The word Vietnam conjures up images of brutal jungle battles, the traumatic wars, charming young girls in Ao Dai, the appealing rice fields, the wild mountains, the sandy beaches… Join Paradissa travelers on our Vietnam travel guide to explore the highlights of Vietnam to know much more of this amazing country.
There was a long time that going to Vietnam was reserved mostly for warriors; fierce battles were raging the whole country for several decades. After the war, Vietnam was closed to the world for a long time, and had remained a mystery to most travelers…Now, you don’t have to fight to travel to Vietnam for sure.
Shortly after the lifting of the economic embargo, the Vietnamese economy quickly gained momentum and Vietnam tourism has been enjoying big growth since. With over 10 million foreign visitors to Vietnam each year, with great road network in the country, with always busy airports, it is easy to know tourism in Vietnam has been doing just well.
Red Dao ladies at Sapa, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Traveling in Vietnam nowadays, you can enjoy a full range of travel products from luxury holidays, family vacations, adventure tours, trekking tours, golf tours,… A wide range of hotels is available in the country be it luxury resorts, peaceful ecolodges, family guest houses, isolated island resorts… One thing for certain that you travel in Vietnam, you won’t get bored with the Vietnamese cuisine! And friendly people are encountered everywhere you go in Vietnam.
The amazing White Sand Dune at Binh Thuan, Vietnam
1/ North of Vietnam
The North of Vietnam is granted with the beautiful mountains in the North-West and North-East, with the unrivaled Halong Bay, with Tam Coc & Bich Dong karst formations jutting out of flat rice fields which are dissected by rivers.
In the far-northern mountains, you’ll travel your way amid untouched heavenly landscape with colorful mountain dwellers. You can go on trekking adventures, mountain climbing tours, motorbike tours, mountain-bike tours… or just relax at a luxurious mountain chalet adoring fresh natural beauty.
Ha Giang is the northern-most province province of Vietnam famed for the fabled karst plateau of Dong Van. The amazing plateau with either width or length of 100km is mostly of rock! While the averaged altitude is over 1,000m above sea level, the plateau surface is uneven with serrated mountain peaks of over 2,000m above sea level and with canyons of 600-700m deep ! It is more likely to be found in imagination than real life, yet it is real ! You visit Dong Van and see it for yourself then.
The rock plateau is inhabited by several ethnic groups : H’mong, Han (Hoa, Chinese), Tay, Nung... You can visit the Sunday Market of Dong Van and encounter most ethnic peoples in their traditional clothes. The market has the vibe that you just have to be there to feel it. And it is an amazing lovely atmosphere, really. There are several H’mong communities inhabiting on rocky mountain slopes secluded from the mainstream society and with amazing lifestyle !
In the Dong Van Plateau, you can go on trekking tours or mountain bike adventures on rocky paths, amid a rocky valley surrounded by rocky towering mountain peaks ! Houses of local ethnic families are surrounded by pieces of rock which have remained unchanged for centuries !
For fans of photography, you have to have several-day photography holidays in Dong Van to have your wishes fulfilled. The photogenic spots are myriads, so are the moments !
Recently, there are deluxe hotels and resorts offering certain level of comfort to the travelers. And you can experience this untamed landscape while still in the lap of luxury !
Rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai, Vietnam
From Ha Giang, if you travel southeast then it is Cao Bang, Lang Son and Halong Bay. And you may have familiarized yourself with Halong Bay : thousands of limestone mountains jutting out of emerald water. You will encounter something similar in Cao Bang and Lang Son : hundreds of limestone mountain peaks jutting out of green pastures and meadows.
Cao Bang along with the Rock Plateau of Dong Van is listed in the UNESCO Global Geopark Networks. From Ha Giang Meo Vac District, if you travel close to the Chinese border into Cao Bang, you will be in a different world of valleys isolated from the outside world by ranges of sublime limestone mountains. The path snakes through this amazing region goes up and down on several mountain slopes offering amazing ethereal views.
