10 of the Best Things to Do in Vietnam
Let this list of things to do in Vietnam inspire your next trip.
October 01, 2026
8 minute read
Vietnam offers a variety of things to do and see. In Hanoi, scooters thread through the Old Quarter whilst people savour egg coffee and bowls of phở at tiny streetside tables. Farther north, you’ll find rice paddies in Mai Chau, Ninh Binh’s limestone caves, and the stunning waters of Ha Long Bay.
On Collette's guided tours travellers go deeper by talking to locals, meeting artisans, and hearing personal stories that turn a trip into a memorable journey.
This list contains some of the best things to do in Vietnam based on our tours. Some experiences are easy to plan on your own, whilst others require the insights and access that a guided tour with Collette provides.
Key Takeaways
Vietnam offers a mix of iconic sights and immersive cultural experiences, from Ha Long Bay and the Mekong Delta to historic cities and rural landscapes.
Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hội An, and Mai Chau each offer different ways to experience Vietnamese culture, food, history, and everyday life.
Local experiences can make a Vietnam trip more meaningful, from cooking with local hosts and visiting artisans to hearing firsthand stories from Vietnam War veterans.
Vietnamese cuisine varies by region, with opportunities to try everything from phở and bánh mì in Hanoi to southern Vietnamese dishes in the Mekong Delta.
The best time to visit Vietnam depends on the region, so travellers should consider their destinations and activities when planning their trip.
A guided tour can make it easier to experience more of Vietnam, whilst taking care of transport, logistics, and connections with local people.
Top Things to Do and See in Vietnam
1. Cruise Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is at the top of many Vietnam wish lists. Limestone karsts rise from emerald water as you watch the landscape unfold slowly from the deck of a boat.
On Collette’s Journey Through Northern Vietnam tour, travellers spend two nights aboard a traditional junk boat. There, you can watch the light move across the water, join tai chi on deck at sunrise, and kayak past limestone cliffs before visiting a floating village.
2. Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Hanoi’s Old Quarter invites you to explore narrow lanes, food stalls, cafés, and weathered buildings whilst scooters and daily life pass by all around you.
In Hanoi, you can explore by cyclo, on foot, in an open-air Jeep, or on a Vespa. Look for phở, bánh mì, egg coffee, and bún chả. And be sure to visit Train Street, and the Huong Lien Restaurant where President Obama and Anthony Bourdain once shared a meal.
3. See a Water Puppet Artist Perform
Water puppetry is a centuries-old Vietnamese art form, and on our Journey Through Northern Vietnam tour travellers experience it up close. Instead of sitting in a crowded theatre, you visit the home of a renowned water puppet artist for tea and a private performance.
After the performance, travellers sit with the artist’s family in the home’s small theatre and talk about the tradition, the work behind it, and the stories it carries forward.
This type of experience sets Collette's guided tours apart. Seeing the craft up close and hearing about the artist’s life creates a deeper experience.
Want more immersive experiences like this? Check out our Small Group Explorations tours.
4. Walk Through Rice Fields in Mai Chau
Mai Chau Valley is a nice contrast to Hanoi’s street energy. Here, the sound level drops, the fields open up, and food, farming, and community life feel closely connected.
You’ll be able to walk through rice paddies, visit local villages, meet members of the local ethnic groups, and learn about community life. On Collette's tours, you can get closer to the local culture through home-hosted meals or by spending time at community-minded businesses that help turn travel into a force for good.
5. Cook Dinner After a Market Visit in Ninh Binh
In Ninh Binh, dinner begins at the market where local families and chefs shop for fresh ingredients. If you travel with Collette, you'll get to experience this firsthand as you visit the market with a local host and then head home to cook and share the meal together.
This local connection gives you the opportunity to ask questions as ingredients are chosen so you can better understand differences in regional flavours.
6. Stroll, Shop, and Cook in Hội An
Hội An is a UNESCO-listed ancient trading port on Vietnam’s central coast, with notable architecture, walkable streets, and markets where you can find silk products and lanterns.
On Kingdoms of Southeast Asia, travellers go a little deeper with experiences like a basket boat ride down the Co Co River, a cooking class, or a lantern-making workshop. Including hands-on experiences on our tours lets travellers use all their senses to create a truly memorable journey.
