Vietnam offers 20 standout things to do for Indian travellers, running the length of the country from the mountains of the North, through the heritage towns of the Centre, to the islands and deltas of the South. Activities span nature, food, history, and culture, and most fit within a 6 to 12-day itinerary.

In the North, you can hike the forest trails of Cat Ba Island, cruise the limestone karsts of Halong Bay, trek the rice terraces of Sapa, and eat Hanoi’s signature pho. The Centre links the lantern-lit river of Hoi An, the Golden Bridge above Da Nang, the world’s largest cave at Son Doong, and the imperial citadel of Hue. In the South, you can trace wartime history in Ho Chi Minh City, crawl the Cu Chi Tunnels, cruise the Mekong Delta, and unwind on Phu Quoc Island.

This guide covers each activity in order from North to South, with distances, ticket prices in INR, and practical tips on visas, flights, and food for Indian travellers. Scroll down to find the experiences that match your route and travel dates.

Table of Contents

1. Hike through Cat Ba Island

Hiking through Cat Ba Island takes you across the forest trails of Cat Ba National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, on routes from a 1-hour walk to a half-day summit climb. Cat Ba lies about 150 km (93 miles) east of Hanoi by road and sea, the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago.

With its various hiking paths, this park has unmatched natural beauty. They cater to the casual stroller and the serious hiker wanting a challenge.

These trails take you through stunning forests and awe-inspiring cliffs with views that stretch across the bay. If water activities are more your style, the crystal-clear waters surrounding Cat Ba Island are perfect for kayaking and swimming.

2. Visit Ha Long Bay & Its Equally Spectacular Neighbor

Visiting Halong Bay means cruising among roughly 1,600 limestone karst islands and islets, on tours from a 6-hour day trip to a 2-night cruise. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1994, and was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012 through a global public vote.

A day cruise on Halong Bay starts from around 1,200,000 VND (₹4,285) per person, while an overnight cruise typically runs from 2,500,000 VND (₹8,930) including meals and cabin. A boat tour brings you close to hidden caves, floating villages, and pristine beaches.

The neighboring Bai Tu Long Bay offers the same scenery with fewer crowds, where you can kayak and visit local fishing villages.

3. Hike and Cycle at Mai Chau

Hiking and cycling at Mai Chau takes you on flat trails through rice paddies and Thai and Hmong stilt-house villages, ideal for a half-day to full-day ride. Mai Chau sits in Hoa Binh Province, about 135 km (84 miles) southwest of Hanoi.

Its breathtaking rice paddies and traditional stilt houses reflect the region’s rich cultural heritage. The village is home to a warm community known for its hospitality and cuisine, which offers a firsthand taste of the rich and diverse flavors of northern Vietnam.

4. Trek in Sapa

Trekking in Sapa takes you through terraced rice fields, ethnic minority villages, and the Hoang Lien Son mountains over routes from 2 to 8 hours. Sapa sits in Lao Cai Province, 315 km (196 miles) northwest of Hanoi, with trails for every level from the easy Cat Cat loop to the Fansipan summit at 3,143 m (10,312 ft).

Rice terraces are among the main attractions of the town, shaped by generations of local farmers. The trails range from easy to challenging, passing waterfalls, forests, streams, and the rice terraces that have made Sapa famous.

5. See The Sunrise in The Cloud Paradise of Ta Xua

Watching the sunrise over the sea of clouds at Ta Xua means climbing to the peak before dawn, best attempted from December to March when cloud inversions are most common. Ta Xua sits in Son La Province, about 240 km (149 miles) west of Hanoi, where a little luck is still needed for clear cloud-hunting conditions.

In the evening, you can sit on the homestay’s bamboo balcony and watch the sea of white clouds roll under the moonlight, or set out early for the peak in the cold morning air. Sharing a cup of rich coffee with your companions while waiting for dawn over the clouds makes for a one-of-a-kind experience.

6. Relax in Ba Be Lake – One Of The Most Splendid Freshwater Lakes In The World

Relaxing at Ba Be Lake means taking a wooden boat across Vietnam’s largest natural freshwater lake, staying in Tay stilt houses, and walking quiet forest trails. Ba Be lies in Bac Kan Province, about 230 km (143 miles) north of Hanoi, inside Ba Be National Park.

Eating and resting in stilt houses, meeting friendly local people, and taking a boat trip around the lake are the core experiences here. For travellers escaping the noise of city life, Ba Be offers nature, green forest, and a calm, quiet lake, with the wooden stilt houses of locals dotting the shore.

7. Try out Vietnam’s Best Pho in Hanoi

Trying Hanoi’s best pho means sitting down to a bowl of clear beef or chicken broth, rice noodles, and fresh herbs, eaten any time from breakfast to a late-night meal. Pho draws its flavour from four core ingredients: clear stock, boiled beef, rice noodles, and fresh herbs.

