59 Best Sights in The South-Central Coasts and Highlands, Vietnam

This bridge, about 2 km (1 mile) from downtown Kon Tum, spans the Dakbla River. The 292-meter bridge was completed in 1994, making it easier for people in Konklor village to get to town. If you're really lucky, you may see a "traffic jam" caused by a bullock cart crossing the bridge. Don't miss the rong house on the left side of the northern bank of the river.

The Lake of Sighs, northeast of town, takes its name from a tale of two star-crossed lovers, Hoang Tung and Mai Nuong. According to legend, Hoang Tung joined the army, but Mai Nuong thought she had been abandoned. Out of despair, she killed herself by jumping into the lake. On discovering her body, her lover did the same. Access to the lake is via a kitschy theme park that may entertain children for several hours. The extensive grounds contain flower gardens, statues designed for photo-posing, coffee stalls, concrete animals, and replica village huts.

The multitalented, multilingual monk Thay Vien Thuc, known as the Mad Monk of Dalat, resides in this small Lam Ty Ni Pagoda. An artist, poet, landscape architect, craftsman, and religious scholar, Vien Thuc is a living legend. If you manage to visit when Vien Thuc is present, he will usually escort you through his rooms of watercolor paintings, replete with Zen poetry, and may even paint a picture for you in exchange for a small fee. When the monk is absent, the pagoda can be a bit disappointing.

More commonly known as Dragon Pagoda, the gaudy Linh Phuoc Pagoda is in Trai Mat, a village 7 km (4½ miles) northeast of Dalat (accessible by road or the tourist train). Completed in 1952, the colorful pagoda is known for the inlaid pieces of broken glass throughout and the 49-meter-long dragon made from 12,000 beer bottles, as well as for its bell and 36-meter-high bell tower. This is an amazing piece of architecture worth exploring even by those suffering temple fatigue.

Climb the 150 steps, breaking halfway to view the 262-foot-long white statue of sleeping Buddha. At the top of the hill, visit the Long Son Pagoda and sitting Buddha. This site is free to the public—watch out for the hecklers and scammers asking for miscellaneous fees, and pushy vendors. The panoramic views of rice fields and the city below are absolutely breathtaking.

About 15 km (9 miles) from Quang Ngai town, just past the My Son Memorial, lies the pretty casuarina-lined beach of My Khe. There are only a small handful of local guesthouses and homestays across the street from the beach, so it's best to plan to visit the beach, dine at one of the seafood shacks along the beach, and continue north to Hoi An or south to Quy Nhon to stay the night. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

Because of its downtown location, the 5-km (3-mile) long Nha Trang beach is where the vast majority of visitors gather. The beach itself is free and open to the public, and sun loungers can be rented for around 70,000d. Plenty of amenities are available at the trendy Sailing Club, or you can simply bask in the sun on an open patch of sand and buy snacks from a passing vendor. A fine place to chill and soak up the sun during the day, the cooler hours between 4 pm and sunset are often a sight to behold, as droves of locals arrive to frolic in the milder conditions. Divers and snorkelers won't find much marine life here. To see clown fish, scorpionfish, and moray eels, it is better to organize a dive at the Sailing Club to the protected island of Hon Mun. The beach is not patrolled but authorities do raise red flags when conditions are unsafe. Do not ignore the red flags as the water can become very rough at certain times of the year.

Amenities:

food and drink; showers; toilets.

Best for:

partiers; swimming; walking.

Starting at Hon Chong beach just north of the Tran Phu Bridge and running 30 km (18 miles) north beyond Nha Trang city are several beautiful beaches that together are commonly referred to as "North Beach." This area mostly draws in college students who attend one of the five nearby universities. The most picturesque stretch of beach can be found past Ninh Hoa City, where shallow waters and powdery sand beckon swimmers and sunbathers alike. A handful of surfers paddle to the point break that whips up decent waves between October and April. Amenities are offered to those who buy food or drinks at neighboring properties such as Paradise Resort or White Sand Doclet Resort. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: surfing, swimming; walking.

Across the seemingly endless Thi Nai bridge (the second-longest sea crossing in Vietnam) is a vast, dusty landscape, which at first seems nothing more than industrial, but take the road south and be rewarded by delightful, traditional fishing villages. The village of Eo Gio is the most accessible, but just like Bai Xep, the "streets" are nothing more than tight, winding alleyways. This peninsula isn't the easiest to find your way around, so unless you're confident on a motorbike, inquire at the hotel first. Enabling Google Maps on your phone will also be helpful.

Perched on Cu Lao hillside overlooking the Cai River, the four remaining towers of an original seven or eight are reminiscent of those found at Angkor Wat and offer a glimpse of the Kingdom of Champa, who built the complex in the 8th century to praise their deity. It doesn't look like much from the main road outside, but up close it is a humbling site. The largest tower of the four stretches 75 feet high and contains a statue in honor of Goddess Ponagar, praised for her knowledge of agriculture and civilization. The center tower was built for Cri Cambhu, the god of fertility, and the south tower commemorates the god of success, Ganesh, recognizable by the human body and elephant head. The northwest tower is of the god Shiva. Visitors must cover knees and shoulders to enter the temple. If you happen to be in Nha Trang on the 20th to 23rd day of the third lunar month, you can catch the Po Nagar Festival that takes place near the ancient towers.

