Binh Quoi Village, Ho Chi Minh City – Complete Guide and Reasons To Visit

Binh Quoi Village is hands-down one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City if you’re looking for a small dose of rural Vietnam right in the heart of the largest city in the country. It’s Ho Chi Minh’s green paradise, designed to look like a miniature Mekong Delta.

In case you’re planning a trip to the popular Binh Quoi tourist village, you’ll be happy to know that I gathered everything I know and learned after my visit there in this complete travel guide! You’ll find lots of precious information here, from the location of this attraction to the best things to do there, required budget, ways of getting there and more!

Let’s dive right into it!

Quick facts about Binh Quoi Village, Ho Chi Minh City

It is said that the traditional bamboo village called “Binh Quoi Village” on Thanh Da Peninsula is one of the best-kept secrets of Ho Chi Minh City, but today I’m going to tell you all about it!

Located only 15 minutes away from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Quoi Village is a real touch of greenery among the concrete and tall buildings of the city. The idea behind this tourist attraction is to bring a piece of the famous Mekong Delta without even leaving the city. And if you’ve already visited the Mekong Delta and its gorgeous scenery, you’ll see just what a wonderful job they’ve done with this space!

Once you arrive here, you’ll be enchanted to see a blue canal, coconut trees, lily ponds, beautiful walking paths, a bamboo monkey bridge and rural cottages. Plus some pretty cool cultural events to join too!

The entire attraction is set up as a tourist village (it’s also in the name, duh!) and some of the best things to do here include fishing and eating at the all-you-can-eat buffet. But more on this in the special section below!

Why visit Binh Quoi Tourist Village?

In case my brief introduction above wasn’t enough to convince you to add the tourist area of Binh Quoi to your Vietnam bucket list, let me offer you a few more reasons.

Okay, let’s say you’ve already explored a bit of Ho Chi Minh City and you’ve seen its Coffee Apartments, gorgeous buildings such as the Bitexco Financial Tower, the Cathedral and more. After walking all around this modern concrete jungle, doesn’t it feel good to have your fix of nature without having to do a faraway day trip?

And that’s what village Binh Quoi is all about! Imagine a day of relaxation, paddling in the lake, fishing, eating Vietnamese specialities such as fresh fish in coconut sauce or simply walking around and admiring the rustic huts, tucked away behind lush vegetation. To me, this sounds like a little piece of heaven!

Where is Binh Quoi Village located?

Binh Quoi Village is located on the riverside of Saigon, on Thanh Da Peninsula, around 10 kilometres away from the city centre. There are 3 different areas/park branches (more info right down below).

BINH QUOI VILLAGE ADDRESS: 1147 Binh Quoi, Binh Thanh District. Find it on Google Maps here.

You can see its exact location on the map above.

Area breakdown

Although most articles on the web (yes, I’ve done my research!) mention that Binh Quoi comprises of two areas, I’ll let you know that there are actually three: Binh Quoi 1, Binh Quoi 2 and, of course, Binh Quoi 3. All of them are on Binh Quoi Street, only a few kilometres away from each other and I recommend visiting all of them in order to get a complete grasp of this wonderful destination. Especially if you don’t want to lose the chance to take plenty of photos, of course!

Binh Quoi 1

Binh Quoi 1 is the most popular and affordable tourist area out of the three. It’s basically an oasis filled with lotus ponds, coconut groves, green grass, cottages and floating markets. It is also the venue for different culinary and music festivals.

But probably one of the best things about this area is the buffet that takes place on the weekends. Every weekend they organise the “Southern reclaiming cuisine” buffet and it’s an excellent chance to taste more than 100 traditional local dishes.

Binh Quoi 2

Although the first area is the most famous one, there are plenty of interesting, cultural things to do at number 2 as well, especially if you’re a sports lover. There you can find a swimming pool, canoes, a tennis course, folk games and more!

This area is also where you’ll find 45 bungalows and some more comfortable, resort-like services if that’s what you’re looking for. Plus, they organise a weekend buffet as well, this one called “Delicacies in the Coastal Region” that is all about fish dishes cooked by real fishermen and served together with the locals.

Binh Quoi 3

Also known as Quan Xua, this tourist area is more rustic and old school and it’s a great place if you want to enjoy some traditional food or coffee down by the Saigon river. I especially recommend this part of Binh Quoi Tourist Village if you’re a family with children, as they have a big green garden and an outdoor space with lots of activities for them such as swings, seesaw and more. This is also where you’ll find some restaurant options that serve Western European cuisine.

RELATED READ: Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Binh Quoi evening buffet

Talking about the amazing food in the village, Binh Quoi is probably most famous for its open-air weekend buffet. You’ll find fresh, delicious dishes here, cooked by locals and sometimes fishermen. I don’t know about you, but I would never turn down the opportunity to try traditional Vietnamese dishes in such a beautiful setting!

Prices start at 300.000 VND (13 USD) per person.

Best things to do at Binh Quoi Tourist Village in Ho Chi Minh City

I know I mentioned most of these activities in various parts of this article already, but let me also make a short round-up for you in case you need the bigger picture:

eat ‘til you drop – choose from 100+ Southern Vietnamese dishes from the floating buffet restaurants;
try your hand at fishing like the locals – who knows what you might catch while you’re standing over a bamboo monkey bridge with your rod?
row down the river in a paddle-boat and imagine you’re in the Mekong Delta – do this while you admire the mangroves and gorgeous lotus flowers;
engage in some sporty activities – some examples (other than the paddle-boat, of course) include swimming, tennis or canoeing;
and, of course, take a crazy amount of pictures – do I need to add more?!

RELATED READ: Cafe Apartment Saigon – 3 Best Cafes Worth Visiting

Best time to visit

If you’re an experienced traveller or if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you might expect this precious advice coming from my end: if you want to enjoy a place without the usual crowds of tourists, make sure you get there early. This applies to Binh Quoi Tourist Village as well, with some additional notes.

If you’re visiting this site to walk around and take pictures, then Monday mornings (or weekday mornings in general) are your best option, as that’s when there are fewer tourists than usual. But if you’re visiting for the cultural entertainment and buffet, you’ll have to visit on Saturday or Sunday evening, as that’s the only time they take place, although you’ll be joined by many other tourists as well.

TIP: If you have enough time in your Ho Chi Minh City itinerary to dedicate an entire day to this beautiful green space, then you can arrive on a weekend at the opening time to enjoy the park without tourists, then stay until the buffet is ready. Worth it!

Although Binh Quoi Village can be enjoyed all year round, it’s best to visit from December to March when Ho Chi Minh City has the best weather and the temperatures are ideal for exploring outdoors.

OPENING HOURS: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

BUFFET: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays

Ticket prices

You’re not ready for this: there is NO Binh Quoi Tourist Village entrance fee. Free entry! Zero, nothing, nada!

Instead, you’ll have to pay for the activities you want to do inside, as well as the restaurant buffet. And the cost of the transportation to the village and back, of course.

Which takes us to my next point…

How to get there

As I mentioned before, Binh Quoi Village is located in the Binh Thanh District, on the banks of the Saigon river, around 20 minutes by car from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Below you’ll find various ways to get there, depending on your budget and preference:

TAXI

An easy, hassle-free option. You can take a metered taxi (Mai Linh or Vinasun are the most recommended companies) from the city centre directly to the village, which should cost you from 150.000 to 200.000 VND (6.60 to 8.80 US$) one-way. If the driver asks for a higher price, try to negotiate or ask him to turn on the meter. If he refuses, just pick another driver.

GRAB

This is Vietnam’s version of Uber and it works exactly the same. You download the app, add your card and set up your destination. The advantage here is that you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be paying beforehand, as the ride’s price will appear after the app finds a driver for you.

GOVIET

In case you want to ride a scooter to Binh Quoi Village, you can take a GoViet scooter, which is slightly cheaper than renting a regular one from the city centre.

BUS

Bus no. 44 leaves from Ben Thanh Market (more exactly, the station is on Le Thi Hong Gam Street) and will take you to Binh Quoi Street, which is right next to the village. The ticket price is 5.000 VND (0.20 US$).

BONUS: My top tips

I already told you basically everything I know about the Binh Quoi Tourist Village, but I didn’t tell you my precious tips yet. Which is exactly what I’m going to do now:

bring mosquito repellent, especially if you’re visiting the village after sundown.
carry cash when visiting the village as most vendors don’t accept credit or debit card payments.
although the buffet carries over 50 classic dishes, vegan and vegetarian options will be limited.

This was my complete, detailed guide that everyone should read before visiting Binh Quoi Tourist Village! That, of course, you want to be fully prepared with for all the technical details that will help everything go as smoothly as possible.

In this post, I have told you all about the opening times and how to get to Binh Quoi Village, which of the 3 different villages are worth visiting and what activities to do in each, how much it costs and everything in-between. So if you’re dreaming of a day of relaxation in Ho Chi Minh City that combines culture, eating in a garden by the Saigon river, walking around thatched bamboo huts, indulging in delicious food and more, search no more than the hidden gem of Binh Quoi Village!

In case you want to learn more about Ho Chi Minh City and its attractions before your trip, I recommend clicking here to find all my posts about the city. And here you will find all my articles and stories about Vietnam.

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Ho Chi Minh City?

Check out all my Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guides here.
Need to book your flights? Head over to Skyscanner!
Time to book your tour in the city? Head over here!
Did you not get travel insurance yet??? Get it – it’s not a hassle you want to risk!
Don’t forget to download my nifty Google Maps Guide for your trip to Ho Chi Minh City so you don’t miss a thing!

