50 Incredible Things To Do In Vietnam In 2023 (Part 2)

21. Discover An Almost Endless Number Of Tombs (Hue)

When you research things to do in Hue, you’ll soon discover that there are a stupidly large number of tombs surrounding the historic capital of Vietnam.

These contain the bodies of the once-emperors of Vietnam who ruled the country for a few hundred years.

Many of the tombs are a part of their own personal luxury retreats located outside of the busy city.

A few of them contain lakes and temples, as well as walled grounds that have all been perfectly manicured and looked after ever since.

They are really nice to visit, but it’s not worth going to them all as it soon becomes incredibly tiring and tedious in the hot midday sun.

22. Visit An Eerie Abandoned Water Park (Hue)

The abandoned waterpark, just outside Hue is one of the more unusual and unexpected things to do in Vietnam.

The waterpark, called Ho Thuy Tien Lake, was built in the early 2000s and was only open for a few weeks in 2004 before being suddenly shut down.

It has never reopened and has since become an eerie and fascinating place to explore for more adventurous backpackers.

It seems like a real shame that it’s no longer open as they clearly spent millions of dollars developing it and I imagine it would be really popular these days amongst backpackers!

Either way, it’s still worth a visit and you can pick up some really cool photos whilst there.

23. Discover Paradise Cave (Phong NHA)

By far one of the best Vietnam travel spots is the extraordinary cave located in Phong NHA, known as Paradise Cave.

The drive out to it is once again incredible, as you pass through some of the nicest countryside we discovered anywhere in Vietnam.

The whole region in Phong Nha is very underdeveloped and rural, making it such a nice place to discover.

Either way, once you reach Paradise Cave, you are then amazed by the sheer size and beauty of this large underground cavern.

24. Sail Down Phong NHA’s Other Breathtaking Cave (Phong NHA)

The other popular cave in Phong NHA that is open to tourists is known simply as Phong NHA caves.

This one is closer to the main strip of hotels in Phong NHA and is only accessible via boat.

Because you need to book onto a tour boat to take you there, this cave is a bit pricier than the other but equally as impressive in its own right.

They take you on an enjoyable 45 minute ride downstream where you can talk to the guide and get to learn more about the caves and the history of the region.

It turns out our guy had his house destroyed by the storm that passed by just a couple days before, but he was surprisingly fine about the whole thing!

Once you arrive at the cave, they then take you further inside.

I think how far you go depends on the time of year and how high the water level is.

Either way, before leaving you get chance to step out onto dry land and walk around part of the cave before reboarding your boat and sailing back up to town.

25. Wonder Down Train Street In The Heart Of Hanoi (Hanoi)

One of the most photographed areas in Hanoi is Train Street.

The train comes by twice a day and literally runs right past peoples windows on either side of the tracks.

It’s crazy to think that a train operates like this in the middle of somewhere so crowded and as busy as Hanoi Old Quarter.

But, well it does and it makes for a wonderful place to get some quirky photos!

26. Head Out For Some Day Treks

As you might imagine, the breathtaking countryside of Vietnam makes for ample hiking opportunities.

Many of the nicest trails can be found in and around the more mountainous areas like Sapa.

Generally speaking, these regions are also far cooler than others as they are higher in the mountains and away from the incredible heat of coastal cities.

27. Escape The City And Drive Up A Mountain (Hanoi)

Though there are a few things to see in Hanoi, the most enjoyable part of our stay here was hiring a moped and heading out for the day to Ba Vi National Park.

It is roughly an hour and a half drive outside of the city and, once you arrive, you can then spend about another half hour to an hour driving up the mountain that lies inside of the park.

As you get higher, the views get more and more spectacular and it really does feel like an entirely different world away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi.

Halfway up, you come across an old abandoned church, as well as outhouses and homes that were once occupied as holiday homes for rich Vietnamese folk.

Once again, this seems to be one of the lesser-known things to do in Vietnam, but if you are wondering what to do in Vietnam and want to escape the busy cities and instead see some rural paradise, then I really recommend this.

28. Take A Stroll Around Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi)

Another thing you must do during your time in Hanoi, is to visit the Hoan Kiem Lake.

