Vietnam Tourist Places

Vietnam is the kind of country where you can do everything in one holiday: world-famous bays, lantern towns, theme parks, mountain cable cars, caves, beaches, and food streets. If this is your first time, the key is simple: plan by regions (North, Central, South), travel light, and pre-book your “big ticket” days like Ha Long Bay cruises, Ba Na Hills, and Phu Quoc theme parks.

This blog is written to feel like a real trip plan, not a checklist. You will see the best places, how to book, what to expect, what to avoid, and small tips that save time and money.

🛂 Vietnam Visa and Permissions e-Visa Guide

Most tourists use the Vietnam Official e-Visa portals:

✅ Vietnam e-Visa official portal

https://evisa.gov.vn/

✅ Vietnam Immigration e-Visa portal

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt

Hidden tip: Apply only on the official e-Visa portals above. Avoid random “agent sites” that charge extra and complicate your application.

🧾 What to keep ready before you apply

• Passport with enough validity for your trip (and a clear passport photo page scan)

• A digital passport-style photo

• Entry and exit dates (and your first hotel address)

• Card payment (international payments enabled)

📌 Smart “first timer” tip

• Save your e-Visa PDF and screenshot the approval page and QR if available. You will thank yourself at immigration and during hotel check-in.

🌦️ Best Time to Visit Vietnam (By Region + Trip Style)

⭐ Must Visit Tourist Places in Vietnam (Booking + Tips)

1) 🏙️ Hanoi (Old Quarter, Culture, Street Food)

Hanoi is Vietnam’s cultural capital with French-colonial streets, lakeside walks, temples, and the famous Old Quarter street-food lanes. It is also the easiest base for day trips to Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay. First-timers love Hanoi because it teaches you Vietnam fast: how to cross roads, how street food works, and how Grab makes local transport easy.

✅ Best time

• • Oct to Apr (cooler for walking)

🎫 Entry fees and timings

• • Varies by site; many city walks are free

🚖 How to reach and move around

• • Fly into Noi Bai International Airport

  • Use Grab or metered taxis for simple travel

✅ Things to do (Adults + Kids)

• • Old Quarter food walk (evening is best)

  • Hoan Kiem Lake walk

  • Water puppet show (kid-friendly)

  • Egg coffee experience

🍜 Foods to try

• • Pho

  • Bun cha

  • Egg coffee

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Ninh Binh (Trang An)

  • Ha Long Bay

Hidden tip: Start your food walk at 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM before peak crowds, then finish at a rooftop cafe for night views.

2) 🛳️ Ha Long Bay (Limestone Islands + Cruises)

Ha Long Bay is the postcard Vietnam landscape of limestone karsts rising from emerald water. For first-timers, the biggest question is day cruise vs overnight. Day cruises are great if you are short on time, but overnight is the real magic because you get sunset, sunrise, and calmer kayaking windows.

✅ Best time

• • Oct to Apr (clearer, cooler)

  • Avoid stormy days in peak monsoon periods

🎫 Tour costs

• • Prices vary widely by cruise quality and route (day vs overnight)

🚐 How to reach

• • From Hanoi by bus/van (many daily departures)

  • Private car if you want comfort and fewer stops

✅ Things to do

• • Caves + viewpoints + kayaking (most popular combo)

  • Overnight cruise: sunset deck time + sunrise views

  • Family-friendly: shorter cruise with less rushing

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Hanoi

  • Ninh Binh

Hidden tip: Book a cruise that includes Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long for fewer boats and a calmer route.

3) 🚣 Ninh Binh (Trang An Boat Tour, “Ha Long Bay on Land”)

Ninh Binh is one of the best first-timer destinations because it is beautiful, calm, and easy. Trang An is the famous boat route where a local rower takes you through cave tunnels and temple stops.

✅ Best time

• • Feb to Apr

  • Sep to Nov

🎫 Entry fee and timings (commonly listed)

• • Trang An boat tour: often listed around 250,000 VND

  • Timing often listed around 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

🚗 How to reach

• • Day trip from Hanoi (about 2 to 2.5 hours)

✅ Things to do

• • Trang An boat routes (2 to 4 hours)

  • Cycling on village roads (easy and low cost)

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Hanoi

  • Ha Long Bay

Hidden tip: Go early morning for fewer boats and better photos, and sit at the back of the boat for wider shots.

4) 🏔️ Sapa (Rice Terraces + Fansipan Cable Car)

Sapa is where you go for cool air, rice terraces, and mountain scenery. Fansipan is the famous peak reached by cable car, which is why Sapa works even for families who do not want hard hikes.

✅ Best time

• • Mar to May

  • Sep to Nov

🎫 Fansipan timings and tickets

• • Timings and ticket combos can vary by day and season

🚆 How to reach

• • Hanoi to Sapa by overnight train/bus, then transfer to Sapa town

✅ Things to do

• • Fansipan cable car day (scenic, family-friendly)

  • Easy terrace viewpoints + village markets

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Lao Cai border region

  • Local villages

Hidden tip: Keep 1 buffer morning in Sapa in case Fansipan is foggy on your planned day.

