Language · 11 published
Country guide
Vietnam covers 331,344.82 km² and its 2025 population estimate is 102,300,000, held mostly in two river deltas at opposite ends of a long, narrow country: the Red River in the north around Hanoi, the Mekong in the south below Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is the capital and Ho Chi Minh City the largest city, and the ground between the two is the trip — a coast measured in days rather than hours, usually broken into three or four stops instead of run in one go. Which end a traveller starts from decides the order of everything after it.
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Clay Gilliland · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photograph · NKSTTSSHNVN · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · Cuong Tran · Public domain
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
27 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Dien Hai Citadel is a historic military fortification in Da Nang, Vietnam. Constructed in 1813 during the Nguyen Dynasty, it was originally named Dien Hai Fort.
Long Bien Bridge is a historic cantilever bridge across the Red River in Hanoi, Vietnam. Constructed during the French colonial period, it was designed by Gustave Eiffel's company and completed in the early twentieth century.
Thac Gian Communal House is a Vietnamese đình, or traditional village communal house, located in central Da Nang. It stands as an independent national architectural heritage site, recognized for its historical and cultural significance to the region.
Hoàng thành Thăng Long
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Hanoi, Vietnam.
Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, known locally as Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh, stands as a monumental memorial in central Hanoi.
Địa Đạo Bến Đình Củ Chi
The Cu Chi Tunnels comprise an extensive underground network located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Constructed during the mid-20th century conflict period, these passages served as hiding spots, supply routes, hospitals, and living quarters.
Cầu Rồng
Dragon Bridge, known locally as Cầu Rồng, is a steel bridge spanning the Hàn River in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Dinh Độc Lập
Independence Palace, known locally as Dinh Độc Lập, stands as one of Ho Chi Minh City's most historically significant landmarks. The structure served as the residence and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War era.
Cầu Vàng
Golden Bridge is a mountain pedestrian landmark within Sun World Ba Na Hills, distinguished by a curved walkway held visually by two enormous stone-like hands.
Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn
The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is a prominent Catholic cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Constructed by French colonists in the late nineteenth century, it stands as one of the city's most recognizable architectural landmarks.
Quảng trường Ba Đình
Ba Dinh Square is a large open square in central Hanoi, widely recognised as the political and historical heart of Vietnam.
Bưu điện Trung tâm Sài Gòn
The Saigon Central Post Office is a prominent colonial-era landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Đèo Hải Vân
Hai Van Pass is a dramatic mountain pass on the border of Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue provinces. The name translates to Ocean Cloud Pass, reflecting its mist-shrouded peaks and coastal vistas.
Marble Mountains, known locally as Ngũ Hành Sơn, is a cluster of five limestone and marble hills located south of Da Nang in central Vietnam.
Thành cổ Sơn Tây
Son Tay Ancient Citadel, or Thành cổ Sơn Tây, is a historic military fortress west of central Hanoi in the Son Tay area.
Cầu Mống
Mong Bridge is a historic bridge structure in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, crossing a waterway within the dense urban landscape. The bridge forms part of the city’s colonial-era infrastructure and remains a practical crossing for pedestrians and traffic.
Co Loa Citadel is an ancient fortified settlement located north of central Hanoi. The site represents one of Vietnam's oldest defensive structures, with origins tracing to legendary and early historical periods of Vietnamese state formation.
Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station is a wildlife rescue facility located in the Cu Chi district near Ho Chi Minh City. The station serves as a rehabilitation centre for animals rescued from illegal wildlife trade, captivity, and habitat destruction.
Và Temple, known locally as Đền Và, is a Vietnamese religious site within Hanoi’s wider cultural landscape. It is a place for worship and contemplation rather than a conventional attraction arranged around exhibits.
Hải Vân Quan
Hai Van Quan is a historic military gate situated at the summit of Hai Van Pass, which forms the natural boundary between Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue provinces in central Vietnam.
Cầu Sông Hàn
The Han River Bridge, known locally as Cầu Sông Hàn, is a swing bridge spanning the Han River in Da Nang, central Vietnam. It holds distinction as Vietnam's first swing bridge designed and constructed by Vietnamese engineers.
Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village is a traditional craft settlement at the foot of the Marble Mountains in Da Nang.
Nam O Fishing Village is a historic coastal settlement on the northwestern edge of Da Nang, Vietnam.
Love Lock Bridge is a heavily visited riverfront landmark in Da Nang, Vietnam. It stands beside the famous Dragon Bridge and has developed a distinct identity as a romantic destination.
Khu Di tích Bến Nhà Rồng
The Ho Chi Minh Museum at Dragon Wharf occupies the historic Nha Rong Wharf, a major site in Ho Chi Minh's biography.
Hanoi's Old Quarter is the historic commercial core north of Hoàn Kiếm Lake, commonly associated with 36 guild streets. Vietnam Tourism describes it as a walkable neighbourhood of Vietnamese architecture, old shops, green spaces and street food.
Phố Tạ Hiện
Ta Hien Street, known locally as Phố Tạ Hiện, is a narrow thoroughfare in Hanoi's Old Quarter. The street has gained recognition among visitors for its concentration of casual drinking establishments and street food vendors.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
A north-to-south first trip needs about two weeks; with ten days, choose two regions such as Hanoi and the centre or Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight trains and domestic flights shorten distance but still consume transfer time.
Apply through Vietnam’s official electronic-visa portal if the passport and trip qualify. Confirm the approved entry point, validity dates and permitted stay before finalising the route, because an authorisation tied to one crossing should not be assumed valid for another.
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are the key gateways for common itineraries. Domestic flights, the north-south railway and coaches connect regions; local systems vary, so use licensed taxis or recognised booking channels and verify the correct station or terminal.
Vietnam’s north, central coast and south have different wet and dry periods. Choose travel dates around the most weather-sensitive region: central beach conditions, northern mountain visibility and southern rainfall cannot be summarised by one nationwide “best month.”
The Vietnamese đồng is the recorded currency, and the high denomination numbers deserve a deliberate check before payment. Cash remains useful for small vendors and local transport; use reputable ATMs or banks and verify each zero on quoted VND prices.
Police, fire and ambulance are recorded as 113, 114 and 115; common power is Type A and C at 220 V. Tap-water advice is Not recorded here, so ask locally and keep transport-provider details available for long rail or coach journeys.
.jpg){kind=link}