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A complete guide to Binh Quoi Village in Ho Chi Minh

A Complete Guide to Binh Quoi Village in Vietnam

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My Hoi An Tailor Experience – Top Tips & Recommendations

Visiting one of the famou Hoi An tailor shops is one of the best things to do in the city during your trip, I swear! No, really, the tailors and tailor shops here are so good and talented, people from all over the world travel here to get a custom-made suit or dress. The tailoring tradition in Hoi An is rich in culture and is an important part of society today.

If you’re excited to try out a custom tailoring experience in Hoi An (which I definitely recommend!), this guide contains everything you need to know. I have put together all the information I have about the best Hoi An tailors (fittings, process, price, etc), as well as my most precious pieces of advice.

So regardless if you decide to make some expensive clothes with high-end materials or some more casual, still quality pieces, this Hoi An tailor guide will surely help you along the way.

Let’s proceed!

About the tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An in Vietnam is said to be the “tailoring capital” of the world. Custom tailoring is a huge part of the culture in Hoi An and also one of the main attractions for tourists during their trip, especially when it comes to shopping lovers.

But why is tailoring so famous here? The tailors of Hoi An are immensely talented and versatile, they work with a wide range of fabrics (quality ones, too) and they can make clothing for any need you may have. There are tailor shops in Hoi An for any item or style you can think of: elegant dresses, suits, ball gowns, winter coats, casual pants, shirts and even pyjamas!

So, how did everything start? Tailoring in Hoi An is closely connected to its history, largely because Hoi An was a trading port city on the famous Silk Route. It wasn’t until about 20 years ago that tourists began travelling to Hoi An specifically for tailoring.

Nowadays, the amount of tailor shops in the city is literally two times bigger than all other businesses combined. They, of course, range from large tailoring corporations to small, local tailors and from high-end pieces to casual clothing. All of them are an important part of the tailoring experience and history of Hoi An!

How to get tailor-made clothes in Hoi An – step-by-step process & tips

Enough with the history, now let’s talk about more serious stuff such as the entire process of choosing and going to a tailor, how to choose the material, and some useful tips to keep in mind along the way:

Step 1 – Find the best tailor in Hoi An

Naturally, the first step in getting a tailored outfit made is finding the right tailor shop for you. Hoi An has more than 500 tailor shops… So making the best decision is kind of a challenge. Don’t worry, as I have my own selection of tailors in Hoi An for you!

BEST TAILORS IN HOI AN – MY TOP RECOMMENDATIONS:

Mrs. An (stall no. 90) – A great market tailor providing cheaper deals depending on how much you order. Find the address on Google Maps here.
Maya Design – A great mid-price tailor shop with many fabrics and design choices. Find the address on Google Maps here.
Yaly Couture – Yaly Couture is quite famous among customers and it’s also the best tailor we worked with – but with a higher price to match. Find the address on Google Maps here.

Some other popular choices (that I didn’t get to try out myself, unfortunately) are BeBe Tailor (they have 3 shops in the city now but the most famous Bebe Tailor is probably the one on Hung Dao street), A Dong Silk (they have a customer-friendly, time-efficient 10-minute measuring process ) and Mr Xe.

Step 2 – Discuss what you’d like made

Once you have your mind and heart set on a tailor shop, it’s time to have a conversation about what exactly you’d like made. Tailors have tons of lookbooks that you can browse, with a huge selection of clothing – anything from dresses, skirts, suits etc. Alternatively, you can also provide them with a photo of the clothes you’d like created. So make sure you spend some time researching and finding inspiration before your visit!

This is also when the tailor will take your exact measurements.

TIP: Always be super specific about what you want, down to the smallest details. They may be talented designers, but they will need your guidance because they can’t just guess the exact details of the clothing you dream of!

Step 3 – Choose the fabric

getting tailor-made clothes in hoi an vietnam

Once the design issue is settled, it’s time to choose the fabric. Many tailors have entire aisles of material with different prices depending on their quality. Of course, some tailors may suggest some materials that will fit your design needs. Just remember that not all fabrics can be tailored the same and not all pieces of cloth work well or move in the same way. I suggest taking their advice into consideration when it comes to this, even if this means changing your mind and adapting a bit!

TIP: You’re getting something tailor-made specifically for YOU. So make sure you choose a quality fabric that screams “I’m perfect for an outfit that is unique to you!”. I know, the pressure is huge, but remember that this will be a one-of-a-kind piece. Don’t waste this awesome opportunity on choosing a dress that you could’ve bought on the highstreet or from the local market.

Step 4 – Pay the deposit

All Hoi An tailors require customers to pay a deposit before they start creating the custom piece.

Step 5 – Fittings and final product at your Hoi An tailor

Usually, the tailors will arrange your first fitting for the next day. This means you have to come back to the store and try on your outfit. This is basically the moment when the tailor will see how the garment sits on your body when you wear it, pinning it in the places that need retouching or amendments.

My most precious piece of advice here is to be really honest about the changes that you want made and to be super clear with your explanations. You can even arrange for a second or third fitting (in fact, I recommend 3 fitting sessions to most customers) to make sure that your final piece of clothing is perfect for you and your style.

NOTE: A basic dress will be ready much sooner, but if you buy a suit or a gown, expect to go to a few fitting sessions before taking it home with you to wear. So make sure you have enough time in Hoi An for this entire process!

TIP: You can arrange for items to be delivered directly to your accommodation once they’re finished, but I always recommend heading to the store yourself to ensure that you are happy with the final version. After all, this is such a special, personalised shopping experience, it would be a shame not to enjoy it to the fullest!

Prices & recommended budget

Let me start with a disclaimer here: prices change massively depending on your chosen tailor in Hoi An, what item you want to be made and how well you negotiate. Yes, the final price always depends on negotiation. Almost every tailor will negotiate on price depending on the number of items you order, so don’t be ashamed to do so.

Here’s the average price range for different types of clothes:

WOMEN

gown: 25-150 USD
summer dress or romper: 15-70 USD
shirt or blouse: 10-30 USD
pants: 15-35 USD
shorts: 15-30 USD
swimwear: 10-20 USD

MEN

three-piece suit: 100-400 USD
button-up shirt: 15-30 USD
shorts: 15-30 USD
pants: 20-35 USD

My best tips & tricks

tips and tricks for tailor made clothes in hoi an

Because I experienced getting tailored clothes made in Hoi An myself in 3 different places, I was able to learn and gather some very useful information that I can now pass on to my readers. So read and learn, my friends!

CHECK MORE THAN ONE STORE

If you’re not pressed for time, shop around at different stores to get a feeling of what you like best. They’re all capable of creating the same outfit, there’s just a difference in cost, quality of the fabric and stitching and maybe the customer service too.

TAKE TIME INTO CONSIDERATION

You shouldn’t stress too much if you only want a casual skirt or shirt done, as this usually takes around 2 days. But if you want to make sure the entire process is doable during your trip, here are some average times to take into consideration:

Day 1: first consultation
Day 2: first fitting
Day 3: second fitting
Fittings usually take 30 minutes

FOR CHEAPER TAILORS, DON’T SHOP DOWNTOWN

As you might expect, the most expensive tailors are located in the Old Town / Ancient Town of Hoi An. Avoid that area if you want to save some money from your budget and try to find ‘obscure’ shops on the edge of town that don’t get as much attention. Except for the lower price tag, there’s another huge advantage here: these tailors will have more time to focus on your outfit and will most likely complete it faster!

ALWAYS, ALWAYS BARTER

Here’s an unwritten rule that you should know: the first offer a tailor makes is always MUCH higher than what they expect you to pay. They do it on purpose, of course: they jack up the prices for tourists, a very popular ‘activity’ in many other popular tourist spots around the globe. So make sure you negotiate well to get the most affordable deal and only leave the shop when both parties feel happy with the final tailored piece.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

This means you should know exactly what you want before talking to the tailor. This will eliminate a lot of on-the-spot hassle and your research will help you answer every question your tailor might ask. Plus, this also helps reduce the feelings of disappointment related to the final product. After all, making custom clothing is not an easy job!

DON’T GET TOO SET ON A SPECIFIC OUTCOME

I know… this advice kind of counters the one above, but remember: these guys are tailors, not wizards. Don’t expect them to be able to conjure up an exact replica of that 2015 Dior Gown you ripped out of a Vogue magazine. Be open to changes and keep in mind that this dress will be unique to you.

BUY ITEMS IN BULK

If you are with friends, or if you want more than one item, buy them all from the same tailor. They’ll offer discounts for large orders– especially the smaller, more casual and basic stores.

ATTEND MULTIPLE FITTINGS

Clothes will never be perfect from the first try. Only stop getting your outfit altered when you are happy with it, even if it means wasting a couple of hours from your precious vacation time. If you’re pressed for time, keep getting fittings until you leave town. If anything, the tailor can mail your outfit to you. This is better than getting something that doesn’t fit right and then feeling sad.

That’s about everything I wanted to share with you about how to get tailored clothes in Hoi An, Vietnam, a very popular and fun activity while you’re in the city. I have told you all the details I know and talked about cost, process, measurements, quality of the fabrics and craftsmanship and lots of useful things to know before stepping foot inside a tailor shop to get a dress, shirt or suit done.

If you ask me, going home with a unique piece of clothing created especially for you and to your measurements, with your hand-picked fabric is one of the most beautiful souvenirs you can bring back home from Vietnam!

Except for getting custom-made dresses and shirts, there are SO many other unforgettable things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam! If you want to read more or need help planning your upcoming trip, I recommend heading here to find all my articles about Hoi An. And here you will find all my posts about other destinations in Vietnam.

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Hoi An?

