Summer vacation in Vietnam: the best experiences and destinations
2Summer in Vietnam, which is from May to August, is an ideal time to relax and explore new destinations. Whether you are seeking beach, mountain, countryside, or city experiences, Vietnam offers them all. Let’s enjoy your summer vacation in Vietnam with Handspan Travel Indochina!
Through this blog post, you will find out these pieces of information below.
- Coastal blissing
- Mountain adventuring
- Immersing in the vibrant city life
- Exploring Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
- Embarking on a boat trip through the Mekong Delta
Coastal blissing
Coastal blissing in Vietnam
Your summer vacation in Vietnam will not be complete if you don’t get yourself immersed in the stunning sandy beaches. Vietnam has a coastline of 3,260 kilometers stretching from the North to the South. From dramatic karst formations to idyllic sandy beaches, Vietnam's coastline offers a diverse range of experiences for beach lovers. Below are some highlights of Vietnam’s beach destinations you may not want to miss for your trip.
Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.
Halong Bay
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country's most iconic natural wonders. Coming here, you can find various islands and islets with distinct forms and shapes. They are Dau Nguoi Islet, Dragon Islet, La Vong Islet, Ga Choi Islet, Lu Huong Islet, etc. Hidden in the heart of these rocky islands are beautiful caves associated with many magical legends. Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, and Tam Cung Cave are some outstanding names.
Thien Cung Cave
Sung Sot Cave
For more detailed information about Halong Bay, you can read our blog post: Exploring Halong Bay - The world heritage site and natural wonder.
Besides Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay is also ideal for admiring stunning landscape and immersing in stunning beaches. Let’s enjoy sailing among thousands of majestic limestone rocks with our Treasure Junk Cruise.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Treasure Junk
Nha Trang
Nha Trang Beach
Nha Trang is also an ideal destination for your summer vacation in Vietnam. Besides amazing spots in the city like the Museum Of Oceanography, Po Nagar Tower, and Long Son Pagoda, Nha Trang is more attractive with beautiful beaches, islands, and islets. Mun Island, Tre Island, Chong Islet, and Diep Son Island are some names. Coming to these islands, not only will you have a chance to immerse in cool crystal water, but you can also join exciting activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, water motor, kayaking, parachuting, etc. Let’s refer to our Nha Trang travel guide for more attractions and things to do in Nha Trang.
Tam Island
Diep Son Island
Snorkeling in the Mun Island
Phu Quoc
Dai Beach Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam, is regarded as a pearl island with pristine and wild natural beauties. With its available advantages, this destination is ideal for a beach holiday in Vietnam. Visiting Phu Quoc, you will have the chance to admire the charming sceneries of pristine Sao, Khem, Truong, Long, and many other beaches, the diverse system of flora and fauna, and the marine ecosystem of fishes, coral reefs in different sizes and shapes, etc. Besides, you also have an opportunity to learn about the heroic fighting history of Vietnam during the two wars in Phu Quoc Prison. Join our Phu Quoc Beach Break for a complete experience here.
Truong Beach
Sao Beach
Coral reef in Phu Quoc
Tiger Cage in Phu Quoc Prison
Besides Halong Bay, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc, Vietnam also has many other beach destinations. Let’s refer to our Vietnam beach holiday tours here.
Mountain adventuring
Mountain adventuring is no doubt one of the experiences you should not miss for your summer vacation in Vietnam. Compared to the cities, the temperature during summer time is cooler and milder in the mountainous areas. Let’s head to Sapa, Mai Chau, and Ha Giang with us!
Sapa, the city in the fog
Sapa
Located in the northwest of Vietnam, Sapa is a famous hill station in Lao Cai province near the China border. It's an amazing place that has everything a traveler is looking for. Sapa possesses an amazing natural beauty with imposing mountains and green valleys, fascinating cultures and traditions of many hill tribes, and beautiful pleasant weather all year round. Conquering Fansipan Mountain, trekking around beautiful villages, learning about the local’s life, and trying local food are some amazing things to do in Sapa. Refer to our Sapa tour packages to have a complete experience in Sapa and surrounding regions.
Rice fields in Sapa
Local people in Sapa
Trekking in Ta Van Sapa
Fansipan Mountain
Mai Chau, a stunning valley in the Northwest of Vietnam
Mai Chau in harvesting season
Mai Chau is a land formed, shaped, and painted by nature and human beings with different materials: sandstone, limestone, clay, a thick layer of humus, diverse cultures, different histories, ways of leaving, etc. This destination boasts many impressive sights that are worth joining some activities to explore, such as walking, trekking, riding, boating, etc. The names Lac, Pom Coong, Mai Hich, Pu Bin, Thung Khe, Ba Khan, and Hang Kia make a good list. For more detailed information about Mai Chau’s impressive spots, please visit our blog post: The top 11 amazing attractions in Mai Chau you should not miss.
