13 of the best places to visit in Vietnam in 2026 The Times Claire Boobbyer | Lee Cobaj, Vietnam experts Video 13 of the best places to visit in Vietnam in 2026 Hanoi and Halong Bay will top many wish lists, but go beyond the tourist trail to find crowd-free bays, idyllic rice-field retreats and the world's largest cave Luon Cave in Halong Bay Alamy Claire Boobbyer and Lee Cobaj , Vietnam experts Sunday October 25 2026, 5.00am GMT , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 18:44 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save V ietnam may have one of the oldest continuous histories of any nation on earth, but with 25 per cent of its 101 million population made up of millennials, it has a fun, youthful vibe. It's this dynamic blend of old and new that has powered the country from post-war poverty into one of the fastest growing economies in Asia — and one of the hottest (and most affordable) tourism destinations in the region. It's a short hop from my home in Hong Kong and I've visited more times than I can count, writes Lee Cobaj . I've cruised the ethereal jade waters of Halong Bay, cycled through rice fields in Ninh Binh, scrambled through otherworldly caves in Phong Nha, shopped up a storm in Hoi An, chowed down on fragrant street food in Ho Chi Minh City and tested dazzling beaches from north to south. But the country offers a lifetime of exploration and has much to be discovered outside the tourism big-hitters — from the rippling mountains of the highlands and serene island archipelagos to ancient Cham-Hindu temples that are more than a millennia old. These are the best places to visit in Vietnam. Most commented 1 El Niño is here: what is it and what will the impact be? Environment 177 comments 2 Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish arts held back by 'cringe factor' and red tape Scotland 56 comments 3 Briton drowns trying to save sons in Bahamas: 'a hero in life and death' UK 38 comments 4 Emboldened Gianni Infantino claims 'vast, vast majority' back him Football 56 comments 5 Inside the tiny organisation staving off internet meltdown Technology 24 comments All recommendations within this article are informed by independent expert editorial opinion. This article contains affiliate links and links to our in-house travel agency, Times Holidays, all of which will earn us revenue. If you only have . . . One week Hanoi, Halong Bay and Mai Chau Valley Two weeks Hanoi, Halong Bay, Mai Chau Valley, Hue, My Son, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City Three weeks Hanoi, Halong Bay, Mai Chau Valley, Ha Giang, Dalat, Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Hue, My Son, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Con Dao A tight budget Balance domestic flights with long-distance train journeys and the excellent network of hop-on, hop-off “open tickets” on air-conditioned minibuses How to book Click the “Book now” button to start organising your trip with Times Holidays, our in-house travel agency, or one of our affiliate partners 1. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Boats moored in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Getty Images Covering an area as large as Gloucestershire, Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park is where you'll find the world's largest cave — a void so enormous that you could theoretically fly a Boeing 747 through its gargantuan chambers. It's one of more than 450 caves that have so far been discovered in the area, tunnelling through limestone mountains like Swiss cheese, some with underground rivers, beaches and endemic plant species. Away from the big Vietnamese holiday destinations, there's barely a tourist in sight and a whole world of things to do, from adventurous hikes and subterranean boat trips to swimming in rock pools. Make it happen Mainly staffed by local villagers, guests at Auko Eco-Wellness Lodges stay in stilted glamping tents linked by a floating bamboo walkway. Complimentary wellness activities include sunrise yoga, contrast therapy and 30-minute foot massages. Advertisement InsideAsia has a 13-night Adventurer's Vietnam tour, which includes three exhilarating nights in Phong Nha with cave treks. 