Check out all my Hoi An Travel Guides here.
Need to book your flights? Head over to Skyscanner!
Time to book your tour in the city? Head over here!
Did you not get travel insurance yet??? Get it – it’s not a hassle you want to risk!
Don’t forget to download my nifty Google Maps Guide for your trip to Hoi An so you don’t miss a thing!

Pin me for later!

A guide to the Hoi An tailors in Vietnam

A complete guide to tailors in Hoi An Vietnam

Want to stay in the loop? Join my exclusive mailing list, plus you’ll gain access to my ever-growing free resource library!

Honest Review and Guide to Da Nang Golden Bridge, Vietnam

Are you ready to find out everything you’ll ever need to know about one of the most famous attractions in Vietnam? If the answer is yes, scroll down to find my complete guide on the Da Nang Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills. You might expect to find long queues and massive crowds here, but no worries, this guide will offer some clever tips on how to skip all that!

Get ready to find out all about the story behind this Insta-famous bridge, the ticket price, the best times to visit it, how to get there and much more. Plus my raw, 100% honest impressions about our experience there and whether it is WORTH IT OR NOT.

Let’s go!

Quick info about Da Nang Golden Bridge

Did you know that, although you might’ve seen countless gorgeous pictures of this bridge online before, this attraction is actually pretty new? The Golden Bridge (also known as Cau Vang) has become one of the top tourist destinations in Vietnam, even though it was only opened in June 2018. The Golden Bridge and its two giant hands have been on the top of social media platforms ever since it was constructed, which has brought tens of thousands of visitors over the years. Why, though?

But what’s so special about this bridge, after all?

I mean… you must look at the pictures to understand! The bridge’s structure is impressive – and that’s not an overstatement at all, considering the construction only took 1 year to complete. Two giant hands that seem carved in gorgeous stone (they’re actually made of metal and fiberglass) suspend a beautiful, gold railing frame – a pedestrian bridge among the lush Ba Na Hills.

The bridge is 150 metres long and it is suspended at 1.400 metres above sea level. If you visit the bridge very early in the morning, you’ll see it’s surrounded by thick fog and golden light, making for unique photo opportunities… but you’ll find more details about When to visit in this special section.

Is there a story behind it?

The bridge was designed as the newest addition to the Sun World Resort, an interesting entertainment complex at Ba Na Hills. The aim was to create a symbol of Da Nang tourism – and, if you ask me, the entire idea was an immense success. So successful that it actually got plenty of rewards at multiple architecture contests worldwide.

I think that one of the best things about this bridge is the fact that it combines both architecture and nature in a really harmonious way. And the striking contrast between the stone hands and the elegantly curved bridge is also something to remember.

Where is the bridge located?

Okay, enough with admiring the Golden Bridge from an ever-romantic point of view (guilty!), let’s get to some practical information.

As I mentioned before, the Golden Bridge is at the top of Ba Na Hills. More specifically, it’s in the Thien Thai Garden at Sun World.

The catch: Sun World Resort at Ba Na Hills

Here’s the catch: because the Golden Bridge is part of this big entertainment complex, it can only be accessed through Sun World, a theme park resort built to resemble a European village during the French Renaissance era.

You’ll need to pay quite a high entrance fee considering that most visitors solely come to the park to see the Golden Hands Bridge. However, tickets cover the entrance to all areas of the park (and they do offer a lot of attractions!), if that is something that interests you. The park has quite a few zones, so you could choose to spend a whole day here if you wanted to explore and participate in the activities they offer.

Some of Sun World’s top attractions include:

Jardin D’Amour – a complex of flower gardens divided into 9 little gardens, each with a different architectural style
Linh Un Ba Pagoda – a beautiful pagoda that is worth seeing!
Fantasy Park – based on the iconic novels “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”, this section of the park has arcade games, 4D and 5D adventures, 360º movies in 3D, and more.
Museum of Wax Figures – Displays wax figures of celebrities
The Mercure French Village Hotel – An insane 4-star hotel located in the resort’s French village. It has 494 rooms, a spa, gym, indoor swimming pool, restaurants, bars, and much more.

FUN FACT: Sun World welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors per year!

Getting there

I’ll tell you right from the start: once you get to the park complex, you’ll see that the Golden Bridge is only accessible via cable car. More on this below, but first let’s find out how to get there from Da Nang. The Golden Bridge is located around 30km West of Da Nang City.

If you’re taking a car, you should get from Da Nang to the bridge’s location in about 30 to 40 minutes one way, depending on traffic, especially at mid-day. If you go there super early in the morning, the ride can be as short as 20 minutes.

TIP: If you want to access the location using Google Maps, you have to add “Sun World Ba Na Hills” as the destination, otherwise you’ll only get the wrong directions. Do not choose “Ba Na Hills” unless you aim to reach the top of the mountains instead of the bridge.

1 – PRIVATE TAXI & GRAB

The easiest way to travel to Sun World is by taxi. You can book a full trip where the driver takes you, waits for you and returns you to your hotel for a negotiated price. – Depending on the wait, this should be about 800,000 VND (35 US$).

In case you want to arrange your transportation online beforehand, I have found this private transfer for the same price as the taxi.

OUR EXPERIENCE: On our visit, we asked a Grab driver that we met the day before how much he would charge to take us to and from Sun World. We worked out a price that suited us both, took his phone number and he was on our doorstep at 6 AM the next morning to start the journey. This is a great way of building connections and bringing down the cost. He ended up being our driver to most of the sites around the city – how awesome is that?

2 – SCOOTER RENTAL

In case you’re adventurous enough to take a scooter or motorbike, you’ll be happy to find out that this is definitely the cheapest option – and maybe even the most fun. The price should be around 150.000 VND (6.50 US$) for an entire day.

TIP: If you are using Google Maps to get there with your scooter (and I’m 100% sure you’ll use it), you should add “Ba Na Cable Car Service Parking Lot” as your destination. This spot is exactly at the park entry.

3 – THE CABLE CAR RIDE

As I mentioned above, the only way to access the bridge is by taking the cable car from inside Sun World, at Hoi An Station. The gondola starts at the bottom of the hill and will take you to the very top, where the resort is located. The entire ride takes about 20 minutes to the top of the mountain.

OPENING HOURS: the cable car runs from 7 AM to 10 PM.

FUN FACT: The cable car at the Golden Bridge holds not 1, but 4 Guinness World Records, did you know that? It’s the longest cable car system in the world (5.771m), as well as the longest cable roll (11.587m), it has the heaviest cable (141 tons!) and it also has the highest altitude from its starting to its ending point (1.369m). Now that’s impressive!

Ticket prices

I already said the entrance fee to Sun World is quite pricey and that you HAVE to pay it if you want to see the Golden Bridge, so it’s now time to tell you exactly how much it will cost.

ONE-DAY TICKET:

Adult: 750.000 VND (33 US$)
Child: 600.000 VND (26 US$) – this is determined by height – from 1 to 1.4m

This ticket includes everything except the entrance to their Wax Museum, some games in Fantasy Park and the buffet lunch.

You can buy tickets on arrival from their ticket office or online at the official Sun World website.

NOTE: Please note that the tickets must be used on the day you purchased them.

TIP: Their ticket booths often have long queues and a slightly higher price, so I would recommend buying online before going.

Best tours of the Golden Bridge

In case you don’t want to arrange transportation yourself, a very good idea would be to take an organised tour. These types of tours usually include transportation, entry fee, lunch, and a tour guide included in the price.

Here are my recommended, hand-picked options:

Find more tours

When to visit

best time to visit golden bridge da nang

Usually, visitors are able to avoid queues and crowds if they visit sites early enough. However, we quickly learnt that a visit to Sun World does not work that way! Feeling clever, we arrived at 6 AM and thought we had beat the crowds. Once we turned the corner and saw the queue for the gondola, we realised how wrong we were. It was already so ridiculously crowded. There seems to be no real quiet time to come and see this attraction.

We arrived at dawn during the lowest season of the year and the site was still so crowded. We ended up waiting until 7 AM for the cable car to open and then another 30 minutes in the queue to get on the cable car. I dread to think how busy it must be during peak hours or on local holidays (save yourself some angst and avoid!)

Basically, my advice would be to come early, bring a load of patience and expect long queues.

Some other reviews online mention that you’ll find no queues if you’re there at 7 AM to catch the first cable car ride (and, trust me, I have read lots of them!) and, even though I hoped this would be true, it actually wasn’t. Needless to say that by 9 AM the visitors are already forming a MEGA crowd.

Our experience

Okay. Time to get down to what I really thought about the whole experience.

Was the Golden Bridge incredible to see? – Yes.

Did we get stunning photos? – Yes.

Would I recommend you go? – HELL NO!

To be blunt, the park was kitschy, tacky and overpriced. Experiencing the Golden Bridge was overcrowded and uncomfortable. Yes, we got good photos – but this was literally down to luck and with much thanks to Photoshop.

As for Sun World, there was not an ounce of authenticity about the place. It was like a sh*t Disneyland with no rides… and for a country like Vietnam that is overflowing with so much natural, cultural, authentic beauty, Sun World was an overpriced eye-sore that I would highly advise all to avoid.

I know that this is a super harsh review, and I don’t often leave such harsh criticism here on the blog because I usually feel that experiences are opinion based. But the theme park is everything I dislike about travel. Not only is visiting Golden Bridge not worth it, but it goes against responsible travel.

For me, the experience of seeing the bridge was in no way special enough to justify the cost, but I completely get that many will want to see it for themselves, just like I did. Just wanted to be 100% transparent with you about my thoughts during this write-up.

