Most travellers to Vietnam are attracted by the country’s wonderfulnatural beauty: From the green rice fields in the north to thefascinating bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south. Vietnam however isalso a country with a long history and ancient traditions. It has manyhistoric attractions and old temples.
Following isan overview of the most amazing tourist attractions in Vietnam bytouropia.com, a travel list website that features the most amazingsights around the world divided into various “best of” lists.
10. Nha Trang
Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most popular seaside resort town located alongthe second most beautiful bays in the country. It features beautifulbeaches with fine and clean sand and clear ocean water with mildtemperatures. The city has about 300,000 inhabitants and is more livelyand urban in character than other beach destinations like Mui Ne and PhuQuoc. It’s also a major scuba diving centre of Vietnam.
9. Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an immense network of connecting undergroundtunnels located about 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City centre. Thetunnels, measuring 200km in total length, were used by liberationsoldiers as hiding spots during the Vietnam War, and were the base ofoperations for the Tet Offensive in 1968. The tunnels have become apopular tourist attraction, and visitors are invited to crawl around inthe safer parts of the tunnel system.
8. Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southern Vietnam where the riverapproaches and empties into the sea. It is a very rich and lush area,covered with rice fields, that produces about half of the total ofVietnam’s agricultural output. Subsequently, life in the Mekong Deltarevolves much around the river, and all the villages are oftenaccessible by river rather than by road.
7. Mui Ne
The formerly little-inhabited beach south of the fishing village ofMui Ne has seen some serious development in the last 15 years. Due tostrong sea breezes it is a popular destination in Vietnam for kite andwindsurfing. No trip to Mui Ne is complete without a trip to the famoussand dunes located a short distance north of the town. The vast sandyexpanse provide some great panoramic views especially during sunset.
6. Sa Pa Terraces
Sa Pa is a town in northwest Vietnam not far from the Chinese border.Rice terraces can be found in the Muong Hoa valley between Sa Pa townand the Fansipan Mountain, on a backdrop of thick bamboo woodlands.Local mountain people, the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay, grow rice onthese paddy terraces, along with vegetables.
5. Phu Quoc Island
Located in front of the Cambodia coast, Phu Quoc is the largest islandin Vietnam. Phu Quoc is what Phuket would be if it hadn’t been overrunby development. The island features pristine tropical forests, undamagedcoral reefs and great beaches. One of its beaches, named Bai Dai (LongBeach), was chosen by the ABC News as one of five beautiful and cleanbeaches. Phu Quoc is famous for producing the best nuoc mam or fermentedfish sauce in the world.
4. Hoi An
This fishing-village-turned tourist attraction is situated on thecoast of the East Sea. Hoi An has been an international port from the16th century although the serious shipping business has long since movedto the city of Da Nang. The heart of the city is still the Old Town,full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shops. It is sometimes calledthe “Venice of Vietnam” because of the narrow canals that cut throughpart of the town.
3. Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi)
Located in the historical heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is one of themajor scenic spots in the city and serves as the locals’ favouriteleisure spot. Hoan Kiem means “returned sword”, and the name comes from alegend in which King Le Loi was given a magical sword by the gods,which he used to drive out the invading Chinese. Later he returned thesword to the Golden Turtle God in the lake.
2. Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue)
With seven stories, the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue is the tallest pagodain Vietnam. The pagoda overlooks the Perfume River and is regarded asthe unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital. The temple wasbuilt in 1601 during the rule of the Nguyễn Lords. The initial templewas very simply constructed, but over time it was redeveloped andexpanded with more intricate features.
1. Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is situated in north Vietnam round a 120km-long coast lineand is literally translated as “Bay of Descending Dragons”. The toptourist attraction in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay features thousands ofislands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, forming a spectacularseascape of limestone pillars. Several of the islands are hollow, withenormous caves, others islands include lakes and some support floatingvillages of fishermen.-VNA
Following isan overview of the most amazing tourist attractions in Vietnam bytouropia.com, a travel list website that features the most amazingsights around the world divided into various “best of” lists.
10. Nha Trang
Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most popular seaside resort town located alongthe second most beautiful bays in the country. It features beautifulbeaches with fine and clean sand and clear ocean water with mildtemperatures. The city has about 300,000 inhabitants and is more livelyand urban in character than other beach destinations like Mui Ne and PhuQuoc. It’s also a major scuba diving centre of Vietnam.
9. Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an immense network of connecting undergroundtunnels located about 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City centre. Thetunnels, measuring 200km in total length, were used by liberationsoldiers as hiding spots during the Vietnam War, and were the base ofoperations for the Tet Offensive in 1968. The tunnels have become apopular tourist attraction, and visitors are invited to crawl around inthe safer parts of the tunnel system.
8. Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southern Vietnam where the riverapproaches and empties into the sea. It is a very rich and lush area,covered with rice fields, that produces about half of the total ofVietnam’s agricultural output. Subsequently, life in the Mekong Deltarevolves much around the river, and all the villages are oftenaccessible by river rather than by road.
7. Mui Ne
The formerly little-inhabited beach south of the fishing village ofMui Ne has seen some serious development in the last 15 years. Due tostrong sea breezes it is a popular destination in Vietnam for kite andwindsurfing. No trip to Mui Ne is complete without a trip to the famoussand dunes located a short distance north of the town. The vast sandyexpanse provide some great panoramic views especially during sunset.
6. Sa Pa Terraces
Sa Pa is a town in northwest Vietnam not far from the Chinese border.Rice terraces can be found in the Muong Hoa valley between Sa Pa townand the Fansipan Mountain, on a backdrop of thick bamboo woodlands.Local mountain people, the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay, grow rice onthese paddy terraces, along with vegetables.
5. Phu Quoc Island
Located in front of the Cambodia coast, Phu Quoc is the largest islandin Vietnam. Phu Quoc is what Phuket would be if it hadn’t been overrunby development. The island features pristine tropical forests, undamagedcoral reefs and great beaches. One of its beaches, named Bai Dai (LongBeach), was chosen by the ABC News as one of five beautiful and cleanbeaches. Phu Quoc is famous for producing the best nuoc mam or fermentedfish sauce in the world.
4. Hoi An
This fishing-village-turned tourist attraction is situated on thecoast of the East Sea. Hoi An has been an international port from the16th century although the serious shipping business has long since movedto the city of Da Nang. The heart of the city is still the Old Town,full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shops. It is sometimes calledthe “Venice of Vietnam” because of the narrow canals that cut throughpart of the town.
3. Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi)
Located in the historical heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is one of themajor scenic spots in the city and serves as the locals’ favouriteleisure spot. Hoan Kiem means “returned sword”, and the name comes from alegend in which King Le Loi was given a magical sword by the gods,which he used to drive out the invading Chinese. Later he returned thesword to the Golden Turtle God in the lake.
2. Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue)
With seven stories, the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue is the tallest pagodain Vietnam. The pagoda overlooks the Perfume River and is regarded asthe unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital. The temple wasbuilt in 1601 during the rule of the Nguyễn Lords. The initial templewas very simply constructed, but over time it was redeveloped andexpanded with more intricate features.
1. Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is situated in north Vietnam round a 120km-long coast lineand is literally translated as “Bay of Descending Dragons”. The toptourist attraction in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay features thousands ofislands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, forming a spectacularseascape of limestone pillars. Several of the islands are hollow, withenormous caves, others islands include lakes and some support floatingvillages of fishermen.-VNA
