7 Best Places to Go in Vietnam (And What They’re Really Best For)

We spent a month zigzagging down the whole of Vietnam with only a vague plan of where to go. One week in we were already in love. 

From north to south, we quickly learned how much just a bit of research can shape your trip – especially if you’re a first-time visitor or traveling as a backpacker.

We almost missed so many cool places and experiences because we just didn’t know about them!

Vietnam isn’t a country where one “must-see” list works for everyone. Where you go should depend on what you actually want out of the trip – food, culture, nature, history, or time to slow down.

This guide breaks down the best places to go in Vietnam and why each one is worth prioritizing, based on what you can actually do there. It’s not an itinerary and it’s not about cramming in as many stops as possible.

Instead, it’s meant to help you choose places that fit your travel style, then build a route that makes sense for you.

Whether you’re planning a short first trip or traveling Vietnam more slowly, these destinations are the ones we’d confidently recommend – along with honest context, practical tips, and clear next steps to help you turn ideas into a real travel plan.

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How to Use This Guide

This isn’t a checklist of every tourist spot in Vietnam – it’s a personalized tool to help you figure out your Vietnam itinerary based on your travel style.

Whether you’re into street food, cultural deep-dives, motorbiking through the countryside, or just want to slow down for a while, each section below gives:

• What makes the destination worth your time
• Who it’s best for (and who might skip it)
• Our first-hand experience, including what we loved or what we’d do differently
• Tips on what to do & and how to plan it well

💡 Use this post to sketch out a rough route – then dive into our detailed city guides (linked in each section), transport breakdowns, and itineraries when you’re ready to build your trip.

Hanoi — Best for Food and First-Time Culture Shock (In a Good Way)

Hanoi is the best introduction to Vietnamese food culture – period.

We already loved Vietnamese food before arriving, but eating our way through Hanoi (tbh, Vietnam as a whole) completely reset our expectations.

When you’re not eating, the magic of Hanoi is simply watching life happen. Daily routines unfold on the street rather than behind closed doors. 

We spent hours sitting in cafés, trying new types of Vietnamese coffee (our favs here) on balconies overlooking the road, watching produce sellers weave through traffic, locals go about their day, and fellow travelers take it all in. 

We loved loved loved Hanoi and truly cannot wait to go back. These are our fave hotels in our fave neighborhoods.

We did it this way, so we may be biased, but we genuinely think Hanoi is the perfect first stop after landing in Vietnam.

It’s easy enough to get around while still throwing you straight into the culture-shock deep end in the best possible way.

👉 See exactly how to structure your time in our 3-day Hanoi Itinerary.

Best Things To Do in Hanoi

• Join a guided street food tour to understand northern Vietnamese dishes and how locals actually eat
• Take a Vietnamese coffee tour to go beyond egg coffee and iced condensed milk
• Watch a traditional water puppet show for cultural context with minimal effort

Before You Visit Hanoi

• Book a food tour for your first or second night to quickly get your bearings. This is our favorite thing to do in any new city!!
• Reserve water puppet show tickets ahead of time, especially in peak season, to avoid queues.

🤔 Still deciding where to start your Vietnam trip? Our Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City guide breaks it down based on vibe, nature, and timing.

Sapa – Best Mountain Town for Cultural Travelers

Sapa is one of the most accessible places in Vietnam to engage with ethnic minority culture, and when you approach it thoughtfully, it can be incredibly rewarding. 

The mix of mountain landscapes and living traditions here is something you don’t really get elsewhere in the country.

When we visited Sapa, Jess wasn’t feeling well, so we skipped trekking entirely and still had an amazing experience. Instead, we leaned into the cultural side of the region.

We joined a family dinner at our homestay and tried dishes we didn’t see anywhere else on our Vietnam itinerary, and learned about what day-to-day life looks like in the mountains.

The real highlight for us was a batik dyeing workshop with a Hmong elder.

Through a translator, we talked about the meaning behind the patterns and learned the technique ourselves – a craft that’s still actively practiced in these mountain villages today. 

It was hands-on, personal, and easily one of the most memorable experiences we had in Vietnam. We wrote more about that experience if you’re curious to see what it was actually like.

Best Things To Do in Sapa

• Trek with a local Hmong guide – Trekking is a big reason people come to Sapa, but it’s worth being selective. There are real issues with underpaid guides and unsustainable practices here, so look for small-group or private treks that are upfront about fair pay and community involvement.
• Stay overnight in a village homestay – There are plenty of homestays around Sapa, but we really loved staying with a local family rather than in town. 

