Vietnam is an astonishing mix of natural highlights and cultural diversity and fascinating to explore. While the rural areas brim with fantastic panoramas, the big cities breathe with contemporary life and provide ample opportunities to get stuck into Vietnam's tasty culinary highlights. With so much to see and do in Vietnam; travelling to these places will provide you with unforgettable memories of a marvelous time. Plan your sightseeing with our list of the best places to visit in Vietnam.

Sa Pa Terraces

Sa Pa is a town in northwest Vietnam not far from the Chinese border. Rice terraces can be found in the Muong Hoa valley between Sa Pa town and the Fansipan Mountain, on a backdrop of thick bamboo woodlands. Local mountain people, the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay, grow rice and corn on these paddy terraces, along with vegetables.

Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi

Located in the historical center of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as the locals’ favorite leisure spot. Hoan Kiem means “returned sword”, and the name comes from a legend in which King Le Loi was given a magical sword by the gods, which he used to drive out the invading Chinese. Later he returned the sword to the Golden Turtle God in the lake.

Halong Bay

Ha Long Bay is situated in north Vietnam round a 120 kilometer long coast line and is literally translated as “Bay of Descending Dragons”. The top tourist attraction in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay features thousands of islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

One of the best places to visit in Vietnam for caving, World Heritage-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a dramatic karst mountain formation honeycombed with huge caverns, which are home to superb stalactite and stalagmite displays. The most popular destination within the park is the Paradise Cave, which extends for a staggering 31 kilometers below ground.

Khai Dinh Tomb in Hue

Blending both Vietnamese and European design elements, the architecture of the Khai Dinh Tomb in Hue has been described as Buddhist as well as Roman Gothic. Constructed in the 1920s, the tomb was commissioned by the Emperor of Vietnam as his own future tomb. The entrance of the complex leads to the Honour Courtyard, and then on to the main building called the Thien Dinh. Khai Dinh’s final resting spot is clearly marked by a bronze statue surrounded by beautiful murals.

Hội An

Hoi An has been an international port from the 16th century although the serious shipping business has long since moved to the city of Da Nang. The heart of the city is still the Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shops. It is sometimes called the “Venice of Vietnam” because of the narrow canals that cut through part of the town.

Golden Bridge, Da Nang

The Golden Bridge, or Cau Vang, located in the Ba Na Hills of Da Nang is famous for its sculpture of two giant hands cradling a golden bridge. The sculpture has acted as a tourist magnet and the bridge is flocked with groups of people strolling or taking selfies. Made up of eight sections, the bridge is about 150 meters long and snakes through the forests of Ba Na Hills.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is famous for the six - kilometer well-maintained beach along the shoreline of the city and is jam-packed with local families as well as foreign visitors on summer vacations.

There is excellent swimming here with designated swimming areas and manicured lo unging areas that make this a great option for relaxing days soaking up the sun and sand.

Mũi Né

The formerly little-inhabited beach south of the fishing village of Mui Ne has seen some serious development in the last 15 years. No trip to Mui Ne is complete without a trip to the famous sand dunes located a short distance north of the town. The vast sandy expanse provide some great panoramic views especially during sunset.

Đà Lạt

For those of you looking to escape the heat, Đà Lạt is exactly what you need. This mountain town is a popular holiday destination for families and young couples from Ho Chi Minh City, which is why it’s also known as the City of Love and Flowers.

Cu Chi Tunnels

An absolutely fascinating experience for all travelers, not just those interested in Vietnam's modern military history, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive tunnel network that during the war, stretched for more than 250 kilometers, allowing VC troops to operate and communicate in the area surrounding Ho Chi Minh City. You will literally be crawling on your hands and knees at some points.

Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is the region in southern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea. It is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields, that produces about half of the total of Vietnam’s agricultural output. Subsequently, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river rather than by road.

Phú Quốc

Here’s a slice of heaven for beach lovers. This island, just off the coast near the border with Cambodia, has some of the most pristine beaches you’ll ever see. Parts of the island have big resorts, but others are secluded, with nothing but you, palm trees and the waves.