2. Hanoi A busy intersection in the Old Quarter of Hanoi Getty Images Hanoi is noisy, traffic-choked and beautiful all at once. The thousand-year-old city of lakes, founded on a bend of the Red River, is full of history, charm, museums, shops, markets and wonderful street food. Don't miss the Old Quarter, the heart of the city, where you'll find lots of food, hotels and temples cheek-by-jowl with shops. Learn how to dodge the motorbikes while on a street-food tour or exploring the ochre-coloured French colonial villas, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, the “Hanoi Hilton” prison museum of Hoa Lo and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Make it happen The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is where Graham Greene stayed in 1951 while working for Paris Match . It's the city's top address and is elegant throughout. Read our full review of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi The Vietnam Adventure 14-day tour from Exodus starts with two full days in Hanoi with a comprehensive city tour, before moving to Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City where you can see the Cu Chi tunnels, before concluding with a multi-day Mekong Delta trip. Advertisement Best hotels in Hanoi 3. Ha Giang Hmong girls in traditional clothes in Ha Giang Alamy Ha Giang is Vietnam's northernmost region, pushing up against the border with China. It's an otherworldly landscape of sugarloaf peaks, mountain passes and rice paddies carved into impossibly steep mountains. Spend time in villages where Red Dzao, Flower Hmong and other people from local ethnic minority backgrounds live, and you'll find markets and eco-stays that offer a window into a rural world of timeless traditions. Don't miss the palace of the Hmong king who raked in revenue from opium farming. En route, stop at the dazzling rice paddy region of Mu Cang Chai. Make it happen Panhou Retreat, up in the mountains, is a peaceful nature resort with bungalows dotted amid the trees, a spa, and hot springs. Inside Asia's 11-day Vietnam's Northern Soul tour is an in-depth exploration of the region taking in trekking, rice paddies, tea terraces, markets and visits to remote villages. 4. Pu Luong and Mai Chau The rice terraces of Pu Luong alamy Not too far from Hanoi are these idyllic retreats found amid neon-green rice paddies. At Pu Luong Nature Reserve, with its homestays and eco-retreats, trek past the paddies and orchards of the Muong people and cruise down a river on a traditional bamboo raft in a landscape woven with traditional water wheels. This area is home to rare Asian black bears, Owston's palm civets and endangered Delacour's langurs. Two hours north is the exceptionally beautiful Mai Chau Valley, a serene landscape of rice paddies. Advertisement Make it happen The lovely Avana Retreat was built and is staffed by local Hmong, White Thai and Black Thai people. Its beautiful thatched rooms blend with the rippling contours of rice paddies. This 11-day G Adventures tour is one of few that takes in trekking in Pu Luong as well as an overnight stay and a barbecue lunch made by local chefs. 5. Bai Tu Long Bay, Halong Bay Head to Bai Tu Long Bay to escape the crowds Alamy Boats — from junks to elegant luxury vessels — cruise through the waters of Unesco-protected Halong Bay, which is studded with thousands of craggy limestone outcrops. It's an ethereal landscape and with each turn of weather can bring dense fog or crisp blue skies. It won't matter — it's all enchanting. To make the most of it, head out on a boat for at least two nights to cruise to the outer “fortress” of towers — Bai Tu Long Bay. To the east of Halong, the area escapes the crowds of one-day and one-night boats. Make it happen Audley's 17-day Classic Vietnam tour includes two nights on the Orchid Classic boat exploring the limestone stacks and coves of the outer limits of the bay. Kuoni can arrange an overnight cruise with long-established luxury operator Bhaya Cruises, which has a sustainable ethos and a collection of beautiful boats. Advertisement 6. Hue and the DMZ A gate in the Imperial City of Hue getty images Hue was the cultural and political power base of the Nguyen emperors, Vietnam's last imperial dynasty. They built a citadel, gilded in bronze, enamel and lacquer, with gates for themselves, elephants and their minions, based on the Forbidden City of Beijing. They lived in extravagant regal splendour surrounded by concubines and eunuchs. And they fashioned their last resting places, gothic-meets-Confucius in design, landscaped with streams, statues and elaborate graves that trace the serpentine route of Hue's Perfume River. This city is often overlooked