Best Places To Visit In Vietnam And Cambodia

Vietnam has many famous tourist sites: the old towns, beautiful beaches stretching across the country and majestic mountainous areas with marvelous terraced fields. I believe that they will take you a few weeks to explore all the places here.

Cambodia is known for its ancient temples, one of the most exciting and new tourist destinations in the world. The most attractive tourist destination is the temple complex of Angkor in Siem Reap province, floating villages in Tonle Sap lake. The capital Phnom Penh is also an interesting destination with temples with very unique designs.

Discovering Vietnam and cambodia will bring you many memorable experiences. Join us to explore the best places in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Best Places To Visit In Vietnam

Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, a city with a long history and culture. The most popular tourist attraction in Hanoi is the old town with streets selling souvenirs, the French quarter with the Opera House, the nice streets with a lot of trees…

Other historical sites in Hanoi include Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Thang Long Citadel, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, West Lake … and famous museums such as the Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam History museum, Vietnam Women museum…

Trang An, Ninh Binh

Trang An landscape complex in Ninh Binh, is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 2014. Considered as Ha Long Bay on land, Trang An contains a diverse system of limestone and natural caves.

The geologic limestone mountain range of about 250 million years. The transformation of nature over long period has carried in itself hundreds of valleys, caves and lakes with an area of about 12,000 hectares.

On every occasion of the ripe rice season, the fields at the foot of the mountain turn a bright yellow. The yellow rice fields and the green areas of the leaves create a very romantic scene.

Sapa, Lao Cai

Sapa is a famous tourist destination, about 30 km from Lao Cai city center. Located at an average altitude of 1500 – 1800 m above sea level, Sapa Town always sinks in floating clouds, creating a fanciful picture. The climate is mainly cool with temperatures below 20°c.

Visitors come here to enjoy the fresh air, admire the wild beauty of terraced fields, waterfalls, majestic mountains. In addition, you will discover the customs, cultural beauty of the ethnic groups in the mountains such as: H’Mong black, Red Dzao, Tay…

Halong Bay, Quang Ninh

Ha Long bay was recognized by UNESCO as the World Natural Heritage for the first time in 1994 thanks to unique and aesthetically important natural landscape values. In 2000, Ha Long Bay was honored for the second time recognized by typical geomorphological values, through the process of creating Earth for billions of years.

The island in Ha Long has two forms: limestone island and schist island, concentrated in two main areas: the southeast area of Bai Tu Long Bay and the southwest area of Ha Long bay.

With many landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, cultural and historical values, Ha Long Bay is considered one of the most famous places of Vietnam.

Da Nang

Da Nang is one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities in Vietnam. This city has many famous landscapes such as Ngu Hanh Son mountain, Cham Island, Han River, Bana Hills… and many entertainment areas. Da Nang also has many bridges with unique architecture such as Dragon Bridge, Golden Bridge, Song Han Bridge…

Ba Na Hills is a tourist destination that you should not miss. Located on a high mountain, Ba Na attracts visitors with its beautiful scenery and the longest cable car in the world. This is also considered one of the most prominent locations in Da Nang.

Especially, Da Nang is surrounded by 3 world cultural heritages of Hue, Hoi An and My Son, and a little further is Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.

Hue

Located on the bank of Huong River, Hue City is a world cultural heritage. Inside Hue Citadel complex, there are high value historical relics such as Hue Citadel, Minh Mang Tomb, Thien Mu Pagoda and Hue National School…

In addition, Hue also has attractions such as Ngu Binh mountain, Thuan An beach, Lang Co beach. Hue royal court music is also one of the unique cultural features here. It was recognized in 2003 by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

Hoi An, Quang Nam

Hoi An is a famous town in Quang Nam province known by the name “Hoi An Ancient Town”. Located downstream of Thu Bon River, this is one of the most prominent highlights of Central Vietnam tourism. With a very simple and charming folk beauty in the ancient space, Hoi An ancient town is a unique strange picture between modern life. This place also has a lot of massive intangible values recognized by UNESCO.

Hoi An Ancient Town displays traditional architectural styles such as Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Cau Pagoda, Quan Cong Temple or Ong Pagoda and Tran Family Church. Local dishes such as Cao Lau, Quang noodles, banh xeo… and boat racing festival are also factors that attract many tourists.

Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh

Belonging to Binh Dinh province, Quy Nhon city is quite peaceful with a harmony of mountains and sea. Quy Nhon has a long sea line around the city forming a beautiful semicircle. The sea is green and quite because this place has not exploited the tourism potential.

Quy Nhon is one of the most beautiful coastal cities in South Central Vietnam with many wonderful beaches such as Ky Co beach which is dubbed the “Maldives of Vietnam”, Trung Luong beach is named “Jeju Vietnam”…

Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa

Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province is recognized as one of the most beautiful bays in the world with a quiet city located right on the beach. Beaches along the city and on the islands of Nha Trang Bay such as Hon Tre, Hon Tam … are great sights attracting domestic and foreign tourists. Nha Trang also held many tourism events like Nha Trang Sea Festival or Beauty Contests with many rich recreational activities.

