Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam

The capital Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and other locations promise unforgettable experiences for tourists in Vietnam, according to recommendations by the Times of India.
August 22, 2024 | 10:07
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Topping the list suggested by the Indian newspaper is Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital of Vietnam. Hanoi boasts a glorious history, rich culture, and exceptional street food.

The Times of India suggests that tourists explore street food tours, French-style villas, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, the Hoa Lo Prison, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Hanoi, with its deep historical roots and vibrant cultural scene, offers visitors a unique blend of ancient and modern attractions. From the bustling Old Quarter to serene lakes and grand colonial buildings, Hanoi is a city that captivates all who visit.

Next on the list is Ha Giang, a northern mountainous province known for its stunning natural scenery.

Tourists can explore villages inhabited by the Red Dao, H'Mong, and other ethnic minorities, experiencing markets and eco-resorts that offer insights into indigenous life and traditional crafts. The picturesque rice fields of Mu Cang Chai are a must-visit along the way.

Ho Chi Minh City, known for its dynamic street food scene, is also a must-visit according to the Times of India. The bustling metropolis combines modern skyscrapers with historic French colonial buildings and offers a variety of culinary delights.

With a population of 99 million and a coastline stretching from North to South, Vietnam offers a wealth of experiences for travelers. From bustling cities to tranquil countryside, Vietnam’s diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage make it a compelling destination for tourists from around the world.

Hanoi

Founded over 1000 years ago, Vietnam’s capital city is rich in history, with the streets of its rambling Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. Wandering these tree-lined lanes past crumbling colonial facades will transport you back in time.

However, today's Hanoi is about much more than the past. The ancient city is invigorated with modern cafes, world-class restaurants, and cool art galleries. When the sun goes down, you have your pick of watering holes, from sophisticated rooftop bars to buzzing Bia Hoi.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
Founded over 1000 years ago, Vietnam’s capital city is rich in history, with the streets of its rambling Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. Photo: Anh Tuan/ Pexels

If you're traveling to Hanoi for the first time, these are experiences you must try at least once in your life. From ancient temples to buzzing markets, Hanoi's got it all. It's the cultural heartbeat of Vietnam.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter serves up a sensory overload. Wisps of incense drift out onto streets from ancient temples, while the clang of blacksmiths’ hammers mingles with mobile fruit sellers’ calls. Jump in a cyclo and tour this intoxicating maze.

Ha Giang

A border province and official Frontier Area, Ha Giang lies in the remote far northern region of the country. To visit this province is to journey back in time and encounter some of Vietnam’s most rugged and grand landscapes. Ha Giang is best experienced as a road trip on two wheels, soaking up the majesty of the landscape and the atmosphere of the remote towns and minority villages.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
A border province and official Frontier Area, Ha Giang lies in the remote far northern region of the country. Photo: Vietnam Tourism

The roads of Ha Giang serve up the ultimate motorcycle adventures. The drive into Dong Van is impossibly beautiful, however, Ma Pi Leng — where the road snakes past the Nho Que River — is the jewel in Ha Giang's crown.

Trekking opportunities are plentiful in Ha Giang. The Quan Ba Pass holds a lookout that lives up to its name: Heaven’s Gate. Quan Ba is also the gateway to the lofty limestone peaks and rock-strewn fields of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark.

Hue

Hue is a city chock-full of stories. The Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty built their feudal capital along Hue’s fertile riverbanks and atop its forested hills, but their imperial legacy is just one of many reasons to visit. Hue’s refined cuisine is the stuff of legend, and its leafy streets are lined with mossy pagodas, art déco mansions, and eye-popping markets. Throughout the whole scene, the Perfume River sets a languid pace the rest of the city is happy to follow.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
Hue is a city chock-full of stories. Photo: @minhlagrin.

Get acquainted with Vietnam’s last royal dynastic family by exploring what survives of their 143-year reign. Roam the palaces, pavilions, and theatres of the Hue Citadel and make time to visit the tombs of emperors Tu Duc, Minh Mang, and Khai Dinh.

