Top 15 Reasons Why You Must Visit Vietnam Once in Your Lifetime

With countless advantages to develop tourism, Vietnam is confirming its position on the planet's tourism map. You are wondering why Vietnam is put on many travel bucket lists. Why is it such a fascinating destination? Let's find out the 15 reasons to visit Vietnam at least once in your life.

Top reasons to visit Vietnam

1. Vietnam is a safe destination

I am sure that before you decide on a destination for a vacation, the first thing you should evaluate is the safety of that destination. If you are considering going to Vietnam, you can have total peace of mind. In the surveys of many world famous travel magazines such as Telegraph, Dailystar, Roughguides, Vietnam is always in the top safest destinations. Therefore, the number of international tourists coming to Vietnam each year continues to increase steadily and shows no signs of abating.

There are a few explanations:

First of all, Vietnam has only one leading party-the Communist Party of Vietnam. With a country with a stable political background like Vietnam, visitors can travel without worrying about political upheaval.

Secondly, there has never been a single terrorist attack in Vietnam for thousands of years. When there are major political events, visits by presidents of other countries, the security system in Vietnam is always 100% guaranteed. Therefore, tourists can make their trip freely without worrying about security problems.

Then, actually, the rate of theft and violence is relatively low. You can take a walk alone at night without worrying. Therefore, Vietnam is also an ideal place for women to travel because of its safety.

2. Delicious food paradise - Vietnam

The UK's leading travel website - Rough Guides has recently announced its list of countries with the most attractive cuisine on the planet, and Vietnam is honoured to be ranked 5th for the title of "culinary paradise of the century."

First, with rice civilization dating back thousands of years, Vietnamese dishes are diversified by this ingredient. From cakes, vermicelli, pho, rice, rice paper, rice rolls with different kinds of vegetarian and savoury fillings. If you love rice or light dishes, Vietnam is just a paradise for you.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese cuisine, on the other hand, has some interesting processing principles. One must talk about a cuisine that attaches great importance to the harmony of yin-yang within each dish. In fact, there are dishes and ingredients to refresh in summer, there are hot dishes to keep warm on cold days. This makes Vietnam cuisine selected among the healthiest in the world. Then, also the use of a variety of vegetables, spices, and various typical sauces brings the unique flavours to diners that cannot be found anywhere else.

Another interesting point is that in Vietnam, there is no specific time to eat, the restaurant is always open, so within walking distance from the hotel, you can enjoy the delicious food. It's great, isn't it?

Some information you don't want to miss:

>> Top 10 dishes you absolutely must try in Vietnam 

>> Vietnamese coffee - a must-try for coffee lovers

3. Vietnam offers breathtaking natural landscapes

With three-quarters of the area encompassed by mountains and plateaus, Vietnam offer you unique and diverse natural scenery. From the selected Top geoparks in the world at Dong Van, Non Nuoc to the majestic landscapes created by a combination of mountains, rivers, lakes, and the sea at Halong Bay, Ba Be, Ha Giang, from the terraced fields created by the hand of man at Mu Cang Chai, Sapa to the primaeval forests, melaleuca forests, mangrove forests, endless sand dunes. The beautiful landscapes that nature gives Vietnam will take you on an exciting journey.

Moreover, with a long coastline, visitors can soak in the moment of sunrise or enjoy the peaceful moment of sunset. A system of bays, islands and archipelagos will not disappoint you with the fascinating landscapes.

If you are a lover of natural scenes, Vietnam is a place just for you. Notice at once some UNESCO natural heritages in Vietnam.

• Halong Bay
• Phong Nha National Park - Ke Bang
• Dong Van Stone Plateau Geopark
• Trang An Complex

See more information about

>> Beauty of Global Geoparks in Vietnam 

>> 10 Natural Wonders in Vietnam 

>> The 10 Most Beautiful National Parks in Vietnam 

4. A country with unique cultural values

Besides natural beauty, what do you expect from a trip? New culture to discover, history is a compelling reason... With over 4,000 years of history, Vietnam has experienced many ups and downs: Chinese domination, interference with other cultures such as Japan Ban, India, Thailand, Khmer , the conquest of the Champa Kingdom,... 

These changes have made Vietnam a country with an open culture where visitors can easily feel the similarities in the beliefs, ways of thinking, and customs of Vietnamese people similar to other cultures. However, these are localised in very indigenous and interesting ways.

