365 Best Sights in Vietnam

About 25 km (15½ miles) southwest of Buon Ma Thuot are three pretty waterfalls that are a good place to break up the journey between Lak Lake/Dalat and Buon Ma Thuot. To no surprise, they are owned by coffee company Trung Nguyen, which has developed it for tourism with cafes, restaurant, and a picnic area. Pay the admission at Dray Nur and walk down to see it; from there, cross the bridge and it's a short hike to Dray Sap. Swimming is not permitted at the falls. A short drive away is Gia Long, where the company offers camping and rafting tours mainly geared toward Vietnamese tourists.

Some beautiful pagodas stand in the southern and eastern districts of the city, and this is the most impressive and moving of all. The 300-year-old temple is a good example of traditional Vietnamese architecture, with a gate and three buildings surrounding a stone courtyard crowded with flowers, statues, and bonsai plants. In front and to the right of the compound is a round pond with lotus flowers encircled by white statues of the Buddha and scholars. One of the resident monks may be chanting her daily prayers and tapping on a round wooden drum in the richly gilded main sanctuary. Occasionally in the afternoons, the senior monk holds one-on-one healing sessions with the sick. Hundreds of Buddhists fill the courtyard on Buddhist holy days, the 1st and 15th of every lunar month. To get here follow Cat Cut Street south until you hit Chua Hang Street. After a few alleyways, you'll see the pagoda set back on the left. It can be a bit tricky to find on your own, so use a GPS or guide to help you find it.

Ho Chi Minh (then known as Nguyen That Thanh) taught here in 1910 as he was making his way down to Saigon, from where he would set sail in 1911 for Paris and other foreign shores. History records him as teaching Chinese, Vietnamese, and physical education. The school and its garden are beautifully tended, and photos and little placards bring a 20-year-old Uncle Ho's few months here to life.

While it may not quite live up to its intriguing name, the highlight of this often-crowded attraction is the miniature Grand Canyon-like cliffs that border the stream; the red and brown layers create a nice backdrop for photos. It takes about 20 minutes to wade sometimes knee deep to a small waterfall that flows. Along the way, enterprising locals have set up make-shift rest stops, serving cool drinks and snacks. Unfortunately, there can sometimes be a fair amount of trash at the start of the stream.

Be aware that adults and children offering shoe-minding or guiding along the stream will expect to be paid, so negotiate a price first, or plan to tip about $1.

Local tours often stop in at one of the pungent fish sauce factories, several of which are concentrated along the river in Duong Dong Town. It's possible to visit without an organized tour, although an English-speaking guide may not be available and without explanation, you're just looking at a hot, odorous shed full of giant wooden vats. Try Khai Hoan on Hung Vuong Street ( 0297/384–8555).

Airlines that fly out of Phu Quoc do not allow fish sauce on board due to risk of breakage, but it is usually possible to buy it at the airport departure lounge.

There are fish farms at the junction of the Chau Doc and Hau Rivers, which you can see from afar from the riverside promenade (30 Thang 4/April 30 Park), but to visit one you need a guide and boat. The farms are underneath the floating houses, in underwater pens accessed through the floors. A visit to a floating fish farm is usually on the itinerary of organized tours that come through Chau Doc. If traveling independently, your hotel can usually book you a tour.

Built at the beginning of the 19th century, the Forbidden Purple City, inside the Imperial City, was almost entirely destroyed during the Vietnam War; now it's slowly being restored to its former glory. The preserved open corridors, which were used to connect the main palaces in the Forbidden Purple City together, are ornately adorned with lavish red and gold paint. Paintings and photographs about Nguyen Dynasty and old Hue are also exhibited in these open corridors. In its glory days the Forbidden Purple City housed members of the Imperial family and the concubines and eunuchs who served them. Anyone else who entered was executed. After the 1968 Tet Offensive, only the Royal Theater on the right-hand side and the intimate and restored Royal Library remained intact.

At the end of the Forbidden Purple City stands the magnificent Kien Trung Palace. Surprisingly, this East-meets-West building is a remake and has been open to visitors of the Imperial City since February 2024 after five years of reconstruction. The opulent palace was built in 1921-1923 and was where the last king of Vietnam, Bao Dai, lived with his wife and children until 1945.

French veterans organized the construction of the small, rather forlorn-looking French War Memorial, which stands across the road from the command bunker. It commemorates the 3,000 French troops buried under the rice paddies.

One of Vung Tau's more quirky sights, Front Beach Park, sometimes called Statue Park, has a children's playground, fitness stations, walking trails, and an extensive collection of statues, including some that are quite racy for conservative Vietnam.

One of the oldest pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, Giac Lam Pagoda was built in 1744 in the jungle outside of the city of Gia Dinh. Outside the walls of the pagoda now lies the urban sprawl of Ho Chi Minh City. Inside, however, are peaceful gardens containing a bodhi tree imported from Sri Lanka in 1953, a seven-story stupa, and the pagoda itself. Prayers are held every evening at 6 pm.

