Cruising around Halong Bay
From must-do activities like cruising around Halong Bay or crawling through the Cu Chi Tunnels to brag-worthy feats like drinking snake wine or scuba diving in the South China Sea, here are 40 unforgettable experiences to have in Vietnam. See how many you can check off on your trip.
1. Ride a classic cyclo, Vietnam's ubiquitous three-wheel bicycle taxis.
2. Tuck into a bowl of steaming pho at a street-side restaurant.
3. Light incense at the famous Perfume Pagoda, one of Vietnam's most famous Buddhist shrines.
5. Hire a motorbike and zoom along the city streets.
6. Attend one of Vietnam's unique festivals like the Elephant Racing Festival in Tay Nguyen, the Huong Pagoda Festival or the Le Mat Snake Village Festival.
7. Take a hill tribe trek through the Sapa Valley.
8. Get a suit or dress tailor-made in Hoi An.
9. Learn about Vietnam's turbulent war years at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City.
10. Watch a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi.
11. Take a street food tour of Hanoi.
12. Ride a dug-out canoe around Lak Lake.
13. Visit the Cai Be floating market on a cruise along the Mekong Delta.
Hiking through the Sapa Hills
15. Crawl through the famous Cu Chi Tunnels on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City.
16. Check out Vietnam's tallest temple, the seven-story Tien Mu Pagoda in Hue.
17. Top up your tan at the white sand beaches of Phu Quoc island.
18. Go sandboarding down the Mui Ne sand dunes.
19. Experience Vietnam's rich cultural heritage with a show at the Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh.
20. Hunt for bargains at the markets of Ho Chi Minh City.
21. Enjoy wildlife spotting and bird watching in the UNESCO-listed Can Gio Biosphere Reserve.
22. Savor the unique flavors of Vietnamese cuisine with a cooking class.
23. Visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of My Son.
24. Attend a traditional Vietnamese wedding.
25. Ride the scenic Reunification Express train all the way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city.
26. Hike through the Cuc Phuong National Park.
27. Get off-the-beaten-track and explore the natural grottoes of Tam Coc.
28. Take a cruise around Halong Bay on a Junk boat.
29. Purchase some typical Vietnamese souvenirs, like a conical hat, a tailored silk blouse or local handicrafts.
31. Pay your respects to the founder of unified Vietnam at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex in Hanoi.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
32. Photograph the spectacular rice terraces surrounding Sa Pa.
34. Look down over Ho Chi Minh City from the Saigon Skydeck.
35. Join the festivities at the vibrant Tet Festival, the Vietnamese New Year.
36. Scale Vietnam's highest peak, Fan Si Pan.
37. Try Vietnam's scariest beverage, Snake Wine - if you dare.
38. Stroll through the spectacular Paradise Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
39. Take a steamy bath in the Thanh Tan Hot Springs.
40. Enjoy a traditional foot massage while lounging on the beach.
-- Contributed by Zoe Smith for Viator
All photos courtesy of Viator
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.