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Cultural | Food | Sightseeing | Vietnam

4 Exciting destinations that tourists must go to when visiting Vietnam

By: LINH TRAN
December 2018

Ho Chi Minh City

Ha Noi

Da Nang

Nha Trang

Vietnam is a land of staggering natural beauty and cultural complexities, but exotic and compelling. You will never able to visit every single place in this country because it would take years.

Ho Chi Minh City

Image: Vietnam-guide.com

Ho Chi Minh City (commonly known as Saigon) is located in the South of Vietnam. This city plays a pivotal role during the Vietnam War. With the fascinating culture and architectures that the French colonial leaves behind, Ho Chi Minh City has a mix of modern and antique beauty. Saigon is known as a sleepless city. With 19 districts spread across the city, you will be amazed by the nightlife here.
Photo: gody.vn
(Below: Bitexco Skydeck, where you can look at the whole city from the top)
Photo: Lonely Planet
(Top: HCMC Notre Dame Cathedral)
District 1 is considered the centre — the heart of Saigon. The area boasts most of the trendy restaurants and bars, plus the major market that any tourists have to stop by, Ben Thanh Market. Some of the tourist attractions that you should visit are Notre Dame Cathedral which was built by the French colonialists, or Independent Palace, Bitexco Financial Tower, Famous Backpacker Street Bui Vien, etc. Some of the main districts you should come and explore are District 1, District 3, and District 5.
Ha Noi

Image: Jimmy Tran (Ha Noi Old Quarter)

Ha Noi lies in the North of Vietnam and is the capital of this country. The name Ha Noi is translated as City in a Bend of the River because it is located on the banks of Song Hong River (Red River) in the north. This is a home of 6.5 million Vietnamese people.
Photo: Vietnam Net Bridge
(Below: Hoan Kiem Lake)
Photo: Vietnam Guide
(Top: Ha Noi Street Shopping)
Ha Noi bustling capital charms with great food, fine architecture, and surprisingly serene green spaces. However, Ha Noi traffic can be very crazy, and crossing the streets here is probably one of the scariest things when you come to this city. In the North of Ha Noi, there is a traditional district of narrow alleys called Old Quarter. This is where still keeps all the antique beauty and tradition that was left since the War. You should spend some time here for cultural exploration.

Besides, Ha Noi also has the French Quarter, which is characterized by European-style boulevards. Between these two quarters, you will find a small but scenic Hoan Kiem Lake.

Da Nang

Image: Bigsuccess.vn

If you get tired with the city life, now make a getaway to Da Nang. This is Vietnam’s third-largest city and is located on the Eastern Sea coast, which is in Central Vietnam.

The city itself carries the serene beauty with the beach lies along the coast. It has neither the atmosphere of Ha Noi nor the hustling life of Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang is very close to the ancient cities Hoi An and the imperial capital of Hue, making this city is a popular vacationing spot for those who want to explore the attractions of central Vietnam.

Photo: aprotravel.com
Photo: Vietnam Travel Guide
(Top: Da Nang City Center)
Photo: justgola
(Top: Ba Na Hills)
Some places that you should explore in Da Nang are My Son Sanctuary, Cham Museum, Marble Mountains, Linh Ung Buddha Temple, Son Tra Peninsula. Another interesting place to stop by is Ba Na Hills, which has a hill resort inherited from the French. Ba Na has refreshingly cool weather and gorgeous countryside views. There is also an amusement park on the top. You can take the cable car from Ba Na Hill Station to go up to the park and enjoy some fun activities there in perfect weather.
Nha Trang
Photo: Efired
Similar to Da Nang, Nha Trang is surrounded with beautiful beaches but also is one of the bustling cities in the Central of Vietnam. Nha Trang is considered Vietnam’s most famous seaside resort-town. It has more lively nightlife than other destinations around the area. In addition, scuba diving is the most popular activity here, so if you are a scuba diving lover, come to Nha Trang.
Photo: vietnam-travel.org
(Below: Sailing Club Nha Trang)
Photo: Travelbylocation
(Top: Vinpearl Land Nha Trang)
Some of other activities beside scuba diving that you should try are mudbath spa, river cruise tour, etc. As the sun goes down, nightlife cranks up in this city. Nha Trang is a party town of the Central area. This city is filled with numbers of bars and clubs. One of the most famous ones is Sailing Club. This club is a combination of excellent food and delicious drinks with an incredible beach location to bring you the ultimate party destination. Sailing Club will give you a complete relaxation and nightlife experience in Nha Trang.

Moreover, you can hop in a cable car or a powerboat to head to Vinpearl Land. There will be an amusement park located independently on Hon Tre Island. Vinpearl Amusement Park consist of many modern and unique large-scale facilities comparable to the leading entertainment parks across the region and the world.