What are the most interesting things to do and see in Vietnam?
Depends on what your interests are. Here are some personal suggestions*:
1. If you want to explore the beaches of Vietnam
· Phu Quoc has great seafoods. Terrible road to connect the two sides (the hotels side and the beach Bai Sao side). Beach was crowded and only ok compared to other places. Food was fantastic though. If you stay in the top resorts, the beach will have less people but not as nice as the sand and water in Bai Sao. Maybe I went during an off season but I was not impressed with the beach on this island.
· Doc Let-Near Nha Trang. It was quiet and pretty when I was last there in the late 90s/early 00s
· Cam Ranh-Near Nha Trang. There’s a cute resort called Ngoc Suong.
· Con Dao-small beautiful island. My favorite. I almost didn’t want to give this place up on Quora. But if you can get flights out there, it will be worth it. Private beaches, spectacular coral and marine life. Rent a motorbike and drive around. Near the coast of Vung Tau
· Ho Tram-Near Vung Tau ( VT is gross to me) there are a couple of different options in Ho Tram. Some offer cheap places right on the beach. It’s hard to get to as you have to rent a motorbike or a car from Vung Tau and drive out there. Renting a car in Vietnam can be a pain. I only like this because it’s semi-close to HCMC where you don’t have to fly…but with the amount of time, I rather fly somewhere else.
· Hoi An/Da Nang. Pretty beaches, if you can find a place away from the crowds, in general you’d have to say at a nice resort on the beach to enjoy a nice beach.
· Hue-there are some beaches between Hue and Danang like Lang Co and even further out, but it’s difficult to get to unless you can rent a car or a motorbike, and have someone give you directions. I went to one in early September and was the only one there. Vedana Lagoon in Pha Tam Giang is my favorite resort in Vietnam. You can rent a motorbike to go to the beach, but it’s a beautiful lagoon
· Qui Nhon-I heard good things about the Life Resort there.
2. If you want a glimpse of the Vietnam of yesteryears
· Hoi An-Everyone likes it there. The people are nice, it’s quiet, but the majority of people on the streets are tourists.
· Any of the villages in the north of Vietnam. Rent a motorbike and wander about 50 km away from Hanoi on either sides. Take small roads, drive through rice paddies.
· Perhaps you can do the above the South of Vietnam, further South of HCMC/Saigon but I wouldn’t know from first hand experience
· Any of the town villages on the outskirts of Hue/Danang. The further out you go on a motorbike, the more quiet it gets. In general people are pretty friendly.
·
3. If you want to be in the back country, visiting places that few international tourists venture to
· Any of the villages in the north of Vietnam. Rent a motorbike and wander about 50 km away from Hanoi on either sides. Take small roads, drive through rice paddies.
· Trang-An-magnificent sight to behold. A lady will pedal your party of 4 through many many caves and grottos, but the best part is being on the green water, going through tall majestic limestone mountains. It’s much less crowded and more beautiful than Tam Coc
· Northern Vietnam, aside from Ha Long Bay and Sapa is largely unexplored. Read about it on wikitravel or something like that, and just pick a plac.e
· Hai Van Pass. Not a lot of people come here anymore because everyone wants to same time and go through the tunnel. If you have time and are able to rent a taxi or private car, go on the Pass. It’s breathtaking!
4. If you want to see the tourist sites Vietnam is famous for
· Ha Long Bay – go on a clear day
· Tam Coc- rowers can be aggressive with tips/selling things to you
· Hanoi-I have an entry for this Quora User's answer to What is there to do in Hanoi (Vietnam)?
· Saigon/HCMC-this is its own entry.
· Hoi An-you can find info for this place else where
· Dalat – My home town. I love it for many reasons, but from a tourist perspective it might not be very beautiful or interesting. It offers an escape from the heat else where in Vietnam. The pine trees and the lake can be romantic if you are with the right person. Pedal the duck into the sunset is a must! I have a food list for this city that I can post one day if someone asks on Quora. Stay at Ana Mandara, get a room with the claw tub. Sample dried fruits and buy some at the market. Motorbike around.
5. Things “to do”
· Sip café sua da-(drip coffee with a heavy dose of sweetened condense milk with ice. If you don’t want ice, just say café sua) on a sidewalk somewhere. Try many different sidewalks, in front of parks, in front of schools, in front of tourist sites. It will be a fun people watching experience every time. If you don’t drink coffee like me, I usually order a bottle of O2, it’s sweetened green tea, and it’s usually cold so I drink it straight from the bottle.
