Visiting vietnam
There are so many incredible things to see and do while visiting Vietnam. Likely you will hit one or more of these phenomenal cities and be looking for things to do in them or as day trips from them. Below lists a few of the top cities to visit and what you should put on your list of places to visit.
Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. It was formerly known as Saigon. Ho Chi Minh City is located in southern Vietnam and surrounds the Saigon River. The official language is Vietnamese. It is a huge cultural and commercial hub for the country. In general, the weather is warm. The rainy season is from May to November.
Things to Do
War Remnants Museum, Ho-Chi-Minh Museum, Saigon Square, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Museum of Vietnamese History, Grand Independence Palace, Jade Emperor Pagoda
Day tours
Mekong Delta tour and Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple
Hue
Hue is the capital of central Vietnam and served as the administrative capital for the Nguyen dynasty. It contains UNESCO designated sites and has become a popular tourist destination. Rainy season is from August through January.
Things to do
Tombs of the Ancient Emperors, Tu Hieu Pagoda, Huyen Tran Princess Temple, Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Thanh Toan Bridge
Day tours
Thanh Tan Hot Springs is about 30 km from Hue. It has spa, zipline, and aquapark.
Thuan An Beach is about 14 km from Hue and great beach in the area.
Hoi an
This city is a UNESCO Heritage Site and so unique and fun to explore. It is located in the Quang Nam Province. It was a trading port dating around the 15th through the 19th century.
Things to do
Explore the Ancient City, check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, get a tailor-made outfit, sunset cruise on the Thu Bon River, cycle the countryside, take a Vietnamese cooking class. You can also enjoy the beach. An Bang Beach is about 7 km from the Ancient Town and a great way to have a relaxing beach day
Day Tours
My Son (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Cham Island (day or overnight trip island 15 km offshore), Monkey Mountain, Hai Van Pass
Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the second largest city in Vietnam. Hanoi is considered the cultural and political center of Vietnam. It is located without the Red River Delta. The weather is classified as tropical monsoon. May to August is humid and rainy. November through January are cooler and less rainy.
Things to do
Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long Water Puppet show, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Old Quarter, Hoa Lo Prison, Tran Quoc Pagoda, National Museum of Vietnamese History, Lotte Tower Observation Deck, Bach Ma Temple
Day trips
Halong Bay is a Must when in this area- you can book a tour leaving from Hanoi, day trip to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital -often combined with Trang An and Tam Coc boat ride down Sao Khe River, Ba Vi National Park, Perfume Pagoda, Thay Temple, Mai Chau Valley.
