6 Must Visit Places When Backpacking Vietnam (Hidden gems alert!)

If you have read my previous post on Your Guide to Backpacking Vietnam, you will get tips on what to do prior and during your trip. Now, I am going to tell you where are the MUST VISIT places in the different cities as you embark on your journey.

Following my backpacking route, I begin from South to North, so lets begin with Ho Chi Minh City.

1. Ho Chi Minh City (Brave your heart and cross the roads)

Source: BBC

Ho Chi Minh, also known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam by population. It is also for this reason that it is often confused as the capital of Vietnam (Hanoi is the capital) .

This city is constantly bustling with people, vehicles, businesses and vice.

As a backpacker, Saigon is too 'city' for my liking, and I use it only as a transit stop. Nonetheless, there are some famed spots which I still visited, and gathered from other travelers.

A. Cu Chi Tunnels

Source: San Diego Reader

Definitely worth a visit to this elaborated maze like tunnels that Viet Cong soldiers used to transport ammunition, rations, food supplies and hiding spots.

They usual provide a HALF DAY TOUR or FULL DAY TOUR. Consult any of your reception, and there will definitely be tours arranged. I personally recommend the half day tour, which covers only the Cu Chi Tunnels. (~15USD/pax, 0900hrs to 1400hrs, pick up from your hostel). The full day tour usually includes visits to other war musuems, which in my opinion are not the best ones around.

B. Mekong Delta

Source: Wanderlust

Sail down the Mekong River, visit the floating markets, live with locals along the villages. These are the exciting experiences if you engaged the RIGHT tour company. But this is often not the case. I have heard tonnes of travellers spending more than half the trip on tour buses and being hurried from one place to another, just ticking their checklist of BEING TO THAT PLACE, and then rushed to another site. However, if you really still insist on visiting the Mekong, I suggest a DIY Tour, which is very manageable for an average traveller. I found a travel blog that captures the author's experience.

C. Bui Vien Street

Source: Lune Production

Bui Vien Street, also known as backpacker's street, is where all the excitement occurs when night falls. Get a beer from any of the street side bars and people watch. This is what many locals (youngsters) do as well, where they arrive in their motorbikes dressed really well. Otherwise, you can head to any of the clubs, which often charges 20-30% higher than the street side vendors.

ESSENTIAL TIPS:

1. Always pay for your drinks immediately. There may be disputed charges at the end if they mistake you for others (or just try to cheat you)

2. Beware of your belongings. Tonnes of pickpockets are amidst the bustling crowd

3. If there is a scuffle, leave. Very often fights break out, and it can escalate quickly. You don't want to be caught in the situation where chairs, tables and bottles are being flung around.

2. Mui Ne (Sunrise Beauty)

Sunrise at 0630hrs - White Sand Dunes

Mui Ne is a beach resort town located in Southeast Vietnam. It is about a 3 hours bus ride from Ho Chi Minh, and is a popular weekend destination for locals. Surrounded by the South China Sea, this town is usually packed with sea sport activities like wind surfing and jet ski.

Nonetheless, there are still some sites you definitely have to hit when in Mui Ne.

A. Red and White Sand Dunes

Time - 0345 hrs

There are several packages when visiting Mui Ne, mostly revolving around :

1. White Sand Dunes

2. Red Sand Dunes

3. Fishing Village

4. Fairy Lake

I took the sunrise package, and the minibus arrived around 0400 hrs, picking up a bunch of backpackers at the first stop, before hopping to another populated hostel and filling the bus to its max capacity. Upon arriving, the bus driver gave us about an hour to trek up the soft, White Sand Dunes, to catch the sunrise.

You will also see many peddlers offering 'sand board' services at USD 10-20 per slide (That's daylight robbery). Hardly anyone took those, except for a bunch of young college girls.

Nonetheless, the moment the sun rose, the view was amazing. Worth the visit and waking up in the wee hours.

B. Fairy Lake

3. Dalat (15-24 degree weather)

Elevated at 1500m above sea level, Dalat's temperature is sure to cool every backpacker's soul after travelling around the relentless weather in Vietnam. This place is also an extremely popular destination for domestic tourist, offering an alternative Vietnam.

