Beyond the gorgeous beaches, majestic mountains and spectacular islands, Vietnam has so much more to offer than its over-hyped, over-glorified touristy destinations. For the best travel experience, wildlife and natural resources, why not try to explore 10 most underrated destinations in Vietnam? This way you get a unique experience as well as you get to really enjoy the destination with its locals.
1. Cuc Phuong national park
Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong is the oldest national park in Vietnam. Located southwest of Hanoi and nestled between the provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa, Cuc Phuong boasts an engaging cultural and wildlife heritage and enchanting scenery.
This national park’s breathtaking scenery and stunning landscapes make it a delightful destination to visit in VietNam. With the characteristic of tropical rainforest, green all year round, The biological diversity of the national park features 117 species of mammals, 336 species of birds, 110 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 65 species of fish.
Brimming with beautiful landscapes and pristine trails make it a great option if you’re an explorer at heart. Visiting Cuc Phuong National Park takes some effort both in planning and travel time,but well worth it if foreign tourists are looking for quiet and isolated forest.If you want to visit this place, the best time is in the dry season, from December to May. At this time of year, the weather is temperate and pleasant, ideal for outdoor activities.
2. Pu Mat National Park
Pù Mát National Park is a national park in Nghệ An Province, located in Vietnam’s North Central Coast region. It is part of the Western Nghệ An Biosphere Reserve. Pu Mat National Park is home to 2494 species of plants, 132 species of mammals, 361 species of birds, 53 species of reptiles, 33 species of amphibians, 83 species of fish, 39 species of bats, and 1,080 species of insects. Numerous rare plant species, including 69 plant species and 70 animal species are recognized in the World Red Book and the Red Data Book of Vietnam, are under danger. For those who wish to discover and immerse themselves in nature, the ground, and the sky, this national park is the place to go. It is also an exciting resort full of charms.
3. Cat Ba national park
Cát Bà National Park is a World Heritage Site designated as a biosphere reserve in northern Vietnam. The park has a rich flora and fauna, including most of the world’s 65 remaining golden-headed langurs, the world’s most endangered primate. This national park also provides habitats for 1,500 species of plants ( 160 species of plants that contain medicinal characteristics), 32 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 78 species of birds.
Coming to this destination, foreign tourists possibly experience forest ecotourism activities. You can choose among various tour routes to explore their rare wildlife resources, such as limestone vegetation types, tropical everlasting green primitive forest ,mangroves, or Kim Giao precious wood forest, etc
Along with forest ecotourism activities, visitors can select from a variety of sea tourism options, including boat trips to see places like Lan Ha Bay, Viet Hai, Van Ta, and Tra Bau, kayaking through gulf ecosystems, scuba diving to observe coral, rock climbing, fishing, swimming, and other underwater activities.
4. Bac Ha
The breathtaking landscape around Bac Ha is just as lovely as that of its neighbor Sapa, yet this peaceful town has been able to avoid excessive development and maintain its true identity as a market town. Although Sapa’s urban areas provide more contemporary conveniences, this rural area makes up for it with its own charm. Bac Ha’s moderate environment, which is comparable to that of the resort town of Sa Pa, makes it a “paradise” of many kinds of flowers. White plum, apricot, and pear blooms grow everywhere in the country each spring. The area is well-known for its Tam Hoa plum.Through decades, local ethnic groups have maintained their distinctive culture, which includes substantial foods, thrilling sports like horse racing, and vibrant marketplaces.
White plums blossom paradise is one of Bac Ha’s attractions. In the spring, when the gardens of plum trees blossom in the white sky, travelers will be able to relax in the white plum gardens and the valleys with its unique Northwest highlands features. Coming here in June or July, if you wish to visit plum orchards with numerous ripe fruits and enjoy sweet and crisp plums under plum blossoms.
5. Phu Yen and islands
Between Khanh Hoa Province and Binh Dinh Province in the Central region of Vietnam is the seaside province of Phu Yen (Nha Trang). With more than 200 kilometers of beachfront along Vietnam’s wavy south-central coast, it has a wide variety of mountains, lagoons, rich plains, and rivers. If you’re looking for a secluded beach where you may have private stretches of golden sand, Phu Yen is a fantastic choice.
If you’re the kind of person who is looking for adventures, Phu Yen may provide you one of the most thrilling ones with all of its ancient ruins and aquatic activities. You may check out places like the Cendeluxe hotel, Vietstar Resort & Spa, and Bai Tram Hideaway Resort. The best things to see in Phú Yên include: Da Dia Reef, Tam Giang Dam, Dai Lanh lighthouse, etc,.. In addition, the most famous in this place must be mentioned: Bãi Xép Hill. This scene was once a famous Vietnamese movie on the Dear Brother movie ( Toi thay hoa vang tren co xanh ), Bai Xep became a great spot for nature lovers.
