When travelers hymn the beauty of Sapa, the hiking hub in northern Vietnam, they’re really praising the Muong Hoa Valley (Thung Lũng Mường Hoa. Carved by the Hoa stream, decked with a patchwork of rice terraces, and studded with fascinating minority villages, its green highland landscapes are some of Vietnam’s most dazzling.
Stretching almost 2,000 meters (6,562 feet from the coastal town of Vinh Moc to a beach overlooking the South China Sea, the Vinh Moc Tunnels were dug in the late 1960s to serve as a live-in bomb shelter for more than 60 families. These families lived their lives underground, some on and off for up to six years.
Fronting the Saigon River in the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Bach Dang Wharf (Bến Bạch Đằng is so much more than just a jumpoff point for river cruises and water buses. A landscaped circular garden forms the centerpiece of a waterfront promenade with street eats as well as more upscale dining.
Topped with a vast white Buddha seated on a lotus leaf, Long Son Pagoda (Chùa Long Sơn is one of Nha Trang’s signature sights. Stairs lead up the leafy hill past temples, a prayer hall, a Chinese-influenced mosaic dragon screen, and a reclining Buddha. It’s not unusual to hear monks and nuns chanting.
The Mekong River, the 12th-longest river in the world at 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers), is the main artery of Southeast Asia. Its flowing waters are the beating pulse for a region that includes the fertile Mekong Delta around Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, the scenic hills of Laos, and the jungle-lined waterways of Thailand and Cambodia.
Cham sculpture is Indian-style sculpture that draws on religious and mythological themes, originating from the coast of central and south Vietnam between roughly 192 and 1697 C.E. At the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, housed in an attractive colonial-era building, visitors can learn about this art form and the civilization from which it stemmed.
The biggest lagoon in all of Southeast Asia, Tam Giang stretches for some 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Hue, Vietnam. Framed by mountains to the west and the lapping South China Sea to the east, it’s one of the richest sources of flora and fauna in the region. In other words, come here for great views, great nature, and, course, great seafood.
A tumbling mass of granite slabs and boulders, the Hon Chong promontory juts into Nha Trang Bay, a little north of downtown. A traditional wooden house (rebuilt for tourism purposes and an ocean-view café add character, and the coastal and island views from the end of the rocks are spectacular.
Completed in 1906, the Presidential Palace was originally built by the French for the Governor General of Indochina. The French colonial–style palace, surrounded by lush botanical gardens and orchards, is the official home of the President of Vietnam, now used solely for formal receptions and state events.
Just behind the Presidential Palace is the modest wooden stilt house that Ho Chi Minh lived in from 1958 until his death in 1969, preserved just as he left it. Get a glimpse into the life of the founder of North Vietnam at this humble abode, set in a well-tended and landscaped garden across from a lovely carp-filled pond.
A 10-minute boat ride from Hoi An, the village of Kim Bong—a traditional carpentry village on Cam Kim island—has been churning out artisan works since the 15th century. After taking the ferry across, you can ride bikes across the pastoral landscapes of the island, visit local shops, and witness woodwork being carved before your eyes.
The largest of Hoi An’s five assembly halls—historic meeting places for the city’s Chinese merchants—Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (Fujian Assembly Hall is an architectural feast and among the highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town. A National Monument, it’s home to a temple, shrine, and a tree-lined courtyard.
Home to a colonial-era hill station, the monsoon forests of Bach Ma National Park center on Bach Ma, or White Horse Mountain, which rises 4,757 feet (1,450 meters). Waterfalls, crumbling villas, hiking trails, and a wealth of wildlife, including pheasants, langur monkeys, and muntjac deer, make a magnetic spot to spend a day—or longer.
Replete with verdant rice terraces and lush beauty, the isolated hilltop village of Ta Phin has been drawing visitors from nearby Sapa for decades. Removed from modern life, travelers will get to mix with the Red Dao, Black Hmong, and Kinh ethnic groups, witness daily life, peruse local goods like rice wine and embroidery, and contemplate the riches of a slower life.
Hailed as the epitome of antique grandeur, the 200-year-old Tan Ky Old House pays homage to Hoi An’s rich architectural heritage. The beautifully preserved 18th-century house contains Chinese and Japanese artworks, dark-wood furniture, and watermarked walls that attest to the building’s ability to withstand Hoi An’s seasonal floods.
