Things to Do in Vietnam

Unlike the famed Cu Chi tunnels—which served as supply caches and strategic combat routes for Viet Cong soldiers and today are swarming with tourists—the Vinh Moc tunnels served a different war time purpose and receive far fewer visitors. Stretching almost two from the coastal town of Vinh Moc to a beach overlooking the South China Sea, the Vinh Moc Tunnels were dug in the late 1960s to serve as a live-in bomb shelter for more than 60 families. The families lived their lives underground, some for up to six years, and one frequently-cited figure says as many as 17 children were born in these underground tunnels their occupation.

Today, visitors can enter the dark and earthen tunnel complex, via a rock-wall rimmed stairway, and, unlike at Cu Chi, walk upright through them. Nooks notched into the sides of the main tunnel served as family quarters or meeting rooms and are today populated by strategically-placed human-sized dummies that show how cramped the villagers must have been. Two deeper layers, up to 70 feet below the ground’s surface, served as storage for weapons and supplies and as a deeper subterranean hiding space from direct bombing attacks. There are more than 10 separate gated entrances to the tunnels that visitors can see along the route. A small on-site museum has photographs and memorabilia that help to paint a picture of life in the tunnels and a map depicting the extent of the Vinh Moc tunnel system.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City is housed in a French colonial-era building that was once the mansion home of Chinese-born Mr. Hoa, the wealthiest man in Saigon at the time. As well as displaying fascinating modern art and historical pieces dating back to the 4th century, the building itself is of interest, with period details such as elaborate tiles, stained-glass windows, and even a working antique lift.

The museum is arranged across three levels and features a varied collection, including sculptures and ceramics, plus oil, silk, lacquer, and traditional woodcut paintings incorporating different styles. There is also a collection of ancient Buddhist and Hindu wood and stone figures, with larger statues scattered around the grounds and in the museum's central courtyard (accessed via the rear of the building). 

Along with contemporary art, the museum features archaeological exhibits from across Asia, dating back to the Cham and Khmer eras. There is also a museum shop, with a good selection of prints available for sale.

Though the name sounds old, XQ Historical Village was actually founded in the early 1990s by artists Vo Van Quan and Hoang Le Xuan as a way to showcase needlework and painting to travelers from overseas. More than 2,000 women work to create the intricate masterpieces that are put on display in this and other villages like it through Vietnam.

 

Quan and Xuan utilized age-old needlework traditions that hale from China and were once used to tell stories of the Orient, to instead tell the tales of Vietnam through brightly colored, handmade items. Visitors to this historically inspired village can witness craftswomen working in pairs over silk-draped tables creating some of the most colorful and intricate designs around. Travelers can purchase lavish wall hanging for their home or decorated scarves and greeting cards from the local shop. The picturesque tea garden offers the perfect place to check out more of the handmade works and relax in the natural beauty of XQ’s picturesque surroundings.

A must-visit when in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City’s War Remnants Museum is a poignant reminder of the horrors of war. The grounds house American planes, tanks, helicopters, and weaponry captured during the Vietnam War. Pictorial displays cover everything from the My Lai Massacre to the traumas of Agent Orange and the work of war correspondents.

 

Set in District 3, in the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, not far from Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum provides the perfect introduction to the Vietnam War. You don’t need a tour to visit: English signage is clear, tickets are easy to find, and the often shocking visuals speak for themselves.

 

History-focused south Vietnam tours often bundle the War Remnants Museum with the Cu Chi Tunnels for a rewarding day out. If pressed for time, the War Remnants Museum is also a regular stop on Ho Chi Minh City day tours, along with sites, such as the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, although history buffs will want more time at the museum than most city tours allow.

 

 

The War Remnants Museum is centrally located in Ho Chi Minh City, and bus routes 14, 28, and 06 run to the museum. Self-driving Ho Chi Minh City is not for the faint-hearted. Apps, such as Grab, can remove the haggling element from motorbike and car taxi transport. If you’re aiming to check off a number of downtown Ho Chi Minh City sights in one day, a HCMC tour makes sense.

The War Remnants Museum opens early in the day, seven days a week, but closes for lunch between 12pm and 1:30pm. This Vietnam War museum is as popular with Vietnamese as it is with tourists, so it’s worth planning your visit to avoid weekends and major Vietnamese holidays, such as Tet, or arriving as early in the morning as you can.

 

Between about 1955 and 1975, the Vietnam War changed the shape of Vietnam—and altered America’s position in the world for good. Travelers interested in exploring Vietnam War history further can explore tunnel and cave sites, such as the Cu Chi Tunnels or the cave complex on Cat Ba Island, and tour prisons, such as Hanoi’s Hoa Lo, or even hike the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Ho Chi Minh City's answer to Bangkok's Khao San Road, Pham Ngu Lao Street boasts dozens of affordable guesthouses, cheap pubs, and backpacker-focused restaurants. In fact, Saigonese know it simply as the backpacker district. Despite the noise, traffic, and chaos, Pham Ngu Lao is a mecca for travelers looking to experience Saigon's unfiltered energy.

