Travel in Vietnam
Weekend Get-away
CU CHI TUNNELS
~63 kilometers
Website: http://en.diadaocuchi.com.vn/
Began construction in the 1940s before the start of the First Indochina war. The 75-mile (121 km)-long complex of tunnels at Cu Chi has been preserved by the government of Vietnam, and turned into a war memorial park with two different tunnel display sites, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc.
The Ben Duoc site contains part of the original tunnel system, while the Ben Dinh site, closer to Saigon, has tunnel reconstructions and some tunnels have been made larger to accommodate tourists. Visitors may enjoy a simple meal of food that Viet Cong fighters would have eaten.
How to get there??
~2 hour ride on motorbike
From the speed boat station in D1 (~220k/ one way), but the last returning boat is around 2pm
CAN GIO MANGROVE FOREST
~16 kilometers
Famous for its Mangrove Forest which is a wetland located 40 km southeast of HCMC.
Reaching 75,700 hectare about 757 sq. km. This is equivalent to 187,000 acres or 292 sq. miles. In Jan. 2000 entered the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Contains over 1000 different type of species from flora, spineless, fish and vertebrate animals.
You can visit the monkey island and crocodile park outside the forest.
Moreover, visitors can enjoy cheap seafood at the market nearby the beach. It's a recommendation for not swimming on this beach because the water is not clean.
How to get there??
It takes around 1.5 hour to get there. Ride to the end of Huynh Tan Phat Street, get on the ferry and ride ~6 kilometers more.
MEKONG DELTA
~84 kilometers
Friendly local people, interesting local foods and drinks
Road less traveled, peaceful and cultural experience
Floating markets, fruit, rice wine, mangroves, honey, snakes
Coconut candy, brick, weaving factories
Mango Home Riverside-stay, home-stays
Cái Răng float market at sunrise
Ben Tre & Can Tho 1.5 hr away can rent car, van to get there or take your motorbike
How to get there??
~2.5 hour ride on motorbike
Rent a 7-seat car: ~2 million VND
Recommended accomodation
Reasonable price, right at the riverside
Good service & food, clean
Close to the city center
Should book via travel app to get good deal
CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK
~147 kilometers
Website: http://namcattien.vn/
Cat Tien National Park- in the jungle (dogs allowed)
Approx. 4 hours away by car/van, 150 kilometres away from HCMC. Great outdoors/ nature trip. The park also shelters diverse wildlife, from reptiles at Crocodile Lake to endangered primates and rare birds.
You can do hiking, biking, zip lining, boating.
Wild gibbon trek/ primate reserve
How to get there??
~3.5 hour ride on motorbike, but have to deal with traffic as you cannot take freeway
Should travel by car/van as saving time
Recommended accomodation
Green Bamboo Lodge
Very cheap (~500k/ night)
Right at the riverside
Old but clean
VUNG TAU
Closest beach to HCMC
3 hr motorbike, 2 hr bus
1.8 hr boat - hydrofoil boat from D1 - https://greenlines-dp.com/
Ho May Park - cable car up to alpine coaster, swan boats, zip lining, rock climbing, pool, carnival rides, etc.
Beach is ok, but crowded on weekends & holidays. Hotels price is higher on weekends
Dog racing on Fri & Sat nights
LONG HAI
Less people, quiet & clean beach
Cheap hotels, bungalows, tents for camping, BBQ on the beach
Recommendation http://longhaichannel.com/ with 1.7 million VND/ bungalow/ night (breakfast buffet included)
Not many activities or restaurants. However, local restaurants with fresh seafood are inexpensive
Close to Binh Chau hot spring
HO TRAM
Less busy than Vung Tau, private beach, quiet & clean
Ho Tram (The Grand) Casino close by (need passport)
Ho Tram Boutique Hotel sharing the same beach as the Tram
Camping at The Beach House Resort, they rent tents, bbq and supplies
Find a resort/hotel and pay to use their pool/sunbed beach chairs they will have a cleaner beach area
TAN LAP FLOATING VILLAGE
Southwest, Long An Province
Website: https://langnoitanlap.com.vn/en
The alley through melaleuca forest.
About 3 hours to get there by bus
Close to Dong Thap Muoi & Long An wetland
Forest and swamp, birds conservation island
Hiking trails, folk games area
Boat / Canoe rides and rentals
Quiet in nature: not much else
Beautiful hotel in the middle of the forest with great views - approx. 800k - 1 million VND/ night
Very local experience, being harmony with the nature.
ISLANDS
PHÚ QUỐC
Inexpensive & short flight (~40 min flight, and ~600k/ air ticket on normal days)
Clean, blue water and white sand beaches. Many beautiful and "blue" small islands around such as Nam Du, Hon Thom, Hon Son, Hon Dam, Hon Xuong ("Hon" in Vietnamese is usually used to call a small island. You can book 1-day tour to visit 2-3 islands and enjoy seafood lunch on the boat.
