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Last Updated On April 10, 2020 by Dave Briggs Leave a Comment

Top Things to See and Do in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the most interesting countries in South-East Asia to visit, given both its history and landscapes. Here's some things to see and do in Vietnam.

A local trader in Vietnam

Researching What Do in Vietnam

When planning to visit a town, place of interest, or country, I always do a little background research first. This involves a combination of reading guide books (in this case the Lonely Planet Vietnam edition), looking at other peoples travel blogs (obviously!), looking at YouTube videos, and generally surfing the net.

I also like to ask people I know have visited the place, although in this case, I don't know anybody that has been to Vietnam. Weird, considering I know tonnes of people who travel a lot!

Although my plans to visit Vietnam are far from concrete, if I do visit at the end of the year, it will probably be for two or three weeks. This then, is a list of the things I would like to see and do in Vietnam when there.

 Things to See and Do in Vietnam: The North

Halong Bay – Halong Bay is famous around the world due to its white limestone pillars. Apparently, there are over 1600 of them! Every photo of them I have seen looks amazing, and I can't wait to see it with my own eyes!

Visiting halong Bay is on my list of things to see and do in Vietnam

Photo from WikiTravel

Hanoi: From all accounts, Hanoi is considered to be one of Vietnam's more attractive cities, due to its blend of east meets west architecture. It also has an old quarter section, with plenty of colonial style shop fronts. Museums are always going to appeal to me of course, and Hanoi has them aplenty. The Ho Chi Minh museum looks the most intriguing. Here's a guide to spending 2 days in Hanoi.

Ho Chi Minh museum in Hanoi, Vietnam

 

Photo from WikiTravel

The main points of interest in Hanoi, seem to be the Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem lake, Red Bridge, and plenty of opportunities to sample the local food!

Things to See and Do in Vietnam: The Middle

Hoi An: Nobody seems to have a bad word to say about Hoi An. It is well known for its charm and beauty, as well as the mix of cultural influences. The streets have mixes of Japanese, Chinese, and French colonial style buildings. Hoi An also has a dedicated Lantern Street, where you can choose from thousands of designs in vibrant patterns and colours. It would be great to see these, especially if they are lit up at night!

Colourful lanterns in hoi an

Photo by Insider Journeys

Things to See and Do in Vietnam: The South

Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City: There are plenty of things to do in Saigon! Perhaps here more than anywhere, I can brush up on my knowledge of the American War (as not doubt the locals call the Vietnam War!). The War Remnants Museum has strong recommendations as a place to visit, and apparently even has a tank or two! Other places of interest within the city include the kitsch Reunification Palace, Opera House, and Cathedral.

I have always wanted to visit the Cu Chi tunnels (which were constructed during the conflict with the USA), as well as the Mekong Delta. Saigon should make a good jumping off point to get out an explore those areas as well.

Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam from the Vietnam War
“VietnamCuChiTunnels“. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.

Best Island in Vietnam

Vietnam also has some nice islands to visit. I think the best island in Vietnam is Con Dao. It's still relatively undiscovered by mass tourism, so see it while you can!

The beaches in Con Dao

Have you visited Vietnam, and if so, do you have anything to add to my list of things to see and do in Vietnam? I would love to hear from you, so please leave some suggestions below.

A Guide to the Top Things to See and Do in Vietnam - Read the full article to find out what you should see and do in Vietnam

 

 

Filed Under: Asia and Australasia

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Dave Briggs, writer at Dave's Travel Pages

On this travel site, you'll find detailed guides and tips on traveling to Greece, as well as bikepacking blogs about cycling around the world. Dave's Travel Pages is an essential resource for planning trips to popular destinations like the Greek islands as well as preparing for adventures in off the beaten path destinations.

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