Must-Visit Natural Attractions in Vietnam (2025 Update)
Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh) – Limestone Masterpiece in the North
Location: Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province
Ticket prices:
- 4-hour day cruise: about 290,000 VND per individual
- Overnight cruise (2D1N): starting at 2,000,000 VND/person based on cruise class
Top experiences:
- Scenic cruises between thousands of limestone karsts
- Kayaking in secluded caves and lagoons
- Explore Sung Sot Cave, part of the biggest and most stunning caves in the bay
- Swim or hike at Titop Island.
- Uncover what it is like to live afloat at Cua Van Fishing Village
One of Vietnam’s attractions and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay is a top highlight for any traveler due to its otherworldly beauty. Is Vietnam worth visiting? A response is to be found in one sunrise alone.
Ha Long Bay (Sours: halongjunkcruise)
Phong Nha – Ke Bang & Son Doong Cave – The Kingdom of Caves
Location: Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province
Ticket prices:
- Entrance fee to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park: 150,000 VND/person
- Son Doong Expedition (4D3N): approx. 70,000,000 VND/person, advanced booking required
Unmissable experiences:
- Visit extensive cave systems such as Phong Nha, Hang Tien, and Dark Cave
- Zipline and kayak along underground rivers
- Spend a night in pristine wilderness
- Embark on an adventure to Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest cave filled with jungle and clouds, and its internal ecosystem
If what you’re looking for is adventure-of-a-lifetime activities in Vietnam, this is it. The raw nature and underground scenery here make Phong Nha one of the most exciting and memorable Vietnam attractions.
Son Doong Cave (Sours: quangbinhtravel)
Sapa & Fansipan Peak – Mountains, Terraces, and Ethnic Culture
Location: Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province
Ticket prices:
- Fansipan Legend Cable Car: 800,000 VND/adult (round-trip)
- Village entrances: between 30,000 and 100,000 VND, depending on location
What to experience:
- Hike through local villages such as Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Cat Cat
- Stay at homestays and engage with local ethnic minorities (Hmong, Dao, Giay).
- Climb to the top of Fansipan (3,143 meters), Indochina’s highest mountain
- Breathe in the lushness of terraced rice fields in full harvest (Sept–Oct) or peach blossom (Feb–Mar)
Its cool climate, stunning scenery, and long cultural history make Sapa one of north Vietnam attractions. It is a top destination for those embarking on a full Vietnam three week itinerary
Fansipan Peak (Sours: thesinhtour)
Mekong Delta – Floating Life and Orchard Heaven
Top locations:
- Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho
- Cai Be Floating Market in Tien Giang
- Tra On Fruit Garden in Vinh Long
Tour prices:
- Half-day boating tours: 200,000 VND
Unique experiences:
- Explore busy floating markets in the morning
- Have breakfast onboard with noodle soup, banh mi, and Vietnamese coffee
- Pick fresh fruits in riverside orchards.
- Explore coconut candy workshops, rice paper houses, and traditional kilns
The Mekong Delta is perhaps one of the most authentic sights to experience in Vietnam. Here, everything flows to the rhythm of the river, meals are eaten, and markets take place on boats. It is serene, vibrant, and simply a must-do to experience Vietnam’s rural heart.
Cai Rang Floating Market (Sours: canthotourism)
Cultural & Historical Attractions Not to Miss
Hue Imperial City & Royal Tombs – Reliving Vietnam’s Regal Past
Location: Hue City, Thua Thien-Hue Province
Ticket price: ~200,000 VND/person to view the Citadel complex
Walk among emperors and mandarins in the majestic halls and ornamented gates of the Imperial City of Hue, a breathtakingly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. A former capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue is a city steeped in history.
What to experience:
- Walk through the Citadel, a massive complex of palaces and temples surrounded by moats
- Explore royal tombs of emperors such as Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, lined by pine woods and lotus ponds
- Observe cultural performances, including traditional music and royal dances
- Enjoy a serene boat trip along the Perfume River, a much-loved icon of Hue
If planning a full Vietnam three week itinerary, Hue is a key part of Vietnamese history, peaceful and deeply religious.
