Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Central Vietnam

On a North-South axis, we suggest you discover the superb region of central Vietnam, formerly known as An Nam, which is home to no less than 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A region as beautiful as it is diverse, which, following the famous "Mandarin Road" along the An Nam Mountain Range and vast rice plains, will reveal a fascinating historical, cultural and natural heritage.

Written by Oliver PHUNG (local expert)Updated on 25-09-2024

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Table of contents

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
Ancient Imperial City of Hue
Da Nang, ancient city of Turan
Charming Hoi An Old Town
Highlands in the Center
Quy Nhon seaside resort
Nha Trang seaside resort

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is considered to be one of the natural wonders of Vietnam, according to UNESCO. This park can be considered among the most beautiful parks within the country, characterized by karst and limestone reliefs over 400 million years standing out of the ground located in the centre-north of the country, on the Annamitic range.

Nature lovers might be surprised to learn about this 2,000 km² area of limestone, representing very high biodiversity and many plant and animal endemic species. This fabulous geological park possesses a network of 115 kilometers of rivers and underground cavities. The main activities of the park are travelling on foot and by boats, discovering caves of fascinating beauty where the geological formations and other things like stalagmites and stalactites outshine each other in beauty.

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is home to the biggest cave in the world: the 9-kilometer-long Son Doong Cave with its gigantic 200-meter high, 100-meter-wide uninterrupted gallery. Equally fabulous are the easy strolls through the sublime paddy-covered countryside that serves as a backdrop for this exceptional scenic setting-a reason alone worthy of a trip to this part of central Vietnam.

>>> Continue reading: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park

Ancient Imperial City of Hue

Among the most interesting places to see in central Vietnam, Hue is an ancient imperial city. Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits prettily on the poetic Perfume River and presents travelers with the splendor of the Nguyen dynasty that made it a royal capital since 1802.

Although the citadel was afflicted with the American bombing raids and the battle of the Tet Offensive in 1968, it still offers a magnificent historical and cultural heritage, and incredible natural harmony. Take a cruise along the Pefume River to see the famous Thien Mu Pagoda or Heavenly Lady Pagoda-the tallest pagoda in Vietnam with its six-story tower and also one of the most beautiful and oldest cult architectural structures in Hue.

Further upstream, the grand tombs of Nguyen emperors are nestled in stunning natural settings. In addition, Hue also offers traditional crafts, like the iconic Vietnamese conical hats, visits to charming garden houses, exploration of the vast Tam Giang lagoon, and a chance to savor Hue's renowned cuisine, celebrated as some of the finest in Vietnam.

>>> Get more information: Hue, Vietnam: 8 Essential Questions Answered Before You Visit

Da Nang, ancient city of Turan

From Hue, Da Nang is reached by road over the famous Cloud Pass (Hải Vân,) which offers stunning panoramic views of the coast of Vietnam and the beautiful Lang Co Peninsula. The third-largest city in Vietnam, Da Nang, known as Turan during colonial times, is famous for its beautiful beaches in central Vietnam. The city is also home to the excellent Cham Art Museum.

Built between 1915 and 1916 by the École Française d'Extrême-Orient, the museum houses the world’s finest collection of Cham artworks, excavated at the turn of the late 19th century by French archaeologists. The Marble Mountains, or Ngũ Hành Sơn in Vietnamese, are another tourist attraction to discover during your stay in Da Nang. The five Marble Mountains, an important Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage site, contain several shrines, temples, and pagodas carved out of the limestone.

*Golden Bridge, a new wonder emerging in Da Nang*

At the top of Thuy Son Mountain, you can enjoy panoramic views of the countryside, the coast, and the other marble mountains. Another famous site is Ba Na Hills, an old colonial-era spa located around 20 kilometers from Da Nang. It features the spectacular Gold Bridge (Cầu Vàng), a 150-meter-long pedestrian bridge held up by two gigantic hands, referred to as the "hands of the gods," creating a stunning visual effect.

>>> Find out more: Da Nang: 7 questions before visiting the most pleasant city in Vietnam

Charming Hoi An Old Town

Hoi An is undoubtedly the most charming city in Central Vietnam. Its ancient town is an open-air museum classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beautiful old wooden houses, pagodas, temples, and the elegant centuries-old covered Japanese bridge.

