I am Vietnamese and travel around the country extensively from North to South. In this article, I will share with you the list of the most beautiful places to visit in Vietnam.
Some of the most beautiful places in Vietnam, in my experience, are Ha Giang, Halong Bay, Sapa, Da Nang, Hoi An, Da Lat, and Phu Quoc. My favourite destinations are Ha Giang, Da Lat, and Da Nang.
Ha Giang is one of the most scenic drives in the world, and taking a motorbike ride on Ha Giang Loop is one of the lifetime experiences. Ha Giang is located in North Vietnam, 6 hours drive from Hanoi.
Da Lat is a peaceful place in the central highland of Vietnam known for its cool, fresh air, impressive waterfall, delicious food and cafes, and stunning pagodas. It’s a special place where I feel really happy and relaxed.
Da Nang, a beach city in central Vietnam, is a beautiful city that has a good combination of natural landscape, cultural attractions, and modern facilities. You can have good city life, beach life, and easy access to outdoor attractions such as beaches, rivers, and mountains.
| Region | Most beautiful places |
| North Vietnam | Ha Giang, Halong Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh |
| Central Vietnam | Da Nang, Hoi An |
| South Vietnam | Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Mekong Delta, Mui Ne |
1. Ha Giang
Ha Giang is one of my favorite places to go in Vietnam. It is a beautiful mountainous and rural area located in North Vietnam, near the border with China. It is around a 6 hour drive from Hanoi and easily reachable by daily sleeper buses.
The best way to explore Ha Giang Loop is to take a motorbike ride. If you are not confident with your driving skill, you can take an easy rider tour where you can sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Along Ha Giang Loop, you can admire beautiful natural landscapes with winding roads, rolling hills, stunning valleys, rivers, waterfalls, and rice terraces. Additionally, you can have the chance to learn local culture of different ethnic minority groups, try local food, and stay in their traditional houses.
Some of the most beautiful stops on Ha Giang Loop are Lung Ho ViewPoint, Du Gia Waterfall, Rice Terraces in Mau Long Commune, Ban An Stream, and Tham Lin Cave. Next, you have Nho Que River, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Chin Khoanh Ramp, Tham Ma Pass, and Quan Ba heaven Gate.
The best time to do the Ha Giang loop is from March to May and September to November. These months have mild temperatures and little rainfall, making it ideal for enjoying the scenery.
2. Halong Bay
Halong Bay is one of the top tourist destinations in Vietnam. It is located only 4 hours drive from Hanoi and is known for its towering limestone karsts that rise dramatically from the sea.
The best way to explore Halong Bay is to take an overnight cruise. This tour will allow you to see all major attractions around the bay such as caves and fishing villages. You will have the chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and cycling.
The best month to go to HaLong Bay is from March to April and September and October. This time has pleasant weather and clear skies, which is ideal for sightseeing.
3. Sapa
Sapa is a popular tourist destination in north Vietnam, located 6-7 hours by bus from Hanoi. It is a beautiful mountainous area known for its cool climate, natural beauty, rice terraces, and hill tribe villages.
The best way to explore Sapa is trekking. You can go trekking and explore different tribe villages. You can also take a cable car ride to the top of Fansipan Mountain, visit Sapa town, Muong Hoa Valley, and Ham Rong Mountain.
Similar to Ha Giang, the best time to visit Sapa is in Spring from March to April and in Autumn from September to November. To see the golden rice terraces, it is best to go in September and October.
4. Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is one of the best places to visit in North Vietnam. It is conveniently located only a 2 hour drive from Hanoi, making it a popular day trip and overnight trip from the capital of Vietnam.
Ninh Binh, also known as Ha long on Land, is famous for its stunning natural landscape with karst mountains, stunning rivers, and rice fields. Additionally, the city has a rich history where you can explore Hoa Lu ancient capital, Bich Dong pagoda, and Bai Dinh pagoda.
You can take a boat ride on Trang An rivers, climb to the top of Hang Mua Caves, enjoy the nightlife in Tam Coc, try local food, or cycling to explore the countryside.
