The Best Vietnam Restaurants and Top 18 places to visit
The Best Vietnam Restaurants and Top 18 places to visit
We created the best travel guide for the travel lovers that love adventure and new places. You will find here valuable informations about this amazing country and how to plan your trip in advance : where to book your flights, hotels,tours, Vietnam restaurants and even where to shop. Enjoy reading our article!
Table of Contents
Vietnam Map
Informations
Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia and the easternmost country on the Indochinese Peninsula. With an estimated 97.8 million inhabitants as of 2020, it is the 16th most populous country in the world. Its capital city is Hanoi, and its most populous city is Ho Chi Minh City.
Temperature: The best time to visit northern Vietnam is during spring (March to April) and autumn (September to November), when days are generally warm and sunny.
Language: Vietnamese is the official language; English is increasingly favored as a second language. French, Chinese, Khmer and various highlander languages are also spoken.
Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) aprox. 1$ = 22,953 VND 1€=27,991 VND
Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=3 USD,Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=20 USD
You can find more information about the visa here.
Things to do
Tunnels of Cu Chi
The Củ Chi tunnels are a system of tunnels in which Vietnamese partisans hid during the Vietnam War from 1960 to 1975. C Kreis Chi County, after which the tunnels are named, is located in the administrative area of Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh.
Hoan Kiem Lake
The Hoan Kiem Lake or Sword Lake is Hanoi’s most famous lake and separates Old Hanoi from the former French colonial quarter. The lake is about 700 m long and was created as a backwater of the Red River. In the 18th century, the Trinh princes owned 52 palaces on its banks. The lake was in 19./20. Century partially filled in.
Cát Bà
Cát Bà is the largest island in Halong Bay in northern Vietnam. It belongs to a biosphere reserve established by UNESCO in 1994 .Cát Bà is important for the conservation of biodiversity as it has endemic, rare and endangered species, economically important species, rare habitats and an artisanal fishery.
Mỹ Sơn
Mỹ Sơn is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples in central Vietnam, constructed between the 4th and the 14th century by the Kings of Champa, an Indianized kingdom of the Cham people.
Ho Chi Minh-Mausoleum
The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a mausoleum which serves as the resting place of Vietnamese Revolutionary leader and President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Marble Mountains
Marble Mountains is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngũ Hành Sơn District, south of Da Nang city in Vietnam. The five mountains are named after the five elements: Kim, Thuy, Moc, Hoa and Tho.
Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is a Confucian complex of facilities built as a national academy in the west of Hanoi’s Old Quarter in North Vietnam. It is the most important of the temples of literature in Vietnam.
The Ben Thanh Market
The Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is a large indoor market for clothing, food, electronics and souvenirs.
Ba Na Hills Đà Nẵng
Bà Nà Hill Station is a hill station and resort located in the Trường Sơn Mountains west of the city of Da Nang, in central Vietnam. The station, advertised as “the Da Lat of Danang province” by local tourism authorities, was founded in 1919 by French colonists
Bản Giốc Detian waterfalls
The Bản Giốc Detian Waterfalls are the fourth largest waterfalls in the world after the Iguazú, Victoria and Niagara Falls. Half of them are located in the Cao Bằng Province in Vietnam and half in the Daxin County of the city of Chongzuo.The river Quy Xuân, which belongs to the catchment area of the west river, flows there in a multi-stage cascade 300 meters wide over a height difference of about 53 meters. The river carries the largest amount of water in the months May to September.
Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon
The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon or Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic church in the Neo-Romanesque style in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City is consecrated under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God and bears the title of a minor basilica.
West Lake
The West Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Hanoi. It has an area of 500 hectares, its shore length is 14.8 km. The West Lake is located northwest of Hanoi’s city center.With many parks, hotels and restaurants on its shores, the West Lake is a popular local recreation destination. The Tây Hồ district is named after the West Lake.
The crazy house
The Hang Nga House, better known as the “Crazy House”, is located in the central hill country of Vietnam in the city of Da Lat.
Bitexco Financial Tower
The Bitexco Financial Tower is a skyscraper in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At a height of 265.5 m, it was the tallest building in Vietnam when it was completed in 2010. The first four floors contain a freely accessible shopping center and a cinema. The elevators for the Skydeck are also located on the ground floor. The elevators for the café and the restaurant are on the first floor. The Saigon Skydeck observation deck is accessible daily from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for an entrance fee of VND 200,000. Access to the café, restaurant and bar is partially free. The platform on the 52nd floor serves as a helipad.
Tran Quoc-Pagode
The Trấn Quốc Pagoda in Hanoi is the oldest pagoda in the city, originally constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Lý Nam Đế (from 544 until 548), thus giving it an age of more than 1,500 years. When founded the temple was named Khai Quoc (National Founding) and was sited on the shores of the Red River, outside of the Yen Phu Dyke. When confronted with the river’s encroachment, the temple was relocated in 1615 to Kim Ngu (Golden Fish) islet of Ho Tay (West Lake) where it is now situated. A small causeway links it to the mainland. The last major repair to the temple was undertaken in 1815 when the main sanctuary, reception hall and posterior hall of the dead were renovated
St. Joseph Cathedral
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a church on Nha Chung Street in the Hoàn Kiếm District of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a late 19th-century Gothic Revival church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The cathedral is named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda, also known as Ve Chai Pagoda, is located at No. 120 Tu Phuoc, Trai Mat District, Vietnam, 8 km from Da Lat city center, on Highway 20. The 49-meter-long dragon temple is made of 12,000 bottles; the dragon’s head is 7 metres high
Tượng Phật Bà Quan Âm
The Sugar Land Quan Âm is a cast concrete statue in Chùa Việt Nam in Sugar Land, Texas, just outside of Houston. The sculpture depicts the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in female form standing on a lotus pedestal. She may also be commonly known by her Chinese name Guanyin
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Vietnam offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Vietnam’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
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Top hotels we recommend in Hanoi: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa by AIRA,The Oriental Jade Hotel ,Acoustic Hotel & Spa
Here is the top hotels we recommend in Ho Chi Minh City: Maison Royale, MAI HOUSE Saigon , The Hammock Hotel Fine Arts Museum.
