5 Cities to Visit in Vietnam – A Two Week Deep Travel Itinerary

One Planet Journey’s Maika Cotton returns to Vietnam for a deeper exploration of the major cities to visit. From Da Nang’s beaches, and the Golden Bridge in Ba Nah Hills, she goes to the Yellow City of Hoi An, a UNESCO listed heritage town. The Water Puppet Show provides apt entertainment in buzzing Hanoi, where the rains get her soaked to the bone. Ninh Binh presents the stairway to heaven while Ho Chi Minh City offers a poignant lesson of wartime history and an eye to a modern future in the Land of the Blue Dragon.

Vietnam Calling. Again.

Vietnam is a place of contrasts – chaotic cities bursting with life, tranquil rivers dwarfed by limestone mountains, and chilled coastal towns. I first visited this Southeast Asia gem five years ago, but I missed out on the chance to savour its culture, as I had only had four days there. Now, on my return, I found the edges of my memories blurred. I realised that circumstances in life, mindset, and age shape the way we travel. Cultural immersion, and the deeper understanding of different places, goes hand in hand with self-awareness. It makes travelling more beautiful and unique to your own trajectory of personal development.

Vietnam showed me a form of deep travel, as it isn’t a place to be seen; it’s a place to be felt. This time, I had time to dive in for a more authentic and purposeful stay. For 15 days, I journeyed across the country with a mission to visit Vietnam’s buzzing cities, with the occasional respite in the serenity of nature. I discovered a land that’s as diverse as it is captivating, and I’m sure you will want to do the same. But maybe don’t choose the rainy period like I did..

Da Nang – The City of Bridges

I breezed into Da Nang, a city where the steady rhythm of the waves seemed to counterbalance the buzz of scooters on noisy streets. As it turned out, I came in peak summer during the wettest month of the year, August. The warm air covers you like a humid blanket, weighing over you without escape. 

A walkway traces the coastline with an abundance of restaurants, cafés, and bars. Perfect to relax during the day, and enjoy a movie projection during the evenings and nights.  

If you want to blend in with the locals, beach days are not your typical whole-day tanning session. They visit before 5 am or after 5 pm when the sun lies low, the water rests on the shore, and an atmospheric blue light sky covers the beach. It saves you from the most intense rays, and the ocean feels pleasant, like a spa after a full day of work. Families and friends come together and enjoy food, and a swim before the sun sets.

Da Nang City

Da Nang offers more than its beautiful coastline; the city teems with life. Like an onion, its outer layer presented the beach, and as I peeled back each one, I dived deeper into its vibrant heart. Without a doubt, it’s a one of the cities you have to visit in Vietnam.

At the core of the third largest city in Vietnam, there is the crowd-pleasing Dragon Bridge that ties together the city, with the Han River flowing beneath. The architectural masterpiece breathes fire from its mouth every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm. Cross the bridge on foot, and reach the opposite side of the bayfront, where food trucks and diverse cultural shows jostle for space during the weekends.

The city night is full of neon LED lights with amazing food left and right. For foodies, I suggest a walk through the famous Han Market. Here you will find vendors selling fresh produce, handicrafts, and street food. Taste authentic dishes like mi quang (turmeric-infused noodles), and, of course, the iconic fish sauce. For a deeper cultural connection, visit the Cham Museum. It displays ancient relics of the Cham civilisation, incidentally the originators of the fish sauce.

The most enchanting part of my trip: the live dancing by the bayfront. As the sun sets, and the lights illuminate the darkened city, locals come together to dance Salsa and Bachata. Being a dancer myself, I joined in. It turned into one of my best memories I have gathered over my years as a traveller.

A deep travel tip I have learned is to take your hobbies with you to wherever you choose to go. I always look for social dancing in cities I visit, as a way to interact and establish connections with locals. I do a quick online search for dancing classes and social gatherings and join relevant groups. 

Marble Mountain 

After all that action, I opted to explore nature and the tranquil Marble Mountains. The place consists of five limestone mountains (named after the five elements), hosting caves, temples, tunnels and pagodas. It’s easy to spend five to six hours here exploring the stone sculptures and natural wonders.

At the summit of Mount Thủy (water), there is a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding mountains. If you want to see as much as possible, I suggest going early in the morning. Bring water and a hat to stay cool under the blazing sun. For a more immersive experience, join a guided meditation or spiritual session in the atmospheric caves.

The mountains are only a 30-minute drive from Da Nang, and it is easy to get here with a taxi. I always enjoy engaging in small chats with drivers to learn about culture and language. Usually, I ask what their favourite food is, and then have it for dinner. I receive a free lesson for basic words like hello and thank you, and jot it down in my journal. 

I have learned countless phrases this way and tried loads of dishes that I would have otherwise not known about. 

