Once war-torn, now sublime, Vietnam is long, lovely and languorous.
21.07.2023 - 07:30 / roughguides.com
There’s nowhere quite like Vietnam – a land of true contrasts, from the frenetic and fascinating capital of Hanoi to the idyllic rice terraces of mountainous Sapa. With so much to see in this beautiful country, it can be hard to know which places to visit. Here is our guide to the best cities in Vietnam.
This article is inspired by our Rough Guides to Vietnam — your essential guide for travelling to Vietnam.
One of the best cities in Vietnam for: Sightseeing, shopping and café hopping
Don’t miss: Seeing the thousands of lanterns on an evening stroll around the Old Town
If you want to combine sightseeing with a spate of shopping, then the charming UNESCO world heritage city of Hoi An should be top of your list. Dating back to the 15th century, character positively oozes out of its ancient, ochre-hued walls. It’s not hard to see why the city is often dubbed the 'Venice of the East’.
Spend your afternoons strolling along the main canal and exploring the labyrinth of winding streets, lined with market stalls, tailors, cafés and boutique shops. You can get almost anything made here – and for incredibly little money by Western standards – so be warned, you may be going home with far more than you came with.
If shopping doesn't interest you, escape the crowds and pedal down to the ocean for some relaxing beach time – the beach is only a 15-minute cycle away. Hoi An really comes alive at night, when thousands of brightly-coloured silk lanterns illuminate every nook and cranny of the Old Town creating a magical glow – a photographer’s paradise. See why Hoi An was voted as one of the most beautiful places in Southeast Asia.
Or browse accommodation of all kinds in Hoi An
Hoi An is lined with picturesque canals © Sarah Gibbons
One of the best cities in Vietnam for: Countryside romps and canyoning thrills
Don’t miss: The hair-raising canyoning experience
If baking on the beach is something you’d rather avoid, then make sure Da Lat – known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ – is on your itinerary. Located in the picturesque Central Highlands, this quaint mountain city enjoys far cooler temperatures than its coastal counterparts. Here, you're surrounded by pine forests, open meadows and coffee plantations.
A popular weekend break destination for domestic tourists, this city is built for romance, with its French colonial architecture, horse-drawn carriages and even an Eiffel Tower-lookalike radio pylon. However, it’s got a serious adventure streak too, with travellers from all over the world coming to experience one of the most adrenaline-inducing canyoning experiences in Southeast Asia.
Not for the faint of heart, this involves scrambling, jumping and abseiling down 20-metre waterfalls – a hair-raising, but utterly thrilling
Once war-torn, now sublime, Vietnam is long, lovely and languorous.
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