Each restaurant in Hanoi takes pride in its own secret recipe, and one of the best is Pho Thin on Lo Duc, always crowded with food lovers for its signature smoky flavour.

8. Send Wishes Through Colorful Lanterns in Hoi An

Sending wishes through lanterns in Hoi An means releasing a paper lantern onto the Hoai River from a wooden sampan, a ritual held nightly and at its largest during the monthly full-moon Lantern Festival. During Tết (Vietnamese New Year), the festival runs for 7 days as the route from the Hoi An Bridge to Hoai River Square fills with thousands of lanterns.

More than 50 workshops join the event, each crafting lanterns in bright colours and traditional designs. The centre of the festival sits in the old town, between the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Cau An Hoi Bridge, where singing, food stalls, and lanterns floating on the river draw both locals and visitors. Smaller lantern festivals also take place every full moon, so you can enjoy the scene whenever you visit.

9. Admire the Golden Hands Bridge in Da Nang

Admiring the Golden Hands Bridge means walking the 150 m (492 ft) gold-coloured walkway held up by two giant stone hands, set in the Ba Na Hills resort above Da Nang. Da Nang is a coastal city known for its beaches, and the bridge offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and forest.

Access to the Golden Bridge comes through the Sun World Ba Na Hills combo ticket, priced at 985,000 to 1,085,000 VND (₹3,520–3,875) for international adults in 2026, which also covers the round-trip cable car, French Village, and flower gardens. The ticket stays valid for up to 3 consecutive days, and the resort opens daily from 8 am.

10. Drop into the World’s Largest Cave in Phong Nha National Park

Dropping into Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, means joining a guided 6-day expedition that treks 25 km (15.5 miles) through jungle and camps inside chambers up to 200 m (656 ft) high. Son Doong sits in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, about 50 km (31 miles) from Dong Hoi, and is operated solely by Oxalis Adventure at around USD 3,000 (₹2,85,000) per person.

If walking underground doesn’t appeal to you, the surrounding jungles offer trekking routes known for beautiful waterfalls and an active population of monkeys.

11. Visit the Coffee-making Heartland – Buon Ma Thuot

Visiting Buon Ma Thuot means touring robusta coffee plantations, watching beans roasted, and tasting Vietnam’s signature coffee at its source. Buon Ma Thuot is the capital of Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands, the heart of the country’s coffee industry.

The city is also home to the Ethnographic Museum, which showcases the culture and traditions of the region’s ethnic minority groups.

12. Cycle Around the Ancient Citadel of Vietnam

Cycling around the ancient citadel of Hue takes you past the Imperial City, royal tombs, and riverside hills on a flat half-day loop. Hue lies along the Huong River, midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and served as Vietnam’s imperial capital.

Set off in the cool morning and cycle 3 km (1.9 miles) out of town to the Tiger Fighting Arena, Vietnam’s version of the Colosseum, where elephants and tigers once fought to honour the monarchy. Continue to Tu Duc Tomb, then stop at Vong Canh Hill for a full view of the Huong River.

13. Travel by Train to the “French Countryside” in Da Lat

Riding the heritage train in Da Lat means boarding at Vietnam’s oldest railway station for a 7 km (4.3 miles) ride to Trai Mat village, past flower fields and pine-covered hills. Da Lat, the city of flowers, sits in the Central Highlands and is known for its cool, spring-like climate year-round.

The heritage train runs several daily departures, and a round-trip ticket costs about 150,000 to 320,000 VND (₹535–1,145) depending on the carriage class. Small houses with flower pots, blooming fields, and wildflowers along the track capture the tranquil spirit of Vietnam’s countryside.

14. Watch the Night Sky over the Ancient Volcanic Crater on Ly Son Island

Watching the night sky on Ly Son Island means camping overnight beside its extinct volcanic craters, away from city lights, for clear stargazing over the sea. Ly Son lies off the coast of Quang Ngai Province, reached by a 30-minute speedboat, and grows famous garlic on its volcanic soil.

Bring your tent to the lava sites that jut out to the sea, listen to the waves, and take in a sky full of stars. The dawn on the island is equally memorable, best enjoyed with a hot coffee while waiting for the sunrise over the horizon.

15. Understand Vietnam’s Wartime History in Ho Chi Minh City

Understanding Vietnam’s wartime history in Ho Chi Minh City means visiting the War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace, where photographs, aircraft, and documents trace the Vietnam War. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and served as the capital of South Vietnam until 1975.

The War Remnants Museum charges 40,000 VND (₹145) for adult entry and opens daily from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, with the ticket counter closing at 5 pm. Its exhibits include wartime photographs, weapons, and military aircraft.

16. Spot Rare Primates in Cat Tien National Park

Spotting rare primates in Cat Tien National Park means joining a guided walk or night safari to see gibbons, macaques, and langurs in protected rainforest. Cat Tien is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve straddling three provinces in southern Vietnam, about 150 km (93 miles) north of Ho Chi Minh City.

