Unique places to visit in Vietnam

1. Son Doong Cave

Son Doong Cave is the biggest cave on Earth and the most majestic cave in Vietnam. In 2013, Guinness World Records recognized it as the largest natural cave in the world. However, the cave attracts strong impressions in the eyes of domestic and foreign travelers in light of the unique world inside the cave, including large-scale stalactites with a height of 80 m, a developing virgin forest, a separate ecosystem and weather, and an unending river that no explorer can discover all.

2. Fansipan peak

Fansipan is the highest mountain top in Vietnam, named the “ roof of Indochina,"  just 9 km southwest of Sapa. This is an ideal place suitable for natural lovers who love discovery and adventure and desire to conquer this towering mountain. Come with Fansipan, you will be lost in majestic beauty with cotton trees, jacks in the foot, and conifer trees—Po mu over 700 m. Like Sapa, the weather here is pleasant and cool all year round, but you should wear suitable and warm clothes as well as climbing shoes to keep you safe.

3. Ha Giang

This province is at the north pole of Vietnam, having a border with China. In elevation from sea level to 2000 m, this place is extremely favored by nature, with picturesque landscapes including all mountains, forests, rivers, and fields. Come to this land, you not only can emerge yourself in romantic beauty but also have a chance to learn about the unique and different 24 minor ethnicities here. This is a great combination of nature, humans, and culture, which attracts lots of visitors.

4. Con Dao

When it comes to Con Dao, people who are knowledgeable about history will immediately reflect on one of the most dangerous and obsessed prisons in Indochina—a row of “tiger cages” surrounded by barbed wire or solitary confinement without sunlight. Wars pass and give Con Dao back its harmonious appearance and full of life. Not only can you emerge yourself in the warm and fresh water of the beach, but visitors also meet the desire to shop and eat fresh and cheap seafood. Apart from dreamlike and rich landscapes, Con Don is purely a famous spiritual tourist destination in Vietnam, with lots of pagodas, temples, and shrines with mysterious legends among the common people.

5. Cu Chi Tunnel

About 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnel is a miniature of the flexible and creative strategy plan of the Cu Chi Army and people in the long-term and fierce resistance war for national independence and freedom throughout the past 30 years. With its glorious feat of arms, Cu Chi Tunnel is considered a legend of the nation and has a well-known geographic name around the world. This is a unique war wonder with a 250-kilometer-long tunnel spreading like a spider web in the earth’s womb, with works connecting uninterruptedly to the tunnel, such as combat trenches and trenches for eating, sleeping, meeting, living, treating, and storing weapons and food; and the “Hoang Cam” stove and sky well. The real legend of the tunnel was beyond human imagination. Just by creeping into the tunnel, you will comprehend the reason why small Vietnam can gain a victory over the biggest and richest country at this time.

6. Phong Nha- Ke Bang

Phong Nha Cave has a poetic name meaning "wind passing through teeth" because it possesses drooping stalagmites at the cave entrance, creating a symbolic image for the name. Although often called Phong Nha Ke Bang cave, Phong Nha cave is actually just one of many other caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. This place is also known as "Thien Nam De Nhat Dong" meaning “the most beautiful cave in the south” when it became the first point to be put into operation for tourism in Phong Nha Ke Bang, Quang Binh province.

Vom Cave

Traveling to Phong Nha Ke Bang, you will be impressed with Vom Cave - the longest water cave up to 28km long. In the limestone world of Phong Nha - Ke Bang, the cave system has a significant scale, stretching from South to North from Ruc Ca Roong cave. The Vom cave entrance looks like a large bowl upside down on the water, helping boats easily pass through. This is also the light intersection when the boat floats on the bright surface of the river, gradually entering the unending darkness.

In Phong Nha cave, the underground rocks has a form of lions, unicorns, Buddha statues, royal palaces by nature, which always make tourist curious to explore.

The underground lake-13,969m long with deep blue water is an attractive spot when traveling to Phong Nha cave. Here, visitors can experience rowing to explore and enjoy the magical world.

Not only does it possess beautiful rocks and underground lakes, this place also makes many tourists overwhelmed by the magnificent and magical scene of the massive stalactite system. The magical hands of nature also paint many masterpieces with countless strange and attractive images.

7. Ninh Bình

Ninh Binh is well-known because of the beauty of the golden rice fields or fragrant lotus ponds in Summer.

Trang An scenic landscape complex in Ninh Binh province is always impressive to tourists with majestic mountain scenery, small winding rivers, and pristine valley.

Coming to Ninh Binh, tourists often first visit Bich Dong to comtemplate the panoramic view from above. After that, visitors can take a boat down Ngo Dong river to explore Tam Coc cave.