If you are brave enough and stay overnight at a local ethnic family in a valley on the way, you will definitely have an amazing cultural experience. And if you love physical challenges, then there are several stubborn trekking routes that await.
By far, most travelers to Cao Bang take a sightseeing tour to the Ban Gioc Waterfall to the northeast of Cao Bang City, right on the Chinese border. The 100km road between Cao Bang City to Ban Gioc goes through heavenly valleys and the road is in good conditions. Some adventure travelers would take on trekking tours from one village to another in between these two places. Some would go on camping or leisurely walking tours around the Thung Mountain (Sacred Eye, Angel Eye Mountain).
There are other spots you may not want to miss on this route is the Nguom Ngao Cave and the Khuoi Ky Ancient Stone Village. A standard tour to visit all three spots : Ban Gioc, Nguom Ngao and Khuoi Ky takes a full day from Cao Bang City. If you want more activities, then plan for overnight stay somewhere in between.
Halong Bay in the Northeast of Vietnam is dotted with 3,000 green islands jutting out of emerald sea waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. Treat yourself to a luxury cruise amid this paradise for 2-3 days and appreciate how well you have done to yourself after the trip then!
Halong Bay Vietnam
Ninh Binh is hidden deep in the Red River Delta with so amazing rice fields, flooded fields surrounded by imposing limestone mountains and country lifestyle. Have a bicycle tour or a rowing boat trip amid this ethereal natural landscape, you’ll surely have a clear perception of Vietnam’s countryside.
The rich culture of the Red River Delta won't disappoint the culture seekers. Hanoi boasts its nice settings and architecture, offers plenty opportunities of having culinary delights. Perfume Pagoda offers some time getting lost in the Buddhist world.
2/ The Central Region of Vietnam
The Central of Vietnam is the land of World Heritage Sites with Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, with the Imperial Citadel of Hue, with the quaint ancient town of Hoi An and with myriad Cham legacy. There are several sandy beaches in case you want to get lazy by the blue ocean. A full range of luxury travel products is readily available.
Hue Citadel Vietnam
Hoi An Old Town Vietnam
For those interested in the history and learning about the battles, the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), which can be visited on a day tour from Hue, helps to travel back in time and learning about what happened that had impacts on the world history.
The south of the Central Region of Vietnam (South Central Coast) is not to miss for beach seekers. There are fine sandy beaches which stretch for kilometers for you to get relaxed. There are several water sports available for the active, too.
Ninh Chu Beach, Phan Rang Thap Cham, Ninh Thuan, Vietnam
3/ The Central Highlands of Vietnam
The Central Highlands of Vietnam are located to the west of the Central Region of the country. Traveling to the Central Highlands, you’ll expect friendly ethnic communities, sublime waterfalls, and romantic pine hills… Missing a memorable honeymoon? You can always find it again at Da Lat – a Honeymoon City, a city amid forested hills and waterfalls. The Central Highlands are the best spots for tasting the famed Vietnamese coffee.
Dalat Vietnam
4/ The South of Vietnam
The South of Vietnam is famous with the verdant Mekong Delta, with the Cu Chi Tunnels. Learning about the lifestyle of local inhabitants, you’ll have a pleasant time to remember for the rest of your life.
A charming girl in Ao Dai in the Mekong Delta
From the moment you set foot in Vietnam and the time you leave the country for home, do not spare any opportunity to taste the Vietnamese food. Take part in cooking classes or cooking demonstrations whenever you can. Try your best to take in the food smell, to feel the dish textures in different regions of Vietnam. Try your best to guess how on earth these people could combine the tastes and smells of the food ingredients in so innovative ways! And how the food is displayed in such a balance of colors yet contrasting of textures! The culinary delights should surely be among the highlights of your trip to Vietnam.
If you think that Vietnam can't be absorbed into one trip, we'd be more than happy welcoming you back! Please enjoy the cyber tour with Paradissa Travel and feel free to let us know what we could do for you. We wish you a great adventure of a life time in Vietnam, a land of contagious smiles and of so many things of wonder!