Vietnam is a good choice for holiday thanks to the many attractive sites it has to offer. The natural beauty is phenomenal, ranging from the vast rice fields found in the northern part of the country, to the ever busy Mekong Delta on the far south. The other features that make Vietnam stand out include its rich history and traditions marked by several historical monuments and old temples. Some of the amazing top ten tourist attractions found in Vietnam include.
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay literally translates to 'the bay of descending dragons'. It is located in Northern Vietnam on a 120 kilometer long coast line. The Bay is the most famous tourist attraction in Vietnam. There are several thousand islands that are defined by rich vegetative cover that provides a breathtaking seascape. Many of the islands in Ha Long bay are hollow, having caves that are so huge and dominant. To inhabitants who practice fishing, the islands act as floating villages.
Thien mu Pagoda (Hu)
Thien mu is a very tall pagoda. In fact, you can never find its match anywhere in the country because it is the tallest. It stands overlooking the Perfume River, and it is considered to symbolize the former Imperial capital. Built in 1601 when the Nguyen Lords ruled the area, it is no doubt an important historical building in Vietnam. The initial temple was a simple structure, but as years went by, it was developed and reconstructed to give it an even better look.
Haon Kiem Lake (Hanoi)
If you want to experience how local inhabitants of Vietnam interact and have fun, then this is the place to be. The Haon Kiem Lake is found in Hanoi and it has several leisure joints that you can visit. The name Haon Kiem translates to 'the returned sword'. According to legends, King Le Loi was given a magical weapon in form of a sword and it helped him fight and drive out the Chinese who had invaded them. He later returned the sword in the lake and handed it to the gods.
Hoi An
Hoi An is found in the coastal part of South China sea. It's among the most popular fishing villages in Vietnam and since the 16th century, it acted as an international port. Over time, most business concerning shipping has been moved to Da Nang city, but the history in Hoi An remains intact. It is defined by lanes that seem to wind on, and Chinese styled shops. It is also known as "Venice of Vietnam' because it has narrow canals that intersect part of the town.
Phu Quoc
This is the largest island in Vietnam. It is made up of amazing tropical forests, outstanding beaches and perfect coral reefs. Bai Da (Long Beach) one of its beaches is ranked among the top five cleanest and most beautiful beaches by ABC news. Phu Quoc is also one of the world's largest producers of Nuoc mam (fermented fish sauce).
Sa Pa Terraces
Another great tourist attraction you can visit is the Sa Pa town in the Northwest part of Vietnam near the Chinese border. There are several rice terraces at Muong Hoa valley, located between Sa Pa and the Fansipan Mountain. A huge backdrop of beautiful bamboo woodlands makes it even more serene.
Mui Ne
Over the last 15 years, this beach has undergone several developments and it now has a lot of activities compared to its former state. Tourists who want to fly kites or do wind surfing always go to Mui Ne because of the strong sea breezes there. Just a little further away, you can experience the marvelous sand dunes on the northern part of the town. And from there, you can watch some of the most interesting panoramic views, especially when the sun is going down. You will melt at the beauty of the scene.
Mekong Delta
The Mekong delta is found at the place where River Mekong meets the sea to empty its water. It provides lush scenery, with a lot of vegetation such as rice plantations. This is the place where most of the Agricultural produce in Vietnam comes from. The people staying around the area base much of their activities in the river. As a tourist in Mekong delta, you may have to get used to moving around in boats, because road transport is not so common there.
The Cu Chi Tunnels
Located about 40 km in the Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) these underground tunnels are of great historical significance. The Viet Cong guerrilla fighters used the tunnels as a hiding place when they were fighting the Vietnam War. They acted as the operations base for Tet Offensive in 1968. It provides a great tourist attraction point, and if you visit, you are allowed to explore the tunnels by crawling inside the safe places and experiencing what it must have felt like for those who used to stay inside during the war.
Nha Trang
This place will give you an experience of beautiful beaches with pristine sands and the perfect temperature to relax. It is regarded as Vietnam's most renowned seaside resort. With about 300,000 inhabitants, Nha Trang is full of life compared to other beaches like Phu Quoc and Mui Ne. It is where tourists who are interested in Scuba diving go to when they want to have fun.