· Wake up early, wander around wherever you are staying at, you will see life unfolds before you. Sometimes this might start at 4-5AM. But if you start at 7, then most people are up already. Grab breakfast somewhere that seems busy. IMHO, breakfast is the best meal if Vietnam if you like varieties. There are sandwiches (banh mi), rice rolls (banh cuon, banh uot), sticky rice (xoi-in both salty versions with meats, and sweet versions with coconut, corn, beans…etc), rice, and noodles galore. Most people in Vietnam go out for breakfast. Lunch is eaten at home or at the office, and dinner is at home or at a drinking place (nhau-I don’t want to call these places “bars” because they “bars” in tend to conjure image of a place selling drinks with foods as an after thought to feed drunk people, while nhau places in Vietnam are restaurants selling spectacular foods of different sorts to accompany beer-drinking . Beer is not my thing but I gladly go to these places for the foods-sorry off topic), or at fancy restaurants for special occasions. Breakfast is when almost EVERYONE go out, demands generate high varied supplies. J The morning is cool enough where you shouldn’t have to go into a restaurant with AC for breakfast, the best breakfasts are on the streets, at busy places, and from sweet old ladies or men sitting on the streets with a couple of stools in front of them. I think I have an entry for breakfast in HCMC/Saigon on Quora.
· Ride in the back of a motorbike. I don’t know what it’s like to drive one so I can’t comment but I would imagine it would be thrilling if you are the thrill-seeker type. Riding in the back of one, where you trust the driver, is a fantastic experience. There will be a slight breeze, there will be lots of smells that come wafting into your nose even if you wear a mask (WEAR IT even though it looks ridiculous! Your nose and mouth will thank you!), open your eyes to try to see everything around you. Families on motorbikes, shops, foods, beggars, high rises, slums, rice paddies, cows, monuments, people, people and people. This is one of best ways to experience Vietnam, IMHO.
· Go Karaoke-ing with a group of locals. Most of them sing like pop stars, you should try to sing too, regardless of how intoxicated you have to be or how ridiculous it seems. Let go and have fun.
· Go to a market. Not just one that sells souvenirs and gifts, but ones that sell veggies and fruits and fish and meat and fabrics. Just wander. I would have to do another entry for bargaining, but in general, ask yourself, how much would you want to pay for that, tell them the number, and walk away if the vendor doesn’t agree. As a Vietkieu who’s fluent in Vietnamese and who often shops with locals, vendors will still tell me a price that is 100% markup of what they will sell it to me for. Even if the price is written on the item, still try to bargain. Don’t be mean, don’t be aggressive, think of it like a game, a flirting game. It helps if you smile. It’s a fun experience if you don’t have to do it every day for every single item including fruits and veggies.
· Go to a rooftop café/bar if it’s available at any city you are in. Take in the sights, and ponder urban development. J
· More to be added later…
*This is in no way a comprehensive guide of things to do and see in Vietnam. This is just what I would suggest to friends and people who ask based on my preference, experience, and interest.
1. If you want to explore the beaches of Vietnam
· Phu Quoc has great seafoods. Terrible road to connect the two sides (the hotels side and the beach Bai Sao side). Beach was crowded and only ok compared to other places. Food was fantastic though. If you stay in the top resorts, the beach will have less people but not as nice as the sand and water in Bai Sao. Maybe I went during an off season but I was not impressed with the beach on this island.
· Doc Let-Near Nha Trang. It was quiet and pretty when I was last there in the late 90s/early 00s
· Cam Ranh-Near Nha Trang. There’s a cute resort called Ngoc Suong.
· Con Dao-small beautiful island. My favorite. I almost didn’t want to give this place up on Quora. But if you can get flights out there, it will be worth it. Private beaches, spectacular coral and marine life. Rent a motorbike and drive around. Near the coast of Vung Tau
· Ho Tram-Near Vung Tau ( VT is gross to me) there are a couple of different options in Ho Tram. Some offer cheap places right on the beach. It’s hard to get to as you have to rent a motorbike or a car from Vung Tau and drive out there. Renting a car in Vietnam can be a pain. I only like this because it’s semi-close to HCMC where you don’t have to fly…but with the amount of time, I rather fly somewhere else.
· Hoi An/Da Nang. Pretty beaches, if you can find a place away from the crowds, in general you’d have to say at a nice resort on the beach to enjoy a nice beach.
· Hue-there are some beaches between Hue and Danang like Lang Co and even further out, but it’s difficult to get to unless you can rent a car or a motorbike, and have someone give you directions. I went to one in early September and was the only one there. Vedana Lagoon in Pha Tam Giang is my favorite resort in Vietnam. You can rent a motorbike to go to the beach, but it’s a beautiful lagoon
· Qui Nhon-I heard good things about the Life Resort there.
2. If you want a glimpse of the Vietnam of yesteryears
· Hoi An-Everyone likes it there. The people are nice, it’s quiet, but the majority of people on the streets are tourists.
· Any of the villages in the north of Vietnam. Rent a motorbike and wander about 50 km away from Hanoi on either sides. Take small roads, drive through rice paddies.
· Perhaps you can do the above the South of Vietnam, further South of HCMC/Saigon but I wouldn’t know from first hand experience
· Any of the town villages on the outskirts of Hue/Danang. The further out you go on a motorbike, the more quiet it gets. In general people are pretty friendly.
