Top 10 Best Places to Visit & Thing to do in Vietnam & Cambodia

Vietnam's tourism industry has huge potential, and it seems to be more powerfully developed and utilized than ever before. Welcome to the S-shaped zone, which is recognized as a beautiful landmark in the world. Cambodia is the destination that never ceases to challenge the curiosity of travel lovers thanks to magnificent religious architectures and legends. Therefore, there is no reason not to start the journey to discover the land of the temples. Have no idea where to go? Let's check the list below.

1. Hanoi

The best time to go to Hanoi is in the autumn as the weather is fine, the sunlight is not strict enough to skin. All the above weather factors create the best conditions for visitors to have the best journey to discover Hanoi. And if you like the cold breeze, please travel to Hanoi in the last months of the year, like November and December. Coming to Hanoi at this time, besides visiting famous tourist destinations, visitors can also enjoy winter specialities in Hanoi.

Suppose someone asks what is beautiful in Hanoi; it's easy to answer! Hanoi is beautiful because there is a turtle tower, a majestic Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, and a splendid West Lake. These are the symbols that make up the beauty of the capital of thousands of years of civilization. With a clean and fresh space, this place is popular with couples for wedding photography.

Hanoi Vietnam

What's more? One place that you should visit is Hanoi Old Quarter. This area is the zone of streets, houses, street corners bearing the architectural style of the French in the nineteenth century. Despite changes in time, this place still retains its original architecture. People can say that the old town is the soul, a unique feature of Hanoi. Hanoi not only holds visitors to its famous landmarks but is also known as the culinary paradise with dishes that everyone will remember once enjoying them.

2. Halong Bay

Of course, ranking the top 10 most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam will be to blame without the presence of Ha Long Bay. Ha Long can be one of the country's landmarks that receive the most international recognition. Not only attracts foreign tourists because of the heritage recognized by UNESCO, but this landmark also owns other beautiful destinations that nature bestows and the most fantasy entertainment areas. A trip to Ha Long for a few days is probably not enough to explore it all. So this coastal city is a regular destination for many tourists when they can take a break.

To admire the beauty of the bay, visitors can choose Halong Bay overnight cruises. These ships take visitors to prominent attractions on the bay, such as caves with magical stalactites systems. Huge stalactites in many strange shapes shimmering in colourful lights are waiting for you! Furthermore, you can come to fishing villages to learn about the life of ​​residents.

Halong Bay Overnight Cruise

Coming to the bay is hitting the beach! Clear blue sea water, surrounded by green pine forests, stretching white sand slopes of an extremely high-end resort will blow up your mind. In particular, visitors are also excited to see the actors' unique water music show as marine species. Not only that, the famous tourist area has a large-scale outdoor amusement park with a series of impressive games.

3. Hue

Hue an ancient land with a bit of elegance bears the traces of kings. It is one of the cities with the oldest cultural history and is a place that preserves many world-recognized historical sites and monuments. Therefore, anyone wants to come to Hue once to admire the last feudal structures.

The site that you must explore first is Hue Citadel. It was the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty within 143 years, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. With a total area of ​​520 hectares, Hue Citadel is divided into mandarin and common people living; the other is the living and working place of the king. You will once again recall the residence of the feudal court and live in a space bearing the imprint of the nation's majestic history.

After the Imperial Citadel of Hue, the Nguyen Dynasty kings' tombs are the places that you should not miss. Hue has seven mausoleums, each with its unique oriental architecture with sophisticated carvings, in harmony with nature.

Hue Imperial City

Another landscape - Perfume river or Huong river is no less marvellous than the others. The poetic Perfume River is considered a symbol of Hue. You can sit on a boat to enjoy the peaceful scenery, listen to folk songs, watch the city shimmering with lights, and have a feeling of living in the imperial era.

Want some souvenirs? Please come to Dong Ba market. You can wander around, buy some gifts such as conical hats, and enjoy famous specialities. That's all, but if you don't go, you'll regret it!

4. Hoi An

Hoi An also preserves a rather massive intangible cultural foundation in addition to cultural values through diverse architecture. It is an ancient town with houses owning unique roofs with decorative textures and motifs expressing a harmonious combination of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Western architectural styles. The daily life of residents with customs, belief activities, folk arts, cultural festivals along with the romantic natural landscape, special dishes make Hoi An more favourable to tourists from all over the world.

Hoi An

Don't suppose that this place has only these things. Not only is the old town beautiful and unique, but Hoi An also has many beautiful and poetic destinations outside the old town. The impression you get most is probably the stretches of coconut in the sea breeze of Cua Dai. Together with the long white sand beaches and the turquoise blue colour of the sea, the beach makes this place more romantic. Most tourists or people love it, so much so that Hoi An, Cua Dai beach is the top choice for Hoi An.

Think of making something special yourself? Let's go to the Handicraft workshop! The workshop brings together most traditional handicrafts such as mat weaving, fabric weaving, pottery, lacquer. Visiting the workshop, visitors will witness the artisans' skilful hands and great skills in creating sophisticated fine arts products. You can take part in some stages of the production of the craft and buy some souvenir products.

You can join a boat tour along the Thu Bon River. The two sides of the river have beautiful dunes, picturesque fields, and mountains. Especially, sunset on Thu Bon River can make all visitors fall in love.

5. Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest economic, political and cultural centre in the South of Vietnam. You can meet close-up high-rise buildings, busy entertainment areas, shopping centres, but there is no shortage of ancient villas, traditional markets that have existed for hundreds of years. Thus, this site is also a major tourist center, with historical relics and museums recorded during the Vietnam War.

