With some of the most incredible natural wonders on the planet, Vietnam is renowned for its astonishing beauty. From the misty mountains, glistening rice fields and enchanting waterfalls of northern Vietnam, to the powdery white sand and clear turquoise waters of the southern beaches, Vietnam is a scenic paradise. We’ve rounded up 15 of the most beautiful places to visit in Vietnam, plus the best times to visit each destination and how to get there.

Northern Vietnam

1. Sapa & The Tonkinese Alps

Hidden in the clouds among the soaring Tonkinese Alps, the small French hill station of Sapa offers a gateway to one of the most exquisite regions in southeast Asia.

As you break through the misty fog, you’ll discover the rolling green Hoàng Liên Son Mountains plunging into the Muong Hoa Valley, covered in a patchwork of glistening emerald rice terraces.

We recommend doing a 3-day trek between the villages to soak up the awe-inspiring scenery and catch a glimpse of traditional culture of the H’mong and Dao hill tribe villages. If trekking isn’t an option, you can still explore the most beautiful spots with day trips in a vehicle.

2. Ha Long Bay

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay is world-famous for its silky, emerald waters and towering limestone karsts cloaked in lush rainforest.

For many, an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay on a traditional junk boat is the highlight of their Vietnam holiday. You’ll take in otherworldly scenery as you glide along the gentle waters, passing floating villages such as Cua Van, Vung Vieng and Cong Dam. Take a dip in the calm, clear waters, or go kayaking through the breathtaking caves and karsts – it’s the ultimate way to explore one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.

3. Detian Waterfall

Tumbling down three tiers, surrounded by enchanting karst peaks, the Detian Waterfall (Virtuous Heaven Waterfall) is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on earth.

Also known as Ban Gioc Waterfall, meaning ‘half-way across’ in Vietnamese, the falls lie on the border between China and Vietnam, making it the second largest transnational waterfall in the world.

Measuring at over 200 metres wide, with a drop of more than 70 metres, the sight of the Detian Waterfall is truly awe-inspiring, and you can hear it’s thundering cascades before it even comes into view. You can take a bamboo raft around the base of the falls for an unforgettable close-up encounter.

4. Ninh Binh Province

Known as the Ha Long Bay of the land, Ninh Binh province encompasses a region of jaw-dropping natural beauty. Luminescent green rice fields carve around the winding Ngo Dong River, while hundreds of limestone karsts covered in dense jungle shoot into the sky.

There’s plenty to explore including ancient caves, beautiful pagodas, Van Long Nature Reserve and Cuc Phung National Park, the oldest national park in Vietnam with excellent hiking trails.

5. Ha Giang Province

Bordering China in the northernmost reaches of Vietnam, Ha Giang is a quiet riverside province, renowned for its magnificent landscapes.

You’ll climb down a rabbit hole of ethereal scenery, with forested mountains, mystical caves, and the stunning Quan Ba Valley where you’ll find Quan Ba pass. Known as Heaven’s Gate, the pass offers spectacular views over glimmering rice terraces, rolling hills and serpentine rivers.

Ha Giang is also home to Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, an incredible conservation and geological area that’s part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

Central Vietnam

6. Hoi An

With its cobblestoned streets, narrow canals, Chinese-style shophouses, and French-colonial buildings, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hoi An is one of the most beautiful towns in Vietnam.

Located on the central coast, this former trading port is famous for its historic Old Town. Even though many of the old shops have been converted to modern businesses such as tailors, art galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants, the town has retained its old-fashioned charm and atmosphere.

Each night, all electricity in the Old Town is switched off and traditional silk lanterns are hung from every shop front. The colourful lanterns light up the streets and cast a romantic shimmer over the Thu Bon River.

7. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a stunning region of turquoise lakes, ancient caves, and forested mountains, with plenty of adventure sports available to explore the park.

It contains the oldest karst system in Asia, dated between 400 and 450 million years old and is also home to Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world and one of the most remarkable wonders of Vietnam.

The cave is over 5 kilometres long, with sections reaching 200 metres high and 150 metres wide, and is big enough to fit an entire New York City block with 40 story skyscrapers.

It was discovered in 1991 by a local man named Ho Khanh, and only became internationally known after a group of cavers from the British Cave Research Association began to explore the cave.

After overcoming an 80-metre high calcite barrier in a second expedition in 2010, the team discovered that the cave was the largest in the world.

8. Da Nang

A laidback coastal city in central Vietnam, Da Nang is brimming with natural beauty and cultural attractions.

You’ll need a few days here to soak up all the sights, including Marble Mountains, a group of mountains with a maze of caves and trails, and a number of gorgeous temples to explore.

Visit My Khe Beach, a stunning white sand beach with plenty of watersports, or the wonderful Ba Na Hills Sunworld, a fairytale complex modelled after an old European city, featuring the world’s longest cable car lift.