Dalat was first developed as a resort by the French in the early 1900s, with many colonial and French inspired houses donning the hilly paths.

The temperature of 15 - 24 degree celcius proved to be a top spot for man outdoor activities: Mountain Climbing, Canyoning, White-Water Rafting and Treks into the surrounding hills.

For the outdoor enthusiast, Dalat is definitely the heaven you are looking for.

A. Outdoor Sports

1. Canyonning

2. Trekking

3. Cliff Jumping

I strongly encourage all adventure seekers to engage in the canyoning activity. The company that I engaged (Highland Sport Travel) is highly professional. The young team was super enthusiastic right from the beginning when picking us from our hostel. They kept the atmosphere light, cracking jokes all the time, and made the entire 6 hr session an amazing experience. I would leave out the detail on how the package i signed on with went, but it was an absolutely worthy package. High recommended!

B. Elephants Waterfall and Pongour Waterfall

Elephant Falls

Source: Dalat Day Tours

Pongour Falls

Source: Dalat Day Tours

Dalat is blessed to be a small town surrounded by greenery.

It is advisable to visit the numerous waterfalls with local guides through your hostel reception desk, or engage one of the popular Easy Riders who are mostly conversant in English. Just hop on their bike and off you go for a personalized tour.

C. Crazy House (Yes that's the actual name of the place)

Source: Cities Tips

Mrs Dang Viet Nga makes her eccentric ideas come true in 1990, when she engaged a team of engineers to make the seemingly impossible 'fairytale house' come true. Crazy House is not a house, but a group of strange structures with 'nature' as an inspiration being built.

4. Hoi An (Hands Down My Favourite City)

Hoi An was once a major port located at the central coast of Vietnam. It is a melting pot of different architectural cultures - From the Japanese covered bridge, Chinese shop houses adorning the streets or French colonial buildings.

Why i named Hoi An my favourite city is because i don't feel its over congested with tourists - yet. Even the touristy places are not jam packed with foreigners. There is still a healthy balance with locals. But it has been getting increasingly popular with posh hotels and even a casino that has just begin constructing in late 2017.

Another top reason why i love Hoi An is because of the beaches (read: fresh seafood).

Read on to know more about 'Why You Should Visit Hoi An when in Vietnam'

A. An Bang Beach

Sources: Vietnam Net

An Bang beach is located about 6 km away from Hoi An Ancient Town (See below).

How to get there:

Bicycles: $1USD (25,000 VND) / Day

Many couples or the less adventurous would rent bicycles, and leisurely ride along the old town and country side, before landing at the beach

Motorbikes: $5USD / (125,000 VND)

For me, it definitely got to be the motorbike. There was one rental shop right opposite my hostel. In the morning, i headed over to ask the lady for a full day rental. Prices started at 125,000 VND, but managed to get 2 bikes for 90,000 VND each. Definitely a steal!

Now comes the interesting part. The lad asked if we know how to ride. We said no. And she gave us a crash course on Riding 101.

"Sit. Turn down right, go. Press brake, stop. Try"

I got to a slow start, went forward 10m and back 10m, wobbling along the way.

"Very good! An Bang beach, there!" (pointed in the general direction)

And there i go. Newly minted driver after a minute of lesson.

It got to be the best decision made. After a bit of practice, I was speeding towards the beach. We passed local houses, entered the rice plains, and boy was it liberating.

Ended up at the beach after 15mins. Sun was scorching hot. Took off my shirt, and ran into the cooling waters, where i lazed for the next 3 hours.

B. Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town is a whole new different sight at night. There is a night market with tonnes of local food. And recall when i said Hoi An seems unpopular with tourist yet.

I was so wrong.

It was bustling everywhere. With people sardine-packed along the small alleys. But it was good to bask in the atmosphere.

One attraction about Hoi An is its colourful and varying lanterns design adorning the entire town. It just adds an oriental feel to the entire area.

Another interesting view is the lighting of flower lanterns and letting it flow along the river. It is a way of blessings and to seek calm for the person who lights it, and for people around them.

