Top 9 Destinations in Vietnam - What to Shop For

Hanoi

For a city more than a thousand years old, Hanoi has aged elegantly. It is regarded as one of the main cultural centers of the country, as it hosts more cultural sites than any other city in Vietnam.

Having served as the capital city of ancient kingdoms, as well as being the current capital and the second largest city in the country, Hanoi hosts an incomparable vibrancy.

Its title in 2016 from TripAdvisor as the 8th top tourist destination in the world was well earned. It is the home of shady boulevards, busy traffic, two dozen lakes, and thousands of French colonial-era buildings.

Strap your camera on your shoulder and prepare to join us in capturing the beauty of the architectural styles in the Old Quarter, or taking a stroll along Hoan Kiem Lake and visiting Dong Xuan market.

But if you'd prefer to get to know Vietnam and its ethnic groups better, a day at The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology would be the best place for you to go.

Sapa

An easy-paced trek to Y Linh Ho village will introduce you to the unique lifestyles of the Black H'mong People, known for their dark clothing. Have a leisurely chit-chat with locals, with the help of your guide, and learn how they dye their black-indigo fabric and clothes naturally.

Sapa is a quiet mountain town, home to people of 5 major ethnic groups, whose main occupation is cultivating the mountainous land; resulting in breathtaking scenery of rolling low slopes, carpeted in rice-fields.

If you are in the mood to blend into this peaceful environment, having a spa day at Sapa Victoria Resort and Spa might be a good option.

Local markets are open in different places almost every day. Our local market tour will introduce you to markets where you can find odd things you probably otherwise rarely see, such as horns and beef skin. You can begin to learn how to engage in intense bargaining for a simple purchase, in the local style.

Halong Bay

This UNESCO World Heritage Site just 3 hours from busy Hanoi has experienced 500 million years of being whittled away by wind and water. A wonderful environment of biodiversity has resulted, with beautiful sea, and karst caves and isles in various shape and sizes.

With tropical weather and temperatures of 15 °C-25 °C all year round, Halong Bay has been crowned as one of the busiest tourist attractions in Vietnam.

You can join our 2-day+1-night cruise and have a total isle's-life experience. Imagine waking up on a boat in the midst of breathtaking naturally-formed limestone, with your taichi instructor waiting for you to start the day with relaxing taichi movements, not to mention the wonderful tropical breakfast onboard.

Rent a kayak, swim or dive at sea, climb the surrounding mountains, take a closer look at the daily lives of local fishermen, and indulge in a beautiful selfie in karst terrain, creating cruise moments that will never be forgotten.

Hoi An

Take a walk and enjoy the calm and mild May-June weather at one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Join our bike tour (motorbike or private car is also available), and simply bike around the Ancient Town, to enjoy what was once, during the 15th to the 19th centuries, one of most important South-East Asian trading ports.

You'll temporarily forget how busy you were before you set foot in Vietnam. The serenity of Hoi An has fused with a unique blend of local and foreign influences from its prosperous past. You'll be amazed how the city absorbs such mixed culture but still keeps its charm.

Visit, for example, the Japanese Covered Bridge, a uniquely structured bridge built by the Japanese (in the 16th and 17th centuries), or the Fujian heritage at the Fukian (PhucKien) Assembly hall. There are many more such buildings.

Bring the local taste home! Our friend Mr. Thanh of Kumquat Hoi An Restaurant will gladly share his culinary skills in a cooking class, and you can also bring home his handwritten recipe book.

Hue

Hue is thick with imperial atmosphere, as it used to be the capital city during the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945). The main home of the Nguyen emperors was in the large, thick-walled Imperial Citadel, a forbidden city where only emperors, concubines and those who were granted special access could enter.

Other monuments are located along the banks of the Perfume River, including the tombs of several emperors and the Thien Mu Pagoda (the largest pagoda in Hue and the official symbol of the city).

At the other side of the river, a number of French-style buildings enrich the historical legacy of Hue, earning it a place among UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Enjoy the serene atmosphere of the old city and complete your imperial education with the royal cuisine experience. Learn how to prepare such cuisine at our specially designated cooking class in Y Thao Garden House.

Da Nang

Prepare for a tongue-tantalizing culinary experience in Da Nang. We'll help you to find the strongest and boldest foods available in Vietnam, such as banch cuon (fish ball noodle soup), cánh gà chiên mắm (fried chicken wings in fish sauce), maatran (a salad mixed with jack-fruit and pork rind), and many others.  

Da Nang is the biggest city in Central Vietnam, and situated on the coast of the Eastern Sea. Its white sandy Non Nuoc Beach is hard to forget, currently rated among the 25 most beautiful beaches in Asia by TripAdvisor.

On the other side of the beach is Marble Mountain, rocky limestone where you can take an easy path to numerous pagodas, built during the Nguyen dynasty.

Da Lat

Dalat is popular among the Vietnamese themselves. The city was originally designated a highland resort during the French colonial era. The first hotel was built there in 1907. Old-colonial style villas and boulevards still remain today, as part of a well-preserved legacy, and also part of modern life.

The city is well known for its old pine trees, planted alongside the classical beauty of the French-era buildings.

In the early mornings, when the sun is still reticent and the mist fills the cool highland air, walking to local farms that produce cabbage, cauliflower and other vegetables daily, would be an optional experience.

When it's time for the mind and soul to relax, you can visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Thien Vien Truc Lam, or Lam Ty Ni Pagoda, beautifully structured, sacred, quiet, religious sites.

Nha Trang

Whether you feel the urge for your first-ever -scuba-diving- experience in one of most exotic places in the world, or you are an experienced diver thirsting for another dive, you shouldn't miss Nha Trang.

The beach is beautiful beyond words and the coral reef is simply amazing. Our professional scuba diving instructors will gladly demonstrate to you the truth of what people say about Nha Trang's beauty.

Having been chosen as the site of some recent international events such as Miss Universe and the 2016 Asian Beach Games, beach life is alive and well in Nha Trang.

Tourists can participate in various water sports and games at Nha Trang's Sea Festival, convened every year since 2003 for a whole week in June - the perfect week in summer for working on your sun-tan.

Ho Chi Minh City

Hop on the back of a motorbike (or rickshaw) and our guide will take you to witness just how busy Vietnam's biggest and most populous metropolitan city is.

First, however, hold on tight to your camera, to capture the daily lives of the locals and the beauty of colonial buildings such as the Saigon Opera House, Post Office, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and Chinatown.

Understand more about the history of the Vietnam War in The War Remnant Museum and Reunification Palace.

Also discover by yourself in another part of the city, how incredibly narrow and small (for some people) the underground shelters - the Chu Chi Tunnels - during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) actually were, by roaming around inside them (private cars or motorbikes are available).

On a lazy day, simply stroll around Ben Thanh market to practice your bargaining skills. Later bring home your authentic and iconic red Vietnamese t-shirt adorned with a bright yellow star.

Visit Vietnam with Asia Highlights

Asia Highlights welcomes the chance to help you design your perfect trip to Vietnam. Our knowledgeable staff will assist you in selecting destinations, accommodations and activities that best suit your requirements.

Check out the following links to learn more about our tours and get a head start on planning your hassle-free vacation today!