7. Meet with a Vietnam War Veteran
Museums and historical sites show a lot of Vietnam's history, but they don't come close to the experience of hearing about it firsthand.
On several Collette tours, travellers meet with Vietnam War veterans to hear their stories. These meetings are deeply moving and help travellers understand the personal context and feelings that are hard to capture in a history book.
8. Taste a Variety of Vietnamese Food
Food connects you to a place in a way scenery alone can’t. Here are a few favorites to try when travelling through different regions of Vietnam.
In Hanoi, look for phở, bánh mì, egg coffee, beer street, and evening food tours.
In Mai Chau, expect farm-fresh dishes like cơm lam and gà đồi.
In the Mekong Delta, try southern Vietnamese food with tropical fruit and fresh coconut water.
" I thought the cooking class was well done and the food overall was excellent in Vietnam." — Gerard G., Traveller on Kingdoms of Southeast Asia.
9. Visit Hoa Lu and the Trang An Grottoes
In Ninh Binh, travellers can visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital, climb towards the Hang Mua viewpoint, and explore the waterways of UNESCO-listed Trang An Grottoes.
Glide past limestone caves such as Bright Cave, Dark Cave, Ba Giot, and Nau Ruou. From the rowboat, you have time to notice the cave openings, limestone walls, and temples tucked into the landscape.
10.Cruise the Mekong Delta
The Mekong feels very different from Ha Long Bay. Instead of open seascape, its waterways take you past stilted homes, workshops, floating markets, and riverbanks where daily life is tied to the water.
Travellers who want to go deeper should consider our Treasures of the Mekong tour, which features a seven-night river cruise that reaches Cai Rang Floating Market at dawn and visits villages farther off the tourist path.
Vietnam Travel Tips for Planning Your Trip
Best Time to Travel to Vietnam
When to go depends on where you’re headed.
Northern Vietnam is at its best from October through April, with the rice harvest bringing gold to Mai Chau’s fields from October through December.
Central Vietnam favors February through August, when the coast holds onto clear skies and warmer days.
Southern Vietnam stays warm year-round, though December through April brings the sunniest, driest stretch.
What to Pack for Vietnam
Pack lightweight, breathable clothing for warm, humid weather, plus comfortable walking shoes for markets, villages, caves, and uneven streets. If your tour includes temples or religious sites, bring modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Easy slip-on shoes and socks can help at places where you may need to remove footwear.
FAQs About Things to Do in Vietnam
What Are the Best Things to Do in Vietnam?
The best things to do in Vietnam include cruising Ha Long Bay, exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter, visiting local artists, walking through rice fields in Mai Chau, gliding through the Trang An Grottoes, strolling Hội An’s old town, and cruising the Mekong Delta. It can be challenging to coordinate all the best things in one trip, which is why many people choose guided Vietnam tours.
When Is the Best Time to Travel to Vietnam?
The best time to travel to Vietnam depends on the region: October through April in the north, February through August in central Vietnam, and December through April in the south. If Mai Chau’s rice harvest is on your list, plan for October through December.
Is Vietnam a Good Destination for First-Time Travellers to Southeast Asia?
Yes, Vietnam is a good destination for first-time travellers to Southeast Asia, especially with the support of a guided tour. You can experience cities, landscapes, food, history, and cultural connections whilst relying on local experts and a Tour Manager to help with pacing, language, transport, and logistics.
What Should I Pack for Vietnam?
Pack light, breathable layers, comfortable walking shoes, and modest clothing for temples. Vietnam’s humidity makes lightweight fabric your best friend even outside the hottest months.
Experience the Best Things to Do in Vietnam
Vietnam has plenty of headline places, from Ha Long Bay and Hội An to Hanoi and the Mekong Delta. The moments that round out the trip are the smaller ones: cooking with a host, hearing firsthand stories, walking through rice fields, visiting a master artist at home, and time spent in exploring Vietnam’s waterways.
Collette’s Vietnam tours are designed to give travellers a deeper experience through meaningful experiences that go beyond the guidebook and into the heart of Vietnamese culture. We take the guesswork out of planning with tours that are locally designed and thoughtfully paced, and we handle all the logistics so you can show up and just immerse yourself in the experience.
