Vietnam for First Timers

Every place below is pinned on the interactive map with its exact location. You can browse it for free, and copy the whole map into your own Ikuzo account to adapt it to your trip.

Hanoi

Hanoi Old Quarter

The chaotic heart of Hanoi with 36 guild streets, street food and motorbikes everywhere. Base yourself here and explore on foot, ideally early morning or after dark.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hanoi's central lake and the city's favorite strolling spot. Come at sunrise to watch locals do tai chi, and on weekend evenings the surrounding streets go pedestrian only.

Ngoc Son Temple

Small temple on an islet in Hoan Kiem Lake, reached by the photogenic red Huc Bridge. Quick cheap visit, easily combined with a lake loop.

Temple of Literature

Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070, with peaceful courtyards and stone stelae on turtle backs. Allow about an hour and go early to beat tour groups and graduation photo crowds.

Hanoi Train Street

Narrow residential alley where trains squeeze past cafe tables. Check the train schedule with a cafe owner and buy a drink to sit, access is sometimes restricted.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Uncle Ho's embalmed body lies in state here, guarded with full ceremony. Open mornings only, dress modestly, no cameras inside, and expect a long but fast moving queue.

St. Joseph's Cathedral

Neo gothic cathedral from 1886, Hanoi's little Notre Dame. The square in front is a popular lemon tea hangout in the evening.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

The classic place to see Vietnamese water puppetry with live traditional music. Shows run several times daily and last about 50 minutes, book a day ahead for good seats.

Hoa Lo Prison

The infamous Hanoi Hilton prison museum, covering both French colonial rule and the American war. Sobering but excellent context for the rest of your trip, about one hour.

Northern Vietnam

Ha Long Bay

UNESCO listed bay of nearly 2000 limestone karsts rising from emerald water. An overnight cruise beats a day trip, book a mid range boat and check reviews carefully.

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex

Rowboat tour through caves and karst valleys in Ninh Binh, often called Ha Long Bay on land. Tours take 2 to 3 hours, bring sun protection as boats have no shade.

Tam Coc Boat Wharf

The other classic Ninh Binh rowboat ride, through rice paddies and three low caves, with rowers famously using their feet. Prettiest in late May and early June when the paddies turn gold.

Hang Mua Viewpoint

Around 500 steps up to a dragon ridge with the best panorama over Tam Coc and the karst landscape. Go for sunrise or late afternoon, it gets brutally hot midday.

Bich Dong Pagoda

Three tiered pagoda built into a cliff near Tam Coc, entered over a lotus pond bridge. Free and quick, easy to combine with a bicycle loop of the valley.

Cat Cat Village

Hmong village a short walk downhill from Sapa town, with waterfalls and rice terrace views. Touristy but the easiest introduction, for quieter terraces trek toward Ta Van in the Muong Hoa valley.

Fansipan

The roof of Indochina at 3143 m, reached from Sapa by a spectacular cable car then a final stair climb. Check the weather before going up, the summit is often in cloud.

Ma Pi Leng Pass

The most dramatic stretch of the Ha Giang Loop, a road carved into cliffs above the Nho Que river canyon. Most people ride it over 3 or 4 days with an easy rider from Ha Giang city.

Central Vietnam

Phong Nha Cave

River cave visited by boat from Phong Nha town, gliding into a huge illuminated cavern. The easiest taste of the world's greatest caving region, half a day is enough.

Paradise Cave

Vast dry cave with a kilometer of boardwalk through cathedral sized chambers of stalactites. Many rate it above Phong Nha Cave, combine both in one day with a motorbike or driver.

Hue Imperial City

Walled citadel of the Nguyen emperors, Vietnam's answer to the Forbidden City. Plan at least half a day, start early and bring water as there is little shade.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Seven story pagoda above the Perfume River, the symbol of Hue. Arrive by dragon boat from the city center for the classic approach.

Tomb of Khai Dinh

The most flamboyant of Hue's royal tombs, a blend of Vietnamese and European styles with a dazzling mosaic interior. Small but steep, pair it with the tombs of Tu Duc or Minh Mang.

Hai Van Pass

Legendary coastal mountain road between Hue and Da Nang with sweeping ocean views. Ride it by motorbike or hire a car with stops instead of taking the tunnel.

Marble Mountains

Cluster of marble hills between Da Nang and Hoi An riddled with cave shrines and pagodas. Huyen Khong Cave with its light shafts is the highlight, take the elevator up and stairs down.

Golden Bridge

The famous bridge held by two giant stone hands at Ba Na Hills above Da Nang. Entry is via the pricey Sun World cable car, go on a weekday at opening to dodge crowds and clouds.

Hoi An Ancient Town

Beautifully preserved trading port of yellow shophouses, lanterns and tailor shops, UNESCO listed. Magical at dusk when the lanterns light up, stay overnight to enjoy it without day trippers.

Japanese Covered Bridge

400 year old covered bridge with a small temple inside, the emblem of Hoi An. Best photographed from the river side early morning before the crowds arrive.

An Bang Beach

Hoi An's laid back beach, 15 minutes by bicycle from the old town, lined with seafood shacks and loungers. Best from March to August, the sea gets rough in winter.

My Son Sanctuary

Ruined Hindu temple complex of the Cham civilization in a jungle valley, about an hour from Hoi An. Go at opening time for cool air and empty ruins, sunrise tours are worth it.

Southern Vietnam

Ben Thanh Market

Saigon's landmark central market for souvenirs, coffee and a cheap food court lunch. Bargain hard inside, and at night the action moves to the street stalls around it.

War Remnants Museum

Powerful and graphic museum on the Vietnam War, told from the Vietnamese perspective. Heavy but essential, allow 2 hours and maybe skip it with young kids.

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon

Red brick cathedral built by the French in the 1880s, right next to the ornate Central Post Office. Both make an easy combined stop in District 1.

Independence Palace

The presidential palace where the war ended when tanks crashed the gates in 1975, preserved in perfect 1960s style. The basement war rooms and rooftop helipad are the highlights.

Cu Chi Tunnels

Vast guerrilla tunnel network from the war, about 1.5 hours from Saigon, where you can crawl through widened sections. The Ben Duoc site is quieter than Ben Dinh, half day tours are easy to book.

Vinh Trang Pagoda

Ornate pagoda with giant Buddha statues near My Tho, the classic first stop on a Mekong Delta day trip from Saigon. Usually combined with a boat ride through the Ben Tre coconut canals.

Cai Rang Floating Market

The Mekong Delta's biggest floating market, best seen from a small boat out of Can Tho. It winds down by 8am, so sleep in Can Tho and leave the pier around 5.30.

Red Sand Dunes

Rust colored dunes right outside Mui Ne, popular for sunset and plastic sled sliding. Easy to reach by taxi or as part of the standard jeep tour.

White Sand Dunes (Bau Trang)

Sahara like white dunes beside lotus lakes, 40 minutes from Mui Ne. Sunrise jeep tours usually bundle them with the red dunes and the fairy stream.

Crazy House

Surreal Gaudi like guesthouse in Da Lat you can climb all over, a maze of tunnels and rooftop bridges. Da Lat itself is Vietnam's cool weather hill station of pine forests and coffee farms.

Sao Beach

White sand and calm turquoise water on Phu Quoc island's southeast coast, the postcard beach for winding down after the mainland. Best from November to March in the dry season.