Ba Na Hills 

Most people dash straight for the Instagram famous Golden Bridge, with its massive stone hands lifting the gilded walkway above the misty mountains. No doubt impressive, but the Ba Na Hills offer more than a stunning viewpoint. Situated almost 1500m above sea level, and only 42 km from Da Nang, it’s a popular hill station. The French-inspired architecture blends with parks, a jaw-dropping cable car system that allows you to see the entire complex from above, and a wine cellar called Debay.

Hoi An – The Yellow City of Vietnam 

Hoi An, on Vietnam’s central coast, is a short drive from Da Nang, but it feels worlds apart. It’s a place that seems to exist on a different timeline, where the old streets glow with lantern light even in the daytime. The UNESCO-listed Ancient Town from the 15th century is a maze of mustard-yellow buildings, moss-covered rooftops and walls faded by sunlight and rain. Yellow actually helps to keep cool as it absorbs less heat, but when I asked the locals, they said yellow is also for luck. The architectural style is a mix of Chinese shophouses made of wood, European colonial style, and the Vietnamese narrow tube houses.

Heritage and Culture in Hoi An

In the evenings, as the sun dips and the lanterns come to life, it evoked feelings of a dreamworld. A dream painted in warm red hues and romantic light, accompanied by the small boats on the shallow waters of the streaming river and canals. One sight you can’t miss at the western end of the old town is the Japanese Covered Bridge. You can visit it together with other heritage houses with one ticket. Not far from here you find the absolute heart of the city, the Central Market, busting at the seams with souvenir and food stalls. A great spot to eat a meal with locals. There is also a night market in Hoi An for nocturnal travellers.

If you visit on the 14th day of the lunar month, there is a lantern festival. It takes place when the moon shines the brightest. People release lanterns and make a wish for good luck and happiness.

I am more of a watcher than a doer when it comes to touristic activities. So I had a drink and watched as the family-full boats enjoyed a delightful light shower under the stars in the river. I had a beautiful experience here when a child came up to me to practise his English. This is  common in Hoi An and other tourist spots, where parents use the chance to meet foreigners for their kids to learn some English. We spoke for around 30 minutes, and for dinner, I tried his recommended local dish, which ended up being my favourite as well! 

Hanoi – The City of the Rising Dragon

After Hoi An, I found myself in Hanoi—another one of the “must visit cities” in Vietnam. Hanoi doesn’t apologise for its chaos, but invites you to be part of it with all your senses. It is a midway chess game that awaits the next move. There is a symphony of motorbike horns mixed with a sizzle of street-side woks, and the earthy aroma of freshly brewed egg coffee that pulls you in.

The streets in the Old Quarter, where each narrow street specialises in a craft or trade dating back centuries, are a constant tangle of life, where shops overflow with fabrics, trinkets, and street food. There, I tasted the true essence of Vietnamese street food—Bánh mì stuffed with chicken, cilantro, and chilli, and a bowl of steaming pho. The authentic experience is to have your food while sitting by the small chairs and tables traditional to the Vietnamese lifestyle. Restaurants usually are extensions of houses where you eat in the front section.

Hanoi, in itself, is an experience to take in. There is a system to everything and in Vietnam, this means going with the flow. As long as you keep moving, you will find your way to your destination. I no longer guided myself by the green and red lights but by my newly found confidence after crossing multiple motorcycle buzzing streets in Hanoi.

Rain and Sights in Hanoi

Wander with no agenda, and you’ll stumble upon temple courtyards, hidden cafés, and Hoan Kiem Lake, where locals practice tai chi at dawn. It’s a natural freshwater lake in the nucleus of Hanoi.

For a more sightseeing focused tour, there is the Temple of Literature with its fascinating history, erected to honour the philosopher Confucius in 1070. Continue with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which houses the embalmed body of, you guessed it, Vietnam’s famous political leader, Hồ Chí Minh. If you walk past Hanoi Cathedral (also known as St Joseph’s), and get Paris vibes, you are spot on. The architects got their inspiration from the Neo-Gothic style of the Notre Dame de Paris.

Remember how I mentioned I had landed in Vietnam during the rainiest- month of the year? At one point, I found myself trapped under the thinnest roof in the corner of a large building. I waited for the showers to pass. They didn’t. The rain continued without respite until I had to walk back to the hotel, not only drenched by the droplets but by the knee-high water that had congested the city.

At the hotel, the girl in reception greeted me with “you have experienced the real Hanoi now”. For the locals, these events represent normality and daily chores continue. 

Hanoi’s Train Street: A Unique but Cautious Adventure

You’ve seen the spectacular videos and what can you say? Hanoi’s Train Street is a one-of-a-kind experience where trains power their way through a narrow alley lined with cafés, homes, and sometimes too many tourists. Located in the Old Quarter, the tracks run right through residential areas, offering an up-close view of Vietnam’s trains.

Time your arrival around the train schedule, local café owners know the latest timings. Grab a seat at a safe distance. The government has cracked down on risky behaviour, and sometimes restricts access.