In the heart of District 1, within walking distance of Ben Thanh Market and the War Remnants Museum, Pham Ngu Lao is a favorite destination for travelers on a budget. Even if you're not staying here, you might find yourself visiting for the cheap-beer stalls, high-energy backpacker nightclubs, or affordable international fare.

Most Ho Chi Minh City tours eschew the charms of Pham Ngu Lao Street. Thanks to the quantity of accommodation here, however, it's a stop on HCMC hop-on hop-off bus tours.

Pham Ngu Lao Street is in the center of Ho Chi Minh City's District 1, close to the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and other attractions. The 109 shuttle bus stops at Pham Ngu Lao Street on its way from the airport, about 6 miles (9 kilometers) away. It's about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the train station, a journey best made by taxi or motorbike taxi.

Lively street life coupled with pavement cafes and bars give Pham Ngu Lao its energy, so you're best off visiting during dry season, roughly November through April. That's particularly true if you're staying in the street's budget guesthouses, as Pham Ngu Lao Street accommodation tends to have extremely limited communal space.

Pham Ngu Lao may be a byword for backpacker misbehavior and curbside drinking nowadays, but it takes its name from a Vietnamese hero. The original Pham Ngu Lao (1255"“1320) was a Vietnamese general who beat back the forces of the Mongol and Chinese emperor Kublai Khan. He's worshipped as a god in some parts of Vietnam, and most cities have a street (or two) named after him.

 The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi is the country’s premier art museum. A well-curated and exhibited permanent collection of over 2,000 items, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, lacquerwork, and temporary exhibits, trace the development of Vietnamese art from prehistoric times to the 21st century.

 

There are two branches to the museum. The main branch is spread over two buildings, including a stunning French Colonial building renovated to include elements of traditional Vietnamese communal houses. Within an exhibition space of 32,292 square feet (3,000 square meters), the exhibits are arranged into six themes (prehistoric arts, art from the 11th to 19th centuries, art from the 20th century to present, traditional art, folk art, and ceramics), and chronologically from bottom to top. There’s also a Creative Space for Children. The second branch, located at Hoang Cau Street, focuses more on storage, conservation, and restoration.

 

A number of sightseeing tours feature a stop at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. Other stops may include the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, or the Ho Chi Minh Complex, depending on the option chosen. If you want to see Hanoi like a local, take a motorbike tour of the city.

 

 

The museum is located in the Ba Dinh District, across the street from the Temple of Literature. It’s about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) west of Hoan Kiem Lake, and will take about 15 minutes to walk from there.

 

The museum is open year-round, except for the Tet holidays. The museum rarely gets crowded, making it an ideal alternative when other attractions are busy. The Temple of Literature is across the street and many visitors visit both sites.

 

Highlights of the museum include ancient Champa stone carvings, ceramics excavated from five ancient boats, extraordinary effigies of Guan Yin (the 1,000-armed and 1,000-eyed goddess of compassion), lacquered statues of Buddhist monks from the Tay Son dynasty, and its collection of contemporary paintings.

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum, one of the best museums in Hanoi, chronicles the history, culture and contributions of Vietnamese women in society throughout the country’s history. The small museum is divided into three themed galleries, Women in Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion, and all posted information includes French and English translations.

Highlights of the museum include photographs and stories of heroic women during wartime, a set of propaganda posters and the collection of bridal, tribal and religious clothing that serves to highlight the cultural diversity of Vietnamese women. Rotating special exhibitions cover topics like the Vietnam Women’s Union, domestic violence, sex trafficking and Mother Goddess worship, as well as collections of art by female artists.

Located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, the Vietnam National Museum of History forms part of the Vietnam National Museum. With an extensive collection of over 200,000 objects, including numerous precious artifacts and antiquities, it traces the history of Vietnam from prehistoric times to the present.

 

The museum is housed in an architecturally impressive building built in 1925, which incorporates both Vietnamese and French design elements. Exhibits are organized in chronological order. Highlights include bronze pieces from the Dong Son period, Bat Trang pottery, Vietnamese imperial jewelry, and Hindu statues from the Khmer and Champa kingdoms. There’s also a delightful garden with steles and bonsai trees.

 

A number of sightseeing tours feature a stop at the Vietnam National Museum, along with other top attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. Or experience Hanoi like a local on a motorbike tour.