Hue Imperial City (Sours: uncovervietnam)
Hoi An Ancient Town & Japanese Covered Bridge – Vietnam’s Most Charming Heritage Site
Location: Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
Ticket price: ~120,000 VND/person for access to Old Town (several attractions are included)
Welcome to Hoi An, arguably one of Vietnam’s attractions. The quaint old trading port once prospered and today delights tourists with its French colonial buildings, warm lanterns, and riverside hospitality.
What to experience:
- Cross the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, a 17th-century symbol of cultural fusion
- Drink Vietnamese coffee in riverfront cafes and appreciate yellow-painted shop houses
- Visit family-owned tailors to get personalized clothing crafted in just 24 hours.
- Attend a cooking class to discover Central Vietnam’s distinctive cuisine
- Relish lantern-filled evenings, particularly on full moon celebrations
The amorous mystique of Hoi An brings in wedding proposals, artists, and intrepid travelers worldwide. No Vietnamese listing would be comprehensive without it.
Hoi An Ancient Town (Sours: besttourvietnam)
Cu Chi Tunnels – Vietnam’s Underground Legacy of Resistance
Location: Cu Chi District, 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Ticket price: ~110,000 VND/person for Ben Dinh site
Underneath southern Vietnam’s serene rural landscape lies one of the most fascinating war heritage sites, Cu Chi Tunnels. This extensive underground network was an important part of the Vietnam War, used as living arrangements, military bases, kitchens, and even hospitals.
What to experience:
- Navigate through cramped tunnels previously traversed by rebel warriors
- Explore secret bunkers, ambush systems, and underground weapons depots
- Visit newly introduced nighttime tours (from 2024 to 2025), featuring haunting but insightful views of wartime daily life
- Couple this trip with a visit to the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City for a more complete perspective
This is a very emotive and intellectual website, highly recommended for visitors interested in the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, national identity, and contemporary history. It’s also a thoughtful option for individuals who love immersive adventure activities in Vietnam.
Cu Chi Tunnels (Sours: sawasdee)
Temple of Literature (Hanoi) – The Cradle of Vietnamese Learning
Location: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi
Ticket price: ~70,000 VND/person
Established in 1070 and housing Vietnam’s first national college, Hanoi’s Temple of Literature is a symbol of academic heritage and Confucian respect. Its serene courtyards, stelae dating back centuries, and wooden pavilion buildings make it one of Hanoi’s most sacred Vietnam attractions.
What to experience:
- Walk through five courtyards representing five chapters of Vietnam’s educational history.
- Examine the Turtle Stelae, stone monuments carved with the names of past scholars
- Learn about Confucian values and Vietnamese respect for learning.
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to get a wider cultural perspective
For history enthusiasts, students, and generally those curious about the philosophical foundations of Vietnamese culture, this is absolutely one of the most important sights to witness in Vietnam.
Temple of Literature (Sours: timesofindia)
Iconic Man-Made Attractions You’ll Only See in Vietnam
Golden Bridge – Da Nang
Location: Sun World Ba Na Hills, Hoa Ninh Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang
Ticket Price: Approximately ~900,000 VND per individual (round-trip cable car and Ba Na Hills access)
What makes it special: This 150-meter-long walkway suspended between two enormous stone hands appears to be held in mid-air at 1,414 meters above sea level above the clouds. The Golden Bridge is amongst the most Instagrammable Vietnam attractions in the world, and trust us, it’s every bit as surreal in real life as it looks in a snapshot.
Top things to do:
- Walk along the golden arc and snap some panoramic pictures
- The crisp mountain climate and beautiful gardens that surround the bridge
- Visit Ba Na Hills’ French Village, Fantasy Park, and the gardens of flowers
- Ideal for families, couples, and photographers
Golden Bridge (Sours: pullman-danang)
Dragon Bridge – Da Nang
- Location: Nguyen Van Linh Street, Da Nang City
- Admission: Free
- Fire & Water Show: 9:00 PM every Saturday, Sunday, and holiday
What makes it special: A fire-breathing dragon that sprays water across the Han River? That’s correct. This dragon-like 666-meter-long bridge is a symbol of Vietnamese prosperity and vigor and is also incredibly illuminated at night.