These three crumbling towers, relics from the 8th century when the Cham empire ruled this part of Vietnam, are not the best examples of such ruins—the towers in Nha Trang and Hoi An are more extensive and better preserved even though they pale when compared to the magnificence of Angkor Wat in Cambodia—but still worth spending an hour or so exploring. The towers, in front of a working monastery, are about 7 km (4½ miles) east of Phan Thiet on Ong Hoang Hill. Even if ancient history does not appeal, the hilltop where the towers are situated offers possibly the most panoramic view of the city of Phan Thiet and the ocean.

About 40 km (25 miles) west of Quy Nhon, the Quang Trung Museum is dedicated to Emperor Quang Trung, one of the leaders of the Tay Son Rebellion, which began in 1772 as a peasant uprising and eventually led to the temporary overthrow of the Nguyen rulers in Hanoi. The museum has limited signage in English and is only really of interest to committed historians, given its out-of-the-way location.

This white-sand beach is a long crescent dotted with basket boats that runs along An Duong Vuong Street. Like many parts of Vietnam, trash is a problem, but as of the present day the town seems to have made a real effort to look its best, and it's working. You can walk to the southern end of the beach, then up and over a headland to get to the more secluded but rocky Queen's Beach, then farther on to the Quy Hoa leper colony. Allocate half a day for this hike—it's a good 6 km (4 miles) or so. Amenities: food and drinks. Best for: walks; sunset; sunrise.

The largest reclining Buddha in Southeast Asia is on Ta Cu Mountain, which dominates the skyline in an otherwise low-lying landscape. Located about 28 km (17 miles) southwest of Phan Thiet, the 49-meter-long and 18-meter-high white concrete Buddha is at the top of a large temple complex, past a range of other deities, and offers stunning views of the surrounding land. Access is via a cable car that provides stunning views of the area and then a long haul up some steep stairs. There are usually plenty of pilgrims praying and lighting incense for all of the deities, including the reclining Buddha (Thich Ca Nhap Niet Ban), depicted as he enters Nirvana and shown with the most serene smile on his face. Several years ago, when renovation work was underway, every visitor to the site was asked to carry two bricks to the top of the complex for general absolution as well as to assist the construction workers.

Around 15 minutes from the tourist strip of Mui Ne, the Red Sand Dunes are a very strange sight in a country renowned for its jungles, and provide great sunrise and sunset views. However, these are peak times for busloads of tour groups, so if you're after some more quiet, visit around 4 pm when the weather begins to cool a little and the sea breeze picks up. Children offer plastic mats for rent so tourists can slide down the dunes. Mats cost roughly 20,000d for an hour, plus tip.

About 6 km (4 miles) north of downtown Pleiku, Sea Lake is a flooded crater of an extinct volcano. A pine tree–lined road leads to a viewing area, which includes a female Buddha statue. It's clear why it's called Sea Lake, given that it's more than 200 hectares in size. Locals say the lake is at its best in the early morning when covered in fog that looks like strips of silk.

The Son My Memorial is dedicated to the victims of the massacre at My Lai and lies about 10 km (6 miles) east of National Highway 1A, just north of the town of Quang Ngai. The memorial itself is in the former hamlet of Thuan Yen, where many of the worst crimes occurred. The village, which was burned down after the attacks, has been re-created to look as it did immediately after the massacre, with the paths between the rice paddies containing the imagined footprints of the victims and their booted attackers, giving a chilling sense of the frenzy of killing that occurred. The nearby museum recounts the events of the day in vivid detail, with explanations in English and very graphic color photographs of some of the victims. English-speaking guides are available at the museum. In striking contrast to the terrible events that took place here, the memorial and the museum are located in a quiet and pastoral area. To get to the memorial, you can take public bus No. 3 from Quang Ngai bus station, or you can hire a taxi in Quang Ngai. Expect to pay around 200,000d each way for the taxi ride, and it's probably best that you ask the taxi driver to wait at the memorial.

If your idea of relaxation involves soaking in a mineral mud bath, head to Thap Ba Hot Spring Center, on the northern outskirts of Nha Trang, 7 km (4½ miles) from the tourist area. In addition to mud baths there are hot mineral pools and a mineral swimming pool. You can choose to soak solo, with a partner, or in a group.

These restored Cham towers, built some time between the 11th and 13th centuries, are some of the most easily accessible in southern Vietnam, set in a little park that's a popular meeting place for locals. The twin towers, with their intricate carvings of mythical animals, are considered unusual relics of the Cham empire because most other towers were built in clusters of three. In truth, there are more impressive towers to be found further out of town, but these are worth a visit at breakfast time simply for the wealth of cheap, delicious street food on offer right outside.

