Recently, Ho Chi Minh City Tour Guide Association has launched a mini online vote for the top 15 most attractive destinations in Vietnam. It lasted for more than two weeks and attracted almost 200 participants. There are so many beautiful scenes that people have to consider, 

Five categories are representing the destination’s natural beauty, its oriented development based on its criteria. They are 1: World’s Heritage; 2: Vietnam scenic; 3:Sea - islands of Vietnam; 4: Historical sites; 5: Check-in destinations loved by tourists.

Below is the top of 15 attractive destinations in Vietnam:

Halong Bay: 

Ha Long Bay is the first attractive destination in Vietnam that should not be missed when traveling to the country. It is 165 km from Ha Noi which takes about 3 hours to drive. Featuring thousands of limestone karsts in various sizes and shapes, Halong Bay is famous for the geo-diversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem and oceanic biosystem.
Halong Bay is also rich in floral and fauna species. The bay’s unique scenic beauty and its significant biological interests have made it twice claimed as World’s Natural Heritage Site. Visitors to Halong bay are recommended to take an overnight trip on board to enjoy the bay’s beauty.

Halong bay

Hoi An Ancient town: 

It will be a mistake if we forget to put Hoi An ancient town into the list of most attractive destinations in Vietnam. Located in the center of the country, Hoi An town has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam. In 1999, Hoi An was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site thanks to its peace and ancient architecture. Once being an important trading port in the 17th - 18th centuries, Hoi An's architecture is harmoniously mixed with Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese designs. Besides, Hoi An is also famous for street food such as cao lau, banh xeo, my Quang, etc. that you can easily find around the beautiful town.

The lanterns are lit every night in the old town of Hoi An

Phong Nha – Ke Bang: 

Phong Nha - Ke Bang is a national park that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. It is famous for its cave and grotto systems of around 300 items. The most famous cave is Son Doong which was discovered in the 2009 survey by British and Vietnamese explorers. Son Doong is considered to be the world’s largest cave. Phong Nha - Ke Bang is also well-known for its longest river and the most immense combined caverns and pathways.

Hang En cave in Phong Nha National Park

Rice terraces in the North-east & North-west of Vietnam

Rice terraces are a characteristic feature of the ethnic people living in Vietnam’s northern mountainous regions. Due to its high altitude, the mountainous areas are challenging to have flat land to cultivate, especially wet rice cultivation. Therefore, people have chosen hillsides with fertile soil, creating ground and gradually becoming small, beautiful fields. Reclamation work from generation to generation has completed fields like art paintings on hillsides.
The best time to visit rice terraces is in late September when rice turns into yellow and is ready to be harvested. The famous rice terraces in Vietnam that you should visit are Mu Cang Chai, Hoang Su Phi, and Sapa.

Rice terraces in Sapa

Ban Gioc waterfall

Ban Gioc waterfall is one of the famous waterfalls not only in Vietnam but also foreigners. The waterfall is located between the Vietnam-China border and is in the world’s top 4 largest cross-country waterfalls. The suitable time to make trips to the Ban Gioc waterfall is between August and September.

Ban Gioc waterfall

Da Dia reef: 

Da Dia reef (literally translated: a stack of dishes) is in Phu Yen province. It takes you more than an hour's flight from Ho Chi Minh city, then an hour's drive from the airport. The reef is one of 5 famous natural phenomena sites in the world. The beach is a collection of square or circle stone pillars lined up next to each other. From afar, the Da Dia reef looks like an enormous natural honeycomb.

Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam, is regarded as the pearl island with pristine and wild natural beauties. The 150-km length of coastal line, diverse forest ecosystems, and marine resources have made Phu Quoc one of the ideal destinations in Vietnam for a beach holiday. In addition, Phu Quoc island is also an excellent place for those who would like to explore Vietnam’s charming nature and history.

Bai Sao Beach on Phu Quoc island

My Khe beach: 

Another attractive destination in Vietnam is My Khe beach. Forbes magazine once rated My Khe beach as one of the world’s six most beautiful beaches. The beach is famous for its smooth white sand, mild waves, and warm blue water all year round. The seawater here has a salinity of about 60%, so it is a very clean and ideal habitat for all kinds of corals or coastal flora and fauna.

