What is Vietnam famous for? 9 Reasons to visit Vietnam!

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If you love to travel then Southeast Asia really is an unmissable destination with an array of experiences to offer – but if you could also pick one, which would it be? For me, it has to be Vietnam, as this long slither of a country offers a huge amount of diversity that will impress even the most experienced tourist. But what is Vietnam famous for? What to see in Vietnam that makes it an incredible and unique destination?

Bordering China, Laos, and Cambodia, Vietnam has over 1,000 miles to explore, with a coastline running along almost all of it. Ruins, beaches, rice terraces, spectacular landscapes, and some of the most beguiling cities on earth can all be discovered within Vietnam’s boundaries. 

Consider getting a VPN to protect your data when traveling!

It also has the crown for the world’s cheapest beer for its locally brewed Bia Hoi which is freshly made every day and contains no preservatives. These are just a few facts about Vietnam that draw tourists from all corners to this buzzing country.

Woman cycling with a basket full of flowers on the back of the bike. She wears a Vietnamese hat made of rice straws. It's a busy street in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanoi Streets, busy and interesting!

So, what is Vietnam famous for? 

Below are 9 reasons why Vietnam really is an unmissable destination in Southeast Asia and why you should plan a trip there as soon as possible. After all the travel inspiration you will find a section with practical info to help you plan your trip to Vietnam.

We used GIGAGO eSIM to stay connected in Vietnam. Easy and affordable!

What is Vietnam famous for? 

We start our list of what Vietnam is known for with history, of course, but our inspiring facts about Vietnam also include nature, culture and delicious food. Be ready to start dreaming of your trip to Vietnam 

Photo of the War Museum in Vietnam. The building faced with an old airplane in front of it.
War Remnants Museum one of the many sites you can visit to learn about the Vietnam War.

1- History is everywhere in Vietnam

Vietnam has a fascinating history that can be seen in exquisite buildings from the Nguyen Dynasty in Huế, to the grim Hoa Lo Prison that was built in Hanoi during French colonial times.

Not only that but there are several sites from the Vietnam War, like the Vinh Moc and Cu Chi tunnels that you can still visit. Central Vietnam has a demilitarized zone known as the DMZ where there are several monuments and museums to visit built on the land where the battles were fought.

After visiting the War Remnants Museum and Ho Chi Minh City Museum, take a half-day or even the whole day to join one of the tours about the Vietnam War and its sites around HCM City. You can book your tour in advance via GetYourGuide, below are a few options.

Photo of a tiny street in Hoi An with colored lanterns hanging over the street. The shops have many dresses and clothes hanging on their doors. Hoi An is a famous destination in Vietnam.
Hoi An colored streets!?

2 – The uniqueness of Huế and Hoi An

Central Vietnam has some of the most exquisite architecture that the country has to offer, much of it in and around Huế and Hoi An. The city of Hue surrounds the forbidden city at its center and houses elaborate mausoleums for its past emperors in the countryside. It even has an abandoned water park complete with a dragon pool and waterslides. 

Hoi An is amazing in a totally different way, the streets of this ex-trading port are lined with traditional wooden houses along the Thu Bon River. It lights up on the 14th day of every lunar calendar month when lanterns are lit with candles and floated down the river to bring luck and happiness. Read Love and Road Hoi An travel guide here

Photo of many fishing boats at the front and some limestone karts in the background. The typical scenery you see on Vietnam's north coast.
Ha Long Bay is one of the many limestone karsts you can visit in Vietnam.

3 – Vietnam karst bays

It’s impossible to look at any photos of Vietnam without coming across the eternally famous Ha Long Bay. This picture-perfect seascape is dominated by green limestone karsts with tiny fishing villages in their shadows. 

For a less-touristy experience try Lan Ha Bay near Cat Ba Island which offers the same landscape for a cheaper price. If you want to see incredible views of the karsts on land, then head to Ninh Binh where wide rivers run through grassy rice fields at the bottom of stunning valleys.

A Vietnamese rice pancake being cooked in an Iron flat pan. It's of the many traditional food Vietnam is famous for.
Rice pancakes, one of the many traditional dishes Vietnam is famous for. YUMMY!