My top tips for visiting the Golden Bridge in Danang

I know I’ve been quite harsh with my opinion about the bridge’s popularity, but if you still want to get to the location and experience everything yourself and, basically, test your luck, here are some precious pieces of advice and tricks to keep in mind:

WHERE TO TAKE THE PERFECT INSTAGRAM PHOTO

Once you arrive on the bridge, make sure you don’t waste much time at the first hand (the right one, closest to the gondola station). That’s where 99% of visitors stop to take photos. Instead, you can take a couple of quick snaps and then proceed to the next one (the left hand), which, supposedly, will be less crowded.

You also have some pretty nice photo opportunities at the train station, where the flower garden is located.

TIP: If the bridge is too crowded to take any good photos, just proceed to Linh Un Ba Pagoda and shoot some images there. The other travellers will be so concerned with the bridge, most will even forget there are other spots around them.

CHECK OUT SOME OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

If the bridge sounds as disappointing to you as it was for me but you still want to go see Sun World, let me offer you some interesting alternatives around:

Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden
French Village
Debay Wine Cellar

CHECK OUT THE HOTEL

If you really like this bridge and want to spend the night as close to it as possible, you can book a room at the Mercure French Village, which is located inside the French Village section of the theme park, not far from the Golden Bridge. If you stay at the hotel and wake up early enough, it will be easier to get to the gondola first… but you surely won’t be THE first person in line if you ask me. So the decision is yours.

BONUS: Recommended packing list

Here are some really useful things to take with you to the Golden Bridge:

water bottle – Keep yourself hydrated!
+/- 1.200.000 VND (55 US$) per person – this should be enough to cover entrance tickets, taxis and food.
a lot of patience! Trust me… you’ll need it here.

This was my complete, utterly honest guide and review of the Golden Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam. I’ve told you literally everything I know after going there – price, where to take the best photos, how to get there and particularly if it is worth your time and energy to see the giant “hands of the Mountain God” emerging from the mountains… or not.

If you’re on the search for other more amazing places to visit in Vietnam, I recommend checking out this section on the blog where you’ll find all my posts and stories about this wonderful country.

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Vietnam?

Check out all my Vietnam Travel Guides here.
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Time to book your tour in the city? Head over here!
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A Complete guide to the Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills Vietnam

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Cafe Apartment Saigon – 3 Best Cafes Worth Visiting

In case you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, you might’ve heard about the country’s incredible coffee culture. And if you want to set foot in Ho Chi Minh City soon, then you surely know about the Cafe Apartment Saigon on Nguyen Street! If not, worry not, as I have gathered aaaaall the information you need on the Coffee Apartments in Saigon below, including the 3 best cafes worth visiting inside the building!

And, trust me, if you’re a lover of coffee and coffee shops, you just HAVE TO add this incredible attraction to your bucket list. It’s one of the most photographed buildings in the country, after all!

I have written about it before in my Complete Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Guide, but this time I’ll tell you about it in-depth, together with my personal experience visiting it.

Let’s go!

Quick info about Ho Chi Minh Cafe Apartment

Before jumping into the three recommendations, let me tell you some interesting information about this quirky attraction:

What is the Cafe Apartment Saigon?

Let’s start at the beginning. The Apartment Cafe is basically a 9-storey old apartment building converted into a tourist spot and the epicentre of coffee culture in Ho Chi Minh City (once known as Saigon).

It has quite an interesting history, I might add. The building is around 60 years old, it has undergone some renovations over time and, at one point, it even housed American officers in the 50s and until the post-war period.

Putting its rich history aside, it is still an apartment building, but with a twist – ever since Nguyen Street became a pedestrian walkway gaining a lot of popularity in 2015, the owners (which regained ownership of their properties after the fall of Saigon in 1975) started renting their apartments to small businesses. Which are mostly coffee shops, tea houses, fashion boutiques, beauty parlours and even co-working spaces. And it seems they’re growing in number every day!

The building looks cool, yet gritty on the outside with its colourful balconies, which is definitely part of its charm. But it’s what is on the inside that counts, right? And once you step foot into this apartment building on Nguyen Hue walking street, you’ll see exactly why it has become so popular.

This apartment block hosts lots of independent businesses and cool spots to hang out, grab a coffee, work together with other creatives, go on an unconventional date and more!

NOTE: It is said that, officially, it’s kind of… illegal to rent these apartments for commercial, non-residential use, so all the businesses inside might get evicted at any moment. Which only means one thing: make sure you visit this apartment block while you still can!

TIP: Each level of the building is different and unique and, because of the building’s layout, some shops or coffee apartments might be more visible than others. This is exactly why I advise you to take your time, skip the elevator and explore each level with patience. Oh, and make sure you walk past it at least once at night as well, it looks even more cool when all the colourful signs are lit up!

Where is the apartment building located?

The location of the apartments is in District 1, on the famous Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, at number 42. It’s iconic and you can easily remember it!

ADDRESS: The Cafe Apartment – 42 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Useful info to know once you arrive

You can park at Lucky Plaza across the street for 5.000 VND (0.22 US$);
The entrance to the Cafe Apartment is on the left of the bookstore on the ground floor (if you’re facing the building from Nguyen Hue walking street);
You can either go up on the staircase or take the elevator if you pay a small fee of 3.000 VND (0.13 US$) which will be then deducted from your bill at your chosen cafe;
Most cafes, co-working spaces and other businesses inside the building are open from 8 AM ‘til 10 PM at night – some even later than this;
Money-wise, you can expect the cafes inside this building to be a bit pricier than other cafes in Ho Chi Minh, but you’re paying for the experience as well, after all!
The best thing to do once you arrive is to explore the cafes and pick one according to their menu, decor or any other preference you have – or just pick one from my selection below if you want to be on the safe side!

3 Best cafes worth visiting

I really loved our visit to the Coffee Apartment block – it’s hip, modern and very good-vibey. After exploring some cute fashion boutiques and shops, we visited some of the coffee shops too and these are the three I loved most (and that I, of course, recommend!). By the way, there are more than 30 cafes here, which makes choosing almost impossible!

1 – Saigon Ơi ($)

Saigon Oi really impressed us with its incredibly flavourful coffee and creative, fun drink options on the menu. The decor is rather simple and natural, with wooden floors and plants forming a real garden inside a bathtub, which I liked a lot! And in case you have some emails to send or calls to make, you can even work in this cosy environment.

You can find various snacks, juices, salads, Vietnamese coffee and other non-caffeinated drinks on their menu (lucky me – reviewing a cafe apartment although I don’t really like caffeine!). Ah! And their balcony has a very pretty view of a bit of the city and Saigon river too – perfect for some photo opportunities!

FIND IT ON: 5th floor

WHAT WE HAD: Yogurt Rainbow Drink & Iced milk coffee

OPENING HOURS: daily from 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

INSTAGRAM: @saigonoicafe

WEBSITE: https://saigonoicafe.com/

2 – Thinker and Dreamer ($$)

Intimate, romantic and super cosy, Thinker and Dreamer coffee shop is a real “forest” inside the apartment building! They have amazing coffee and a hip but tiny balcony facing Nguyen Hue Street with a nice view.

TIP: The owners really know how to speak social media, so if you’re browsing the menu and see a little icon of a camera next to a drink, this means that the drink is Instagram-worthy, haha!

NOTE: They now have two locations in the city, one at 42 Nguyen Hue and one on 26B Le Loi Avenue in District 1, very close nearby.

FIND IT ON: 4th floor

WHAT WE HAD: Coffee of Mr Thinker & Coffee of Mr Dreamer

OPENING HOURS: daily from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

INSTAGRAM: @thinker.dreamer.coffee

WEBSITE: https://thinkerdreamer.vn/

3 – Partea ($)

partea saigon coffee apartments — © @partea.tearoom

This is probably one of the most famous spots inside the apartment block! Partea (get it? get it?) is an English-style tea house with a really unique, accurate decor – it oddly feels like you’re in England! So if you’re planning on drinking some 5 o’clock tea, this cosy and comforting place is the best choice. They have entire walls full of tea flavours (and coffee too!), lots of teapots to choose from, a cosy atmosphere and lots of yummy, gorgeous cakes to accompany your drink.

FIND IT ON: 4th floor

WHAT WE HAD: a pot of Jasmine Tea & an amazing lava cake with a ball of ice-cream

OPENING HOURS: daily from 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM

INSTAGRAM: @partea.tearoom

FACEBOOK: Partea – Tea Room

Other notable places to check out at 42 Nguyen Hue

In case you’re looking for an extensive list of cool spots inside this apartment block other than these 3 cafes, make sure you check out the following too if you have the time:

Fahasa Bookstore (ground floor) – the entire ground floor hosts an impressive library where you can relax, read and get lost through the numerous books. Here is also where you’ll find the biggest collection of English literature in Ho Chi Minh!
The Maker Cafe (3rd floor) is probably one of the most popular co-working spaces (they call themselves a “cafe-workshop”) inside this old apartment building. It also has a fashion boutique with the same name on the 1st floor;
Mango Tree (3rd floor) – a nice choice if you’re looking for yummy desserts and snacks;
Mekong Pizza (4th floor) – did anyone say food? Yes! Go here for a quick slice of pizza or a pasta dish to refill your stamina;
Tôi Làm Mộc (5th floor) – if you want to admire some beautiful wood furniture;
Mêlee – if you’re looking for a bar instead of a cafe, this one serves beer and some chicken dishes to go with it.

BONUS: Everything you need to know about coffee in Vietnam

Vietnam has a rich history – and their love for coffee is no exception. Coffee was introduced in Vietnam by the French in 1857 but it has only become a real “national sport” in 1990, thanks to a program started by the Government. Nowadays, Vietnam is the second-largest coffee exporter in the world. And us, travellers, can’t be anything but thankful!