What to experience:
- Witness the exciting fire show (come 30 minutes in advance for the best seats!)
- Capture a reflection of the bridge on the river
- Cycle or walk along the riverside in the evening
- Visit nearby sights such as Da Nang Cathedral, Con Market, and Cham Museum
Dragon Bridge (Sours: wikipedia)
Notre Dame Cathedral – Ho Chi Minh City
- Location: 1 Paris Commune Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Admission: Free
- Note: Exterior visits available during renovations (interior reopening TBA)
What makes it special: Constructed between 1877 and 1880 with only Marseille red bricks, this neo-Romanesque beauty is one of South Vietnam’s attractions. It is a much-loved symbol of French colonial history in lively Ho Chi Minh City.
Nearby highlight: The Central Post Office sits just across the street and was designed by Gustave Eiffel’s firm. Arched ceilings, antique maps, and functioning postal windows make it half post office, half museum.
Notre Dame Cathedral (Sours: saigonhotel)
Bitexco Financial Tower & Skydeck – Ho Chi Minh City
- Location: 2 Hai Trieu Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price (Skydeck): ~200,000 VND/person
- Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Why it’s special: Standing at a height of 262 meters, it was previously Vietnam’s tallest building. It has a helipad jutting out on the 52nd floor and a glass skydeck with stunning 360° views over Ho Chi Minh City.
Top experiences:
- Observe sunset over the Mekong Delta in aerial view.
- Head to the cafe and bar on the top floors for a skyline dinner
- Perfect place to rest and reflect after touring attractions such as the War Remnants Museum or Ben Thanh Market
Bitexco Financial Tower & Skydeck (Sours: klook)
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – Hanoi
- Location: Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi
- Admission: Free
- Opening Hours: 7:30 – 10:30 AM (Closed Mon & Fri)
Why it’s special: This sombre granite building contains President Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed remains, a beloved Vietnamese independence icon. Being here is viewed as a cultural and national gesture.
What to do:
- Walk silently along the observation gallery
- Visit the One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace nearby
- Visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to gain a more in-depth view of national identity
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Sours: mausoleums)
Islands & Coastal Getaways Worth Traveling For
Phu Quoc Island – Paradise in the Gulf of Thailand
- Location: Kien Giang Province, Southwest Vietnam
- Getting There: 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City
- Highlights: Beaches, snorkeling, night markets, pepper farms, fish sauce villages
Renowned for its white beaches and clear waters, Phu Quoc Island is among Southeast Asia’s most sought-after holiday spots for sun-lovers and sea explorers. It is also Vietnam’s first biosphere reserve island to be endorsed by UNESCO.
Top things to do:
- Snorkel through the An Thoi Archipelago or dive among colorful sea creatures
- Visit Phu Quoc National Park, a large nature reserve featuring trekking trails and exotic wildlife
- Walk through the lively Dinh Cau Night Market to shop for seafood and souvenirs
- Visit a pepper farm or a traditional fish sauce distillery
Phu Quoc Island (Sours: cihms)
Con Dao Islands – Beauty with a Soulful Past
- Location: Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, Southeast Vietnam
- Getting There: 45-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City or overnight boat from Vung Tau
- Highlights: Beaches, history, spiritual sites
The Con Dao Islands are not only famous for their pristine beauty but also for their historic significance. The islands were previously used for French and American prisons, but today stand as a memorial site, notably at the Cemetery of Martyrs, where national heroine Vo Thi Sau is interred.
Top experiences:
- There are numerous other activities to try on this island.
- Snorkelling in the Con Dao National Park sea area
- Pay homage at Hang Duong Cemetery
- Visit former prison cells and the Con Dao Museum to gain historical insight
Con Dao Islands (Sours: vietnamcoracle)
Cham Islands – Diving into Marine Biodiversity
- Location: 15 km off the coast of Hoi An, Quang Nam Province
- Getting There: Speedboat from Cua Dai Port (~30 minutes)
- Highlights: Coral reefs, seafood, fishing villages, biosphere reserve
A part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, Cham Islands are a paradise for eco-tourists and scuba diving enthusiasts.
