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Much of what I knew came from the movies. The Deer Hunter (1978). Apocalypse Now (1979). Full Metal Jacket (1987). My first taste of Vietnam. Never in a million years, while watching those movies, did I imagine I’d ever travel to Vietnam! BUT I DID! And I loved it! It’s actually one of my favorite places so I recommend it every chance I get. So keep reading for the top 5 reasons to visit Vietnam.

Read: Vietnam solo travel: is it safe?

First things first…you’ll need a visa.

Visa Requirements For Vietnam

Tourists, whether traveling to Vietnam solo or with a group will need to apply for a visa in order to enter the country. In addition, passports must be valid for at least another 6 months beyond the planned stay. The passport must also have at least two blank pages for the visa stamp.

How To Obtain A Vietnam Visa

The quickest and most efficient way to obtain a visa for Vietnam entry is via E-visa. Completed applications can be processed in as little as 3 working days. Once you receive your E-visa, IT MUST BE PRINTED and presented along with your passport at the port of entry. You can apply for your E-visa here.

Here are The Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Vietnam

1. The price point is sweet

Whether you’re a budget-traveler hopping from hostel to hostel or a luxury travel aficionado, you’ll appreciate the fact that Vietnam is relatively inexpensive to visit, making it a top tourist destination for people from all walks of life.  Vietnam routinely tops “cheapest places to visit” lists. If you can find a decently priced flight or take advantage of an airline stopover, like I did, then you can really have a really fantastic trip and not break the bank. Check out my blog post about utilizing airline stopovers to get more bang for your travel buck.

2. The views are breathtaking

A major reason to visit Vietnam is to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds you’ve only read about in travel books/blogs or seen on television.

You can’t go wrong veering off-the-beaten-path or sticking to popular tourist paths, either way, you’ll find plenty of stand-out destinations and landmarks with views that are to die for. Some can’t miss spots are:

Halong Bay (UNESCO site) in northeast Vietnam will delight nature lovers interested in exploring tropical rainforest from a kayak or junk boat. If you’re visiting Hanoi, a day trip to explore, the caves, limestone cliffs, and rice terraces of Tam Coc by boat is an excellent choice. 

Con Dao Islands – located on the southeast region of Vietnam –a chain of 16 islands and inlets that are nothing short of paradise.

Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) – located in North Vietnam this surreal location will have you feeling like you’ve been transported to another place and time.

3. You’ll never run out of fun things to do

No matter what kind of traveler you are…YOU WILL find something to do in Vietnam that you love. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

visit the caves – Caves are abundant throughout the country of Vietnam. The largest cave in the world, Son Doong, is home to a jungle within its walls. The cave spans over 1 million cubic feet and houses an underwater tunnel that stretches to nearby Hang Thung Cave.

Several expedition tour companies offer multi-day cave camping trips. Their vast size and sheer volume require more than just one day to explore. Some of these include the Tu Lan cave system, Luon Cave and Sung Sot.

The Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is home to Thien Duong Cave, another must-see cave in Vietnam.

For less adventurous tourists, a single-day cave exploration treks are also available within the Tu Lan Cave System. The wonders of these geological marvels may be a good reason to add a cave trek to your Vietnam itinerary. 

lantern festivals– The stunning lanterns take on a life of their own at night and provide an awe-inspiring sight and memorable photo opportunity. For the ultimate Instagrammable photo, a visit to see the lanterns at Hoi An is a must and great reason to go off the beaten path in Vietnam.

chase waterfalls – Vietnam has some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. These are the standouts:

• Pongour Waterfall– the distance from Da Lat makes it less likely to be crowded. The journey will be worth it.
• Thac Bac Waterfall– about 7 miles from Sa Pa
• Ban Gioc Waterfall– located in Cao Bang Province, this waterfall straddles the “fence” between China and Vietnam

take the train – why not head to Ninh Binh. It’s easily accessible by train from Hanoi and provides a very comfortable 2-hour scenic ride.

walk across a fire breathing gold dragon bridge at night– located in Da Nang it’s the longest bridge in Vietnam. Watching it spit fire or water from its mouth, at night, is a treat. The daytime view is awesome but the nighttime scene is spectacular.

rent a scooter- Similarly, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, consider renting a scooter at Ninh Binh in Halong Bay to explore the back roads along limestone cliffs and countryside.

floating markets of Mekong Delta– a can’t miss if you want to get a real feel for the Vietnamese people and their day to day lives.

Read: Vietnam: What To Do In Ho Chi Minh

4. The food is delicious

Typically Vietnamese cuisine features a combination of five fundamental flavors that align with the body and the elements. Hence your tastebuds will be tickled with the tantalizing flavors of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and hot.

The flavors culminate in a variety of food flavors and textures that are unparalleled. 

While the standard fare most associate with Vietnam, pho and banh mi, are must-haves, there’s plenty more to experience.

Try bo kho which is similar to the beef bourguignon you’d find in France. Or how about a banh xeo, which is like a French crepe and is made from rice flour, coconut milk and turmeric then stuffed with savory fillings.

And the sampling of street food is A MUST! This is also a great opportunity to dine alongside locals.

5. The history is fascinating

There’s a sense of responsibility that comes with travel. Travel can shape us, help us grow and expand our horizons. When we travel we’re able to unlearn and relearn things we thought we knew about the world.

One of the most important reasons to visit Vietnam or any country for that matter is to see that part of the world from another point of view. In Vietnam, the Cu Chi Tunnels offer an opportunity to do just that.

During the Vietnam war, the Viet Cong dug these tunnels and used them as transportation networks for communications and supplies. They could also use them to attack by surprise.

It’s all so very fascinating. Vietnam is full of captivating history and crawling through the Cu Chi tunnels, as a tourist, gives you a little taste of that.

Are you convinced yet?

Have you added Vietnam to your travel list? If the abundance of things to do, the variety of things to eat, the out of this world views, the budget-friendly price, and the fascinating history are not enough reasons to visit Vietnam than I don’t know what is.

I guarantee you’re bound to come back from this trip having learned something new about the world and ultimately about yourself, which is in essence, the true reason to travel the world. Is it not?

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