Located in the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture is home to more than 200 artifacts that date back some 2,000 years. The museum exhibits items used by the Sa Huynh civilization, which flourished in central and southern Vietnam between 1000 BC and AD 200.
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.
Can Cau Market is a smaller, less-commercial alternative to the nearby Bac Ha Market. Located 6 miles (9 kilometers) from the Chinese border, you’ll find Hmong, Chinese, and other ethnic groups selling their wares, bartering and buying, and simply enjoying the market buzz. Expect color in the form of vibrant traditional costumes and scads of fresh produce.
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.
Set amid the tropical greenery of Hon Tre Island, Vinpearl Land Nha Trang (sometimes called Vinpearl Amusement Park) transforms the beach resort of Nha Trang into a destination perfect for families and thrill seekers. The excitement begins before you even reach the entrance of the park, as you ride a record-breaking 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) cable car suspended above the South China Sea.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Located along the Red River, on the outskirts of Hanoi, Bat Trang Ceramic Village is a traditional handicraft village dating back to the 14th century. One of the oldest and most popular pottery villages in Vietnam, Bat Trang Ceramic Village is renowned for its high-quality ceramics and attracts numerous visitors.
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.
Da Nang’s Han River Bridge is one of several bridges across this waterway, but it’s the most impressive, and has become a modern symbol of the city. It connects two of Da Nang’s main thoroughfares—Le Duan and Pham Van Dong streets—and can be viewed from other places along the riverfront. The swing bridge design is uncommon in Vietnam.
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.
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.
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.
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.