Tran Phu road along the coast is the biggest and the busiest place in Nha Trang city. On this route there are many hotels, restaurants…

Ho Chi Minh city

The city has many famous museums. They are the city pride and also greatly contributes to its beauty, typically the 11 museums. The most famous of which is the War Remnants Museum. In addition, there are also architectural works from the colonial period such as City People’s Committee Headquarters, Opera House, Central Post Office, Nha Rong habour, Ben Thanh Market and Independence Palace.

Recently, new projects such as Diamond Plaza, Bitexco Financial Tower and Saigon Trade Center also beautify the landscape of the city center. On the outskirts of the city, there are also outstanding attractions such as Cu Chi Tunnels, Can Gio Mangrove Forest…

Can Tho

Can Tho is the center of the Mekong Delta. It is famous for a network of interconnected and the bustle of Cai Rang floating market. You can experience all the typical culture and life of people in the river. The floating market is also an indispensable part of the culture of the Southwest region.

Every morning, hundreds of big, small boats are close to and filled with agricultural products, mainly for wholesale. Come to the market in the early morning and buy specialties here, visitors can eat breakfast, experience the exciting life on the boat.

Mui Ne, Phan Thiet

Mui Ne is the tourist center of Phan Thiet city, famous for its vast sand hills, beautiful beaches and tall coconut trees surrounding the year-round sea of sunshine. Visitors to Mui Ne are attracted by the wild beauty of nature and the unique cuisine as well as the hospitality of the good fishing village people.

Visitors can come to Mui Ne all year round. Each season “paradise of sea” brings a different beauty. From April to August is the most beautiful time in Mui Ne, the sea water is clear. August to Decembe will be suitable for windsurfing enthusiasts and adventurous sports.

Phu Quoc, Kien Giang

Phu Quoc is a beautiful archipelago located in the Gulf of Thailand, in Kien Giang province. With the clear blue water beaches like Bai Sao and Bai Dai, Phu Quoc is truly a paradise for those who love the sea. Duong Dong town is the most crowded residential area on Phu Quoc Island. Ham Ninh, Ganh Dau fishing villages and An Thoi archipelago are also places that tourist should not miss when traveling Phu Quoc.

Summer is often the peak time in Phu Quoc due to high sea travel demand of domestic tourists. However, the best time to travel Phu Quoc is from November to April next year. Clear sea water and many unique seafood is the great advantage of Phu Quoc tourism.

Best Places To Visit In Cambodia

Phnom Penh capital

Phnom Penh’s capital has beautiful riverside walks and 2 historical museums that you must visit. One is Tuol Sleng genocide museum, from an old school that turned into a brutal prison in Pol Pot’s regime. The other is Choeung Ek Death Field, a creepy place where people were killed collectively in the most terrible ways. Both museums are haunting and bring strong memories, warning children not to go to these two museums.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is definitely a must-see site when you travel Cambodia. Anyone will feel more than what has been described or read. This place is beautiful with the eye-catching and magnificent architecture and royal style. It also contains great value of the unique Khmer culture.

The Royal Palace of Cambodia in Phnom Penh is a complex of buildings built more than a century ago to serve the accommodation and activities of the king, the king’s family and foreign guests. It is also the place where dynasties, diplomatic rituals and royal rituals took place.

Independence Monument

Like a giant lotus blooming in the center of Phnom Penh, this monument memorizes the great merits of people who have sacrificed, dedicated to the cause of gaining independence and sovereignty for the country. Whether you’re walking or driving in central Phnom Penh, it’s easy to spot the Independence Monument tower. This eye-catching project is an important highlight in the city center.

Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

Perhaps nowhere in the world can make tourists both heartbroken, sympathetic and shuddering in fear like the deadly Choeung Ek field.

Located 15 km from the capital Phnompenh and only 30 minutes by car, Choeung Ek death field is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia. The place gives visitors the most honest and merciful look about the horrifying things that happened in Cambodia under Polpot rule.

Several decades have passed, today Choeung Ek looks peaceful with green trees, bustling birdsong. But tourists are still warned to walk gently because there are still many corpses of poor victims under that soft soil layer. Every rainy season, when the upper soil layer is washed away, the teeth, white bone fragments and the victims’ clothes gradually show up. Most of them are children’s clothes. “Please don’t step up the ruins and don’t pick them up. The staff at Choeung Ek will take care of them” the presenter reminded.

Siem Reap

Siem Reap is located in the northwest of Cambodia. It is the chosen destination of most tourists when coming to the land of temples. Today, the tourism industry in Siem Reap is very developed with beautiful and affordable resorts along with unique shops.

The temples in Siem Reap attract millions of visitors each year, especially the temples located in Angkor, a world heritage site recognized by UNESCO in 1992.