6. Soc Trang
Soc Trang province is located on National Highway 1A, about 231 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 62 km from Can Tho, so it is easy to reach Soc Trang by coach or by motorbike. Come here, where tourists may take advantage of the opportunity to eat fresh fruit in the gardens in addition to seeing famous temples, locations with lovely natural beauty, and distinctive events.Not only famous for delicious food. But also Soc Trang tourist destinations are very attractive to tourists to explore. You will be amazed with the beauty of the ancient temples that bring unique architecture to the beautiful landscapes of ecotourism sites bestowed by nature!
You may visit Soc Trang practically any time of the year because of its lovely climate. The two seasons of Soc Trang’s climate are the dry season and the rainy season (rainy season usually starts from May – October and the dry season lasts from November to April next year). The average annual temperature is about 26 degrees Celsius, storms and floods are seldom. Come here, you also get the opportunity to visit well-known locations with beautiful ambiance and take part in the largest Khmer community festival, Ooc-Om-Bok. You may participate in the festival’s two main activities, the boat race and the water lantern drop.
7. Con Dao island
The Côn Đảo islands are a secluded paradise off the southern coast of Vietnam. This island often known as “The hell on Earth” saw Vietnam’s colonial history and the sacrifice of many heroes. Con Dao is a great place to go today if you want to learn about Vietnamese history, take in the pure beauty, and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Long, white-sand beaches, a stunning maritime environment with vibrant coral reefs, and primary rain forests with an abundance of flora and animals may all be found at Con Dao.
8. Chau Doc – Tra Su
Chau Doc is one of the most underrated Vietnamese cities to check out. This province belongs to the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. Slinging along the banks of the Hau Giang River (Bassac River), Chau Doc reviews a lot of visitors cruising through on the river between Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the homeland mainly Cham and Khmer people.
As a result of the multiplicity of civilizations in Chau Doc, tourists may view mosques, temples, and churches. The Mekong Delta, is a tempting spot to witness the blend of cultures and hues with its lush woods, busy riverbanks, and dazzling temples. All visitors who intend to tour Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and continue their journey to Phnom Penh should stay at least one night in Chau Doc. Tourists can enter Cambodia via the Vinh Xuong river border crossing and the Tinh Bien International Border Gate from Chau Doc.
Besides, tourists to Chau Doc should not miss the opportunity to visit Tra Su. Tra Su with an area of 850 hectares and a highly rich natural ecosystem, provides a breathtaking beauty of vast marsh, emerald-green duckweed carpet, and deep cajuput woods. The magnificence of the forest will astound tourists as they discover the interior.Tra Su Melaleuca forest is about 850ha wide. This is the habitat of many plants and animals belonging to the system of special-use forests in Vietnam.In addition to Melaleuca, there are 140 plant species, including 22 tree species, 78 medicinal plant species, 13 aquatic species…
For wildlife, the Tra Su Melaleuca forest is home to approximately 70 species of birds, including two endangered species listed in the Red Book. Giang Sen (Mycteria leucocephala) and well (Anhinga melanogaster), for example; 11 species of mammals, four of which are rodents; 15 species of bats (short-eared bats are also classified in the Vietnam Red Book); 25 species of reptiles and frogs, ten kinds of fish, and so on.
9. Ba Be lake
Sometimes you simply want to go away from the hectic, noisy, pressured life and immerse yourself in nature, rest, relax. Ba Be Lake is one of the “charming nature” spots that Gobooyaa wishes to recommend to you for “healing.”
Visitors may explore Ba Be Lake at any time of year, but the best time to come is in the summer, spring, or early autumn, when the lake holds a mysterious beauty concealed in the mist.When visiting Ba Be National Park, you may take a boat to explore the natural beauty of the area. For adventure seekers, there are large boats, tiny boats, and dugout boats. Sitting in a lonely boat between the vast river, mountains, and forests, listening to the mythology of the lake through the boatman’s remarks will undoubtedly be an interesting experience.
10. Binh Lieu – Quang Ninh
Quang Ninh – The border district of Binh Lieu in northern Quang Ninh province has become a new destination for tourists in recent years thanks to its primitive beauty. In comparison to other more well-known tourist spots in Quang Ninh, such as H Long Bay, Cô Tô, or Quan Ln, Bnh Liêu is a mere byword. However, this does not diminish the region’s appeal, particularly to younger travelers. Although Binh Lieu has a lovely attractiveness all year round, the district is especially appealing to visitors when fall transitions to winter.
When autumn comes, the hills of Bình Liêu are covered with white reeds, creating spectacular romantic views for travelers. Thus, the area is known as the ‘Reed Kingdom’. These white reed hills can be found on the border patrol road at an altitude of 700m, just west of Bình Liêu. To get there, tourists have to travel from Bình Liêu Town to Hoành Mô, and then to Ngàn Chuồng Village in Lục Hồn Commune.
Tourists may begin their trek to the border route, which is approximately 16 kilometers long, from here. Many magnificent sights are numbered and are popular photo locations for young travelers.Visitors also may enjoy beautiful vistas of terraced fields, little communities hidden behind mountains, and pure blue sky along the journey.The little road going to the reed fields is perched on a high hill, and it’s like walking on the back of a big dinosaur ( locals refer to it as “the spine of the dinosaur”)
More related topic: Unique Experiences in Vietnam