The park is an ideal destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, with guided tours that increase your chance of spotting animals in the wild.

17. Embrace Tranquility on Phu Quoc Island

Embracing tranquility on Phu Quoc Island means lounging on white-sand beaches, swimming in clear water, and hiking the island’s national park. Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand off the southern coast, and ranks among the 10 most beautiful islands in Vietnam.

You can spend days on the beach or in the national park, and sample some of Vietnam’s best seafood at the island’s many restaurants.

18. Visit Cu Chi Tunnels

Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels means crawling through a section of the 250 km (155 miles) underground network used by the Viet Cong, on a guided half-day tour from the city. The tunnels lie in the Cu Chi district, about 70 km (43 miles) northwest of central Ho Chi Minh City.

Entry to the tunnels costs about 50,000 to 125,000 VND (₹180–445) depending on the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc site, and the complex opens daily from 7 am to 5 pm. Most Indian travellers visit on a guided half-day tour from the city, priced from around USD 15 (₹1,425) including transfers.

19. Cruise the Mekong Delta

Cruising the Mekong Delta means boarding a wooden sampan to reach floating markets, fruit orchards, and riverside villages, on trips from a half-day to a 2-day overnight cruise. The delta lies about 70 km (43 miles) southwest of Ho Chi Minh City, a roughly 2-hour drive.

A boat tour lets you explore the canals, visit bustling floating markets, and see the daily life of locals. The delta is also known for fresh seafood and tropical fruit unique to the region.

20. Shop at Ben Thanh Market

Shopping at Ben Thanh Market means browsing stalls of handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, and souvenirs, then tasting street food under one roof in central Ho Chi Minh City. Ben Thanh is one of Vietnam’s oldest markets, open daily from early morning to late evening.

The market offers traditional Vietnamese handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, and souvenirs, alongside stalls serving the city’s famous street food.

How to Plan Your Vietnam Trip Around These Activities

You can combine these 20 things to do into a single trip by grouping them by region, since Vietnam runs over 1,600 km (994 miles) north to south and most travellers move in one direction along the country. A typical Vietnam itinerary for Indian travellers runs 6 to 12 days, covering one or two regions in depth rather than all three in a rush.

The North suits a first trip, pairing Hanoi’s pho and street food with Halong Bay cruising, the rice terraces of Sapa, and the stilt-house villages of Mai Chau. The Centre links Hue, Hoi An, and Da Nang in a compact stretch, easy to cover by road or the heritage train. The South combines Ho Chi Minh City’s wartime history with the Cu Chi Tunnels, a Mekong Delta cruise, and beach time on Phu Quoc Island.

When to come depends on the region, as the North, Centre, and South each follow different seasons; our guide on the best time to visit Vietnam breaks this down month by month. Indian passport holders need a visa, covered in our Vietnam visa guide for Indian travellers, and you can estimate your budget through our Vietnam trip cost from India breakdown. To turn these activities into a ready route, browse our Vietnam tour packages or have our local team tailor an itinerary to your dates.

Practical Tips for Indian Travellers in Vietnam

Indian travellers should sort four essentials before these activities, since Vietnam handles each differently from a domestic Indian trip:

Visa: Indian passport holders need a visa, as Vietnam does not offer visa-free entry to Indian citizens in 2026. The simplest route is the e-visa, valid for up to 90 days, costing USD 25 (₹2,375) for single entry or USD 50 (₹4,750) for multiple entry, with processing in 3 to 5 working days through the official portal at evisa.gov.vn. Apply at least 10 days before departure, and keep both a printed and a digital copy, since airlines check it before boarding.

Flights: Direct flights connect India to Vietnam from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Chennai, reaching Hanoi (HAN), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), and Da Nang (DAD) in about 4.5 to 5.5 hours. Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Air India, and IndiGo operate these routes, with one-way fares typically from ₹12,000 to ₹30,000 depending on season and how early you book.

Vegetarian and Jain food: Vegetarian and Jain meals are available across Vietnam, especially in tourist cities. Indian restaurants in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Phu Quoc serve North and South Indian thali, and many prepare Jain meals on request. Vietnamese dishes also suit vegetarians when ordered without fish sauce; ask for “an chay” (vegetarian) to be understood clearly.

Money: Carry both cash and card, as Vietnamese Dong (VND) is needed for markets, street food, and small entry fees, while hotels and larger restaurants accept cards. The exchange rate runs about 280 VND to ₹1 in 2026, and ATMs are widely available in every city covered in this guide.

Conclusion

You will have memorable journeys to this beautiful country by exploring our curated list of the top things to do in Vietnam. Vietnam is a stunning nation with attractions for all types of tourists. The Northern, Central, and Southern regions offer unique experiences to make your trip unforgettable.

Vietnam offers many activities, whether you want to learn about its fascinating past, savor its delectable cuisine, or take in the scenery. Pack your bags! Get ready for an unforgettable journey with our Vietnam tour packages!

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