Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyen Hue Street may not be an architectural masterpiece, but it’s certainly one of the city’s most exciting destinations. Found in the District 1 area, the street covers an area of over 2,000 feet and is bookended by the People’s Committee on one side and the flowing Saigon River on another. History This once-ordinary street began life as a meandering …
Bui Vien Street – HCMC
Bui Vien Street is well-known in Ho Chi Minh City due to its status as a hub for backpackers and party-going tourists. Perhaps no other street in Vietnam is met with such polarisation as this one. Some see Bui Vien Street as an exhilarating concoction of hedonistic stimuli whilst others look down upon it with disgust and disdain. No matter which side of the fence you find …
Me Linh Square – HCMC
Me Linh Square lies near the Saigon River and offers a relaxing alternative to the congested life of Ho Chi Minh City. An ideal place for a quick pit-stop, the area is well-shaded, lined with gardens, and is subject to a refreshing river breeze. The centerpiece of Me Linh Square is a statue of the 13th-century military general Tran Hung Dao (1228-1300), who is still regarded …
Phu Quoc Prison Museum
Long before foreign tourists thronged the famed tropical beaches, Phu Quoc was home to a notorious island prison camp. Also known as Coconut Tree Prison, this museum the darker side of humanity during war and times of political upheaval in Vietnam. History Built by the French, and used throughout the Vietnam War, the museum looks just like a classic war prison camp. The …
Ba Vi National Park – Hanoi
Just a short drive from Hanoi, visitors will find the Ba Vi National Park. Often overlooked by foreign tourists, and nicknamed “Hanoi’s Lung”, the park tends to be more popular with locals. With three mountain peaks and verdant forests, Ba Vi is worth adding to your Vietnam itinerary. Location Setup more like an adventure park, Ba Vi is 38 miles (61.4 kilometers) outside of …
Tao Dan Park – HCMC
If you’re looking for a place to relax in Ho Chi Minh City then Tao Dan Park is for you. These idyllic gardens can be found behind the Reunification Palace and offer a serene, picturesque environment for you to enjoy a little downtime. History of Tao Dan Park Like most Ho Chi Minh City landmarks, Tao Dan Park has a long and storied history. During the 19th century, the French …
Vietnam Museum of Nature – Hanoi
The Vietnam Museum of Nature is tucked away inside the Academy of Science and Technology of Vietnam in Hanoi. Although extremely compact in size, it showcases more than 1,000 specimens covering a broad range of natural history. Acting as Vietnam’s foremost natural history museum, this site is an important center of research and education. Exhibits at the Museum of …
Cu Chi Tunnels – HCMC
One of the nation’s most popular tourist attractions is the Cu Chi Tunnels. Known as the site where Vietnamese soldiers hid from the relentless onslaught of enemy bullets, today, the Cu Chi Tunnels are open for public exploration and are highly popular tourist spots. There are two main sites - Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Whilst the former is closer to Ho Chi Minh City, it is also …
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – Hanoi
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology offers a window into the country’s vast melting pot of ethnic communities. There are more than 50 different ethnic groups across the nation and the museum serves to not only preserve their cultural diversity but also educate visitors in a variety of interactive ways. The Museum Housing comprehensive collections of tribal art and artifacts, as …
Ma Pi Leng Pass – Ha Giang
Far from the crowds of Hanoi, tucked into a mountainside in Vietnam’s Northern frontier, there’s a little-known paradise for any road-trip junkie. One of the region’s “Four Great Passes,” and arguably the most spectacular, the Ma Pi Leng Pass is a place of extremes… Gorges plunge away from the roadside, jagged mountaintops skim the clouds, and the locals’ rugged culture is a …
8 Best National Parks in Vietnam
Vietnam is known to many for its rich, cultural past and modern, towering cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and Da Nang. As the world keeps opening, tourists are swarming to the cities to experience Vietnam’s unique mix of traditional and contemporary elements as they collide in the chaos of daily life. Still, there is more to Vietnam than its great …
Museum of Ba Ria – Vung Tau
The Vung Tau Provincial Museum has a distinctive façade featuring white and gold art-deco style curves representing the oceans waves. It offers a good introduction to the province’s natural eco-systems, diverse ethnic communities, traditions and thousands of years of history. The museum follows a chronological journey through the region’s history, from prehistoric times and …
Hoàng Liên National Park – near Sapa
Home to the country’s tallest mountains, Hoàng Liên National Park is one of the most coveted areas in Vietnam. Known for its dense vegetation, this park preserves some of the country’s most primitive beauty. Impressive altitudes within Hoang Lien range from 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) to 10,312 feet (3,143 meters), drawing in adventurers who aim to conquer Vietnam’s highest …
Bach Moc Luong Tu Mountain – near Sapa
Crowned as Vietnam’s fourth-tallest mountain with a height of 9,990.157 feet (3,045 meters), Bach Moc Luong Tu is enjoying the spotlight amongst the country’s young travelers. Now a hit destination, the mountain’s cloud-covered landscape has become a much-loved feature in Vietnam. Summiting Bach Moc Luong Tu takes a while and hikers need to prepare for a hard trek, but once …
Hai Van Pass – Da Nang to Hue
The saying goes: “It’s not about where you’re going. It’s about how you get there.” In central Vietnam, draped across the hillsides and clifftops, is a road that could define this well-worn motto. Here’s everything you need to know about one of the most inspiring roads you will ever travel: The Hai Van Pass. It connects Da Nang to the south with Hue to the north. And there …
Vietcombank Tower Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City
Completed in 2015, the Vietcombank Tower Saigon is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s newest Class A business buildings. Boasting a modern design and staggered appearance, this structure stands out among the Saigon skyline. Focused on business activities, the Vietcombank Tower Saigon includes both commercial and tourist interests. With a premier location, the tower has become an …
Phu Si Lung Mountain – near Sapa
Measuring at 10,091.85 feet (3,076 meters), Phu Si Lung, Vietnam’s second tallest mountain, is in the same area as Fansipan, only much more remote. Teetering on Vietnam’s border with China, much of the mountain’s base sits in a foreign land. Harder to access than Fansipan, Phu Si Lung’s beauty still attracts avid mountaineers. The History Once the site of confrontation …
Pu Ta Leng Mountain – near Sapa
Nicknamed "Green Paradise" by hikers, Pu Ta Leng is located in the Lai Cai Province, similar to Fansipan and Phu Si Lung, and is the third tallest peak in Vietnam. Although easier to climb than Pu Ta Leng, this 10,003.28 foot (3,049 meters) mountain requires a local guide to reach its peak. The mountain’s lush landscape is dotted with streams, which makes it an eye-catching …
Fansipan (Phan Xi Pang) Mountain – near Sapa
Standing at 10,325.7 ft (3,147.3 m), Fansipan is the tallest mountain in Vietnam and the Indochinese Peninsula. As the highest peak in the region, Fansipan has gained the nickname the ‘Roof of Indochina’. Strenuous and steep, the trek to the summit can take days, although an alternate route exists, using a cable car to take visitors to the top. The History Formed between the …
Hoi An Lune Center for the Performing Arts
Set in the heart of ancient town, the Hoi An Lune Center for the Performing Arts is a unique cultural experience. The Lune Center doesn't just host the arts but is a work of art in itself. The building is the first and only bamboo theater in Vietnam and home to the famous Vietnamese Bamboo Circus. The structure features a 24-meter bamboo dome standing 13 meters high, a …