You’re never far from a world-class meal in Hue. Nose around the flapping fresh produce at Dong Ba Market for a teaser, then whet your appetite with Hue’s much-loved snacks, such as Banh Khoai and Banh Beo.

Hoi An

Hoi An is a place where the bold march of progress peters into an amble. In this one-time trading port, the Thu Bon River meanders past crumbling shophouses and weathered pagodas, while sampans come and go from the old ferry quay. Outside the Old Town, two-lane roads slice through waving rice fields and emerge at a frothy coastline. Stay a couple of days, and Hoi An's easygoing beauty and lantern-lit nights may leave you hopelessly beguiled.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
Hoi An is a place where the bold march of progress peters into an amble. Photo: Pexels

Merchants from China, Japan and later Europe settled in Hoi An from the 15th to 19th centuries, creating a unique architectural fusion. Bring your camera as you tread the Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky ancestral house, and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall.

Ho Chi Minh City

Vibrating with energy, innovation, and traffic – lots of traffic – Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is Vietnam's economic heart and the southern region's main hub.

A freewheeling, cosmopolitan metropolis, HCMC's dynamic cityscape draws together old and new Vietnam in the most compact of spaces, representing the city’s past as well as its future. This city has many well-known attractions, including the War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, and Ben Thanh Market.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
Vibrating with energy, innovation, and traffic – lots of traffic – Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is Vietnam's economic heart and the southern region's main hub. Photo: Don Amatayakul.

Ho Chi Minh City has consistent temperatures year-round, and the weather is generally warm. Heatwaves hit the city from April to May, welcoming the rainy season from May to November. Slightly cooler temperatures emerge in December and January.

Sapa

Sapa town stands at the head of a deep valley of magnificent rice terraces that are still farmed today as they have been for centuries. Backdrops don’t get much more spectacular. Enticing ribbons of the road lead the eye down to the valley floor, white-water rivers rush among rice fields, and lush green mountains stretch into the distance as far as the eye can see. The highest peak in the region, Mount Fansipan, crowns the ragged ridge line high above town.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
Sapa town stands at the head of a deep valley of magnificent rice terraces that are still farmed today as they have been for centuries. Photo: @_im.rot_

A 6-kilometer cable car journey will whisk you 3,143m to the summit of Mount Fansipan in just 15 minutes. Wander the pagoda complex before climbing the last few steps to the summit. The views from the ‘Roof of Indochina’ are unmatched.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park

When it comes to tourist attractions in Vietnam, it is not an overstatement to consider Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park at the top. With magnificent landscape, biodiversity, and karst-specific geomorphology, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park offers an unforgettable experience for your trip to Quang Binh province.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
Phong Nha is a fantastic place to soak up the beauty of Vietnam’s countryside. Photo: Oxalis Adventure

Phong Nha is a fantastic place to soak up the beauty of Vietnam’s countryside. The best option for nature lovers is booking a boutique homestay, farm stay, or villa in the rice fields — just outside of the town. Here you’ll be immersed in rural life and wake up to beautiful views each morning. Phong Nha town also has a handful of accommodation options to choose from, including easy-going hostels and humble riverside guest houses.

Mekong River Delta

In Southern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is home to myriad attractive destinations and unique ecosystems that deserve more than a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City.

Times Of India: 8 Must-Visit Destinations In Vietnam
In Southern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is home to myriad attractive destinations and unique ecosystems that deserve more than a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: thegoldenspiral.

The River Mekong unravels into nine rivers, creating the fertile Delta as nowadays. Daily life in the delta flows with the ever-changing waters, rice fields are dug as the waters recede and fisheries thrive throughout the annual flood. Considered as the “Rice bowl” of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta River brings the magic inside that appeals to all those who have come to this immense land.

The Mekong Delta is completely focused around the water, which explains why the only way to navigate this region is by boat. You will see rice paddies, fruit orchards, and floating markets, Buddhist temples, and family houses clinging to the river’s banks.

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