Ho Chi Minh City has an insatiable appetite for shopping, and many locals get their retail therapy at the Vincom Center, a massive shopping complex in District 1. Skewing toward luxury brands like Ralph Lauren and Armani, Vincom is a treasure trove for those with cards to swipe—or those simply looking for a reprieve from the city heat.
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.
While it might not be as famous as the iconic Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills, the Love Lock Bridge Da Nang is still a worthy attraction. Perched on the east bank of the Han River, this bridge is decorated with padlocks inscribed with couples’ names and features love heart installations.
Few cities are as visibly complex and beautiful as Hoi An. The Hoi An Museum (Bao Tang Hoi An)—sometimes called the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Conservation Management Center—is a great place to learn about this ancient city’s history. Except, technically, it’s six different museums. Visit one or six, and you’ll come across 2,000-year-old artifacts, traditional handicrafts like textiles and pottery, and even relics from the Sa Huynh culture.
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.
With massive optical illusions and 3D artwork, visitors quite literally step into the artistic displays and murals at Art in Paradise 3D Museum in Da Nang. Perfect for families and selfie enthusiasts, the museum gives visitors the chance to enter worlds of dragons, undersea kingdoms, fairytale fantasies, and more.
Backed by forested karst mountains and soaring cliffs, Cua Van Floating Village’s bright wooden homes float on the waters of Halong Bay, often among a neat grid of fish farming cages. Vendors in candy-colored sampans sell snacks and drinks to passing cruise boats, while travelers explore the area by kayak or bamboo boats.
The largest Christian statue in Asia, Vung Tau’s Christ the King Statue (Christ of Vung Tau) stands 118 feet (36 meters) high, with arms that outstretch 60 feet (18 meters) wide. Situated atop the city’s Little Mountain, it offers spectacular coastal views—especially if you climb the extra 133 steps to the statue’s shoulders.
Da Nang Cathedral is commonly nicknamed the Pink Church for its pale salmon-pink hue, but it’s also known as the Con Ga Church (Rooster Church) by locals because of the steeple’s weathercock. Built by the French colonizers in the 1920s, it now serves a sizable minority of practicing Roman Catholics, and is worth walking past while exploring Da Nang.
The gateway to the Vietnamese city once known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City Cruise Ports sit along the Saigon River and serve as jumping-off points for exploring the nation's largest and most dynamic city. Ocean cruises normally dock at Phu My and sometimes Cai Mep, both about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of the city, while river cruises typically dock at My Tho, about 47 miles (75 kilometers) to the south.
Once serving as a 19th-century port, Can Tho’s Ninh Kieu Wharf is now a waterfront destination for travelers and locals alike. Located on the gentle Hau River, it’s a place to stroll the well-tended paths along the riverbank, admire the colorful boats, check out the vendors selling local goods, and stay long enough to see the waterfront glow by nightfall.
This family-owned cocoa farm turns learning about chocolate—and tasting it—into a hands-on, personal experience. The owner leads all farm tours, welcomes every visitor like a VIP, and demystifies the process from cocoa bean to chocolate treat, offering samples along the way. (Be sure to bring home a chocolate souvenir.)
Head to Crocodile Lake in Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park to catch sight of its resident freshwater Siamese crocodiles, which have been successfully rewilded here following a conservation project that began in the late 1990s. Along with crocs, the surrounding tropical rainforest is home to an abundance of wildlife, including Andaman water monitors, gibbons and a variety of bird species.
In a part of Vietnam more renowned for its landscape and natural wonders, Can Tho’s Binh Thuy Ancient House is a fascinating cultural attraction. Despite its name, the property dates from the 1870s rather than antiquity, but it is nevertheless architecturally significant, as a rare remaining example of a French-style house in the Mekong Delta.
Considered one of the most impressive temples in Hoi An, Quan Cong Temple is dedicated to a Chinese general revered for his compassion and sense of justice. Brilliant gold-and-red arches, Zen-inspired gardens, and brightly decorated altars pay homage to the much-loved leader, while meditation halls provide respite from the chaos of Hoi An’s traffic.
Most waterfalls this beautiful are better known, but not Dray Nur. Near Buon Ma Thuot, this cascade tumbles roughly 100 feet (30 meters) down and 820 feet (250 meters) across—and that’s not including the Dray Sap waterfall next door. With onsite amenities, this spot is a must for those in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
Hue’s An Dinh Palace was home to Vietnam’s last and final King—deposed in 1945—and while it’s not quite in ruins, the building is equal parts spooky and impressive. Combining elements of both Asian and European architecture, the UNESCO–listed site welcomes visitors through a spectacularly ornate gate and into a world of not-so-long-gone royalty.
