Vietnam top destinations

Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam - Shopping and ancient palaces! The Ben Hai River in Central Vietnam marks the 17th parallel, which once marked the demarcation line between North and South Vietnam. Though reunited over two decades ago, the north south division of Vietnam remains obvious. When the Ben Hai River is crossed from north to south, everything seems to improve, roads and food being the most obvious.

Central Vietnam is home to a wealth of attractions from the ancient imperial capital of Hue to the cosmopolitan shopping and the beach destinations of Hoi An and China Beach.

Less glamourously, the region is home to the Demiliterised Zone (DMZ) which was the scene of heavy fighting during the American war. This part of the country is dotted with all manner of war-period attractions, including the remains of Khe Sanh and other US bases along the DMZ. Unfortunately, little remains at most of these sites as time and scrap hunters have had their way.

The one exception is the Vinh Moc tunnels -- a breathtaking testament of the tenacity of the Vietnamese people and a far more worthwhile attraction than the far more touristic Cu Chi tunnels.

Most travellers to Vietnam pencil in Hue and Hoi An as definite "must sees" but then fail to allow themselves enough time in each town. This is particularly the case with Hoi An, where, while it can feel almost Disneylandesque at times, people are always running out of time. If you allowed just a couple of days for Hoi An, be sure to double it.

And don't forget Da Nang. It's home to more than just the closest airport to Hoi An! There's also a terrific Cham Museum, China Beach and an overall rather fun, little touristed Vietnamese city.

Related Tours

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  Hue City & Citadel

  Trip code: CVT020

  Duration: 01Day

  $33.00

  Overview:

  Hue with splendid tombs of the Nguyen emperors, notable pagodas and the remains of the Citadel becomes one of Vietnam’s attractions to tourists from all over the world, who like to explore the traditional cultural values of Vietnam. Visit the Citadel, the...

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  Hoi An - Touring At Tra Que Village

  Trip code: CVT022

  Duration: 01Day

  $45.00

  Overview:

  Tra Que is a charming little village on the edge of Hoi An, the village is named after the sweet scented vegetables that spice up the everyday meals of the Pho Hoi people. Experience a day of living and working with the local people in Tra Que vegetable village, in which you...

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  My Son & Handicraft Villages

  Trip code: CVT21

  Duration: 01Day

  $79.00

  Overview:

  Joining this tour, we can see a large complex of religious relics of My Son Sanctuary which was declared as one of the World Cultural Heritage Sites. Follow that, we have a peaceful boat trip to immerse the countryside culture of Hoi An. A drive to Cham Kingdom in My Son...

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  Phong Nha - A World Heritage Site

  Trip code: CVT023

  Duration: 01Day

  $ 79.00

  Overview:

  Phong Nha boasts a vast complex of 300 majestic caves in which Phong Nha Cave is the biggest, longest and most beautiful one with 18000 m in length. There are famous caves such as Toi (Dark) Cave, Vom Cave, and En Cave, named according to their distinctive characteristics. A...

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