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.
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.
Built to preserve the legacy of North Vietnam’s first President, the Ho Chi Minh Museum (Bao Tang Ho Chi Minh) offers a comprehensive overview of Ho Chi Minh’s life, as well as the country’s fight for independence. Over 2,000 items are presented in this massive, Soviet-style building, built in the shape of a lotus.
Surrounded by soaring rice terraces, Sin Chai Village offers almost everything travelers to Sapa are seeking. Water buffalo roam in reflecting rice paddies; women in vibrant headdresses and silver jewelry weave textiles; and homestays let you experience traditional Hmong lifestyles as you eat and sleep in authentic wooden homes.
Even though it's just a short boat ride from the resort city of Nha Trang, Hon Mieu Island feels a million miles away. Along with its white-sand beaches and seafood restaurants, its biggest claim to fame is Tri Nguyen Aquarium, a unique boat-shaped building that houses giant shrimp, sharks, and turtles.
Just 20 minutes from Hoi An, the fishing village of Tra Nhieu offers a deeply peaceful look into Vietnam’s more rural side. An “ecological village”—meaning it preserves traditional ways of fishing, farming, and living—this little hamlet sits on the Thu Bon River, easily accessible for travelers to walk, bike, and tour for a glimpse of daily life.
Formerly the Army Museum, the Vietnam Military History Museum covers the country’s combat history from ancient times to the American War (Vietnam War). Learn about the many battles that Vietnam has fought for independence throughout its history through extensive photos, propaganda videos, weaponry, war machines, and other war relics.
In the heart of Cho Lon, also known as Chinatown, stands Binh Tay Market (Cho Binh Tay). Built in 1928 after the original bazaar burned down, Binh Tay is one of the city’s largest markets, teeming with vendors selling a mind-boggling array of wares, including pottery, flowers, and souvenirs, as well as piping-hot noodles and wholesale produce.
Founded in 1987 and home to a collection of around 25,000 pieces, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum pays tribute to the role of women in Vietnamese society. Besides costumes and crafts from the nation’s 54 ethnic groups, the museum honors the role local women played in the Vietnam War. Most signs are in Vietnamese, English, and French.
Flowing all the way from Ngoc Linh Mountain to the South China Sea, the Thu Bon River is responsible for Hoi An’s development as a major trading post. The river runs through Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is flanked by some of the city’s most famous attractions, including the Japanese Covered Bridge and Hoi An Central Market.
Hailed as one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, Sao Beach is the epitome of Southeast Asia’s coastal beauty: shallow waters lap fine white sands backed by lush jungle and swaying palm trees. The beach’s remote location tends to make it less crowded than nearby options, such as Long Beach, ideal for travelers looking to spend the day sunbathing and swimming in relative tranquility.
From its elaborate royal costumes to its position within the Hue Citadel, the Royal Antiquities Museum is a portal to the Nguyen Dynasty—it’s even inside the exquisite Long An Palace, where Vietnamese royalty once lived. You’ll be impressed by the massive collection of ornaments, jewelry, ceramics, ancient coins, textiles, Champa sculptures, plus the splendor of the palace itself.
Formerly used to host the receptions and ceremonies of Vientamese emperors, Thai Hoa Palace dates back to 1805 and is notable for its lacquered columns. Plus, due to the palace’s innovative design, if you stand at the exact center of the courtyard you can hear whispers from anywhere in the building.
From crafting a Vietnamese silk lantern to admiring ancient weaving techniques, the Hoi An Handicraft Workshop hosts hands-on classes and demonstrations suitable for all ages. Set in the historic surrounds of a centuries-old Chinese trading house, the building also offers traditional handicrafts for sale and the chance to attend live music and dance performances.
Overshadowed by famous Hoi An Ancient Town, Cua Dai Beach (Biển Cửa Đại) is a pristine, white-sand strand flanked by turquoise waters and backed by rustic Vietnamese seafood restaurants. The laid-back beach provides a relaxed break from central Hoi An and offers white-knuckle water sports to appease thrill seekers.
From gleaming lanterns to sleek ao dai dresses, the maritime silk trade helped make Hoi An Ancient Town what it is today. The Hoi An Silk Village (Làng Lụa Hội An, part of a resort of the same name, lets you experience that rich culture in a museum, through demos, and hands-on, as artisans take silk from leaf to loom.
Dating back more than 1,200 years, Van Phuc Silk Village is undoubtedly the best-known and best-developed of Vietnam’s designated craft villages. More than 700 households here are involved in silk production, and more than 100 shops sell silk clothing and decorative items. Even if you’re not looking to buy, this is a great place to see how silk is produced.
The Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh) was once the magnificent centerpiece of Hue’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed Imperial City. Inspired by Beijing’s famous Forbidden City, the 19th-century palace served as the principal residence of the Nguyen Dynasty, and its elaborate ruins stand in tribute to Hue’s rich history and heritage.
Immigrant Chinese and Japanese communities throughout Vietnam socialize and pass on traditions in social assembly halls. Founded in 1786, the colorful Cantonese Assembly Hall in Hoi An’s Ancient Town is one of five such community centers in the city. It’s a local tourist attraction with grand entrance gates leading onto an ornamental front courtyard, followed by a main hall and elaborate altar room.
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.
Just half a mile (800 meters from Tuan Chau Pier, Dau Go Cave (Hang Đầu Gỗ is one of Halong Bay’s most popular caves, praised by colonial-era tourists and Vietnamese emperors alike. Ninety steps lead from the jetty to three distinct chambers, dripping with stalactites: the last, which is colorfully lit, boasts a freshwater lake.
Towering 37 meters (120 feet) over Hue’s UNESCO-listed Hue Citadel (Da Noi), Flag Tower (Kỳ Đài) claims to be the tallest flagpole in Vietnam. The tower comprises three stone platforms, with the third featuring eight canons and a sentry box at either end.
Standing on the banks of the Thu Bon River is Phung HungAncient House, a historic Hoi An landmark that has housed more than eight generations of Vietnamese families. Among the most famous architecture in the city, the 18th-century house combines Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese influences and once functioned as a spice-and-handicraft shop.
Part of Hue’s UNESCO-listed Imperial City, the bronze and elaborately decorated Nine Dynastic Urns each represent a different Nguyen emperor. Each of the urns depicts classic Vietnamese motifs, such as mountains, oceans, stars, and rivers. They sit inside the Hien Lam Pavillion, the grand entrance to which is terracotta- and yolk-yellow colored.
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.
With dusty jars of ingredients, an altar devoted to two long-dead doctors, a disturbing selection of historical medical instruments, and more, the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (Fito Museum is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s quirkiest museums. A documentary introduces the tradition, while the souvenir shop offers unusual gifts.
The Da Nang city outpost of the popular Vietnamese theme-park group, Sun World Danang Wonders sprawls along the Han River. The theme park features rides such as roller coasters, carousels, drop towers, and a giant fairground wheel, while the cultural park highlights Asian architecture through scale models of famous buildings.
From the giant bearded god towering over the water park to slides that emerge through a dragon’s mouth, Suoi Tien Theme Park takes its Buddhist theme to the limit. Local families flock here for games, local eats, swimming, child-centric rides, the zoo, and the grounds. Most overseas travelers visit to enjoy the bizarre design.
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.
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.
