9 of the Top Day Trips in Vietnam

One of the most iconic vistas in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is home to countless islands that seem to rise up into the sea from the Earth’s center. Visit this evocative landscape via sailboat or yacht, making sure to stop at Sung Sot Cave to admire its dangling stalactites.

On the way to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi, enjoy freshly prepared Vietnamese classics like spring rolls and seafood crepes, or stop at an oyster farm to see how locals harvest pearls.

Related: Halong Bay Cruises from Hanoi

Vietnam is much more than the war that took occurred half a century ago. But there’s still much to understand about the country’s history from the living memory of many Vietnamese citizens.

Head to the Cu Chi Tunnels to learn about the Vietcong and how they fought from and lived within a network of tunnels that stretches on for 75 miles (121 kilometers). These tunnels were only 2 feet wide (60 centimeters) and 2.6 feet tall (80 centimeters) at specific points.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, My Son was once the capital of the Champa Kingdom, a Hindu society that merged indigenous Cham beliefs with Indian deities. Here, marvel at Sanskrit inscriptions next to carvings that provide insight into Cham political realities.

The sprawling complex was built between the 4th and the 13th centuries CE but unfortunately, only one main temple stands intact after a bombing campaign by American forces. From Hoi An, set out early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Hue is a large coastal city home to the Imperial Palace. It’s also known for having some of the best food in Vietnam—the ideal place for a food tour. According to legend, during the rule of the Nguyen dynasty, kings would request a different meal every single day, never repeating a dish twice.

This is why locals claim Hue has some of the most innovative food in the entire country, from bun bo hue (a spicy beef soup) to banh beo (small rice and tapioca circles with toppings) to com hen (clam rice)

In the cities of Ben Tre and My Tho, the economy revolves around the fertile delta that lies in every direction. The Mekong River—which starts in China and travels through six countries—reaches the ocean not far from here.

On a small-group day trip from Ho Chi Minh City, taste fresh coconut from local coconut farms and paddle through the jungle via boat along the Mekong Delta. Alternatively, join a cooking class that spotlights traditional gastronomy from the region and practice your haggling skills at a floating market.

A primary filming location for 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, Ninh Binh is known for its dramatic vistas that recall a prehistoric world. Visit pagodas and taste the local food with the help of an expert guide. Or, take a tour that includes a bike ride along the Tam Coc River, flanked by karst mountains and verdant rice paddies.

Along the way, keep an eye out for the massive ape-like monster King Kong—which, thanks to the fog and ancient temples—seems like it could be hiding around any corner.

In the beach town of Mui Ne, you’ll find significantly fewer crowds than many other beach escapes close to Ho Chi Minh City. Here, you’ll have the dunes and waves all to yourself—whether you’re a surfer or prefer just to sit on the sand with a book.

Either way, consider the adrenaline rush of driving a 4x4 vehicle over the dunes at sunset before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.

A syncretic religion that mixes elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity, Caodaism was founded in Vietnam in the 1920s. The adherents welcome visitors to their Holy See, the colorful Cao Dai Temple, where you can admire the beauty of its distinctive two-tower design.

Learn about this belief system that considers both the Buddha and the French writer Victor Hugo central prophets by watching a morning service with a local guide—just avoid taking pictures of the monks out of respect.

Visiting the Ba Na Hills isn’t the most traditional day trip while in Vietnam—there’s no ancient palace or sanctuary here. But visitors can enjoy Sun World, an amusement park built to resemble a European spa town, and ride a cable car at an altitude of nearly a mile (1,490 meters) above sea

Cap off the afternoon with a walk over the Golden Bridge, held in place by two gigantic hands reaching out of the mountain itself.