Range of resort options, hostels, boutiques that you can enjoy a romantic sunset or a BBQ night right on the beach in a serene atmosphere. At night, you can go to squid fishing or go to Night Market with cheap seafood & local food, souvenir.
Vinwonder is the largest theme park in Vietnam. Vinpearl Safari and conservation park is the first and only open zoo in Vietnam that was built according to international Safari model.
Activities: Squid fishing, diving , snorkeling, kayak, cable car to Hon Thom island
Food: Great crab / squid / lobster / sea urchin
👍 Must try: Fish salad & Rose myrtle wine
*** Should stay around Bai Truong area as the beach is clean, not busy & less traffic.
Dong Duong area is a tourist area with restaurants, coffee shops & convenient stores
CÔN ĐẢO
Nice resorts, quiet, not much night life. Famous with several sacred historical sites: Con Dao prison, Hang Duong graveyard.
South of Vietnam off of Mekong Delta. 2.5 hours to travel by boat to Con Dao from Mekong Delta, and 12 hours from Vung Tau. Cheap air ticket.
Made up of 16 different islands. Con Son island is the biggest. An Hai Beach is the most popular. Many clean quiet beaches such as Đầm Trầu, Lò Vôi, Đất Dốc, Ông Đụng. Moreover, Côn Sơn Bay has several small islands: Bảy Cạnh, Bông Lan, Trứng Tre, Tài, Cau, Trác, Thỏ. You can hire a boat to go around these island within 1 day.
Activities: Snorkeling, Scuba Diving
NORTHERN VIETNAM
HÀ NỘI - VIETNAM CAPITAL
2.5hr flight - too long by train
Museums, HCM Mausoleum, old pagodas, Ancient Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Tay Area
Nice Lake and city to walk around, slow life
Nightlife at the ancient town, close by Hoan Kiem Lake
Cold in winter
Northerners are less friendly
Busy tourist route, be careful with the price
BA BỂ NATIONAL PARK
4 hours from Hanoi
Fresh water lakes, mountains, jungles all in one
Boat trips
Dau Dang Waterfall, Nang Tien Cave, Puong Cave, Hua Ma Cave - artsy
Experience ethnic minority life and local festivals
Guided hiking tours
Should try Pork, Chicken & Cooc Mò Cake
HẠ LONG BAY - World Natural Heritage
Ha Long Bay is worth 2-3 days on an overnight boat package includes: fare, food, excursions, kayaking
Busy tourist route
Rock climbing, kayaking, boating, natural beauty
Spend 2 days on a cruise going around all the islands and caves (https://www.halongbaytours.com/)
Night Markets & Food street, bars, massage, clubs
Sun World Ha Long Complex with cable car, water park, activities & Japanese garden.
Flight to Van Don airport or take 3 hour bus from Hanoi
TRÀNG AN - BÁI ĐÍNH - NINH BÌNH
100 kilometres away from Hanoi
Very quiet, peaceful and be immersed in the nature. Limestone scenery where the King Kong movie was filmed
Tam Coc - the Halong Bay on land
Mua Cave (in Ninh Binh) - The Vietnamese Great Walls
Trang An Grottoes on boat through caverns
Bai Dinh is the biggest and holiest pagoda
SAPA
Cool, clean air & water. Very cold in winter
Terraced agriculture
Great hiking
Local tribes and unique shopping
Experience a 'Home Stay'
To get there (train & then bus)
Locals are curious with expats
Several ethnic minority villages, beautiful waterfalls
Not a variety of activities
Fancsipan Peak (Highest is Indo-China)
CENTRAL VIETNAM
MŨI NÉ - PHAN THIẾT
4 hour drive but holidays = 7-8 hours, or take the train for 4 hours
Dangerous roads, be careful on a motorbike
Not much nightlife, but good to chill out and relax. Not crowded
Bau Trang is a lotus lake surrounded by sand
Should try to slide on the sand hills, 30k vnd/ person
In the main center area not much of a sandy beach
Water is cleaner and less crowded in the southern area of Phan thiet
Resorts, hostels, boutiques
Kite surfing, ATV sand dune riding
Phu Hai Resort, Mia Resort, Mui Ne Beach Resort
Dong Vui Food Court for drinks and great selections of food
Must try "Thả" hotpot 👍
Seafood from fishermen get back from the beach is very cheap and variety
NHA TRANG - CAM RANH - DỐC LẾT
Inexpensive flights, ~40 mins
Clean, blue water, nice beach
Great seafood
Decent nightlife
Kite surfing , diving, snorkeling, golfing
Vinpearl theme park
45 min taxi from the airport (~300k)
Very popular tourists
Takes 2-3 days to ride on bike
Island Hoping
Many bars & restaurants on the beach
Food: "nem nuong", fish cake noodle soup
Night Market, clubs and bars on the beach (Tran Phu Street)
CAM RANH
The area at the airport with a range of luxury resorts
Quiet & clean private beach
Suitable for weekend get-away
Paradise golf court
Cheap & fresh local seafood at Cầu Mới area
DỐC LẾT
About an hour from Nha Trang
A walking way to an island in the mid of the sea
10 mile long, clean and quiet beach area, cheap hotels
Fresh seafood from the local fishing village
ĐÀ NẴNG - HỘI AN - HUẾ
ĐÀ NẴNG - The best city to live in Vietnam
Da Nang city with a big beautiful & clean beach and surrounded by mountains.