If you’ve never stayed in a homestay before, it helps to know what to expect and how to choose one that actually benefits the people hosting you. We break down what you need to know here.

Who is Sapa Best For

Most people associate Sapa with trekking, but you can absolutely have a meaningful experience here without breaking a sweat – we did.

If cultural connection matters more to you than ticking off viewpoints, Sapa is a must visit.

• Culture-first travelers
• Travelers that are comfortable with simple accommodation in exchange for deeper experiences (though you can definitely find some luxury experiences if you pay for them $$$$).

If Sapa is high on your list, it’s worth spending a bit of time planning it properly. 

We’ve put together a detailed breakdown of how to structure your days, where to base yourself, and which experiences are actually worth prioritising.

How to Experience Sapa Well

• Choose small-group or private treks that include village stays and pay guides fairly.
• Stay overnight in Sapa – rushed day trips from Hanoi don’t do the region justice, and you’ll miss what makes it special. We’re so glad we stayed a few nights to experience the mountain sunrise and sunsets.

Cat Ba Island — Best for Bioluminescence and a Quieter Bay Experience

We weren’t sure whether Cat Ba would just feel like a Ha Long Bay “backup plan” – but it turned out to be one of the most relaxed parts of our trip.

Cat Ba gives you the same limestone karst scenery as Ha Long Bay – you’re literally moving through the same stretch of water – just without the constant feeling of being herded from place to place. 

It’s still busy, and you definitely won’t have the bay to yourself, but staying on Cat Ba feels calmer and more livable than basing yourself in Ha Long City.

There is actually a fair amount to do in Cat Ba, which surprised us a little.

You can kayak at night to see bioluminescence (glowing water!!), hike in Cat Ba National Park, but still walk to dinner afterward without needing to plan your whole day around tours. 

There are plenty of solid, well-reviewed restaurants, and the town itself is easy to get around on foot.

Cat Ba is also very straightforward to reach. There are direct bus connections from places like Sapa and Ninh Binh, which makes it an easy addition if you’re already traveling through northern Vietnam.

Best Things to Do on Cat Ba

• Night kayaking in quieter parts of the bay to see bioluminescence
• Day boat trip through Lan Ha Bay, which tends to be calmer and less hectic than central Ha Long Bay

👉 If you’re unsure which boat trip to book, we’ve put together a breakdown of the more affordable cruise options – and explain why, for most people, a day trip makes more sense than sleeping on a boat.

Who Cat Ba Is Best For

Cat Ba is perfect if you want the iconic scenery without the crowds of Ha Long Bay. You’ll love it if you are a:

• Nature lover
• Traveler who want to avoid the most crowded version of Ha Long Bay
• Budget traveler who prefer flexibility

👉 It also fits neatly into a northern Vietnam route if you’re coming from Hanoi, Sapa, or Ninh Binh.

How to Experience Cat Ba Well

• Book bioluminescent kayaking in advance since conditions and availability can change. This is one of the most unique activities in Vietnam.
• Choose smaller boats for Lan Ha Bay if you want a quieter day on the water. We picked this one and felt it was a perfect combo of group size and value.

Phong Nha — Best for Outdoor and Adventure Lovers

Phong Nha is an adventure-focused stop without the party energy (and one of the places we almost skipped).

We ended up diverting here at the last minute on the recommendation of travelers we met in Hanoi, and we’re so glad we listened.

Not only did we have some of the best food of the trip (hello still thinking about the caramel tofu), but we spent a full day riding through the national park and saw maybe four other people the entire time. 

The landscape feels wide open and calm, especially compared to busier parts of Vietnam.

We also loved the botanical gardens here – which are really more like shaded hiking trails – and our riverfront guesthouse where we swam every afternoon.

This area is home to some of the most impressive caves (and the actual biggest) in the world, but what really sold us was how easy it was to just be outside all day without crowds or pressure to book back-to-back tours.

Vietnam can sometimes feel overly gimmicky but Phong Nha had none of that energy. If you’re backpacking Vietnam, this is a must-do in our opinion.

Best Things To Do in Phong Nha

• Motorbike the countryside and river roads, stopping whenever something catches your eye
• Join a guided cave tour, whether you want an easy dry cave or something more adventurous and wet

👉 If you want a realistic breakdown of routes, caves, and how to structure your days here, we’ve written a full guide to what you can actually do in and around Phong Nha.

