Vietnam is so much worth visiting! A country where you can stay for many weeks and there will be still much left to see. Everyone can find their own adventure.
Beautiful historical sights and temples, plenty of hiking opportunities and awesome views. Even though you skip all of this, you can still spend weeks exploring local food and drinks or enjoying the beaches and boat trips. Vietnam has it all.
It's very cheap country, so you eat, travel and stay comfortable without ruining your budget.
Do you want to know the prices in Vietnam? Check out our Vietnam budget guide.
Places from the photo journey on the map
Visit this museum if you want to know more facts about Vietnam War. Three floors full of heartbreaking pictures and sad facts, but very informative and nicely done museum.
Cu Chi is a connected network of underground tunnels used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots, supply routes, homes and hospitals during the Vietnam War. You can try to get in and crawl in the tunnels. Very cool experience!
Do your own trip to Cu Chi Tunnels in Ben Duoc by bus from Ho Chi Minh City (nr.13 and then nr.79). Ben Duoc tunnels are less touristy and more authentic than Ben Dinh tunnels.
The Hang Nga Guesthouse or The Crazy House is a bizarre building designed by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga, inspired by nature and Gaudí.
This pagoda is worth seeing during your visit of Dalat. It is a quiet place where you can take a rest and enjoy the tranquility.
Rent a motorbike and explore the surroundings of Dalat. Don't miss The Silk Factory where you can learn see the process of making the natural silk.
Next stops on your motorbike trip could be of the many waterfalls around Dalat. We chose The Elephant Waterfall as it was close.
Don't miss the Coffee plantations and the great coffee shop where you can stop, take a walk in the plantation and then enjoy a cup of excellent vietnamese coffee.
If you could visit only one city in Vietnam, it would be definitely Hoi An. Great atmosphere, interesting history, ancient family temples and tempting food.
The lanterns are symbol of Hoi An. Evening city walk belongs to one of our unforgettable memories. Hoi An is regarded as one of the most romantic places in the world, so this is a tip to all honeymooners :).
Located 40 km from Hoi An, the ruined Hindu temples of My Son are listed in UNESCO and are worth to visit. The temples has been constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa.
We recommend you to rent a motorbike and make a nice day trip on your own. You should get up early to be there before the crowds arrive. It is really worth it if you want to enjoy the great atmosphere alone in the morning.
Thien Mu or The Pagoda of the Celestial Lady is a seven storey pagoda built by the Nguyen Dynasty by the Perfume River. It is an important place in Vietnamese history and a symbol of Hue.
The Imperial City of Hue is a huge fortified complex of palaces and pagodas built by Nguyen emperors in 1362. It took over two centuries to complete. It is listed in UNESCO.
The Tu Duc Tomb is a huge complex full of temples and tombs located 6 km from Hue. Tu Duc was the longest ruling emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty in 19th century. He had more than a hundred wives and concubines and he is actually buried in a secret place. The 200 laborers who buried him were all beheaded, so nobody would know the location.
If you want an alternative to expensive and touristy Halong Bay tours, you can go to Cat Ba town and make a day boat trip from there.
The nature around Cat Ba is very similar to Halong with less crowds and significantly lower prices. Be aware that this doesn't mean that is not touristy.
One of the highlights of our trip in Vietnam was definitely visit of Sapa. Stunning landscape, mountains in the mist and rice fields everywhere you look.
Most of the people hire either the local guides or go on an organized trip, but we recommend to hike on your own. It can happen you get a little lost, but you will always find the way to a village. Every rice field leads somewhere and you will have a opportunity to meet people who are not so connected to the tourist industry.
Sapa is home to several ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Dao, Tay, Giáy and others. You will meet them everywhere and they are really persistent to follow you in hours in order to make some money. Try not to get annoyed by them. It is definitely not an easy task as you are approached hundred times a day, but it is what it is and you can't blame them.
The capital of Vietnam can offer a lot. Visit definitely the Old Quarter and The Vietnamese Women's Museum. Skip The Ho Chi Min Museum as it is boring, full of communist propaganda and weird things that suppose to be art. Worst museum ever!
Places from the photo journey on the map
Read more