This is a large, freshwater lake that sits right in the heart of Hanoi’s historical centre.

We found it to be a wonderful break from the noise and clamour of the city around it, and is particularly popular on evenings and weekends, especially for families.

When we were there on one Saturday night, they seemed to have a giant market going on, with stalls and vendors located all around the lake, and even further into the streets as well.

It was the perfect place to stroll around with friends we had met and to pick up a bunch of gifts and souvenirs.

For me, the best part was at the southern end of the lake, where they had a group of people hiring out small buggy cart contraptions that you ride around.

Though they’re probably aimed mostly at kids, they were so much fun and we all had a go.

It turns out that this is a famous Hanoi Night Market that is held almost every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

29. Go For A Cruise Out On Halong Bay (Halong Bay)

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and by far one of the best places to visit in Vietnam.

Every year it draws in hundreds of thousands of tourists, right through from budget backpackers to travelling couples on a honeymoon getaway.

There are more than a hundred different tour operators offering cruises within Halong Bay.

These range from cheap 1 day tours of the bay to 3 or 4 night cruises on luxury 5 star yachts.

There really is a cruise to suit all kinds of traveller and, though it has become a little crowded in recent years, it is still something you simply have to do whilst in Vietnam.

We opted for a cruise run by Rosa Cruise which ended being a perfect choice for us.

It was a 2 day, 1 night tour which was middle of the range in terms of price, but certainly above average in what was offered.

30. Pick Yourself Up A Pearl Necklace (Halong Bay)

One of the great things to do in Halong Bay is to check out a pearl farm that exists solely out on the water.

For us, this was a part of our organised tour and it was very interesting getting to learn more about how pearls are grown and turned into high-quality jewellery.

Whilst on a tour of the pearl farm, you also get the chance to pick yourself up some handcrafted jewelry that has been made right there.

My knowledge of pearls is absolutely useless, but they did seem quite reasonably priced, especially seeing as you get to witness the pearls being grown right before your eyes.

Picking up a pearl necklace will certainly prove to be one of the more expensive things to do whilst in Vietnam, but there will be a great story behind the piece you decide to buy.

31. Go For A Spot Of Sea Kayaking (Halong Bay)

It’s possible to go sea kayaking in a few different spots throughout Vietnam, but we had the chance to do this on Halong Bay.

Again, this was a part of the tour, but it’s an awesome experience being able to kayak amidst such a famous and truly breathtaking landscape.

Plenty of tour operators include sea kayaking as a part of their tours and it’s great fun if you’re there with a big group of friends.

32. Spend A Night On Cat Ba Island (Halong Bay)

When out exploring Halong Bay, you’ll discover another one of the most popular Vietnam tourist spots … Cat Ba Island.

This is the largest of a collection of more than 360 islands located in Halong Bay and is a popular place to stop for a night or two whilst out on a Halong Bay tour.

It is a popular place for relaxing, as there are tonnes of sandy beaches here as well as modern restaurants and hotels.

You can charter a route out to Cat Ba Island if you just want to stay there and not cruise the bay.

Alternatively, book onto a cruise that drops you off there halfway through your tour and then picks you backup a day or two later.

33. Eat Out In Style Every Night

By far one of the best parts of any Vietnam trip is the ability to eat out whenever you want!

As we travel on a budget in most places, we are always conscious of overspending on food.

And in places like South America, we had to try and cook our own meals wherever possible.

But in Vietnam, everything is so cheap that you can eat out for just a few dollars every single night!

Local Vietnamese restaurants are actually very nice and it’s a great way to discover true homemade Vietnamese dishes, most commonly Pho (a type of noodle soup).

But there are plenty of westernised restaurants as well, all still very cheap.

Our favourite being Hard Rock Cafe in Ho Chi Minh City which ended up being cheaper than Hard Rock Cafe’s elsewhere in the world and they also had a Queen tribute band that night!

34. Enjoy The Comfort Of Their Sleeper Buses

One of the best ways to explore Vietnam is to buy yourself a hop-on, hop-off bus ticket in one of the major cities.

These are very cheap and for around 30 dollars you can visit all of the major towns and cities across Vietnam.