Although it will be a bit hard to find your classic almond flat white in Vietnam, there are other caffeinated specialities worth exploring here. Which is an amazing thing, as travelling is all about experimenting with new things, right?!

First of all, you should know about… condensed milk. Yes, the Vietnamese drink their coffee with condensed milk instead of your classic, frothy cow milk or vegan alternatives. Odd or not, it’s really delicious!

Here are some unmissable coffee-related drinks to try while you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, especially at the Cafe Apartment:

ca phe sua da – coffee, condensed milk, ice – a Vietnamese classic and the ‘safest’ thing you can order! The coffee is made using a small filter, it’s then mixed with around 2 tablespoons of condensed milk and then poured over ice. Ready to be enjoyed without rushing!
ca phe trung – egg coffee. Yes, you read that right. If the condensed milk thingy sounded too weird for you, then find out that egg coffee is made with whisked egg yolk instead of milk. And yes, it tastes more like a dessert, but it’s something to try nonetheless – especially if you’re visiting Hanoi.
ca phe den – strong, black coffee. Order with caution: it’s REALLY strong and bitter!
ca phe cot dua – this literally means coconut coffee and it’s made with coconut milk and blended with condensed milk (duh!)
ca phe muoi – if you’re more on the salty side, you can try this rather odd combo of whipped milk with salt and coffee, plus a bit of ice.
tra da – iced tea – if you’re going to the traditional cafes, you’ll surely receive a complimentary cold glass of ice tea (usually made with jasmine tea) to sip with your coffee. It’s tradition!

Aaand that’s absolutely everything you need to know about the famous Cafe Apartment in Ho Chi Minh City! I have told you every tiny detail, from its history after the fall of Saigon to where to park, how much the elevator costs compared to the staircase, what to visit inside and even some drinks worth ordering while you’re there!

In short, this is a hip, modern and creative spot worth visiting at least once in your lifetime – and especially if you’re a lover of caffeinated drinks, tea or cute desserts! Once you enter the building you’ll surely enjoy the atmosphere and grungy style!

In case you’re looking for more exciting things to do in Ho Chi Minh, make sure you click here to find all my articles about this incredible city. And here you’ll find all my posts and stories about Vietnam.

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Ho Chi Minh?

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Time to book your tour in the city? Head over here!
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Cafe Apartments - A Complete Guide - Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

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Da Nang Marble Mountain, Vietnam – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Are you planning a trip to the Da Nang Marble Mountain in Vietnam? That’s an amazing idea, as this is a unique destination and one of the highlights of the entire country! In case you’re wondering when to go, how to properly organise your trip and which tours to choose from all the options out there, I’m here to help. Scroll down to find my complete Marble Mountain guide!

A visit to the Marble Mountains is one of the most popular day trip ideas, especially if you’re in Hoi An.

But let’s start with the beginning:

Where are the Marble Mountains?

The world-famous Marble Mountains are a cluster of 5 limestone and marble hills 7 km south of Da Nang in Vietnam, in Ngũ Hành Sơn District. They’re located in central Vietnam, right on the coast.

Here’s a Marble Mountain map, so you can clearly understand their location in the country:

Why visit the Marble Mountains in Da Nang?

The mountains are named after the elements: Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire), Tho (earth) and Kim (metal). As I mentioned in the introduction, the Marble Mountains in Da Nang have become one of the most popular attractions in Vietnam over the years!

But what’s so special about them? Well, on one hand, the site is famous for its importance in the crafts of stone sculpting, but it’s also an important place of worship for Buddhists; some statues there are more than 400 years old. Needless to say that this place has big cultural importance and a rich history as well!

What can you see there?

Even though you might be expecting just a simple mountain, there’s quite a lot to see here! You can spend around half a day on-site (let’s say around 3-4 hours), just walking around and exploring the numerous caves, tunnels, pagodas, temples and a beautiful summit. There are even some bullet holes dating back to the Vietnam War!

Thuy Son Mountain

As said before, there are a total of five Marble Mountains. The only mountain available for tourists to explore is the ‘Water’ Mountain (named Thuy Son), where you can find caves that lead to beautifully built pagodas, a few viewpoints, lots of outdoors temples and constructions, and so much more! The best part? Thuy Son Mountain also has the highest summit of them all, so you’ll have a unique, panoramic view of the other mountains and the entire coast as well.

You’ll find a little stall at the entrance where you can pay for your entrance ticket, and then you can choose whether you want to take the stairs or the elevator. The hike to the summit consists of 156 rather steep marble steps. It’s not really a breeze, but it’s not that hard either! But, in all honesty, the elevator is so cheap that I wouldn’t blame you if you chose to shorten the ride.

Non Nuoc Village

Underneath the Marble Mountains, you can find the stone-carving village of Non Nuoc. The village is a part of Da Nang city and it has been a stone carving hub since the 17th century. There are over 600 families around the village producing statues, jewellery and artwork using the marble collected from the mountains. The stone itself and the products made from it have been exported to many countries and they’re quite popular!

Ticket prices

To enter the mountain and its tourist attractions, Hòn Thủy Sơn, you must pay a small entrance fee. There is an additional fee for those who would rather go up the mountain using the elevator, but you can avoid that fee by taking the stairs instead.

Marble Mountain Da Nang entrance fee: 40.000 VND (1.80 US$)

Elevator fee: 15.000 VND (0.65 US$)

How to get to the Marble Mountains

The Marble Mountains are located around 10km from the city of Da Nang, on the Southeast side. Because of its prime location, it is quite easy to get to this destination, no matter if you’re visiting from Da Nang or Hoi An.

You have two options here: you can either join an organised tour, where a professional guide will take care of everything, including roundtrip transportation – or you can take a taxi if you want to visit on your own. You can order a taxi on-demand using the Grab app, which is basically the Vietnamese version of Uber. They have lower fees than regular Vietnamese taxis and your trip will be stress-free.

FROM HOI AN

A Grab from Hoi An to the Marble Mountains should cost around 250.000 VND to 350.000 each way (11 to 15 US$). There is around 20km between the two points and the ride should not take more than half an hour.

FROM DA NANG

From Da Nang to the Marble Mountain, the Grab costs around 100.000 VND each way (4.30 US$). The ride takes around 5 minutes.

Alternatively, if you’re in Da Nang already, you can also hire a scooter for the day of your visit – this way you can also go and explore other places as well. The cost is around 5 US$ for the entire day and the scooter parking at the Mountains is 3.000 VND (0,15 US$).

Best tours of Da Nang Marble Mountains

If you’re looking for that extra bit of information about the mountains and that extra insight on the Buddhist culture from a local guide that knows what he/she’s talking about, taking a tour would be ideal for you. Plus, the tours are excellent if you want to squeeze in some other close-by destinations such as My Son Sanctuary or Son Tra Peninsula. There are numerous tours from different travel agencies you can take, but they will all offer a similar experience.

Here are the best options I have selected for you. All of them offer different itineraries and activities, so you can pick your Marble Mountain tour depending on your preferences:

TOURS FROM DA NANG:

Small-Group My Son Sanctuary & Marble Mountain Tour – pick-up from Hoi An available as well!
Marble Mountains and Hoi An City Tour
Marble Mountains & Son Tra Peninsula Tour from Da Nang

TOURS FROM HOI AN:

Find more Marble Mountain tours

When to visit the Marble Mountains

Unlike most tourist sites in Southeast Asia, the crowds didn’t seem to be an issue at the Marble Mountains. Instead, you will be battling the heat and sweat of the midday sun! For that reason, I would recommend avoiding the midday heat (if you can’t, please bring a hat and lots of water) and visit either early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

What about cloudy weather? Well, that isn’t necessarily bad either – unless it actually rains! But, in fact, a less sunny day will make your experience a lot nicer, as it won’t be that hot. Now I know it sounds like I really hate summer right now, but I actually don’t. I love it. BUT. Trust me, the heat in Vietnam during summer is… something else!

Marble Mountains opening hours: 7.00 AM – 5.30 PM, open year-round

My experience

Truth be told, I didn’t have very high expectations of the Marble Mountains when we visited. It seemed like a huge tourist trap to me. But, when we got there, I realised that the site is actually much more than a few souvenir shops and an elevator that leads to a viewpoint. On. The. Contrary!

The Marble Mountains actually have a lot to offer! The map at the entrance helped us a lot to figure out where we were and what was available for us to see, so don’t forget to take a copy after you buy your ticket. After that, we just walked around and explored the countless temples and pagodas in the mountains. The more I think about it, the more I realise that the Da Nang mountain surprised me a lot. For a (very) small entrance fee, you’ll get an activity that fill at least half a day, and you’ll learn a lot about Buddhist culture and architecture. The only negative I have is that we visited a bit later in the morning – so we really ended up feeling the heat! Sweating our way around the site wasn’t what I had in mind when planning the visit, but we still had a great time. So be wiser than us and visit early in the morning!

BONUS: What to pack for your visit to the Marble Mountain

Packing list for Da Nang Marble Mountain

I won’t mention the heat again. Heh, I’m sure you already know all about it now. So if you really can’t avoid visiting in the middle of the day, here’s what you HAVE TO bring with you to survive:

Water – lots of it;
A hat, cap or scarf to cover your head from the sun;
Sunscreen – very important, people!
Comfortable shoes – after all, you’ll be walking for more or less 4 hours;
A torch – if you want to be fully prepared when exploring those interesting darker caves.

Marble Mountain Da Nang dress code: there’s no dress code for visiting unless you’re entering the temples. If you want to enter the temples (and you will want to!), it’s advised to cover your shoulders and knees. Don’t worry if you have nothing that fits the bill – so you can simply bring a scarf along for this.

