Vietnam is one of the most beloved destinations in Southeast Asia. The reasons remain: dreamlike landscapes, a gastronomy that falls in love and a story that perhaps in many cases has not been told at all well ... If you are lost, you want to see everything and do not know where to start today we will tell you what are the 10 essential thingsWhat to see and do in Vietnam:
1. EXPLORE HALONG BAY
Located in northern Vietnam, Halong Bay has been declared a Unesco Heritage thanks to its extraordinary beauty, and these thousands of islets floating on green waters make the place one of those that will remain in your retina for a long time. The best way to explore it is by doing a 1 or 2 day cruise, here we tell you our experience.
Tip: if you want to book your cruise in advance, you can do it here or here You will avoid head comeduras and you will have the quality of Get your Guide and Civitatis, although if you want to try to get something cheaper, maybe it is worth waiting for Arriving in Hanoi!
2. NAVIGATE THE MEKONG DELTA
We jump from north to south and change Halong Bay to the most important river delta in Southeast Asia: the Mekong. Its delta can be explored for free or by joining one of the many tours (this costs € 17) that will take you to discover this quiet Vietnamese corner, made of jungle, rural villages, fishermen and floating markets.
3. FALL IN LOVE WITH HOI AN
Hoi An is one of the most desirable cities in Asia: walking through its historic center is a real pleasure, as well as going crazy shopping (the lanterns and handmade slippers in the city are divine). But if there is something you should not skip is to enjoy the gastronomic specialties of the area (cau lau, white roses, won ton) accompanied by beer mugs at 20 cents! We already warned you: Hoi An falls in love and definitely coming here is one of the best things to do in Vietnam!
By the way, if you have time you can visit the nearby ruins of My Son (pronounced my son), a beautiful city built between mountains and streams destined for the worship of three Hindu gods over 1000 years ago.
More info: Hoi An
4. KNOW THE IMPERIAL CITY OF HUE
Hue, the former imperial city of Vietnam, is a real gem that could well be compared to the forbidden city of Beijing. Smaller, yes, but just as interesting. Within its enclosure you will find palaces and pavilions of the Nguyen dynasty ... worth a visit, do not hesitate.
More info: Hue
5. TRACK THE SAHARA OF VIETNAM
Mui ne is substantially famous for 3 things: it is the Vietnamese mecca of kitesurfing, has sand dunes that have earned him the title of 'Sahara of Vietnam' and is full of Russians. Forget about the Russians: it is best to rent a motorcycle and explore the surroundings, yes, be careful where you park the motorcycle ... we were robbed :-p
More info: Mui Ne
Tired? Hey! See that there are a few things to see and do in Vietnam 😉
6. ENJOY VIETNAMITE GASTRONOMY
Who knows us knows: we are in love with Asian cuisine and Vietnam is a great foodie destination. The star is the pho bo, a tasty soup accompanied by slices of beef, coriander, mint, lime, nuoc man, chili, soy ... There is a chicken version, the pho ga. The Vietnamese eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner ... come on, it's always the perfect time for a hot pho! But not only pho lives the traveler and in Vietnam you can enjoy an immense gastronomy made of divine fish dishes, fried or fresh rolls, noodle dishes and rice and very tasty meats.
Come on ... eating is one of the best things what to see and do in Vietnam 🙂
More info: Eating for Vietnam
7. DO A TREKKING IN SAPA
Sapa, in northern Vietnam, is the perfect place to spend a few days surrounded by rice paddies, mountains and nature. In this area there is a large Hmong community, an ethnic group from China with a rather sad history. Although here the protagonists are rice crops and their beautiful terraces that meander along the slopes of the mountains.
If you want to go on a guided tour, this 2-day tour includes transport from Hanoi to Sapa (and vice versa), hotel, guide and trekking, although there is also the possibility of contracting a few hours trekking (such as //www.civitatis.com/es/sapa / trekking-arrozales-sapa /? aid = 1026este) or even hire a local guide once there.
More info: Sapa
8. DISCOVER HALONG BAY… ON EARTH
Navigating the Ngo Dong River between the rice fields and the limestone mountains of Tam Coc is an unforgettable (and not so common) experience of Vietnam. The place is so beautiful that it has been termed as the inland Halong Bay. You will find it in the vicinity of Ninh Binh. There are many tours like this that take you to know the best of the area. We are looking forward to enjoying this paradise because when we went it didn't stop raining for a minute :-p good reason to come back soon!
9. KICK HO CHI MINH CITY
At first glance it may be a city of passage, without much interest, but do not be fooled by appearances: the ancient Saigon hides many treasures. Dedicate at least a couple of days, you can learn more about the history of the Vietnam War in the Museum of the Vestiges of the Vietnam War, tour its historic old town (do not miss the Post Office Palace, the Opera, the Church of Notre Dame) and visit the colorful Bến Thành Market. To enjoy the nightlife there is nothing better than drinking bia hoi, the cheap Vietnamese beer, in a local Pham Ngu Lao, one of the backpacking mecca of Asia. And, of course, be sure to visit the famous tunnels of Cu Chi!
More info: Ho Chi Minh
10. KNOW HANOI CAPITAL
We cannot finish this post of things to see and do in Vietnam without reminding us of Hanoi, the capital of the country. Get lost among the chaotic streets of its center, full of colors and surprises like little Notre Dame or the stalls where you can try one of the best pho bo in Vietnam. Other essential visits are with its lake, with the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and the water puppet theater, an ancient art that is worth discovering. Here we tell you everything to see and do in Hanoi.
More info: Hanoi
So far our recommendations, we believe that for a first visit to the 'dragon of Southeast Asia' is fine 🙂 Do you know more things to see and do in Vietnam?
Photo credit cover: Shutterstock
