With Christmas right around the corner, it’s the perfect time for traveling. In today’s article, you’ll discover five of the best vacation spots in Vietnam.
These are all “off-the-grid,” making them fun getaways where you won’t be bothered by other tourists.
If you’re looking for some fun spots to kick back and relax, you’ll love this post.
Here we go!
Top 5 Vacation Spots
Most travel lists rehash the same old tourist hot spots.
Rather than falling into this trap, I’ve hand selected five locations that most foreigners never visit.
Some of these areas (like Da Nang and Nha Trang) are major cities, while others are small towns surrounded by nature.
No matter how you’re looking to spend your trip, there’s something here for you.
1. Vung Tau
While I’ve written about this place before (click here), it’s worth mentioning again.
Vunt Tau is a coastal city about an hour South of Ho Chi Minh. It’s a big resort town, with locals flocking there for weekend getaways.
There’s tons of cool stuff here. A huge Christ The Redeemer statue (that you can climb up for a beautiful ocean view), dog track, golf courses, mountains, and more. It’s a great place to explore, and there’s plenty of attractions.
If you’re looking to do some golfing or resort stuff, be sure to stay at the Grand Ho Tram Strip Casino. Otherwise check out the Petro Hotel, it’s downtown and right next to the beach.
2. Da Nang
Another fun beach town, located in Central Vietnam, Da Nang is a wonderful place to vacation.
The city’s fairly large (with several million residents), and there’s tons to see and do.
Some of the highlights include: going to the Dragon Bridge on Friday nights (the large dragon sculpture shoots fireballs to celebrate the weekend), driving up the coast to Monkey Mountain, goofing off of the beach, and taking a day trip to nearby Hoi An.
I’ve written up a full article on the city (click here), but quickly want to mention one last thing. Beachfront hotels are super cheap here.
Be sure to treat yourself to a luxury hotel while you’re in town.
I recommend staying at the Diamond Sea Hotel, it’s a nice place and right on the water.
3. Mui Ne
This is an interesting little spot that’s tucked away in Southeast Vietnam.
Mui Ne rests between the ocean and a desert, giving it a very unique aesthetic.
Spend the afternoon surfing and eating fresh seafood, or hike around the red sand dunes, admiring the weird, alien landscape. Either way, you’re in for a good time.
Mui Ne is a sleepy town (the total population is only 25,000 people) so don’t expect crazy nightlife.
That said, this is a nice, quiet place to relax and unwind.
If you visit here, I recommend staying at the Riva Mui Ne Resort. It’s a nice place with a friendly staff, right on the ocean.
4. Nha Trang
About an hour from Da Nang, Nha Trang is another ocean-side city.
The biggest difference between the two places?
Nha Trang is more upscale.
This is a hot spot for international events, including: the annual Miss Vietnam Pageant, yacht races, and sailing competitions.
On top of all this, there’s plenty of other attractions too. Check out the ancient Po Nagar Towers (built around 700 B.C.), learn to sail, go SCUBA diving, or hike around the bay area.
This is a fun place for boating and diving. If you like these activities, check out Nha Trang.
Additionally, I recommend staying at Cozy Condos Serviced Apartments while you’re here. It’s close to all the main attractions, the staff is friendly, and you get a terrific view.
5. Da Lat
Visiting here makes you feel like you’ve just stepped into a completely different country.
Da Lat sits between two mountains, giving it a cool weather climate. Additionally, the area was heavily influenced by French colonists who used the city as a high-end resort town.
Between the weather and local culture, Da Lat feels more like Europe than anyplace in Asia.
On top of this, the town’s got lots of unique attractions to offer. You can hike up Langbiang mountain, visit the botanical gardens (they’re beautiful), paddle boat around the downtown lake, or shop at the always crowded night market.
This is one of my favorite cities in Vietnam, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too.
One suggestion, is to stay at the Ngoc Lan Hotel. It’s right in the heart of Da Lat, giving you easy access to all the local sights.