What to do:
- Snorkel or dive among coral reefs filled with ocean creatures
- Visit Bai Lang Village to experience authentic local life and seafood cuisine.
- Explore historic temples and the Marine Conservation Center
- Relax with serene nights of beach camping or homestays
Cham Islands (Sours: premier-village-danang)
Mui Ne – Sand Dunes, Wind & Waves
- Location: Binh Thuan Province, Southeast Vietnam
- Getting There: 4.5-hour train or bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City
- Highlights: Kite surfing, sandboarding, sunrise safaris
Mui Ne is a seaside town where desert and sea meet in a unique landscape of white and red sand dunes shaped by the wind, and it is a playground for adventure seekers.
Must-do activities:
- Sandboarding at the Red Dunes
- Join a sunrise jeep tour through the White Dunes
- Kite surf or windsurf on Mui Ne Beach, one of Asia’s best spots for wind sports
- Wander along the Fairy Stream, a meandering canyon stream etched in red rock
In search of exciting adventure activities in Vietnam? This is where it happens. Mui Ne is not just stunning, it’s thrilling.
Mui Ne – Sand Dunes (Sours: uncovervietnam)
FAQ – Everything You Need to Know Before Exploring Vietnam
What is the No.1 tourist spot in Vietnam?
No doubt about it, Ha Long Bay reigns supreme! This stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tonkin Gulf is renowned for its towering limestone pillars, jade-green waters, and sea-dwelling fishing communities. A Ha Long Bay cruise or kayaking adventure through the karsts is something you’ll never want to forget.
But what they never told me is that Vietnam has a plethora of “No.1” based on what you love. Interested in history? See the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Into culture? Go to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi. Outdoorsy? Don’t miss Cat Ba Island or Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park!
If you are looking to experience it all, take a look at our Vietnam three week itinerary for the best travel path from north to south.
What must you see in Vietnam?
There are plenty of places to see in Vietnam, but here is my must-visit list for 2025:
- Hanoi’s Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university with Confucian heritage
- Golden Bridge in Da Nang – Grasped by giant stone hands, it is one of Vietnam’s most iconic attractions
- Floating markets of the Mekong Delta – Culture and chaos in perfect harmony
- Hue Imperial City: A stroll through Vietnam’s Imperial past
- Hoi An Ancient Town: French colonial charm and evenings of twinkling lanterns
- Perfume River – Perfect for a relaxing river cruise in inner Vietnam
- Phu Quoc Island is known for white beaches, coral reefs, and a mystical nature reserve atmosphere.
Is $1000 USD a good salary in Vietnam?
For locals, definitely. On a monthly budget of$1,000 USD, you can live very well in much of Vietnam. Housing, dining out, and transportation are very inexpensive, particularly beyond major cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
If you are a digital nomad or an extended traveler, this budget caters to:
- Renting a furnished apartment ($250-$500/month)
- Eating excellent street foods such as pho, banh mi, and seafood for less than $5
- Discovering cultural heritage sites and national parks with convenience
Is 4 days in Vietnam enough?
It all depends on what type of traveler you are, but honestly, 4 days is a tease! You might fit in either Hanoi and Ninh Binh or Saigon and the Mekong Delta. But really, you’d only be scratching the surface of what this country has to offer.
If you have a time crunch:
- Visit the capital city and its cultural centers, such as the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Hoan Kiem Lake
- Cruise around Halong Bay or bike through rice paddies in Ninh Binh
- Or travel south to witness the bustling dynamism of Ho Chi Minh City and drift through a floating market in the Mekong
Conclusion
In no uncertain terms, Vietnam is absolutely worth visiting in 2025! From the emerald waters of Halong Bay to bustling city streets of Ho Chi Minh City, the nation is full of unforgettable Vietnam sites, deep history, and hospitality. If cultural jewels, raw landscapes, or even delectable food are what bring you to Vietnam, be assured, there isn’t a shortage.