Vietnam is one of our favourite countries, packed with history, stunning landscapes, cultural highlights and amazing food. It’s one of the most exciting destinations in South East Asia. We visited back in 1999 for the first time and recently we headed back there to create this Vietnam Travel Blog section for you. We had the luxury of time and 2 x 3 month visas to really get to know Vietnam and share it with you.
In this post we’ll look at places to go in Vietnam, itinerary ideas, where to stay and how to travel in Vietnam. Links here will take you to more detailed posts. We hope you find our Vietnam tips and guides useful in planning your travel, vacation or holiday in Vietnam.
Have You Heard Vietnam is Difficult or the Vietnamese Unpleasant? We think the Vietnamese are some of the nicest, kindest people we’ve ever met.
The Vietnamese can be some of the nicest, friendliest, kindest and happiest people you could meet. They’re charming without being pushy, helpful, lovers of children and just genuinely nice. Of course there are some bad apples and most of the bad stories involve taxi driver scams, but in all our time in Vietnam we’ve seen only good.
You need some travel smarts as you do in any country where haggling over prices is just the normal way to do things. Smile, try to use some Vietnamese and don’t be obnoxious. The Vietnamese are good people. See what happened when I fell off my bike in Hoi An if you need further proof.
Traffic and Roads in Vietnam
Because speed limits are low and roads are largely populated by push bikes and scooters, we feel safer on the roads in Vietnam than we have done so far in any Asian country.
Cities are busy but we cycle with our kids every day in Hoi An.
Crossing the road is an adventure, nobody is going to stop, you just get used to picking your time and weaving between moving vehicles. Just yesterday I watched two little girls on their way to school, at 5 years old they know how it’s done and their parents trust they’ll be safe solo.
Just watch out for taxis and buses, they can be unpredictable.
Nobody on a bike has a death wish, they’re all trying to get home to their families safely but saying that, road death rates are high in Vietnam.
Use common sense and don’t hire scooters unless you have a suitable international motorbike license and adequate insurance.
Highlights of Vietnam
The Hindu temple complex at My Son dates from the Champa period and is older than its counterpart, Angkor Wat. It’s around 1 hour from Hoi An by tour bus, take a guided tour, you’ll miss out on a lot of its 1000 years of history without a good guide.
Vietnam has at least 8 UNESCO listed sites, including Ha Long Bay, Hue’s historic sites, the old town of Hoi An and the Champa complex at My Son sanctuary (above).
Destinations in Vietnam
There are a million places to visit in Vietnam and I can’t possibly put them all on this page. Let’s just start here with a few popular destinations. For more detail you’ll have to find the dedicated post on this site. Just follow the links or use the search box at the top of our sidebar. A new addition and one that we highly recommend is Phong Nha National Park and caves in Central Vietnam.
1. Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh)
Saigon refers to the inner city area of Ho Chi Minh City. Renamed after the war in honor of the North Vietnamese leader. The area that most people end up in is District 1 where you will find backpacker accommodation and agencies selling tours and transportation to just about anywhere in Vietnam.
One of the best tours from Saigon would be to the Chu Chi tunnels which are located about 50 km west. This tour can include a Cao Dai temple visit, this religion is unique to Vietnam and was founded in 1912.
The biggest draw card in Saigon itself is the War Remnants Museum and the Old Palace build by the South Vietnamese rulers but not used since tanks drove through its gates in 1975 to officially end the war.
Saigon also boasts French Period architecture, abundant great food and fascinating markets.
2. Hoi An
We’ve been living in Hoi An for a few months now and we’re pleased with our choice. This incredibly picturesque riverside city is something of a tourist hot spot these days, combing the charms of the Old Town with its ancient buildings, tailor’s shops and Hoi An central market with nearby rice paddies and beaches.
Hoi An food is world-famous and central Vietnam is a big producer of quality sea food.
Around town there are various places of interest to keep you busy, throw a pot at the pottery village, take a free Vietnamese lesson or one of the many local eco tours. My Son Sanctuary and Marble Mountain are a short day trip from Hoi An and Hue is accessible by tour, bus or train.
The nearest large city, Danang, is about 45 minutes away and is another beach-side tourist draw, popular with family holiday-makers
3. Hanoi
” You haven’t experienced Vietnam until you’ve visited its noisy, vibrant capital city, Hanoi. Navigate the traffic-choked streets of the Old Quarter to discover crumbling colonial buildings, street vendors and traditional tubular shops.
Hanoi is filled with historic buildings but don’t miss the ornate Temple of Literature, St Joseph’s Cathedral and the UNESCO listed Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Learn about the country’s revolutionary leader at the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and palace complex and take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake where locals come to exercise and relax.
No trip to Hanoi would be complete without sampling its famous food delights such as a Banh Mi sandwich or the city’s signature dish, Bun Cha. Stop in at Café Giang for a Ca Phe Trung (egg coffee), they’ve been serving this traditional brew for over 70 years. “
4. Ha Long Bay
“If you are looking for a magical location in Vietnam, then you cannot go past Ha Long Bay in the north of the country.
With emerald-green waters, limestone islands and mystical caves, all while touring on Junk Boats, Ha Long Bay draws travellers to her every day and is certainly one of our favourites in South East Asia.
From day tours through to tours that keep you entertained for 2 days 3 nights, we highly recommend the latter.
Sleeping on a Junk Boat, while doing day visits to floating villages, taking rowing tours, and getting to jump off the boat into the cool refreshing water, is so relaxing and fun plus gives you a great insight to local living and seeing nature’s beauty up close.
No matter what your budget, we highly recommend you choose your junk boat tour wisely and spend a few extra dollars to get a better experience and higher quality boat. We have done three tours since 2008 and loved Signature Cruises. You can read all about our recent trip to Halong Bay right here. “
5. Sapa
“Home to Vietnam’s highest peak (Fan Si Pan, which soars 3143m above sea level) Sapa is a must-see destination for nature lovers. The people of Sapa started welcoming tourists as far back as the early 1900s, when French colonists used it to escape the searing heat of Vietnam’s lowlands. During the 1940s, Vietnamese independence fighters drove the French from the region and it wasn’t until a few decades ago that tourists started to return to Sapa.
Within easy reach of Hanoi, by overnight bus or train, Sapa is now one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations.
In Sapa, the magnificent purple mountains sink away into deep valleys, where terraced rice paddies feed the imagination — and the local population. Many ethnic minorities, including the H’Mong, the Dao and the Dai, make their homes in small hidden villages among these hills. Be mindful of travelling ethically in Vietnam and in this delicate region.
For tourists, the big draw is the chance to trek along Sapa’s stunning valleys and mountains. It makes an excellent antidote to the hectic pace of life in Hanoi and is still a great place to escape the heat. Taking a multi-day trek between village homestays will give you the chance to immerse yourself in a slower pace of life, stretch your legs on the mountain tracks, and indulge in shots of the locally-made rice wine. It burns a little as it goes down but is perfect way to loosen your muscles after a long day of walking!”
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