Vietnam –  a Southeast Asian country with a population of 93 million people and 1.3 million km2. At 1,500 km long and 815 km wide, Vietnam is bordered by China, Laos, Cambodia and the South China Sea. The capital city is Hanoi, in the north. Other major cities are Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Da Nang in the centre. No visit to Vietnam is complete without visiting some of its most popular attractions. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for the best places in Vietnam to visit. Our list of ten incredible Vietnam travel destinations will give you amazing experiences. 

Number 10. Cu Chi Tunnels

A fascinating experience for all travellers, not just those interested in Vietnam’s modern military history, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive tunnel network that stretched for over 250 kilometres during the war, enabling VC troops to communicate and operate around Ho Chi Minh City.  With a guide, two short sections of the network can be explored, which are definitely not for people with claustrophobia.

Number 9. Phu Quoc

In the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is an island with a scenic landscape. Although it is officially part of Vietnam, it is actually closer to Cambodia from a geographical standpoint. Today, it is characterized by dense tropical jungles, soft sand beaches, and undulating hills. However, the island has a fascinating history, having served as a French missionary base and a French colonial war prison – a gloomy reformatory that you can visit today. Aside from its history, the island’s alluring tropical nature is what makes it so attractive. There’s plenty to do in Phu Quoc, including sunbathing on sandy beaches, scootering around fishing villages, visiting pearl and pepper farms, and trekking to waterfalls if you’re up for it.

Number 8.  Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in Vietnam, formerly known as Saigon. As well as being the old capital of Vietnam, it is the largest city in the country. Although Saigon was renamed to HCMC after falling to the north in 1975, its former name is still used to describe the city’s beating heart. There is a bit of everything to do in Hoi Chi Minh – temples, museums, parks, and tourist shopping. You’ll find something to do here no matter what your interests are. Saigon Skydeck offers a 360-degree view of the city, especially at night when the lights twinkle.

Number 7. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

A World Heritage-listed karst mountain formation with huge caverns and stalactite and stalagmite displays, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is one of Vietnam’s best-caving destinations. Paradise Cave, which extends for 31 kilometres below ground, is the most popular attraction within the park. There is something truly spectacular about the yawning caverns here. There is a river within the cave system that can be swum through if you visit Tu Lan Cave, which is a “wet cave.” The other most popular excursion is to the Phong Nha Caves, where the interior is accessed by boat.

Number 6. Sa Pa Terraces

Sa Pa is a town near the Chinese border in northwest Vietnam. Rice terraces can be found in the Muong Hoa valley between Sa Pa and Fansipan Mountain, surrounded by bamboo forests. They grow rice, corn, and vegetables on these paddy terraces, as well as the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay.

Number 5. My Son

It was more than 1,600 years ago that the Chan people of Vietnam began building Hindu temples near the village of Duy Phú. These temples still stand in the shadow of Cat’s Tooth Mountain, surrounded by a green valley. Known collectively as My Son, most of the temples are now ruins. Nonetheless, it only contributes to the atmosphere. A visit to My Son is like stepping back in time, thanks to its secluded location and lack of tourist infrastructure.

Number 4. Nha Trang

If beaching is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. With its laidback atmosphere and exceptional scuba diving, Nha Trang is the most famous seaside resort in Vietnam. Nha Trang isn’t as beautiful as many other beaches in Asia, but it offers warm water and some picturesque offshore islands. Beachfront promenades are always bustling with activity, filled with sculptures and parks that make a stroll interesting. Most beach resorts get busy after the sun sets, and Nha Trang is no exception. Near the beachfront are a number of funky bars and restaurants.

Number 3. Hue

There are countless relics from the reign of the 19th-century Nguyen emperors in Hue, one of Vietnam’s most historic towns. The Imperial Enclosure sprawls across 2.5 kilometres along the banks of the beautiful Perfume River. Visit the beautiful Ngo Mon Gate, the Thai Hoa Palace, the Dien Tho Residence, where the Queen Mothers lived, and the Halls of Mandarins with their preserved ceiling murals while on the grounds. Outside the Imperial, Enclosure walls are also a number of fascinating historic sites.

Number 2. Hanoi

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is truly chaotic, but that’s part of its charm. One of the fastest-growing cities in Southeast Asia, it combines French and Sino-Vietnamese influences. Visitors to this energetic capital should be prepared. There are cars, motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and motorbikes vying for the right of way in a city that doesn’t have road rules. It’s a hive of activity at best, utter chaos at worst – a city where crossing the street could be a matter of life or death. Legend’s Corner is one of the best places to experience Hanoi’s madness. Just before sunset, the Legend Beer restaurant is a great place to sit with a drink and observe rush hour insanity. Traffic is crowded with pedestrians, dogs, cars, tuk-tuks, and scooters, but there aren’t many accidents.

Number 1. Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is situated in north Vietnam and is literally translated as “Bay of Descending Dragons”. Ha Long Bay is the top tourist attraction in Vietnam, featuring thousands of limestone islands surrounded by lush jungle vegetation. Several of the islands are hollow, with huge caves, while others have lakes and support floating fishing villages.