When you think of the Vietnam landscape, scenes from iconic war movies like Platoon, Apocalypse Now, and Good Morning, Vietnam might spring to mind—images of dense jungles, misty mountains, and winding rivers. But there’s a couple of problems with this: firstly, those movies do not do the dramatic, diverse, and beautiful landscape in Vietnam justice, and secondly, none of those movies were actually shot in Vietnam.
The varying landscape of Vietnam features deep canyons and rising mountain peaks; hiking trails wending between terraced rice paddies; striking seaside sand dunes; cascading waterfalls; and the network of rivers, swamps, and islands that pump the Mekong’s waters into the South China Sea. And there are also the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Halong Bay, with its karst landscape, and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, with its colossal caves.
So let’s take a journey through the varying Vietnamese landscape and explore the highlights that await alongside the cityscapes of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
1. Halong Bay
A couple of hours east of Hanoi by road, Halong Bay features thousands of limestone karsts and islets among emerald-green waters and is a true icon of the north Vietnam landscape. The name of this UNESCO World Heritage Site means “descending dragon,” and its topography has been shaped by millions of years of geological activity.
Visitors can explore the bay on traditional wooden junks, kayak through hidden lagoons, or visit ancient caves like Sung Sot (Surprise Cave).
Travel Tip: From April to October is the best time to visit Halong Bay, and it makes a great finale to an extensive exploration of North East Vietnam.
2. Sapa
The lakeside town of Sapa sits in the northwest corner of Vietnam, around five hours by road from Hanoi. The journey can be broken up with stops to visit remote villages inhabited by diverse ethnic minority groups, including the Hmong and Dao people, and to take in the sweeping views of spectacular rice terraces and tea plantations. As you approach Sapa, you will traverse the Tram Ton Pass, the highest pass in Vietnam, which is often referred to as ‘the gateway to heaven.‘
Trekking through Sapa’s lush valleys and mist-covered mountains provides an opportunity to explore remote villages. The cooler climate and fresh mountain air offer a refreshing escape from the heat of the lowlands and the hustle and bustle of Hanoi’s city life.
Travel Tip: Avid hikers will love the trek to the summit of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain on the Indochinese peninsula.
3. Dong Van Karst Plateau
A visit to the Dong Van Karst Plateau, a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, offers the chance to experience one of the most dramatic examples of the diverse landscape of Vietnam. The area’s unique karst formations, forged over 400 million years, provide a stunning backdrop for trekking, photography, and exploring caves. The plateau is home to several ethnic minority communities like the Hmong, Tay, and Dao, who live in traditional villages untouched by mass tourism.
The Ma Pi Leng Pass mountain road offers panoramic views of some of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam as you pass through traditional villages untouched by mass tourism. Be sure to check out the vibrant markets and, if you are lucky enough with the timing, a traditional festival.
Travel Tip: Make sure you visit the Meo Vac Market, where the various ethnic minorities from the surrounding areas come together to trade goods, livestock, and handicrafts.
4. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
If you’re looking to travel the coastal road between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, one detour on the way should be to take in the unique and spectacular Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains the world’s largest cave, Son Doong Cave. If you are claustrophobic, fear not; the voluminous cave boasts 38,500,000 cubic meters. The cave’s main passage is more than five kilometers long, 200 meters high, and 150 meters wide.
Beyond the caves, the park offers lush jungle trekking, river kayaking, and a rich biodiversity, which includes many rare and endemic species. Phong Nha-Ke Bang’s stunning scenery, from the rugged mountains to the serene rivers, provides endless opportunities for exploration and photography.
Travel Tip: If you’re looking for unique Vietnam experiences, you could try a six-day odyssey deep into the cave system, setting up camp in different spots each night.
5. Ninh Binh – Tam Coc and Trang An
Ninh Binh is a province in the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam. The region has earned the epithet of “Halong Bay on land,” thanks to its dramatic limestone karsts, tranquil rivers, and lush rice paddies. Tam Coc and Trang An are the province’s most famous attractions, with Tam Coc offering a flooded cave karst system and nearby mountain temples, and Trang An offering a peaceful labyrinth of waterways and grottoes set amidst towering karsts and historic temples.