Mai Chau
Pom Coong Village
Lac Village
Ha Giang
Harvesting season in Ha Giang
With an exceptionally stunning landscape of mountains, rice fields, rivers, forests, and friendly local people, Ha Giang is indeed one of the ideal spots for your summer vacation in Vietnam. Besides trekking, you will have a chance to join other exciting activities in Ha Giang, such as staying in local people's homestay, attending a local festival, and learning about traditional crafts. These experiences allow you to get closer to the local people and learn about their daily life. Ha Giang is home to the Dao, Hmong, and Tay, with their own unique customs and traditions. Let’s refer to our Ha Giang tour packages below for wonderful experiences here.
Ha Giang Discovery: The rocky plateau trekking experience
Discover Hoang Su Phi and Bac Ha
Dong Van Karst Plateau
Trekking in Ha Giang
Embroidery in Ha Giang
Immersing in the vibrant city life
Vietnam is home to vibrant cities that offer a mix of cultural heritage, modern attractions, and lively atmospheres. City excursion is therefore indispensable in your summer vacation in Vietnam. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are undoubtedly on your list.
Hanoi Temple of Literature
Hanoi is the second-largest city in Vietnam and is one of Vietnam’s tourist hot spots. It is an ancient city with a long history, unique museums, ancient pagodas, and charming French-colonial architecture. One of the top things to do in Hanoi is exploring the Hanoi Old Quarter. It is also known as the 36-street Ward, a unique old town in Vietnam located in the Hoan Kiem district. It is still preserving well traditional houses, cultural and historical works, and architectural styles from the 19th century. Tourists can wander around Hanoi Old Quarter both day and night to fully explore its beauty. You can see other things to do in Hanoi here.
Ta Hien Street
Sunset in Hanoi's Banana Island
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, known as “The Oriental Pearl,” is the largest cultural, economic, and political center of Vietnam. When you travel to Ho Chi Minh City, you will have the chance to admire high-rise buildings, amusement parks, and shopping centers combined with ancient villas and traditional markets that have existed for hundreds of years. Ben Thanh Market, Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Saigon Central Post Office are some outstanding spots here. Let’s refer to our Ho Chi Minh City travel guide for more detailed information.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
Exploring Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
Being famous for its spectacular caves, rich biodiversity, and stunning landscape, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is absolutely an ideal place for your summer vacation in Vietnam. The park’s landscapes are characterized by expansive limestone karsts, hidden valleys, dense forests, and a complex system of rivers and streams due to the karst features. The limestone karsts here have been shaped by millions of years of geological processes, resulting in their unique and awe-inspiring formations. The mesmerizing rivers also enhance the park’s natural splendor. Chay River, Son River, and Trooc River are some notable rivers that originate from the surrounding karst mountains and underground systems.
The park is also home to diverse ecosystems, including dense forests that blanket the landscape. These forests harbor nearly 3000 plant species, contributing to the park's remarkable biodiversity. Among them, 112 species are listed in the Vietnamese Red Book and 121 species are listed in IUCN Red Book.
Visiting the national parks, you will have a chance to hike and trek, and embark on cave exploration tours. Besides Paradise Cave (Thien Duong Cave), Phong Nha Cave, and Hang En Cave are also notable caves. They have magnificent stalactites, stalagmites, underground rivers, and unique geological formations. To visit these caves, you may want to take a tour so that you can marvel at the unique geological features and learn about the caves' history and significance. Let’s Refer to our Phong Nha tour package for a complete experience: Phong Nha Ke Bang, Caves, Lagoons, and Lush Forest.
Embarking on a boat trip through the Mekong Delta
Embarking on a boat trip through the Mekong Delta is also an awesome experience for your summer vacation in Vietnam. Cruising along the waterways, you will encounter lush green landscapes, bustling floating markets, and the authentic rhythm of daily life. Below are some highlights for your boat trip adventure in the Mekong Delta.
Floating markets
A floating market, where local people come to buy and sell fruits, vegetables, and other goods, is a unique characteristic of the Southwest region of Vietnam. Cai Rang floating market, Phong Dien floating market in Can Tho, Tra On the floating market in Vinh Long, and Long Xuyen floating market in An Giang are some of the floating markets you may not want to miss.
Cai Rang floating market
Sampan Rides
Sampan is an important mean of transportation in the Mekong Delta. By riding sampan, you can experience the tranquility and natural beauty of the smaller waterways while observing the daily activities of the locals.
Sampan ride in the Mekong River Delta
Discovering ecological wonders
Tram Chim National Park, located in Dong Thap Province, is a bird sanctuary that boasts a rich biodiversity, including endangered species. Visiting the park, you can enjoy bird watching and the peaceful atmosphere here.
If you want to have a deeper understanding of this outstanding land, do not miss our Mekong River tour packages here.
In conclusion, you have just known about the top 05 best experiences for your summer vacation in Vietnam. If you want to have any support, book a tour package, or tailor-make your itinerary, please do not hesitate to contact our team.