Tam Coc means three caves: Ca cave, Hai cave and Ba cave. Tam Coc is stunningly beautiful with its towering limestone mountains, interesting formations in caves and golden rice fields on both sides.

Hang Mua is a famous check-in point when visiting Ninh Binh. To reach the top of Mua Cave, visitors will have to climb through about 500 stone steps. From the top of Hang Mua, you will see the beautiful panorama of Ninh Binh with winding rivers, rice fields and majestic mountains.

Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010, going through three dynasties: Dinh - Early Le - Early Ly. This is one of the four core areas of the Trang An world heritage complex recognized by UNESCO. Here, you have a chance to visit the temples of King Dinh (Dinh Tien Hoang), King Le (Le Dai Hanh) and a historic museum. These two temples were built around the 17th century, surrounded by many green trees.

Known as the "lagoon without waves"- Van Long have flat water surface without a ripple. The water is too clear to reveal layers of moss underneath. This is also the place that owns two records from the Vietnam Record Book Center in 2010: the largest number of white-rumped langurs and the largest natural painting.

8. Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park is Vietnam's first national forest, with an area of about 22,000 hectares, attracting a large number of tourists with diverse types of tourism such as eco-tourism, research, and adventure. Here, visitors can explore primeval forests, caves with interesting shapes, caves containing long-standing cultural and historical cave such as Trang Khuyet , Chua , Thuy Tien , Nguoi Xua. In Cuc Phuong National Park, there are also hot springs, rich flora and fauna, ancient trees like the thousand-year-old bamboo tree, animal sanctuaries.

9. Ba Be National Park

Ba Be,belonging to Ba Be National Park, is one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in Vietnam as well as famous ecotourism destination. Ba Be has many freshwater fish species, including rare species recorded in Vietnam's red book such as mirror carp, bagana lemassoni , and giant devil catfish . Visiting Ba Be Lake, visitors can rent a jolly-boat , kayak, SUP (stand-up paddle board) or dugout canoe. There are usually two departure ports: Ba Be Lake and Nang River.

10. Pac Ngoi village

Pac Ngoi village belonging to Nam Mau commune, is home the Tay ethnic people located near the banks of Leng river and Ba Be lake, with about 40 people.

The village has ancient stilt houses, roofed with yin and yang tiles, typical Tay architecture. The villagers mainly live by farming and raising livestock, and catching seafood from Ba Be Lake. Here, visitors will enjoy local specialties such as sticky rice in the bamboo, five-color sticky rice, and participate in activities with people such as fishing, canoeing, and watching “then” music performance of Tay’s ladies.

11. Hua Ma Cave

Hua Ma Cave is located in Ba Be National Park. From the foot of Co Don mountain to the cave is about 300 m, there are stairs convenient for movement . The cave entrance is 3 m wide, 5 m high with many rock walls and stalactites. According to legend, this is where the devil reigns. Later, a court general on patrol heard the howls of unjust souls, so he organized a big ceremony, slaughtered horses, and took the horse's head to sacrifice. After the ceremony, the howls disappeared. Over the years, stalactites have grown and this place is considered as spiritual destination.

12. Ban Gioc waterfall

Ban Gioc waterfall is the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam. The waterfall has a majestic natural beauty when large volumes of water pour down the limestone steps, creating white water flying halfway across the mountain. The scene is extremely poetic with steam rising to form magical fog, like a scene from a Wonderland movie.

13. Nguom Ngao Cave

Nguom Ngao Cave is located in Gun village, Dam Thuy commune. Nguom Ngao Cave has extremely splendid beauty with layers of brilliant stalactites. Colorful stalactites intertwine from below and hang down from above in many different shapes, creating an extremely unique, new and beautiful natural cave.

14. Khuoi Ky village

Khuoi Ky village is a home of the Tay people, so if you set foot on this village, you will see all the indigenous customs, habits, costumes, and living styles of Tay people. You will feel the warm and sincere welcome from the Tay people because they are extremely hospitable, enthusiastic and cheerful.

15. Truc Lam Phat Tich Pagoda

Truc Lam Phat Tich Pagoda is the first pagoda built in the northern border of Vietnam. The pagoda was built with country's traditional Buddhist architecture. From here, you will be able to see the majestic and poetic Ban Gioc waterfall.

16. Mui Ne

Mui Ne is a cape with long blue beach and beautiful sand dunes in Phan Thiet city.  The name Mui Ne comes from fishermen. "Mui" is a headland towards the ocean; "Ne" means a place to avoid storms. In 2018, Mui Ne was recognized as a national tourist area.

Visitors can come to Mui Ne all year round, each season the "sea paradise" brings a different beauty. From April to August is the best time to travel to Mui Ne when water is clear and cool.

