What to See in Vietnam

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Vietnam has 8 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. They are all located in the northern part of the country.

Ha Long Bay ★★★★ (1994)
This stunning UNESCO-listed bay is Vietnam’s top tourist symbol. You can take cruises among nearly 2,000 karst islands. Even if it’s sometimes a bit of a "tourist factory," the place remains a must-see on any trip to the country.

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi ★★ (2010)
Over ten centuries old, it was built on the remains of a Chinese citadel. This "blend" of eras and cultures earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Hoi An Old Town ★★★ (1999)
In the historic center of the city, nearly a thousand buildings in Chinese, Japanese, or French styles stand side by side. This value and diversity are highlighted by its UNESCO designation.

Hue ★★★ (1993)
This former imperial capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its monuments, particularly its citadel inspired by Beijing's Forbidden City.

My Son ★★★ (1999)
A UNESCO-listed site nestled in lush greenery, My Son consists of a collection of several dozen temples in varying states of preservation, reflecting Hindu influences and representing the kingdom and civilization of Champa.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park ★★ (2003)
A UNESCO-listed park in the country’s centre, home to an extensive network of caves and caverns. Hiking and ecotourism let you discover the local wildlife and plant life.

Trang An ★★★ (2014)
Along the Red River, these are landscapes of karst pinnacles and submerged valleys framed by sheer cliffs, similar to Ha Long Bay. The UNESCO-listed site is also home to Hoa Lu, the country's ancient capital, as well as temples, pagodas, and various villages.

Northern Region

Phat Diem Cathedral ★
This is an imposing cathedral built in the late 19th century by the French in the town of the same name, south of Hanoi.

Da Nang ★★
Vietnam's third-largest city marks the rough "border" between the north and south of the country. It’s best known for its energy, the Cham Art Museum, and especially its surroundings—beaches, mountains, the Cham Islands, and the UNESCO-listed My Son site.

Dien Bien Phu ★
Very close to the border with Laos, this is the site of the eponymous battle lost by the French in 1954 during the Indochina War.

Haiphong ★
This port near Hanoi is the country's fourth-largest city. More than the city itself, its surroundings are what make it interesting.

Hanoi ★★★
With its parks, museums, temples, UNESCO-listed Imperial City, monuments, and partly colonial-era architecture, Vietnam’s capital is a pleasant city.

Hoi An ★★★
A few kilometres south of Da Nang, Hoi An has an old town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it one of the country’s most beautiful cities. Nearly a thousand buildings in Chinese, Japanese, or French styles stand side by side here.

Hue ★★★
This former imperial capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its monuments, particularly its citadel inspired by Beijing's Forbidden City.

My Son ★★★
A UNESCO-listed site nestled in lush greenery, My Son consists of a collection of several dozen temples in varying states of preservation, reflecting Hindu influences and representing the kingdom and civilization of Champa.

Lao Cai Province ★★★
With its capital of the same name, this small northern region bordering China offers beautiful landscapes, trekking opportunities, and chances to discover local communities. It is also home to the small tourist town of Sa Pa.

Sa Pa ★★★
A charming small mountain town that’s quite touristy. The area is loved for its stunning landscapes, terraced rice fields, trekking opportunities, and especially the local cultures and traditions of its residents and nearby villages.

Sam Son ★
This seaside resort is renowned for having one of the country’s most beautiful beaches.

Mai Chau Valley ★★
A small region in the northwest known for its beautiful mountainous landscapes and the charming villages it is home to.

Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone ★
During the era of the two Vietnams, this strip of land along the Ben Hai River served as the border. It still contains numerous remnants of the Vietnam War (bridges, bunkers, tunnels, former US bases) that are typically explored on organized tours, as not everything has been cleared of mines.

Natural Heritage

Ha Long Bay ★★★★
This stunning UNESCO-listed bay is Vietnam’s top tourist symbol. You can take cruises among nearly 2,000 karst islands. Even if it’s sometimes a bit of a "tourist factory," the place remains a must-see on any trip to the country.

Cham Islands ★★
A small archipelago of 8 islands off the coast of Da Nang, forming the Cu Lao Cham National Park. The area is renowned for diving, its beaches, and stunning landscapes.

Cat Ba National Park ★★
Located on the largest island in Ha Long Bay, which it covers extensively, this park offers beautiful forested landscapes and hiking opportunities.

Cuc Phuong National Park ★★
One of the largest and most visited parks in the country. It is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora species. You can hike there.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park ★★
A UNESCO-listed park in the country’s centre, home to an extensive network of caves and caverns. Hiking and ecotourism let you discover the local wildlife and plant life.

Trang An ★★★
Along the Red River, these are landscapes of karst pinnacles and submerged valleys framed by sheer cliffs, similar to Ha Long Bay. The UNESCO-listed site is also home to Hoa Lu, the country's ancient capital, as well as temples, pagodas, and various villages.

Southern Region

Can Tho ★
A major city in the Mekong Delta known for its floating markets and boat trips on the Mekong.

Con Dao ★★★
This archipelago south of Ho Chi Minh City once housed the Poulo Condor prison. Visitors come not only for its remnants but also, and especially, for its stunning beaches and diving. The archipelago is part of Con Dao National Park.

Cu Chi ★
This is an extensive network of underground tunnels used by the Vietnamese during the wars against the French and later the Americans. The site is located not far from Ho Chi Minh City.

Da Lat ★★
This pleasant highland city at 1,500 m boasts numerous architectural remnants of its colonial past. It is also at the heart of a region of tea and coffee plantations where you can hike and go canyoning.

Ho Chi Minh City ★★
The former Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam and its economic center. It features several museums, parks, religious buildings, and structures from the French colonial era worth visiting.

Mui Ne ★
A seaside resort partly surrounded by dunes on the southern coast between Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. Windsurfing is particularly popular here.

Nha Trang ★★
A well-known beach resort in Vietnam, popular for its beaches, lively atmosphere, and diving opportunities.

Phu Quoc ★★★
It is the largest island in Vietnam. It is popular for its landscapes, white sand beaches, and diving. Part of the island is a natural park.

Soc Trang ★★
The city is home to several dozen temples and monasteries, primarily Khmer.

Tay Ninh ★
This city in southern Vietnam is the birthplace of Caodaism. It is home to the main temple of this religion.

Vung Tau ★
It’s the seaside resort for people from Ho Chi Minh City.

Natural Heritage

Mekong Delta ★★★
This is the region south of Ho Chi Minh City. You can observe birds or take pleasant boat rides through beautiful landscapes of rice paddies and canals interspersed with small villages.

Cat Tien National Park ★★
This large park north of Saigon is home to numerous birds, monkeys, crocodiles, bears, elephants, and a few Javan rhinoceroses.