Like many other pagodas built by Fujian congregations, this one is dedicated to Thien Hau, goddess of the sea and protector of fisherfolk and sailors. It has four stone pillars encircled by painted dragons, brought from China when the pagoda was constructed in the 19th century. Also note the scenes in ceramic relief on the roof and the murals next to the main altar.

A little way outside of Hoi An, this peaceful beach, located midway between the award-winning Four Seasons The Nam Hai and Le Belhamy resorts, is the best place to head to escape the hawkers and crowds that frequent the more famous Cua Dai Beach. With just a few incredibly good seafood restaurants and a couple of loungers and umbrellas, this regularly cleaned, gently shelving beach offers great swimming conditions, a chilled-out atmosphere, and plenty of space for children to run around safely. Amenities: showers; toilets; food and drink; parking (free). Best for: swimming; walking; solitude; sunset.

Wide and pretty with shallow blue-green water, the beauty of An Hai Beach is marred somewhat by the long pier at its northern end. However, simply walk south along the casuarina-lined sand to get that deserted tropical island mood. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; sunrise; sunset; walking.

For adrenaline-filled road adventures, jungle-clad mountains, hairpin bends, and incredible views, you can't top the 21-km (13-mile) long, ex-military feeder road over the Hai Van Pass. Although cyclists have tried it, it's advisable to take a motorbike (experienced riders only) or driver to take on the winding incline to the pillboxes at the pass's peak, where you can stop for photos. After, you can descend towards the lagoon on the Lang Co side where you can pull up a plastic chair for delicious seafood at one of the stilt restaurants, before returning via the Hai Van Tunnel.

In the heart of the city, a huge shuttered French villa with creaky wooden staircases, musty corners, and occasionally rotating ceiling fans houses this museum—an underrated gem of a building that rivals the Opera House in classic design. Although it attempts to cover all of the history, geography, archaeology, agriculture, and wildlife of the region (the stuffed owl with a rodent in its claws is rather macabre), the museum's main focus is on Vietnam's struggle for independence from various forces. 

One of the most beautiful buildings in Haiphong, the Opera House, built by the French in 1907, has all the exterior designs of a classic, except for its coat of splendidly yellow paint. Once the site of lavish French and Vietnamese productions, the 400-seat theater was taken over by the Vietminh following World War II. President Ho Chi Minh addressed the world's youth from the steps in June 1946, and a huge portrait of him, visible from hundreds of yards away, hangs above the wooden front doors, making this feel eerily like the focal point of the city. In a way it is; the Haiphong People's Committee now holds its major meetings and assemblies here. Stage productions and concerts do take place, but they're rare. If you're not attending a show, you need written permission from the authorities to step inside, although tourists have been known to be waved in on occasion. The stone courtyard in front of the opera house is a popular place for families on weekends and couples after sunset.

The battle of Hill 937 (Hamburger Hill) raged between the U.S. 101st Airborne Division and the North Vietnamese for 10 long days in May 1969 and marked the beginning of the end for the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Like many of the old U.S. bases along the DMZ, there's little to mark the atrocities that took place here and you need a permit to enter the area. But with a specialist, military guide (for translation and to keep you on the right path) and equally good level of fitness, the 7-km (4-mile) uphill hike through beautiful Ca Tu hill-tribe villages and jungle paths to the base and the steep 900-meter (3,000-foot) climb to the top are rewarded by views stretching over the Laos border to the west and Quang Tri to the east. The drive from Hue takes two hours; on a DMZ tour Aluoi would normally be one of the last photo stops. Due to the small risk of unexploded ordinance in the area, a guide is recommended. If going it alone, take enough water and keep to the paths.

The military specialist, Mr. Vu at Annam Tours, provides excellent day trips from Hue to Hamburger Hill and can arrange your permit in advance. Apply three days in advance.

Hang Bac means "Street of Silver," which explains why silversmiths, jewelry shops, and money changers have dominated this strip for centuries. The Dong Cac jewelers' guild was established here in 1428, and it later erected a temple (now gone) in tribute to three 6th-century brothers whose skills, learned from the Chinese, made them the patron saints of Vietnamese jewelry.

The Street of Hemp now sells a variety of goods, including ready-made silk, lovely embroidery, and silver products. With plenty of art galleries, crafts stores, and souvenirs, this is a popular spot for tourists. Many trendy boutiques also line Hang Trong, which runs perpendicular to Hang Gai.

While the cave itself is not that impressive, the views from the top of the mountain are breathtaking, featuring Tam Coc River on one side and rice paddies on the other. The climb and its 486 steps are steep but worth it. There are several parking lots outside the entrance where you will be charged 20,000d for a bicycle and 30,000d for a motorbike. The views are the best on a clear day and comfortable footwear is suggested. If you are visiting for only a short time, skipping the cave is advised. 

This Khmer temple was built in 1637, and its 5-acre grounds are home to tall trees, a small school, and hundreds of storks, explaining one of its nicknames, Stork Pagoda. Called Kompom Chray (banyan tree wharf) in Khmer, it's also known as Cave Pagoda because of its cave-like entrance. It was once called Bat Pagoda but bombing in 1968 scared the bats away and they never returned. The monks here are famous for their woodworking skills and the intricate bonsai garden they tend while not studying, praying, and chanting.

