1. Sapa
Located in the northern area of Vietnam, Sapa is a mountainous district of Lao Cai Province. At the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18oC, Sapa appears to be a paradise on earth.
Sapa in summer is sour and cornful like a woman but she is too attractive to flirt. She can have the climate of four seasons in one day. In the morning and afternoon, She is cool like the weather of spring and autumn. At noon, she is as sunny and cloudless as the weather of summer. And she is cold in the evening. With no advance, warning of a thunderstorm short and heavy rains may come at noon on any summer day. Subsequently, a rainbow appears, transforming Sapa into a magic land, which for years has been a constant source of poetic inspiration, lights up the whole region.
The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures.
Sapa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors.
Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products. Market sessions are also a chance for locals to promenade and young men and women in colorful costumes to meet, date or seek sweethearts.
Visitors to Sapa will have opportunities to discover the unique customs of the local residents and enjoy the fresh air of the mountainous area. Therefore, Sapa is highlighted in the destinations list.
2. Halong Bay
Viewed from above, Hạ Long Bay looks like an extremely vivid huge drawing. This is a wonderful and skilful masterpiece of the Creation and of nature that turns thousands of dumb soulless stone islands into fantastic sculptural and artistic works of various graceful shapes, both familiar and strange to human beings. Thousands of islands emerging uneven in the fanciful waves look strong and magnificent but also mild and vivid. Amidst these islands we feel as if we were astray in a petrified legendary world.
Those stone islands have experienced unpredictable changes over time and they take different shapes from different angles of view. Here, we come to realize that they are not dumb inanimate things but are vivid and soulful.
Inside the stone islands are various breath-taking caves, such as Thiên Cung, Ðầu Gỗ, Sửng Sốt, Trinh Nữ, Tam Cung and others. These are really magnificent palaces of the Creation on earth.
Hạ Long is also home to great biodiversity with typical eco-systems like mangrove forest, coral and tropical forest. It is also home to thousands of plants and animals of numerous species, for example shrimp, fish and squid. Some species are particularly rare and can be found nowhere else.
With such special values, at the 18th Session of UNESCO’s Council of World Heritage held on 17 December 1994 in Thailand, Hạ Long Bay was officially placed on the list of the World Natural Heritage. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as the World Heritage for the second time for its geographical and geomorphologic values. This confirms the global premier value of Hạ Long Bay.
3. Phong Nha
If you are keeping an adventurous soul and you love exploring land where there is no trace of human footstep, you have to be in Phong Nha. It is considered a paradise for researchers and explorers of grottoes and caves and is the home to 140 families, 427 branches, and 751 species of precious plants. It was recognized as a World Natural Heritage site by the UNESCO in 2003.
Geographically, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (PNKBNP) is located in central Vietnam, about 500km south of the capital, Hanoi, within the Quang Binh Province.
Phong Nha is part of a larger dissected plateau, which also encompasses the Ke Bang and Hin Namno karsts. The limestone demonstrates the complexity inter-bedding with shale and sandstones.
Looking into the caves, you may recognize discrete episodic sequences of events, leaving behind various levels of fossil passages, formerly buried and now uncovered palaeokarst; evidence of major changes in the routes of underground rivers; changes in the solutional regime; deposition and later re-solution of giant speleothems and unusual features such as sub-aerial stromatolites.
In summary, Phong Nha displays an impressive amount of evidence of earth’s history. It is a site of very great importance for increasing our understanding of the geologic, geomorphic and geo-chronological history of the region.
4. Hue
Hue was the capital city of Vietnam from 1802 – 1945, controversially considered the most beautiful city in Vietnam. There’s no doubt that Hue is a city of harmony with the encircling green mountains, the meandering rivers, the Vietnamese traditional houses nestled in trees….Everything of Hue seems to be just in the right place and in perfect harmony.
Hue is charming with combination of the new and the old. The Perfume River bisects the city into the northern and southern parts. To the north is the ancient citadel surrounded by moats which was home to the royal court of Vietnam in the 19th century. From the riverside, the citadel boasts its grandeur with the mossy walls and the colossal flag tower. Touring the ancient citadel you can visit the Palace where the king lived, the quarter for the royal family and concubines, the royal library….Lots of damages during the war are still found here though.
To the south is where hotels, cafes and fine dining restaurants are found. There are ranges of luxurious hotels lining the river bank boasting the elegance and luxury. The smell of coffee pervading the air, a lyrical song echoing from the river, some school girls in Ao Dai bearing shiny smiles walking hand in hand…Hue has a charm that words fail to do the judge.
To the west of the city is where the royal tombs are found. The Vietnamese kings thought that the west is the direction of sunset and permanent rest. That was why they built different royal tombs in the western part of Hue city. Here the kings would rest permanently in complete peace and tranquility.
Each of the royal tombs was designed by the king himself and the architecture of each tomb tells a lot about the king and the context of Vietnam at the time. Many tombs were constructed, completed and used by the king when they were still in reign. The royal tombs of Hue are definitely fine pieces of arts.
Hue has always been an exceptional experience for our travellers. You may want to discover about the royal life of Vietnam through the citadel, the royal tombs or the royal cuisine.