4 – Vietnamese food

Even against all the competition with the incredible dishes from its neighbors, Vietnamese food still really stands out. The most delicious savory dishes include so many types of noodles, banana blossom salad, stuffed pancakes, fresh spring rolls, and tasty banh mi (filled baguettes).


It’s also one of the best places in the world to get caffeinated, with deliciously dark Vietnamese coffee that is blended with everything from coconut to egg for a sumptuously rich experience. You can even take these skills home with you as there are some fantastic cooking classes available in the cities.

Woman walking on a trail through the rice terraces in Sapa Mountains, Vietnam. This is one of the must-see places in Vietnam.
Discover the rice terraces on foot and meet locals on the way.

5 – Vietnam traditional northern landscapes and rice terraces

The rice terraces of Bali are full of backpackers, but if you travel to Vietnam you might get one all to yourself. Any journey you take in the Sa Pa district in the North is bound to be beautiful and it’s one of the best places to meet indigenous people too. 

Be inspired and read Love and Road 2-days trekking in Sapa guide here

Adventurous types will love the Ha Giang loop which is a stunning 3-4 day motorbike journey that begins and ends at the province capital of Ha Giang.

Photo of a karst cave in Vietnam. A huge rocky chamber with stairs and two people inside it.
One of many caves you can explore in Vietnam!

6 – Vietnam incredible caves

You might not know this one, but Vietnam is famous for its incredible caves. Vietnam is home to Son Doong, the world’s biggest cave that can be found within the emerald-covered expanse of Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng National Park in the North. While that one is expensive to visit, there are many other smaller caves to explore in the region that have so many beautiful formations hidden inside of them. Two of those are the Phong Nha Cave and Paradise Cave that can be found within the same national park.

Photo from a viewpoint showing Vietnam's coast with white sand beaches and lush green forest. Vietnam is known for its beaches and islands.
The incredible contrast of blue and green, sea and forest!

7 – Vietnam beaches and sand dunes

The length of Vietnam means that it’s blessed with so much coastline! There are beautiful beaches all along it, especially near Hoi An, Mui Ne and Nha Trang. Near Mui Ne you can find incredible red and white sand dunes that are best enjoyed at sunrise and sunset. 

If you take the journey over the Hai Van Pass between Hue and Hoi An, you’ll get a beautiful birds-eye view of the golden curves of several beaches surrounded by lapping sea.

Photo of a train track in between houses and buildings. It's one of the famous attractions in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanoi local life!

8 – Vietnam’s buzzing cities

There’s something for everyone in Vietnam’s cities, whether it’s the sexy sleaze of booming Ho Chi Minh City or the constant hubbub of Hanoi’s tiny traditional streets. Whether you’re in the north or the south, there is so much fun to be had in the chaos. 

In Central Vietnam, the city of Da Nang has a bright yellow dragon bridge that breathes fire at the weekend, followed by water that is sprayed all over the gathered spectators.

You will find all the must see in Vietnam’s big cities here:

A couple on a boat. They are on a Mekong Delta Tour, a famous day trip from Ho Chi Minh city.
Nat & Rob enjoying their Mekong Delta tour.

9 – The Mekong River

We arrived at the 9th fact about Vietnam, and although it’s our last topic of the list it’s one of the top reasons to visit Vietnam. 

Laos is the Southeast Asian country famous for the Mekong River but it actually finishes in the South of Vietnam. The sprawling tributaries that spill out into the South China Sea are the perfect place to explore traditional life. 

Watching the sunset over the Mekong is truly an unforgettable experience and pictures do not do it justice. No wonder Vietnam is famous for the Mekong Delta and all the incredible activities you can have there. 

Some of the best experiences you can have at the Mekong Delta are listed below:

There is so much to see and do in Vietnam, that this list could go on and on. These are just some of Vietnam highlights and there is plenty more to find! Whichever part you choose to explore in-depth, or if you traverse the length of breadth of Vietnam, it’s bound to be a trip that stays with you for years to come. It has certainly been the case for me and I still think about the delicious food even now.