You also can’t miss the Golden Bridge Hand, where you’ll find two giant stone hands emerging out of the mountain to cradle the golden bridge.

Suspended 1,400 metres above sea level, with panoramic views over the valley and the Truong Son mountains, Da Nang’s newest architectural attraction has drawn huge crowds from all over the world.

Southern Vietnam

9. Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc is a tropical paradise, lined with white sandy shores and sparkling waters, and filled with lush jungle and magical waterfalls.

It’s a quiet, relaxed island, small enough to explore the dozens of pristine beaches by bicycle or scooter. Renowned for its luxurious hotels, we recommend heading to the West Coast for powdery white sands, turquoise seas and spectacular sunsets.

You can also venture into the jungle to explore hiking trails and spot wildlife, or head to Duong Dong, the largest town with plenty of lively markets selling handicrafts and fresh seafood.

10. Quy Nhon

Get off the beaten track and head to Quy Nhon, a peaceful coastal city in southern Vietnam. Few tourists have heard of Quy Nhon, yet it’s the gateway to some of the most beautiful natural gems in Vietnam, including Ky Co Beach.

Tucked away in Phuong Mai Peninsula, Ky Co Beach is a natural work of art, with crystalline waters, pure white sand and rocky cliffs. You can paddle in the clear lagoons, formed between the sea rocks, sunbathe on the soft sand, or snorkel the nearby colourful reef.

11. Mekong Delta

Known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Vietnam’, the Mekong Delta is one of the most scenic regions of Vietnam. A land of winding waterways, mangrove forests, floating markets and lush green rice fields, life here is governed by the ebb and flow of southeast Asia’s most iconic river.

You can travel the mighty Mekong by boat, stopping at the famous floating markets of Chau Doc, Can Tho or Cai Rang, where traders and farmers come to buy and sell fruit, vegetables and fish.

You can also head out into the Mekong Delta on bicycles, roaming through peaceful villages where you’ll see children riding on the backs of water buffaloes and farmers tending to their glimmering rice fields.

12. Cat Tien National Park

Covering a vast region of lowland tropical forest, Cat Tien National Park is a breathtaking biosphere reserve in southern Vietnam. Set beside a small, sleepy town, the national park is home to a trove of ancient trees, botanical gardens and endangered wildlife.

Walk or cycle along the leafy trails for the chance to spot the the endemic golden-cheeked gibbon and other rare primates, bears, mongoose, civets, elephants, pangolin, deer and an impressive array of rare birds.

You can even take a canoe around the jungle-fringed waters of Crocodile Lake, to catch a glimpse of the lake’s resident crocodiles. 

You can also visit enchanting waterfalls around the town of Cat Tien, and an archaeological site located just outside the town, where you’ll find ancient Hindu temples built between the 4th and 9th centuries.

13. Da Lat

With it’s magical waterfalls, shady forests and brilliant flower gardens, Da Lat has become renowned as one of the most romantic places in Vietnam, perfect for adventurous couples.

Known as the Paris of Vietnam, The City of Flowers and The City of Lovers, you’ll discover a charming town strewn with French-colonial villas, horse-drawn carriages, an Eiffel Tower-shaped radio tower and the gorgeous Valley of Love, dotted with heart-shaped sculptures.

The town is surrounded by picturesque crops of coffee, strawberries and flowers. The cooler weather and misty mountain air make it the perfect place for outdoor action, and you can go hiking, mountain biking, canyoning and white-water rafting in the surrounding hills.

 

14. Nha Trang

With a stunning mountain backdrop, sweeping crescent beach and beautiful turquoise bay dotted with tropical islands, it is easy to see why Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most famous beach resort.

The town itself is home to Cham ruins, Buddhist temples and gothic-style Catholic churches, and you can visit Long Son Pagoda (also known as White Buddha Temple) to see a 14-metre high white Buddha sitting on a lotus blossom.

The platform around the huge figure offers fantastic photo opportunities, with impressive views of Nha Trang and the surrounding rural areas.

If you’re looking for adventure, head to the Ba Ho Waterfalls, where you’ll find three natural waterfalls and a clear lake surrounded by dense rainforest.

The waterfalls are a 40-minute drive from Nha Trang along a picturesque stretch of coastline, with views of the ocean on one side and lush mountains on the other.

15. Mui Ne Sand Dunes

On the southern coast of Vietnam, you’ll find the country’s very own Sahara Desert. The striking red and white sand dunes have built up over time, as waves and winds carry the sand inland.

The dunes form a barrier against storms and beach erosion, and provide a habitat for endangered plant and animal species. The White Sand Dunes are a vast, ethereal expanse, and are absolutely stunning at sunrise, while the Red Sand Dunes are made up of coppery rolling hills which radiate at sunset.

There’s also a gorgeous Grand Canyon-esque Fairy Stream, flanked by lush greenery and the dazzling sand dunes.