There are Buddhist temples, bright lantern festivals, and health resorts for your enjoyment, as well as visits to energetic food markets that serve local coffee with condensed milk. Tourists interested in history can check out interesting trails concerning the Vietnam War and the Communist period. Vietnam also has inviting islands and big cities like Ho Chi Minh for beach vacations.

If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, TripAloud is helping in your preparation for the adventure.

1. Hanoi

Located by the Red River in Northern Vietnam, Hanoi is proudly considered both the capital and oldest city in the world. It is an enchanting mix of centuries-old edifices, glittery pagodas, fascinating museums, delicious eatables, and engaging hangout spots interlinked with French, Chinese, as well as Southeast Asian cultures.

Hanoi has a deep history. Iconic places include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel (a UNESCO site and Vietnam’s administration center for 800 years), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where his body is preserved, the peaceful Perfume Pagoda complex, and somber Hoa Lo Prison Relic. The Old Quarter and French Quarter, with their courtyards and buildings resembling Paris, offer a glimpse into the history of Hanoi. From the city buzz, one can take a break and visit other attractions such as Bach Ma Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake with its turtle safaris, and The Lake Of Restored Sword.

Touristy stuff in Hanoi is split into two areas: the bustling Old Quarter which is crammed with narrow streets, old buildings, lively markets, and street food, and the stylish French Quarter where modern blended artfully into ancient.

Contrary to what some may believe, Hanoi is certainly not outdated. Visit the Dong Xuan Market with its smart stores and street food or go to the 65th floor of the Lotte Tower Observation Deck. Hanoi is charming because it combines Gothic domes, streets along the river esplanade, tube houses, and streets filled with all sorts of people’s actions from monks doing Tai Chi to farmers assigning stalls at a popular market – this mix represents Vietnam’s fractured past as well as its strong recovery.

2. Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is also known informally as Saigon, and this city is the largest southern Vietnamese metropolis that serves as the financial and cultural hub of Vietnam. It blends its rich cultural history with the hustle and bustle of city life seamlessly. There are beautiful old temples and shrines as well as tall buildings and new shopping centers. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is the busiest airport in Vietnam and serves as the city’s main entrance.

Ho Chi Minh City is a completely different city today in comparison to what it was previously, especially during the Vietnam War. Places such as the Cu Chi and Ben Dinh Tunnels evoke its wartime past. Important sites such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Opera House, and Central Post Office, which belong to the French colonial time, are located in the District.

Navigating through the city is thrilling, surrounded by packed roads full of motorcycles and yummy smells from food vendors, as well as hidden passages leading to bustling areas. On markets like Ben Thanh or Binh Tay, you will be able to find crafts, clothes, and electronics, as well as some unique souvenirs. For the modern-minded, Ho Chi Minh City has posh malls and fine dining as well as chic nightclubs.

3. Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a beach paradise lying along Vietnam’s southern coast, one of the world’s best bays. The star of the show is a fine, powdery white beach, and recent renovations have created parks, sculpture gardens, and fancy resorts. Activities like sailboating, kiteboarding, and scuba diving are a hit due to great weather throughout the year.

As a backpacker or someone who likes to have fun splurging, Nha Trang has something for anyone. Small shops, spas, and bars are spotted along the shore streets. You can eat tasty seafood in local diners or street vendors, with Pulled Pork Summer Rolls as a choice. When it gets dark, the city lights up with street bars and clubs beaming to deep hours of the night.

For a more laid-back atmosphere, visit the spas and mud baths. For a relaxed atmosphere in the city, tourists can also visit Cham Towers, Pagodas, and Museums.

4. Mekong Delta

Vietnam’s southeast, the Mekong Delta, is super special. It is also home to the Mekong River, which ranks as the twelfth longest river in the world and the seventh in Asia. They call this place the ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’ as it is filled with green rice fields, colorful fruit orchards, and adorable villages along with some very spirited floating markets. This is the location of more than half of Vietnam’s rice and fish.

People living in the countryside are all for a simple life of water-traveling, fishing, trading, and even eating on their boats. It is quite cool as, when visitors talk to these locals, they can see a great gap between country folks’ lifestyle and the town folks’ way of life in this region.

Due to the Mekong River, this place is like a nature gift with many forests and various animals. If you search around, you may discover ancient bunkers and relics from Vietnam’s previous conflicts. You can also visit some old pagodas dating from the Khmer regime as well as Buddhist temples.

5. Dong Hoi

Dong Hoi is a charming little coastal town located near the serene sea and attracts tourists because of its proximity to magnificent Phong Nha Ke Bang caves. The province’s capital and a gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park – Dong Hoi is also becoming an attractive destination for vacationers looking for tranquility in its rural setting.

Soothing in the warm brightness of sunlight, Nhat Le Beach at Dong Hoi is a heavenly resting ground; there are comfortable dwellings, hotels, and graceful villas where visitors can prolong their stay. The beach itself is quite a pretty sight of tranquility, with sandy shores lined up by sparkling ocean waves and seaside stalls tempting people to try some delicious goodies like pineapples, shrimps, or mushrooms.

Dong Hoi beyond the beach reveals its rich history. The past of the city is told by remains of Tam Toa Church and Quang Binh Gate. For cycling enthusiasts, Dong Hoi is a great place to cycle along the beach paths and separate lanes. Riding through the bustling Dong Hoi wet market provides a distinctive insight into local life.

Dong Hoi, with its delectable local cuisine and places of interest, is a good place to unwind before the difficult journey through Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. The fact that the city is surrounded by beautiful places, has contributed to its growing popularity, but it’s not just those factors people are coming here – there is something else about nature, history, and local charms this place offers for travelers eager to reveal how everything works.

6. Bac Ha

On Saturday and Sunday, Bac Ha, a quiet village in Northwestern Vietnam, becomes busy while holding its loud markets. The hearts of the town’s economy lie in these markets, filled with vivid colors and teeming with local commerce. Bac Ha is the place from where treks begin, and it has been referred to as the capital of a flower Hmong area. Fifty-four ethnic minorities of Vietnam gather here in handmade traditional costumes and taste parcels at this village’s markets. Bac Ha also produces sweet Tam Hoa plums.

The quieter Bac Ha is a better alternative to the bustling and thronged Sa Pa if what attracts you are those beautiful landscapes. However, it seems also like an ideal place for trekkers who want something unexplored by hordes of people within nature around them.

7. Ba Be National Park

Vietnam boasts over 30 national parks that have varied landscapes ranging from coastal areas to mountain jungles. However, some parks are usually full of tourists meaning that it can be challenging to observe wildlife. On the other hand, Ba Be National Park is quieter. Its spectacular trails snake through limestone peaks, linking villages of the Hmong, Tay, and Dzao people.

Perfect for exploration with boat or kayak trips are such picturesque peaceful lakes, located in hollows between forested ridges. Here, you can find different kinds of wild animals such as macaques, langur monkeys, rare black bears, scaly pangolins, and the impressive crested serpent eagle.

The post Best Lovely & Elegant Attractions of Vietnam appeared first on TripALoud.