5. Hanoi (Capital of Vietnam)

Having Bun Cha (Grilled Pork with Noodles) while my motorbike driver smokes his huge ass 'pipe' (i'm guessing its nicotine)

Capital of Vietnam, with a population of approximately 7.6 million and up.

Lovely food. Tonnes of war museums. Eating and drinking day and night. Doesn't help that beer costs less than a dollar each!

Let me just get straight down to recommending the different places.

A. St. Joseph Cathedral

It is the oldest church in Hanoi. It was one of the first few structures built by the French colonial government in IndoChina when it was constructed in 1886.

B. Old Quarters

With my hostel roommates (French and Swiss)

This is where the life is.

During the day, visit the numerous day markets and cafes donning the streets.

During the night, this particular 'Beer Corner' is full of locals and foreigners sitting on small stools and drinking local beers with peanuts. Wonderful atmosphere!

C. Temple of Literature

Stepping into history when you enter the doorsteps of this temple.

The Temple of Literature, also known as The Temple of Confucius, was built in 1070 dedicated as a centre of learning. It also houses the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university. It has now become a place for graduating / graduates to take visit and have their photo shoot.

D. Halong Bay (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

No one should miss Halong Bay when they visit Hanoi.

The view is absolutely amazing. And i understand why it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I would strongly recommend an overnight stay on a cruise. The sunset over the emerald waters and limestone islands topped with rain-forests is a view not to forget.

There are plenty of activities lined up.

1. Kayaking

2. Trekking up neighboring islands

3. Swim in the clear cool waters (or inside the caves)

4. Visit Oyster farm

During the night, most cruises have activities from squid fishing, to karaoke and card playing. Otherwise, you can just laze around on the deck and just absorb the serenity while the cruise sways you to sleep.

Prices:

Ranges from 90usd to 200usd for a 2d1n stay on a cruise, including pick-up/drop-off at your accommodation in Hanoi

How to get there:

Book from your hotel / hostel reception desk, or head out to any local travel agency. Most of the time, the hotel / hostel would just mark up the prices by 20%, and then get one of the local travel agencies (some even right beside your accommodation) to arrange the package. So why not save yourself 20% of the price?

6. Sapa (Stay with local tribes)

Sapa is a town in the northwestern part of Vietnam, and part of Lao Cai Province. It overlooks the terraced rice fields, and is a popular trekking base for many foreigners. Most of its population is made up of hill tribes, Hmong, Tay and Dao.

I had the most memorable stay atop the mountains with a local tribal family

With a group of 9 other travellers, we were randomly organised together and started our hike up Sapa, about 3hours to the family's home.

Upon arriving, we were greeted with a sumptuous spread, and any traveller staying with the locals would definitely remember 'Happy Water' - local rice wine so potent.

Come sun set, our group were just sitting outside the house at 15 degrees chatting and sharing about our life experiences, all from a different cultural background.

Come the next morning, we continued our hike into a river. Half of my group stripped down to our undies, or for some, stark naked. It was just so rejuvenating amidst the rain forests, and the river current like music to our ears.

How to get there:

a. Train - I strongly suggest taking the train from Hanoi Train Station to Lao Cai. Total ride would take you approximate 8 hours. There are varying types of sleepers you can choose from.

i. Hard Sleepers - The highest priced. Cost about 45 - 290 usd one way depending on where you get it.

There are varying levels of train types as well, from budget where you get a super hard mattress and bumpy train ride, with minimal leg space if you are 1.75m or taller, to super luxurious trains (just like you are in a hotel).

ii. Soft Sleepers - Usually 20-30% cheaper than Hard Sleepers. Basically a chair.

However, the train ride usually runs from 2200hrs to 0600hrs. Why don't you get a flat bed, and rest yourself for the night.

Check out Vietnam Railway System for the schedule if you want to book directly. Otherwise, just get a local agent to save the hassle.

Exploration to China:

Lao Cai Province is just a 10mins motorbike ride to He Kou Zhen, Yunnan China. For travellers intending to continue their journey north to the great China, this is a great access point from Vietnam.

I have come to the end of my '6 Must Visit Places When Backpacking Vietnam'.

For tips on travelling Vietnam, do check it out here - Your Guide to Backpacking Vietnam.