Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam - Video

You want to visit Vietnam, but you have no idea where to see first. Then, this article will help you. Take a look at the list of top 10 best places to visit in this country, from jagged mountains in the north to tropical beaches in the south and the wealth of history and culture in between.
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Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam - Video

Vietnam might look small on the map, but this fascinating country has enough beauty to fill a continent. Every town and city is uniquely different so Vietnam will keep surprising you. Here are the top 10 destinations to visit in Vietnam that every traveler should not miss for a fully Asian experience in the country.

List of Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Vietnam

1. Hanoi

2. Sapa

3. Halong Bay

4. Ninh Binh

5. Hue

6. Da Nang

7. Hoi An

8. Ho Chi Minh City

9. Nha Trang

10. Mekong Delta

Top destinations in Vietnam. Video: bestpricetravel

Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Vietnam in Detail:

1. Hanoi - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Photo: asianwaytravel
Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Photo: asianwaytravel

The capital city is a great starting point for experiencing all the awesome things that Vietnam has to offer. In fact, Hanoi is more traditional and less bustling than Ho Chi Minh City. Wandering down the streets throughout the day, you will get a feeling for what Hanoi is really about. Some of the highlights are the Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the Ethnology Museum, etc. Beyond sightseeing, Hanoi street food features a quintessential Hanoian experience. The city is world-famous for its street food dishes which most of the tourists agree is the best city to visit in Vietnam, cited bestpricetravel.

Vietnam’s capital city is full of history and culture, especially in the Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake. This is the epicentre of tourism in the city, with market streets, a buzzing nightlife and some of the best Vietnamese food on the planet. There’s a lot to do here, but the most important thing is that you embrace the electric atmosphere of Hanoi’s beating heart.

No trip to Vietnam is complete without walking the busy, narrow streets of Hanoi, a city best described as the cultural heart of Vietnam. The vibe in Hanoi is dramatically different from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Love it or hate it, you can’t experience Vietnam without seeing Hanoi.

But don’t assume that Hanoi is all cold, heartless concrete, because life centers around a beautiful lake and park in the middle of the city, according to Tripsavvy.

Hanoi gets chilly in the winter, so there are better times than others to visit.

2. Sapa - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Tracing the border with China, Sapa is a captivating remote town in the Hoang Lien Son mountains of northern Vietnam. Its elevation 1,500 meters above sea level is nothing to scoff at when you’re trekking the terraced hills and slopes around this high-altitude mountain town. While there’s plenty of natural beauty to tempt you to this far-reached corner of the country, much of Sapa’s appeal lies in its raw and authentic culture.

The beauty of Sapa. Photo: touropia
The beauty of Sapa. Photo: touropia

Days are spent trekking through rice paddies, rural villages untouched by tourism, and the clouds of Fansipan – Vietnam’s highest peak. Scenery aside, the highlight is hands down the opportunity to chat with these fascinating people along the way – local kids will tag along and try to sell you some of their handmade jewelry or simply try to improve their English by speaking to you, cited touropia.

In the town of Sapa itself, there are attractive French colonial sites worth visiting such as the Gothic church, the town square and city hall. Sapa is a major market town where the various ethnic tribes in the area often gather to sell their handicrafts, which make excellent souvenirs. At the Sapa Culture Museum, visitors can learn all about the history and cultures of these ethnic groups.

3. Halong Bay - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Ha Long Bay natural heritage site in Vietnam. Photo: roughguides
Ha Long Bay natural heritage site in Vietnam. Photo: roughguides

The World Heritage Site is probably one of the top Vietnam must-see attractions. Only a few places in the world can deliver completely on promises of excitement and adventure like Halong Bay. Imagine this: kayaking through ancient sea caves, rock-climbing limestone islands, sunbathing on hidden beaches, exploring fishing villages that drift on the ocean, watching the sun sink into the sea as you cruise on a romantic wooden junk ship. These sound like fantastic stories from your favorite novels, but you can do all of these things in Halong Bay, cited bestpricetravel.

Halong Bay is a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border. The Bay is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 sqkm. This extraordinary area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. For many tourists, this place is like something right out of a movie. The fact is that Halong Bay features a wide range of biodiversity, while the surrealistic scenery has indeed featured in endless movies.

4. Ninh Binh - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Like the famous destinations such as: Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh travel is attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world. With the poetic but majestic landscapes, the richness of culture, history, traditions as well as remarkable nature in the region. Ninh Binh is surely the perfect destination for those who are passionate about discovering the beauty of Vietnam.

Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam - Video
Ninh Binh is considered the "Halong Bay on land." Photo: bestpricetravel

Ninh Binh is located in the southernmost point of the Red River Delta, far from Ha Noi about 100 km to the south. This place has recently become a famous destination among travelers making trips to Northern and Vietnam. Ninh Binh attracts visitors not only the beautiful natural landscapes but also many national cultural relics. Because of its central location, travelers are able to travel to Ninh Binh quite easily with variety of means, according to Amazingthingsinvietnam

Visitors can travel to Ninh Binh any season of year, because the attractions in there are always wonderful all year round. However, Spring is the most beautiful time, visitors participate in the temple festival in spring, enjoy the beautiful places in the warm sunshine. And do not forget to enjoy the cuisine in Ninh Binh. There is one of the delicious food attractions!