What’s also nice is that they are very comfortable buses, by far the best buses you’ll find anywhere in Southeast Asia!

We have taken a lot of buses now through Asia, but it was such a pleasant surprise that for all long journeys, you are able to actually relax and sleep in their sleeper buses.

This might not excite you as much, but the novelty and comfort meant that, for me, they more than deserve a place on this list!

35. Buy A Moped And Drive Through The Country

Alternatively, the best way to discover all of the breathtaking places in Vietnam is to buy your own moped and drive through the country!

We hired a moped in every spot we stopped at and it was so much fun.

Unfortunately, we were unable to buy one as there wouldn’t have been enough room for both us and our bags.

There’s plenty of room for one person and a bag, but Cazzy isn’t confident enough to drive a moped.

However, I fully intend on heading back to Vietnam one day and completing this epic road trip myself!

36. Drink Beer For Less Than 50 Cents!

Easily one of the top ten things to do in Vietnam is to see how cheap you can find local beer!

Don’t worry, it’s really not that bad and you can get glasses of beer for even less than 50 cents in many places.

Hoi An proved to be a great spot for finding cheap, great tasting beer and we even saw a group of local students pre-drinking in the place we were having dinner!

37. Sail Down The Mekong Delta

This is another one of the few things to see in Vietnam that we were unable to do on our trip.

I’ve heard a lot about the Mekong Delta, which is a large maze of swamps and rivers that exist in the south of the country below Ho Chi Minh City, and I can’t wait to visit.

Taking a Mekong Delta tour is a crucial part of my next Vietnam itinerary.

Here, you get the chance to hire out a boat and sail through the never-ending maze of passages and waterways.

People live on the Mekong Delta their whole lives and have floating houses, schools and shops and rely on local fisherman to feed the families.

38. Stay At Hotels You Couldn’t Afford Anywhere Else!

One of my favourite things to do in Vietnam is to take advantage of how incredibly cheap the country is and to stay in decent accommodation for once!

For less than 10 dollars per person, you’ll find modern, clean and spacious rooms that you will find hard to get in other countries.

As a standard, we only started staying at hotels with a minimum of 8.5 reviews of Booking.com, as well as a swimming pool!

If you don’t travel on a budget, then this point might not impress you as much, but for us, the freedom of being able to travel in style and forgo cheap hotels and hostels for a few weeks was awesome!

39. Get A Glimpse Of Ho Chi Minh Himself (Hanoi)

That’s right, Ho Chi Minh is a real person!

The city used to be called Saigon, up until 1976 when it was renamed after their revolutionary leader.

Ho Chi Minh was a fascinated individual and it would take to long here to dig into the role he played in running Vietnam and helping to form the Viet Cong.

Still, one of the top things to do in Hanoi is to go and see the mausoleum in which he is buried.

40. Capture Some Truly Breathtaking Photography

Vietnam is a photographer’s paradise, and is indeed one of the most spectacularly beautiful countries we have been to so far.

When I think of Vietnam, I think of lush green forests of palm and rolling mountains.

There are also some of the most spectacular beaches you’ll find anywhere in Asia, with golden sandy shores and crystal blue water.

My favourite spot for taking photos was probably Halong Bay, largely because we were very lucky with the weather and had calm water and clear blue skies the whole time we were there.

41. Take A Vietnamese Cooking Class

One of the things you must do whilst in Vietnam is to take a cooking class.

Cazzy and I were both big fans of Vietnamese food, largely because it wasn’t very spicy; especially compared to how spicy everything is in nearby countries like India.

Perhaps my favorite was Vietnamese curries which don’t rely on heavy amounts of coconut, but instead are a much nicer blend of herbs and spices.

Vietnamese spring rolls are also a simple favourite and we learnt how to make these whilst on our Halong bay cruise tour.

You’ll find cooking classes being offered in almost every major town or city in Vietnam.

42. Pick Up Some Cheap Clothes

Aside from suits, which I talk more about below, no trip to Vietnam would be complete without picking yourself up a few knock-off pieces of clothing.

You’ll find clothes markets dotted all across Vietnam and almost all major cities seem to have a good few stalls selling their wares.