If you like a bustling place, close to nightlife and cheap entertainment venues, you can choose the West Quarter (around Pub Street and Siem Reap Night Market) in the city center. Pub Street has many services from eating, playing, shopping, or foot massage…

Angkor wat

Angkor Wat is considered the masterpiece of Khmer art and architecture, one of the most important monuments of Siem Reap in particular and Cambodia in general. Angkor Wat means “temple city” or “city of temples”. Visitors will see the beautiful temple towers, delicate and vivid carved reliefs.

Angkor Wat is located in Angkor’s archaeological site, built in the 12th century to worship Lord Vishnu (a Hindu god). According to scholars, the temple was built as a funeral temple for King Suryavarman II.

Angkor thom

Beside Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom is ancient and mysterious. Although it was devastated by war, time and many mossy rocks, Angkor Thom still showed images of Buddha, Apsara dancers, sophisticated motifs…

The most prominent feature of Angkor Thom is the Bayon temple, where visitors will see more than 200 giant faces with a mysterious smile. This makes Angkor Thom the most impressive and emotional destination of Angkor.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm Temple was internationally recognized after it appeared in the Tomb Raider movie. This peaceful monastery was built by King Jayavarman VII in the middle of the 12th century to commemorate his mother. With 600 rooms, courtyards and galleries, it is predicted that more than 70,000 people live here, mostly priests, monks, assistants, dancers and workers. The ruins of Ta Prohm temple are now covered by large trees and hanging vines, giving visitors the feeling of a lost temple in the jungle.

Banteay Srei

Prasat Banteay Srei is a Hindu temple in the 10th century. Unlike the temples in Angkor Archaeological Park, it was built by a Brahmin advisor to King Rajendravarman. Known as the “stronghold of women”, Prasat Banteay Srei is decorated with pink marble, female gods (devatas) with traditional costumes, on lotus handles.

Bayon

Located in the top of the most beautiful temples of Angkor Wat temple system, Bayon temple has about 50 stone towers with four Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara faces carved on them. The temple is located in the middle of Angkor Thom and was built in the late 12th century.

Baphuon

Located in the northwest of the Bayon temple, its pyramid shape is an architectural representation of the legendary Meru mountain. Although it has been restored many times, most of the Baphuon temple collapsed in the 20th century. Visitors can still see the unique animal carvings at the central sanctuary entrance.

Terrace of the Elephants

The Terrace of the Elephants is located in the heart of Angkor Thom with stunning images of elephants, becoming one of the most photographed places in Angkor Archaeological Park.

Phnom Bakheng

Koh Ker

Tonle Sap lake

The Tonle Sap Lake is Southeast Asia’s largest and most important freshwater lake. It is the second only to Angkor Wat in terms of popularity and the number of visitors. The lake has a large area, up to 250 km long and 100 km wide. The lake looks like an inland ocean because it is impossible to see the opposite shore from this side. The lake level is quite shallow, with a maximum depth of only 10 meters, but in the rainy season the lake can hold up to 80 km3 of water.

When the rainy season comes, water flows into the fields and forest areas, turning this area into an extremely large lake. The lake creates conditions for many fish species to breed and develop. This is a rich and diverse ecosystem of freshwater. It helps to maintain and develop ancient Khmer civilization, which is the main source of materials for restaurants in Siem Reap today.

Sihanoukville

In Sihanoukville, visitors will enjoy the cuisine in luxurious restaurants and do their best in lively bars, living in a “noble” style in high-end hotels. The clear blue water makes the Sihanoukville coastal street more attractive than ever. This small city is also the port to Koh Rong islands and the famous Koh Rong Samloem.

Dubbed the Maldives of Cambodia, Sihanoukville is a beautiful and famous beach you should not miss when travelling Cambodia. The harmony of white sandy sea and a series of lively beachside and bar restaurants have made Sihanoukville a poetic but also bustling scene.

Battambang

After Phnom Penh, Battambang is one of Cambodia’s largest cities but it is much quieter. Battambang is located on the banks of the Sanker River. The river contributes to its beauty. There you will admire the multitude of buildings from the colonial time.

Kratie

Located along the Mekong River, northeast of Cambodia, this small town is a comfortable place for your holiday. The town center has many ruined colonial-style buildings built during the French colonial period. You also have the opportunity to visit many traditional temples and villages on Koh Trong island. In Kratie, you may have the opportunity to see the rare Irrawaddy dolphins located 20 km north of the town.

Kampot & Kep

These two small towns are often mentioned at the same time as they are only 20 minutes away by car. Kep is a seaside resort, but quiet and charming than Sihanoukville. Kampot is an ancient riverside town with French architecture. The central area is lively in contrast to the quiet bungalows along the riverfront just outside the town.

Koh Rong island

If Koh Rong Samloem is the ideal romantic destination for couples, Koh Rong seems to be born for young single people. The tourists love the clear blue sea and the night parties throughout the morning.

The price at Koh Rong is very affordable. With a budget of $150 to $250, you have a great trip. Koh Rong also has High Rope Park with a very interesting zipline and 7km Long Beach that is untouched and deserted. It is no coincidence that Koh Rong was chosen by the producer of the famous American reality show “Survivor”. It proved a wonderful beauty that nature bestowed on the island.