Who Phong Nha is Best For

If outdoor activities aren’t your thing, Phong Nha probably isn’t worth the detour. But if you love being outside, you shouldn’t miss it.

We had one of our best days in Vietnam cruising mountain roads, paddleboarding at a low-key adventure park, and swimming in the river right outside our guesthouse. 

You’ll love Phong Nha if you are:

• An adventure traveler
• A Confident (or confident-enough) motorbike rider

👉 If you’re deciding between countryside stops, it’s also worth comparing Phong Nha with other nature-heavy areas in Vietnam to see which fits your travel style better.

Best Experiences in Phong Nha

• Book cave tours early – group sizes are limited, especially for the more popular caves
• Rent a semi-automatic bike if you’re newer to riding but still want the freedom to explore

Ninh Binh — Best for Countryside and Slow Travel

If you have to pick one place on your Vietnam itinerary, make it here. 

Ninh Binh offers a peaceful contrast to Hanoi and is a place that works just as well for a short stop as it does for a longer stay.

It’s easy to explore independently, doesn’t require a packed tour schedule, and rewards slowing down more than rushing through highlights.

We spent five days here and honestly could have stayed longer.

There’s a lot to do, but the best moment was pretty simple: renting a bike through our guesthouse and cycling quiet back roads, stopping whenever something caught our attention was so fun. 

TOP TIP: Don’t wear your favorite shoes to cycle around because you will get muddy.

You absolutely have to do the Trang An boat ride (we chose route 3), and we were pleasantly surprised by how good the food scene is for a small town.

🍕 We share all of the best places to eat in Ninh Binh (both local and Western) here.

Best Things To Do in Ninh Binh

• Take a boat ride through Trang An or Tam Coc, weaving between limestone cliffs and rice fields
• Cycle through villages, temples, and farmland – it’s flat, scenic, and easy to do at your own pace
• Join a low-key cultural experience, like learning about water buffalo farming or traditional embroidering

👉 If you’re deciding where to base yourself, we’ve written a full breakdown comparing staying near the boats versus staying closer to town, which makes planning this part much easier.

Who is Ninh Binh Best For

High-key, Ninh Binh works for almost everyone.

Whether you’re squeezing it into a short northern Vietnam trip or lingering here as part of a longer backpacking route, it’s an easy place to enjoy without overthinking it.

There’s a lot to do, but none of it feels overly intense (aside from a few viewpoint climbs), and you can scale your days up or down depending on your energy.

It’s often called “Ha Long Bay on land,” and while that comparison gets overused, it’s not wrong.

Top Tips for Visiting Ninh Binh

• Arrive for your boat rides early in the morning for fewer crowds and cooler temperatures
• Stay overnight instead of visiting on a rushed day trip – this is where Ninh Binh really shines
• Book a unique experience like meeting water buffalo or learning how to make local embroidery – tours you can only find in Ninh Binh.
• Do a self-guided bike route around Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) to see get around.

Hoi An — Where History, Food & Tailoring Collide

Hoi An is an amazing place to visit because it makes it easy to combine history with hands-on experiences.

The ancient town is beautiful, but what really sets Hoi An apart is how much you can do just beyond the historic center.

We spent our days biking through rice fields, riding out toward the beach, and wandering the old streets, then slowing down in the evenings once the lanterns lit up the town. 

✨ Where you stay in Hoi An really shapes your experience, especially if you want easy access to the Old Town, rice fields, and the beach. Read our guide on the best areas before you book.

One of our favorite experiences was a lantern-making workshop – a nice, chill way to learn about a local craft and actually make something yourself (though we had plenty of help when the lantern was looking a bit rough…).

Food is another big reason to spend time here. Hoi An has several regional dishes you won’t find elsewhere in Vietnam, and it’s an amazing place to join a food-focused tour, since you can try a lot in one go.

Hoi An is also one of the easiest places in Vietnam to get custom clothing made affordably. We spent about $100 USD total and left with two pairs of trousers, a cotton dress, and two blouses. 

The whole process took around two days, including choosing designs, doing two fittings, and picking up the final pieces. It’s a straightforward process, even if you’ve never had anything tailored before.

