Whichever part of the country you choose, North or South, Vietnam has so much to offer.
A very rich culture with strong influences from its neighbouring countries, ancient and modern history we all need to learn about, some of the best food in the planet, and some of the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes I have ever set my eyes on.
I spent one month travelling through Vietnam, and I could have easily spent another month or even longer. Vietnam has so much to offer that I left a lot of things I would like to come back to explore some day.
And to give you some inspiration and show you why I think you will love visiting this captivating country, I have put together some photos from my trip.
I had real trouble picking only 15. This post almost ended up being a never-ending photo album of places you will want to see and experience yourself.
Table of Contents
Sunrise on the Mekong Delta
So I woke up to this on my first day on the Mekong Delta. I stayed at Hometravel Mekong Can Tho in Cân Thó and as soon as I stepped out of my room I was greeted by this view. What a way to start the day!
Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown (Cholon)
One of the top things to do in Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) is visiting Cholon, once one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world.
Even though it is not immediately obvious that you are in Chinatown, if you look around you will see that it is dotted with Chinese-style buildings and temples.
Other Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
- 4 Hour Private Sightseeing and Street Food Tour of Ho Chi Minh
- Ho Chi Minh Private Food Tour Discovery and City Tour by Jeep
The Charming Ancient City of Hoi An
Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam. With its well-preserved old town covered in lanterns, you feel like you’ve been transported back in time.
It’s cute, it’s quaint and it comes alive when the lanterns are switched on at night. And there are so many things to do in Hoi An, that you could easily spend a few days here.
The Hai Van Pass
Made famous by the Top Gear TV programme, the Hai Van Pass is a mountainous stretch of road with incredible views over the South China Sea. Hai Van Pass means the Pass of Ocean Mist. You couldn’t get any more mystical than that!
Fishing villages near Hue
I made the journey between Hoi An and Hue on the back of a bike with Hue Easy Rider Tours. Just before arriving to our destination, we took a detour to one of the fishing villages nearby just in time to see the fishermen landing their catch.
While you are in Hue, don’t miss exploring the Imperial Walled City, including the Royal Tombs. Here is a Hue Royal Tombs guide to help you plan.
The Caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Phong-Nha-Ke Bang has Asia’s oldest karstic mountains which are riddled by enormous cave systems. The most popular with visitors are Phong Nha Cave, Dark Cave and Paradise Cave.
The Streets of Hanoi
Chaotic, noisy and at times overwhelming, Hanoi has a charm that few Asian capitals have. With a touch of French influence – they call it the Paris of the East – and the street food and bia hoi (beer brewed in the last 24 hours) is not to be missed.
Hanoi is stunning to visit any time of the year, but in particular it’s one of the best places to visit in Asia in September.
Halong Bay
What can I say about Halong Bay that hasn’t already been said? It is such a breathtaking sight that there are no words that could describe it, so I’ll let this photo speak for itself.
And it’s not just breathtaking, but it’s a great experience for solo, group and family adventures.
The Mountains of Sapa
You come to Sapa to trek and to meet people from the local ethnic Hmong group. I joined Mama Chi and her daughter Cu, who led me and my friends on a trek through the mountains to her homestay. The greenest mountains I have ever seen!
Remote Ha Giang
Ha Giang is the northernmost province in Vietnam and has some of the most dramatic landscapes I have seen.
It changes at every twist of the road from rice paddies to karstic plateaus, from conical mountains to bamboo-lined river valleys. A spectacular and not a very well trodden part of the country…. Yet!
Start Planning Your Trip
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Teresa is an award-winning travel blogger based in London. She’s on a mission to explore the world through responsible cultural and adventure travel, and through deeper, more meaningful local experiences. She’s a lover of adventure, the outdoors and everything food related, and she’s always looking for ways to make a positive impact through sustainable travel.
Janja
Monday 13th of August 2018
Such amazing photos. Vietnam is on top of my travel list and hopefully I will get there soon. It seems like it has a great mixture of vibrant cities and wonderful nature, which is something I am always looking for in my travel destinations. ♡
Teresa
Monday 27th of August 2018
Thank you so much Janja! Vietnam is incredible and I hope you get the chance to visit. It's got a bit of everything too, so you'll never be bored :)
Tina Reiser
Saturday 4th of August 2018
I really want to go to Vietnam one day, it looks so beautiful!
Teresa
Sunday 5th of August 2018
It’s a wonderful country. Possibly one of my favourites and I can’t wait to go back ?
Rachael
Friday 8th of June 2018
Vietnam has been on my list for so long but now that I'm living in Australia it's within easy reach so it'll definitely be happening soon! You're right, these photos did make me want to visit. I love the one of the mist over the mountains! :)
Teresa
Saturday 16th of June 2018
Thanks Rachael! I'm so happy you liked the photos. The one with the mist over the mountains is in possibly the most beautiful area I have ever seen :)
Andrew Nguyen
Tuesday 5th of December 2017
I'm a bit sad because you left out the town where I grew up called Dalat. You should pay Dalat a visit when you head back to Vietnam.
Teresa
Thursday 7th of December 2017
Hi Andrew. I actually visited Dalat and absolutely loved it! But I didn't get great weather so I couldn't take and great photos, that's why I didn't include it in this post ?
Sophie
Thursday 7th of September 2017
I live in Vietnam I love this country and the people, your photos are stunning thank you for sharing
Teresa
Thursday 7th of September 2017
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I love Vietnam and I'm really glad that came through on my photography. It's a very special country and I wish I'd had more time there, but I know I will come back :)