And here we are! This was my complete guide to one of the most popular mountains of Vietnam – the Marble Mountains in Da Nang! In this post I have collected all the information you may need before you visit, such as when to go, how to visit (by yourself or with a guide), how much it will cost and everything else in-between.

The Marble Mountains are a very interesting destination that I totally recommend adding to your Vietnam itinerary in case you’re in the mood for some history, culture and awe-inspiring views of the coast.

In case you want to find out more about other exciting places in Vietnam, I recommend clicking here to read all about my adventures in this country.

xoxo,

Melissa

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Guide to the Marble Mountains in Vietnam

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10 Unmissable Da Nang Tourist Attractions – A Complete Guide To The City

Are you planning a trip to Da Nang, Vietnam? I hope you’re ready to have an amazing time! If you’re wondering about the top Da Nang tourist attractions, scroll down to find my complete list, together with some hand-picked hotel recommendations, as well as what to eat (and where to eat it) and how to get around the city!

Da Nang? What’s that?

In case you never heard of this city, you have no idea what you’re missing out on! I think it’s such a shame that Da Nang (also spelled Danang) is often omitted in most Vietnam itineraries, although the city has SO much to offer! A trip to Da Nang can be as exciting as one to Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, trust me!

Where is Da Nang in Vietnam?

To which I answer: on the coast! It’s actually halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh and it’s the third-largest city in the country. Which means Da Nang is an excellent destination if you want to soak up some sun on the beach and enjoy both the modern and traditional side of Vietnam.

This being said, let’s find out about the best things to see in Da Nang city:

10 Best things to do in Da Nang, Vietnam

There are SO many things to see and do in Da Nang! Although it’s hard to choose, here are the 10 top things to do in this city:

1 – Linh Ung Pagoda

D’uhhhh, of course I’m recommending a pagoda as the first thing on this list – after all, we’re in Vietnam! No, really, this is actually one of the main attractions in Da Nang, located at Son Tra Peninsula / Son Tra Mountain (more info below). The Linh Ung Pagoda is nationally famous for its Lady Buddha statue, the tallest of its kind in Vietnam. Enter through the giant Buddha, only to find… more buddha statues! The courtyard is filled with beautiful bonsai trees and you’ll find references to the Buddhist religion in the architecture, gates, stairways, and more.

2 – Son Tra Peninsula / Son Tra Mountain

Da Nang Son Tra Peninsula : Son Tra Mountain

The Son Tra Peninsula (which translates to the ‘Monkey Peninsula’ or ‘Monkey Mountain’ in English) is part of Da Nang National Park. The Peninsula has an altitude of around 600 meters above sea level, which means you’ll find some great hikes up here, along with stunning viewpoints. And the name wasn’t randomly chosen. No, sir! The peninsula is the habitat of a rare species of red monkey – the macaques.

TIP: Sadly, tourists have taken to feeding these monkeys over the years and there have been reports that they can get a bit aggressive with humans. Be careful and keep your distance unless you want to be chased off the peninsula!

3 – Da Nang Fresco Village

Created to promote tourism to Danang, it was only recently (March 2018) that the Da Nang Fresco Village project was opened. A local area of alleyways was painted with murals of traditionally Vietnamese scenes to create a kind of ‘street art treasure hunt’. These bright, colourful murals took three months to complete and feature the work of fifty different artists.

You’ll find rice pickers tending their fields in the countryside, a crowd cheering on a coconut boat race, two young ladies sitting in a flower field and much more on this cultural experience through art and time.

4 – Bac My An Market

The Bac My An Market is a great place to come for a wander, check out the goods on sale and try a few local snacks from some of the food vendors. You’ll find all sorts on sale here from fake designer watches to sunglasses, fresh fruits and live frogs. Heh, trust me, exploring the market is a real experience! You’ll also find many street food stalls here where you can try some local dishes such as bahn xeo (savoury egg pancakes), pho (noodle soup), oc len xao dua (stir-fried snails). Often for cheap prices, too!

TIP #1: My favourite, which I recommend you all to try, is the avocado ice cream! They mix fresh, pureed avocado with frozen coconut ice cream. Yes, it sounds a bit bizarre and not very appetising, but trust me, it is delicious!

TIP #2: Alternatively, you can also go to Con Market, which is just as good.

5 – Dragon Bridge

There is no way you can miss the Golden Dragon bridge on your trip, as it’s one of the top places to visit in Da Nang city. You will probably cross it many times when travelling between the different attractions across town.

On Saturday and Sunday, walk down to the waterfront at 9.00 PM to see the light show. The dragon changes colour while breathing fire, before changing to spurt water from its mouth. In short, this bridge is one of the most exciting things to see in Danang!

FUN FACT: The dragon is a symbol of good luck in Vietnam and the gold colour represents wealth, prosperity, royalty, happiness and change.

TIP: If you want to see the Dragon Bridge show while sippin’ on a beer, I recommend reserving a table at 7 Bridges Brewery – it offers an amazing view of the bridge!

6 – Love Lock Bridge

This cute little bridge, lined with love-heart lamp posts and home to many couples’ declarations of love padlocks, isn’t actually a bridge… at all. It’s more of a short jetty, as it doesn’t connect the two sides of the river. It’s the perfect place to get a good view of the Dragon Bridge for a more parallel perspective and one of the greatest spots to watch the weekend light show in Danang as well.

7 – Marble Mountains

Here’s a fun fact: the Marble Mountains are a cluster of five hills made of limestone, named after the elements wood, metal, water, fire and earth. The hills were once the main place of exportation of marble. They now are a famous tourist spot where you can find several Hindu and Buddhist Sanctuaries and a viewpoint guaranteeing a fantastic view of Da Nang! One of the best places to visit if you’re into photography for sure!

8 – My Khe Beach

Looking for some beautiful beaches in the city of Da Nang? I got you! Running from the Son Tra Peninsula down to the Marble Mountains, this 20-mile stretch of silky white sand is the reason that Da Nang is such a well-known destination for international and domestic tourists alike! For the active traveller, there are excellent surf opportunities here from September to March, along with numerous beach clubs and spas along the coast for those who prefer a leisurely pace in need of pampering. The seafood restaurants found on the waterfront are a bit more pricey than the ones you find in town, but the fish is fresh and you get panoramic views of the ocean!

TIP #1: If you want to take some surfing lessons while you’re at it, I recommend this Surfing Lesson by Surf Shack in Da Nang.

TIP #2: Alternatively, another beautiful beach in Da Nang is Non Nuoc Beach, located less than half an hour by car from Da Nang centre.

9 – Ba Na Hills / Golden Bridge

The Ba Na Hills is one of the most popular Da Nang attractions due to the fact that they home the Insta-famous Golden Bridge, a fabulous place for the snap-happy to visit year round. Two Hands erupt from the mountainside, holding up the bridge, which passes through the hills. It’s definitely an impressive sight, but it’s not 100% the authentic experience it’s portrayed to be.

GOOD TO KNOW: To access the bridge you’ll need to pay an entrance fee of 750,000 VND (around 36$) into a kinda kitschy theme park (Ba Na Hill Fantasy Park) and then take a cable car up to the summit. By the way, the cable car up to the summit has the world record for being the LONGEST cable car ride (non-stop, single track)!

To save you time and hassle, my recommendation is to visit this attraction with an organised day trip such as this one – Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Day Tour.

10 – My Son Ruins

My Son Ruins, also known as My Son Sanctuary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features the most important sanctuaries of the My Son civilisation – a civilisation that existed in coastal Vietnam from the 4th to the 13th centuries. These sanctuaries were the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom and feature many references to the Hindu religion. They also showcase some of the Cham engineering, religious and political advancement.

TIP: You can visit the ruins with an organised tour with a guide, which ends up being quite cheap, or by yourself if you want to explore it on your own.

BONUS: Extra things to do in Da Nang if you have more time

In case this is not your first time in the city or if you have some more days on your hands to fully experience and understand Da Nang, rest assured that you simply cannot run out of things to do here! So in case you’re bored of lying on the beach, here are some more activities in Da Nang that are definitely worth trying:

Phap Lam Pagoda – another beautiful pagoda in Danang, full of many Buddha statues and a perfect place to explore and chill;
Da Nang Cathedral – a gorgeous pastel-pink cathedral and one of the most famous catholic churches in the country. It is also known as the “Rooster Church” among locals, which translates to Con Ga;
Cham Sculpture Museum – a very nice museum opened during the French colonial times. The Museum of Cham Sculpture is indeed a great idea if you want to find out more about the Cham people in the country;
Da Nang Museum – visit this museum if you want to find out more about the history and culture of Danang;
Hai Van Pass – known to be the highest pass in Vietnam, this is one of the best places to go if you want to see Da Nang from above. This place is also called “Sea of Clouds”, which I think it’s super cute!
Pham Van Dong Beach – I talked about My Khe Beach and Non Nuoc Beach before, but these are not the only good beaches in Danang! Another gorgeous one is Pham Van Dong, ideal for a barefoot walk after a full day of exploring Danang;
Fifth Military Division Museum – an informative museum, recommended in case you’re interested in the history of Vietnam and the Vietnam War especially;
Han River Bridge – another famous bridge in Da Nang is Han River Bridge, considered to be the first cable-stayed swing bridge in Vietnam. After all, Da Nang is not known as the City of Bridges for nothing!
Sun World Da Nang Wonders – one of the best things to do in Da Nang with kids and home of the Golden Bridge (mentioned above).

Best tours of Da Nang by type of traveller

Da Nang is a complex destination that offers plenty of things to do for all tourists out there. In case your bucket list is getting longer and longer and you find yourself unable to fit everything into your itinerary or if you simply want to make the best out of your given time, I have a suggestion. You can book some organised tours with professional guides! This is a great idea if you want to truly experience Danang and learn about its history and culture. And an excellent way to save some precious time as well, why not?

