Top 10 Things To Do in Vietnam

#1. Visit The Capital City-Hanoi

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Hanoi is considered to be one of the friendliest and best tourist destinations globally.

The Old Quarter aka “36 Old Streets” is the business hub of Hanoi and the main tourist area of the city. The Old Quarter is filled with colonial architecture and remnants of its French past. St. Joseph’s Cathedral aka The Big Church, Built to resemble Notre Dame in Paris, St. Joseph’s Cathedral was one of the first structures built by the French and is still standing.

Another area you shouldn’t miss is the French Quarter, there are many early 20th-century architecture, Art Deco designs, and some 1930s modernism thanks to the French influences .
Maison Centrale, aka the Hao Lo Prison, was known as the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War where it housed American POWs including Senator John McCain.

Hanoi Opera House is aptly located in the French Quarter. It was modeled after the Paris Opera House, Palais Garnier, and is one of the most beautiful pieces of colonial architecture in Hanoi.

No trip to Hanoi would be complete without a visit to the tomb of Ho Chi Minh. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum houses president Ho Chi Minh in a glass tomb. Paying a visit to Uncle Ho is one of the top attractions in Hanoi.

If you want to learn more about local people’s life, you can visit Hoan Kiem Lake, which is a quiet oasis in the heart of the city. Local people do their morning exercise or play chess here.

Near the lake, you’ll find The Temple of Literature. It was Vietnam’s first university, where students were educated in the principles of Confucianism, literature, and poetry. Today, the temple and its monuments honor Vietnam’s greatest scholars, from poets to mathematicians and historians.

When visiting Hanoi, don’t miss the Water Puppet Show, especially for families. This ancient art form dates back 1000 years and was traditionally performed in ponds or lakes.

Located in northern Vietnam, Hanoi is the perfect place to make a base when visiting places in Vietnam like Halong Bay and Sapa.

#2. Don’t Miss Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Saigon is the most important city in the south of Vietnam, it served as the capital of South Vietnam during Vietnam War. Comparing with Hanoi, Saigon has been more exposed to Western ways, whereas Hanoi is more influenced by neighboring China. Vietnam was French from 1887 to 1954; the French left a clear mark in the look of the Saigon. One of the nicest things to do in Saigon is searching for examples of the French colonial architecture. The most important of them are: The Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office (a late 19th century building in Gothic style that is actually still in use) and the National Theater. For history buffs, visiting the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels are two of the unmissable things to do in Saigon. They are great places to learn about the Vietnam (It was called American War in Vietnam).

You can do a day tour to the Mekong Delta from Saigon .

#3. Cruise The Ha Long Bay

Located a few hours’ drive or boat cruise from the capital Hanoi, Halong Bay is must –see attraction for visitors to Vietnam. Ha Long literally means "Dragon Descends to the Sea”. The limestone (karst) islands scattered around Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay offers plenty of things to do and see, depending on your budget or time available, all with the beautiful “dragon’s back” islets as a backdrop. A cruise experience that allows visitors to observe the karst seascape in comfort from the top deck or their staterooms is recommended. These range in length and budget, from day-trip “junk boat” cruises to multi-day cruises on modern ships departing from Hanoi.

#4. Hiking In Terraced Rice Fields In Sapa

Located in Sapa Town, in the Lao Cai province, a mountainous area in the north of Vietnam, the Sapa terraced fields are among the most beautiful destinations in the world. The tiny villages dotted upon the hillsides are home to a diverse array of ethnic minorities, each with their own rich culture and customs. Combining both culture and natural beauty into one enticing package, Sapa is definitely worth visiting if you have the chance. It takes about 8 hours’ train ride from Hanoi to get there. Most people make the long voyage up here to do trekking in Sapa Vietnam, rightfully so. The allure of walking through rural Vietnam through stunning terraced rice fields with local people. The best time is September when all the rice paddies turn yellow.

