Vietnam / Things to do
Things to do in Vietnam
The kinds of experiences Vietnam is known for, and the booking routes we use for each of them.
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What Vietnam is known for
The experiences people travel to Vietnam for
General guidance on the character of the destination, follow the partner links above to see the specific tours and tickets on sale for your dates.
Bay and river cruises
Sailing among the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay and along the Mekong Delta's waterways is the signature way to see Vietnam from the water.
Old towns and imperial cities
Lantern-lit Hoi An, Hanoi's Old Quarter and the imperial citadel at Hue reward slow, guided wandering.
Street food and markets
Vietnam is famous for its street-level food culture, guided food walks and market visits are how most visitors eat best.
History and heritage sites
War-era sites, ancient temples and French colonial streetscapes run the length of the country.
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More ways to book Vietnam
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What are the best things to do in northern Vietnam?
The north is anchored by Hanoi: the Old Quarter, the Temple of Literature and the city's street food scene. From Hanoi, the classic trips are an overnight cruise among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, and the river and cave scenery of Ninh Binh, where boats row through Tam Coc beneath the karsts near the old capital of Hoa Lu.
Travellers with more time head for the northern mountains around Sapa, where terraced rice fields climb the hillsides and trekking routes link minority villages. The terraces are at their most photographed around the harvest in early autumn, and the highlands turn cold and misty in winter, so the north rewards matching the stop to the season. Hanoi also works as the base for guided food walks, which are how most visitors find the dishes the city is famous for, from pho to bun cha.
What are the best things to do in central Vietnam?
Central Vietnam holds the country's heritage core: the Imperial City and royal tombs at Hue, the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An, and the coastal city of Da Nang between them. The journey between Hue and Hoi An over the Hai Van Pass is an experience in itself, and Hoi An adds tailoring, cooking classes and river evenings to the sightseeing.
Hoi An's old town is a preserved trading port of timber houses, assembly halls and the covered Japanese Bridge, best explored on foot in the early morning and again after dark when the lanterns are lit. Further north, the caves of Phong Nha are the region's big detour: a national park of river caves and jungle, reached as a trip of its own rather than a quick stop.
What are the best things to do in southern Vietnam?
The south is led by Ho Chi Minh City: the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace and the colonial-era streets of District 1 give the modern history, and the Cu Chi tunnels make the standard half-day trip out of the city. Beyond the city, the Mekong Delta is the south's signature landscape of rivers, canals and floating trade.
Delta trips usually run as one or two days from Ho Chi Minh City, combining boat journeys through the canals with visits to riverside workshops and markets; an overnight stay shows the floating markets at their early-morning busiest. If the trip has beach days to fill, the island of Phu Quoc off the southern coast is the usual addition, reached by a short flight.
Common questions
Vietnam questions, answered
What is the one Vietnam experience not to miss?
If a trip has room for only one headline experience, most travellers choose the overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay: sleeping on the water among the limestone islands is the scene Vietnam is pictured by. In the centre the equivalent is an evening in Hoi An's old town, and in the south a day on the Mekong Delta.
Should I book Vietnam tours and tickets in advance?
Book the fixed points in advance: Ha Long Bay cruises, cave tours at Phong Nha and anything tied to a specific date in the February to April peak, when popular departures sell out. City sightseeing, food walks and most day trips can usually be arranged a few days ahead once you are there.
Are day trips from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City worth it?
Yes, they are how most visitors see the countryside without changing hotels. From Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay are the classic day and overnight trips. From Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi tunnels fill half a day and the Mekong Delta one to two days.
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