A British magazine suggests 17 experiences to have when traveling to Vietnam.

Releasing lanterns in Hoi An

During the Lunar New Year, every street and square in Hoi An glows with the vibrant colors of lanterns. The most dazzling area is, of course, the center, between the Japanese Bridge and An Hoi Bridge, where restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops are concentrated. In the evening, when the old town lights are turned off, visitors can admire hundreds of floating lanterns shimmering on the water. You can buy a lantern from a riverside vendor, take a boat ride, and release it to float down the water as a wish for good fortune.

Besides Lunar New Year,Hoi AnMany lantern festivals are held on the 15th day of the lunar month. Visitors can also experience releasing floating lanterns at any time of the year.

Visiting Ha Long Bay

With over 1,600 limestone cliffs rising from the turquoise waters, Ha Long Bay is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam. Every day, hundreds of boats of all sizes navigate the bay, creating a bustling and colorful scene from above.

The nearby Bai Tu Long Bay is less crowded, allowing you to explore secluded caves, small beaches, and enjoy fresh seafood.

Hiking in Cat Ba

Besides Ha Long Bay, you can visit Lan Ha Bay, which boasts pristine natural beauty and isn't overly crowded with tourists. The island also has a national park with untouched forests, perfect for hiking or picnicking. You can take a short trip along the old watchtower trail, and after about an hour's walk, you'll enjoy panoramic views of the island from above.

For a challenge, visitors can conquer the Viet Hai trail, an 18-kilometer-long, undulating path. Here, you should be in good physical condition to conquer the steep and slippery trails.

Cruise on the Mekong River

The waterways of the Mekong Delta are perfect for getaways from the bustling city. Here, visitors can enjoy boat trips from Ninh Kieu Wharf to Quang Trung Bridge while listening to traditional folk music. Alternatively, you can take a boat tour of the vibrant floating market with its abundance of tropical fruits, and visit Phung and Thoi Son islets. Along the river, visitors can admire the rows of floating houses and vast rice paddies.

Visit the world's largest cave in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.

National ParkPhong Nha - Ke BangIt boasts hundreds of caves of varying sizes, including the world's largest cave.Son DoongThe cave has its own ecosystem and climate. Its size and height are such that a skyscraper or an airport could be built inside. To get there, you need to book a tour, hire a guide, and bring the necessary equipment for a multi-day trip.

Besides the caves, you'll have the opportunity to explore dense forests, beautiful waterfalls, and rare animal communities.

Visit the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Museum.

Buon Ma ThuotIt boasts beautiful waterfalls and many traditional Ede villages. The city is also the "heart" of the industrial sector.coffeeVietnam. To learn more, visitors can visit the Coffee Museum, built in the style of a traditional Central Highlands longhouse, and displaying many artifacts related to Vietnamese and world coffee.

Enjoy Hanoi pho.

Noodle soupPho is one of Vietnam's most famous dishes, renowned for its flavor, nutritional value, and elaborate preparation. From the south to the north, tourists can easily find this dish in small street corners and upscale restaurants. However, Hanoi is considered to have the best pho. A suggestion for tourists: Pho Thin in Lo Duc, where you can find rich and flavorful stir-fried beef pho with a savory broth.

Additionally, visitors can enjoy egg coffee, a unique beverage found nowhere else. A suggested location is Giang Cafe on Nguyen Huu Huan Street.

Learn about the history of the Vietnam War through museums in Ho Chi Minh City.

The country is always moving forward, but the scars of war and sacrifice are still preserved in museums and historical sites. The War Remnants Museum, for example, houses over 20,000 documents, artifacts, and films. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, located in the Gia Long Palace, exhibits paintings, photographs, and artifacts as a reminder of the brutality of war. Visitors can find remnants of bombs and bullets, a guillotine, and realistic photographs of burns caused by bombs and bullets.

Visit the Tay Ninh Holy See.

Located in Long Thanh Bac commune, Hoa Thanh district, Tay Ninh province, about 5 km southeast of Tay Ninh town, Tay Ninh Holy See is a unique architectural masterpiece of a purely Vietnamese religion.

Visitors to the cathedral often choose a time when the cathedral is open.ritual(Usually at 12 o'clock) to witness the very solemn and beautiful rituals of the Cao Dai followers. A small note: inside the temple, you must remove your shoes outside (there is someone watching) and remember not to take pictures of people with the Sacred Eye as a backdrop; only photograph the scenery.

Exploring the ancient capital of Hue

Located on the tranquil Perfume River,Hueplayed an important part in Vietnamese history with its ecosystem.relicsIn the morning, visitors can visit Ho Quyen, an arena built during the Nguyen Dynasty, where the king and officials would watch deadly battles between elephants and tigers. Continuing the journey, don't forget to visit Tu Duc Mausoleum and Vong Canh Hill - the best spot to admire the panoramic view of the Perfume River.

From Vong Canh Hill, visitors can visit Tu Hieu Pagoda, nestled in a tranquil pine forest; and the tomb of King Minh Mang, before returning to the city center.

When visiting the Hue Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you have two options: cycling to enjoy the scenery or relaxing with a drink by the Perfume River. If you want to experience local transportation, you can choose a cyclo (rickshaw).