5) 🏯 Hue (Imperial City + Royal History)

Hue is Vietnam’s heritage heart. The Imperial City is the main attraction, plus royal tombs and pagodas.

✅ Best time

• • Feb to Apr

🎫 Hours and fees (commonly listed)

• • Hue Imperial City: often listed around 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (season changes)

  • Entry fee: often listed around 200,000 VND for adults (can change)

🚆 How to reach

• • Train, flight, or road from Da Nang

✅ Things to do

• • Imperial City walk (2 to 4 hours)

  • Royal tomb circuit (each tomb has separate ticket pricing)

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Da Nang

  • Hoi An

Hidden tip: Rent an audio guide or take a short guided tour so the Citadel does not feel “just walls and gates.”

6) 🏖️ Da Nang (Beaches + Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge)

Da Nang is a modern beach city and the gateway to Ba Na Hills. Ba Na Hills is a full-day complex with cable cars, Golden Bridge, French Village zones, and indoor rides.

✅ Best time

• • Feb to May

🎫 Ba Na Hills info (common listings)

• • Many ticket platforms list around 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (may vary)

  • Ticket prices often listed around 1,000,000 VND adult (varies by package)

🚖 How to reach

• • Taxi, shuttle, or tour pickup from Da Nang

✅ Things to do

• • Golden Bridge photos

  • Cable car ride (major highlight)

  • Fantasy Park indoor rides (kids and adults)

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Hoi An

  • Hue

Hidden tip: Go on a weekday and reach Golden Bridge right after the first cable car to avoid heavy crowd photos.

6A) 🎢 Ba Na Hills Alpine Coaster (Highly Searched Mini Highlight)

• • Often an add-on, not always included in the main ticket

  • Best for teens and adults

  • Queue times can be long midday

Hidden tip: Do the coaster before lunch or late afternoon. Midday lines steal time.

7) 🏮 Hoi An (Ancient Town + Lantern Nights)

Hoi An is Vietnam’s most charming walking town, famous for lantern-lit evenings, riverside boat rides, and heritage houses.

✅ Best time

• • Feb to Apr

🎫 Ticket info

• • Ticket systems and hours can vary by office and sites

🚗 How to reach

• • Short drive from Da Nang

✅ Things to do

• • Evening lantern walk

  • River lantern boat ride (night)

  • Tailor-made clothes shopping

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Da Nang

  • My Son (day trip)

Hidden tip: Visit just before sunset so you see both day and night beauty in one visit.

8) 🌆 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (Museums + Food + Energy)

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s biggest, fastest city. People visit for food, nightlife, shopping, coffee culture, and museums.

✅ Best time

• • Dec to Apr (less rain)

🎫 War Remnants Museum (commonly listed)

• • Entry: often listed around 40,000 VND

  • Hours: often listed around 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM

🚖 How to reach and move

• • Fly into Tan Son Nhat airport

  • Use Grab/taxis

✅ Things to do

• • War Remnants Museum (plan time)

  • Night food streets and cafes

🌍 Nearby spots

• • Cu Chi Tunnels

  • Mekong Delta

Hidden tip: Museums in early morning, then afternoons for cafes and indoor places to escape heat and sudden rain.

9) 🕳️ Cu Chi Tunnels (Half-Day from Saigon)

Cu Chi is one of Vietnam’s most famous historical sites, with tunnels you can crawl through, plus displays and optional shooting range activities (extra cost).

✅ Best time

• • Dec to Apr

⏰ Hours (widely listed)

• • Often listed as 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily

🎫 Entry fee (commonly listed range)

• • Around 90,000 to 110,000 VND depending on Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc

🚐 How to reach

• • Tour bus or private car from Ho Chi Minh City

Hidden tip: Choose Ben Duoc for fewer crowds and a more spacious feel, and carry mosquito repellent.

10) 🏝️ Phu Quoc (Beaches + Hon Thom Cable Car + Parks)  

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s island holiday spot for beaches, sunsets, night markets, and theme-park style attractions.

✅ Best time

• • Nov to Apr

🎫 Hon Thom cable car (commonly listed)

• • Often listed around 09:30 to 17:00 (varies by package)

✈️ How to reach

• • Fly into Phu Quoc airport

  • Use taxis and hotel transfers

✅ Things to do

• • Cable car ride and island views

  • Water park day

  • Night market evening

Hidden tip: Plan a weekday visit for shorter queues and clearer photos, and carry water shoes.

Vietnam Tourist Places Map

🎡Most Searched Vietnam Theme Parks and Family Attractions

11) 🎢 VinWonders Phu Quoc (Big Theme Park Day)

A full-on theme park with rides, shows, and big indoor zones.

• Best time: Nov to Apr

• Opening hours: commonly listed around 09:00 to 19:30 (check your date)

• Ticket price: commonly listed around 950,000 VND adult (over 140 cm), 710,000 VND child (100 to under 140 cm), 710,000 VND senior, free for kids under 1m (can vary)

• Official booking: https://booking.vinwonders.com/en-USD/

Hidden tip: Go on a weekday, enter at opening time, finish popular rides first, then do aquarium and indoor zones in afternoon heat.