Best Things To Do in Hoi An

• Have linen or cotton clothing custom-made, ideally early in your stay
• Walk through the Old Town in the evening once day-trippers clear out and the lanterns are lit
• Join a food-focused storytelling experience led by a multi-generational noodle maker to better understand central Vietnamese dishes

👉 If you’re planning a few days here, we’ve mapped out how to balance Old Town time with cycling, beaches, and hands-on activities so it doesn’t feel repetitive.

Who Hoi An is Best For

Hoi An is an easy place to slow down, especially after busier stops elsewhere in Vietnam.

• Slow-paced travelers
• Anyone who wants a practical souvenir they’ll actually use
• Food lovers curious about regional specialties

Make the Most of Your Hoi An Trip

• Join a food-focused storytelling tour to try hyper-local cuisine with a local guide
• Allow at least 48 hours for tailoring, especially if you want multiple fittings
• Book fittings early in your stay so there’s time for adjustments without stress

Ho Chi Minh City — Best for History and Modern Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is essential for understanding Vietnam’s recent history – and maybe this is a hot take, but we actually really enjoyed it.

So many people we met across Vietnam rated Ho Chi Minh City as not worth a visit, but we couldn’t disagree more!!

Locals still call it Saigon, and while history is a big reason people visit, there’s plenty here even if you don’t consider yourself a history buff.

What really stood out to us was how different it feels from northern Vietnam. History and modern life intersect on every street corner, polished and chaotic, with fancy cafes sitting next to busy local markets. 

The city is full of contrasts, but it feels deeply lived in rather than curated for visitors.

Much like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City isn’t oriented around tourism, and that’s exactly what we liked about it. It’s a city that exists for the people who live there first, which is always our favorite kind of place to visit.

Best Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City

• Visit the War Remnants Museum to understand Vietnam’s recent history from a local perspective
• Have a drink or meal at a rooftop bar or restaurant to see the city from above and appreciate just how massive it is
• Book a coffee making class to learn how to make your newest favorite drink
• Wander local markets, like Binh Tay Market, for something that feels more local than the usual tourist stops

⚡ You can steal our itinerary for how we spent 24 hours in Ho Chi Minh City here.

Who Ho Chi Minh City is Best For

Ho Chi Minh City is perfect if you like cities that feel layered and a little intense. We loved just wandering around in between exploring the museums, markets, and drinking our 60th egg coffee.

You’ll like Ho Chi Minh City if you are:

• A history-focused traveler
• People who enjoy a slightly more polished, “fancy” side of city travel (if you want)
• Anyone flying internationally out of southern Vietnam

What to Book in Ho Chi Minh City

• Choose tours that emphasize historical context, not gimmicks or shock value
• Combine a city tour with the Cu Chi Tunnels if you’re short on time and want an efficient overview
• Book a coffee making class to learn how to make your newest favorite drink

Next Step: Build Your Vietnam Route

Already picked the best places in Vietnam to visit, but not sure what order to go in? These are a few route ideas we recommend based on different travel styles.

Our Recommended Routes

First-Time in Vietnam (2 Weeks)

Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Cat Ba → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City

👉 Balanced mix of food, culture, nature, and mostly easy transit routes.

Cultural Deep-Dive

Hanoi → Sapa → Phong Nha → Hoi An

👉 Spend more time in fewer places, with local-led experiences and homestays.

Nature + Adventure Focused

Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Phong Nha → Cat Ba → Hoi An

👉 Motorbiking, hiking, kayaking, caves, and rice paddies.

Budget Backpacker Route (North to South)

Hanoi → Sapa → Ninh Binh → Phong Nha → Hoi An → HCMC

👉 Well-trodden path with solid transit links and low-cost accommodation.

Vietnam Logistics

Once you’ve decided where to go in Vietnam, these guides will help you connect the dots and lock in the essentials without overplanning:

• Still deciding between countries? Compare travel styles, budgets, and experiences in our Laos vs Vietnam breakdown.
• Planning a longer Southeast Asia trip? Use our Southeast Asia overview to see how Vietnam fits into a bigger route.
• Getting around Vietnam: Get all of our tips + how to book your transit. 🚅 Overnight trains are one of the easiest ways to cover long distances, especially for first-timers. Sleeper buses (VIP ONLY) 🚌 are another solid option when routes or schedules don’t line up. 
• What to pack: A practical packing list makes moving between cities, countryside, and overnight transport much easier.

🌏 Exploring more of Southeast Asia? Check out all of our guides on Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia as well. We share our exact itineraries, the best places we’ve stayed, where to eat, and our favorite experiences!