To travel Vietnam, the first thing that you need is a valid Vietnam visa. The processes, required documents and costs are varied depending on the issuing embassy or consulate. How many ways are there to get your Vietnam visa? Check the information below.
We’ve previously broken down all our tips and tricks to traveling to Vietnam – from VISA information to packing lists – but now we’d like to take a deeper dive into what makes Vietnam such a splendid country to visit.
To do that, we’d like to break down the 3 regions that make up the country – the North, Central, and South – and offer you the top attractions and cities to visit on your trip to Vietnam. Within each of these regions are small geographical regions and provinces, but will mainly focus on the larger 3. Each of these regions can be explored individually or as one packaged Vietnam holiday. So, let’s hop into Vietnam’s 3 great regions and the top things to do in each of them.
North
Comprising the upper half of Vietnam, the North is considered the cradle of Vietnamese culture, as the first Vietnamese settlers founded villages along the Red River Delta here over 2,000 years ago and begin expanding down all the way to the Mekong.
Hanoi
Capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a stunning blended of tradition, culture, and modern metropolis. History buffs will love exploring the classical lanes of the Old Quarter and pagodas along Hoan Kiem Lake along the French and Chinese architecture. Compacted into a maze of scooter filled streets and loud street markets, Hanoi is a great place to immerse yourself in local culture, from delectable street food to stunning Water Puppet Shows. Those looking to relax can still enjoy the tranquility of Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, and Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Sapa
Perfect for exploring the Northwest, the township of Sapa is a hikers paradise and gateway to the picturesque rice paddie fields and hillside villages of the region. Most Vietnam tour packages to the North include at least two days to hike Sapa, meet local villagers in Ta Van, and learn about the ethnic minorities of the region.
Halong Bay
Probably the most famous attraction in Vietnam, Halong Bay is a world renowned World Heirtage site composed of karst islands, tranquil green waters, floating villages, and hidden caves. You can spend a week exploring its over 1,600 islands and 43,400 ha landscape and still not get tired of it. A Halong Bay cruise is a must for any visitor to Vietnam.
Ninh Binh
Though it is sometimes overlooked on Vietnam tours, Ninh Binh is one of the many hidden gems of Vietnam. Located in the Red River Delta, this province houses the birthplace of Vietnam, the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, and Bai Dinh Temple, where the largest Buddha statue in Southeast Asia dwells. Alongside being an important historical site, Ninh Binh province is also home to Trang An Scenic Complex, a stunning array of rivers and mountains that was most recently featured in “Kong: Skull Island.”
Here you can discover Tam Coc, or “three caves,” an enchanting collection of natural caves that can explore by small boats. Tam Coc is also known as “Halong Bay on land.”