If there’s one spot in Can Tho that’s a truly tranquil escape, it’s Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery. This free-entry monastery is surrounded by serene courtyards, peaceful ponds, walking paths, and traditional Buddhist statues watching over it all. Inside, visitors can explore the meditation hall and soak in the calming atmosphere, breaking from the city's sleepless buzz.
To learn more about the people and culture of the Mekong Delta, head to the Can Tho Museum. The displays are a little old school, but there’s some English-language signage to help visitors interpret the artifacts. Enjoy finding out more about local clothing and furniture, the rice grown in the Mekong Delta, the Vietnam War, and more.
Travel in the Mekong Delta was simplified with the construction of the Can Tho Bridge in 2010, which stretches over the Hau River, connecting Can Tho and Vinh Long provinces. Prior to the major engineering project, much of Southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta—a watery network of rivers and islands—relied heavily on ferries for connection.
Shrouded by the lush mountain scenery of the Son Tra Nature Reserve, Dong Dinh Museum—named after the type of tree that surrounds it—is one of Da Nang’s top cultural attractions. Inside, you’ll find antique treasures spanning Champa, Chinese, Sa Huynh, and Dai Viet cultures, some of which date back more than 2,500 years.
Can Tho’s Ong Temple is a must-visit attraction while touring the Mekong Delta city. The Chinese-style Buddhist temple was built in the late 19th century and is adorned with enormous coils of incense, an elaborate engraved screen, and other colorful statues and carvings. Conveniently located beside the Can Tho River, it’s in a prime sightseeing spot.
While smaller than its neighbor Dray Nur, Dray Sap Falls is still a marvel of Mother Nature. A 30-minute drive outside Buon Ma Thuot, this cascade tumbles over a cliff face at multiple spots, creating a splashy panorama as it courses into the river below. Wild and unkempt, it feels a little like stepping into a scene from Jurassic Park.
In addition to white-sand beaches and tropical jungle, the island of Phu Quoc—off the coast of Cambodia—is home to the Coi Nguon Museum (Bảo Tàng Cội Nguồn), a natural history museum that exhibits more than 5,000 artifacts. If you find yourself in one of Phu Quoc’s unpredictable downpours, the natural history museum provides a great place to explore until the skies have cleared.
Hainan Assembly Hall (Hội Quán Hải Nam) is one of five 19th-century structures built in Hoi An to provide a place for Chinese immigrants to Vietnam to socialize and uphold Chinese traditions for future generations. In the heart of the Ancient Town on the banks of the Thu Bon River, Hainan Assembly Hall is an integral part of Hoi An’s diverse cultural landscape.
If you’re looking for a place to kick back with a drink at the end of a busy day sightseeing in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho Beach (Bien Can Tho) might be just what you’re looking for. The artificial beach on the banks of the Hau River offers shady seating, plenty of local eateries, and nice sunset views.
In the heart of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho’s Munirangsyaram Pagoda stands out with its Khmer architectural style, more resembling the Angkor temples of Thailand than the pagodas of Vietnam. Built in the 1940s, it mainly serves the city's Khmer community, though visitors are welcome to explore the grounds and intricately designed main hall.
Originally constructed in the 11th century, Do Temple (Den Do) in Dinh Bang Village is dedicated to the deities of the eight male kings of the Ly Dynasty. Known for its beautiful architecture, the temple was destroyed in 1952 by the French, and reconstructed in 1989 according to the original layout.
On an island already known for its natural beauty, Da Ban Stream (Suoi Da Ban) is a Phu Quoc highlight. Perhaps more helpfully known as Dan Ban Spring—after all, many travelers come here to play in the pools—Da Ban offers a quiet respite in a spectacular slice of Mother Nature, with wildlife viewing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, and more.
If you’ve been in Vietnam long enough to have eaten one meal, you’ve probably eaten rice noodles. At Can Tho’s Sau Hoai Rice Noodle Factory, you can see how this Vietnamese favorite is made by hand, then dried in the sun on straw mats. It’s a popular fixture on many Mekong Delta tours that visit Can Tho, and provides a fun and educational experience.
