Choose from 164 Fun Things to Do in Vietnam
ShowingFilter 161-164 of 164 listings.
Red Bridge Cooking School
Hoi An is a popular spot for Vietnamese cooking classes, and Red Bridge Cooking School offers three different courses.
The most popular option is the half-day class: you'll start off with a trip to Hoi An's lively Central Market with your chef and teacher, who will give tips on how to pick the best herbs and ingredients. Then it's time for a 4km boat ride along the Thu Bon river to the open-air Red Bridge Cooking School. Complimentary drinks and snacks are on-hand as you take your two-hour lesson and learn how to prepare local dishes. Ever wanted to learn how to make your own rose tomato? Here's your chance. You'll learn the art of Vietnamese plate decoration and food carving before sitting down to enjoy the meal you just created.
There is also a full-day deluxe cooking class: prepare dishes like beef pho and clay pot fish with dill (Cha Ca) as part of a four-course menu that you'll learn to create over three hours of cooking. The class size on the deluxe tour is never more than eight people. You'll also visit Central Market and Tra Que organic herb gardens, and if you feel like some refreshment, there's always the 20-meter Red Bridge swimming pool to dip into.
There is also an evening cooking class available at Hai Cafe, the sister restaurant of Red Bridge in the center of Hoi An's old town. In this 1.15-hour taster class, which has a maximum class size of 10, you'll get to learn how to prepare fresh spring rolls, grilled fish in banana leaves, and beef salad before sitting down to enjoy your meal.
Practical Info
The half-day class at Red Bridge Cooking School lasts from 8;=:15am - 1pm and costs $31 per person. This deluxe class costs $51 and includes a trip to Tra Que village as well as a recipe booklet and apron. The evening class runs from 6am - 8pm at Hai Cafe (111 Tran Phu Street) and costs $20 per person. Classes run daily.
Address: Hoi An, Vietnam
Hours: Daily
Admission: Varies
From $ 38
Tram Ton Pass (Heaven Gate Pass)
A winding mountain road that snakes the periphery of Fansipan, Vietnam's highest mountain, connects the outpost towns of Lai Chau and Sapa. This is Tram Ton Pass, also known as Heaven's Gate Pass for its elevated and sweeping vistas of the other peaks in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range.
Nine miles north of Sapa at the start of the pass, a lookout more than 6,200 feet above sea level affords a taste for those not traversing the entire route"”from there you can see the two-lane road twisting above valley floors into the distance. Tram Ton Pass also follows a climactic division apparent in the contrast of green trees poking through resting clouds closer to Sapa in the east, and the sunnier, dustier and drier terrain nearing Lai Chau to the west. Along the route, ribbons of rainwater drain through crevasses high above forming thin roadside waterfalls.
Practical Info
The 75-mile Tram Ton Pass takes a minimum of three hours to cross by car, not including stops at the popular Thac Bac (Silver Waterfall) and its scenic loop trek. Several regional day tours"”most originating in Sapa"”drive a portion of the Tram Ton Pass to take in the views before stopping off for trekking to area villages. Motorbike, scooter or even mountain bike rentals are also available. However, many caution against attempting the full 75-mile route in this fashion due to the high winds and sometimes bumpy conditions of sections of the road. If you'd like to tackle the full Tram Ton Pass, it's best to do so as a passenger in a four-wheeled vehicle so you can soak in all of the views.
Address: Vietnam
From $ 2,000
Vietnam Military History Museum
Formerly the Army Museum, the Vietnam Military History Museum covers the country's combat history from ancient times to the American War (Vietnam War). Learn about the many battles that Vietnam has fought for independence throughout its history through extensive photos, propaganda videos, weaponry, war machines, and other war relics.
The Basics
The Vietnam Military History Museum's exhibits are spread across three buildings, as well as outside in the courtyard. Many museum highlights can be found outside, including a mound of plane debris that includes a B-52, F-111, and a French transport plane, surrounded by a selection of intact planes, tanks, and other war machines. Climb up Flag Tower of Hanoi (Cot Co Flag Tower), next to the museum, for panoramic views of the city.
Combine a tour of the museum with a sightseeing tour of other top war attractions, including the infamous Hoa Lo Prison (referred to as the Hanoi Hilton by American pilots during the Vietnam War) and Ngoc Ha Village, where part of a B-52 shot down in 1972 is preserved.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Vietnam Military History Museum is a must-visit for war and history buffs.
- There is an extra fee to take photos or videos inside the museum.
- Bags must be stored at the entrance; lockers are available.
- The museum includes some graphic photos and portrayals, which may not be appropriate for young children.
How to Get There
The museum is located in central Hanoi, near Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which are about a five-minute walk away. It's easiest to take a taxi there directly.
When to Get There
The museum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and also closes for two hours for lunch (11:30am to 1:30pm). Visitors tend to spend about 1"“2 hours here, depending on their level of interest in military history. The museum's proximity to to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, and also the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature, makes it easy to visit the different sites together.
Flag Tower of Hanoi
The Flag Tower of Hanoi was built in 1812 and once formed part of the Hanoi Citadel, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the tallest site in Hanoi, it is 108 feet (33 meters) tall, topped by the national flag of Vietnam. One of the few structures not destroyed during the French invasion in the late 19th century, it offers panoramic views of Hanoi and of the courtyard to the Vietnam Military History Museum next door.
Address: 28A Dien Bien Phu St, Hanoi, Vietnam
From $ 314
Presidential Palace
Travelers looking to experience a bit of royalty can venture to the Presidential Palace in the heart of Hanoi. Built in the early 1900s, this French Colonial-style structure, protected by impressive wrought iron gates, was meant to house local dignitaries. But in 1954, after leading Vietnam to independence, Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the palace's gilded halls and instead built a rustic stilt house on the royal grounds.
Today, travelers can explore the area surrounding this ornate government structure, which includes well-kept botanical gardens and lush fruit groves. Guides are available for hire, but visitors are not allowed into the palace. Those looking to learn more about the history and life of Ho Chi Minh can visit his silt home, which also sits on palace grounds.
Practical Info
The Presidential Palace is located off of Hung Vuong, just north of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is open daily from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and closed between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The entrance fee to the grounds is about VND 25,000.
Address: Hung Vuong St. and Hoang Van Thu St., Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Closed between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Admission: VND 25,000
From $ 30