Vietnam is a beautiful country that boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the whole world. The diverse landscape has everything from rocky mountains, rice fields, rivers, and bustling urban hubs. When exploring the wonderful country of Vietnam, you will not want in terms of photo opportunities and memorable moments.
As a tourist, there are many Vietnam famous landmarks that you can visit. The below list contains eight famous landmarks in Vietnam that you should make certain that you find during your visit:
1. Halong Bay
This is one of the world’s greatest views and an essential famous landmark in Vietnam for any tourist. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and for good reason. To get the best possible view, you really need to be on a boat. It is possible to go for a quick tour of the bay, however, we recommend spending the night in one of the junk boats.
These boats are actually quite nice and not “junk” as the name suggests. You will have your own room and be able to eat and drink on board. It is a wonderful feeling to wake up in the morning and see the sunrise over the limestone rocks.
2. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
This honeycomb cavern formation will probably be unlike anything that you have ever seen before. If you make it to this park you should head to the Paradise Cave. Here, you will be able to see some stalactite and stalagmite formations in the rock. This is a cavern system that is over 30km deep and well worth exploring. There are many other caves that are also well worth a visit and some that can only be accessed by boat.
3. Ho Chi Minh City
No trip to Vietnam would be complete without a stop this hub commercial and archeological interest. You will see wide streets that seem impossibly filled with bikes cars all seemingly obeying a set of rules to get from A to B. There is some beautiful architecture to see including French colonial buildings, Buddhist temples and the famous Jade Emperor Pagoda.
In more recent history, you can visit the Reunification Palace, which was the residence for South Vietnam’s president. This is where the Vietnam war ended in 1975, making it one of the most famous Vietnam landmarks that you can visit.
4. Hue
This is a town that has a great deal of history dating back for thousands of years. You will be able to visit the Ngo Mon Gate, the That Hoa Palace and many more sites in the Imperial enclosure. While you are in Hue you should make sure that you explore some of the other sites that lie outside of the enclosure walls.
It is strongly recommended that you take a leisurely cruise down the perfume river. On this river, you will be able to stop by many tombs that are across the bank. You will learn a lot about the historical significance of the town and the Nguyen emperors that lived here.
5. Hoi An
This is another hotspot that you must visit when in Vietnam. It is a former trading center that hosted merchants from all over Asia and the world. In the 1400s this was the place to get the best local silk. Due to this influx of trade and the inevitable growth that comes with it, the city has a great deal of fascinating architecture that remains open to the public to this day.
One of the most fascinating things about Hoi An is how well everything has been preserved. If you are looking for an authentic experience of walking down a street and seeing nothing but facades of buildings that are over 5 hundred years old then this is the place to go.
6. Hanoi
No trip to Vietnam would be complete without a stop in the capital. While visiting this Vietnam famous landmark, you will need to have your wits about you as the motorbikes whizz past and the noise of vendors all trying to get you to buy something. There are parts of the city that offer a wonderful old-world feel such as the old quarter.
7. Nha Trang
Having seen some of the cities you may be hungry to hit the beach. Nha Trang is the place to go. The beach is very well maintained and is over 5km. During the summer it can get busy, but you will probably be able to find a spot. Don’t worry, there is still plenty of culturally significant places to check out. The Po Nagar Cham Towers are just to the north across the Xom Bong Bridge and are ancient.
8. Củ Chi Tunnels
Jumping forward again to modern history these tunnels are leftover from the Vietnam war. These tunnels were part of an extensive network of over 200 km that allowed the Viet Cong to travel and communicate in secret. You can experience just how small and cramped the conditions were in the tunnels as you crawl around on your hands and knees. This is not recommended if you don’t like small and enclosed spaces.
