Vietnam Tourism & Travel Guide - Places to See in Vietnam

Vietnam Tour & Travel Guide - Places to See in Vietnam

This fast paced city is bound to make you dizzy with its high energy as you make your way through the countless motorbikes and timeless alleys. You can spend a great day visiting the ancient pagodas and the teeming markets, past ramshackle wooden shops selling silk, spices and baskets. Another afternoon can be reserved for looking up the swanky skyscrapers, designer malls, gourmet restaurants and minimalist bars. Also known as Saigon, the city teams up different experiences under one roof.

Hanoi

Another city in Vietnam that blends the past with the present seamlessly is Hanoi. The Old Quarter marked by the swarm of motorbikes is the ideal spot to check the pulse of the city. You fill find hawkers in conical hats selling their wares as locals sip on coffee and beer watching life go by. The city has huge mansions along stunning boulevards and lakes and parks. If you are an early riser, you can also see synchronized t?ai chi at dawn on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake. At night, dine in some of the finest restaurants and show off your latest dance moves on the floor. Hanoi is also known as Thanh Long or the ?City of the Soaring Dragon?.

Central Vietnam

This one?s got to be right on top of your list of places to see. It?s home to some of the most fantastic historical sites, brilliant food and the country?s most popular beach. It also has three must-see Unesco World Heritage sites ? Imperial Hué, Hoi An and the sacred ruins of ancient My Son. While Hoi An is a shopper?s delight and, along with Hué, also a superb location for foodies. The north of the region also attracts former servicemen and young travelers who want to revisit the the Demilitarised Zone, the old border between North and SouthVietnam, which saw some of the fiercest fighting of the American War. While the Marble Mountains and Hai Van Pass are choked with hawkers, despite which the make fascinating destinations, you should explore the relatively less visited heights of Bach Ma National Park and Ba Na Hill Station and large tracts of tele-famous China Beach.

Mekong Delta

This charming watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages crisscrossed by brown canals and rivulets fed by the mighty Mekong River is better known as Vietnam?s ?rice basket?. With lush green rice paddies and fish farms, this delta plain also nourishes the cultivation of sugarcane, fruit, coconut and shrimp. The area is primarily rural, but one of the most densely populated regions in the country. You can visit quaint riverside towns, taste fruits bartered in the colorful markets or dine on home-cooked delicacies before overnighting as a homestay guest. Other highlights include visits to local orchards, flower markets and fish farms. It also has bird sanctuaries, nice beach getaways like Hon Chong and Khmer pagodas in the regions around Soc Trang and Tra Vinh. If you?re looking for an idyllic retreat you should look no further than Phu Quoc, a forested island dotted with pretty beaches, freshwater springs and empty dirt roads.

South-Central Coast

For the beach lovers, this is the place to come to. Nha Trang and Mui Ne are ideal for reclining by the water with a drink in hand. You can then get a relaxing massage or a pedicure before hitting the bars. Once you?re done with the easy relaxation, you can get sporty by swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing and kite-surfing. Amidst this action is also a solemn reminder of the American War ? the Son My Memorial, commemorating the villagers who died in what the West remembers as the My Lai Massacre.