Here are the World Cultural Heritages in Vietnam:

• Complex of Hue Monuments
• Hoi An ancient town
• My Son Sanctuary
• Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
• Citadel of the Ho Dynasty
• Hue’s Royal Court Music
• Cultural space of Goong in Tay Nguyen
• Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs
• Ca Tru
• Saint Giong Festival
• Xoan Singing of Phu Tho province
• Worship of Hùng Kings
• Art of Đờn Ca Tài Tử Music and Song
• Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghe Tinh 

5. Cultural diversity of 54 ethnic groups

Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country with 54 different ethnic groups, among which the Kinh (Viet) ethnic group occupies the majority of about 85% of the population and the other 53 ethnic groups occupy 15%. They are divided into 5 language families and each of these ethnic groups have different cultures and customs. 

Arriving in Vietnam, especially in the northern mountains such as Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Ba Be, travellers can visit the typical villages of minor ethnic groups, discovering their impressive customs and life. In addition, typical ethnic cuisines with unique flavour will also evoke your taste buds.

There are many ways to discover Vietnam's ethnic diversity such as paying a visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnography in Hanoi, going directly to tribal villages, or simply going to ethnic markets.

Discover itineraries in North Vietnam that you can have chances to contact with ethnic minorities in Vietnam:

• Sapa
• Ha Giang
• Mu Cang Chai
• Cao Bang
• Ba Be

6. Friendly local people

Being originally an agricultural country, Vietnam attaches great importance to maintaining good relations with community members. In fact, the purpose is not only for business needs but is an expression of affection and gratitude, which has the effect of tightening relationships.

For tourists, the Vietnamese have a good attitude; they are very welcoming. Not only merchants who seem happy to sell their goods but also passersby or children who meet foreign tourists often have a cheerful smile. It is the hospitality that makes visitors feel welcome in Vietnam.

In case tourists get lost on the way, they will receive directions enthusiastically from Vietnamese people; although some people may not be very fluent in English, they still find a way to express themselves or, therefore, directly accompany tourists to the place they want to go. How wonderful!

>> See more: Behaviours in Vietnam: things to do and not to do

7. Lots of festivals and celebrations

Vietnam boasts a diverse culture with a long history and vibrant ethnic colours. Therefore, there are numerous festivals that are waiting for you to take part in. Vietnamese people have the tradition of worshipping not only the Buddha, Saints but also national heroes and people who have made contributions to the lives of locals, along with ancestors. From the North to the South of Vietnam and in almost every month of the year, visitors could immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, especially in the spring. There are many festivals loved by tourists such as Tet - Lunar New Year which takes place on the first day of the lunar year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Ghost Festival,..... 

Read this article so you don't miss any interesting festivals during your trip to Vietnam: Top Traditional Vietnam Festivals and Public Holidays

8. An affordable tourist destination

"A tight budget can't stop you from visiting faraway countries" - This quote in the Canadiana magazine "The Travel" is an affirmation for those who want to leave for Vietnam. With only about 2 USD, you can already buy a good bowl of Pho - Vietnam specialty or egg coffee, a must-try street food in Hanoi. This means you can safely travel to Vietnam on a budget or book the high-class services at a very reasonable price. Actually so many people have chosen Vietnam for their honeymoon to enjoy all the beautiful, romantic moments, to have new experiences with good business. Vietnam is an ideal destination for all budgets!

Not only that, Vietnam is also a suitable destination for everyone: seniors, children, honeymoon couples, and groups of friends. There are some very attractive experiences for you, find out our recommendations for your group.

>> Travelling to Vietnam with Kids: Things to Know, See and Do

>> 15 days in Vietnam: ideas for authentic, off-the-beaten-path trip

>> Ideas for a photography tour to Vietnam

9. Many vibrant traditional markets

With the cultural diversity, Vietnam offers so many opportunities for tourists to penetrate into local life. The most favourite and appreciated way is to visit traditional markets. From big cities to remote rural areas, you can find weekend markets, consumer markets, flea markets, fish markets, flower markets, and even floating markets on rivers in the Mekong Delta area. Each market wins the hearts of tourists for a distinct and unique beauty.

>> See more: Top 15 unique ethnic markets in Northern Mountains of Vietnam

10. Beautiful beach resorts for a beach vacation

It is no exaggeration to say that Vietnam's seaside is also a gift that Mother Nature granted this S-shaped country. 

With a coastline of 3400 km, Vietnam has so many beautiful and poetic beaches. Here is a list of the most wonderful beaches in Vietnam! However, it should be noted that along the country's coastline, there are still so many hidden pristine beaches that are not popular with tourists. They really are the hidden gems!

In addition to the beaches, the islands in Vietnam are also very enchanting, with crystal clear, limpid water and breathtaking beaches.