5. Da Nang
Da Nang is one of the top destinations to go in Vietnam, especially for beaches. It is a major city in Central Vietnam, half way between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Da Nang is known for its white sandy beaches, beautiful rivers, delicious food, and lots of cultural attractions. You can explore the Han River with famous bridges such as Dragon Bridge and Love Bridge. You can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and surfing at the charming My Khe Beach.
Famous cultural attractions in Da Nang include Marble Mountain, Linh Ung pagoda in Son Tra peninsula, Golden Bridge, and Ba Na Hill. You can easily take day trips to Hoi An ancient town from Da Nang.
The best month to visit Da Nang is from February to August, but be mindful that May to August can be very hot and humid.
6. Hoi An
Hoi An is one of the best places to visit in Central Vietnam. It is located only 30km away from Da Nang and is easily reachable by Grab. Hoi An is best known for its ancient town that is packed with well-preserved wooden shophouses, colorful lanterns, and lots of tailor shops.
Additionally, it also has beautiful peaceful beaches called An Bang and Cua Dai Beach, where you can enjoy swimming and sunbathing. You can cycle to explore the countryside to see beautiful rice fields and the craft villages.
Other popular activities in Hoi An include taking a lantern boat ride on the Han River in the evening, taking a coconut boat ride on Bay Mau Coconut Village, taking a cooking class or lantern making class.
Hoi An is also a great place for foodies. You can try its famous regional dishes such as Com Ga Hoi An, Banh Mi Hoi An, and Cao Lau.
7. Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc is a tropical paradise located only 45 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City by Airplane. The island is known for its white sandy beaches, luxury resorts, and the beautiful cable car ride through the ocean.
You can explore beautiful beaches such as Sao Beach, Long Beach, Khem Beach, or Starfish Beach. You can go swimming, sunbathing, and water sport activities. The beaches on the west coast are beautiful places to watch the sunset. Island hopping is also a popular activity for snorkeling and scuba diving.
In addition to the beaches, you can visit cultural attractions and farms such as Ho Quoc Pagoda, Phu Quoc prison, Pearl Farm, pepper farm, and the fish sauce factory.
The best month to go to Phu Quoc is the dry season from November to April. I recommend spending at least 3-4 days on the island to explore the beaches and its attractions.
8. Da Lat
Da Lat is one of my favourite cities in Vietnam. The city is located in the central highland region of Vietnam, around a 7 hour bus ride from Ho CHi Minh. It also has an airport, making it easily accessible by air from major cities like Hanoi and Saigon.
Da lat is known for its cool climate and a famous summer escape from nearby cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang.
Famous attractions in Da Lat are the night market, Xuan Huong Lake, Bao Dai Palace, and Crazy House. You can visit breaking waterfalls such as Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Elephant Waterfall.
You can explore many flower gardens and coffee plantations. It is a great place for outdoor activities such as trekking, hiking, white-water rafting, and canyoning.
This city is also a spiritual place where you can find pagodas and temples such as Linh An Pagoda, Linh Phuoc pagoda, and Truc Lam Zen Monastery.
9. Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta is a famous river region located only a few hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City. You can take a day trip to this region, but if you have time, consider staying a couple of nights here to experience the local culture.
The Mekong Delta is known for its floating markets, rice fields, tropical fruits, and mangrove forests. Major tourist destinations on the Mekong delta are Can Tho, Ben Tre, Chau Doc.
10. Mui Ne
Mui Ne is a small beach town located 3-4 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City. It is known for its warm weather all year round, beautiful sand dunes, beaches, and watersport activities such as windsurfing.
You can take the sand dune sun rise jeep tours, where you can visit attractions such as the white sand dunes, the red sand dunes, the Fairy Stream, and Mui Ne fishing village.
See more:
- Where to stay in Vietnam
- One month in Vietnam Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit Vietnam
- North Vietnam vs South Vietnam Travel Guide
- One Week in Vietnam Itinerary
- The Most Romantic Places in Vietnam for couples
You can watch my video of the beautiful places in Vietnam in this video:
These are my list of the most beautiful destinations to visit in Vietnam. They include Ha Giang, Halong Bay, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Da Lat. Among these places, Ha Giang, Da Lat, and Da Nang are my favourite cities of all time.