in favour of Hoi An as a central Vietnam stop, but don't miss it. The thousand-plus dishes of the imperial household are still eaten too. From here, explore the Demilitarized Zone marking the border established in 1954 between the communist north and the US-backed south. Make it happen Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort and Spa is an exquisite address just outside the historic centre of Hue. Expect garden rooms, leafy plots, a spa and a perfect oblong pool. Abercrombie & Kent's 11-day tailormade Highlights of Vietnam tour helps you get under the country's skin with two full days exploring the pagodas and palaces of Hue and the Perfume River — you can even add on dinner in one of the royal gardens. Travel newsletter Your weekly round-up of the best travel inspiration, guides, hotel reviews and advice from our experts. Sign up with one click You've successfully signed up to the Travel newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Travel newsletter Explore our newsletters 7. Danang and China beach Man Thai is one of many great beaches in Danang getty images China beach, an 18-mile curve of golden sand along the sea, was made famous by thousands of American GIs who would sunbathe here for R&R during the Vietnam War. Today, it's home to some top hotel retreats, such as the Four Seasons and, hidden amid the forest of monkeys on a small peninsula, the outstanding InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula designed by the Asia-based architect Bill Bensley. But there's more — the incomparable Museum of Cham Sculpture with its beautiful carved sandstone works, the nearby Unesco-protected ruins of My Son, the spiritual capital of the Cham people, and Danang's fire-breathing Dragon Bridge. Make it happen The design master Bill Bensley has worked his magic on the glamorous InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula. Come for the cute funicular, the pool villas and the restaurant. Advertisement Explore!'s 14-day Inside Vietnam tour is one of few taking in the Cham museum, the My Son ruins and an optional visit to My Lai, site of a wartime massacre. 8. Hoi An The old town of Hoi An getty images Yes, it draws in tourists, but that's because it's gorgeous. The ancient port of Hoi An is filled with Chinese temples, large merchant houses and hundreds of tailors and craft shops. One-storey ochre-coloured homes line the small lantern-lit streets along the Unesco-protected town's Thu Bon River. Come for the atmosphere, tailor-made clothes and delicious street food including some tantalising local dishes. Nearby An Bang beach provides downtime too. Make it happen Four Seasons the Nam Hai is a sublime beachfront property. Large, gorgeous villas dot the peaceful gardens, where pools and coconut palms face the sea. Wendy Wu's 12-day Vietnam at a Glance tour ensures time spent immersed in Hoi An, meeting artisans and visiting a farming village — plus plenty left for tailoring. 9. Ninh Van Bay The beach at Ninh Van Bay GETTY IMAGES The draw here is the fantastic stays including the likes of dreamy An Lam Retreats Ninh Van Bay and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, set on a sublime stretch of sand with villas tucked away between and behind huge boulders. For something less languid, the Ba Ho waterfall is just north and there are the forests of the peninsula to be explored too — look out for the rare black-shanked douc langur along the way. A quick speedboat will take you to the bustle of Nah Trang, home to the highly regarded Hybrid bar which champions local ingredients in entirely modern cocktails. Make it happen Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is a barefoot getaway with villas and their private pools perched on huge biscuit-coloured boulders facing the sea. It's boho, supremely beautiful and comes with butler service. Scott Dunn's 11-night Rare Earth, Vietnam private tour includes four nights at Ninh Van Bay and organised activities such as hiking and learning about how the incredibly rare Sunda pangolin and pygmy slow loris have been spotted in the area. 10. Dalat Sunrise at Tuyen Lam lake in Dalat Alamy Dalat is a quirky place. A former French hill station up in the pine-scented highlands with a central lake, it's ringed by attractive early 20th-century homes and villas (some hotels, some museums), markets, flower gardens and waterfalls. There's even a golf course. Today, the city is filled with bars and cute cafés, and it's a great base from which to explore a load of kooky spots including the Crazy House homestay, cactus and coffee playground Kombi Land and a dragon statue made from thousands of glass bottles. Don't miss checking out the French-built railway station. Make it happen Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa is a cute little hilltop hotel fashioned from an ochre-coloured villa. Intrepid Travel's Travel's 20-day Best of Vietnam offers plenty of time to explore Dalat, its quirky sites and coffee culture. 