Historical & famous Pagodas & Cave: Ngu Hanh Son
Cultural festivals, fireworks international festival every year from May - June
7 Bridges Brewery, Love Bridge, Dragon Bridge
Hot springs, mud bath, Asia theme park
Ba Na Hills theme park on the mountain with cool air, various flower gardens, games and wax museum
Waterfall trekking
Rent a motorbike: 150k - 200k/ day
Nightlife on the beach (Vo Nguyen Giap Street)
HỘI AN - Ancient Town
Shopping - lanterns, silks, art
Tailors/Silk - Hoi An it takes a few days
Touristy - especially during Viet holidays
Prices a bit high due to tourist area
Hoi An has great resorts
Food: Cao Lau, chicken rice
HUẾ - Imperial Palace
Hue - Historical sites, great food
Visit imperial palace & learn about royalty life
Cannot take photos inside the palace
QUY NHƠN - PHÚ YÊN
Train ride - 10+ hours (overnight cabins available)
Cheap & short flight to Phù Cát airport
Not yet touristy, not crowded
Clean quaint city, some historical sites
Very blue ocean, white sand. Very chill, relaxing, quiet
Surrounded by beautiful beaches, fishing villages
Super hot in summer, many storms from Sept. - Dec.
Motorbike rentals to see the area, or taxi rental about 800k - 1 million vnd/ day
Inexpensive hotels, resorts, bungalows and bars
Not much nightlife besides beach bars
Great fresh & cheap seafood
FLC resort & safari park
Beautiful sites: Ky Co beach, Hon Kho island, Cu Lao Xanh, Trung Luong camping area, Ghenh Rang, Hai Minh fish village, Phuong Nam sand hill, Ham Ho
Phú Yên: Gành Đá Dĩa, Đầm Ô Loan, Bãi Xép - is a "green grass with yellow flowers" hill, etc.
Food: various kinds of snails, "nem nướng", Vietnamese pan cake, shrimp noodles soup, Bàu Đá wine
PHONG NHA - KẺ BÀNG
Fly to Đồng Hới airport (Quang Binh Province)
No nightlife, not many fancy places or resorts/ hotels. But very quiet, slow and fresh air. It's super hot in summer, even night time.
Phong Nha Farmstay, Dark Cave tour, Son Doong Cave, Mooc Waterfall
Caving trip with Oxalis or Phong Nha Discovery tours
Paradise Cave 7 km trek with beautiful view and being harmony with the nature
Food is not various, but everything is very cheap.
Must try sand-worms spring-rolls or cake 👍
CENTRAL HIGHLAND
ĐÀ LẠT - Dreaming City
Best motorcycle roads along the coast
Easy Riders - great bike tour company
Cool, clean air (bring pants/sweater)
Beautiful greenery, lakes, golf courts and luxury/average resorts.
Many flower, vegetable & fruit farms, rice fields, coffee plantations to experience
Should stay around Tuyen Lam lake if you want to be "away from people"
8 hour sleeper bus, or get a cheap & short flight
Thanh Buoi sleeper bus http://thanhbuoi.com.vn/
Very crowded on holidays
Hiking, mountain biking, rafting, waterfalls, canoeing - outdoor activities!
Can ride motorbike to Nha Trang and enjoy the beauty on the way
Great food (BBQ) & night market
Many cheap & nice homestays
Great escape from the heat on weekend!
BUÔN MA THUỘT / ĐẮK LẮK / TÂY NGUYÊN
Cheap & short flight (~45 mins)
Or take sleeper bus (8 hrs)
Cool & fresh air, many forests & farms
Beautiful waterfalls, but lack of water in dry season
Many good places for camping along the waterfalls, but it's very dangerous for swimming.
Small minority villages and indigenous hill tribes. Enjoy local food and festivals
Should try Cần wine - special spirit of minority people, good taste with BBQ
Many short guided tours to a local hill tribe