects to the founder of unified Vietnam at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex in Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
32. Photograph the spectacular rice terraces surrounding Sa Pa
33. Ride a seaplane over Halong Bay
34. Look down over Ho Chi Minh City from the Saigon Skydeck
35. Join the festivities at the vibrant Tet Festival, the Vietnamese New Year
36. Scale Vietnam’s highest peak, Fan Si Pan
37. Try Vietnam’s scariest beverage, Snake Wine – if you dare
38. Stroll through the spectacular Paradise Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
39. Take a steamy bath in the Thanh Tan Hot Springs
40. Enjoy a traditional foot massage while lounging on the beach
-Zoe Smith
The post 40 Unforgettable Experiences to Have in Vietnam appeared first on Vietnam Things To Do.