Top 10 destinations for Vietnam for your bucket list
Vietnam is a country steeped in history that goes back more than a thousand years. It is an ancient civilization with a wealth of culture, tradition, scenic beauty and delicious food. I had a great deal of difficulty trying to choose my top 10 destinations in Vietnam. This selection is not based on any statistics but simply on places that left an impression on me and I hope that you will enjoy visiting them as much as I did.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that Vietnam is a long thin strip on the map. There is so much to see that you will have a difficult choice to make if like most people, your time is limited. Its exotic beauty will captivate you while its cities will leave you with sights and sounds that you will never forget.
My top 10 destinations in Vietnam
Sa Pa
Sa Pa was once a quiet little mountain town. It is a stunning hill station near the Chinese border in the north of the country. I heard about it the first time I was in Vietnam 11 years ago. I naturally had to go and see it so I hooked up with 2 Aussies girls I met in Ha Long Bay and made the trek to a little piece of heaven.
Today it has become a lot more touristy and I count myself lucky to have seen it when I did, however, don’t be put off by the fact that is has become more commercial. The region is also known as the Tonkinese Alps and is home to a number of different hill tribe minorities who are more than happy to share some of their rich cultures with you.
It offers some breath-taking scenery, mountain ranges, rice terraces and views that you have to see with your own eyes to understand what all the hype is about.
WHERE TO STAY IN SAPA
- Luxury – Topas Ecolodge
- Boutique- Aira Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa
- Mid-range- Eden Boutique Hotel & Spa
- Budget- Saparis Hotel
Ha Long Bay
Once again the area that surrounds the bay has changed significantly with the impact of tourism. However, it is an area of such stunning natural beauty that it’s worth the trip and braving the crowds. There are loads of companies who offer trips on the bay but be sure to use one with a good reputation. Many people do this as a day trip from Hanoi, but it is worth either staying overnight or taking an overnight cruise as the trip is exhausting and it is a long drive. The trademark green waters and the 3000 plus limestone islands are a stunningly beautiful sight.
Cruise
- Luxury – Paradise Luxury Cruise
- Mid-range- Halong Lavender Cruises
- Budget- Ha Long Dragon Gold Cruises
Hanoi Old Quarter
This part of the city is filled with quirky roads, food stalls wherever you look, and about a million scooters descending on you. I obviously don’t really know how many scooters there are in the city, but that’s what it felt like to me! The rule is to hold up your hand, take a deep breath and just cross the road and trust that you will not be hit. It takes some getting used to and is not for the faint of heart. With a little practice, it becomes easier, but I suggest that you don’t try it at rush hour!
Scooters aside, its best to wander through the streets of the old town in the morning before the heat of the day sets in. This is obviously more of an issue in summer. In the late afternoon head to Hoan Kiem Lake to watch the sunset.
WHERE TO STAY IN HANOI
- Luxury – Hanoi L’Heritage Diamond Hotel & Spa
- Boutique- Amorita Boutique Hotel Hanoi
- Mid-range- The Lapis Hotel
- Budget- Hanoi Focus Boutique Hotel
Hai Van Pass
The mountain range that forms the border with Laos ends at the ocean between Hue and Da Nang. This sinuous mountain pass is one of the “must do” places in Vietnam as it climbs towards the heavens. It’s the perfect road to enjoy the scenery from a motorbike or if you don’t ride a bike you can enjoy the trip as a passenger. There are a number of tour companies who offer this trip.
Hoi An
No visit to Vietnam would be complete with a trip to Hoi An. which is one of my top Vietnam locations. Even if you are pressed for time you have to include this gorgeous town on your itinerary. It’s also a foodie hotspot where I spent an amazing couple of hours learning about and naturally tasting some of the best street food the town has to offer.
Spend a couple of days and enjoy a slower pace, spa treatments, visit Marble Mountain, take a cooking class or enjoy the countryside that surrounds the town.
WHERE TO STAY IN HOI AN
- Luxury –Allegro Ho An A Little Luxury Hotel & Spa
- Boutique- Lantana Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa
- Mid-range- Ha An Hotel
- Budget- Pho Hoi Riverside Resort
Hue
This was the old imperial capital of Vietnam. The old citadel and remnants of the enclosed city still remain. Sadly much of it was destroyed by American bombers during the war, but what you can see gives you a good idea of just how spectacular it must have been in its heyday.
