Top 12 things to do in Vietnam

   28.07.2026    Updated: Cameron Hagan

Vietnam is a land of staggering diversity which rewards travellers who go beyond the obvious. While iconic destinations like Ha Long Bay and Hoi An are naturally on traveller bucket lists, less-visited regions such as Ha Giang, Phong Nha and Da Lat hold unique and wonderful experiences. At TransIndus, we create itineraries that feel seamless, personal and well-paced, drawing on decades of specialist experience and on-the-ground relationships across the country.

Our UK-based TransIndus specialists travel to Vietnam regularly, road-testing routes, hotels and experiences first-hand, so you can book with the confidence that your itinerary is built on genuine, up-to-date knowledge. Below are twelve of the best Vietnamese experiences to inspire your next journey, written in order from north to south from our inhouse specialist Cameron. If you’d like to visit Vietnam, contact us and we will craft you a journey which fits your pace, interests and travel style.

Water Puppet Show in Hanoi

Hanoi’s water puppet shows are a charming first taste of Vietnam’s traditional performance culture.

Water puppetry is a Vietnamese art form dating back to the 11th century, where colourful wooden puppets dance on a water stage. At the cost of roughly $4 and usually lasting around 45 minutes, it’s a must-see in Hanoi. It features folkloric scenes – rice farming, fishing and dragon myths – giving you a fun insight into the culture which inspired the show.

After the show, follow your curiosity into the alleys for steaming bowls of pho, crisp bánh mì and bun cha served on tiny plastic stools, proof that some of Vietnam’s finest dining still happens at pavement level. It’s an ideal first taste of the country: informal, sociable and full of character.

I saw the water puppet show on just my second day in Vietnam. After the show had ended, I wandered with a friend to the nearby Hoàn Kiếm Lake with a deck of cards. As we shuffled and dealt our cards on a bench overlooking the lake, two Vietnamese children approached us and asked to play! They were practicing their English, which was very impressive considering they were eight and six years old. We played snap for around 15 minutes and laughed together for almost every minute. This kind of warm embrace from the local people is exactly what I experienced throughout the whole of my journey. It is a memory I will cherish forever!

• Best for: Culture lovers, first-time visitors, families.
• Allow: 2–3 hours (including dinner).
• Don't miss: Bánh mì or pho from a nearby street food stall after the performance.

Hanoi Holidays

Ha Long Bay cruises

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its 1,133 limestone islands and islets rising from emerald waters (source). The bay is roughly a 2-4 hour drive from Hanoi depending on traffic. A classic way to experience it is a cruise on a “junk” boat (wooden sailboats) through the bay’s misty seascape – a real postcard moment. These boats are spacious, clean and full of character (as pictured above). – don’t let the “junk” name fool you!

Expect to visit caves (like Surprise Cave) and floating villages, swim or kayak. UNESCO calls Ha Long’s karst scenery “a spectacular seascape sculpted by nature” and “a unique reservoir of geological data”, making a cruise through the bay a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We recommend an overnight stay on deck to capture the atmosphere of the bay at dusk and dawn rather than doing a rushed day trip.

• Best for: Scenic cruises, couples, photographers.
• Allow: 2 days / 1 night (minimum).
• Don't miss: An overnight junk cruise with kayaking and sunrise on deck.

Ha Long Bay cruises

Ha Giang Loop

Roughly a 6 hour drive from Hanoi, the remote northern region of Ha Giang is home to some of Vietnam's most spectacular mountain scenery. The “Ha Giang Loop” is the most common journey to enjoy these views. Often spanning three or four days, you’ll wind through hairpin bends, see terraced fields and visit friendly markets along the way. Most travellers tackle the loop by motorbike with an experienced local driver, staying in small homestays or rustic lodges that bring you closer to local life. It’s a journey that suits confident, curiosity-led travellers, and is best woven into a northern Vietnam route that also takes in Hanoi, Ha Long and Sapa.

When I explored the Ha Giang Loop, we stopped at a market stall and played đá cầu (foot badminton) with a group of local boys, which was a fun encounter and was far harder than I anticipated – but they made it look easy!

• Best for: Adventure seekers, mountain scenery, off-the-beaten-track travel.
• Allow: 3–4 days.
• Don't miss: Riding with a local driver ('Easy Rider') for the safest and most enjoyable experience.

