My best experiences in Vietnam: Time to go is now!

Home » Outdoor Activities » Top experiences in Vietnam

If I look back at my 2 week Vietnam itinerary, it appears like a series of unforgettable experiences. But don’t ask me for my favorite. I don’t have just one. My list of best things to do in Vietnam is quite extensive.

Watching the sunset unfold over limestone islands in Halong Bay, enjoying the gastronomic delights in Hoi An, cycling in the paddy fields beyond this charming town, doing the road trip across the Hai Van pass to reach Hue, stay on the pristine and remote island of Con Dao, taking a stroll in the French quarters of Hanoi, contemplating the indefatigable human spirit while going down in one of the Cu Chi tunnels. There are so many interesting places to visit in Vietnam and experiences to be had. So let me dive right away into top things to do in Vietnam.

Admire the stunning limestone karsts at Bai Tu Long Bay

things to do in Vietnam, what to do in Vietnam, best things to do in Vietnam, places to visit in Vietnam, where to go in Vietnam
What a landscape with these green cliffs scattered across emerald water!

If I close my eyes, it is easy for me to bring up images of hundreds of forested limestone karsts jutting out of emerald waters of Halong Bay, and the uncrowded Bai Tu Long Bay. A magical evening on a cruise that takes you to the serene Bai Tu Long Bay with good food, wind ruffling all around you and a riot of colors being showcased in the sky is quite an experience. And if you are adventurous, kayaking in the calm waters the next morning would be fun as well. So, I would put an overnight cruise experience at Halong / Bai Tu Long bay on the list of what to do in Vietnam.

Stroll around the charming Hoi An and enjoy the culinary treats

things to do in Vietnam, what to do in Vietnam, best things to do in Vietnam, places to visit in Vietnam, where to go in Vietnam
This historic old town of Hoi An is charming.

Take it from me, the car-free town of Hoi An will charm you over. From cultural and historic sites as merchant houses, the Japanese covered bridge, to vibrant restaurants and cafes, Hoi An deserves its fame (and the crowds!). This is where we ate some of the best food in Vietnamese restaurants. But the best thing to do in Hoi An is simply amble around the town in the evening and soak in the atmosphere plus take to people-watching from the comfort of a cafe. We stayed at Danang and one of our best experiences in central Vietnam was the trip from Danang to Hoi An.

Take a cycling trip across the countryside

The vibrant cities in Vietnam are interesting but if you are a nature lover, do see the countryside as well. I imagine that there would be several places to visit in Vietnam for this, from Sapa in the north to Dalat in central Vietnam. 

things to do in Vietnam, what to do in Vietnam, best things to do in Vietnam, places to visit in Vietnam, where to go in Vietnam
Smile only once you have crossed the bridge!

A memorable family experience for us was a cycling tour we took as a day trip from Danang. From river crossing with cycles loaded on the boat, cycling across floating bridges, to seeing villagers go about making rice-wine, weaving mats and fixing coracles, this was a lovely day out.

Drive across the Hai Van pass to Hue

For the culturally inclined, a trip to Hue – that served as the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors – should be on their list of places to visit in Vietnam. If you are short on time, just spending half a day at the 19th-century Citadel would be worthwhile.

things to do in Vietnam, what to do in Vietnam, best things to do in Vietnam, places to visit in Vietnam, where to go in Vietnam
Hai Van pass has stunning views.

But even more than the cultural sites of Hue, what got imprinted in my mind was the fun road trip from Danang to Hue. We crossed the Hai Van pass to go to Hue and came back via another route. The Hai Van pass with its winding roads, panoramic vistas and a quick pit stop at what was once a bunker used by the American army is worth a visit.

Spend an afternoon roaming around Hanoi

I wish we had built in more time in the stately city of Hanoi. We spent an afternoon with local university students who showed us around some parts of the city. More than the cultural and historic sites, that afternoon was about understanding the people and their mindsets, what the next generation aspires for in this rapidly developing country. We strolled through two unique areas of the city with them – the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. These two areas couldn’t be more different from each other than chalk and cheese, with only mad traffic being the common theme 🙂

Check out this post on Phung Hung Street Art and how it is reviving the Old Quarter, in case you are headed to Hanoi.

things to do in Vietnam, what to do in Vietnam, best things to do in Vietnam, places to visit in Vietnam, where to go in Vietnam
The Old Quarter in Hanoi is chaotic and distinct.

Old Quarter is narrow bylines, cafes with stools spilling on the roads, vibrant local life. The French quarters is dignified with historic art deco buildings all around. The magnificent Opera House and The Metropolitan Hotel bring alive the grandeur of the area just so.

Biking, diving and beach experience at Con Dao Island

The country has plenty of fine beaches with more than 2000 km of coastline. And yet, Con Dao islands with their unique history and stunning beauty made for a memorable experience for us.

things to do in Vietnam, what to do in Vietnam, best things to do in Vietnam, places to visit in Vietnam, where to go in Vietnam
The protected status of Con Dao archipelago makes for a fabulous getaway.

These islands were used by the French in earlier times to keep thousands of locals as war prisoners. The horror of that is quite striking against the pristine beauty and stunning vistas that the protected status of these islands – as a national and marine park – provides. Biking across the undulating roads, diving off the coast in Vietnam Sea and relaxing on the stunning beaches of Con Dao island is definitely on my top things to do in. Vietnam.

Come face-to-face with Cu Chi tunnels

I didn’t know what to expect before the visit to Cu Chi tunnels. Though I did know in general about the guerrilla war that the locals waged against the American army for a long time in these forests. 

things to do in Vietnam, what to do in Vietnam, best things to do in Vietnam, places to visit in Vietnam, where to go in Vietnam
These pointed arrows are a sobering sight.

The informed guide, the various displays and models put up, the documentary shown, made for an excellent experience. But what was thrilling was to enter one of the tunnels – a sanitized version of course – to crawl through imagining the lives of soldiers who lived and waged a war from here.

Vietnam has many more thrilling experiences. What was useful before our trip was this comprehensive Vietnam packing list. Not all things can be done and places visited in 2 weeks in Vietnam, but the above made it to my list to remember.


Pin it for later!

If I look back at my time spent in Vietnam, it appears like a series of unforgettable experiences. But don’t ask me for my favourite. My list of best things to do and places to visit in Vietnam is quite extensive. #vietnam #thingstodoinvietnam #whattodoinvietnam #wheretogoinvietnam #hoian #hue #cycling #baitulongbay #condao #cuchitunnels #haivanpass
If I look back at my time spent in Vietnam, it appears like a series of unforgettable experiences. But don’t ask me for my favourite. My list of best things to do and places to visit in Vietnam is quite extensive. #vietnam #thingstodoinvietnam #whattodoinvietnam #wheretogoinvietnam #hoian #hue #cycling #baitulongbay #condao #cuchitunnels #haivanpass

Have you visited Vietnam? What has been your favorite place or experience there?

Subscribe to Zest In A Tote Digest, my monthly newsletter, for travel tips and inspiration.

Join me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook as I share my travel experiences.

477 Shares

Author: Shweta Singhal

Hi! I am Shweta, the zest behind this blog . I play several roles – parent to a 6-year old, adventure enthusiast, travel blogger, generally open to trying out new things in life. Besides travel, I love books and theatre and art. I would love to hear from you; do drop a comment. Join me on Instagram / Twitter @zestinatote.

Join the discussion! I'd love to hear from you.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.