Top Things to Do and See in Vietnam

Vietnam packs an astonishing range of sights into one long, narrow country: emerald bays, imperial citadels, giant caves and floating markets. Here are ten highlights grouped by region, so you can plan a route that flows rather than zigzags.

Northern Vietnam

Hanoi's Old Quarter and Temple of Literature

Wander the streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake early in the morning, when locals practise tai chi by the water, then visit the Temple of Literature, a calm sequence of courtyards and stone stelae honouring scholars. In the evening, catch a water puppet show, an art form born in the flooded rice paddies of the Red River Delta.

Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay

Thousands of limestone islands rise from the Gulf of Tonkin in this UNESCO-listed seascape. An overnight cruise gives you sunset on deck, kayaking among the karsts and a quiet morning once the day-trippers have gone. Lan Ha Bay, reached via Cat Ba Island, usually feels less busy.

Ninh Binh

Nicknamed Ha Long Bay on land, Ninh Binh is explored in small rowing boats that glide through caves beneath the limestone at Trang An and Tam Coc. Rent a bicycle to reach the temples and villages in between.

Sapa and the northern mountains

Trek between rice terraces and the villages of Hmong and Dao communities with a local guide, or ride the cable car up Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina.

Central Vietnam

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

This UNESCO-listed park is riddled with some of the largest caves on earth. Paradise Cave and the boat trip into Phong Nha Cave are easy to visit independently, while guided multi-day expeditions go much deeper underground.

Hue and the Hai Van Pass

Explore the walled Imperial City of the Nguyen emperors, then cycle or take a boat along the Perfume River to the royal tombs and the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue south to Da Nang over the Hai Van Pass, a mountain road with sweeping sea views, best done with a local driver.

Hoi An and My Son

Stroll the lantern-lit Ancient Town, where a heritage ticket gives entry to a selection of old houses, assembly halls and museums. Take a basket-boat ride among the coconut palms outside town, and head out early to My Son, a jungle valley of Cham temple ruins.

Southern Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels

Get to grips with the war years at the War Remnants Museum and the Independence Palace, then take a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network dug by hand, with some sections widened so visitors can crawl through.

The Mekong Delta

Board a boat at dawn to see the Cai Rang floating market near Can Tho, then drift along narrow canals lined with fruit orchards. An overnight stay lets you see the delta after the day tours head back to the city, and the beaches of Phu Quoc are a short flight away if you want to finish by the sea.

Experiences worth making time for

Join a market tour and cooking class, try a street food tour by night, or have a suit or dress made by one of Hoi An's tailors, allowing a couple of days for fittings. These hands-on experiences are often what visitors remember most.

Booking tips

• Book overnight bay cruises a few weeks ahead in peak season, read recent reviews and check what is included, such as kayaking, meals and transfers from Hanoi.
• Multi-day cave expeditions in Phong Nha have limited places, often sell out months ahead and require a good level of fitness.
• Most temples, citadels and museums sell tickets at the gate, so arrive at opening time to beat the heat and the tour groups.
• Around Tet and the 30 April to 1 May holiday, trains, buses and boat trips fill quickly with domestic travellers.
• Book through your accommodation or a well-reviewed operator rather than street touts, and watch out for offices that copy the names of popular agencies.

Stay connected in Vietnam

Ticking off sights across Vietnam means juggling e-tickets, pick-up times, boat departures and directions to trailheads, often in places where Wi-Fi is patchy. A HelloSIM eSIM keeps your phone online between stops so you can check messages from your cruise or tour guide and navigate on the go. It is data-only, sits on your phone before you leave home and connects once you arrive.