5 Top Places Not to Miss in Vietnam

Authored by Agness Walewinder

There are numerous reasons why you should make it to Vietnam one day. Breath-taking landscapes, friendly and hospitable Vietnamese, affordability (backpacking in Vietnam is popular and it’s a well known destination among budget travellers), and of course, coffee, coffee, coffee! Yes, there is nothing better than enjoying a cup of black (ca phe den) or iced coffee with condensed milk (cap he sua da) while watching as life goes by on a corner of the street!

When planning your Vietnam itinerary, there are certain places you can’t afford to miss. You may not know, but Vietnam has all the off-the-beaten-path experiences that you are all looking for, such as hiking the Northern mountain area of Sapa or taking photos over the beautiful sunrise in Hoi.

Stunning Ninh Binh. Northern Vietnam.

Here are top 5 places you definitely should add to your Vietnam bucket list:

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is often underrated by many foreigners which is a real pity as it offers a stunning scenery, relaxing boat riding and extraordinary pagodas surrounded by Vietnamese villages.

Ninh Binh is a charming and small city located in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. In my opinion, it is even more beautiful and relaxing than the scenery of famous Ha Long Bay.

This is a typical place where you can hide when trying to get some more local experience, Vietnamese hospitality or simply chill out and get some rest from your constant travels across the country.

Ninh Binh.

Cu Chi Tunnel, Saigon

This is definitely a place for history lovers who are interested in the Vietnam War. Cu Chi Tunnel is the most intelligent and immense network of connecting underground tunnels in the world.

Used as a place where thousands of fighters and villages could hide, nowadays it is the most visited country’s prime tourist attraction. It is located in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and you can easily reach it by a local bus.

Cu Chi Tunnel.

Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta is definitely one of the major tourist attractions when visiting Southern Vietnam. It is a place of various exotic fruits, extraordinary flora and fauna and friendly locals.

When in Vietnam, you should definitely go for one day trip to Mekong Delta so you can see the beauty of this wonderful water world, best to be explored by boat.

Snake wine at Mekong Delta!

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is located in Northern Vietnam and as you may already know, it is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and it is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Ha Long Bay is considered as one of the world’s natural wonders and the most beautiful tourist destination of Vietnam and this is so true.The view from the boat was very beautiful.

There are more than one thousand extraordinary limestone islands with different shapes and sizes. Just picture some stunning mountains sticking out from the crystal clear water – impressive, isn’t?

Ha Long Bay.

Cua Lo, Northern Vietnam.

Cua Lo is a hidden town district of Nghe An Province, in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. Why would you make it there? It has a stunning and quiet beach with white sand, clean water and a shady grove of pine trees, where you can chill out and swim.

Cua Lo beach is 16km northeast of Vinh and can be reached easily by motorbike or taxi. If you feel like recharging your batteries and getting some tan, don’t miss it out!

Agness at Cu Lo Beach.

As you can see, Vietnam offers a lot of different places to explore for its visitors. Every town and city is different so Vietnam will keep surprising you with the hospital locals, delicious Pho and stunning views and beaches!

Meet Agness and Cez – best friends and travel companions from Poland. This duo stands behind eTramping.com, a travel website where you can find plenty of budget travel tips on how to travel the world with $25 in your pocket.

Since 2011, they have been travelling the world while teaching English in different Asian countries such as China, Thailand or Cambodia. They are both photography passionates obsessed with Chinese cuisine and culture. If you would like to read more about China, you can check out their “Add the Brick to the Great Wall:” Experience-based Advice for China from Expats” e-book which sums up their two-year experience of teaching, living and travelling in the Land of Dragons.