This outstanding, intact architectural heritage attests to the thriving commercial activity of this Southeast Asian trading port between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, when trade was conducted with countries in Southeast and East Asia, as well as the rest of the world. If that weren’t enough, the surrounding countryside is equally beautiful and a pleasure to explore by bicycle, where you can observe agricultural activities, small fishing villages, and artisan villages that preserve ancient traditional trades.

From Hoi An, it is also possible to visit the beautiful island of Cua Lao Cham, explore the UNESCO-listed My Son archaeological complex, which was the religious and political capital of the Champa kingdom from the 4th to the 13th century, or simply relax on the languid beaches lapped by the warm waters of the East Sea.

>>> Uncover details: Hoi An: Essential Guide & 4 Mistakes to Avoid for a Perfect Trip in 2024

Highlands in the Center

These mystical and mountainous lands—the cradle of ancestral peoples—stretch west of the narrow coastal strip along the borders of Laos and Cambodia, from Da Nang to Dalat. This off-the-beaten-track region of central Vietnam is home to several ethnic minorities deeply connected to their customs and ancient knowledge, which they still preserve today. This is reflected in their traditional ceremonies, performed to the rhythm of gongs, sacred instruments that were inscribed by UNESCO in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

These fertile lands, with a temperate climate, are among the world’s top producers of coffee, pepper, tea, cashew nuts, and latex. The Central Highlands are home to enchanting Lake Lak and the impressive Yok Don National Park, a remarkable biological area that contains no fewer than 67 mammal species, 38 of which are endangered, including elephants, tigers, and leopards. The park also hosts about 250 bird species, including a pair of giant ibises.

The region boasts some of Vietnam’s most stunning waterfalls, such as the majestic Dray Sap waterfall, which is 250 meters long and 30 meters high. Behind its water curtain lies a vast cave with stalactites and stalagmites, forming a grandiose geological landscape. No mention of a tour to the Central Highlands would be complete without Dalat—an old colonial-era weather station known for its colonial architectural heritage, flower gardens, graceful lakes, pine forests, orchards, and refreshing air.

Quy Nhon seaside resort

Here is a typically Vietnamese seaside resort, mistakenly ignored by travellers, which will satisfy all your desires for escape and leisure. Quy Nhon is the ideal base for exploring the surrounding area, which is full of sumptuous beaches. To the north of Quy Nhon is the superb Ky Co beach, one of the most paradisiacal beaches in Quy Nhon, while to the south, a magnificent chain of beaches is nestled in the rocks, each more seductive than the last.

Quy Nhon, the green pearl in Central Vietnam

History and culture enthusiasts will not be disappointed, as the Quy Nhon region boasts the largest collection of archaeological remains from the Champa Kingdom, which flourished until the 15th century along Vietnam's central coast, leaving behind a remarkable architectural heritage.

Nha Trang seaside resort

Another Vietnamese seaside resort is Nha Trang, one of the largest and most popular in the country. Nestled in a bay surrounded by several beautiful islands ranked among the top 20 most beautiful in the world, Nha Trang is the perfect stop for a beach getaway during your trip to Vietnam.

Enjoy idyllic beaches for relaxation and partake in various water sports. Some options include sailing around the paradisiacal islands by boat and diving among coral reefs to glimpse the superb seabed teeming with biodiversity. Step away from the beach's embrace and explore Nha Trang's cultural heritage. Be sure to visit the Cham Po Nagar towers, built between the 8th and 11th centuries to worship the goddess Yan Po Nagar, founder of the Champa kingdom. These towers have been classified as national historic heritage and are an exceptional testament to the architectural genius of the now-extinct Champa kingdom.

One could also visit the fully stone-built Gothic-style cathedral of Nha Trang, which was built in the 1930s; a museum dedicated to the famous doctor Yersion, who discovered the plague cacilus; the Oceanographic Institute; and the residence of the last emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai. After a day of sightseeing, relax with a rejuvenating mud bath, a specialty of Nha Trang.

>>> Get more information: Nha Trang, 7 essential questions before planning your seaside trip in 2024