If you’ve ever wandered on Vietnam Tripadvisor forum, you might know that Vietnam is a thin and long country, stretching gracefully on the coast of Indochina, in quite a sexy S shape. Among Southeast Asia countries, Vietnam is known for a wonderful destination to travel, either luxury or adventure, nature or culture. Having a thousand-year history and cultural diversity, together with the rapid development on all aspects of life, there is a long list of things to do in Vietnam, from North to South, for all groups of visitors with different interests. Indeed, each group seeks different pleasures in Vietnam with different activities and destinations. To help you make the most out of your trip to Vietnam here is out list sorted for visitors on different interests.

Places to visit & Things to do in Vietnam for Family  

There are a lot of things to do in Vietnam you can enjoy together with your family members without worrying too much about generation gap or differences in physical strength.

*Best places to visit in Vietnam With Kids

• Hanoi
• Hoi An
• Da Nang
• Da Lat
• Mai Chau
• Phu Quoc Island

Places To See & Things to do in Vietnam for First-time visitors

Best places to go for first-time visitors:

• Hanoi
• Sapa
• Halong Bay
• Hoi An
• Nha Trang
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Mekong Delta
• Phu Quoc Island

View our survival guide for first-time visitors to pick up detailed travel information on where to go and things to do in Vietnam, visa information, safety travel tips, warnings, and tricks.

>>> Top 10 Things to do in Vietnam for First-time visitors

First-time visitors coming to this country will be amazed by its staggering natural beauties of all regions and its family-based, ancestors-worshiping traditions.

Vietnamese people are the friendliest, most welcoming, helpful and tolerant towards foreign travelers. And since tourism in Vietnam has been booming like never before, travelers won’t have to worry about finding services in accommodation, transportation and the like.

For those first-time visitors who come from first-world countries, Vietnam might pose a little overwhelming appearance as it is a rapidly developing country with busy, crowded roads and under construction buildings everywhere. But it takes time to travel to Vietnam, enjoy Vietnam and even more time to truly discover Vietnam and understand Vietnam. In your first time, don’t forget to try Vietnamese cuisine which is considered one of the best cuisines in the world.

Best places to visit in Vietnam for Couples & Honeymoon Vacation

Vietnam should be on your list of destinations for holiday vacation for its romantic landscape, friendly people and a lot of things to do and enjoy with just the two of you.

• Da Lat
• Con Dao Island
• Phu Quoc Island
• Sapa
• Hue
• Halong Bay
• Hanoi
• Hoi An

>>> See our full list in Best Places For a Perfect Vietnam Honeymoon Vacation

*Tips for a Vietnam honeymoon vacation:

Honeymoon vacation probably is the most important trip in your lifetime in which you want not only a romantic setting, privacy but also a lot of things to do. Either you want luxury services or more active itinerary, Vietnam can cater for the event.

For the best option of Vietnam honeymoon vacation, it should be the right mix of cultural exploring, natural adventure, luxury setting, romantic time for just two of you.

From north to south, islands to mountains, Vietnam has destinations that can satisfy the above criteria: the empty, pristine beaches in Phu Quoc, a private overnight luxury cruise on the world’s wonder Ha Long Bay, atmospheric streets of ancient town Hoi An, peaceful Hanoi and the trek to ethnic villages in Sapa.

There are a lot of things you two can enjoy doing together in Vietnam in your honeymoon vacation like swimming, diving, snorkeling, enjoying Vietnamese cuisine, appreciate the world’s heritages, and being the most happiest couple by being blessed by Vietnamese people. Learn more about where to go and things to do and our exclusive list of most romantic resorts in Vietnam in our full travel guide:

Places to visit for the most beautiful Vietnam Landscape

If you’re a hard-core fan of nature’s magic, you’re missing quite a lot if choosing not to go to Vietnam since Vietnam has three world natural heritages Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and Trang An Landscape Complex. Each of these sites is a world to behold with dramatic, mysterious and spectacular scenery of limestone structures.

• Phong Nha-Ke Bang
• Ban Gioc Waterfall
• Halong Bay
• Nha Trang
• Ha Giang
• Mui Ne
• Ninh Binh
• Moc Chau

>>> See Full List in Top 11+ Most Instagrammable Vietnam Landscape 

But that’s not all, Vietnam must-see landscape has more than just massive limestone structures. We’re just rambling here if we fail to mention the wonders of terraced rice fields in Northwest Vietnam – a marvelous backdrop for the unique and authentic local ethnicity to shine. Every patch and terraced fields turn golden in the harvest season, yet the glorious moment lasts for too short and each year, we wait so impatiently for these months to come. 

Vietnam boasts a long coastline from north to south dotted with wondrous beaches and rock settings. The pristine blue beaches on the central coastline or the incredibly wild, rich, beautiful collection of islands across the country can be the paradise you have been looking for. Phu Quoc, Con Dao and Cat Ba Island are not only perfect beachwise but they also are home to most primitive wildlife, and lush trekking paths. 

How about drifting south to take in the maze-like waterways of Mekong Delta, and weave through the seemingly impenetrable wetland forests? Vietnam’s nature is just like artwork with all the layers of colors blending together so splendidly, so harmoniously.