5. Hue - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Hue Imperial City. Photo: bestpricetravel
Hue Imperial city. Photo: bestpricetravel

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, cited planetware.

6. Da Nang - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Danang is known as a city of bridge. Photo: bestpricetravel
Danang is known as a city of bridge. Photo: bestpricetravel

Da Nang, Vietnam’s fifth largest city, sits roughly between Hanoi and Saigon. The city served as a major hub of operations for South Vietnamese and U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. The air base there was considered to be one of the busiest airports in the world due to the amount of daily sorties flown.

The modern riverside city of Da Nang is increasingly making it onto every traveller’s must-see list. It’s particularly attractive after dark when the neon light spills across the Han River; on weekend nights the quirky Dragon Bridge is illuminated and, astonishingly, it breathes fire. East of the city, a seemingly never-ending stretch of sandy beach extends 30km to Hoi An.

Da Nang is home to an expat community and the infamous China Beach, a popular rest-and-relaxation spot for American G.I.s during the war. Although there aren’t a lot of things to do in the city, locals are friendly and hole-in-the-wall bars abound, cited Tripsavvy.

7. Hoi An - Top Best Place in Vietnam

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.

Hoi An Ancient Town. Photo: touropia
Hoi An Ancient Town. Photo: touropia

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, according to planetware.

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.

8. Ho Chi Minh city - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon, is the biggest city in all of Vietnam. It’s also the old capital of the Republic of Vietnam. When Saigon fell to the north in 1975, it was renamed to HCMC, yet its former name is still used today, particularly when describing the beating heart of the city.

Ho Chi Minh city. Photo: bestpricetravel
Ho Chi Minh city. Photo: bestpricetravel

Hoi Chi Minh has a bit of everything – temples, museums, parks, and tourist shopping. Whatever your interests, you’ll find something to do here. Head to the top of the Saigon Skydeck for an astonishing 360-degree view of the city – especially impressive at night when the lights twinkle on below.

History buffs should not miss the chance to explore the mysterious network of the Cu Chi tunnels, the headquarters for many military operations during the Vietnam War, cited planetware.

The five stories of Reunification Palace – also known as the Independence Palace – is also a fascinating place to go. It’s a famous spot in Vietnam’s history as it captures the time when Saigon fell as a tank broke through the gates of the palace. A replica of this same tank can be seen on the grass outside the palace. If you’re curious to learn more about the war, you’ll enjoy a visit to the War Remnants Museum or the Museum of Vietnamese History.

9. Nha Trang - Top Best Place in Vietnam

If it’s beaching you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Nha Trang is the most famous seaside resort in Vietnam, with a laidback atmosphere and exceptional scuba diving. While it’s certainly not on the same scale as many of Asia’s other beautiful beaches, Nha Trang offers warm water and some picturesque offshore islets.

Nha Trang cable car | © Elena Ermakova / Alamy Stock Photo
Nha Trang cable car. Photo: Elena Ermakova / Alamy Stock Photo

The promenade that encircles the beachfront is always a hive of activity, filled with parks and sculptures that make a stroll here interesting. As with most beach resorts, most of the activity gets going when the sun goes down, and Nha Trang is no different. You’ll find a host of vibey bars and restaurants near the beachfront.

There’s much more to Nha Trang than sunbathing and strolls, though. Go for a soak in the Thap Ba Mud Bath or take a ride on the longest cross-sea cable car in the world. The sacred Po Nagar Cham towers, dating back to the 7th to 12th centuries, offer a taste of the city’s history – they’re an active religious site for Cham, Chinese, and Buddhists even today, cited touropia.

10. Mekong Delta - Top Best Place in Vietnam

Floating market in Mekong Delta. Photo: bestpricetravel
Floating market in Mekong Delta. Photo: bestpricetravel

Traveling to Southern Vietnam, you definitely should go for at least one day trip to Mekong Delta which brings visitors an ordinary picturesque scenery filled with coconut palms, fruit gardens, and paddy fields. Get lost into the lush and beautiful, this wonderful on the water world is the best to be explored by boat. Mekong Delta features the uniqueness and excitement of southern culture. Don't miss the chance to make your way to the colorful Cai Rang floating market and get closer to the local daily life, cited bestprice travel.

Numerous villages and rice paddies line matrix of canals and waterways that form Vietnam’s most productive agricultural center.

Although a handful of places in the Mekong Delta are busy with tourists who go for river cruises, a more “authentic” experience can be enjoyed by easily getting off the beaten track. The Mekong Delta is around four hours by bus from Saigon, according to Tripsavvy.

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