Vietnam attractions

Located at the tip of a peninsula in the middle of Hanoi’s West Lake, this 17th-century temple is one of the city’s most sacred destinations. Dedicated to Princess Lieu Hanh, one of the Four Immortals in Vietnamese mythology, Phu Tay Ho welcomes locals coming here to pray for good fortune.

The Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi is the country’s premier art museum. A well-curated and exhibited permanent collection of over 2,000 items, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, lacquerwork, and temporary exhibits, trace the development of Vietnamese art from prehistoric times to the 21st century.

Spanning around 25 acres (10 hectares) in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Tao Dan Park is a fresh green space where locals exercise, particularly tai chi in the morning, aerobics after work, and badminton on weekends. Besides the pool, tennis courts, and sculpture garden, many travelers love the bird café, where local men bring pet birds.

A vibrant Tuesday market in the riverside village of Coc Ly, Coc Ly Market (Cho Coc Ly) draws Tay, Nung, Dzao, and Flower Hmong minorities from the nearby hills—many clad in a blaze of brightly colored traditional fabrics. Wares on offer run from authentic foods, textiles, and clothing to plastic knickknacks from Chinese factories across the border.

You’ve seen photos of Ha Long Bay, but if the camera were to turn around, you’d see Quang Ninh Museum (Bao Tang Quang Ninh). Constructed from little but glass, this strikingly modern building sits on the coast and encompasses three entire city blocks. Serving as both a museum and a library, inside lies Vietnam’s story from 2000 BC to the present day.

The Dam Sen Water Park (Công Viên Nước Đầm Sen) is a fun place to spend a few hours when the weather’s hot in Ho Chi Minh City, which is most of the time! Kids in particular will love the waterslides, wave pool, and watery rides. There are landscaped gardens, lounge chairs, and food outlets to keep parents happy, too.

With its primeval forest and stretches of white sand, it’s easy to see why little Soi Sim Island (Đảo Soi Sim) has become a firm favorite among cruise visitors. Soi Sim, which takes its name from the native sim trees that cover much of its landscape, is located near Titop Island at the heart of Halong Bay and most often visited on overnight cruises.

At the top of a mountain near Nha Trang lies the Hon Ba Nature Reserve (Khu Bao Ton Thien Nhien Hon Ba). The 50,000-acre (21,000-hectare) forest has almost 1,000 species of flora and fauna, many endangered. Ascending the mountain is a panoramic pilgrimage: At the top rests the outstation of Alexandre Yersin, the French doctor who discovered the cause of the Bubonic plague.

One of the oldest art museums in Ho Chi Minh City, the Museum of Fine Arts occupies a gorgeous colonial-era building from 1929. The collection starts with sculptures from the early Funan and Cham kingdoms, dating back as far as the fourth century, but it’s also home to intriguing modern art pieces, many focused on the Vietnam War.

Experience Nha Trang’s famous mud baths at a reasonable rate at Thap Ba Hot Springs, a relaxing spa that gives you the chance to soak in baths filled with mud with alleged healing properties. The site is also home to several mineral-water swimming pools, a sauna, and a waterfall.

Mt. Fansipan is one of the highest peaks in Indochina at 10,212 feet (3,143 meters). It’s part of Vietnam’s Hoang Lien Son Range. Climbers undertake a challenging task, and since the weather changes, there’s usually some mist or cloud cover along the way. But, no matter what the weather is like, there are always options for some dramatic photos along the way.

Packed higgledy-piggledy around undulating karst peaks at the spot where three rivers meet, Kenh Ga is one of Ninh Binh’s less-visited tourist sights—although a new road and hotels are set to change all that. For now, from stilt homes and sampans to idling water buffalo and floating fish farms, it remains a fairly traditional fishing village—with some inviting hot springs.

XQ Historical Village is dedicated to the ancient Vietnamese art of embroidery. When you first glance at the artworks exhibited inside this cultural institution in Nha Trang, you might think they’re paintings—but look closer and see they’re intricate embroidery pieces. Plus, they’re set among a lovely, historic-style building laden.

Bai Chay (Bãi Cháy) translates as “Scorched Beach,” a nod to the 13th-century forest fire that swept across the mainland. Though most visitors come to Bai Chay as the departure point for Halong Bay cruises, it’s worth stopping to visit its wide sandy beach and lively waterfront, which buzzes with activity day and night.

Ho Chi Minh City’s answer to Bangkok’s Khao San Road, Pham Ngu Lao Street boasts dozens of affordable guesthouses, cheap pubs, and backpacker-focused restaurants. In fact, Saigonese know it simply as the backpacker district. Despite the noise, traffic, and chaos, Phạm Ngũ Lão is a mecca for travelers looking to experience Saigon’s unfiltered energy.

