Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam must visit

Most travelers to Vietnam are attracted by the country’s wonderful natural beauty: From the green rice fields in the north to the fascinating bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south.

Vietnam however is also a country with a long history and ancient traditions. It has many historic attractions and old temples. An overview of the most amazing tourist attractions in Vietnam

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most popular seaside resort town located along the second most beautiful bays in the country. It features beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand and clear ocean water with mild temperatures. The city has about 300,000 inhabitants and is more lively and urban in character than other beach destinations like Mui Ne and Phu Quoc. It’s also the scuba diving center of Vietnam.

Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is the region in southern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea. It is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields, that produces about half of the total of Vietnam’s agricultural output. Subsequently, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river rather than by road.

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 town and the Fansipan Mountain, on a backdrop of thick bamboo woodlands. Local mountain people, the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay, grow rice and corn on these paddy terraces, along with vegetables.

Phu Quoc

Located in front of the Cambodia coast, Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam. Phu Quoc is what Phuket would be if it hadn’t been overrun by development. The island features pristine tropical forests, undamaged coral reefs and great beaches. One of its beaches, named Bai Dai (Long Beach), was chosen by the ABC News as one of five beautiful and clean beaches. Phu Quoc is famous for producing the best nuoc mam or fermented fish sauce in the world.

Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue)

With seven stories, the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue is the tallest pagoda in Vietnam. The pagoda overlooks the Perfume River and is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital. The temple was built in 1601 during the rule of the Nguyễn Lords. The initial temple was very simply constructed, but over time it was redeveloped and expanded with more intricate features.

Top 5 beautiful lakes must visit in Vietnam

These must-see lakes have become ideal tourist destinations for those who wish to escape their hectic lives and immerse themselves in nature.

Ba Be Lake, Bac Kan

Ba Be lake, which means ‘Three Lakes’ in English, is located in the northern province of Bac Kan, about 240 kilometers northwest of the capital Hanoi. Surrounded by limestone cliffs, Vietnam’s largest natural freshwater lake stretches about eight kilometers north to south and reaches depths of 35 meters. It takes visitors at least two days to explore the lake, not to mention the nearby caves and a spectacular waterfall further upstream.

West Lake, Hanoi

West Lake is Hanoi’s largest freshwater lake, located right in the center of the capital. The lake draws scores of foreign tourists as well as local citizens who wish to see a thin blanket of mist rise over the surface at sunrise and sunset. Take a trip around the lake to see how people live and fish, and you will forget all about the city’s crazy traffic.

Song Muc Lake, Thanh Hoa

Set in Ben En National Park in the northern coastal province of Thanh Hoa, Song Muc Lake is the main tourist attraction. Filled by the Muc River and four other streams, the water is always crystal clear throughout the year. Together with a group of 21 floating islands, tourists can enjoy sightseeing excursions by boat or kayak. They can also experience daily life and cast their lines at a spot of fishing.

Ke Go Lake, Ha Tinh

Ke Go Lake was built in 1976 in the central province of Ha Tinh. It is the largest irrigation project in the province, and holds 350 million cubic meters of water. Covered by natural forests with abundant flora and fauna, Ke Go Lake has been visited by both national and international scientists. Tourists who reach Ke Go can now take a boat to take in water pouring down from the mountain, have a picnic along the banks and enjoy grilled fish, a specialty of the region.

Tuyen Lam Lake, Lam Dong

No one knows for sure when and why the lake was called Tuyen Lam, but many think that Tuyen stands for stream and Lam stands for forest. Tuyen Lam is a place where water and trees meet. Located in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong, where the dry season lasts up to six months, the lake is full of water all year round. If viewed from the cable hanger above, Tuyen Lam Lake is as a miniature ocean with each island oasis on the lake representing a continent. Here tourists have a chance to enjoy the cool highlands air, explore the cultural patterns of ethnic groups and join in exciting activities like elephant riding.

Where to stay in Vietnam

Hotels: 

Hotels in Vietnam have vastly improved and most towns have small hotels and guest houses. In the major towns, there is a full range of accommodation to suit all budgets. Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have excellent standard hotels and international chains such as Hilton (www.hilton.com), Sofitel (www.sofitel.com) and Intercontinental (www.intercontinental.com) with the facilities expected in 4- to 5-star hotels such as air conditioning, room service, swimming pool, health club and good restaurants. The major beach resorts of Nha Trang, Hoi An, Danang, Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc and Vung Tau have an excellent range of accommodation.

Grading: There is no formal grading of hotels, but usually the price gives an idea of the standard. However, make sure you look at the rooms and shop around; there are some superb deals to be had, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where quality budget hotels are sprouting up everywhere.

Bed and breakfast: 

There are very many value-for-money guest houses, or mini-hotels, across the country, mainly without air conditioning and some with shared bathrooms or without hot water. Generally they are simply furnished but usually very clean.

Camping: 

There are no campsites in Vietnam. Some travel companies arrange camping for organised groups on treks, and all the camping equipment is supplied.

Other accommodation: 

Budget: Most towns frequented by tourists have a selection of budget hotels and for less than US$20 a night you can expect a TV, possibly air conditioning and a very clean room. The location may not be very central but the major sights will be within walking distance or reachable by taxi, motorbike taxi or cyclo.

Homestays: Homestays are increasingly popular with visitors eager to gain a real insight into Vietnamese culture. These can be formally organised by your tour operator or done more casually if the opportunity presents itself.  Options vary - you can stay overnight with a hilltribe family in a traditional stilthouse in the north east, and join the family for a home-cooked meal. In the Mekong Delta stay with a farming family and learn a little about their way of life in a region where a boat is pretty much the only way to travel.