Nha Trang
If you wish to enjoy a relaxing beach vacation in Vietnam, most locals will direct you to the friendly city of Nha Trang.
Nha Trang is the country’s most popular resort town, located in one of the most beautiful bays in Vietnam. The beaches in Nha Trang are defined by clean and fine sand, and the ocean water is clear with pleasantly mild temperatures – perfect for swimming. The town has roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and all of them are very hospitable and desire to make your beach vacation as enjoyable as possible.
Compared to other resort towns, such as Mui Ne and Phu Quoc, Nha Trang is livelier and has a more urban character. Additionally, the resort town is the center of scuba diving activity in the country.
Visitors who included beach vacation in their itinerary should have Nha Trang on their list of destinations.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Vietnam has a rich war history, offering visitors an intriguing glimpse into wartime. And there is probably no better place to immerse yourself in the wartime action than in the Cu Chi Tunnels.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an expansive network of underground tunnels that are located around 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. These tunnels were used by guerillas of the Viet Cong forces during the Vietnam War and were also the base of operations for the 1968 Tet Offensive – one of the most popular war maneuvers in history.
The tunnels are now a very popular tourist destination and have always been ever since they were opened to tourists. Visitors are allowed to crawl through the safer tunnels – that is, those that are in no danger of collapsing from the long years of service.
Mekong River and Delta
Vietnam has a primarily agricultural economy, and the beautiful region of Mekong Delta shows just how important agriculture is to the country. The Mekong Delta is in southern Vietnam, where the Mekong River courses through before it goes out into the sea.
The Mekong Delta is rich and teeming with rice fields. In fact, half of the country’s agricultural crop output is harvested from this region. Tourists visiting the Mekong Delta will be amazed not just at the amount of crops in the area but also at how important these crops are to the people and to the rest of the country.
Similar to the importance of the Nile to Egypt, the Mekong River is not just a body of water but a way of life for the residents in the area, for the life of the people here revolves around this river. If you wish to go around the villages in the area, the easier way to do so would be through the river and not by land.
Mui Ne
Mui Ne is a fishing village, but its main attraction is the beach to its south. There used to be only a small number of residents in Mui Ne beach, but the intense development in the area for the past 15 years has attracted a lot of people.
Now, more and more tourists are gathering at Mui Ne to experience the unique beach experience that the area offers. The strength of the sea breezes in Mui Ne has made it a popular spot for kite surfing and wind surfing. Mui Ne, in fact, has already become a favorite spot of world-class athletes from different countries.
The famous sand dunes near the beach are another attraction. The vast expanses of sand make for some great views of the horizon, especially during sunset. Pictures taken in these dunes can’t be replicated anywhere else.
Mui Ne is a beach experience that will be memorable for both the visual attractions and the activities it offers to visitors.
Sa Pa Terraces
The Sa Pa Terraces are a man-made wonder that show both the ingenuity of the Vietnamese and the importance that they place on their agriculture.
The terraces are specifically located in Muong Hoa Valley. Around the terraces is an expansive bamboo forest, and near the terraces is the Fansipan Mountain.
The mountain people in the area, namely, the Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Giay, plant and cultivate rice, corn, and local vegetables on the terraces. The terraces are their way of living, so they maintain the integrity of the Sa Pa Terraces to ensure the proper growth of their crops.
Tourists marvel at the magnificence of the Sa Pa Terraces. The terraces’ immense size and display of the people’s craftsmanship are a unique contrast to the simple living practiced by the locals in the area.
Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam. It is located in front of the Cambodian coast, and it has thankfully been spared from industrial development. Therefore, it has its natural beauty intact.
Phu Quoc is a nature paradise. The island is home to virgin tropical forests, untouched coral reefs, and pristine beaches. In fact, one of its beaches, Bai Dai (which means Long Beach), is world-renowned for its beauty and cleanliness. Similar to that of the rest of the island, the beach’s natural state is preserved – a feature very difficult to find in this day of technology and development.
Because of its preserved natural state, Phu Quoc is also known for some of the best and freshest products in the country, the most well-known of which would be the nuoc mam, or fermented fish sauce.
A visit to Phu Quoc is the best getaway that you can have. If you find yourself stressed from the hustle and bustle of the city, Phu Quoc offers the exact opposite – a serene and genuine natural environment.
Hoi An
Hoi An used to be a simple fishing village, but now, it’s a certified tourist hotspot. It is found in the South China Sea coast of Vietnam, away from the cities.
Hoi An has been an international port since the 16th century, so the people there are accustomed and hospitable to visitors. This remains true even after the main shipping businesses have moved to Da Nang city.
The heart of Hoi An, the Old Town, is filled with winding lanes that are littered with stalls and shops. The Old Town is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of Vietnam” because of the thin canals that snake through the town. You can navigate around the city through these canals.
The village of Hoi An offers tourists an alternative to the city structure of Venice while showing the openness of Vietnam as a country.
Hoan Kiem Lake
The legendary Hoan Kiem lake is located at the heart of Hanoi, where it serves as a favorite leisure spot for both locals and tourists. It is a break from the stressful aura that can be felt in the commercial districts.
Hoan Kiem in English means “returned sword,” a name that comes from the legend that is attached to the lake. The legend narrates that King Le Loi, a former king of Vietnam, was granted a magical sword by the gods. He used this sword to successfully drive away an imminent Chinese invasion. After carrying out his duty, King Le Loi then returned the sword to the Golden Turtle god living in this very lake.
The legend of the lake certainly adds to its mystique. However, the scenic view offered by the lake, by itself, is already reason enough for tourists to take a visit.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Pagodas can be found in every corner of Vietnam. These temples are perfect examples of Asian architecture at its finest and history at its most expansive.
Located in Hue, the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda, which towers over the Perfume River, is the tallest pagoda in the country and is viewed as the unofficial symbol of Vietnam’s former imperial capital.
The pagoda was built in 1601. Back then, the structure was very simple, and the construction was very basic.
Since that time, the pagoda has undergone expansions and got more intricate features.
The Thien Mu Pagoda stands out in an otherwise very humble country. The country’s rich tradition and history can be seen in this pagoda, making it a very important part of Vietnamese culture.
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is located in northern Vietnam. It has a coastline extending up to 120 kilometers. Its name can be literally translated to “The Bay of Descending Dragons.”
The bay is well known for its thousands of islands. Each of these islands is thick with trees and vegetation and has limestone pillars scattered all throughout.
Some of the islands in Ha Long Bay are hollow, featuring gigantic caves for the adventurous to explore. These caves can stretch long distances across or down into the earth. Some of the islands have lakes in them, where resident fishermen even have floating homes on.
Exploring all the islands is impossible because of their sheer number. However, a visit to just one, or even just a glimpse of the islands from afar, will show you their collective beauty.
Hello fellow travelers! My name is Mary and I am the main author of Traveling East. Just like any other travel enthusiasts, traveling has also been our passion! For inquiries, suggestions or anything travel related, please feel free to send us an E-mail at support@travelingeast.com.