The Most Beautiful Towns and Cities in Vietnam
![](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/wb5t7j-1.webp)
Vietnam immediately captivates visitors with its rich heritage and striking natural beauty. Bordered by mountains to the east and the South China Sea to the west, with the Red River and Mekong deltas at the country’s north and south ends, the country’s diverse landscape encompasses white-sand beaches, rice paddies, and lush jungles. Here are some of the best towns and cities in Vietnam, bookable through Culture Trip.
1. Hội An
Natural Feature
![Hoi An Vietnam, view at night of illuminated riverside bars and restaurants in the historic Old Town tourist quarter of Hoi An, Central Vietnam.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/m8ngch-1.webp)
You can visit Hội An with Culture Trip and enjoy a guided walking tour on our specially curated 12-day Vietnam adventure, led by our local insider.
2. Mũi Né
Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark
![Silhouette of two women carrying baskets across sand dunes at sunset, Mui Ne, Vietnam](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2e5dh9h.webp)
3. Đà Lạt
Natural Feature
![Dawn on love bridge overlooking Xuan Huong Lake, Dalat, with the dramatic sky welcomes new day in the tourist city of Vietnam](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2decktn-1.webp)
At an altitude of 1.5km (about a mile) above sea level, Đà Lạt offers year-round cool weather and serene mountain scenery. This quaint city was once a favourite retreat of Vietnamese emperors and French colonials eager to escape the country’s summer heat. The European influences are still noticeable in the French colonial architecture found in the city’s central area, where the streets are lined with red-roofed stone buildings. With lovely churches, markets, winding streets and colourful gardens, the city is a wonderful place for strolling. The surrounding area offers lakes, forests and waterfalls – perfect for trekking, biking and rock-climbing.
4. Nha Trang
Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark
![Woman on Xom Bong Bridge, Nha Trang, Vietnam, Asia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/arbt5m.webp)
5. Cần Thơ
Natural Feature
![Cantonese Congregation Pagoda with spiral incense in Can Tho Vietnam](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/e5c745.webp)
The largest city in the Mekong Delta, Cần Thơ sits at the meeting point of several different waterways. It’s an ideal base for visiting the nearby floating markets, with canals and rivers filled with an astonishing variety of boats and ships. Cần Thơ’s lovely riverfront is lined with sculpture gardens and some of the region’s best restaurants. The backstreets give rise to a few unique temples and a buzzing night market, plus a short trip outside of the city will bring you to beautiful countryside landscapes covered with rice fields.
6. Vũng Tàu
Architectural Landmark, Natural Feature
![Sunset in Dam Trau beach, Con Dao siland, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Vietnam](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/m5cg0y.webp)
7. Châu Đốc
Architectural Landmark
![Canoe on a river between the rice paddies, Mekong Delta, Chau Doc, Vietnam](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/bxtfjn-1.webp)
Set at a meeting point of a tributary linking the Bassac and Mekong rivers, Châu Đốc is the closest city to the Vietnamese-Cambodian border crossing. Locals are known for being especially friendly, with the city’s pastel-coloured shop fronts adding to its already-cheerful ambiance. With large Khmer, Cham and Chinese communities, the city is also interesting from a cultural perspective. Check out the vibrant main market and then wander along the pretty waterfront promenade nearby. Take the ferry across the river to visit Chau Doc’s largest mosque.
8. Bắc Hà
Architectural Landmark
![Vua Meo is a french colonial villa / baroque style palace constructed for a Hmong king in 1914 to 1921. Bac Ha, Vietnam](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/w2cjg5.webp)
A popular day-trip from Sapa, Bắc Hà also serves as a more low-key base for exploring the country’s northern highlands and hill tribe villages. Set at 1.2km (nearly a mile) above sea level, the town is fringed by cone-shaped mountains. This quiet town comes to life on Sundays when ethnic-minority villagers such as the Dao, Flower Hmong, Tay, Nung and Giay people come to the town for its bustling market. Everything from textiles and handbags to livestock is traded. On many market days, Flower Hmong singers perform captivating songs to entertain market-goers.
9. Huế
Natural Feature
![Stone mandarins in the Court of Honour, Tomb of Khai Dinh, near Hue, North Central Coast, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cpe48g-1.webp)
Another Unesco World Heritage Site, Huế was Vietnam’s Imperial City and later the capital of the country’s Nguyen emperors. It also features on Culture Trip’s exclusive small-group Vietnam trip, which includes a street food tour and cooking masterclass in Huế. The town was devastated by wars with the French and the Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries, it’s still filled with enthralling tombs, temples, and palaces. The Perfume River (Sông Hương) winds through the city, with the Forbidden City looming over its north bank. Dating back to the early 19th century, this citadel stretches for three miles along the town’s waterfront. The Perfume River itself is dotted with houseboats, long-tail vessels and dragon boats.