Most exciting places to be in Viet Nam

Admiring lanterns and releasing flower lanterns in Hoi An

On grand occasions, Hoi An ancient town seems clad in a kaleidoscopic attire that consists of countless well-lit and glowing lanterns. These lanterns are simply ubiquitous, each of which glints like a still globe. The heart of all activities lies in the downtown, sandwiched between the bridge pagoda and An Hoi bridge. Here visitors can’t help but delight in street foods and street performances. The most spectacular scene is thousands of paper lanterns floating on the waves, as visitors may hire a boat to get a closeup, or even buy some lanterns to set them free with the flows.

Ha Long bay and the stunning surroundings

Given its 1,600 limestone islets submerged on the emerald waters, Ha Long bay is undoubtedly one of the most striking destinations of Viet Nam, and also among the most-visits for any tourists. They will be overwhelmed with its untouched caves, little beaches and plenty of fresh raw seafoods caught on site. Bai Tu Long bay is just a short ride away and equally captivating.

Long trek for full admiration of Cat Ba islands

Cat Ba islands are of unrivalled natural charm, which hosts Lan Ha as one of the finest bays of Viet Nam. Visitors can barely get enough of a trek through its vast tropical forests, whose trail to the observatory tower is quite accessible and easy. To trek to the observatory peak takes around 1 hour, from which visitors can easily take a panorama of untouched and unspoiled Cat Ba islands. Should you yearn for some more adventures, let’s head for radiant Ngu Lam mount, from which a view to rugged forested mountains off yonder is totally within reach.

A boat ride to Southwestern floating markets

All around the vast and unwinding rivers of the Mekong Delta lie paddy fields, villages and fishing rafters. Let’s get aboard a little wooden dugout along the stream and get engaged in the trading and floating life of the locals. Floating markets in Cai Be (Tien Giang) and Cai Rang (Can Tho) are two notable destinations for visitors to have breakfast on the waves, literally.

A stunning web-like network of giant caves

Quang Binh boasts deserted and eerie primordial forests and hundreds of immeasurably deep caves, including the largest one of the worlds, Son Doong. Little Phong Nha town is the starting place for your endless adventures into caves of the national park. Trekkers may hire a tour guide and requisites to venture into these caves. In addition to walks into Phong Nha, the caves also offer forest treks. The lush forests around boast stunning waterfalls and rich flora and fauna.

A coffey binge in Buon Ma Thuot

Buon Ma Thuot is the coffee capital of Viet Nam, and also an enchanting heartland known for its towering waterfalls and laid-back hamlets of ethnic Ehde communities, whose huge wooden stilt houses are always joined with a big staircase and striking well-chiseled wooden figurines. Around city lie hordes of places of interests related to this dark bitter drink. Visitors should spend time surveying the country’s and world coffee industry at the World Coffee Museum, which is available all year round. The biennial coffee festival involves free gifts, namely local specialties and many other memorabilia to participants. What sets this trip to the coffee capital apart is its unique weasel coffee, long applauded as the world’s supreme coffee specialty.

Authentic phở charm in Ha Noi

Phở is one of the ubiquitous treats of Viet Nam, as a bowl of the phở necessarily involves clear, transparent broth, rare, medium or cooked beef, phở strands, corianders and/or spring onions. The treat in Viet Nam is available every nook and cranny, even at luxury restaurants, as well as in families. Ha Noi is among the best places to relish the phở. Each phở stall in this capital city prides itself in its secret know-how. Thin phở (Lo Duc street) is one of the recommended places to appreciate the Hanoian phở.

A ritual session in Tay Ninh Cao Dai sanctuary

Tay Ninh is a highly religious city. In the midst of dizzying and hectic traffic light, Cao Dai sanctuary is the religious heart of Cao Dai religion. Cao Dai is a vernacular religion of Viet Nam, founded in the 1920s. This sanctuary is characterized by its eclectic façade, featuring portrayals of deities raising their swords, a Buddhist swastika, a red star and an omnipotent Orwellian eye. Ritual sessions are carried out four times a day. Visitors from Ho Chi Minh City may reach Tay Ninh and return within a day.

Rolls on and on across Hue citadel

Cool crispy air in Hue is well suited for biking. Just start a new day biking to Tu Duc mausoleum and the Belvedere hill, the finest high point to fully admire Huong river. From this hill, just pleasantly stroll downhill to one of the finest pagodas of the citadel: Tu Hieu, in the recess of a quiet pine forest; or Minh Mang mausoleum, the second emperor of Nguyen dynasty, the whole imperial complex of Hue, or simply relish drinks by Huong river. Should one get too lazy to bike, just jump a cyclo to get around this city.

Sapa love market

This market in Sapa town in the mountainous North of Viet Nam was initially a hillside French train station around the 1930s. Located mid-hill as high as 1,650m, the town prides itself in its stunning view to Hoang Lien cordillera and a colorful marketplace that gathers all ethnic communities every Saturday. Dao and Hmong men and women come seek for non-stop fun, chants and exchanges.

A boat ride through Tam Coc paddy fields

The complex of Trang An (Ninh Binh) was registered by the UNESCO as a World Mixed Heritage in 2014. Visitors are to be overwhelmed by towering limestone cordilleras and dark green valleys dotted with crowding boats along the sash-like stream. Tam Coc – Bich Dong village (simply called Tam Coc) is part of this complex, and boasts stunning paddy fields. The best enjoyment of Tam Coc caves simply involves an idle boat ride along Ngo Dong river. Travel columnist Jackie Scully of the Wanderlust said succinctly: “Reach the Dancing cave while in Ninh Binh, experience to climb 486 rock stairs to the peak and get its captivating panorama. Just arrive early to avoid the sweltering heat”.

A close look at endangered species in Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park in the South of Viet Nam is a dream come true in the wild, as it is a world biosphere spanning up to 720sqkm, including botanical gardens, lowland forests as the habitat of countless endangered species and birds, all of which are embraced and safely sheltered in several reserves and SOS centers. Yellow faced doucs, silver doucs and short doucs are some of the endangered primate species discovered at the fairy island endangered primates center. Cat Tien bear reserve is the habitat of a dozen of sun bears. Asian elephants and cheetahs are also among rare sights captured by wildlife observers in Cat Tien.

Ban Gioc waterfall admiration

Ban Gioc waterfall is in in Cao Bang province of Viet Nam. Trekkers are simply in awe of one of the most gorgeous natural gems of Southeast Asia. This waterfall measures up to 70m tall and 208m wide, well dazzling on its own, but the way it thunders down the limestone rock surface is even much more striking. Here one can hike to explore caves, experience the nature and get put up in homestay units to fulfill your dream journey.

Enthralled by the Golden Bridge of Da Nang

Golden Bridge, in the form of two giant caring hands in Da Nang city is really suits generis worldwide. Pedestrians are invited to cross the 150m concrete sash, surrounded by the stunning greenery of Ba Na Hills that seems to race up to infinity.

Utmost peace from within in Phu Quoc

Tranquil Phu Quoc island is really heaven for both adventurous and relaxing, idle enjoyments. Fans of the wildlife can now seek after Vinpearl care and conservation center to admire in person elephants, white Bengal tigers, apes, silver doucs, among other things. They will get closer to nature, trek through the dark recess of Phu Quoc national park, admire the overflows of Tranh fountain, get aboard cable cars to Thom islet natural theme park or simply relax on the pristine white sands of the beaches of starfish, Ong Lang or Khem…

Thao Lan

(Source: Vietnam Today 1.2022)