10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam

The best places to visit in Vietnam are but where to explore with InboundVietnam!

Vietnam is an astonishing mix of natural highlights and cultural diversity. The scenery ranges from jagged peaks seen from winding mountain passes down to verdant paddy fields painted every shade of green in the palette, while the nation's long history and amazing number of ethnic minorities mean that culture vultures will find plenty to admire.

Hikers, bikers, and outdoor lovers can get their teeth into the countryside within the numerous national parks, while the spectacular karst seascape of Halong Bay is one natural sight that even the more slothful can experience up close on a cruise.

While the rural areas brim with fantastic panoramas, the big cities breathe with contemporary life and provide ample opportunities to get stuck into Vietnam's tasty culinary highlights.

Vietnam is a fascinating country, full of surprises and one of the most attractive destinations in Asia. Plan your trip with the list of all best places in Vietnam with InboundVietnam.

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1. Halong Bay - Quang Ninh 

The karst seascape of Halong Bay is one of the world's most spellbinding sea views and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thousands of limestone islands sit within this bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, eroded into jagged pinnacles by wind and water action over millennia.

With the bay's scenery best seen by boat, this is prime cruising territory. Opt for at least an overnight tour to see Halong Bay's iconic views as a day trip doesn't do it justice.

There are plenty of caves in the bay that can be entered including the Hang Sung Sot, with three mammoth caverns, and the Hang Dao Go, with superbly weird stalagmites and stalactites. For most people though, the highlight is simply cruising amid the karsts and soaking up the changing scenery of pinnacles as you pass by.

Many destinations in Quang Ninh for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-quang-ninh

2. Ho Chi Minh City

For big city fans, no visit to Vietnam is really complete without a visit to Ho Chi Minh City, the buzzing and crazy commercial hub of the country. The streets are an insane clog of motorbikes and cars, the restaurant and café scene is incredibly cosmopolitan, and the shopping is the best in the country.

At its center is Dong Khoi, a relatively small and easily navigable central district, which holds most of the city's sights. Here, you'll find the HCMC Museum, with a brilliant collection of artifacts that weaves together the story of the city, and the grand Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the late 19th century.

Check out the old district of Da Kao nearby for some of the best surviving examples of the city's French colonial architecture and also to visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda with its dazzling array of Buddhist and Taoist religious iconography. Afterwards, the History Museum is a must-do for history fans with stacks of relics on display from various archaeological sites.

For many visitors, the two big-hitter attractions not to miss are just a little out of the center, along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. The Reunification Palace, then known as Independence Palace, was the residence for South Vietnam's president. It's chiefly famous as the spot where North Vietnam's tanks stopped on 30 April 1975, officially ending the war. It's a completely fascinating place to visit complete with 1960s furnishings still in situ.

Nearby is the War Remnants Museum, which although very obviously biased, paints a disturbing picture of the brutality of war and the many atrocities committed by US Forces during their Vietnam campaign.

Many destinations in Ho Chi Minh City for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-ho-chi-minh

3. Hue

One of Vietnam's most historic towns, Hue is packed to the brim with relics from the reign of the 19th-century Nguyen emperors. Sitting along the banks of the gorgeous Perfume River, the Imperial Enclosure is a huge site set within walls that sprawl for 2.5 kilometers.

While touring the grounds check out the gorgeous Ngo Mon Gate, the Thai Hoa Palace with its finely lacquered interior detailing, the Dien Tho Residence where the Queen Mothers would live, and the Halls of Mandarins with its preserved ceiling murals. A dazzling number of historic sites lie outside the Imperial Enclosure walls as well.

One of the nicest ways of visiting a collection of outlying sites is by taking a riverboat cruise on the Perfume River. A day cruise can take you to visit several royal tombs along with some pagodas. If you're short on time, the best tomb to visit is the Tomb of Tu Doc and the most important pagoda in the area is the Thien Mu Pagoda, with its tower that soars for 21 meters high.

Many destinations in Hue for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-thua-thien-hue

4. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park - Quang Binh

One of the best places to visit in Vietnam for caving, World Heritage-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a dramatic karst mountain formation honeycombed with huge caverns, which are home to superb stalactite and stalagmite displays. The most popular destination within the park is the Paradise Cave, which extends for a staggering 31 kilometers below ground.

The yawning caverns here are truly spectacular. Tu Lan Cave is a "wet cave," and a visit here includes swimming through the cave-systems river. The other most popular excursion is to the Phong Nha Caves, where the interior is accessed by boat. You can access Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park from Son Trach.

