Things to do in Vietnam

25 things to do in Vietnam

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Cruise among limestone karsts in Ha Long Bay

  Glide through emerald waters past thousands of towering limestone islands and islets topped with lush greenery; spend a night on a traditional junk boat as the karsts silhouette against the sunset.

  Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province

• Ride the Ha Giang Loop on a motorbike

  Tackle the winding mountain roads of Vietnam's northernmost province, passing dramatic gorges, terraced hillsides, and minority villages in a multi-day adventure.

  Ha Giang Province

• Explore the world's largest cave, Son Doong, in Phong Nha-Ke Bang

  Descend into a subterranean world of colossal chambers, own microclimate, and underground jungles; a once-in-a-lifetime trek for adventurous cavers.

  Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh

• Watch the lanterns light up Hoi An Ancient Town

  Stroll the pedestrian streets of this UNESCO-listed trading port as hundreds of silk lanterns illuminate the Thu Bon River, reflecting a timeless yellow glow.

  Hoi An, Quang Nam Province

• Walk through the Imperial City of Hue

  Step inside the walled citadel of Vietnam's last royal dynasty, exploring dynastic temples, ornate gates, and the grandeur of the Forbidden Purple City within.

  Hue, Thua Thien-Hue Province

• Taste authentic pho at a street stall in Hanoi's Old Quarter

  Slurp a steaming bowl of beef or chicken pho from a low plastic stool in the maze of ancient streets, where the secret broth recipe has been perfected over generations.

  Hanoi

• Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City

  Squeeze into the narrow underground passages used by Viet Cong fighters, experiencing booby traps, living quarters, and a gritty firsthand lesson in the resilience of war.

  Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City

• Hike through terraced rice fields in Sapa

  Trek through cascading emerald paddies sculpted on mountain slopes, meeting Hmong and Dao communities while the clouds drift through the Muong Hoa Valley.

  Sapa, Lao Cai Province

• Sip Vietnamese egg coffee at Café Giang in Hanoi

  Try the creamy, custard-like cà phê trứng — brewed strong Robusta under a frothy whisked egg yolk cap — at the family-run cafe where it was invented in 1946.

  Hanoi

• Float through the winding waterways of the Mekong Delta

  Drift through a maze of canals shaded by palms, visiting floating markets, fruit orchards, and stilt house villages where life moves at the rhythm of the brown water.

  Ben Tre, Mekong Delta

• Visit the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City

  Confront the devastating legacy of the Vietnam War through graphic photographs, decommissioned military vehicles, and stories that offer a sobering historical perspective.

  Ho Chi Minh City

• Trek to the summit of Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak

  Ascend the 'Roof of Indochina' via a challenging two-day footpath or the record-breaking cable car, reaching 3,143m above the terraced valleys of Sapa.

  Sapa, Lao Cai Province

• Stroll across the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills

  Walk along a surreal pedestrian bridge held aloft by two giant stone hands, suspended in the clouds 1,400m above Da Nang, with panoramic views of the coastal mountains.

  Da Nang

• Explore the ancient My Son Sanctuary

  Wander among weathered brick Hindu temples built by the Cham civilization over a millennium ago, set in a lush jungle valley overshadowed by the Cat's Tooth Mountain.

  My Son, Quang Nam Province

• Dive into the bustle of Ben Thanh Market

  Navigate a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from fresh produce to counterfeit accessories in this iconic Saigon market, where haggling is an art form.

  Ho Chi Minh City

• Kayak through the caves of Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island

  Paddle into hidden lagoons, secret beaches, and phosphorescent-striped grottoes in the quieter, less-crowded sibling of Ha Long Bay, surrounded by sculpted limestone.

  Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong

• Sample the best banh mi at Banh Mi Phuong in Hoi An

  Bite into a crusty baguette stuffed with pâté, cold cuts, herbs, and secret sauces at the small stand made famous by Anthony Bourdain — a taste sensation.

  Hoi An, Quang Nam Province

• Watch a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi

  See wooden puppets dance on a pool of liquid stage while live musicians chant and drum, telling folk tales of dragons and rice farming at the Thang Long Theatre.

  Hanoi

• Hike the Marble Mountains in Da Nang

  Climb stone steps hewn into these five karst crags to discover Buddhist pagodas, shrine-crammed caves, and a panoramic view of My Khe Beach and the Son Tra Peninsula.

  Da Nang

• Party on Bui Vien Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City

  Join the backpacker-fuelled nightlife strip where neon signs, cheap beer corners, and thumping music spill onto a pedestrian-only lane until the early hours.

  Ho Chi Minh City

• Discover the surreal Red Sand Dunes of Mui Ne

  Watch the sun transform the rust-coloured sands into a fiery palette, while locals offer plastic sleds for a bumpy slide down the slopes of this coastal desert anomaly.

  Mui Ne, Binh Thuan Province

• Ride a jeep over the White Sand Dunes at sunrise

  Rumble across Saharan-like sand drifts in an open jeep before dawn, reaching a lone lotus lake where the day’s first light turns the scenery into a dreamscape.

  Bau Trang, Binh Thuan Province

• Cycle through the countryside of Ninh Binh's Tam Coc

  Pedal a bike along narrow paths winding between razor-sharp karst cliffs and nodding rice stalks, past river caves and lotus ponds, in 'Halong Bay on land'.

  Tam Coc, Ninh Binh Province

• Visit the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh

  Attend a noontime mass at this kaleidoscopic seat of Caodaism, where an all-seeing eye symbol adorns a vibrant holy see blending Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

  Tay Ninh, Tay Ninh Province

• Savor a seafood feast on An Bang Beach, Hoi An

  Pick your live shellfish from a restaurant tank right on the sand, then feast on grilled squid, clams in lemongrass, and steamed fish with the East Sea as your backdrop.

  An Bang, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province