King Ming Mang’s Tomb
King Tu Duc’s Tomb
King Khai Dinh’s Tomb
Having a cruise on the Perfume River with stunning scenery shouldn’t be missed. The fine local cuisine or Vietnamese Royal cuisine in many of the garden restaurants which are covered in green offers a relaxing experience.
Hue is the only place in Vietnam Royal Music (listed as a World Heritage by the UNESCO) is available. Otherwise, a cruise on the Perfume River with Hue music by local singers offers special experience.
If you want to learn more about the authentic countryside, then you may want to hire a bicycle and ride to the villages with green vegetation just a few hundred meters from the city center. It will be a memorable trip you have ever had.
5. Da Nang – Hoi An
Hoi An ancient town was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.
While Hoi An’s old-fashioned charm is always visible, on the 14th of every lunar month modernity takes another step back. On these evenings the town turns off its street lamps and fluorescent lights, leaving the Old Quarter bathed in the warm glow of coloured silk, glass and paper lanterns. The tourists can passionately deep into the ancient atmosphere and enjoy the symphony melody airing at each street corner. Walking along narrowed peaceful streets, seeing the colorful lanterns, you will want this moment to last for ever.
6. Nha Trang
You love beach, you love the tropical sunshine and the crystal blue seawater and especially you are a water sports addicted guy, you will see Nha Trang as a paradise for all of these activities.
Nha Trang a small town in Vietnam, located in the Khanh Hoa province is widely recognized because of it gorgeous beaches. In fact Nha Trang is often referred to as the ‘Seaside Resort’ of Vietnam. Having vast tranquil beaches and the finest climatic conditions, the Nha Trang Beaches, Vietnam are perfect for a lovely holiday.
Of the 6 major Nha Trang Beaches in Vietnam, Tran Phu is the most popular one. It is one of the most activities filled of the various Nha Trang beaches. It is also the Tran Phu Street that runs parallel to the beach for its entire span, which is a beautiful avenue adorned with a lush green centre and pretty street lamps. Many key hotels, eateries and bars are lined along the street. Being the most frequented one the Tran Phu Beach is also the most crowed of all the Nha Trang beaches.
has to offer. Here you can go for a swim in the sea, play football or Apart from unwinding yourself in the midst of nature, you can also indulge yourself in some of the various outdoor activities that the Nha Trang Beaches, Vietnam badminton, perform Tai Chi, a kind of Chinese meditation popular in Vietnam and many other activities. Sun bathing is another favorite pastime popular among the tourists. The Nha Trang Beaches in Vietnam also invites long leisurely walks. It is no wonder that the Nha Trang beaches, Vietnam are recognized as the most frequented of the Vietnam popular destinations.
7. Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta River
Ho Chi Minh City or famously known as Saigon is a fast-moving metropolis, and we are not only talking about motorbikes throng the street. Saigon is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the whole country forward with its limitless energy. It is a living organism that breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.
Saigon is a name so evocative that it conjures up a thousand jumbled images. Wander through timeless alleys to ancient pagodas or teeming markets, past ramshackle wooden shops selling silk, spices and baskets, before fast-forwarding into the future beneath sleek skyscrapers or at designer malls, gourmet restaurants and minimalist bars. The ghosts of the past live on in the churches, temples, former GI hotels and government buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but the real beauty of Saigon’s urban collage is that these two worlds blend so seamlessly into one.
Whether you want the finest hotels or the cheapest guesthouses, the classiest restaurants or the most humble street stalls, the designer boutiques or the scrum of the markets, Saigon has it all. The Saigon experience is about so many things – memorable conversations, tantalising tastes and moments of frustration – yet it will not evoke apathy. Stick around this conundrum of a city long enough and you may just unravel its mysteries.
The Mekong river is worth visiting after exploring Saigon. The Mekong River is the heart and soul of mainland Southeast Asia. The 12th longest river in the world, the Mekong runs 4,800 kilometers from its headwaters on the Tibetan Plateau through Yunnan Province of China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam.
The Mekong Delta forms both the far southern region of Vietnam and one of country’s two main ricebowls. 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 throughfare. For the independent traveller, 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. The attractions to this region of Vietnam include the way in which life exists around the comprehensive river system, the heavy Khmer influence from nearby Cambodia and the extensive coastline, boasting some of the nicer beaches in Vietnam.
For those with time on their hands at least a month could be spent exploring this part of Vietnam, yet the vast bulk of tourists and travelers alike spend no more than a handful of days here, generally as a part of a tour organized out of Saigon.
For those unfortunate enough to have a time limit for their stay in Vietnam, we would suggest spending a longer time in one region of the Delta rather than attempting to see every centre in seven to ten days, as transport, especially during the wet season, can be very slow and uncomfortable.
However much you decide to explore, cruising up one of the many river, as the sun sets over the distant coconut trees, is a truly remarkable experience that will stay with you forever.
8. Phu Quoc
In case you prefer a quiet and wild beach to a crowed one, Phu Quoc can be your selection. Phu Quoc 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. In one day, visitors can experience the culture of Vietnam at the local market in the morning, relax on a remote and stunning beach in the afternoon, enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks at one of the restaurants and enjoy accommodation at the variety of hotels and resorts on this superb island getaway. 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. For these reasons, Phu Quoc deserves to be in must-come destinations list in Vietnam.
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