>> See more: The 10 wonderful islands in Vietnam for your beach vacation

Gorgeous bays are also the pride of Vietnamese people, there are bays that are ranked among the most beautiful in the world several times. It is worth mentioning that Halong Bay which has been recognized 2 times by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

Interesting facts:

• Halong Bay, Nha Trang Bay, and Lang Co Bay are the three haven bays in Vietnam that are mentioned in the list of the world's most beautiful bays
• Dam Trau Beach, in Con Dao Sea, Ba Ria Province - Vung Tau, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (Travel + Leisure magazine)
• Travellers' Choice Awards 2021 announced the 25 most beautiful beaches in Asia, including An Bang (Hoi An) and My Khe (Da Nang)
• NZ Herald News (New Zealand's largest newspaper) has just published the 7 best beaches in the world, including Da Nang beach

11. The heaven of beauty services

Do you love to do beauty and health care such as hair care, manicure, massage or just an herbal foot bath to stay healthy? Here you find the right tourist destination. In Vietnam, especially in big cities, you can find these services at really affordable prices. With a traditional spa treatment that includes sauna, massage and light meals starting at just US$20 for 90 minutes. If you want a new hair cut at the salon, the price is only about US$10. In case you want to experience the feeling of cutting your hair on the sidewalks, hairdressers can surprise you with the price of 1 USD for a perfect men's hairstyle.

Vietnam is a paradise for beauty, so don't forget to try this experience.

>> See more: The Best Spa and Massage in Hanoi Old Quarter

12. Astonishing works of unique architecture

Going through changes in history and the destruction of war, Vietnam is a country with very typical architectural works. If you are an architecture lover, you can see many interesting things while travelling in Vietnam.

These are ancient architectural works that strictly follow the rules of the Five Elements and the yin-yang Theory like most ancient buildings in Vietnam such as the Hue Citadel, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Minh Mang's Tomb... There are also buildings that bring French architecture that is localised to optimise weather problems with an extremely attractive Indochinese style.

Not only that, modern architectural works are widely publicised such as Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills, Bridge of Kisses in Phu Quoc, Dragon Bridge in Da Nang or even skyscrapers such as Bitexco, Landmark 81 at Ho Chi Minh City always impress tourists very much.

Drop a quick visit at these amazing landmarks, you will admire the skill of humans now and then.

>> See more: Top 15 Vietnam Bridges that Become World Famous

13. Mysterious places for adventurers

Do you love adventures, travel that gets the adrenaline pumping in your blood, making you feel a sense of achievement and fulfilment? Vietnam is the land for you. Until 2013, the whole world was surprised when information about the world's largest cave ever heard of in Quang Binh, Vietnam was announced: the Son Doong Cave. This underground cave has its own rivers, streams and even its own ecosystem. It's amazing, isn't it? Then recently, people have continued to find another Hung Thoong cave system in this land with interesting new discoveries. This is truly a promising land for adventurers!

Interesting fact: Quang Binh Vietnam was chosen as the filming location for Kong Skull Island (2017) and Pan (2015). Have you seen these films?

>> See more: Interesting things to do in Quang Binh

14. One of the fastest growing countries in Asia

Vietnam is a country quite well known for one of the most brutal wars of the 20th-century. Moreover, in the 4,000-year history of this country, almost half of which, the people of Vietnam have suffered wars, domination and colonisation by other rich countries. Sometimes it breaks my heart that this country is associated with the word "war". Actually, the War in Vietnam officially ended in 1975, but its remnants in Vietnam, including the embargo, only ended in 1990. So, to say, this country has only about 30 years to develop freely and independently. 

So, when you come to Vietnam nowadays, you will be really overwhelmed by the speed of development. However, not just trying to develop at any cost, Vietnamese people still live happily, optimistically and respect the cultural values inherited from the past generations. It's a strange country, isn't it?

15. Various options of souvenirs to take home

If you are wondering about souvenirs to take home, I am sure you will completely forget about it when you come to Vietnam. With a diverse gastronomy, a rich culture with countless handmade traditional handicrafts, you can easily choose something to take back to your darlings and friends. Take a look at some of the items here!

>> See more: Unique Hanoi Souvenirs to Bring Home

For more Vietnam travel guides, please visit Vietnam travel blog.

Above mentioned are 15 reasons to visit Vietnam. You can even find more reasons to love this land. Recently, Vietnam has been standing as a vibrant and captivating destination that beckons travellers from all corners of the globe. By booking a tour to Vietnam, you can unlock the full potential of this remarkable country. Expert guides will lead you through the hidden alleys, ensuring you discover the true essence of Vietnam. Unforgettable experiences, awe-inspiring sights, and cherished moments await you in this captivating country.

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