 

 

The museum is located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, close to the Opera House. It can be reached by walking from the Old Quarter, or an easy taxi ride from elsewhere. It can also be reached by bus, including buses 2, 3, and 4.

 

The museum is open every day, except the first Monday of each month. There is a break for lunch, so plan your visit accordingly. Expect to spend 1-2 hours here. Allot more time if you plan to visit the Vietnam Museum of the Revolution as well.

 

The Vietnam National Museum of History was formerly home to the Louis Finot Museum of the École Française d'Extrême-Orient, built in 1929 and opened in 1932. The building was designed as a work of art and features Indochine architecture, a blend of French and Vietnamese styles. In 1958, the Vietnamese government took over the building and reopened it as the Vietnam National Museum of History.

West Lake, Hanoi’s largest freshwater lake with 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) of shore, is one of the most popular places for outdoor recreation in the Vietnamese capital. The eastern shore of the lake has transformed into an upscale residential area where expats and wealthy Hanoians live, but the lake is also dotted with several historical points of interest. 

Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on a small island in West Lake, was built in the sixth century, making it the oldest Pagoda in Vietnam. Near the northern gate of the lake, Quan Thanh Temple is a Taoist temple dedicated to Tran Vo and dating back to the early eleventh century. Apart from its historical attractions, West Lake is also a popular place to hire a boat, dine at a floating restaurant, people watch and walk or bike along the banks.

Located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, the Vietnam Museum of Revolution contains over 40,000 exhibits across 30 galleries covering the country’s history of conflict and revolution from the French colonial occupation in the 19th century onwards, and forms part of the Vietnam National Museum.

 

The content of the museum is divided into three parts, 1858-1945, 1945-1975, and 1975-present, which correspond with the French colonialism period, the American War (Vietnam War) period and the post-war period. Exhibits include historical photos and documents, weapons and flags used by revolutionaries, propaganda posters, statues of Ho Chi Minh and other revolutionary figures, and even gifts from the Vietnamese people and people from other countries to Ho Chi Minh and the Communist government.

 

A number of sightseeing tours feature a stop at the Vietnam National Museum, along with other top attractions such as Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ho Chi Minh Complex. Or experience Hanoi like a local on a motorbike tour.

 

 

The Vietnam Museum of Revolution is located in the Hoan Kiem district, close to the Opera House. It can be reached by walking from the Old Quarter, or it’s an easy taxi ride from elsewhere. It can also be reached by bus 2, 3, or 4.

 

The museum is open every day, except the first Monday of each month. There is a break for lunch, so plan your visit accordingly. Expect to spend an hour here, longer if you are very interested in the subject matter. Allot more time if you plan to visit the Vietnam National Museum of History as well.

 

The museum is housed in a yellow, colonial-style building that once housed the Indo-China Chamber of Commerce, built by the French in 1917. It later housed the Trade Department of Vietnam. The museum itself opened in 1959.

Few major cities count the post office among their top tourist attractions, but the classic interior of Saigon Central Post Office continues to be a favorite destination among travelers visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time. 

Completed in 1891, the design of this architectural landmark mimics an old world European railway station with mile-high ceilings, a larger-than-life portrait of Ho Chi Minh and a centrally located clock face. These rich details are what manage to draw even the travelers who arrive with plans to purchase stamps or mail postcards, to pause and soak up the brilliant interior, which includes hand-painted maps of the old city.

On the banks of the Nhue River about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Hanoi sits Van Phuc Silk Village. Of Vietnam’s many officially designated craft villages, Van Phuc is perhaps the best known and best developed. It’s also one of the oldest silk producing villages, with a history dating back more than 1,200 years. More than 700 households within the village are involved in silk production, and visitors will find three main streets lined with over 100 shops.

While modern silk shops and mechanized weaving are now the norm in Van Phuc, it remains the best place in the Hanoi area for buying silk products, and even if you’re not in the market to buy, it’s an excellent place to see up close how silk is produced, both with modern methods and traditional looms. In general, silk items in the village tend to be slightly cheaper than in Hanoi, and Van Phuc silk is known for its light weight and smooth appearance, making it cool in the summer yet warm in winter.

You can get first-hand experience with authentic Vietnamese cooking at the Vietnam Cookery Center. Started in 1999, it is the country’s first professional cooking center offering lessons to both tourists and professional chefs, and it’s located in a French Colonial-era building on Dong Khoi, at the heart of the city. Morning classes start with a visit to the open-air Ben Thanh Market with the chef-instructor to learn about local produce and help select the ingredients for the day’s menu. The cooking lessons take about 3 hours, during which you can learn to create classic Vietnamese dishes like fresh spring rolls, caramel pork in a clay pot, lotus-stem salad, and much more, and then you can sit down with your classmates to share the meal you created together.

