In a nutshell
- Vietnam is a wonderfully diverse destination with an incredible range of things to do: rice terraces, beaches, mountain landscapes, buzzing cities, and the iconic Halong Bay.
- We’ll show you the 11 places in Vietnam you absolutely need to see — plus practical tips for each stop. There’s also a map to help you plan your route.
- The best way to take in all the highlights is on a two- or three-week road trip through Vietnam.
Vietnam Highlights on a Map
The most beautiful places in Vietnam are scattered all across the country. Most of the top sights are in the north, but the south and central regions have some serious must-sees as well. We’ve marked them all on a map so you can get a quick overview before you start planning.
Saigon
What do you need to know? Saigon is best described as a fascinating mix of Southeast Asia and Europe. Colonial buildings stand alongside gleaming skyscrapers, and all around them you get that quintessential Southeast Asian energy. The city is also officially known as Ho Chi Minh City — both names are used interchangeably, and either is totally fine.
Must-Sees:
- Old Post Office
- War Remnants Museum
- Ben Thanh Market
- Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Book Street
- Landmark 81
- Chinatown
- City Hall
Here are more tips on Saigon:
Mekong Delta
What do you need to know? In the Mekong Delta, the Mekong River splits into dozens of smaller branches. Between them, the Vietnamese have built an intricate network of canals to irrigate fruit plantations, palm trees, and vast rice paddies. Everything here is lush and green, and the boat rides are genuinely wonderful. It takes about three hours to get from Saigon to the Mekong Delta, so we’d recommend spending at least one night there.
Highlights:
- Boat ride through the canals of the Mekong Delta
- Visit floating markets
- Bicycle tour through small villages and rice paddies
- Coconut plantations in Ben Tre
Phu Quoc
What do you need to know? If you’re after a few days of sun, sand, and swaying palm trees, Phu Quoc is your best bet. The island sits in the south of Vietnam and has long white sandy beaches and seriously turquoise water. Head inland and you’ll find a vast jungle with beautiful waterfalls — a great contrast to the beach life.
Highlights:
- Sao Beach
- Khem Beach
- Ho Quoc Temple
- Hiking through the jungle
- Suoi Tranh Waterfall (during rainy season)
Hội An
What do you need to know? Hội An is said to have one of the most beautiful historic districts in Southeast Asia — and we completely agree. Canals wind through the city, and the narrow alleyways are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The real highlight? The colorful lanterns hanging absolutely everywhere. At night, they light up the whole city in every shade imaginable. Honestly, this is one of the top things to do in Vietnam.
Must-Sees:
- Old Town with the Japanese Bridge
- Night Market
- Rice fields of Cam Kim
- My Son Holyland
- Cham Islands
Here are our best tips for Hội An:
Da Nang
What do you need to know? Da Nang has cool high-rises, a miles-long beach, and several rows of palm trees separating the two. The city itself doesn’t have a huge number of well-known attractions, but it’s a really great base for day trips — the Golden Hands Bridge and the Hai Van Pass are both spectacular.
Must-Sees:
- Dragon Bridge
- Marble Mountains
- Hai Van Pass
- Lady Buddha
- Da Nang Beach
- Golden Hands Bridge
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Here are all our tips for Da Nang:
Hue
What do you need to know? Hue was once the city of emperors, and you can still feel that history everywhere. Magnificent palaces and pagodas were built during that era, and many are still standing today. The enormous palace complex is absolutely not to be missed. Some buildings were lost during the war, but much has been carefully rebuilt.
Must-Sees:
- Imperial Palace
- Imperial Tombs
- Thien Mu Pagoda
Hanoi
What do you need to know? Vietnam’s capital is simply an experience. It’s colorful, chaotic in the best way, and buzzing with energy. One of the most beautiful spots in Hanoi is the Old Quarter, where you can lose yourself among tiny shops and street food stalls in the winding alleyways. This is also where you’ll find most of Hanoi’s best points of interest.
Must-Sees:
- Old Quarter
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Train Street
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
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Here you'll find all our tips for Hanoi:
Halong Bay
What do you need to know? Halong Bay is a bay in northern Vietnam and one of the most famous places to visit in the world. The standout feature is the towering limestone karsts rising dramatically out of the water. The best way to explore is by boat — you can visit caves and floating villages along the way. Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay are still relatively under-the-radar picks within the bay and well worth adding to your itinerary.
Highlights:
- Boat tour through Halong Bay
- Lan Ha Bay
- Visit floating villages
- Sung Sot Cave
- Cat Ba Island
Here are all our tips for Ha Long Bay:
Ninh Binh
What do you need to know? Think of Ninh Binh as a landlocked version of Halong Bay — the same dramatic karst formations and caves, but instead of sea, you get rice paddies and rivers flowing right through the middle. A bicycle tour through the fields and villages is a must, and a boat ride through the landscape is equally rewarding.
Highlights:
- Boat tour at Trang An
- Bicycle tour
- Incense village
To all our tips for Ninh Binh
Sapa
What do you need to know? Sapa is a town in northern Vietnam, but the real draw is the mountain landscape surrounding it. The Vietnamese have carved rice terraces into the hillsides everywhere you look, making the whole area incredibly green and photogenic. You can go on great excursions into nature and even summit the highest peak in Vietnam.
Highlights:
- Hike through the rice terraces
- Take the cable car to Vietnam’s highest peak — Fansipan
- Love & Silver Waterfall
- Cat Cat Village
Read also our tips for Sapa
Ha Giang Loop
What do you need to know? The Ha Giang Loop is a motorcycle route through the far north of Vietnam. Along the way, you’ll pass waterfalls, traditional villages, winding mountain roads, and stunning viewpoints overlooking terraced rice fields and dramatic peaks. For us, the Ha Giang Loop was one of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip.
Highlights:
- Heaven Gate
- View into the Song Lo Valley
- Ma Pi Leng Pass
- Weekly markets in the villages
Our top tip: We rode with an experienced local motorcycle driver and planned four days for the trip — something we’d do again without hesitation. That’s why we’d highly recommend this 4-day tour through the Ha Giang Loop.
Everything you need to know about the Ha Giang Loop, you'll find right here:
