9 Best Vietnam Tours & Activities For The Most Quintessential & Unique Experiences. (2024.)
LOOKING FOR THE BEST VIETNAMESE TOURS?
Vietnam is a unique blend of Chinese, Indian and French influences, creating one of the world’s most intriguingly distinct cultures. Its rich history tapestry, along with its profound natural beauty, is why this breathtaking country is amongst the most beloved destinations to visit in Asia. So, whether you’re interested in discovering the nation’s most important heritage sites, seeing its diverse and captivating landscapes or bits of both, this list of quintessential Vietnam tours and unique experiences is the best way to enhance your understanding and appreciation of this endlessly beautiful and intriguing country.
👉 Short on time? Book the best Vietnam Tours here:
- Best For Nature: 3-Day, 2 Night Ha Long Bay Cruise.
- Best For History/Culture: Cu Chi Tunnels.
- Best For Wildlife/Adventure: Snorkelling Around Phu Quoc.
Best Vietnam Tours.
1. Revel In The Majestic Beauty Of A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5-Star, 3-Day, 2-Night Luxury Ha Long Bay Cruise.
One of the things Vietnam is renowned for is its breathtaking landscapes. From beautiful beaches to dense jungles and high mountain ranges, this tropical country is a visual feast. However, nothing is as iconically synonymous with the country as the UNESCO-certified Ha Long Bay.
Consisting of over 1900 individual islands of dramatic limestone karst mountains across a 1,553 km2 expanse of ocean in Northern Vietnam, it’s little wonder this magnificent geographical wonder often features on lists of the most enigmatically captivating natural landscapes in the world.
That puts visiting Ha Long Bay at the top of the list of things to do in this breathtaking country. But while there are many options for day trips and two-day, one-night cruises, for the most classically quintessential Vietnam tour, I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND, if you have the funds, doing a THREE-DAY, TWO-NIGHT CRUISE.
Although there are many islands to discover, only a handful are available for visiting. Furthermore, those embarking on day trips or undertaking overnight tours are met with islands packed with people, which is hardly the vibe many folks want, especially on this type of tour.
While a three-day, two-night luxury cruise entails visiting the same islands as the others on its first and last day, the day in between offers a much more peaceful and intimate experience of this enigmatic and unforgettable place.
Think three days of traversing through a massive limestone karst cavern (Sung Sot/ Surprise Cave – Day 1), climbing a mountaintop for unending panoramic views of the landscape (Titop Island – Day 1), spotting wild monkeys while kayaking through low sea caves into hidden lagoons (Luon Cave – Day 3 & Dark and Bright Cave – Day 2) and walking straight off a boat into a cave to swim at a sheltered beach on the other side (Day 2), then enjoying cocktails from the rooftop jacuzzi surrounded by these incredible rugged peaks.
Even my boyfriend, who isn’t a nature guy and has an aversion to overnight cruises, considers our 3-day, 2-night, 5-star Luxury Cruise the highlight of our Vietnamese adventure, which was in large part thanks to that second day, where the only people visiting the areas we visited were the people on our day boat and not seemingly everyone else on the bay as well.
2. Enjoy Aerial Views Of Ha Long Bay’s Iconic Limestone Karsts.
Ha Long City.
If you’re looking for more ways to see the endlessly captivating landscape of Ha Long Bay, one of the most exhilarating ways to absorb this place of unimaginable beauty is through this one-of-a-kind paramotor experience.
Get incredible aerial views of Ha Long City, the harbour and the breathtaking cluster of mystical mountainous islands Vietnam is famous for in the distance for whilst flying around in the front seat of the open-aired cockpit of a powered paraglider. The combination of the unusual aircraft and seeing the unforgettable scenery that is amongst the most renowned in the world in this way is a must-do for all those who love thrills and unique experiences.
3. Understand The Intricate Man-Made Caves Used During The War.
Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day Tour, Departing Ho Chi Minh City.
The most harrowing event that happened to Vietnam in recent history is what is known to Westerners as the Vietnam War and, locally, the American War. It was a civil conflict between the North and the South, initiated by the U.S., who feared communism would spread throughout Asia if they didn’t stop it in its tracks in Vietnam.
One of the country’s most ingenious tactics was to use the Cu Chi Tunnels, a lengthy 250 km long network of pre-existing tunnel systems built into the ground near Ho Chi Minh City during the French Indochina War to stealthily attack the Americans from below.
Visitors can venture into the narrow tunnels and hidden entrances, experiencing firsthand the harsh conditions the soldiers who once inhabited them endured for extended periods in their sacrificial fight for freedom.
On a guided half-day tour of this historically significant site, you’ll also learn about the complexity of the passageways, how they were able to live underground unnoticed for so long, their stealth and combat tactics above and below ground, see their innovative booby traps and old bomb craters, making this top-tier attraction the countries most excellent realisation of what it was like on the battlefield during the war. (You can also pay extra to shoot some guns.)
4. Discover Ancient Indian Champa Ruins.
My Son Sanctuary.
Did you know Vietnam was once home to an ancient Indian civilisation? Not many people do, which is why a guided tour of My Son Sanctuary is one of the country’s best experiences.