Many people travel to Vietnam just to find out that leaving is too hard and need to find a way to stay longer. If you’re a digital nomad or remote worker, this is pretty easy. You can continue staying in Vietnam and working as a freelancer or remote employee. For others the best option is to work as an English teacher or join a local company. Vietnamese companies are always looking for software developers and marketing consultants. Schools are always on the lookout for new foreign teachers as the demand for English language is growing in Vietnam. China was once the most popular location to teach English abroad, but it seems Vietnam has now taken over.

Vietnam is currently one of the most popular countries in Asia and the world for teaching English as a second language. Because of this you will see that the streets are filled with foreigners that are living and working here. The cities are filled with language centers and all parents are eager to get their kids the best education possible.

Teaching jobs in Vietnam typically pay quite well compared to neighboring countries, making it an attractive option to many.  Salaries average around $2000, which is great compared to the cost of living in Vietnam. Most jobs can be found in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, but there are opportunities all around the country. To be a teacher, all you need is a bachelor’s degree in any subject, a positive mindset and the willingness to learn. If it all feels too intimidating, you could even enroll in a TEFL course to learn some practical skills before diving into the classroom. 

So now let’s jump to our Vietnam travel tips.

Photo of a cave near a beach with two small boats getting inside the cave. Many people travel to Vietnam to visit the caves.
Caves, beaches, rivers, forests, mountains… Vietnam is known for its diverse nature.

How to travel to Vietnam – travel tips

Now that you are dreaming of visiting Vietnam, here are a few things you need to think of  when planning your trip.

When is the best time to travel to Vietnam?

There is no bad time to visit Vietnam, but you must be aware that the weather changes from North to South. If you’re planning to travel around, the best time to visit Vietnam is during the dry season, which lasts from December to February.

Vietnam Visa on arrival, do you need one?

Many countries can get a visa on arrival, but you must apply in advance. Here is an article about Vietnam Visas to help you discover if you need to apply for a visa and how to do it safely and from home. Or if you prefer, you can apply to your Vietnam Tourist Visa On Arrival here.

How to travel to Vietnam and around the country?

Vietnam’s main cities are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, both have busy airports connected to many international destinations. Use Skyscanner or Kiwi.com to find the best flights to Vietnam.

You can travel in Vietnam by train, bus and flying. To search and book your tickets, we recommend using 12Go or Bookaway

How to book accommodation in Vietnam?

There are plenty of options of accommodation in Vietnam, from luxury hotels to budget hostels. The trick here is to read all the reviews carefully and book only via trustworthy websites. We recommend using Booking.com or Agoda for hotels in Vietnam, they have good offers, cancellation policy and sometimes you don’t even need to pay in advance.

– What are the best shopping destinations in Vietnam?

All the cities in Vietnam have elaborate open-air markets, some are more like a tourist attraction as museums and mausoleums, and others are for locals. And you can find anything from fresh food to souvenirs, homeware, and clothes. Here is a dedicated post about where to shop in Vietnam and how to bargain there.

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance for Vietnam!

It doesn’t matter if you are an adventure traveler or a beach bum, travel insurance is a must when visiting Vietnam. Some of the best travel insurances are SafetyWing and HeyMondo.

If you are in doubt, read our Long-term Travel Insurance Guide here

That’s it! Now you know what Vietnam is famous for and how to start planning your trip! If you have any questions, drop us a comment below.

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Vietnam is famous for its food, history, war, and many other amazing things you can only do and see there. So if you are dreaming of an unforgettable trip to Vietnam this post will feed you with wanderlust and practical information to enjoy the best of Vietnam from North to South, from beaches to mountains, passing by busy cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Plus travel tips to plan your Vietnam holiday, from visas to accommodation and tours.
Photo of Jen Sizeland the author of this article called What is Vietnam famous for?

Author: Jen Sizeland

Jen Sizeland is a British writer and producer based in Manchester in the UK. Her travel blog is called Land of Size and it focuses on ethical living and eco-friendly travel. You can connect with Jennifer: on Instagram and Facebook.

3 thoughts on “What is Vietnam famous for? 9 Reasons to visit Vietnam!”

  1. these are enough for anyone to visit Vietnam and explore the beauty here. thanks a lot for this informative and inspirational explanation of this country.

    Reply

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