11. Ho Chi Minh City A street vendor in Ho Chi Minh City Alamy Ho Chi Minh is a heady city of nine million people and eight million motorbikes. It has brilliant street food, is draped in a fantastic array of fairy lights and is fuelled by a growing craft beer, spirit and cocktail scene and a thrilling, infectious energy. What two decades ago was a fairly low-rise city has now been dwarfed by an army of high rises. Don't miss exploring the streets on the back of a motorbike, visiting the top sites, and taking a trip out to the Viet Cong tunnels at Cu Chi and the fantastically decorated Cao Dai cathedral at Tay Ninh. Sampling the food and coffee goes without saying. Make it happen The Park Hyatt Saigon isn't the best-looking from the outside. Step inside, though, and it's a dazzler. Its restaurants and bars are top city addresses and the lovely pool is a boon on humid days. It's right in the heart of the city too, just behind the opera house. More great hotels in Ho Chi Minh City Riviera Travel's 16-day Vietnam and Cambodia tour includes a three night-stay in Ho Chi Minh City and ensures plenty of time to take in the sites and the food, as well as a visit to the tunnels at Cu Chi nearby. 12. Mekong Delta A fruit vendor at a floating market on the Mekong Delta getty images The liquid fingers of the Mekong River slink through southern Vietnam into the sea. Here you'll find a mostly rural way of life with floating markets, temples and churches, and market farms harvesting coconut, bananas, mangos and veg. It's not so much about specific sites but rather a dip into the region's culture — a mix of Cham, Khmer and Vietnamese, war history (the Viet Cong forest bunkers at Xeo Quyt are fascinating), wetlands and birds, and delicious food. Make it happen The prettily illuminated, French-inspired Victoria Can Tho faces the waterfront in lush grounds on the edge of Can Tho city. You can tour the waterways and floating markets of the delta using its own boats. On Wendy Wu's seven-night Mekong cruise on the eco-friendly Victoria Mekong you'll visit floating markets and local temples, meet artisans and explore wetlands. Best Mekong cruises for an unforgettable adventure Video: cruising the Mekong 13. Con Dao Visitors at the cemetery on Con Dao getty images Con Dao was once a prison island run by the French. Today, this remote island off the south coast of Vietnam is a nature paradise, internationally recognised (by Ramsar) wetland area and home to the most important location for nesting sea turtles in Vietnam. Hike, snorkel, dive, sunbathe on the beautiful beaches, visit the turtle sites, and watch the squid boats at work. Visit its museum and sites too: the cemetery of Vietnamese martyrs' graves features seats built for their ghosts. Make it happen The remote, secluded hideaway of Six Senses Con Dao is luxury escapism made manifest. The contemporary, glassy villas with private pools are right on the sugar-soft island sands; excellent food, the spa and snorkelling are on tap. Scott Dunn has a 16-night Ultimate Journey through Vietnam and Cambodia, which starts in Siem Reap and ends with three nights languishing on the beach at the exquisite Six Senses Con Dao. Additional reporting by Imogen Lepere Top stories 1 I took hallucinogenics to cure my PTSD from being an NHS paramedic Health & Fitness Top stories 1 Who is Jon Ossoff, the Democrat on everyone's lips for 2028? US politics 2 Bank shares are booming. Here's why I won't be buying any Saving & Investing 3 Ollie Chessum and Henry Pollock scuffle as Leicester take derby glory Rugby union 4 From slot machines to slot canyons — my road trip from Las Vegas to Utah US We regularly reassess and refresh this list, adding the latest advice and inspiration What's your favourite place to visit in Vietnam? Please share in the comments below Travel Destinations Asia Vietnam Hanoi What to do in Vietnam Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save