Nestled amidst the lush jungles of Central Vietnam, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is where the Champa ruins were discovered accidentally by the French during the French Indochina War. With several sites of Hindu temples clustered together depicting different styles of architecture and intricate engravings between the 4th and 14th centuries, this incredible heritage site provides a fascinating insight into a long-disappeared culture.
Even more impressive is that after enduring several centuries buried underground, it also survived heavy bombing from U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, giving this already remarkable place an even more storied history and, therefore, a must-visit for anyone with a fascination for history, war and architecture.
5. Uncover “Ha Long Bay On Land”.
Private Ninh Binh Day Tour.
Ha Long Bay isn’t the only place in Northern Vietnam featuring the steep limestone karst mountains synonymous with the country.
Ninh Binh is another area earmarked with these unforgettably rugged peaks. The most notable difference is that these are closely interconnected on the mainland, instead of thousands of individual islands in the ocean. For this reason, it is known as “Ha Long Bay on land“.
We highly recommend this private guided tour we undertook as it allowed us to see this spectacular region where we discovered the Hoa Lu Temples and learned the history of the Dinh & Le Dynasties, spent time peacefully taking in the breathtaking scenery of Trang An Landscape Complex (or you can choose Tam Coc), where a local took us on a 2-hour lengthy paddle through the rugged terrain including underneath them in narrow caves on a tradition sampan boat, climbed 500 steps to the magnificent Hang Mua Viewpoint (Lying Dragon Mountain), which has the most unforgettable views, before concluding the day at the peaceful Trung Trung Padoga.
6. Swim Or Kayak With Bioluminescent Plankton.
Cat Ba.
If you love incredible wildlife experiences, then there are no tours in Vietnam quite like the bioluminescent plankton kayaking adventure off Cat Ba Island in the breathtaking La Ha Bay.
This unforgettable night excursion starts at sunset and allows participants to kayak or swim with these incredible marine creatures known for their magical blue glow that looks like something out of a fantasy movie in their natural environment.
7. Transport Yourself To France.
French Village, Sunworld, Ba Na Hills.
Ever wanted to see France, but it was too expensive to visit? Well, you’re in luck because Vietnam has a spectacular village that feels very much like you’re in the beautiful European country despite being half the globe away.
The incredibly intricate and expansively themed French Village lies in the picturesque mountains behind the city of Da Nang and is part of the Sunworld Ba Na Hills complex, which has created an outstanding homage and fusion of the French and Vietnamese cultures.
It’s also home to the country’s newest landmark, the Golden Bridge, a breathtaking architectural marvel featuring two giant stone hands jutting out from the mountain range to hold up the pathway featuring views of the undulating landscape towards the ocean.
If that wasn’t enough to make you want to go, getting to the top is equally as wonderful. It has 6 cable cars that take visitors from the base of the mountain to the various areas of the theme park. At 5.8km long, the Ba Na cable car even holds the record as the world’s longest non-stop single-track cable car in the world, providing even more magnificent views of this magical place!
While I highly recommend staying at the Mercure Hotel, the only accommodation option on the mountain, for at least one night, to wander and appreciate this vast and beautiful theme park and its different sections in all its glory (overnight guests are also able to visit the Golden Bridge before anyone else), those with only a day to spare can still enjoy this magnificent place on a private guided tour.
8. Go On A Snorkelling Adventure.
Cham Island Or Phu Quoc.
Vietnam isn’t just spectacular above sea level. It’s also breathtaking below. The country is home to some incredible underwater ecosystems.
One of the best areas to explore these marine landscapes is in the waters surrounding the Cham Islands, which lie off the coast of Hoi An. The incredible coral reefs are home to a remarkable diversity of marine life, and embarking on a snorkelling tour on a high-speed canoe is one of the best ways to enjoy seeing them.
Phu Quoc is another magnificent place abundant with excellent snorkelling spots boasting spectacular coral formations and aquatic animals. But the large island, which is closer to Cambodia than Vietnam, requires catching a commercial flight to reach, then joining a speedboat snorkelling tour across to the smaller islands. That dramatically increases the overall cost of snorkelling at these reefs. However, those who venture out that way get rewarded with pristine underwater ecosystems far less frequented by tourists, providing a more unique and unforgettable experience with the country’s unique marine biodiversity.
9. Conquer Indochina’s Tallest Peak.
Fansipan.
If you love exploring the outdoors on foot, one quintessential Vietnamese tour to take a one-day hiking trip to Fansipan, the rooftop of Vietnam and the highest-most peak on the Indochina Peninsula.
Located just south of the border with China, a magnificent 12.5km one-way trek through the country’s rugged north is a breathtaking way to immerse yourself in Vietnam’s captivating and timeless landscapes. From the summit, be captivated by sweeping panoramic views overlooking the seemingly endless mountain ranges of this gorgeous wilderness region.
For those looking for a more immersive adventure, there is also a 2-day trekking trip to Vietnam’s tallest mountain that includes camping overnight with the option to peak at sunrise!
Note: If you don’t want to hike back down, you can opt to ride the cable car (additional cost) to the base. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy more incredible views of the picturesque landscape and will help you appreciate how far you’ve come.
Conclusion: Best Vietnam Tours.
With so many things to do and even more places to see, it’s impossible to accomplish it all. However, this list of quintessential Vietnam tours and other unique experiences will help you make the most of your Southeast Asian adventure by providing an insight into the country’s rich history and showcasing its spectacular natural beauty.
