They say that beauty is subjective, but Vietnam has always appeared to me to be a compelling example of the reverse. This nation of almost 100 million people runs from the capital city of Hanoi and the rice terraces of Sa Pa to its largest and most popular metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City, via well-kept beach resorts along the coast.
Its landscape is breathtakingly lovely, to begin with. In the north, the mountain routes of Cao Bang and Ha Giang wind around peaks before disappearing into foggy heights. In central Vietnam, the coastline winds around horseshoe coves and peninsulas like a silk ribbon south of Quy Nhon. And the idea of an island paradise seems to be stretched in some way by the white dunes and azure waters of the Con Dao archipelago off the south coast.
Look for the little things since Vietnam’s cities might be overpowering. The dilapidated façades of historic homes are hidden within Hanoi’s mediaeval Old Quarter. Scruffy lakes surrounded by flowers may be found tucked beneath Hue’s decaying imperial palaces. My Son Sanctuary, with its millennium-old temple ruins and eerie grandeur, is located outside the idyllic town of Hoi An.
It’s understandable why travel to the nation is so popular given how much there is to see. I’ve lived in Hanoi for more than ten years, and my first trip to Vietnam was over twenty years ago. Whether it’s a luxury hotel dedicated to environmental stewardship or a family-run café in a heritage property, I’ve come to feel that the greatest way to enjoy the beauty of this rapidly changing nation is to support the people and companies striving to conserve it. Here are some of my favourite stunning locations in Vietnam, along with recommendations about how to see them.
1. The walled city, Hue
Photographed nonstop, Hoi I’m supporting Hue, its bigger, heritage-rich neighbour to the north, since An is bustling with tour groups and camera shutters. From its wide, tree-lined boulevards and park-fringed river to the lotus-filled lakes that blossom every summer, this old imperial capital has an urban beauty that seems quite uncommon in Vietnam. Like a self-contained garden, the walled neighbourhood is best visited by bicycle with a local firm like Oriental Sky Travel. The shimmering palaces of the Forbidden Imperial City adorn it.
2. Old Quarter, Hanoi
The Old Quarter of Hanoi is a magnificent mess. It is still a location where daily life overflows onto the pavements: shopkeepers operate with doors thrown open to the street, and noodles are served in improvised street kitchens. It is a tight-knit network of small streets that was initially set out by mediaeval guilds centuries ago. Hidden architectural nuances, such as little temples with peaceful courtyards and French houses with art deco accents, may be found if you pay close attention to streets like Thuoc Bac (Traditional Medicine Street) and Hang Quảt (Fan Street). A street food trip with the local business Curious About Vietnam is one of the greatest ways to unravel the Old Quarter.
3. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Tri
The cathedral-like caverns of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park are the main attraction and the reason I keep returning, even if the park’s verdant highlands seem to have been taken from Avatar. Family-friendly boat excursions into Phong Nha Cave and strolls through Paradise Cave provide a tantalising peek of their incredible size, but the true experience is found deeper inside the park, where cavers weave amid stalagmites as tall as Big Ben and wade through subterranean rivers. Son Doong is the ultimate prize, with rooms big enough to engulf whole city blocks, although Hang En and Hang Va are as ethereal but more reasonably priced options.
4. Son Tra peninsula, Da Nang
The Son Tra peninsula, which is just a short distance from Da Nang, the most populated city in central Vietnam, seems like a vestige of the nation prior to its rapid urbanisation. This protected peninsula rises from the sea, surrounded by remote coves and covered in jungle. Winding roads lead to secret beaches, high vantage spots, and the imposing Lady Buddha. Son Tra is also one of the last habitats for the critically endangered red-shanked douc langur, a symbol of Vietnamese conservation due to its striking colouration, expressive face, and surprisingly graceful limbs. If you’re travelling alone, take a half-day trip of the peninsula with Next Continent, which makes every effort to avoid disturbing the local fauna.