Traditional Food
- Pho – consisting of a salty broth, fresh rice noodles, a sprinkling of herbs and chicken or beef
- A good banh xeo is a crispy crepe bulging with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, plus the garnish of fresh herbs
- Cao lau – pork noodle dish
- Nem ran/cha gio – crunchy spring rolls
- Bo bit tet Vietnam’s equivalent to steak and eggs fills the void when you’re hankering for some greasy pub tucker. The thin flank steak is usually served with eggs, thick potato wedges, and Vietnamese meatballs on a sizzling cast iron plate.
- Ca tim kho – Eggplant, diced and sauteed in a clay pot along with tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, and minced meat
- Bot chien – Saigon’s favorite streetside snack. Chunks of rice flour dough are fried in a large wok until crispy and then an egg is broken into the mix. Once cooked it’s served with slices of papaya, shallots and green onions, chili sauce and rice vinegar.
- Bun dau mam tom – tofu and noodle dish is served with mam tom sauce
- Banh uot thit nuong – grilled pork in fresh rice paper rolls that are popular in Central Vietnam.
- Ga tan – chicken noodle soup
- Che – visible layers of bean jelly, coconut milk, fruit, and ice.
- Vietnamese doughnut – Banh Tieu
- Hoa Quả Dầm – fresh mixed fruit, coconut cream and shaved ice.
- Kem Xôi – Green pandan-flavoured sticky rice with coconut ice cream
Vietnam Restaurant Ideas
In Hanoi
- The Hanoi Social club is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Hanoi. . The restaurants bring a unique menu of wraps, sandwiches, salads, pasta juice, and other simple dishes.
- Cau Go – vietnamese cuisine with views over lake
- Mâm Cơm Việt Restaurant – vietnamese cuisine
- French Grill – JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi
- Cloud Nine restaurant – They have some of the best authentic flavorful cuisines including dishes from all regions. There is also an extensive range of international cuisine
- The Essence restaurant offers authentic dishes and western menus
- Pho Gia Truyen – It is the most famous among the many pho restaurants in Hanoi, and customers flock to try pho noodles
In Ho Chi Minh
- Baba’s Kitchen is one of the first restaurants in the city to serve authentic Indian fare.
- NOIR – enjoying dinning in the dark? This is the perfect place for you!
- Banana Mama is reserved for afternoon and evening dining, allowing guests to enjoy the beautiful sunset views of Ho Chi Minh as they dine on a rooftop bar!
- Cyclo Resto – enjoy meals like stewed fish in a clay pot, spring rolls, egg coffee, green melon soup, and lemongrass fried chicken.
- Quince Saigon – Mediterranean dishes like: Quince’s lobster miso pasta, Israeli-spiced lamp rump, or their wood-roasted bone marrow with caviar.
- The Secret Garden Restaurant and Teahouse Rooftop – it serves sweet plates alongside their assortment of herbal teas
- Pho Phu Vuong specializes in one of the most traditional and popular Vietnamese dishes: Pho, a typical rice noodle soup.
- Bánh Mi is a street food staple of Vietnam; this softer baguette-inspired sandwich can be made with meat, cilantro, and pickled veggies.
Saving Tips
- When making long journeys, sleep on the overnight bus
- Use a local phone SIM
- Eat local food
- Bargain before buying an item
- Take advantage of public transport in Vietnam to save your travel cost
- Ask more information from the local people
- Book tours in advance
- Check your Vietnam visa requirements
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Shopping
In Ho Chi Minh
- In the highest concentration of souvenir vendors set up shop in Ben Thanh Market during the day
- Central Market is a much smaller market with a few souvenir stalls and some food options
- There are two markets in Ho Chi Minh City where you’ll find the largest selection of designer knockoffs – Saigon Square and the Russian Market.
- Virion 334 Cao Thang primarily carries Forever 21 and Zara
In Hanoi
- Bat Trang Ceramic Village
- Metiseko – silk products
- Hang Dau Street – shoes
- Hang Da Shopping Mall which is considered one of the best shopping malls
- Hanoi Weekend Night Market – products like clothes, accessories, shoes, sunglasses and an array of food items.
- Dong Xuan Market – souvenirs and fresh products, clothing and accessories to household and electronic appliances.
- Hang Gai Street (Silk Street)
Getting Around
Buses offer one of the cheapest ways to get around Vietnam, making them a big hit with budget travelers. They are also highly convenient, with the extensive bus network spanning to the far-flung corners of the country. You’ll find at least one bus station in every town.
By ferry and boat
A boat-tour around Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most enjoyable trips, while scheduled ferries sail year-round – weather permitting – to the major islands off Vietnam’s coastline, including Phu Quoc, Cat Ba and Con Dao.
Self-drive in Vietnam is not yet an option for tourists and other short-term visitors. However, it’s easy to rent a car, jeep or minibus with driver from the same companies, agencies and tourist offices that arrange tours.
Motorbike rental is possible in most towns and cities regularly frequented by tourists, and pottering around on one can be an enjoyable and time-efficient method of sightseeing.
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Getting Here
Vietnam boasts numerous land crossings with all of its neighbours and international flight connections to Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA (among others). You can also enter by boat from Cambodia and by train from China.
Vietnam has two hub international airports, Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. A third airport, Da Nang Airport, in Da Nang, accepts a far smaller number of international flights.
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