Maze Cave (Hang Mê Cung or Động Mê Cung in Viatnamese) stands out among the many caves of Halong Bay for more than just its beauty—it’s also an important archaeological site where significant prehistoric remains have been found that date back as far as 7,000 to 10,000 years. It is occasionally called "Bewitching Grotto".
Located southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, close to where the Saigon River meets the South China Sea, the low-lying Can Gio island houses a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is an important natural wetland with attractions like Monkey Island, Rung Sac Military Base, Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Center, and a crocodile farm.
Adding to the variety of Vietnam’s natural landscape are the White Sand Dunes of Mui Ne, one of the only desert areas in Southeast Asia. Most commonly visited at sunrise or sunset, the dunes are inspiring to budding photographers, and the surrounding pine forest and freshwater lake only add to the visual drama.
The ornate, covered Thanh Toan Bridge—Cau Ngoi to locals—humbly crosses a canal in Thuy Thanh, a rural village about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Hue. If you love Hoi An’s famous Japanese covered bridge, you’ll love Thanh Toan: Built in the 18th century in both Japanese and Chinese styles, it’s got all of the pomp and circumstance of Hoi An’s, but without the crowds.
Often referred to as the “rice bowl of Asia” for its emerald-green rice paddy fields, the Mekong Delta is surrounded by fertile land. On Vietnam’s mighty Mekong, sleepy floating communities live alongside an abundance of tropical fruits, buffalo wallowing in paddy fields, and mangroves rich with birdlife.
Dating back to the early 20th century, Dam Market (Cho Dam is Nha Trang’s largest market and a hub for local life. Across three stories, eclectic stalls sell meat, fish, and souvenirs, while Vietnamese vendors create a lively atmosphere that lasts from the early morning until the evening.
One of Vietnam’s most important pilgrimage sites, the Perfume Pagoda is a vast complex of Buddhist temples, grottos, and shrines dotted around Huong Tich Mountain. The shrines lie amid a flooded valley of towering karst cliffs and lotus fields—a stunning backdrop that makes for some incredible photo opportunities.
One of a cluster of islands that stud Nha Trang Bay, Hon Mun island is the epicenter of the Hon Mun Marine Protected Area. Spanning 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares) of protected ocean, the zone is home to colorful coral and marine life. Visit to snorkel one of Vietnam’s favorite underwater spots.
Silver Waterfall—known locally as Thac Bac—is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful waterfalls and is located just 9 miles (15 kilometers) from the resort town of Sapa. Thac Bac falls some 650 feet (200 meters) off the side of the Hoang Lien Mountains, steps from the country’s epic Tram Ton Pass. If you can, experience this spot via motorbike, letting the misty air and panoramic views awaken your senses.
Nowhere sums up Nha Trang’s coastal allure like Nha Trang Beach, a golden stretch home to swaying palm trees and turquoise waters. Depending on the vibe you’re after, the beach offers lively bars or uninterrupted swathes of sand; its also backed by a promenade that comes to life at night.
Step back in time to late-19th-century Hanoi and see how a typical wealthy merchant family lived at the Hanoi Ancient House. Located in the Old Quarter, the house was renovated in the late 20th century but retains all the architectural and other features of a typical house of the era, in a style unique to Vietnam.
Housed in an old French colonial building outside Nha Trang’s city center, the National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam charts the history, science, and technology associated with marine life, with exhibits focusing on things like algae and phytoplankton, the history of fishing in Vietnam, and natural disasters at sea and around the coast.
Arguably the most recognizable gate of the UNESCO-listed Hue Citadel (Da Noi,) Noon Gate (Cua Ngo Mon) is one of five entrances that were used only by emperors. Follow in the footsteps of Vietnamese royalty as you walk beneath the 17-foot (5-meter) arch and admire the yellow tiles that adorn the roof.
Just north of the resort town of Sapa, Tram Ton Pass (Deo Tram Ton) is Vietnam’s longest and highest mountain pass—and it’s a beauty. Snaking for 75 miles (120 kilometers) through the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, it peaks at roughly 6,200 feet (2,000 meters), where a lookout offers its travelers an aerial taste of the absolute wonders of northwestern Vietnam.
Bac Ha Market, the largest market in Vietnam’s northern highlands, is reason enough to spend a weekend in this off-the-grid town. Roughly 60 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Sapa and near the Chinese border, Hmong women enliven the streets with their wares—it’s an entirely different cultural experience than you’ll find in Saigon or Hanoi. Just make sure you come on Sunday, and bring your haggling skills.