Ha Giang Tours

Walking the Trails of Sapa

Sapa combines scenic trekking with opportunities to experience the culture of northern Vietnam’s hill communities, and was perhaps the most authentic-feeling experience of my journey through Vietnam. Trekking through the hill country inhabited by local Hmong communities was a challenging yet rewarding experience, especially when we were walking alongside the local people and being dazzled by the intricate hand-embroidered textiles they had for sale. Expect to see terraced fields, bamboo groves and misty valleys along the way.

Stays in comfortable lodges or upgraded homestays give you time to pause between walks, enjoy simple, home-cooked meals and learn about local textiles, farming methods and traditions at a gentle pace.

• Best for: Walking holidays, cultural experiences with local people, nature lovers.
• Allow: 2–3 days.
• Don't miss: A guided trek through Hmong villages with an overnight homestay or lodge.

The Ethnic Trails of Sapa Tour

Phong Nha caves

Located in central Vietnam, the World Heritage National Park of Phong Nha boasts some of the world’s largest and most incredible caves. In fact, the largest cave in the world is located here – Hang Son Doong – measuring in at 38.5 million cubic metres (source). Other than the sheer size of the caves, walking through them feels otherworldly. Endless stalagmites and stalactites fill the popular “Paradise Cave”, a dry 1.6km walkway beautifully lit up by carefully placed LED lights.

There are several other experiences on offer in and around Phong Nha too. For the adventurers among you, you can zipline towards a mud bath in “Dark Cave”, which can be accompanied by a water sports session, where visitors can kayak, go down water slides and run through assault courses – all while surrounded by striking cave exteriors. It’s worth mentioning there are showers on site!

There is also a fantastic experience called “Duck Stop” a short drive away from the caves. For a very small fee (it was only 100k Dong, or roughly £3, when I went), you can visit a small farm with a duck enclosure, where you can lead a group of ducks as you walk around with seeds so they all follow you and you feed them! If you are in Phong Nha for the caves, this is certainly worth the visit for a fun and long-lasting memory.

• Best for: Adventure, caves, families, nature lovers.
• Allow: 2 days.
• Don't miss: Paradise Cave and the Duck Stop!

Hue's History

Hue was Vietnam's imperial capital under the Nguyen Dynasty and remains one of the country's most historically significant cities. Its complex of monuments was Vietnam’s royal capital (1802–1945) under the Nguyen emperors and the city remains one of Vietnam’s most historically rich cities. A day with a knowledgeable guide brings the Citadel, royal tombs and pagodas to life, tracing stories of court life, war and reconstruction among lotus ponds and moss-covered walls.

• Best for: History, architecture.
• Allow: 1–2 days.
• Don't miss: The Imperial Citadel and a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River.

Tours including Hue

Experience the charm of Hoi An

Hoi An is a beautiful coastal city which combines seaside leisure with heritage, located a 30-45 minute drive from Da Nang airport. During the day, visitors can relax by the golden sandy beaches, enjoy a local cookery class, or explore the nearby My Son temple complex – a cluster of 4th–13th century Hindu Cham temples in a forested valley. Coconut boating is another distinctive experience in Hoi An, where you travel along the scenic riverways in traditional bamboo basket boats and stylish rice hats.

At night, lanterns give the Ancient Town its signature atmosphere. There are a number of lovely local restaurants and energetic bars along the river which flows through the city. As it is in central Vietnam, our clients love to use Hoi An as a restful 2-3 day pit stop to enjoy some free time at the beach. If you are travelling from Hue (as aforementioned), you can travel by car on the Hai Van pass, a breathtaking 21km mountain road famous for its sharp curves, ocean views, and misty peaks.

• Best for: Relaxation, food, couples, beach holidays.
• Allow: 3 days.
• Don't miss: Blissful relaxation.

Hoi An Holidays

Adventures in Da Lat

Da Lat is a forested resort city known for French colonial villas, flower gardens and adrenaline activities – most notably canyoning at Datanla Falls and the Alpine-style rollercoaster tobogganing through the Prenn Valley. The altitude of around 1500m means it retains a cool temperature throughout the year, which can be a welcome respite during the warmer months of peak season.

Da Lat also has a more whimsical side, being home to “Crazy House” and “Maze bar”. Crazy House is an architectural landmark which you can explore at your own pace, with winding paths, stunning paintings and a peaceful garden area to walk through – well worth the entry which costs less than £2. Maze bar is another aesthetically bizarre yet undeniably fun attraction, best explored in the evening – where visitors face a challenge, as you walk/climb through the maze to find the bar!