Where to go? Welcome to the Notre Dame Cathedral - a destination not to be missed when travelling to Saigon. Notre Dame Cathedral stands out with a combination of European gothic and roman architecture. The church is nearly 140 years old and has become a symbol of the city.

Another site for photos is Hao Sy Ward. It is a special street bearing the identity of the Chinese for over 100 years. Thus, it's not only a place to live but also a place to keep traditional values. Colourful houses and balconies are nostalgic and old. Coming here, you not only get beautiful photos but also feel the peaceful pace of the people.

If you are a bookworm, it's time to reach Book Street. This zone was born with the desire to promote the reading culture. There are more than 20 booths of publishers, cafes, shopping, and a display of old books. Since its inception, the book street has been a venue for the book launch and exchange activities.

Last, the high water bars will be Saigon tourist destinations that you should not miss. There, you not only enjoy delicious drinks but also get your eyes and see the sparkling beautiful city scenery.

Ho Chi Minh City

6. Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta is a rich area with many typical tourism products such as floating markets, garden tourism, river tourism with traditional culture, and unique local products. If you don't know what to do, then follow the list of places.

First, let's talk about Western Forest - a flooded forest typical of the western region with an area of ​​nearly 850 hectares. It is the home and survival of hundreds of different types of flora and fauna, including precious species. You will hear explanations and a general introduction about Melaleuca forest; paddle through the canals to admire the Seed forest. After the trip, you'll be up to a 23m high observatory to see the panoramic view of Melaleuca forest and birds flock to the nest under the sunset.

Besides the scenery, the cuisine of this area is another thing for you. This culinary background also produces a myriad of dry fish sauce. Southern cuisine also uses rustic dishes such as brackish water seafood.

Cai Rang FLoating market in mekong delta

7. Phnom Penh

The first mentioned place must be the capital Phnom Penh, the most important city in Cambodia. Life in Cambodia is also quite peaceful, friendly, and imbued with national cultural identity through architecture, costumes, religion, and cuisine.

The first site for you is the Royal palace - a powerful symbol of Royal Cambodia. The Royal Kingdom of Cambodia built this architecture over a century ago to serve the normal living needs, welcome international visitors and the royal. Currently, this is also an extremely prominent tourist destination and attracts interesting works inside. In particular, inside the palace is also Silver Pagoda, where there are 5000-floor tiles made from block silver, each weighing up to 1kg. Silver Pagoda is splendid and magnificent, and a sacred place; many people come to pray.

It's time to get into the small Europe of Cambodia - the Russian market. It has an extremely rich variety of goods with a full range of items such as jewellery, fabrics and garment accessories, handicrafts, Buddha statues, or gods in Khmer folk beliefs. After walking around the market, you can recharge yourself with delicious dishes in the middle or outside the market at extremely affordable prices.

Phnom Penh Independence Monument

8. Siem Reap

The hometown of Angkor Wat is the next area for travel bloggers to check-in! In addition to the special attraction of the Angkor Wat temple, Siem Reap also has many beautiful scenes to explore with many other interesting activities such as bathing under the Kulen waterfalls, cycling through the peaceful countryside.

The top choice for tourists in Siem Reap is to experience a swing Zipline adventure. Enjoying the feeling of flying through the tropical forests, watching hundreds of temples and families of gibbons like small dots from above happen once in a lifetime! So, come here!

Pub Street is a great suggestion if you want to go for a drink, dinner, or party and meet new friends. During the day, it's the perfect place to eat and drink, and the bars are open almost all night. One of the most interesting things to see is the dance show. It is a traditional Khmer dance that conveys a very beautiful and meaningful story. Just enjoy a buffet dinner and have yourself a perfect night!

Pub Street Siem Reap

9. Angkor Wat

The temple complex of Angkor Wat is one of the wonders of the world and is also a very famous tourist destination in Cambodia. One and foremost, the entire architectural complex is outstanding and features ancient sculptures. The immense towers, temples, reliefs, and corridors are all made of boulders, stacked in a very natural look, even on top of the arch. Stone decorative motifs such as Buddha statues, dancers, warriors, and lotus flowers illustrating the epic Ramayana and Mahabharata are all very lively and soft.

Signing in Angkor Wat means that you can't miss the moment of sunrise or dawn. Why? Because the temple has a quite special position, this is the only temple in the population facing the west. Surely you will be dazzled when you see this temple in the time of sunset.

Angkor Wat in Sunrise

10. Tonle Lake

Tonle Lake is now the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Bien Ho in Cambodia is a gathering place for Vietnamese and Cham communities living in floating raft houses. Their lives are also focused on the village-style, creating a floating village that attracts foreign visitors because of its unique culture.

Sitting on a boat to watch the scenery is an interesting experience when travelling to Bien Ho, Cambodia. Visitors will be able to take a boat ride on the tranquil lake surface, enjoy the cool breeze and watch the local life. Visitors will be able to take a wooden boat to walk around this famous mangrove forest. The lush greenery surrounding the fishing villages is a destination not to be missed when visiting the Sea and Lake.

The last interesting sightseeing spot in Siem Reap is Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary. Many precious birds are in danger of extinction, and you can also climb to the towering observatory to admire the whole Great natural scene here.

Tonle Sap Lake

Southeast Asia is an incredible region with a rich culture, delicious food, and great heritage. All countries in Southeast Asia are all-time favourite travel destinations for many travellers as everything is perfect in the traveller's eyes. These are the 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam and Cambodia and the recommendation for a First-time Traveller. You also might look for best Vietnam and Cambodia tours, please do not hesitate to contact BestPrice Travel, one of the top local operator trusted by TRIPADVISOR. It's time to check-in!

Dang Minh Anh

(Image source: Internet)