The Chinese Thien Vuong Pagoda, southeast of town, sits atop a steep mountain with great views of the surrounding area. The pagoda was built in 1958 by the Chaozhou Chinese congregation. Three large, Hong Kong–made gilded sandalwood sculptures dominate the pagoda in the third of the three buildings, and peaceful gardens surround the complex.

This peaceful Zen Buddhist pagoda, about 5 km (3 miles) from central Dalat, sits on top of Phuong Hoang Hill, and the best way to get here is via the beautiful cable car ride, with views of farmlands, pine forests, mountains, and lakes (100,000d round-trip). Completed in 1994, the 24-hectare complex includes a working monastery in a section that's closed to the public, as well as a meditation center. The public areas include a ceremonial hall, bell tower, beautiful flower garden, cafe, and vegetarian buffet restaurant. The pagoda is next to Tuyen Lam Lake, and the 15-minute stroll down to shore is pleasant.

Day visits to the meditation center relatively easy to arrange, although are best done in person a day or two in advance, since every guest needs to be approved by the Grand Master. Longer stays are possible but require some complicated paperwork. The monks and nuns can explain the steps involved.

This tourist site, owned by the Trung Nguyen coffee behemoth, Vietnam's answer to Starbucks, is essentially a giant coffee shop with a beautiful replica "ancient house" at the front. There's a museum at the rear of the property, showcasing coffee paraphernalia from around the world. A gift shop at the front of the property sells a selection of coffees, including weasel coffee that goes for $50 per 225-gram box.

A superb example of how Dalat won its reputation as a kitschy destination, the Valley of Love is a pseudo theme park popular with honeymooning Vietnamese couples for photographs with "cute" man-made backdrops. Set in a valley that leads down to a lake, the park can keep younger kids entertained for quite a while, with fairground rides, a miniature train, swan-shaped pedal boats, and carriages drawn by very skinny horses. Older kids might enjoy paintball and jeep rides. The main attraction for adults is not the views but the opportunity to observe local life.

The main attraction at this small temple, built in 1762, is the 22-meter-long whale skeleton. The temple honors the deity Nam Hai (the whale), who is believed to protect fishermen. There are two sections to the temple, a large room that houses the complete skeleton and a small temple with an interesting and colorful miniature ship and glass-fronted cabinets containing assorted whalebones.

Located in the center of Buon Ma Thuot's biggest roundabout, this monument honors the day the town was "liberated" by the North Vietnamese army (the losing side would say that Buon Ma Thuot "fell") on March 10, 1975. The provincial administrative center was the first domino to fall as the northern army pushed south towards Ho Chi Minh City, which was liberated only a few weeks later, on April 30, marking the end of the Vietnam-American War. The monument features a replica tank and fighters with suitably victorious raised arms and guns. There's no need to make a special trip to the monument---you'll probably pass it as you enter the town.

This amusement park on Hon Tre Island can be seen from almost anywhere along the Nha Trang coastline, due in large part to the huge Hollywood-style sign on the island's hillside. The park is accessed by cable cars which offer up striking views back over Nha Trang. Allow a full day to explore the amusement park, and take your swimsuit, because the complex is vast and includes a water park, rides, an electronic games arcade, dolphin and seal shows, an aquarium, and many shopping and dining options (the most varied food options are close to the water park). This is an excellent value for money and a truly fun day out for all ages.

Depart the island well in advance of closing time, as the vast crowds lead to very long waiting times for the cable car.

These stunning, desert-like, white sand dunes are best seen at sunrise (before the noisy quad bikes start operating). If the lotus flowers are in bloom, take a photo as you approach the dunes of the adjacent blue lake. The pink flowers there, all backed by the white dunes, are especially striking. If you're more of a thrill-seeker, the quad bikes are a fun way to blow off some steam in the sand. However, the vendors who rent out the quads can be very pushy; beware of the "guides" who jump on the back of your quad who will demand a hefty tip at the end of the trip. The dunes are about an hour's drive from Mui Ne's main tourist area.

Also known as the Cathedral of Kon Tum, this church (completed in 1918) combines Roman and Bahnar architectural styles in a unique and beautiful building with wide verandas. The church is usually open, so you can go inside and admire the stained-glass windows that light up the airy interior. There's an orphanage behind the church that welcomes visitors and some interesting workshops in the grounds. Masses are held at the church daily at 5 am and 5:30 pm and on Sunday, at 5 am, 7:30 am, and 4 pm.

Circumscribed by a walking path, Xuan Huong Lake is a hub of leisurely activity, including swan-shape paddleboats. Although there's traffic nearby, the lake provides a pleasant place to walk and bike. The dam-generated lake takes its name from a 17th-century Vietnamese poet known for her daring attacks on the hypocrisy of social conventions and the foibles of scholars, monks, mandarins, feudal lords, and kings.