5. Sa Pa District, Lao Cai
The size is the first thing you notice about Sa Pa. The slopes of mountains are shaped into very steep rice terraces as they grow in overlapping layers. The town is the next thing you see. Sa Pa was established in 1903 as a French hill station that attracted adventurous hikers. However, in recent years, it has transformed into a jumble of neon lights and raucous eateries. Luckily, the surrounding scenery continues to be magnificent. Go on a multi-day hike and stay with families from the many ethnic tribes in the area. You’ll wake up every morning to valleys full of clouds and water buffalo grazing outside your window.
6. My Son, Da Nang
While there are larger ancient sites in Southeast Asia, few can compare to My Son’s ambiance. This old religious capital of the Champa Kingdom, located in a jungle-covered basin west of Hoi An, is a sombre collection of red-brick temple towers, softened by encroaching greenery yet wounded by conflict. Even after over a dozen visits, there is always something new to enjoy amid these historic remains, some of which are from the fourth century. When the gates open at 6.30 am, before the tour buses and noon heat arrive, you’ll discover mist hanging in the valley, birdsong reverberating throughout the forest, and the aroma of newly burnt incense wafting from the shrines.
7. The south central coast
Rocky peninsulas fall into the East Sea along the coastline between Quy Nhon and Phan Rang, encasing crescent-shaped coves where crystalline water meets powder-soft sand. Just the coastal roads, which snake over wooded headlands and provide expansive vistas of remote beaches, fishing communities, and the open sea, are enough to entice visitors. However, it is recommended to enjoy this length of shoreline gently. Some of Vietnam’s best resorts may be found just outside the towns’ hustle and bustle; they are carefully integrated into the environment rather than forced onto it.
8. Hoang Su Phi, Tuyen Quang
For almost 200 miles, the well-known Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam weaves, coils, hairpins, and corkscrews through fantastical settings such as Fairy Bosom and Heaven’s Gate. The Loop is the region’s iconic adventure, best experienced over a minimum of four days with a Ha Giang City-based firm like Borderlands Tours. Every turn reveals another breathtaking view. For a more sedate option, go west to Hoang Su Phi, where the roads are delightfully free of motorcycle convoys for the time being and some of the most remarkable terraced farms in the world ripple over the mountainsides.
9. Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai
Vietnam’s forests have suffered due to illicit logging and post-war infrastructural improvements, but Cat Tien National Park offers hope for recovery. A world of towering hardwoods, tangled lianas, bamboo thickets, and enormous buttress roots, this is one of the biggest surviving areas of lowland tropical rainforest in southern Vietnam. Although wildlife may be elusive, patience is often rewarded when you see butterflies emerging from the bush, bison grazing in clearings after dark, gibbons singing at morning, and Siamese crocodiles sunning after dusk.
10. Con Dao Archipelago
There are many stunning beaches in Vietnam, but few are as unique as those in Con Dao, which is located off the southeast coast. Crescents of white sand melt into blue sea across this isolated island, which is surrounded by tropical vegetation that spills down to the coast rather than tall resorts. Green sea turtles come ashore to nest between May and October, and the protected waters are among the purest in Vietnam, making them perfect for diving, swimming, and snorkelling.
11. Ban Gioc Waterfall and Angel Eye Mountain, Cao Bang
Sapphire sky extend above green fields and blue rivers at Cao Bang, in the northeast, where communist Ho Chi Minh started a movement that would ripple across the globe. Highlights include Angel Eye Mountain, a conical karst cut by a massive natural arch that frames the sky, and the castellated Ban Gioc Waterfall, whose torrents drop over wide limestone terraces into a jade-green river marking the boundary with China. There are also cultural riches, such as the centuries-old stone settlement of Khuoi Ky and Pac Bo Cave, a location rich in revolutionary mythology where sites like Karl Marx Mountain and Lenin Stream honour a significant period in the history of communism.
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