{"id":25862,"date":"2021-05-28T08:02:48","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T22:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.totraveltoo.com\/?p=25862"},"modified":"2023-12-25T08:01:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-24T21:01:15","slug":"the-best-10-unique-places-to-see-in-vietnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.totraveltoo.com\/the-best-10-unique-places-to-see-in-vietnam\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best 10 Unique Places to see in Vietnam in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you planning to visit Vietnam and wondering where to travel to?<\/p>\n

Vietnam is a beautiful country, home to many wonders full of natural beauty and cultural significance. It makes for a wonderful vacation destination for those who are seeking to explore the world and other cultures. There are many gorgeous natural vistas within the country, alongside numerous man-made wonders. Whether you are sticking close to the country’s capital of Hanoi<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>or itching to travel the countryside, if you spend your holiday in Vietnam, these are just a few of the unique places to see in Vietnam.<\/span><\/p>\n

A frequently asked question is how long should I allow to visit Vietnam? Ideally, a typical Vietnam itinerary for 2 weeks to 1 month<\/strong><\/span><\/a> should see you covering the major sites.<\/p>\n

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Imperial Palace Hue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our guest writer is Catalin Geangos the Founder and Editor of TravelTrained. Catalin has shared with us more unique places to see in Vietnam that we were not aware of. We spent three months travelling from North to South and during that time we realised we still had much more to see and do in this unique Asian country.<\/p>\n

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please see <\/i>our <\/span>disclosure<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> for more information.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Air Asia, the budget carrier<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, has flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Nha Trang from major Asian cities.<\/p>\n

Join our Vietnam Travel Planning Facebook Group here:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Vietnam<\/a><\/p>\n

Amazing Places To Visit in Vietnam<\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0 Duong Lam Village – 1 hour from Hanoi<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This rural village<\/a><\/strong> <\/span>offers a glimpse into life in Vietnam as it existed many decades ago, with the villagers still living and practicing the old ways of life that predate the more modern settings of the country. Ancient architecture, authentic food, and a traditional atmosphere are all on offer when visiting this idyllic window into the past. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can even eat with one of the families who live in the village to take part more closely in the ancient traditions this village is steeped in. Temples dedicated to past kings are open to being toured as well, making this site a culturally significant one as well.\u00a0 The village is also close to the country\u2019s capital, making this a perfect place if you are looking to <\/span>take a day trip from Hanoi<\/a><\/strong><\/span> that includes a more cultural element.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Thuy Tien Water Park Hue<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Thuy Tien Water Park Hue Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unlike many other commercial water parks around the world, this one is non-operational. Constructed in 2004 to the tune of three million dollars, this water park was opened to the public before it was completed, an act that eventually doomed the water park to failure and closure. Rather than lay completely abandoned, however, the park still receives visitors, likely owing to the novelty of exploring a decrepit water park with a three-story tall dragon dominating the centre of it.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Due to the nature of being mostly abandoned, there is not an official ticketing system, nor will refreshments be offered for sale, but occasionally there will be a security guard who will let you in for a small fee. The park is in the city of Hue<\/a><\/strong>,<\/span> though access is not always guaranteed. Looking from a distance it is still a nice option however as even from far away the towering dragon in the center of the park is something to behold.<\/span><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Fire Breathing Dragon Bridge of Dan Nang<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Da Nang Dragon Bridge image Vien Tran Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From one dragon to another, this bridge was constructed in early 2013 to commemorate the capture of the port city of Da Nang by North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War. The giant yellow dragon occupies the midline of the bridge, illuminated by over two thousand LED lights once the sunsets. This dragon can shoot hot bursts of flame from its mouth as well as streams of water. While this is a bridge mostly designed for vehicle travel, there is a walking path that you can use if you want to take photographs of the dragon\u2019s head when it lets loose its fiery breath or cooling water blast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Linh Ung<\/strong> Pagoda<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Linh Ung Pagoda Da Nang<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sticking close to the city of Da Nang, this pagoda holds a statue of a \u2018Buddha\u2019 or \u2018Enlightened One\u2019 as the term means in English, the largest one in Vietnam in fact. These statues are not uncommon in Asian countries where Buddhism is one of the main faiths of the region, but what makes this statue of the revered sage unique compared is that it depicts a female rather than the traditional male. <\/span><\/p>\n

Most statues of Buddha depict the man who was born as Siddhartha Gautama after he achieved enlightenment, though there are others who have also reached this enlightenment both prior to and after this point and are commemorated in various forms alongside him. The name of the female who achieved enlightenment and depicted by the statue is Bodhisattva Guanyin, a woman who is sometimes thought of as the Goddess of Kindness in some regions. The female statue also doubles as a shrine, containing seventeen floors. Each one is dedicated to a different individual who has reached the state of enlightenment required to be considered a Buddha. <\/span><\/p>\n

The grounds around the statue are also impressive, being home to topiaries and life-sized statues as well as a bird\u2019s eye view of the city of Da Nang. Conversely, the towering edifice is also visible from almost anywhere in the city below.<\/span><\/p>\nRead our article on our sidecar tour from Da Nang that includes the Linh Ung Pagoda<\/a>\n

5.\u00a0 Am Phu Cave<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the central beliefs of the Buddhist faith is that an individual accumulates karma over their life and based on the balance of their karma they are either reincarnated or sent to a hellish realm known as Naraka. This internment in Naraka is not permanent, but rather determined by how much negative karma has been accrued by a person, and once this negative karma is used up they are reincarnated to a higher realm instead of remaining in torment.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Housed within the mountain known as Thuy Son the cave of Am Phu<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, also known as Hell Cave in English, offers a chilling depiction of Naraka with statues of blue-skinned demons torturing people and other frightening visages. Exiting the cave allows one to climb the mountain above, which has come to symbolize the heavens making the entire trek a sort of microcosm of the Buddhist beliefs on reincarnation and the path to the heavens leading through hell.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The trek is not easy though, and there is not a lift system to get back down, only the way you came. This place is not recommended for those with small children due to both the frightening nature of the sights with the cave, but also the strenuous climb you will have to make if you intend to reach the higher portions of the mountain. The mountain and cave are located within the city of Da Nang, making this an excellent place to stop after visiting the Linh Ung Pagoda if you are still interested in learning about the Buddhist faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 Perfume Pagoda near Hanoi<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Vietnam is home to many pagodas, shrines, and other places of worship that are frequented by both devout followers of Buddhism as well as tourists who merely wish to see the beautiful architecture that usually comes with these areas. The Perfume Pagoda is no different and is a collection of many temples and pagodas built within the limestone of the Huong Tich mountains. <\/span><\/p>\n

To reach this serene place, a trip by boat must be taken along the Day River as it is not easily reachable on foot or by car. Once there, you will be able to tour several of the structures and shrines that make up the pagoda complex. Do be aware that this is a religious site, and a site for many pilgrimages during the earlier months of the year so if crowds are an issue then you might want to save the trip for later in the year. The Perfume Pagoda is located near Hanoi, making it another excellent location for a day trip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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