One of Hanoi’s most vibrant, colorful, cheerful attractions, the Quang Ba Flower Market is a can’t-miss—unless you need your sleep. Believe it or not, the market goes from roughly 10pm to 6am, winding down after sunrise. If you can get here, bring your camera, bring your haggling skills, and bring your appreciation for all things bright and beautiful.

On nearly every list of beautiful beaches in Vietnam, Non Nuoc sits toward the top. Just a few miles from Da Nang, the white sand follows a gentle curve between the Son Tra Peninsula and the Marble Mountains, with piercing blue-green waters rolling off the coast. Stretching for miles, there’s always an open spot to appreciate Non Nuoc’s ethereal beauty.

In the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An Central Market (Chợ Hội An) is a bustling space that offers a glimpse into Vietnamese culture at its liveliest. Colorful stalls that spill onto the pavement outside sell everything from fresh fish and spices to exotic fruit and silk garments. At the east end of the market, some of Hoi An’s famous tailors tend shop.

The Cao Son Market, held on Wednesdays, is a great place to shop for Vietnamese handicrafts. Even if you aren’t in the market for souvenirs, it’s worth visiting the market to learn about some of the communities that live in the mountainous northern parts of the country while sampling tasty regional specialties.

Part of the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (home to Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave), Paradise Cave is often hailed as the most beautiful of Phong Nha’s otherworldly cave complexes. Floodlights illuminate the enormous stalactites and stalagmites to make them appear ghostly. If you’re lucky, you might spot some of the eyeless fish that live here.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater is the place to witness water puppetry, a beloved and almost ancient art form. Long ago, Vietnamese puppeteers performed for their rural communities in waist-deep water, and today the tradition lives on—only now, in a classic, comfortable venue built for a night on the town.

Located in southern Vietnam—an hour’s drive from the White Sand Dunes of Mui Ne—Ta Cu Mountain offers a wealth of natural and spiritual delights. The giant statue of a reclining Buddha, which is a whopping 160 feet (49 meters) in length, has made the mountain a popular tourist destination and an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.

For an authentic local dinner in Da Nang, check out the Son Tra Night Market. Here you can rub shoulders with locals, shop for souvenirs, and even get a head or foot massage. Don’t miss this market, whether you want to go wild with your culinary adventures in Vietnam—think snails or grilled stingray—or play it safer with noodle soup or fried rice.

Built in 1744, the Giac Lam Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. A Buddhist structure designated as a historic site by the Vietnamese government, the site boasts an impressive sanctuary filled with gold figures and a fat laughing Buddha. The large gardens surrounding the pagoda also contain a sacred bodhi tree.

Nha Trang’s I-Resort Hot Mineral Springs has sprinkled notes of rural Vietnam over a five-star hot springs facility. Offering mud baths, mineral springs, waterfalls, and private villas, the resort grants visitors a true getaway within a getaway. Even if the mineral waters aren’t a guaranteed cure for all ailments as once believed, they are a guaranteed, meditative delight for the senses.

A must-visit for travelers who appreciate the finer details in life, the Museum of Trade Ceramics presents a banquet of colorful pottery from around Asia. As well as stunning examples of ceramics from Japan and China, visitors can expect to admire pottery from Thailand, India, and the Philippines, some of which dates back to the eighth century.

Once a guesthouse for visiting ambassadors from nearby Buddhist countries, Ambassador’s Pagoda (Chua Quan Su) today is an active temple and the official center of Buddhism in Hanoi. Home to only a dozen or so Buddhist monks and nuns, this small but impressive pagoda is a haven of peace and quiet in otherwise hectic Hanoi.

Paris Square (Công Trường Công Xã Paris) serves as the perfect hub for travelers looking to explore the key landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City in a single stop. The Saigon Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Central Post Office are all within walking distance, and the tree-covered parks, Versace Plaza, and bustling cafés make for great people-watching.

One of a cluster of islets to the south of Cát Bà Island in Lan Ha Bay, Monkey Island (Đảo Cát Dứa takes its name from the wild macaques that play in beaches and bush alike. Many Lan Ha Bay cruises stop by here, for a swim on a golden beach, a photo with the monkeys, or to capture the ocean views from the island’s mountainous spine.

The Quan Am Pagoda is a Chinese-style temple in Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown area. It’s a very colorful place, devoted to the Goddess of Mercy, Quan Am. The Quan Am Pagoda is one of the city’s most popular Buddhist sites, and it is worth making a trip to Cholon to see.