7 experiences you haven’t had in Vietnam, but need to
Vietnam Airlines' new Perth to Ho Chi Minh City route. make travel to Vietnam easier than ever. (Image: hadynyah)
| THIS ARTICLE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Vietnam Airlines |
From the hill country in the north to the allure of the Mekong Delta, bustling cities and tranquil villages, every traveller to Vietnam finds something to suit their style.
Vietnam’s natural beauty, energy and unforgettable cuisine make it a perennial favourite for Australian travellers, many of whom are repeat visitors. What keeps us going back? It’s simple: Vietnam is a place where there’s always something new to do, somewhere different to explore and something undiscovered to learn. The depth of experiences in Vietnam – for a relatively small geographic area – is astonishing.
Getting to Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines provides safe, reliable and memorable travel experiences, with more options and greater flexibility to Vietnam than any other airline.
A new direct service from Perth to Ho Chi Minh City opens a convenient and time-saving new gateway, with exciting opportunities for connecting flights to Europe. Thanks to Perth’s proximity to Vietnam, this new direct flight shaves a whole 2.5 hours off your trip, compared to flights from Australia’s East Coast.
Experiencing Vietnamese hospitality begins from the moment you step aboard, with quality service in every class. The comfort of Vietnam Airlines’ premium economy and Business Class options are appealing, and transit tours are also available. Vietnam Airlines is part of the SkyTeam loyalty program.
Read on to discover hidden Vietnamese gems you can get to with Vietnam Airlines.
Fly direct from Perth to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines. (Image: Helmar Baechle)
1. Explore Ben Tre Province on a Mekong Delta boat ride
Sweet treats await in Ben Tre Province, just over an hour’s drive from Ho Chi Minh Airport and famously known as ‘the land of coconut’. Arrange a boat trip to explore more of the Mekong Delta in capital city, Ben Tre. With green rice fields, orchards and the river, rural life opens up another side of Vietnam.
Boat trips on the river visit island villages under lush coconut groves where handcrafts and coconut sweets are made by hand. Try keo dua, a traditional local candy made from fresh coconut mixed with peanuts or sesame seeds. Explore the Minh Islands by boat or bicycle and explore Cai Mon orchard village to feast on rambutan, pomelo or durian.
Explore the Mekong Delta by water. (Image: hadynyah)
2. Find bliss on Phú Quoc
If your idea of the perfect getaway is an island paradise, Phú Quoc is the place for you. This Vietnamese island is actually off the coast of Cambodia, in the Gulf of Thailand. But still an easy flight from Tân Sơn Nhat International Airport to Phu Quoc International Airport with Vietnam Airlines.
Find luxurious resorts along the palm-lined southwest coast of the island, where you can easily wander into the sparkling sandy beaches. Or head away from the coast to the natural beauty of Phú Quoc National Park, which takes up half the island. Wander up mountains, through dense tropical jungle and spot native wildlife along a myriad of hiking trails.
Later, head into the island’s biggest town, Duong Dong, where you can find crafts and fresh produce (including seafood) at the markets.
Relax on the beautiful beaches of Phú Quoc. (Image: DeltaOFF)
3. Hike in the hill tribe villages of Sapa
In the rolling hills, rice terraces and lush valleys of northern Vietnam, Sapa is a world away from the chaos of the big cities. The hill tribes of Sapa provide a colourful and vibrant contrast, from the Hmong people in their intricate hand-embroidered skirts, shirts and turbans to the Red Dao with their distinctive red headscarves.
Saturday markets at Bac Ha are the place to buy intricately embroidered or indigo-dyed clothing and silver jewellery, but to get away from the crowds take a hike through the rice fields to the Black Hmong village of Cat Cat. You will meet locals, see buffalo teams at work and get a glimpse into traditional hill country life.
To get there, take a half-day drive from Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi.
Meet Hmong locals in Sapa.
4. Go underground in the Củ Chi Tunnels
Exploring the 121-kilometre complex of wartime tunnels at Củ Chi brings a turbulent part of Vietnam’s rich history to life. Two tunnel sites, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc, are open to visitors as part of a war memorial park.
Ben Duoc is part of the original tunnel system created during the Vietnam War and the Ben Dinh site – closer to Ho Chi Minh City – has tunnel reconstructions to accommodate tourists. Be warned: this is not for the claustrophobic. Both sites have displays of booby traps used during the war.
Explore the complex wartime tunnels at Củ Chi. (Image: Diy13)
5. See Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
Just 40 kilometres south-east of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is a lush wetland at the mouth of the Saigon River. Listed as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, it is one of Vietnam’s most important wildlife sanctuaries, home to more than 200 species of fauna and 150 species of plants.
Called the ‘green lungs’ of Ho Chi Minh City, this is the place to see wild monkeys, saltwater crocodiles, flying foxes and birdlife including storks, kingfishers and the endangered Saurus Crane, which nest here from April to October.
See one of Vietnam’s most important wildlife sanctuaries. (Image: Duong Minhtien)
6. Find the ‘lost world’ of Sơn Đoòng Cave
The ethereal and other-worldly Son Doong cave, in the heart of Phong Nha Ke Bank National Park in Central Vietnam, is considered the largest cave in the world and is a magnet for adventurers.
Discovered in 1990, the cave is nearly nine kilometres long, with towering stalagmites reaching over 80 metres high, glistening stalactites and an underground river. With its own ecosystem, the cave also has a rainforest growing inside it.
Entry to the cave is by guided tour only, with access limited to only 1000 visitors a year. It is a challenging multi-day expedition – but for those less intrepid, there are other caves here that are accessible on day trips.
To get there, catch a Vietnam Airlines flight from either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi Airport.
Camp inside Hang En Cave in Phong Nha Ke Bank National Park. (Image: Rasmus Christensen)
7. See inside the Saigon Opera House
The Saigon Opera House (also known as the Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City) is a landmark on Lam Son Square in District One, close to other notable colonial-era buildings including the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Basilica (currently under renovation until 2027). After admiring the outside of opera house, check out the performances during your visit – it’s the only way to see the ornate interior.
Built in 1898 with 500 seats, the Saigon Opera House is host to many events including classical music concerts, opera, ballet and contemporary dance. You can also catch cultural performances, merging acrobatics, dance, drama and folk stories and even behind-the-scenes tours.
Catch a show at the Saigon Opera House. (Image: AG-ChapelHill)
8. Start the day at Cái Răng Floating Market
It’s worth an early start to avoid the crowds at Cái Răng Floating Market, the largest in the Mekong Delta. The market opens around 6am, when hundreds of boats gather to buy and sell fresh produce.
Here you’ll find all kinds of fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, crab and other seafood, alongside handmade baskets and other crafts. Grab breakfast – a bowl of pho, banh mi and other delicious snacks and wash it down with a strong, sweet Vietnamese coffee.
From Ho Chi Minh Airport, head to Ninh Kieu Wharf and purchase a boat ticket to Cái Răng.
Grab breakfast at Cái Răng Floating Market. (Image: hadynyah)
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