Best of Vietnam

Vietnam's capital and its second largest city, Hanoi boasts a rich royal history, colonial architecture, and many cultural attractions.

Explore the vibrant culture of Hanoi, getting to know its thousand-long-year history, and sampling some of the local cuisine.

A museum tracing all 54 of Vietnam's recognized ethnic groups, exhibiting traditional lifestyle, household, religions, and more.

One of Vietnam's largest art museums, this institute houses an impressive collection of Vietnamese art from throughout history.

Cross a traditional Vietnamese bridge on your way to this 19C temple, also known as the Jade Mountain Temple.

Visitors to the park enjoy hiking the majestic Ba Vi mountains, exploring beautiful vistas and a temple, as well as bird watching.

Take a boat through a river lined with rice fields and karst giants, discovering scenic views and the caves of the Tam Coc region.

A lovely lake located in the heart of the capital, known for its turtle population, small scenic isles, and old local myths.

Situated on an island on the West Lake, Hanoi's oldest temple dates to the 6C and features ten shrines and remarkable statues.

Comprised of over 30 streets retaining original style and layout, this quarter is known for its artisan shops, cafes, and fine silk.

Dedicated to Confucius, this 11C temple houses Vietnam's first university and features beautiful courtyards, pavilions, and sculptures.

Situated off the shore of North Vietnam, the gulf is surrounded by great off-the-beaten-path destinations, including Cat Ba Island.

Vietnam's first national park surrounds two mountain ranges and sprawling forests, it also offers some historical attractions.

Styled after a Parisian opera house, this Neoclassical architectural landmark houses frequent performances.

Home to several architectural and historic landmarks, Hanoi's largest lake offers a nice stroll away from the city bustle.

Memorializing a significant victory over the French in 1946, this orderly market is full of fresh produce, meat, and seasoning.

Dedicated to the life and work of Ho Chi Minh, a former Vietnamese leader, the museum houses personal relics and political gifts.

Full of untouched natural beauty, this national park offers primeval forests, limestone formations, rivers, and diverse fauna.

Surrounding a substantive wetland, this national park boasts a rich ecosystem, as well as beautiful landscapes.

Preserving its 19C French-styled facade, Hanoi's largest market overflows with traditional cuisine, clothes, and other miscellany.

A complex encompassing a fine French colonial palace, as well as a traditional stilt-house occupied by a former Vietnamese leader.

Housing over 28,000 relics in various exhibits, this museum traces women's position and contribution throughout Vietnam's history.

Housed in a building mixing French and Vietnamese architecture, the museum hosts 200,000 historic items from prehistory and onward.

Vietnam's third largest city is a major transportation hub yet does not draw a lot of travelers. Be sure to try the local coffee.

The largest isle of the Ha Long Bay is home to a national park, boating rich biodiversity and many sites of natural beauty.

An old French colonial village, it serves as an excellent base for exploring the stunning scenery of the region.

Get to know the rich local culture at the Tuesday market, where tribe members from the surrounding villages come to buy and sell.

Get to know this charming village by wandering around, enjoying the scenery, and talking to the locals and fellow travelers.

Hike through the northern mountains, admiring the picturesque landscape of Vietnam's famed terraced rice fields.

A mountainous national park, boasting a 3,100m high summit, diverse flora and fauna, as well as some of Vietnam's best landscapes.

Popular for its proximity to the world-renowned Ha Long Bay, this city features hotels, casinos, bars, and more.

Get to know this busy city, buzzing with tourists, locals, and good nightlife.

Open during nighttime, this bustling market offers a great variety of traditional ware, food, clothing, and souvenirs.

Featuring gorgeous limestone formations and forested isles jutting from the water, this bay is a paradise for any nature lover.

The largest isle of the Ha Long Bay is home to a national park, boating rich biodiversity and many sites of natural beauty.

The islands of this park include the beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay, an off the beaten path alternative to the tourist ridden Halong Bay..

Located on an eponymous island, this national park offers hiking of various difficulties, diverse fauna, and a many-chambered cave.

Situated off the shore of North Vietnam, the gulf is surrounded by great off-the-beaten-path destinations, including Cat Ba Island.

An impressive cave with carvings and ornaments dating back to the 16C, where people have been worshiping for centuries.

Once known as Saigon, this city is a mixture of towering skyscrapers and elegant temples, full of great food, history, and culture.

A large web of subterranean tunnels, now a Vietnam War memorial, featuring monuments, shooting range, and various artifacts.

Full of bustle and history, the streets of Saigon offer a great afternoon of exploration with its stalls, shops, and temples.

Walk around the palace, admiring its modern architecture, as well as an array of historic artifacts and the original furnishing.

An impressive museum housing artifacts dating to the Bronze Age, and tracing the history of Vietnamese, Cham, and Khmer cultures.

With white sandy beaches on the shores of the South China Sea, this relaxed city boasts colonial era architecture and lovely resorts.

Learn more about snakes, their habitat, and uses on a visit to this farm, where snake venom is harvested for medicinal purposes.

A 20C temple full of marvelous sculptures representing Taoist gods, heroes, and myths, featuring an artificial pond with turtles.

Unofficially dating to the 17C, this market is popular with travelers seeking authentic Vietnamese attire, handcrafts, food, and more.

Spend a night on the town and visit this 19C opera house, known for its French Colonial architecture and ornamentation.

A 19C cathedral boasting Romanesque architecture, featuring a statue of St. Mary and twin 58m bell towers.

With hiking, mountain biking, and birdwatching, this massive national park attracts visitors to its remarkably diverse rainforests.

Vietnam's fourth largest city offers an array of bustling boulevards, a pleasant quay promenade, and exciting floating markets.

Enjoy the spectacular view of Ho Chi Minh City from this enclosed observation deck, set on a 49th floor of an impressive skyscraper.

Focusing primarily on the Vietnam War, this museum exhibits military artillery, prisoner cages, photographs, and a guillotine.

Attracting locals, tourists, and researchers alike, this wonderful protects several endangered species.

The perfect place for bird lovers, the 7,500 ha Tram Chim National Park is home to the endangered saurs crane.

Known as the gateway to the Mekong Delta, this riverside city is a busy market town, dating back to the 17C.

One of southern Vietnam's oldest cities, Bien Hoa has been a major industrial center for years.