Vietnam surprisingly has a diverse bucket list of attractions, and as much as may think otherwise it is not real at all. Starting with the cascading rice terraces of Sapa, islands of HaLong Bay, mountains of Da Lat, sand dunes of Mui Ne Vietnam is packed with a lot of things to offer in terms of its culture, natural beauty and thrilling hikes. Oh, not to mention the nightlife, street shopping and the lip smacking local food. Hits you differently, and it's surely but slowly being recognised as a tourist hotspot these days. If you would want the perfect trail of backpacking here in Vietnam, these are the places you should consider adding in your itinerary.
Hanoi
The capital of Vietnam is a great place to kick start your trip, you can either end or start here depending on how you wish to explore Vietnam. Either from north to south or the other way, most probably you can save a little on flights if you try out the exit and landing. With an overwhelming amount of bikes on the street, you might freak out but with time you'll get used to it. The busy city of Hanoi has everything from lakes, pagodas, museums and the old quarter. The level of connectivity from here to the rest of the places is what makes this city the hub of tourists and while you're here don't miss out on trying a bowl of pho before you leave. You can do various day trips from here - to the countryside of Sapa and a trip to Halong Bay.
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Sapa
Located in Northern Vietnam, where you can witness beautiful rice fields that demand a day of hiking. Drive to the beautiful Thac Bac Waterfall, which is outside the town of sapa and take the off-beaten track by visiting the incredible Ban Pho Village. Get friendly with the locals here who are one of the friendliest tribes in South East Asia, settled on a Mountainous Cliff side and live life on the edge. Be warned they will try to get you drunk on the legendary corn wine with all good intentions. If you want to discover a bit more then include Heaven's Gate, Mount Fansipan which happens to be the highest peak of Indochina and Muong Hoa Valley in your itinerary, and you’re good to go.
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Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island
Often known as the Eighth Wonder of the world and a UNESCO site with dense jungle scattered all around the bay, many uninhabited islands, emerald blue waters and limestone karst peaks jutting out. Halong bay oozes of Vietnamese coastline from all sides. You can take a tour of the island which would be the best option and or consider staying in Cat Ba island for a change and check out the rock climbing scene after.
Ninh Binh
You can skip going to Hanoi and get here directly from Halong bay as well. The top 4 things that should be a part of your to do’s here is visiting Tam Coc, Trang An, Van Long Nature Reserve and Cuc Phuong National Park - for mind blowing camping experiences. Surround yourself with lush nature here at Ninh Binh and don’t spend less than 2 days exploring mother nature here as it's one of a kind.
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Phong Nha
Known for its numerous caves and the world’s largest cave system, Hang Son Doong. However, the excursion to this cave can cost you a real fortune and is operated only by one company which has a long waiting list. So you're better off choosing your alternatives : the third largest cave -Hang En cave or Paradise Cave. home to the last wild populations of black bears, elephants and tigers is The Phong Nha Ke Bang national park and is surely worth a visit as well.
Hoi An
Da Nang is a great day trip from hoi an to explore the Marble Mountains, which is an extraordinary coastal city. But hoi an has quite a lot to offer from its enchanting UNESCO World Heritage protected of the Ancient Town, beautiful fishing villages right on the outskirts of the city and An Bang and cua dai beaches on the opposite coast to Tra Que vegetable village, and on top of all the best place to get tailor-made clothes. If you are planning to drive around then take the Hai Van Pass via the mountains and along the coast to go up to Hue where you can see the imperial city which is also the former capital of Vietnam.
Nha Trang
You should visit Nha Trang to let loose and have some fun on the water while you indulge yourself in one of the high rise hotels or beachside resorts. Often known as the diving capital of Vietnam, it offers many more water sports like windsurfing, paragliding and jet skiing and many more. It surely does live up to its title well. Also, a little fact you can also have nights that you can't remember here as the nightlife is very much happening and as they say ‘lit’.
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Ho Chi Minh City
As you would know Hanoi is the cultural hub of Vietnam, its extreme opposite is Ho Chi Minh City the international one. One of the must visit sites here is the The War Remnants Museum which is relating to the terrors of the Vietnam War. to get a taste of the city's nightlife head to one of the famous rooftop bars and party all night with a panoramic view of the city. If you want out of the city take a trip out of the city and tour the incredible network of Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta. Craving for a beach? head to Vung Tau which is about 2 hours away from the city of Ho Chi Minh.
Well, this is your all in one Vietnam guide with things to do worthwhile during you visit. Get to the planning part and exhaust your 30-day visa with a detailed itinerary for yourself. What are you waiting for? Get yourself the perfect personalised Vietnam package and have Happy and safe travels!
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