·
3. If you want to be in the back country, visiting places that few international tourists venture to
· Any of the villages in the north of Vietnam. Rent a motorbike and wander about 50 km away from Hanoi on either sides. Take small roads, drive through rice paddies.
· Trang-An-magnificent sight to behold. A lady will pedal your party of 4 through many many caves and grottos, but the best part is being on the green water, going through tall majestic limestone mountains. It’s much less crowded and more beautiful than Tam Coc
· Northern Vietnam, aside from Ha Long Bay and Sapa is largely unexplored. Read about it on wikitravel or something like that, and just pick a plac.e
· Hai Van Pass. Not a lot of people come here anymore because everyone wants to same time and go through the tunnel. If you have time and are able to rent a taxi or private car, go on the Pass. It’s breathtaking!
4. If you want to see the tourist sites Vietnam is famous for
· Ha Long Bay – go on a clear day
· Tam Coc- rowers can be aggressive with tips/selling things to you
· Hanoi-I have an entry for this Quora User's answer to What is there to do in Hanoi (Vietnam)?
· Saigon/HCMC-this is its own entry.
· Hoi An-you can find info for this place else where
· Dalat – My home town. I love it for many reasons, but from a tourist perspective it might not be very beautiful or interesting. It offers an escape from the heat else where in Vietnam. The pine trees and the lake can be romantic if you are with the right person. Pedal the duck into the sunset is a must! I have a food list for this city that I can post one day if someone asks on Quora. Stay at Ana Mandara, get a room with the claw tub. Sample dried fruits and buy some at the market. Motorbike around.
5. Things “to do”
· Sip café sua da-(drip coffee with a heavy dose of sweetened condense milk with ice. If you don’t want ice, just say café sua) on a sidewalk somewhere. Try many different sidewalks, in front of parks, in front of schools, in front of tourist sites. It will be a fun people watching experience every time. If you don’t drink coffee like me, I usually order a bottle of O2, it’s sweetened green tea, and it’s usually cold so I drink it straight from the bottle.
· Wake up early, wander around wherever you are staying at, you will see life unfolds before you. Sometimes this might start at 4-5AM. But if you start at 7, then most people are up already. Grab breakfast somewhere that seems busy. IMHO, breakfast is the best meal if Vietnam if you like varieties. There are sandwiches (banh mi), rice rolls (banh cuon, banh uot), sticky rice (xoi-in both salty versions with meats, and sweet versions with coconut, corn, beans…etc), rice, and noodles galore. Most people in Vietnam go out for breakfast. Lunch is eaten at home or at the office, and dinner is at home or at a drinking place (nhau-I don’t want to call these places “bars” because they “bars” in tend to conjure image of a place selling drinks with foods as an after thought to feed drunk people, while nhau places in Vietnam are restaurants selling spectacular foods of different sorts to accompany beer-drinking . Beer is not my thing but I gladly go to these places for the foods-sorry off topic), or at fancy restaurants for special occasions. Breakfast is when almost EVERYONE go out, demands generate high varied supplies. J The morning is cool enough where you shouldn’t have to go into a restaurant with AC for breakfast, the best breakfasts are on the streets, at busy places, and from sweet old ladies or men sitting on the streets with a couple of stools in front of them. I think I have an entry for breakfast in HCMC/Saigon on Quora.
· Ride in the back of a motorbike. I don’t know what it’s like to drive one so I can’t comment but I would imagine it would be thrilling if you are the thrill-seeker type. Riding in the back of one, where you trust the driver, is a fantastic experience. There will be a slight breeze, there will be lots of smells that come wafting into your nose even if you wear a mask (WEAR IT even though it looks ridiculous! Your nose and mouth will thank you!), open your eyes to try to see everything around you. Families on motorbikes, shops, foods, beggars, high rises, slums, rice paddies, cows, monuments, people, people and people. This is one of best ways to experience Vietnam, IMHO.
· Go Karaoke-ing with a group of locals. Most of them sing like pop stars, you should try to sing too, regardless of how intoxicated you have to be or how ridiculous it seems. Let go and have fun.
· Go to a market. Not just one that sells souvenirs and gifts, but ones that sell veggies and fruits and fish and meat and fabrics. Just wander. I would have to do another entry for bargaining, but in general, ask yourself, how much would you want to pay for that, tell them the number, and walk away if the vendor doesn’t agree. As a Vietkieu who’s fluent in Vietnamese and who often shops with locals, vendors will still tell me a price that is 100% markup of what they will sell it to me for. Even if the price is written on the item, still try to bargain. Don’t be mean, don’t be aggressive, think of it like a game, a flirting game. It helps if you smile. It’s a fun experience if you don’t have to do it every day for every single item including fruits and veggies.
· Go to a rooftop café/bar if it’s available at any city you are in. Take in the sights, and ponder urban development. J
· More to be added later…
*This is in no way a comprehensive guide of things to do and see in Vietnam. This is just what I would suggest to friends and people who ask based on my preference, experience, and interest.
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