Western newspapers suggest 10 destinations for a journey across Vietnam

According to The Travel, Vietnam is blessed with amazingly beautiful landscapes. From terraced fields with many shapes and colors through each season to limestone peaks rising out of clear blue water.

Besides Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh), one of the world-famous places introduced in most articles about Vietnam or Golden Bridge (Da Nang), the 10 attractions below are things that tourists cannot miss when traveling on the S-shaped land.

Phu Quoc (Kien Giang)

Phu Quoc is an archipelago with beautiful beaches, an ideal place for a vacation.

Phu Quoc is Vietnam's first island city. Photo: Khiem Antony/Unsplash

Khem Beach is like a private bay, attracting jewelry enthusiasts because of its famous pearl farming area. Meanwhile, Hon Thom welcomes those who like to adventure away from the hustle and bustle of the city, looking for a paradise of exotic nature.

The most famous beach on the island is Sao Beach, with fine white sand and clear blue water. Located in a bay sheltered by mountains, Sao Beach is calm all year round. Here, visitors can sip cocktails while enjoying the view. Water sports enthusiasts can swim, scuba dive or kayak.

Hanoi

The bustling streets of the land of a thousand years of culture always make tourists excited. Besides the ancient and elegant features of many architectural styles, local cuisine is something that no one can forget when having the opportunity to explore the capital.

Hanoi is famous for its diverse indigenous culture and unique cuisine. Photo: Silver Ringvee/Unsplash

The Travel website suggests that those who are interested in learning about the culture and history of Vietnamese ethnic groups can visit the Bronze Drum building of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Hanoi is also among the top culinary destinations. Famous dishes of the people of Trang An such as pho, bun cha, bun rieu, cha ca, egg coffee... are loved by international tourists and have left a clear mark on the world culinary map.

Hue

The peaceful and poetic ancient capital of Hue offers visitors an experience like a time travel back to the feudal Vietnam landscape.

The beauty of going back in time in Hue. Photo: Tai Pham

The ancient capital still retains intact ancient Vietnamese cultural traditions through artifacts and architectural works.

The majestic and magnificent Hue Imperial City, the ancient royal palace recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Thien Mu Pagoda, an ancient pagoda, is not only a spiritual place for generations of the people of the ancient capital, but also a place where visitors can admire the most beautiful scenery of Hue. The tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty kings, the Perfume River, Ngu Mountain..., all create a picture of silence and wistfulness, like a bridge connecting the past and the present.

Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is a rich and fertile land with a dense system of canals, full of life's colors and flavors.

This place was once recognized by Rough Guides magazine as a "value" tourist destination, offering an economical journey worth the money to experience.

Many tourist activities take place on the river. Photo: Jack Young

The Mekong Delta is characterized by boat tours, river tours, exploring fruit gardens, experiencing river life, listening to traditional music...

In addition to its economic importance, the Mekong Delta is also one of the largest ecosystems in the world, home to many rare species of flora and fauna.

Ba Be National Park (Bac Kan)

Ba Be National Park is a destination for adventurous tourists who love to explore nature with towering limestone mountains, deep valleys and dense green forests.

Ba Be Lake - the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. Photo: Huyen Chi

Waterfalls, caves and lakes combine in one destination with over 1,200 species of flora and fauna to attract nature lovers. Trekking through the forest, mountain biking or exploring the wild and majestic landscape by boat are experiences that visitors cannot miss.

Cu Chi Tunnels (HCMC)

As a system of meticulously built tunnels, Cu Chi tunnels is among the top underground constructions and most interesting underground tourist attractions on the planet.

The Cu Chi Tunnels were once announced by CNN as one of the most fascinating underground structures in the world. Photo: lerafe

With its carefully camouflaged entrance, few would suspect that the underground tunnels are a fully functional defense system, including many rooms, infirmaries, kitchens, storage rooms, and work areas. Visitors come here to experience wartime and expand their historical knowledge.

Ho Chi Minh City

According to The Travel, Ho Chi Minh City is an energetic and colorful city.

Ho Chi Minh City offers visitors new and impressive perspectives. Photo: Tron Le/Unsplash

Not only is it the largest economic center of Vietnam, the city that never sleeps also has many attractions for tourists.

This is also an ideal starting point on the journey to learn about Vietnamese history. Visitors can visit some famous places such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Cu Chi tunnels or War Remnants Museum,...

This place is also in the top list of street food destinations in Asia. Besides many famous dishes such as banh mi, com tam... going to a sidewalk cafe is also an experience worth trying. In particular, enjoying street food on a plastic chair and table is a unique experience emphasized by The Travel.

Hoi An (Quang Nam)

Hoi An is an ancient city with charm expressed through traditional festivals, historic buildings and riverside shops, said The Travel.

Hoi An is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Photo: Thuy/Unsplash

Walking or cycling along this picturesque old town is like literally stepping back in time. The Old Town is also a great playground for photography enthusiasts because of its colorful buildings and impressive architecture.

If you come here on the full moon day, you will witness the city come alive with hundreds of colorful lanterns lighting up the streets at night.

Trang An (Ninh Binh)

Trang An covers an area of ​​over 2,000 hectares with a system of limestone mountains, natural caves, swamps and rivers. There are also magnificent and mysterious temples and pagodas.

Trang An has become an unmissable destination for tourists when coming to Ninh Binh. Photo: Go With Hung Nhe

During the river journey to explore Trang An, visitors will hear the boatman tell about the relics, temples and interesting stories associated with this sacred land.

The Travel website shares that the quiet atmosphere makes travel enthusiasts feel like time has stopped when they travel on boats.

My Son Sanctuary (Quang Nam)

My Son Sanctuary is an important archaeological site, with many ancient Hindu temples hidden in the jungle, recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

There are still more than 70 Cham temple and tower architectures here. This destination attracts many domestic and foreign tourists to visit and explore.

My Son is Vietnam's oldest archaeological site. Photo: Steve Douglas