#5. Visit Hoi An Ancient Town

Located on Vietnam’s central coast, Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved old town. Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage designated historic district of the city of Hoi An. Hoi An has long been an important center of shipping and trade, traders from China, Japan, Holland and Spain all do business here. Its two main historical landmarks are the occupying of the Japanese & Chinese, and the Western (Dutch and Spanish) during the 16th and 17th centuries. Hoi An’s symbol, the most popular remnant is the Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau or Lai Vien Kieu), on the west end of Tran Phu Street. The bridge was constructed in the early 1600’s by the Japanese community.

Today, Hoi An is also known as a shopping paradise that attracts tourists towards its wonderful souvenirs, handicrafts, antique pieces, silk materials, art paintings and so on. It’s also full of great restaurants and a range of accommodation for every budget.

#6. Learn About The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was the product of Cold War dynamics between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was a defining event of the 20th century, and even now, over 40 years later, it still haunts many. For history buffs, you shouldn’t miss the following places if you want to know more about the war.

Maison Centrale in Hanoi: The Vietnamese called it the Hỏa Lò prison, while American POWs ironically dubbed it the "Hanoi Hilton." Hundreds were tortured there with meat hooks and iron chains — including late US senator John McCain. During the French colonial period, Vietnamese prisoners were detained and tortured at the Hỏa Lò prison. During the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese did the same to American soldiers.

The War Remnants Museum in Saigon: You’ll get to see a variety of different types of war relics from Huey helicopters to attack bombers and tanks. But even more tragic, the museum includes personal memorabilia from the war’s victims as well as old photographs that will take you back to that dark time in history.

The Cu Chi Tunnels in Saigon: they are a series of underground tunnels and chambers which stretch for 30km outside of the city and they were used by the Vietcong guerrillas during the Vietnam War. You can actually crawl through these tunnels now and experience what it must have been like during that time which is an extreme and viscerally important experience.

#7. Boat trip Through the Mekong Delta

Stretching over 39,000 square kilometres, this mass of waterways is densely populated and one of the hotspots for travelers. The Mekong Delta is about 4 hours from the Saigon, which makes it the perfect place to visit on an organized tour. The waterways are filled with floating markets, homes, and schools and you simply can’t miss what all this looks like when it’s arranged around rushing water.

The best way to explore the Mekong Delta is zigzagging through the canals with a boat trip. In the shade of coconut trees you have a beautiful view of lush orchards, rice fields and local houses.

#8. Relax on One of its Many Beautiful Beaches

Having a coastline of more than 3260 km( 2037.5 miles), Vietnam has a lot of beautiful beaches as well as islands with the fine white sandy beaches plus with clear waters which are ideal for water sports such as scuba diving. Sunbathing and sunset watching, there is nothing more wonderful. Some of the most popular beaches are：

Nha Trang Beach, Star Beach and Long Beach of Phu Quoc and Ho Coc Beach of Vung Tau.

#9. Taste the Street Foods

Vietnam is known for its delicious street food. Lining the streets you can find local markets, rustic food joints and rickety food carts with plastic tables and stools. Simple and uncomplicated food, these Vietnamese street food will beckon your taste buds and sneak their way into your heart(just to name a few):

Phở gà is a traditional Vietnamese pho variety made with chicken.

Bánh cuốn is a popular Vietnamese street food item consisting of steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork ,mushrooms, or both.

Called chả giò in the south, and nem rán in northern Vietnam, both names are used to refer to the same dish - fried spring rolls. The main characteristic of these tasty rolls is the pork and shrimp filling, wrapped in delicate rice paper.

bánh xèo is a famous Vietnamese dish that combines crunchy crêpes with a variety of savory ingredients.

#10. Visit One of the Floating Markets

Floating markets have become a way of life and trade for Mekong Delta dwellers for over a 100 years .The elaborate river system is used to transport goods of all types throughout the region and is responsible for most of the products distributed throughout the country. The floating markets are busy, loud, and energetic, each filled with bright colors and the delicious smells of grilled meat. The best floating markets are:

Tan Chau of An Giang Province, Cai Rang of Can Tho city, Sa Dec of Dong Thap Province, Cai Be of Vinh Long City and Tra On of Vinh Long Province.