Visiting the Sa Pa Love Market

The town of Sa Pa is situated on a mountain slope 1,650 meters high in northern Vietnam. It is characterized by the majestic scenery of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and the lifestyle of the highland ethnic minorities. The town is popular with tourists but still retains its traditional charm.love marketEvery Saturday evening, young men and women come here to date and express their feelings through songs and the sound of the flute.

Nowadays, with the development of tourism, love markets are gradually being held discreetly, instead of in markets as before. If you want to learn about the local culture, talk to a local person; they will help you find the love market.

Take a boat trip on the river and admire the ripening rice fields in Tam Coc.

Located within the Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage Complex,Tam Coc - Bich DongIt is also known by famous names such as "Ha Long Bay on land" or "the second most beautiful cave in the South".

Tam CocTam Coc impresses visitors with its quintessential Vietnamese countryside beauty, featuring the Ngo Dong River winding through vast rice fields at the foot of majestic limestone mountains. This is the only waterway that takes visitors to explore Tam Coc.

Small boats carrying passengers glide leisurely along the river, resembling fairytale vessels, creating a picturesque landscape that is one of the most charming in Ninh Binh. Beneath the crystal-clear water, the reflections of mountain ranges and fishing nets nestled among the green grass and algae are clearly visible. All of this creates a sense of tranquility and serenity, making everyone reluctant to leave.

Learn about primates in Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National ParkThis is a suitable place for wildlife enthusiasts. The 720 km2 biosphere reserve preserves many rare animal and plant species. The yellow-cheeked gibbon, silver langur, and lynx are highly endangered primate species found here. In addition, visitors can learn about sun bears, Asian elephants, leopards, and orange-necked partridges...

Some animals in Cat Tien only appear at night, such as deer and wild boars, so you can stay in guesthouses or hotels here and start a late-night trip.

Visiting Ban Gioc Waterfall

WaterfallBản Giốclocated in Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district, provinceCao BangLocated about 20 km from the district center, this waterfall is considered the most beautiful in Vietnam, with its cascading tiers stretching for hundreds of meters.

As the Quây Sơn River flows into Vietnam, it meanders through limestone hills, terraced rice fields, and the villages of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Ngọc Côn and Phong Nậm, before cascading down to form Bản Giốc Waterfall. The Quây Sơn River's water has an emerald color in the autumn. Therefore, September and October are ideal months to explore Bản Giốc Waterfall, to witness the clear blue water and the cascading waterfalls with their white foam.

At the waterfall, visitors can rent bamboo rafts from the locals to explore the surrounding area, for about 50,000 VND per person.

Visit the Golden Bridge in Da Nang.

Besides the beautiful beaches and famous bridges in Da Nang city, tourists can visit Ba Na Hills amusement park, about 30 km from the city center. Here, visitors can stroll along a 150-meter-long bridge, perched on a high hill, supported by two giant stone hands. On social media, there are over 100,000 photos of the bridge, tagged with #GoldenBridge.

Visiting the pearl island of Phu Quoc

There's a reason for that.Phu QuocAffectionately known as the "pearl island," this beautiful island, located in the Gulf of Thailand and belonging to Kien Giang province, is currently the largest tourist island in Vietnam. Phu Quoc possesses a unique charm, a sun-drenched paradise amidst lush tropical trees. If you also love secluded beaches and want to immerse yourself in clear waters and pristine nature, then Phu Quoc is the perfect choice for you.

Phu Quoc is blessed with harmonious natural scenery and a pleasant climate year-round. Long stretches of fine, cream-colored sand, clear, calm blue waters, and towering coconut trees are just some of the irresistible attractions of this place. What's special is that nature here has retained its pristine, majestic beauty, untouched by excessive tourism development that could damage the landscape. This makes it ideal for outdoor activities such as yachting, fishing, snorkeling, exploring wildlife, and picnicking.

Besides its pristine and mysterious natural beauty, the vibrant life of the simple fishermen in the fishing villages also offers tourists exciting experiences. Visitors can stop at An Thoi fishing port, enjoy the sunny summer under the cool tropical trees, or take a boat trip through the beautiful bays, admiring the nature and the hustle and bustle of the fishing villages. You can even go on a fishing boat or paddle a basket boat like a "real" fisherman.

Slow living in Mai Chau

Located in western Hoa Binh,Mai ChauMai Chau is a charming little valley nestled between majestic mountain ranges. The climate in Mai Chau is mild and pleasant year-round. Its beauty is most striking in spring, around February and March, when the bauhinia and plum blossoms blanket the area in white; or in September and October.when the rice ripens to a golden color.

One of themvillageIn Mai Chau, Lac Village is a favorite among tourists, nestled in a valley surrounded by majestic mountains and shrouded in ethereal mist. Visiting Lac Village is like stepping into a peaceful little world. With a history spanning over 700 years, Lac Village retains its rustic charm, a symbol of the rich cultural identity of the White Thai ethnic group in Mai Chau. The tranquil and dreamy atmosphere of Lac Village is breathtaking, with lush green rice fields stretching to the horizon, distant mountain peaks hidden in the hazy mist, the crisp coolness of the mountain forests, winding, clean roads, and sturdy yet simple stilt houses. This expansive natural landscape allows you to freely cycle around the village or hike along the trails. Occasionally, you'll encounter locals working in the fields, tending to the hills, or weaving brocade. You can stop anywhere to take photos, chat with the locals, and learn more about their fascinating lives.cultural identityhere.

Ha Le