12) 🦁 Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc (Safari Ride + Zoo Day)

A slower, nature-focused family day with big open areas and a safari-style ride.

• Best time: Nov to Apr

• Opening hours: commonly listed 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, last admission often around 2:00 PM

• Official booking: https://booking.vinwonders.com/en-USD/

Hidden tip: Arrive before 10:00 AM for active animals and better photos. Avoid arriving after lunch because last entry time rules can cut your visit short.

13) 🌃 Grand World Phu Quoc (Night Vibes + Shows)

Evening walks, canals, cafes, shopping lanes, and show entertainment.

• Entry fee: Many areas feel open and free, some shows are paid

Hidden tip: Pair it after Safari or VinWonders. Rest, freshen up, then come after sunset for best lighting and cooler weather.

🏖️ More Vietnam Destinations Many First Timers Add

14) 🌊 Nha Trang (Beach City + Island Hopping)

Great for beach walks and island hopping tours.

• Best time: Feb to Aug

• How to reach: Fly to Cam Ranh International Airport, then taxi to city

Hidden tip: Do island trips early morning. Afternoon seas can get rougher and the sun gets harsher.

15) 🌲 Da Lat (Cool Weather Hill Station + Cafes)

Cool escape with pine hills, viewpoints, cafes, and flower gardens.

• Best time: Nov to Mar for cool air, Sep to Nov for greener scenery

• How to reach: Road trip from Nha Trang or flight to Lien Khuong Airport

Hidden tip: Plan Da Lat after beaches. Your body feels refreshed because the temperature drops.

15A) 🏚️ Crazy House Da Lat (Most Searched Spot)

A surreal, maze-like building with stairways, bridges, themed rooms, and photo angles everywhere.

• • • Opening hours: commonly listed 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM

    • Ticket price: commonly listed 80,000 VND (above 1.4m), 30,000 VND (1.2 to under 1.4m), free (below 1.2m)

Hidden tip: Go right after opening for clean photos. The narrow walkways feel crowded later in the day.

16) 🦇 Phong Nha (Caves + River Boat)

Famous for caves, river scenery, and jungle landscapes.

• Best time: Feb to Aug

• Entry fee (commonly listed): 150,000 VND per person + boat fee (often per boat)

Hidden tip: If you are a small group, ask around to share a boat with other travellers to reduce cost.

17) 🏜️ Mui Ne (Sand Dunes + Sunrise Photos)

Famous for sand dunes and sunrise photo runs.

• Best time: Nov to Apr

• How to reach: Road trip from Ho Chi Minh City

Hidden tip: Start before sunrise with a light jacket. Early morning gives cooler weather and smoother sands for photos.

18) 🚤 Mekong Delta (Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City)

Canals, boat rides, local snacks, and countryside scenes in one day.

• Best time: Dec to Apr

• How to reach: Tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Hidden tip: Choose a smaller group tour if possible. It feels less rushed and the boat rides are more enjoyable.

19) 🛵 Ha Giang Loop (Epic Mountain Road Trip)

Mountain roads and viewpoints. Best for adults and confident travellers.

• Best time: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

• How to reach: Overnight bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang town

Hidden tip: If you are not a confident rider, do an “easy rider” trip where a trained driver rides for you.

🍜 Must-Try Vietnam Food (First Timer Friendly)

• Pho

• Banh mi

• Bun cha

• Fresh spring rolls

• Vietnamese iced coffee

Hidden tip: If you have a sensitive stomach, start with cooked foods like pho and bun cha for the first 2 days, then try more street snacks once your body adjusts.

🧴 Vietnam Travel Safety and Smart Tips (First Timers)

• Road crossing in big cities: walk steadily, do not run

• Keep small cash notes for local stalls

• Book tickets on official sites when available

• Weather changes: keep a thin raincoat and a light jacket

Hidden tip: Screenshot every QR ticket and booking confirmation. Network can be weak at hill stations and island terminals.

✅ Vietnam “First Trip” Combo Itineraries

🗓️ 10-Day Classic (Balanced)

• • Hanoi (2) + Ninh Binh (1) + Ha Long Bay (2) + Da Nang/Ba Na Hills (2) + Hoi An (2) + Ho Chi Minh City (1)

🗓️ 12 to 14 Days (Best for First Timers)

• • Hanoi + Ninh Binh + Ha Long + Sapa (optional) + Hue + Da Nang + Hoi An + Ho Chi Minh City + Mekong

🗓️ Family Fun + Beach (7 to 10 Days)

• • Ho Chi Minh City (2) + Phu Quoc (5 to 7) with VinWonders + Safari + Grand World

Hidden tip: For the smoothest first Vietnam trip, choose Feb to Apr, pre-book the big days, and keep 2 slow evenings free to simply walk, eat, and enjoy the vibe.