We chose the markets in Hoi An as a great place to pick up some new bits and Cazzy bought herself a couple pairs of shoes.

Though they are clearly knock-offs of the real brands, they are made to a very high standard and will last just as long as the real thing.

Many of the largest global clothing and footwear manufacturers operate in Vietnam, so there’s a good chance that what you’re buying might even be a defect product that simply didn’t meet the strict quality guidelines of the retailer.

43. Discover Breathtaking Sunrises And Sunsets

One of the best things to see and do in Vietnam is to witness the spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

If you’re high in the mountains, in somewhere like Dalat, then you will find that it is typically much more cloudy and overcast so you don’t get to appreciate these as often.

However, if you’re making your way along the coast, then you’ll see plenty of gorgeous sunrises and sunsets on your tour of the country.

My favourite were those that occurred over rice paddies and fields whilst we were driving back on our moped for the day.

Halong Bay is also well famed for its sunsets, and you can make full use of these from a sun lounger on board your chosen cruise.

44. Get Yourself A Full Body Massage

Just like Thailand, there are massage parlours located all across Vietnam, and they are far more affordable than you will find elsewhere in the world.

We opted for a typical Thai massage when in Bangkok, and I found the whole experience to be tantamount to abuse!

What with the Thai ladies walking all over you and bending you this way and that!

By contrast, old-fashioned Vietnamese massages are based more around massaging out knots, as opposed to contorting your body into different shapes.

Prices start from as low as 3 dollars and you can get a simple foot massage for even less.

45. Discover Breathtaking Rice Paddies And Wave To The Locals

As I’ve already mentioned, one of the best things to do in Vietnam is to hire a moped and drive yourself about.

Well, as a part of this, it’s worth getting yourself lost from time to time by following the winding roads in amidst beautiful green fields and rice paddies.

One area I’m particularly annoyed we didn’t get to see whilst in Vietnam was Sapa.

In the coming years, Cazzy and I fully intend on heading back to Hanoi, just to hire a moped and take a 1 or 2 week journey all around the very north of Vietnam; taking time to appreciate the rice paddies and landscape of areas like Sapa.

46. Take Time To Relax

Vietnam truly is a spectacularly beautiful country, and it is known for having a hot, peaceful climate, as long as you avoid monsoons that do crop up at certain times of the year.

As such, no Vietnam trip would be complete without taking time to relax and unwind in the sun.

I recommend taking a few days to chill on one of the many beautiful Vietnam beaches located all up the country.

For me, I found Nha Trang to be particularly nice as the whole city is catered towards holiday goers from Russia.

47. Have Yourself A Suit Made

Another one of the more famous things to do in Vietnam is to get yourself a suit made.

Compared to the prices you’ll pay back home in countries such as the UK, handmade suits in Vietnam are incredibly affordable.

They typically require around 24 hours to make the suit, so you need to go to the store on the day before in order for them to take all of the measurements and for you to decide on the exact style and materials.

I can’t recommend an exact store, because there are literally hundreds and hundreds of them in the major cities.

However, Hoi An is particularly well known for the local tailors, so this could be a good place to start.

48. Brush Up On Your Scuba Diving Skills

As well as offering an assortment of high octane water sports, Vietnam is also a popular destination for scuba diving.

Compared to other countries, it is quite affordable to learn how to scuba dive in Vietnam and to get your qualifications.

Some of the best Vietnam tourist destinations for scuba diving include Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Island, Vinh Hy Bay and Hoi An.

It’s probably worthwhile doing your research online before you arrive in order to find somewhere offering the best scuba diving opportunities at your chosen time of year.

49. Chill Out At Highland Coffee

Whether we were getting some work done on our laptops or unwinding after a busy day spent exploring, one of our favorite things to do was to find the local Highland Coffee.

50. Take A Train Ride

There are so many things to see in Vietnam, that taking a train ride is actually a great way to help you discover more of the countryside.

With just a few weeks in the country, it’s certainly not possible to travel everywhere, but I would recommend taking the train, as opposed to flying, as it means you miss out on far less.

Đăng bởi: Ánh Ngọc

Từ khoá: 50 Incredible Things To Do In Vietnam In 2023 (Part 2)