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| Lanterns in Hoi An (Dreamstime) |
The first and foremost thing to do in Vietnam is Light a lantern in Hoi An, according to Wanderlust. As the ancient town is transformed into a “kaleidoscope of color and lights for its Lantern Festival every Tet and full-moon occasions, travelers may be charmed with the “crowded, chaotic and festive” atmosphere with spontaneous singing and food stalls at every corner of the town.
“The most breathtaking sight is thousands of lanterns floating on the river; hire a sampan boat to get a closer look. For a small sum, you can buy a lantern and set it afloat too,” Wanderlust’s team wrote.
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| Halong Bay (Dreamstime) |
The next destination is of the most famous wonders of the world – Halong Bay and its equally spectacular neighbor. Wanderlust described Halong Bay is created by 1,600 limestone towers rising from the turquoise waters with hundreds of boats that offer cruise trips regularly.
But the article noted the impressive Bai Tu Long Bay, which offers “the same jaw-dropping scenery but sees only a fraction of the visitors.”
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| Ngu Lam Peak, the end point of a popular Cat Ba hiking trail (Shutterstock) |
Hiking through Cat Ba Island is also a good option as the area features some spectacular peaks that will offer bird-eye views to “the breathtakingly beautiful bay, without the tourist masses”.
Besides, the travel guide site listed some unmissable things that you should do when visiting Vietnam including cruise the Mekong Delta, make an expenditure to the world’s largest cave in Phong Nha National Park, visit coffee-making heartland in the central highlands of Buon Ma Thuot, searching for best “pho” in Hanoi, get to know Vietnam’s bloody past in Ho Chi Minh City, go to church in Vietnamese style.
Travelers also enjoy to cycle around the peaceful and dreamy Hue city, find romance at Sapa’s love market, sail past the Tam Coc rice fields in Ninh Binh province, spot rare primates in Cat Tien National Park, ride in marvelous Ban Gioc waterfall, admire the newly established Golden Hands Bridge in Danang, embrace tranquility on Phu Quoc island, and live with the locals in the rural north-western Mai Chau district in Hoa Binh province.
| Vietnam has been selected as “Asia’s Leading Destination” in 2019 for the second year in a row at the World Travel Awards (WTA), the de facto “Oscar” award for the tourism industry.
Besides, Vietnam won in other three categories at the WTA ceremony for Asia and Oceania held in the country’s Phu Quoc island last weekend including “Asia’s Leading Culinary Destination” and “Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination” while the title “Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination” was given to the ancient town of Hoi An. |
