Vietnam is truly a bucket list destination with life changing sights and activities everywhere you look from Northern Vietnam all the way down to the South. I myself didn’t realize just how magical and unique Vietnam was until I visited there just two months ago. Here is a list of the items I checked off of my bucket list and a couple of items I plan on completing on my inevitable second visit to Vietnam:
Table of Contents
Train Street
If you’ve been on Instagram the past year, you definitely have seen Train Street pop up on your feed once or twice (or billion times, in my case). The train runs through this narrow, café lined street in Hanoi several times a day.
Due to restrictions, you have to be “invited” by one of the café owners to get past the police barricade into Train Street. Once seated either outside on the ground floor just a couple of feet from the train tracks or on the second floor balcony, you can order drinks and snack while you wait for the train to come up literally right next to you. Videos and pictures do not convey just how close they come near you or the adrenaline rush of being so close to a moving train. Though the train schedule is completely off, it’s worth waiting around for this truly unique experience.
Ha Long Bay Party Boat
Spend the night in a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Comprised of 1,600 limestone islands and islets, the otherworldly backdrop of Ha Long Bay served as one of the filming locations of Kong: Skull Island and attracts 6 million visitors per year. Spend the day kayaking and swimming before returning to your party boat anchored right in the middle of the bay. Party the night away with an international crowd of strangers who will soon become friends before the night is over. Don’t party too hard, though. This is one sunrise you do not want to miss!
Ngoa Long Mountain (Lying Dragon)
In Ninh Binh, there is one of the best views I’ve ever seen from on top of Ngoa Long Mountain, also known as Lying Dragon Mountain. It’s a short (in theory) hike up nearly 500 stairs to an ornate stone dragon at the rocky top of the mountain. It takes a bit of scrambling around the dragon statue to get to the end of the hike and some terrifying moments near the edge of the mountain, but the view is well worth it if you are in good physical condition. There is also another path leading to a lower viewpoint with a pagoda.
Though I am an avid hiker, the summer heat and humidity kicked my butt on this hike. I was crawling up at a snail’s pace drinking obscene amounts of water along the way. Despite the struggle, it was worth it for the view.
Boat Ride through Tam Côc
Vietnam has no shortage of UNESCO World Heritage sites! Explore the unique scenery of Ninh Binh by small boat that takes you down the Ngo Dong River through three natural caves known as Tam Coc. Literally translating to “three caves”, Tam Coc is comprised of Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba.
You’ll quickly see why it’s been nicknamed “the inland Ha Long Bay” as you float down the river admiring the limestone karsts and paddy fields and go through magnificent caves lined with stalagmites and stalactites. I feel like I abuse the words “magical” and “otherworldly” when talking about Vietnam, but I don’t think there is anyway else to describe how unique so many of the sites there are.
Side note: There are photographers there that will take your picture during your boat ride. They print them out and try to sell them to you at the end. Just be firm, but friendly with your haggling and you can get some great souvenirs for a steal.
Basket Boat Ride in Hoi An
You spin me right round, baby, right round! Go for a ride (and a spin) in one of Hoi An’s famous basket boats. Originally designed as a loophole to avoid the taxation levied by the French on boats, basket boats are a fun, cultural experience you don’t want to miss while in Hoi An.
Golden Hand Bridge
You’ve probably seen the Golden Hand Bridge all over social media the past few years. Opened in 2018, this impressive bridge is located in the Da Nang as part of Sun World Ba Na Hills Amusement Park. You’ll need an entry ticket to the amusement park, and two separate cable car rides (including one of the longest in the world!) to climb to the top of the mountain where you can walk across this stunning golden bridge supported by two stone hands that seem to extend from the mountain itself.
There are plenty of other rides and activities and sites in Ba Na Hills too to explore. I did an alpine coaster for the first time ever, which was a blast! At roughly $34 for an adult ticket, it’s a great way to spend the day.
Crawl in one of the Cu Chi Tunnels
Experience what life was like for the Viet Cong soldiers as you crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels used during the Vietnam/American War. The extensive 75 mile tunnel system dug by the Vietnamese fighters severed as supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters. Soldiers would spend day at a time in these dark, underground tunnels. Their efforts paid off as the Cu Chi Tunnels proved essential to counter the American military presence. You can see how you’d handle being in that situation as you crawl through a 121 meter preserved tunnel—just remember it has actually been widened by 30% for tourists!
There are exhibits showcasing the Vietnamese soldiers’ wit and skill including some nightmare inducing booby traps. Also, strangely enough, there is a gun range where you can pay to play with a machine gun. If you’re from America, I’d skip this one since so many gun ranges in the states have this experience for cheaper.
Drink Egg Coffee
Trust me when I tell you that you absolutely need to try egg coffee while in Vietnam. Compared to the other experiences on this list, you may wonder why I chose to include a coffee drink. Well, it’s an experience in itself. I was hesitant to try the egg coffee thinking it would taste like scrambled eggs and caffeine. I couldn’t have been more wrong. They whip the egg yolk for 15 minutes until it is smooth and creamy and combine it with the coffee for a result that has the texture and flavor of coffee cake batter. It’s thick, sweet, and oh so delicious.
Get a Tailor-Made Outfit
Though this isn’t a uniquely Vietnamese experience, it’s worth noting. In many countries in Asia, you can find tailor to make you a very affordable outfit from scratch just for your measurements. I missed my chance in Beijing years ago due to time constraints, and it was on my mind ever since. When I found out I’d be staying long enough in Hoi An to get a dress tailor-made, I was ecstatic!
Getting clothes custom made for you is a luxury most people in Western countries can’t afford. I felt like a million bucks picking out the fabric and designing a dress while the tailors measured every inch of my body. At only $60 for an evening teacup length dress, it was cheaper than department store dresses!
Next Vietnam Trip:
Son Doong
Unfortunately, I did not get to check this one off my personal bucket list this past trip, but it’s moved up to the top of my list for the next time venture into Vietnam.
Son Doong is the world’s largest cave. It’s so large, that it has its very own ecosystem and visitors describe it as a whole other world. Discovered only in 1990, Son Doong can only be explored with one tour group company, Oxalis Adventure. The price of this expedition is $3,000 for a 5 night adventure of a lifetime. Though the price seems steep, it includes 1 safety expert, 1 tour guide, 6 safety assistants, 2 cooks, 17 porters carrying belongings, food, camping equipment and 1 ranger from the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. With only 1,000 visitors allowed per year, reservations are fully booked for 2024 already.
Ha Giang Loop
The best way to explore the glorious landscapes and rural villages of Northern Vietnam is by motor bike on the Ha Giang Loop. Join a tour group where you either can ride your own motor bike, or ride tandem with a driver as you make your way through the winding roads of some of the most picturesque parts of Vietnam over the course of 3-5 days. You stay at hostels and homestays along the way in small villages where you meet some pretty incredible locals and fellow travelers.
Everyone I know who has done the Ha Giang Loop agrees that it was a life changing experience and surpasses every single expectation. I deeply regret not doing the Ha Giang Loop my first time in Vietnam.
Have you checked any of these off your bucket list yet? Did I miss any that you think should be included? Let me know in the comments, fellow bucket listers!
