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7 natural wonders you must see in Vietnam

Southeast Asia has an incredible variety of destinations for nature tours, and Vietnam has received increasing amounts of recognition for its dreamlike landscape. This country has natural wonders that sneak up to you. Round a corner, and there it is — a gushing waterfall or a terraced rice field that you never expected. The following destinations make an excellent day trip from some of Vietnam’s larger cities. Halong Bay Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful stops in all of Vietnam. It’s located in the north, about a three-hour drive from Hanoi. Pillars of limestone jut from the blue-green bay. On a boat tour, your guides will tell you what locals believe the formations most resemble — use your imagination to spot the fighting roosters and the dragon. Boat trips to the bay also stop at caves, which come with man-made stairs and railings to make for easy exploring. Ninh Binh Ninh Binh is often referred to as the Halong Bay of the land, because of the limestone formations that sit on the banks of the lush green river. Admire as your guide handles the oars with their feet. As you drift down the river, you’ll see the above-ground cemeteries that are a normal part of the Vietnamese countryside. Your boat trip also takes you through tunnels that cut through the limestone. An Binh Island Take a boat ride down the amber-colored water of the Mekong Delta to An Binh Island. This fertile island has bike paths lined with fruit trees. You can make stops along the way to watch locals weave hammocks and make handicrafts out of reeds. Locals still make most of their livelihood from traditional crafts. Hoan Kiem Lake Hoan Kiem Lake isn’t too impressive as far as lakes go, but it is notable for its location — in the middle of a busy Hanoi roundabout. Near the lake, you can find some of the city’s nicest shopping and most photographable temples and pagodas. The lake’s most notable feature is Turtle Tower, which was built in the 19th century to commemorate the famed warrior Le Loi, as well as the magical turtle that is said to live in the lake and guard his sword. Phuquoc Island Thailand gets a lot of attention for its beaches. But you’ll be missing some of the islands Fly to Phuquoc Island, off the coast of southern Vietnam, and see some of Vietnam’s prettiest beaches, with white sands and tropical rainforests. One of the most popular is Long Beach, which is on the west coast of the island. Needless to say, this is an excellent place to order up fresh seafood. Sa Pa Terraced rice paddies line the mountainsides of northern Vietnam. Take a bus through the winding hills to Sa Pa, and book a stay at a hotel with a breathtaking view of the mountains. Many visitors report that it’s best to visit during the rainy season when the fields are green and lush. Around September, when it’s time to harvest, the fields turn bright gold. Giang Dien Waterfall These waterfalls have become a popular day trip destination for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh. Spend the night under the stars in the park’s tidy campground. You can swim near the waterfall and hike around the surrounding forest. Zach Smith is CEO of Anywhere. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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14 Comments

  1. Dear friend,

    Giang Dien waterfall is not a natural wonder. It’s built by people by making rocks and dam which stop the water stream becoming waterfall. It’s only the small tourist camp site area nearby Ho Chi Minh city. We can not compare this place with Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh etc. Absolutely not same level. You can replace this place with some waterfall in Da Lat city such as Elephant waterfall, Dambri Waterfall, Datanla waterfall or Ban Gioc waterfall in the North.

    Thanks and Best wishes

    Tung from Vietnam

  2. White sands, tropical rainforests and fresh seafood sound perfect to me. Oh, and a cocktail or two as well, of course. I think Phuquoc Island looks simply idyllic. I may go and start looking up flights and see how accessible it is.