Checking out Hanoi’s Train Street

Here Comes the Train

Water Puppet Shows 

To conclude my Hanoi visit, I opted to watch a traditional Water Puppet Show. I admit I ended up here because a Netflix program recommended it. However, I have no regrets. This show turned out to be my young self’s puppet show dream come to life. The performance tells a story, surrounded by live musicians and singers guaranteed to make you laugh. Submerged in waist-deep water, the puppeteers hide behind screens. The audience sees the wooden puppets dance and perform on water, hence the name of the show. ​​This culture and folklore experience represented the highlight of my time in Hanoi. You can buy the ticket at the counter and on the day itself. There are multiple shows during the evening, each lasting 50 minutes. 

Ninh Binh – “Halong Bay on Land”

At Ninh Binh, the city’s restless energy gave way to an unexpected calm. A breathing stop in a marathon, offering a place to blend into nature. Ninh Binh and Hanoi are more or less two hours apart, which makes them ideal cities to visit in Vietnam. Here I visited Trang An, a recognised UNESCO World Heritage. It is a maze of limestone mountains housing archaeological treasures and historic pagodas. Trang An also served as a natural shelter during the Vietnam war. It is ideal to visit during December through March, as the season will not be as humid, guaranteeing you to catch the sun.

A View to Remember

In Ninh Binh, I visited the Hang Mua Viewpoint and the photogenic lotus ponds that surround the giant mountain, filled with an aroma of fragrant fresh flowers.

You can climb “the stairway to heaven”, in total 500 steps to the panoramic view of limestone mountains and rice fields. For me, climbing these stairs felt like a tragic thriller combined with magic.

I started the ascent wrapped up in an oven-like plastic poncho in the 30-degree heat and the pouring rain. Most of the time, I repeatedly asked myself why I did this to myself. However, my choice became quite rewarding. With around 100 steps left to go, the rain waved goodbye, and the sun came out. Mountains illuminated in a golden hue as the fireflies danced with me on my last few steps.

I got to see one of the most beautiful views ever. Along with the rain, time stopped and I could feel the stillness of life and the beauty that comes with travelling.

Because of the downpour, I did not go to Tam Coc. At this point, the rice fields are not in its usual flourishing self. However, this is another must-see place when travelling to Vietnam. I recommend staying one or two nights in Ninh Binh so you can head out to explore something different each day, such as Tam Coc and Trang An. 

Ho Chi Minh City (Former Saigon)

My journey concluded in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest and most dynamic metropolis, with around 10 million people. Here you find a thriving urban landscape with modern skyscrapers (District 1), colonial buildings, and traditional shopping areas like the Central Market, Ben Thanh with its French Indochina style architecture. A great place to practise your bargaining skills. Venture to Dong Khoi Street to admire more French design with highlights, including Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, and the Grand Hotel.

I had a fabulous time exploring hidden cafés tucked away in old buildings. Nguyen Hue Street, for instance, presented a unique take on café hopping. A mid-60s apartment building transformed into a vibrant hub of cafés, boutique stores, and restaurants. For those of you more into skyscrapers, try the 49th-floor Sky Deck at Bitexco Financial Tower. Head to the 50th for cocktails and sunset views. If you’re in the mood for more energy, try Bui Vien Street by night. It becomes the city’s party central, with live music, street performers, and countless food vendors.

What are the Cu Chi Tunnels?

No visit to Ho Chi Minh City is complete without seeing the Cu Chi Tunnels. They comprise a vast underground network used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. If you don’t suffer from claustrophobia, it’s possible to walk (or crawl) through these narrow tunnels. Guided tours provide the historical context, showing you logistics, warfare, and life in the tunnels. Despite its gigantic size, only two places, Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh, allow tourist visits. If you want more backstory about the Vietnam war, the War Remnants Museum has all you need about its legacy. It can get quite graphic and sobering.

Lastly, I recommend a visit to the Jade Emperor Pagoda to see a spiritual side of the city. This Taoist temple is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most significant religious sites. It’s an active place of worship, so dress modestly and respect the people engaged in prayer.

Cities to Visit in Vietnam for a Deeper Travel Experience

Vietnam is a country that refuses to fit into a single narrative. You breathe the history in the alleyways of Hoi An, ponder life when the sea laps against the shores of Da Nang, and try to survive navigating the streets of Hanoi. Travelling from city to city, I stitched together pieces of a story that’s far from complete. Each place offered something different, yet they all connected in ways that only a traveller can understand. 

Deep travel in Vietnam meant engaging with local customs, trying to converse with the residents in everyday situations, and taking in the sights and cultural offerings on offer. While the tourist spots shine in their own way, the small moments like sipping egg coffee at a street-side café or observing early morning tai chi around Hoan Kiem Lake, left the most lasting impressions.

Each city has its own distinct pulse, and deep travel allows you to feel it — not just see it. Slow down, ask questions, and walk away with more than your photographs.

Have you been to Vietnam? What cities did you visit? Let us know in the comment section! Subscribe to our newsletter and benefit from travel guides, sustainable tourism and luxury travel tips, insightful interviews, and inspirational places to visit. One Planet Journey – The World’s First Deep Travel Magazine.