WHERE TO STAY IN HUE
- Luxury – Indochine Palace
- Boutique- Vedana Lagoon Resort & Spa
Mid-range- The Scarlet Boutique Hotel - Budget- Hue Nino Hotel
WHAT TO EAT IN HUE
The food in this part of the country differs significantly because many of the dishes have royal origins. Try some of the specialities like hue pancakes, one of my favourites, with a Hoisin dipping sauce.
Luke Nguyen an Australia chef and restaurateur, has some wonderful books on Vietnam which I love. They are not only recipe books but have fantastic stories about people, his family and his travels through the country. You might like to try his recipe for these pancakes and get a taste of what you can expect when you visit. I would, however, skip the fish mint herb if I were you because it’s decidedly odd and smelly.
Da Lat
The city in the mountains has a number of nicknames all of which describe the city very well. It is known as The City of Love, The City of Flowers, The Paris of Vietnam and the city of Eternal Spring. Da Lat is a popular escape from Ho Chi Minh City. Locals and travellers alike head up to the mountains to escape the heat and pollution of the city and enjoy a revitalising break in the cooler conditions.
WHERE TO STAY IN DALAT
- Luxury – Swiss-Belresort Tuyen Lam
- Boutique- Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa
- Mid-range- Zen Cafe Lakeside
- Budget- Dalat Home
Ho Chi Minh City
Many people still call it by its old name, Saigon. I have included Saigon because even though it was not my favourite part of Vietnam it is the biggest city and has a totally different feel to it to the rest of the country. In parts of it, you will see the urban sophisticated roof bars, stylish restaurants and modern luxury hotels. The flip side is the street food stalls, museums and a less glamorous life.
WHERE TO STAY IN HO CHI MINH CITY
- Luxury – Hotel Des Arts Saigon Mgallery Collection
- Boutique- The Myst Dong Khoi
- Mid-range- Lief Mojo Saigon
- Budget- Sunland Hotel
PHU QUOC
You will find this gorgeous island near the Cambodian border. It is a paradise for beach lovers with some of the best beaches you have ever seen. Depending on where you stay on the island you could opt for a luxurious resort or keep it simple and enjoy the part of the island that is more secluded and quite a bit more rustic, but is a paradise.
WHERE TO STAY IN PHU QUOC
- Luxury – Sol Beach House Phu Quoc by Melia Hotels International
- Boutique- Camia Resort & Spa
- Mid-range- Ancarine Beach Resort
- Budget- Gecko House
THE MEKONG DELTA
I was fascinated by the activity and the markets in the Delta. The sights and smells are a feast for the senses as you watch the daily activities of life on the Delta. Many people who opt for a day trip from Saigon just get to visit My Tho, but to my mind the Cai Rang floating market is a bit further at Can Tho is a better option. If you have the time and want to visit a fabulous market then this should be your first choice.
When to visit in Vietnam
The climate in the north varies dramatically from that in the south of the country. Did you know that Vietnam has a monsoon season? It’s not a good idea to plan a visit then so here is a detailed breakdown by season and region of the best time to visit Vietnam.
You have no doubt seen from my selection of the top 10 destinations in Vietnam that the country has a lot to offer tourists. I suggest you decide on visiting either the north or the south and spend your time exploring the region or else you will find your rushing around and not have the time to enjoy the beauty of Vietnam to its full extent.
MORE TO READ
- A LOCAL’S GUIDE WITH TIPS FOR TREKKING IN SAPA
- VISITING MARBLE MOUNTAINS IN VIETNAM
- THE BEST OF HOI AN TRAVEL GUIDE
- FINDING THE BEST STREET FOOD IN HOI AN
- A DELICIOUS CAMBODIAN FOOD GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS
- HOW TO PLAN WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG FOR THE FIRST TIME
- 11 POPULAR THAI DISHES THAT YOU MUST TRY IN THAILAND
- WHAT TO DO IN BANGKOK FOR A MEMORABLE VACATION
- MORE DESTINATIONS IN ASIA
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