4 Best Sights in Vietnam

Tourists come to these five historic mountains to see ancient pagodas, Buddhist sanctuaries, sacred caves, spectacular views of the eastern beaches, and villages where artisans carve marble sculptures. Each of the primarily limestone formations are named after the five elements—kim (metal), moc (wood), hoa (fire), thuy (water), and tho (earth). At Thuy Son Mountain, you can explore several 17th-century pagodas and caves by climbing 156 steps from the base—or take a glass elevator that eliminates a third of the steps in the initial climb, transporting you straight to the foot of Linh Ung Pagoda. Bring plenty of water and take your time, as the steps can be slippery after it rains. It is common to be hassled by locals in Non Nuoc Village who live solely on the production of their stone statues, jewelry, and artwork. Entrance to the Marble Mountains costs 40,000d plus the optional one-way elevator ride.

It's possible to walk up 280 meter--high Sam Mountain (Nui Sam), 5 km (3 miles) southwest of Chau Doc, or take the 900 meter--long cable car (150,000d round-trip), or hire a xe om from the base for around 60,000d one-way and walk down. You can arrange a taxi round-trip from town, but ensure they are willing to take you to the top, as the way is steep and hard on car engines and brakes.

There are several interesting shrines on the mountain. The first, at its base, is Tay An Pagoda, originally constructed in 1847 and renovated several times since, with a mix of Vietnamese and Indian architecture. A little way past Tay An Pagoda is Ba Chua Xu (Lady Temple), dedicated to a goddess of prosperity in the Vietnamese folk region Thanism. Farther along is the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau (1761--1829), a high-ranking military official of the Nguyen dynasty, buried alongside his two wives. Hang Pagoda (Cave Pagoda), at the top of 400 steps, has amazing views of the surrounding countryside, the flat rice paddies, and flood plains that stretch out beyond the Cambodian border.

The highlight of this mountainside compound of attractions is a cable car system, which is 6,292.5 meters (20,645 feet) long and a stunning 1,410 meters (4,626 feet) high. It is the longest nonstop three-rope cable car in the world and allows anyone to get to the top of Mt. Fansipan in just a few short minutes. Designed by Doppelmayr, a German-Swiss-Austrian group, this cable car takes you through the mountain mist over beautiful rice terraces and valleys, and delivers you to the Sapa Station where you can take a funicular or walk 300 steps to the top. Many visitors have complained that the restaurants and shops at the top are an eyesore, but the construction shows true ingenuity.

Son La used to be known as nothing more than the stopover point between Hanoi and Mai Chau. Ta Xua Peak changed this. Local Vietnamese reserve many names for this peak: the Stairway to a Thousand Cloud, Dinosaur Spine, Windy Peak, and Cloud Ocean. The peak itself is a specific point in a long Ta Xua commune and trekking path that runs trough it. The trail runs along continuous mountain ridges separating Yen Bai and Son La provinces. Surrounding the trail and the peak are pure, primeval forests with minimal human influence. Because of the sheer height, the remoteness of the location, and the difficulty of reaching it, Ta Xua retains some of the most pristine, majestic beauty that Northwest Vietnam has to offer. 

The road network expansion in Northwest Vietnam has put Ta Xua on the map for more people outside of the most expert trekking lovers. Even so, access to Ta Xua peak remains the purview of good-old human feet and (very adventurous) bikes only.