Cao Son Market is a small, local market situated in the Muong Khuong district of Lao Cai province in Northern Vietnam. For visitors, it's a chance to interact with the hill tribe villagers of the area, including the H'Mong, Nung, Black Dao, and Han tribes. Visiting the market gives international guests the opportunity to learn about the culture of these tribes via the food, crafts, and customs adopted in the villagers' daily lives.

Open each Wednesday, this colorful ethnic market is set against the backdrop of a magnificent mountainous landscape, surrounded by lush farmland, rice fields, and pine plantations, as well as the mighty Chay River. Along with handmade crafts and clothing, the market sells all manner of food, and the local cuisine can even be washed down with the region's very own wine.

Anyone lucky enough to have traveled to Vietnam knows its cuisine is among the best in Asia, characterized by its delicate flavors and fresh local ingredients. At the Hanoi Cooking Centre, visitors can learn the secrets and techniques used in preparing traditional Vietnamese dishes so they can be recreated back home. 

A typical half-day cooking class at the Hanoi Cooking Centre begins with a visit to a local market, where students learn about typical Vietnamese ingredients (and how to buy them). Back in the kitchen, students pair up for a hands-on lesson before sitting down to sample their creations for lunch.

Class themes and dishes vary from day to day and might cover Vietnamese street food, food from Hanoi and the Northern Highlands, food from the coast, vegetarian dishes, spring rolls, barbecues and salads. The school also offers international cooking classes and classes for kids.

Deep in the highlands of northwest Vietnam lies the historic battlefield of Dien Bien Phu, where Viet Minh forces defeated the French in 1954, thus ending nearly 100 years of colonization. In addition to battlefields, bunkers, cemeteries, and a museum, Dien Bien Phu also offers beautiful mountain scenery and access to ethnic minority villages.

 

A trip to Dien Bien Phu is a must for war and history buffs, and for most visitors here, the main draw is the decisive and bloody battle of Dien Bien Phu. A number of strategic locations have been maintained or reconstructed, and commemorative monuments erected. Independent visitors can explore the sites on their own, at their own pace. A popular option for more in-depth exploration is a multi-day guided tour from Hanoi, which often also includes a visit to a nearby Tay, Hmong, or Si La village. For those with more time, there's a popular loop itinerary that starts in Hanoi, then travels to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Pa So, and Sapa, before returning to Hanoi.

 

 

Dien Bien Phu is located about 292 miles (470 kilometers) west of Hanoi and 22 miles (35 kilometers) east of the Laos border. For those not visiting as part of a tour, it's easiest to fly here directly from Hanoi. Bus service is also available from Hanoi, Sapa, Lao Cai, or from Laos (Muang Khua or Muay Xai).

 

The best time to visit Dien Bien Phu is between November and April, when the weather is warm and dry. Avoid visiting in July and August, the height of the rainy season, when the roads in the area can become muddy and often impassable.

 

Top sites include a reconstructed A1 hill (known as Colline Eliane to the French), site of the pivotal final battle, and cemetery; D1 hill, which now contains a monument wall, statue, and expansive views of the valley; the reconstructed command center of General Vo Nguyen Giap; the reconstructed French command bunker; and the Vietnam Military History Museum (or Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum).

Set amid the tropical greenery of Hon Tre Island, Vinpearl Amusement Park transforms the beach resort of Nha Trang into a destination perfect for families and thrill seekers. The excitement begins before you even reach the entrance of the park, as you ride a record-breaking 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) cable car suspended above the South China Sea.

 

Most Vinpearl Amusement Park tours include round-trip transport from the mainland, which eliminates the hassle of arranging multiple transfers. Admission tickets include either a 1-way or return trip on the cable car, and access to the theme park, water park, and aquarium that is home to more than 300 species of marine life.

 

The island resort also features a giant shopping mall, an international food court, a beach, and a giant amphitheater that can accommodate up to 5,000 spectators.

 

 

Vinpearl Amusement Park is accessible by either the Vinpearl Cable Car, one of the world’s longest cable car routes, or by the Vinpearl speedboat, which is also included in your admission ticket. Speedboats depart regularly from Nha Trang pier. Taking the cable car there and the ferry back gives you the best of both worlds and allows you to enjoy views of Nha Trang Bay from the water and the air.

 

The park is open year-round, but opening times vary depending on the season. High season falls from June to August, when Vietnamese schools close for the holidays. To beat long lines for rides, try to arrive at the park as early as possible and tick off the main roller coasters before cooling down in the midday heat at the water park.

 

If you’ve got an appetite for adventure, head straight for the Extreme Carousel, a spinning carousel that flips you upside down, and a manual roller coaster that allows you to control your speed.