Here are my recommended tours for different types of needs and travel styles:

City, Scenery, and Attractions Tour by Jeep – for tourists that want to see everything in a short time;
Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Day Tour – If you want to go to Ba Na Hills with no hassle;
Da Nang Local Food Tour – if you want to taste everything there is to taste in Danang;
Basket Boat and Cooking class – for all foodies that want to learn how to make some authentic Vietnamese dishes as well;
River cruise with dinner included – if you want to explore Da Nang from a different perspective.

Find more Da Nang tours

Organised day trips from Da Nang

When you’ll organise your itinerary for Danang, you’ll quickly realise that some of the top attractions here such as the Marble Mountains, My Son Sanctuary and the Monkey Mountain are not located inside the city, but a bit outside of it. This means you’ll have to either go there by yourself, or you’ll have to take some organised day trips. I totally recommend going for the organised tours, as this means no stress and hassle from your side! Tours usually have transportation included, so you just need to wake up in the morning and get ready for a day of exploration!

Here are the BEST day trips options (with great prices!) I have selected for you:

Marble Mountains
My Son Ruins
My Son Ruins and Marble Mountains – why choose, after all?
Scooter Adventure on Monkey Mountain
Cham Island – Cham Island is an amazing place for snorkeling!
Bach Ma National Park
Imperial city of Hue

Find more day trips

Where to stay in Da Nang, Vietnam

RELATED READ: If you want to read more about the absolute best hotels in Danang and the best areas where tourists can stay in Da Nang, make sure to check out this article before your visit: Where to stay in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Of course, the best area to stay in the city if you want to explore all the main attractions in Danang is the city centre (or Hai Chau District). Or you can choose to stay as close to the beach as possible if you want a vacation of relaxation under the sun.

Here’s my recommended accommodation, hand-picked for all types of travellers:

LUXURY: Pullman Danang Beach Resort – if you want the absolute best in the city.

MID-RANGE: Danang Boutique Hotel – if you prefer to be in the centre of Danang but also not far from the beach;

BUDGET: Danang Beach 2 Hotel – this one’s located close to My Khe Beach;

HOSTEL: Rom Casa Hostel Da Nang – located between Han River and the beach;

ENTIRE APARTMENT: Minh Tran Apartment and Hotel – in case you’re dreaming of an apartment with an outdoor swimming pool;

Book your accommodation in Da Nang

What to eat in Da Nang & Best restaurants in the city

Of course, you simply cannot visit Da Nang without indulging in some traditional food, am I right? Vietnam is known for its ah-mazing cuisine and unique dishes, and Da Nang is a special place full of local dishes that you won’t find anywhere else. Here’s my list of unmissable dishes to try during your visit, as well as the BEST places in Danang to taste each of them:

MI QUANG

Beefy broth, rice noodles and different types and meats. Surprisingly enough, this is what people in Da Nang eat for breakfast! Some of the best bowls of Mi Quang are served at Mi Quang Ba Mua.

CHAO TOM

This is a dish consisting of prawn and garlic paste, wrapped on a sugarcane, usually served as an appetiser, grilled to deliciousness. Quan Com Hue Ngon is a good place to go for this dish, as well as traditional Vietnamese BBQ.

BUN CHA CA

This is basically a fish ball noodle soup with rice noodles, veggies, pineapple (yes, it’s delicious!) and shrimp paste. And fish balls as well, of course. It’s funky and super delicious! Go to 109 Nguyễn Chí Thanh for one of the most flavourful versions of this dish.

BANH XEO

You can find this dish, together with the famous Banh Mi sandwich and Pho soup, all around Vietnam. Banh Xeo is a sizzling savoury pancake made of rice flour, filled with veggies, pork, shrimp and crunchy bean sprouts. The best Da Nang restaurant for this dish is Banh xeo Ba Duong.

BANH BO

Butter cakes! These are pretty similar to little round, fried doughnuts, only they’re a bit savoury as well and they’re served with chili sauce. Exciting and so yummy! I recommend going to Quán Bánh Bơ for the most delicious ones.

TIP: In case you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, I recommend opting for this Da Nang Local Food Tour.

Getting around Da Nang

Getting around Da Nang is, as you will find, not a hard task at all! There are multiple ways of travelling around town and its surroundings and I have listed them all below:

TAXI

Taxis are probably the best way to explore Danang, as they’re easy to find and pretty cheap as well. Fares start at 0,50$ and you’ll be charged around 0,65$ per kilometer. The most reliable taxi companies in Danang are Mai Linh Taxi (green), Vinasun Taxi (white) and Tien Sa Taxi (yellow). Alternatively, you can get a Grab – the equivalent of Uber in Vietnam.

MOTORCYCLE TAXI / XE OM

A famous means of transportation in Vietnam, these are very similar to taxis, only they’re motorcycles – I bet you weren’t expecting that! The advantage here is that they’re faster, as they can successfully avoid hectic traffic, unlike cars.

BUS

Although this is a valid option (and a super cheap one as well, as a ride only costs about 0,20$), it’s not that convenient, as buses are usually super slow and kind of crowded as well.

RENT A MOTORBIKE

This option is excellent for adventurous travellers that want to go everywhere by themselves. Riding a motorbike through Da Nang is exciting and not that expensive either – the price is about 6$ per day (130,000 VND). A good place to rent your motorbike is at The Motorbike Station.

HOW TO GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY

Luckily for travellers, Da Nang International Airport is located extremely close to the city center (around 2.5 km away). For your convenience, you can look for private airport transfers such as this one if you want to travel hassle-free to your hotel. It’s pretty cheap as well!

TIP: Before booking your airport transfer, please check with your hotel – some of them can arrange free pick-up for their guests!

Phew, this was my complete Da Nang travel guide in Vietnam! This is one of the best tourist spots in the country if you’re planning an adventurous, culture-rich vacation. Danang is a famous beach destination and, regardless if you’re going to do some sunbathing, admire the best view over Danang from the top of Hai Van Pass, explore the wonderful Ba Na Hills, visit some pagodas or taste some authentic food, rest assured that you won’t be disappointed.

I hope this guide will be useful for your upcoming visit! In case you want to further explore the country of Vietnam, I recommend reading all about my adventures here in this section.

xoxo,

Melissa

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Travel Guide to Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – Tours VS Visiting By Yourself

Cu Chi Tunnels are a huge tunnel system spawning over 121 km near Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), in the Cu Chi District. They’re one of the most popular tourist destinations in HCMC and in all of Vietnam and an important symbol of the American War… which is why I won’t be at all surprised if you have them on your travel itinerary as well. These tunnels are a must-visit, regardless if you’re passionate about history or not!

In case you’re planning a trip there soon, this complete travel guide to Cu Chi Tunnels will tell you everything you must know before your visit!

Let’s go:

Quick info and a bit of Cu Chi Tunnels history

If you want to symbolize the determined spirit of the Vietnamese people, no other site can be as symbolic as the Cu Chi Tunnels. This 75-mile (121km) immense network of connecting tunnels located in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has turned into a war memorial park and is now a popular tourist destination in Asia.

The construction of the tunnels began in the late 1940s during the war against the French, to provide a way to communicate between villages and to evade French army sweeps of the area. It took over 25 years to build the entire underground network that stretched up to the Cambodian border, with repairs to the old tunnels and extensions taking place in the 1960s.

The tunnels’ great significance to the Viet Cong came about in their confrontation with American forces, playing a major role in their surviving (and eventual overcoming of) the Vietnam War. The tunnels were utilized by Viet Cong soldiers as a hiding place during the war. They also served as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon stocks, and living quarters for countless Vietnamese guerillas. The tunnel network, sections of which were several stories deep, incorporated numerous trapdoors, constructed living areas, storage provisions, weapon factories, field hospitals, command centres, and kitchens.

Now you can see very little evidence of the fighting and bombing that shuddered Cu Chi during the war. In the late 1960s, America carpet-bombed the whole place and destroyed most of the tunnels and everything around. In spite of the tunnels’ destruction, they served their purpose and played a key role in North Vietnam winning the war.

So I guess it’s needless to say that Cu Chi tunnels are one of the most important sights in Ho Chi Minh City and they should definitely be on your itinerary for the city, regardless if you’re passionate about the Vietnam War or history in general.

Now let’s find out everything tourists need to know before visiting the Cu Chi tunnel system in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Where are the Cu Chi Tunnels located?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are located around 60 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, in southern Vietnam. It takes around 1h30min to get there from HCMC by car and 2 hours by bus.

Cu Chi Tunnels address: Đ. Tỉnh Lộ 15, Phú Hiệp, Củ Chi, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 733814, Vietnam. Find it on Google Maps here.
Co-ordinates: 11.142680, 106.462304

Cu Chi Tunnels entrance fee

If you are visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels with a tour, your entrance price will be covered in the tour price. If you are making your own way to the underground tunnels, you can easily buy your tickets on arrival.

Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc have different entrance fees:

Ben Dinh entrance Fee: 110.000 VND (4.80 USD) per person
Ben Duoc entrance Fee: 90.000 VND (3.90 USD) per person

There’s also a shooting range at Cu Chi where you can try your hand at real shooting just like the soldiers, for separate prices. You can choose your desired gun which will come with a 10-bullet set. If this interests you, below are the prices for 1 bullet:

AK 47: 40.000 VND
M16: 35.000 VND
M30: 30.000 VND
M60: 40.000 VND
and more

RELATED READ: Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Which site should I visit: Ben Dinh vs Ben Duoc

There are two tunnel display sites that you can choose to visit: Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc.