Though not on the typical tourist trail, Da Lat is well suited for thrill seekers who would like a few days in a cooler climate compared to much of Vietnam.

• Best for: Outdoor adventures, thrill seekers, cooler climates.
• Allow: 2 days.
• Don't miss: Exploring the Crazy House.

Holidays to Da Lat

Cruise along the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam is a labyrinth of rivers, canals and fertile farmland. A quintessential activity is a river cruise through its waterways, especially seeing floating markets (like Cai Rang or Cai Be) where farmers trade produce from their boats. On these tours you can opt to cycling along quiet village roads to coconut workshops or orchards, or walk along pathways to learn about local life from wood weavers and farmers, giving a taste of rural Delta life. These river cruises can range in length, from a single overnight stay in Southern Vietnam to a mighty three week journey through neighbouring Laos and Cambodia.

Known as Vietnam’s “rice bowl,” the Mekong Delta produces 90% of Vietnam’s rice exports, 70% of its fruit, and 60% of its seafood (source). Cruising its maze of tributaries and markets is an immersive cultural experience – markets in the dawn light with fruit hung on poles, stilt houses and lush green scenery surround you on the boat. Onboard you will be treated to freshly caught seafood, which in my experience was the best seafood I have ever eaten – even though I’m not usually a big seafood eater.

• Best for: Slow travel, local culture, river cruises.
• Allow: 2–3 days (or longer as part of a Mekong cruise).
• Don't miss: Walking/cycling through riverside villages.

Cruises along the Mekong

Vespa tours in Ho Chi Minh City

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable ways to get around the former capital of south Vietnam is on a Vespa – a motorised scooter which you will find all over Vietnam. The hectic streets are a joy to watch firsthand, as you combine sightseeing with street food stops while zigging and zagging through the traffic.

The roads are chaotic for even the most seasoned motorcyclists, so I would recommend hopping on the back of a licensed guide’s vespa, and they’ll guide you through the city and provide commentary along the way. On a TransIndus vespa tour of Ho Chi Minh City, you can expect to see quintessentially Vietnamese attractions, such as the ‘Bird Lovers’ Club’ in Tao Dan Park, the flower market on Nghi Tam Avenue, a funeral home (to experience a traditional funeral service), traditional textile bazaar and Chinese medicine quarter.

• Best for: Foodies, city explorers, thrill-seekers.
• Allow: Half a day or evening.
• Don't miss: An evening street food tour with a local guide.

Vespa Tours of Ho Chi Minh City

Explore The Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels provide a powerful and immersive introduction to Vietnam’s wartime history. A 45-60 minute car journey from Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive underground network of hundreds of kilometres used by Viet Cong guerrillas during the Vietnam War. This is a must-see attraction for history lovers, often paired with a visit to the emotional War Remnants Museum in the city.

Walking in the Viet Cong’s footsteps – literally – is a sobering, hands-on way to understand Vietnam’s history. Visitors can crawl through widened sections of tunnels, peek into hidden trapdoors and bunkers, and even try shooting an AK-47 among other guns at the onsite range.

The small, dark tunnels give you a visceral sense of wartime ingenuity and hardship. While you can crawl through up to 100m of tunnels, if you are claustrophobic or have a larger frame I would not recommend it, but there is still plenty to be gained from a visit to the site without the crawl.

• Best for: History enthusiasts, educational travel.
• Allow: Half a day.
• Don't miss: Combining your visit with the War Remnants Museum for greater historical context.

Visit The Cu Chi Tunnels

Snorkelling on Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc is a quiet island located south of Cambodia, known for white-sand beaches and colourful coral reefs, perfect for snorkelling or scuba diving. The island is also home to Phu Quoc National Park, where forest trails lead through tropical jungle to panoramic viewpoints, as well as several other smaller hiking routes with superb views upon summiting. If you are travelling north to south, relaxing on the beach and staying in one of the many gorgeous luxury resorts while being surrounded by peaceful nature offers a delightful end to your Vietnamese holiday.

• Best for: Beach holidays, snorkelling, relaxation, honeymooners, families.
• Allow: 3–5 days.
• Don't miss: Snorkelling around the An Thoi Islands and trekking in Phu Quoc National Park.

Phu Quoc Island Holidays

Looking to book a luxury holiday to Vietnam? Browse some of our favourite tours below, or get in touch with your preferences and we can recommend suitable small group tours to Vietnam or organise a bespoke tour package for you.