My Khe Beach- Da Nang City

Con Dao island: 

Con Dao is an offshore archipelago in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and 230km from Saigon. Con Dao used to be known as the largest place of detention and exile in Indochina before 1975. Today, Con Dao becomes the ideal destination for those who want to explore the wild beauty and learn Vietnam’s history. It has been voted in the "top 10 most charming islands on the planet" and "one of the most mysterious islands on the planet". Thanks to its beauty, Con Dao has become one of the attractive destinations in Vietnam for local tourists and international ones.

Con Dao island

Cu Chi tunnels: 

Cu Chi tunnels are a massive network of connecting tunnels located in the Cu Chi district about 70 km from Ho Chi Minh city. The tunnel network was a legend during the 1960s for facilitating VC (Viet Cong) with trapdoors, living areas, storages, weapon factories, field hospitals, and kitchens. Cu Chi tunnels have been preserved by the Vietnamese Government and turned into a war memorial display site. Cu Chi tunnels are now a popular destination in Vietnam, and visitors will have an opportunity to crawl in the tunnel system.

The complex of tourist sites in Hanoi: 

Hanoi is Vietnam’s most visited city based on a report by Mastercard in 2019. Hanoi’s 1000-year-old capital city is an exciting blend of East and West with typical local architecture such as ancient pagodas and well-preserved French colonial buildings, vivid winding streets in the Old Quarter, and shady boulevards. The sites that should be visited are the Ho Chi Minh complex, the Temple of Literature, and several pagodas and temples.

Quang Tri citadel: 

Quang Tri citadel by the bank of Thach Han river was built in the early 19th century under the Nguyen Dynasty. It was the site of severe battles during the war between Vietnam and the US. Especially in the summer of 1972, it witnessed a heroic 81-day fight by Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives for national liberation. Quang Tri citadel is an attractive destination in Vietnam for both domestic and international visitors.

Golden Bridge in Ba Na hill: 

The Golden Bridge sets its location inside the Ba Na Hill entertainment complex. It is at an altitude of 1,400m above sea level so it provides visitors with a spectacular overlook.  It features a winding 150-meter passageway which is lined with flowers. Besides, it is supported by a pair of giant moss-covered hands.  Thanks to this, the Golden Bridge appears in the top 10 of the world’s unique bridges. Since the opening time, the bridge has set its name on many world-known travel channels, newspapers, and social networks. For example, CNN, BBC, Times, The Guardians, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Therefore, Golden Bridge is becoming a must-go destination for tourists who plan to go to Danang. 

Golden Bridge

Ta Dung lake: 

Ta Dung Lake is an emerging landmark and is becoming a new destination in Vietnam. It is located inside the Ta Dung nature reserve of 22,103 ha in Dak Nong province, the Central Highland of Vietnam. Ta Dung is the highest mountain in Dak Nong province with an altitude of 1,982m. From the top of the mountain, visitors can have a scenic view down to Ta Dung lake. The lake owns a unique natural landscape with more than 40 large and small islands emerging in the lake’s middle. The lake is at most beautiful in the water-filling season, from August until December because at this time, the lake's water rises, clear and the rains also make the trees on the small islands look greener.

The cape of Ca Mau: 

The Cape of Ca Mau is the last point of Vietnamese territory, where people can observe sunrise and sunset. The Ca Mau Cape Biosphere Reserve is considered to be the largest mangrove area in Vietnam. The destination is renowned in the world for the highest biological productivity in natural forest ecosystems. Ca Mau is the ecological zone of mangrove forests, the habitat of aquatic species in the Gulf of Thailand. It is also a stop and shelter for many rare migratory birds in the world. Biodiversity brings Ca Mau cape significant economic benefits and creates a new ecological environment, a favorable condition for ecotourism development.

The above are 15 most attractive destinations in Vietnam that are recommended for your visit to Vietnam. Let’s plan your vacation and try to cover the list with unforgettable memories.