Come to Vietnam, adventurers oftentimes found themselves lost in such breathtaking nature. Traveling to nature sites is also one of the things that can help improve the efforts of local nature conservation.

Things to do in Vietnam for Cultural Immersive Experiences

Vietnam is the right place to explore the local culture in depth. Vietnamese people are just so welcoming, friendly and helpful towards foreign tourists. Vietnamese people are also proud of Vietnamese culture and keen to show what they think as the quintessence of their traditions to visitors.

Places to visit in Vietnam for Cultural Explorers:

• Hanoi
• Sapa
• Moc Chau
• Mai Chau
• Ha Giang
• Hue
• Hoi An 
• Mekong Delta
• Ho Chi Minh City

>>> See more in Vietnamese Culture Discovery – Steps To See The Inner Beauties

Indeed, Vietnam has been known as a country of long and rich culture with diversity and long history. In this country, you can find the traits of many other cultures, tangible and intangible alike – their stories were not just about history, they were also the stories of how Vietnamese adapted to the influence of other major cultures. Not only Vietnamese people did adapt to and learn from neighboring culture but they also made the foreign things their own – smaller, lovelier and more personal.

In big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, these inspirations are everywhere – from the buildings left from French colonialism period to Chinese architecture styled pagoda and temples.

In Hue, it’s the most impressive compound left from feudalism – Nguyen Dynasty’s Imperial Citadel is where the memories of a different Vietnam were kept. In mountainous regions, it’s the stilt houses, communal houses and longhouses of the hill tribes. Vietnam is a picture of different colors.

The country is also a destination to see many colorful festivals and authentic cultural practices. Lunar New Year remains as the best time to visit Vietnam for cultural immersion.

The mid-autumn festival sees the most bustling and joyous atmosphere since it’s the festival of children. Come to Hoi An every 14th day of lunar month, you will enjoy a beautiful night with the colorful lanterns lighting up the streets. If you’re wondering what to do during Vietnamese culture and festivals, see our article Things to do & see in Vietnam for cultural explorers.

Places to visit & things to do in Vietnam for Food Enthusiasts 

Top places for food lovers to enjoy in Vietnam:

• Hanoi: noodle soups, rolls, coffee.
• Hue: royal food, Bun Bo Hue, 
• Hoi An: cakes, sweet soups, noodle soups, Banh Mi
• Ho Chi Minh City: street food, Com Tam
• Phu Quoc Island: seafood

As a culinary giant of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is the dream destination for your food trip. Yes, Vietnamese cuisine is that good – you can’t be disappointed with the food here. Beside the already worldwide famous dishes like Pho, Banh Mi, Bun Bo Hue, Vietnamese cuisine has an incredibly wide range of diversity.

One dish is never the same in different regions. And Vietnamese people have shown such unimaginable creativeness in making food variations, resulting in that very diversity.

In Vietnam, cooking and eating have so much importance in Vietnamese daily life. There is a saying that ‘even gods avoid meals’ which shows exactly how much Vietnamese people value the joy of eating good food. It’s not just what you eat but rather how you eat takes priority – the taste of a dish won’t be as good if missed even one element. That’s why Pho in the USA can never have the same taste of Pho that’s made in Hanoi.

There’re many ways for you to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine. A street food tour is a good choice to get a look at the street food scene and enjoy a few of the best Vietnam dishes.

Taking Vietnam cooking classes gives you more insights into Vietnamese culinary philosophy. Nothing sweeter than being able to cook a new dish for your family and friends after a trip to Vietnam.

Booking tours inclusive of food demonstration or cooking class with chef’s instruction would also offer you fantastic food experience in Vietnam. 

Places to visit and things to do in Vietnam for Veterans 

Places to visit in Vietnam for Veterans

• Hanoi
• Dien Bien Phu
• Quang Tri
• Hue
• Kon Tum
• Pleiku
• Ho Chi Minh city
• Vung Tau

War ended in Vietnam just decades ago, closing the time of destruction, conflicts, and pain for Vietnamese people. More than anyone, Vietnamese people were more than ready to leave the past behind to march together to the new days of peace and prosperity, shapes of which nowadays you can see at the city’s largest metropolises.

The country doesn’t hold grudge against is old enemies and at the same time, the heroic soldiers and their bravery are still remembered and commemorated. Towards Vietnam Veterans who have served in Vietnam during French invasion and especially Vietnam Veterans of America during Vietnam/America War, Vietnamese government has shown encouragement in welcoming them back to the country, either independently or on tour, to visit the old battlegrounds where they once fought and more than that, to see Vietnam in the different time when wars and fights no longer exist.

All the places that had been battlefields, military bases in the past such as those in DMZ in Quang Tri, Hue, Vung Tau, Central Highlands and underground tunnels built by Vietnamese side such as Cu Chi Tunnels are all open for tourism activities. Vietnam Veterans Tour offer not only the memories, the historical context and the perspective from the Vietnamese side but also is combined with cultural activities to bring the veterans closer to the life of Vietnamese people today.