Hang Pagoda is a best visited in the late afternoon when the birds come home to roost, but avoid standing under the trees because the bird droppings come down like rain.

Shops along the Street of Fans sell a stunning selection of religious paraphernalia, including beautiful funeral and festival flags, porcelain Buddhas, and lacquered Chinese poem boards. Giant plane trees shade the street, which is bookended by Berry Temple (Den Dau) and a traditional wooden house honoring Vietnamese soldiers (Nha Tuong Niem Liet Si). Shooting off the street is To Tich, an alley bursting with bright, lacquered water puppets, rattan and bamboo baskets, porcelain, ceramics, and a little further down, fresh fruit. If you can pull your attention away from all the eye-grabbing street-level sights, above you'll discover the timeworn facades of teahouses built during colonial times.

On the outskirts of the main street in Mai Chau, there is an ancient gold apple tree (Diospyros Decandra) with historical significance. The Thai people say that their ancestors planted the tree 1,000 years ago when they first immigrated to Vietnam. In the war with the Chinese, many women were beheaded and their heads hung in the tree to serve as a warning. For this reason, many villagers believe that the tree is full of souls that must be respected. A small pagoda used to stand next to the tree, but it was destroyed in the American war. The tree became a heritage site in 2006 and is home to a small shrine.

Some of the battle's most intense combat took place at Hill A1, a position labeled Eliane by the French. Once considered impregnable by the French, it was the last key position to fall to the Viet Minh. A decrepit French tank and a monument to Viet Minh troops now stand here.

These two museums are located in the same complex, a few kilometers outside of the city. Although neither compare with their larger contemporaries, the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi or the War Remnants Museum in HCMC, a visit here is a great way to learn about the anti-French and anti-American wars and the weaponry utilized, from a purely Vietnamese mindset. The smaller of the two, the Ho Chi Minh Museum has a small replica of Ho Chi Minh's home in Hanoi and three display rooms documenting the life and career of the nation's hero. Information is sparse, but the photo display is worth a look, even if it's just to get a glimpse of a prewar Vietnam. Adjacent is the military museum courtyard where you can amble around a huge collection of aircraft, tanks, cannons, and armored vehicles confiscated from the enemy by the Vietnamese Fifth Division. Inside, 12 showrooms house a collection of photos, weapons, and artifacts representing the struggle and victory of the Vietnamese, including the very slippers Special Task Force member Phan Thi Mua used to smuggle enough dynamite powder to blow up the U.S. Fuel Depot in Danang in 1972.

Spread over three floors in a reportedly haunted French-colonial villa known as Chu Hoa's mansion, the city's Fine Arts Museum offers a comprehensive run through the main stages of Vietnamese art. Strolling around is a pleasant experience as the building itself is architecturally beautiful. While there could be more information to enlighten visitors, the examples of wartime propaganda art and lacquer art are superb.

Completed in 1890, the building has been the residence for the French governor of Cochin China, the Japanese governor during Vietnam's brief Japanese occupation, and the envoy of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam, and also served as the Supreme Court. Since 1975, it's been a museum (formerly known as the Museum of the Revolution) with a strong focus on the Vietnamese struggle against the French and Americans. Displays focus on famous marches, military battles, and anti-French and anti-American activists. Exhibits include photos of historical events, uprisings, student demonstrations, and the self-immolation of the monk Thich Quang Duc as a protest against the war. The building itself is as interesting as many of the exhibits inside: a neoclassic design, it has huge columns outside and 19th-century ballrooms with lofty ceilings inside. Beneath the building are concrete bunkers and tunnels connecting to the Reunification Palace. It was here that President Ngo Dinh Diem (1901–63) and his notorious brother Ngo Dinh Nhu hid before being caught and eventually executed in 1963. Outside on the grounds are Soviet tanks, an American helicopter, and antiaircraft guns.

Built by the French between 1901 and 1908 to be Saigon's Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), this elaborate yellow-and-white colonial building now houses the city's main governing body. The building is not open to the public, so you can't get a peek at its ornate interior, but it remains one of the most photogenic buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, especially at night when it's floodlit.

This riverfront museum chronicles the life of Ho Chi Minh from his humble beginnings to his death in 1969. Some exhibits relate to the history of Phan Thiet. The museum was built in 1986 on the site of Ho Chi Minh's former home, when he was a teacher at Duc Thang School across the road.

This example of early French-colonial architecture in Vietnam, nicknamed the Dragon House (Nha Rong), could be considered more interesting than most of the displays within. Sitting quayside on Ben Nghe Channel, at far end of Ham Nghi, it was constructed in 1863 as the original French customshouse; any individuals coming to colonial Saigon would have had to pass through the building once they docked at the port. Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969), who was known as Nguyen Sinh Cung as a child, Nguyen Tat Thanh as a schoolboy, and later Nguyen Ai Quoc as well as other aliases, passed through here in 1911 on the way to his 30-year sojourn around Europe and America. Inside are some of his personal belongings, including his journals, fragments of his clothing, and his rubber sandals. Uncle Ho, as he's now affectionately known, was an ascetic type of guy, known for wearing sandals made only from tires; these are now scattered in museums around the country.