  3. Giang Dien is a closest destination for a waterfall day trip from Hochiminh City. However, if we think of spectacular waterfall in Vietnam, we can name Ban Gioc in the North of Voetnam or Draysap in Vietnam highland. In addition to Draysap waterfall natural wonder, you even can experience many untouch cultures with special etiquettes and life styles. I am happy to give more information if any loves to get

    1. Hi,

      We are hoping to do a self drive holiday in Vietnam but are more interested in the natural sights and less tourist filled spots. Will most likely focus on the north/coast however nothing is planned yet. Any advice you have would be fantastic

    2. Hi Nicole,

      I am not sure what you are driving, motorbike or car, and how long you will spend in Vietnam. But If I was you I will choose some (or all) of the following routes:
      – From Hanoi to Phu Tho, Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai. You will see amazing locoal life with terraced rice farms with the same beauty to the highlight Sapa in this post (and without tourists). Drive to Dien Bien then back to Hanoi via Son La and Hoa Binh.
      – Hue and Hoian are great towns in Central Vietnam. You can access these from Hanoi by following Hochiminh Trails. The beauty is like in the movies Avatar and King King Skull Island.
      – From Hoian you can drive to Kontum, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot, Dalat then have a rest on the beach Muine before driving to bustling Saigon.
      – In Saigon, a drive to Cuchi tunnel across rubber plantation is unforgetable.
      – Mekong delta is super easy to get access from Saigon. Motorbike is much better to explore the area by wandering in the lust green Mekong by across Long An (don’t go highway 1A) endless rice farm to Ben Tre (insides coconut villages), to Tra Vinh (rice farm and local villages), and Can Tho (floating market and beautiful local life). Homestays are the best choice in Mekong and these are easy to find via any booking platform

      Good luck and hope these brief helpful.

  4. I would really need to visit all of these places, is it possible within a couple weeks holiday?! Very interesting that Tung has pointed out that the waterfall is not a natural wonder, it’s fantastic to learn from those who live in these places. It is beautiful nonetheless, and I’d still love to visit

  5. You can manage to visit all these, plus other Vietnam hightlights, within two weeks Lia. Vietnam also has other natural wonders like Can Gio natural biosphere, Draysap water falls,Ban Gioc water fall, Nam Cat Tien national park, Bach Ma national parks, etc.

  6. The place i would recommend that i have gone to would be da nang bay or phucquoc island because of the nice waters and sandy beaches,its practically the dream of celebs.

  7. I have heard a lot about Halong Bay,Sapa or Phu quoc Island.. except An Binh Island. Can you provide more about this place?

  8. For North Vietnam, Halong Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh. Now Lan Ha Bay is a good idea.
    Some beaches in the South like Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc will be good to visit.

  9. I’ve been very fortunate that I have travelled a lot, for both business and with my family for pleasure, but one of the few places on my bucket list still is Vietnam.

    May be all that travelling and money spent on flights and hotels is the reason why unlike most of school friends I’ve still not retired. To get to the point I don’t have enough holiday in the year to take in all of these great places in one huge Vietnam holiday.

    Can anybody suggest a sensible programme, seeing the best of Vietnam, without being rushed off of our feet for a two week holiday. We are in our sixties now and have to take life a lot more slowly than we used to.

  10. It says so much for Vietnam that it can boast 7 great wonders. I went to Vietnam on my Gap Year a long time ago. It was in the days before I could afford a digital camera and sadly over the years and all the house moves I’ve got very few photos of my time there left.

    This lovely piece is such a nice reminder of my time in a beautiful country. Now that I’ve grown up and got some pennies in the bank I ought to visit Vietnam and do the country in the style it deserves this time.

  11. Here in Vietnam there are many beautiful sights, if you have time. North Vietnam is mostly for culture and adventure lovers and from Central Vietnam to South Vietnam Mui Ne, Phu Quoc Island and Con Dao Island is more for beach lovers. The main reason lies in the geographical position of Nord-Central and South Vietnam and the ethnic minorities are more concentrated in North Vietnam. If you like waterfall, you can discover Ban Gioc waterfall in northern Vietnam.

  12. There are so many beautiful places in Vietnam. Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Danang, Phu Quoc, Mekong Delta.
    Now most of things come back to normal in Vietnam after Covid19. There is no need to have a test before visiting Vietnam.

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