Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam | 2018 Update

There’s actually more than hundreds of beautiful tourist attractions in Vietnam. Travelers are attracted by the green rice fields in the north to the mesmerizing hustle and bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south in Vietnam. It is also a country with a long history and ancient traditions. She contains many extraordinary old temples in the world. Here is an overview of the most amazing places you can visit in Vietnam.

Tourist Attractions in Vietnam:

10. Nha Trang

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Nha Trang
Nha Trang; image credit – Wikimedia/ntt

The most popular seaside resort town in Vietnam is the Nha Trang. It is positioned along the second most beautiful bays in the country. Along with clear ocean water of mild temperatures, this striking town offers beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand. About 300,000 inhabitants live in the city. Compare to other beach destination like Mui Ne and Phu Quoc, this city is more lively and urban in character. It is also the scuba diving center of Vietnam.

Major attractions in Nha Trang:

  • explore the Tran Phu Beach
  • visit the Long Son Pagoda
  • National Oceanographic Museum
  • Ba Ho Waterfall
  • Bai Dai Beach
  • Don’t miss bicycle tour and scuba diving

9. Cu Chi Tunnels

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels; image credit – Wikimedia/Matthew Blissett

Positioned about 40 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the Cu Chi Tunnels are an enormous network of connecting underground tunnels. Viet Cong guerrillas used the tunnels as hiding spots during the Vietnam War. The tunnels were the base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968. Visitors can crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system.

8. Mekong Delta

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta; image credit – Wikimedia/Allie Caulfield

The Mekong Delta is the area where the Mekong River approaches and discharges into the sea in southern Vietnam. The area around the Mekong Delta is very rich and fertile. The region is covered with rice fields. Half of the total agricultural output of Vietnam is produced here. The life in the Mekong Delta revolves around the river. All the villages are often easily reached by river rather than by road.

Major attractions in the Mekong Delta:

  • Cai Rang Floating Market
  • Vinh Trang Pagoda
  • CAI BE FLOATING MARKET
  • Cai Be Fruit Orchard
  • Tra Su Mangrove Forest
  • Sampan Cruise in My Tho
  • Tram Chim National Park

7. Mui Ne

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Mui Ne
Mui Ne; image credit – Wikimedia/marfis75

In the last 15 years, Mui Ne has seen some serious development. The formerly little-inhabited beach of Mui Ne is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in Vietnam. It has become a popular destination in Vietnam for kite- and windsurfing due to strong sea breezes. A must visit spot of Mui Ne is the famous sand dunes located a short distance north of the town. The tourists can enjoy some great panoramic views, especially during sunset.

Major attractions in Mui Ne:

  • Quad Bike Across the White Sand Dunes
  • Try Kite Surfing
  • Wander Through the Fairy Stream
  • Ride Down the Red Sand Dunes
  • Explore the Fishing Village
  • visit the Po Shanu Cham Towers & Ta Cu Mountain

6. Sa Pa Terraces

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Sa Pa Terraces
Sa Pa Terraces; image credit – Wikimedia/Konstantin Krismer

Sa Pa is a town located in northwest Vietnam close to the Chinese border. In the Muong Hoa valley between Sa Pa town and the Fansipan Mountain, rice terraces can be found on a backdrop of thick bamboo woodlands. The local mountain people are the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay. They grow rice and corn on the paddy terraces of Sa Pa along with vegetables.

Major attractions in Sa Pa Terraces:

  • Fansipan Cable Car
  • Ham Rong Mountain, Fansipan Mountain
  • Bac Ha Market
  • Lao Chai Village
  • Ta Phin Cave
  • Terraced rice fields
  • Silver Waterfalls & Love Waterfalls

5. Phu Quoc

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc; image credit – Wikimedia/Stefan

The Phu Quoc is located in front of the Cambodia coast. It is the largest island in Vietnam. Phu Quoc is what Phuket could have been if it hadn’t been overrun by development. This wonderful island features pristine tropical forests, undamaged coral reefs, and great beaches.

Bai Dai (Long Beach) is one of the beaches featured by Phu Quoc. It was elected by the ABC News as one of five beautiful and clean beaches. Phu Quoc produces the best nuoc mam or fermented fish sauce in the world, the island is actually very famous for it.

Major attractions in Phu Quoc:

  • Explore Phu Quoc’s Stunning Beaches
  • Visit the Dinh Cau Night Markets
  • Explore the Island on a Motorbike
  • Enjoy the Local Life at Ham Ninh Village
  • Duong Dong Market
  • Ham Ninh Fishing Village
  • Suoi Tranh Waterfall

4. Hoi An

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Hoi An
Hoi An; image credit – Wikimedia/hienmtd

Hoi An was a fishing village, which is situated on the coast of the South China Sea. From the 16th century, Hoi An has been an international port. The serious shipping business has long since moved to the city of Da Nang. With full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shops, the center of the city is still the Old Town. Because of the narrow canals that cut through part of the town, it is often referred as the “Venice of Vietnam”.

Major attractions in Hoi An:

  • Central Market
  • Old House of Phun Hung
  • Cantonese Assembly Hall
  • Hoi An Night Market
  • Japanese Covered Bridge

3. Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi)

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake; image credit – Wikimedia/Greg Willis

Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the major scenic spots of Hanoi and serves as the locals’ favorite leisure spot. The lake is located in the historical center of Hanoi. Hoan Kiem means “returned sword”. There is a legend in which the gods gave a magical sword to King Le Loi, who used the sword to drive out the invading Chinese. Afterward, he returned the sword to the Golden Turtle God in the lake.

Major attractions in Hoan Kiem Lake:

  • Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
  • Water Puppet Theatre
  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
  • Ba Vi National Park
  • Visit the historic St. Joseph’s Cathedral

2. Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue)

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Thien Mu Pagoda
Thien Mu Pagoda; image credit – Wikimedia/Uwe Aranas

Located in Hue, the Thien Mu Pagoda is the tallest pagoda in Vietnam. With seven stories it is considered as one of the famous tourist attractions in Vietnam. Overlooking the Perfume River, the pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital. During the rule of the Nguyễn Lords, the temple was built in 1601. The construction of the initial temple was very simple. More intricate features were added to it as it was expanded and redeveloped over time.

1. Ha Long Bay

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay; image credit – Wikimedia/Arianos

Ha, Long Bay literally translates as “Bay of Descending Dragons”. It is located in North Vietnam round a 120-kilometer long coastline. Ha, Long Bay features thousands of islands, thick jungle vegetation covers all of them, which forms a spectacular panorama of limestone pillars. Some of the islands feature lakes, while some are hollow and comprise massive caves and some support floating villages of fishermen.

Major tourist attractions in Ha Long Bay:

  • Visit the Vung Vieng Fishing Village
  • islands: Cat Ba Island, Titop Island, Dau Go Island
  • Explore the Sung Sot Cave

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