Top 10 Destinations In Vietnam

Vietnam has still a way to go before being a world-renowned destination. However, it still has its share of activities. These range from stunning Ha Long Bay to beautifully quaint Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum.

The Cu Chi tunnels represent the sheer grit and ‘can-do’ attitude of the Vietnamese while a visit to the War Remnants Museum brings home the horrible reality of war. On the more positive side, the marvelous Hue Monuments, along with the My Son Sanctuary will awaken your spiritual side. Explore the best of Vietnam.

Halong Bay
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the top tourist attraction in Vietnam. This natural marvel is located along a 75 mile coastline of the Gulf of Tonkin in the northern part of the country and has around 3,000 limestone islands with a fascinating array of formations, similar to those in Krabi, Thailand. Most people cruise around the bay on a traditional junk (wooden boat), often for an overnight trip, which makes the excursion that much more interesting.

Hoi Ann
Another wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi Ann has been an international port since the 16th century. A picturesque town with narrow canals, it’s sometimes called the Venice of Vietnam. A very charming place to explore, it’s famous for its excellent tailors, interesting art galleries and narrow streets full of cafes that serve delicious food.

Cu Chi Tunnels
During the Vietnam War the Vietcong (VC) used this immense network of underground tunnels about 25 miles outside of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) as a hiding place from the Americans and the South Vietnamese. During the war the tunnels were like small underground towns with things such as kitchens, weapons factories, hospitals, command centers and the like. Tourists are now allowed to explore these elaborate mazes themselves.

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

The large central sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site just in time for Hanoi’s millennial anniversary in 2010. The ancient site was the political centre of the country for 13 consecutive centuries and served as the capital of Vietnam for eight centuries.

  

Mekong Delta
Located in the southernmost region of country, the Mekong Delta is Vietnam’s breadbasket, producing about half of the country’s rice. Lush and beautiful, it makes for a great boat trip down the Mekong where you’ll pass colorful floating markets such as Cai Be and Cai Rang. Along the way you can see local traders and rice farmers working along the river as they have for generations.

My Son Sanctuary Hoi An 
UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a great sample of the ancient Champa civilization located in the southern part of Vietnam. It was an independent state from around the 2nd to the 17th century, at which time it was occupied by Vietnam.

Complex of Hue MonumentsHue

The Complex of Hue Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the city of Hue in central Vietnam. Hue was founded as the Vietnam capital city by Gia Long, the first king of the Nguyen Dynasty in 1802. It held this position for nine Nguyen dynasties until 1945.

War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City
 known as the ‘Museum of American War Crimes’ first opened to the public in 1975. It’s a shocking reminder of the long and brutal Vietnam War with many graphic photographs and American military equipment on display. All these weapons were used by America against the Vietnamese.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Quang Binh

Phong Nha-Ke Bang is more than a National Park, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam. The result of earth crust development 464 million years ago it’s the oldest major karst formation in Asia. Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park features a 2,000 sqkm of limestone zone.
 

The Sand Dune of Mui Ne

The Sand Dunes of Mui Ne are the most important tourist attraction apart from the beaches of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. Some 65 km northeast of Phan Thiet, the massive dunes range in colour from gold to white. There are also red dunes to be found further south, close to Mui Ne.