Hon Rom

Hon Rom is a small and wild mountain located in Long Son hamlet, Mui Ne ward, Phan Thiet city. You will be lost in the beauty of sunrise and sunset at the early morning or late afternoon here. This is also an ideal camping spot to light a campfire or watch the moon and stars at night . The cluster of beaches in Hon Rom has smooth waves and clear blue water without reefs. You can ask for directions to Hon Rom 1, Hon Rom 2 or Thuy Trang beach to swim.

Bau Trang - Bau Sen

Bau Trang - Bau Sen are two natural freshwater lakes located between vast white sand dunes, where visitors can admire thousands of lotus flowers blooming.

Bau Trang sand dunes are likened to the "mini-Sahara desert" in Vietnam with its vast, pristine scenery. Here visitors can rent off-road vehicles or Jeeps to drive around Bau Trang.

Suoi Tien

Suoi Tien in Mui Ne is called "Bong Lai Tien Canh"-Elysium. Near the stream, there are natural red and white stalactite hills with many strange shapes due to the erosion of time.

Poshanu Cham tower

7 km northeast of Phan Thiet center, Poshanu Cham tower is a group of remaining relics of the ancient Champa Kingdom. The tower has Hoa Lai architectural style following the ancient art style of Champa.

17. Ly Son

Ly Son is an island district in Quang Ngai province.It includes 3 islands: Cu Lao Re (Big island), An Binh island commune (Little island) and Mu Cu island, located about 30 km from the mainland. With the advantage of pristine scenery and economical travel costs, Ly Son has always been the destination chosen by many tourists in recent years.

With two distinct rainy and sunny seasons, the best time to travel to Ly Son is from April to August. During this time the weather is stable, with little rain and ample sunshine.. But you should avoid going during the peak season from April to June. September to December is the season of rain, storms and rough seas. The period from late December to April is the season of green moss covering the rocky beaches along Ly Son coast.

Thoi Loi peak

Thoi Loi peak is one of the five inactive volcanoes of the island district, with a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. The volcano is about 170 m above sea level and its top is a giant basin, with a freshwater lake supplying water to the island district. There is a 20m high national flagpole, a favorite destination of many tourists when coming to Ly Son.

At Thoi Loi peak, you can also see the vast green garlic fields. Garlic is also a famous specialty in Ly Son, not only used as a spice but also processed into many delicious dishes, including garlic salad.

 Hang Cau

Hang Cau has vertical stone walls on one side and a beach with fine white sand on the other. Under the influence of wind and waves, the stone walls take on distinct shapes, and there are colorful coral reefs near the shore. At Hang Cau, suggested activities are diving to see coral and kayaking.

Ngang beach

With clear turquoise water, Ngang beach is fondly called "Maldives of Vietnam" by many tourists. There are cliffs and rock holes with many colorful fish species that can be clearly seen when visitors swim or wade.

18. Mai Chau

Overcoming the winding and steep passes in Thung Khe, Thung Nhuoi... you will admire the endless beauty of mountains and trees on the way to Mai Chau, Hoa Binh. About 140 km from the center of Hanoi, Mai Chau conquers tourists with the "fragrant sticky rice seasons" that gradually appear under new sunlight and peaceful scenery.

Mai Chau

Mai Chau is beautiful in every season in its own way. Spring have blooming ban flowers , and warm and pleasant weather. Mai Chau's landscape changes throughout the summer. The period from May to June is the rice season with the yellow color of ripe rice covering the entire valley. July is the falling water season when highland people take water to terraced fields to prepare for rice cultivation. August to October is the best season to travel to Mai Chau, enjoying the crisp autumn weather in the sunshine pouring honey on the rice fields. At the end of October, the valley turns yellow during harvest time. From November to January next year is the season of apricot blossoms and white plums in the valley.

Thung Khe pass

The first attraction is Thung Khe pass or Da Trang pass, located on National Highway 6, between Tan Lac and Mai Chau. This is a limestone mountain, created by the process of paving the road. It is often covered with clouds, creating a hazy scene. On the pass there are also huts selling specialties, food, and drinks for guests to rest.

Lac village

If you want to learn about local culture, you should not miss Lac village, where there are hundreds of stilt houses up to 700 years old.

Mo Luong Cave

If you like shopping, you can also visit Pom Coong village to find and buy beautiful handmade items . If you want to enjoy the taste of non-commercial life, you should visit Tong Dau, Cha Long... to calm yourself down because the people are still mainly farmers.

Mo Luong Cave is located in the Pu Kha mountain range system in Mai Chau town. The cave consists of 4 main caves, famous for its stalactite system forming many shapes like flowers and streams. During the resistance war against the French, this place used to be a meeting base for Vietnamese troops and people.