Roger Gary
As one of Asia's top tourist hotspots Vietnam is a land full of intriguing attractions. From cultural highlights to its stunning natural wonders here are the country's must-visit points of interest.
Renowned as the most expansive island in all of Vietnam Phu Quoc is a beach resort hub like no other in the country. Bereft of beachside development and other touristic infringements on the natural landscape the venue is famed as a beach lover's dream come true. Lined with lush, tropical jungles and fantastic beaches the venue is also ideal for snorkelling and diving fanatics as its coral reefs are pristine. Some of the must-visit highlights include Bai Dai beach which is reputed to be one of the most stunning beaches in the island while the island is also well-known for manufacturing some of the best fish sauce in not only the country but the world at large.
As one of the well-documented remains of the Vietnam War the Cu Chi Tunnels are another must-visit attraction in Vietnam. As a vast network of tunnels buried deep within the ground the Cu Chi Tunnels are found in a location 40km from the nation's capital Ho Chi Minh City. Employed by VC or Viet Kong fighters as a strategic hiding venue during war times the tunnels also served as the operations headquarters for the 1968 Tết Offensive. Open to the public, visitors can crawl through the intricate underground network of tunnels.
Tucked away within the breathtaking surroundings of Northern Vietnam lies the famed Bay of Descending Dragons. Known as Ha Long Bay among locals this iconic beach hotspot is home to a stunning 120km shoreline that is as breathtaking as it is expansive. Home to more than a thousand paradise islands the locale is an island hopper's dream come true with each island littered with verdant tropical forests, limestone columns and sandy beaches. Some islands are also home to enormous cave complexes while scenic lakes and floating fishing village communities are found in others.
Revered as Vietnam's premier water sports hub Mui Ne is a tourist hotspot that should not be missed on a visit to Vietnam. Having undergone major development initiatives in the last decade the gusty wind conditions of the venue has made it a hotbed of activity for windsurfing and kite surfing enthusiasts from around the world. Visitors touring Mui Ne should also stop over at the fishing village's renowned sand dunes that are found north of the town centre. Offering visitors captivating views across the area at sunset the sand dunes are a natural wonder in this well-known resort hub. Visitors based in a resort in Mui Ne such as the Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa will enjoy easy access to the popular site.
Tipped to be one of the most photographed sites in all of Vietnam, the Sa Pa paddy terraces are found in the north-western reaches of the country within close proximity to Vietnam's border with China. Occupying pride of place between the Fansipan Mountain and the heart of Sa Pa the paddy fields are located in what is known as Muong Hoa valley. Surrounded by a thicket of bamboo woods the terraces and the verdant landscapes surrounding it are occupies by the tribal mountain communities of Dao, Giay Hmong and Tay who cultivate rice and grow vegetables for their livelihood.
