Points of interest Vietnam: Tourism & Monuments

Practical information : Sightseeing Vietnam

Timetable

The opening hours of the sites vary greatly. Museums are generally open between 8am and 5pm, some close at lunch time. Many sites (pagodas, temples...) are not strictly speaking tourist attractions. They welcome visitors, but have their own life which must be respected.

To be booked

In Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, it is preferable to reserve seats for certain shows or concerts. The reception of the hotels will gladly take care of it.

Budget & Tips

The entrance fee to sites and museums is usually very modest (the equivalent of less than 2 €). It is common to leave a small fee when visiting pagodas.

Main events

Vietnam organizes a handful of festivals that have acquired international renown. These include the Hué festival and the martial arts festival in the town of Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh province), which take place every two years. Traditional festivals, linked to the solar-lunar calendar, can be an opportunity to discover Vietnamese culture, but it's important to bear in mind that they are not intended for tourism, even if, as elsewhere in the world, folklorization and commercialization tend to make certain events lose their original meaning.

Guided tours

Incoming agencies offer many guided tours. At first glance, the formula may seem unappealing to those who are fond of autonomy and independence, but within the framework of a short stay, the guided tour allows the accompaniment of a professional guide, often French-speaking, to save time, to free oneself from logistical problems and to make some savings (carpooling for the transport to certain remote sites). The most advanced agencies offer thematic workshops (cooking classes, lacquerware training, photography...) that allow you to discover the country from a particular angle.

Smokers

Smoking is not permitted in the museums. The rules of tact and courtesy also apply.

Tourist traps

When visiting certain sites, it is not uncommon to require the presence of an improvised guide. At the end of the visit, the guide will demand payment for his or her work. To avoid any misunderstanding, it is preferable to make things clear from the beginning and to oppose a clear refusal if one considers this presence as unwelcome. While knowing that the remuneration is often modest (the equivalent of 1 or 2 €) and that in certain cases, the indications and the advice of the guide can be judicious...

Tourist Attractions & Monuments Vietnam

HOI AN DECOUVERTE

MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPHY OF VIET NAM

HOAN KIÊM LAKE

IMPERIAL CITY

TEMPLE OF LITERATURE (VAN MIEU)

MUSEUM OF WAR RELICS

GO-MEKONG-EVASION

LONG BIÊN BRIDGE (FORMER PAUL-DOUMER BRIDGE)

TRAN QUOC PAGODA

HUÊ CITADEL

NGOC HOANG PAGODA OR PAGODA OF THE JADE EMPEROR

REUNIFICATION (OR INDEPENDENCE) PALACE

MEKONG CRUISE

CU CHI TUNNELS

TEMPLE OF LITERATURE (VAN THANH MIEU)

TAN KY HOUSE

VIET NAM WOMEN'S MUSEUM

OPERA (NHA HAT LON THANH PHÔ HÔ CHI MINH)

OFFICE DU TOURISME DE SAPA

HANG MUA (MUA MOUNTAIN)

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