Many destinations in Quang Binh for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-quang-binh

5. My Son - Quang Nam 

Surrounded by lush jungle-covered mountains, My Son is a ruined Cham era temple city that dates from the 4th century. This old Hindu religious center was still very much in use during the 7th to 10th centuries and only fell into complete decline and abandonment during the 13th century.

There are around 20 temple structures still standing here, all built of brick or sandstone blocks and showing interesting influences from various Asian empires, including Indian and Malay. Note that the temples of Group B are the oldest, while Group A once contained the site's most important monument but was destroyed deliberately by US forces during the Vietnam War.

A good museum on-site houses plenty of information on the Cham. Access to My Son is from Hoi An.

Many destinations in Quang Nam for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-quang-nam

6. Hoi An - Quang Nam

Beautiful Hoi An is the most atmospheric city in Vietnam, with bags of surviving historic architecture. The old town quarter is a joy to explore, packed to the brim with well-preserved merchant houses that hark back to Hoi An's trading center heyday of the 15th century, when the town was a major meeting point for Japanese and Chinese merchants who flocked here for the local silks.

Plenty of the old merchant houses have been opened to the public, so you can get a taste of these times. The best is 17th-century Tan Ky House, with fascinating architectural and decorative elements.

Hoi An's major symbol is the delightful Japanese Bridge at the western end of Tran Phu Street, while nearby, the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation is the old town's most highly decorated temple. There are numerous small pagodas and museums dotted about town, but Hoi An's true charm is found in simply rambling the old town streets admiring the well-preserved facades.

Many destinations in Quang Nam for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-quang-nam

7. Sapa - Lao Cai

Located at an average altitude of 1500 - 1800 m above sea level, Sapa is always immersed in floating clouds, creating a beautiful and fanciful picture. The climate is cool and fresh all year round, with an average temperature of 15 -18°C.

Unspoiled beauty of terraced fields, waterfalls, mountains, valleys, and cultural beauty of ethnic groups but H'Mongm Dzao, Tay is the attraction of foreign tourists to Sapa.

Sapa has Fansipan peak - the highest mountain in Vietnam, this is also the top climbing point in Vietnam. Visitors can join the climbing tours to conquer Fansiapan peak, with oodles of options to trek or day hike between tiny villages and experience the staggering mountain viewsSapa itself is the main base here - an old French hill station and now a and forever growing tourist center that is a stark contrast to the sumptuous tranquil countryside right on its doorstep.

Many destinations in Lao Cai for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-lao-cai

>>> Trekking Fansipan Peak 3 Days - Touching The Roof of Indochina

>>> Trekking Fansipan Peak 2 Days - Conquer The Roof of Indochina

8. Ha Noi Capital

Hanoi is the cultural and political center of Vietnam. Referring to Hanoi, many people will think of the old features of the old town and the historical sites throughout 1000 years of civilization. But not stopping there, Hanoi also has the dynamic rhythm of a city that is developing day by day. Cultural beauty, combined with youthful and bustling features, has contributed to creating a colorful Hanoi, enough to attract any visitor from afar.

Hanoi has the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature - the first royal academy in the country, the Ho Guom - the flower basket in the heart of the city and many other cultural and historical relics.
Come to Hanoi, let's enjoy delicious dishes such as bun cha, bun dau mam tom, bun rieu, banh cuon, .....

Many destinations in Hanoi for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-ha-noi

9. Nha Trang -  Khanh Hoa

As one of the most beautiful bays in the world with a quiet city located right on the coast, Nha Trang every year attracts many domestic and foreign tourists.

Nha Trang has Vinpearl Land - the top amusement park, Hon Mun island - one of the 4 most beautiful islands here. Feel the poetic when visiting Hon Tam island, experience walking on the unique cross-sea road in Diep Son island,... many interesting things are waiting for visitors to discover in Nha Trang.
The clear blue sea water, along with fun activities and sports on the sea are also attractive points for visitors to this beautiful city.

Many destinations in Khanh Hoa for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-khanh-hoa

10. Mekong Delta

It is the southernmost point of Vietnam, also the largest plain in Southeast Asia.
In this place, there is a densely distributed river network, taking small boats, wandering freely in interwoven rivers, immense rice fields , fruit orchards in four seasons, joyfully enjoying Cai luong music. , Don Ca Tai Tu, taste the sweetness of tropical fruits and southern folk delicacies, feel the true love of the southern Vietnamese people, moreover we can hear a lot of folk tales of many people. traditional life, evoking the association of liking.

>>> Many destinations in Mekong Delta for you at: https://inboundvietnam.com/tour-travel-can-tho

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