The region is a short drive south of Hanoi and is best visited during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). During these months, the weather is pleasant with mild temperatures and lower humidity, making outdoor activities like boat rides more enjoyable.
Travel Tip: Take a river cruise and take in the famous Bich Dong Pagoda and scenery that you may recognize from watching Kong: Skull Island.
6. Mui Ne Sand Dunes
If you’re venturing into the South Vietnam landscape, be sure to head to the coast and check out the impressive Mui Ne Sand Dunes. These vast dunes make up a desert area, making it a unique part of the Vietnamese landscape and indeed of Southeast Asia’s usually lush terrain.
The dunes provide a picturesque setting for activities like sandboarding, ATV rides, and breathtaking sunrise or sunset photography. The dunes are split into two areas: the Red Dunes, closer to town, are smaller but packed with character, and the White Dunes are a vast, untouched expanse of pale sand.
Travel Tip: For the best photography opportunities, head to the dunes around the golden hours of sunrise or sunset.
7. Hoi An
Just an hour’s drive south from Da Nang Airport, Hoi An makes a great base from which to explore the central Vietnamese landscape. While Hoi An is most famous for its ancient town, its beautiful beaches often get overlooked. The town started life as a trading port in the 15th century, and its setting alongside the Thu Bon River adds to its quaint atmosphere.
The name Hoi An means “peaceful meeting place,” and the city was registered on the UNESCO Creative Cities Network list in 2023. Spend some time wandering through Hoi An’s charming streets, admiring the well-preserved buildings, and visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge. You can also take a trip to the nearby My Son temple complex, and then kick back and relax on the pristine An Bang Beach.
Travel Tip: To see the best of Hoi An and its environs, add the five-day Central Vietnam Tour to your Vietnam vacation.
8. Ban Gioc Waterfalls
Ban Gioc Falls is a set of two waterfalls that straddle the border between China and Vietnam on the Quay Son River. Located north of Hanoi, the impressive falls cascade dramatically over a series of limestone steps into a clear, turquoise pool, surrounded by lush greenery. The appearance of the falls changes depending on the time of year; they seem to be two waterfalls most of the time, but when the river is swollen due to summer rains, they form one large fall.
Ban Gioc Waterfalls can be visited from Cao Bang, and after taking in the 300-meter-wide falls, you can also explore the nearby Nguom Ngao Cave, which translates as ‘the tiger cave’, and features impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
Travel Tip: June to September is the area’s wettest period and will allow you to see the falls at their mightiest.
9. Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba Island is the largest of the 367 islands that make up the Cat Ba Archipelago, on the edge of Halong Bay. The group of islands has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2004 and a part of Halong Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage Site since 2023. Cac Ba Island translates as “Women’s Island,” and its 260 square kilometers (100 square miles) are covered with rugged terrain and lush forests and edged with pristine beaches.
A stay on Cat Ba allows you to explore by kayak, by trekking through the Cat Ba National Park, or by scuba diving or snorkeling to discover its sub-aquatic delights too. The island’s location close to Hanoi makes it easy to reach, and it’s also a great place from which to explore the rest of Halong Bay.
Travel Tip: Make sure you check out Cai Beo Floating Village near the island’s southern point.
10. Mekong Delta
Easily reached from Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), the Mekong Delta region is also known as the ”rice bowl of Vietnam.” It dominates the south Vietnam landscape and is where the mighty Mekong, the world’s twelfth-longest river, empties into the South China Sea. The area’s local name translates as the “Nine Dragon River Delta” due to the way it splits into numerous streams, resembling the shape of nine dragons.
The Mekong Delta is a vast network of rivers, canals, and floating markets; it is surrounded by lush rice paddies and tropical fruit orchards. The area is both serene and lively, and it can be explored as part of the South Vietnam Tour that also takes in Ho Chi Minh and the Cu Chi Tunnels, which the Viet Cong used during the war with the USA.
Travel Trip: The best time to visit the Mekong Delta is during the dry season, which runs from December to April, when the cooler temperatures and lower humidity make day-time exploration more comfortable.