Personally, I would recommend visiting Ben Duoc, as it contains part of the earliest, authentic tunnel system used by the Viet Cong and provides a more authentic experience. However, if you’d prefer a more comfortable visit, Ben Dinh has been altered for tourists with tunnel recreations and repairs to make tunnels more spacious to accommodate travellers. Great for families too!

In terms of distance, Ben Dinh is closer to Ho Chi Minh, while Ben Duoc is a bit further away.

In both Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc, low-power lights have been used in the tunnels to make travelling through them easier, and both sites display the different types of booby traps that were utilised during the war, so when it comes to safety and information, both sites have you covered. Plus, another nice thing while you’re there is that you can also enjoy a very simple meal similar to what Viet Cong guerillas would have eaten in those days. Interesting!

TOP TIP: If you’re a history buff, make sure you go to the War Remnant Museum as well. There’s also a pretty beautiful temple at Ben Duoc, built in the memory of all Vietnamese people that were killed at Cu Chi – worth a quick glance as well!

Best time to visit Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels opening hours:

Sunday – Friday from 7 AM to 6 PM
Saturday from 7 AM to 5 PM

If you are going there with a tour, you can choose from a morning one that usually starts at 8 AM or an afternoon tour from 12:30 PM. Make sure you reserve around 2 hours to explore the site and 4 to 5 hours in total for the trip with transportation included. More details and recommendations below!

If you want to visit by yourself, early morning would be the best idea in order to beat the crowds. As close to the opening time as possible!

As for the season, it’s generally considered that the Cu Chi Tunnels are best visited during the dry season, from October to April. You can visit during the rainy season (May to November) as well and there will be no flooding inside the tunnels, but it will be a less comfortable experience as the grounds are mainly outdoors. Extra humidity and muddy, so be prepared!

How to visit Cu Chi Tunnels

There are plenty of travel agencies in District 1 that provide half or full day trip options to the Cu Chi tunnels. Morning tours generally go from 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM, while afternoon tours are from 12:30 PM to 6:40 PM.

Most of these tours include pick up and drop off at centrally located hotels in District 1, an English-speaking tour guide, tapioca, hot tea, and bottled water. The best part about guided tours is that a knowledgeable local guide will tell you heaps of interesting information and underground stories about the tunnel system, booby traps, “tunnel rats” soldiers and more. And for an extra fee, some tours also take you to the Cu Chi shooting range where you can try shooting an AK 47 or other guns. Real bullet experience, guys!

Costs start from 200.000 VND (8.70 USD) and can reach up to 2.000.000 VND (86.80 USD) according to the transportation and facilities provided during the trip.

Here are some hand-picked tour options that you can book in advance. Scroll down to find out how to travel to Cu Chi Tunnels by yourself in case you don’t want to join a local tour:

a) Organised tours

GROUP TOURS:

Cu Chi Tunnels: Morning or Afternoon Guided Tour – my top recommendation for a half-day tour to the tunnels!
Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day Tour
Full-Day Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour
Cu Chi Tunnels Guided VIP Tour with Transfers by Limousine
Cu Chi and Mekong Delta 2-Day Tour with Airport Transfers – if you don’t want to squeeze the two into a one day tour, this one is great because everything happens in two days: the tunnels on the first day and Mekong Delta on the second day.

PRIVATE TOURS:

Find more tours

b) How to get to Cu Chi Tunnels by yourself

The most challenging part about visiting the Cu Chi tunnel complex by yourself is getting there. In order to help you out, I have noted the most popular options below:

BY BUS

The cheapest transport to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels is by public bus. From the Central Bus terminal at 23-9 Park in District 1, take bus 13 headed to Cu Chi bus station. From Cu Chi bus station (the last stop on bus 13), switch to bus 79 headed to Ben Duoc Tunnel. You can walk to the tunnel entrance from there.

The total travel time is around 2 hours and it will cost 16.000 VND one-way (0.70 USD). Keep in mind that the final bus back from the Ben Duoc bus stop leaves at around 5:30 PM.

BY BOAT

If you enjoy waterways then a boat tour could be the ideal travel option for you to explore Cu Chi tunnels. There are several boat tour companies offering services to the Cu Chi Tunnels such as the Saigon River Tour Company and Les Rives. My recommendation is to book this VIP speedboat tour online.

BY TAXI

If you are travelling with a small group or family, hiring a taxi to Cu Chi tunnels is probably your best option. Ma Linh and Vinasun are two popular taxi companies in Ho Chi Minh City where you can book your trip to the tunnels in advance. The price should be around 500.000 to 600.000 VND (21.70 to 26 USD). Booking a Grab (Southeast Asia’s version of Uber) is also a good, cheaper option.

BONUS: My top tips for Cu Chi Tunnels

Now that you know all the most precious, practical information about exploring both Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh sites at Cu Chi, I couldn’t let you leave without sharing some of the best tips I learned while I was there!

Claustrophobic? High blood pressure? You can still see the grounds and learn about the tunnels function without having to go into the underground tunnels themselves.
Please note that there are sometimes bats inside the tunnels at Ben Duoc;
Though there is no dress code for the tunnels, wear clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty.
Make sure you wear a comfortable pair of shoes, as there is a lot of walking.
Remember to bring; water bottle, sun-block, bug spray, and insect repellent.
Careful about pickpockets – just to be safe, make sure you keep an eye on your belongings at all times!
There’s a shooting range nearby, so if you’re afraid you’ll be bothered by the loud firing noises, make sure you bring some earplugs with you.

BONUS #2: Recommended camera gear for Ho Chi Minh

Picture of canon camera on a deck in nature.

Here’s our camera gear that we take all around with us as we travel, perfect for your Vietnam trip and the tunnels too. It has everything you’ll ever need!

CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

EVERYDAY LENS: Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens

WIDE ANGLE LENS: Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 EX DC

PORTRAIT LENS: Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG

GOPRO: GoPro HERO8 Black

TRIPOD: Benro Mach3 Tripod Ser 2 Alum 4 Sect

NV FILTER: Hoya 82mm Variable Density Screw-in Filter

CAMERA BAG: Manfrotto MB MA-BP-BFR Advanced Befree Camera Backpack

HARD DRIVE: LaCie 4 TB

RELATED READ: If you want to read more about our photography gear, I recommend checking out my dedicated article: What’s in my Camera Bag – All My Travel Blogging Gear

This was my complete guide for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh). I have gathered all the most important information in this post – a bit of history about the Vietnam War tunnels, entrance prices, recommended tours, what you should expect to see there, plus some precious tips. In short, you have everything you could need to know here before your trip to this famous complex in Southern Vietnam!

In case you need more helpful tips and information for your trip to Ho Chi Minh, I recommend clicking here to find all my posts and stories about this wonderful place. And here you can find all my articles about Vietnam!

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Vietnam?

Check out all my Vietnam Travel Guides here.
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Want to have to have A complete travel guide to the City? Head over here.
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Don’t forget to download my nifty Google Maps Guide for your trip to Vietnam so you don’t miss a thing!

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12 Things To Do in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – A Complete Guide To the City

In case you’re planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh soon, I have two important things to say. First: I envy you, you’ll have SO much fun! And second: beware, as this city is so amazing, you’ll need quite some days in order to see everything. If you’re eager to create a bucket list for your trip, scroll down to find my ULTIMATE list of things to do in Ho Chi Minh, together with my accommodation recommendations, dishes to try and information about how to get around the city.

Ho Chi Minh is the biggest city in Vietnam and an amazing destination that caters to all types of tourists out there. The city was called Saigon in the past and it was the capital of South Vietnam. Only after the Vietnam War the city changed to Ho Chi Minh, but be prepared to hear both names during your trip – and in this article as well!

Ho Chi Minh city is known for its gastronomy (pho soup, anyone?), beautiful pagodas, numerous cultural spots and interesting buildings.

Are you convinced? Let’s find out about all the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh city!

12 Best things to do in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

There are SO many unmissable things to do in Ho Chi Minh city, that it was a real struggle to keep my list at only 12 activities. Regardless of how hard it was, I made it! So here’s my complete list of Ho Chi Minh city attractions:

1 – Nguyen Hue Walking Street

This pedestrianised promenade is found at the centre of District 1, surrounded by 19th century French colonial architecture. At one end you can find the Saigon River and at the other the People’s Committee with a statue of Ho Chi Minh, the war hero who the city is named after. This street is where you’ll find a lot of restaurants, hotels, malls and the famous Coffee Apartments that we speak of later in this guide. Definitely one of the best spots for walking around in the city of Saigon!

2 – Coffee Apartments

Now covered in shining, multicoloured neon lights, the old building at 42 Nguyen Hue has had a long life. Built in the 1950s, the old apartment block used to house the Government and US military. Now, you’ll find nine floors of independent cool coffee shops, tea parlours, fashion boutiques, hip bars and street food eateries. One of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh for cool tourist pictures!

3 – Bitexco Financial Tower & Saigon Skydeck

Look up and you will see the Bitexco Financial Tower. Dominating the city’s skyline, this 68-floor skyscraper presents a distinctive sky deck and helipad which makes it easy for visitors to spot. By the way, in 2011, it was named the tallest building in Vietnam!

The building has an observation deck for tourists on the 50th floor (Saigon Skydeck) which costs 200.000 VND (a bit less than 9$) to enter. However, I would recommend visiting the EON Heli Bar on the 52nd floor instead. The price of a drink is less than the entry cost to the observation deck and you’ll get 360° views of the city. Go late afternoon to grab a good window table and stay for sunset over Saigon city!

TIP: The entrance to the EON Heli Bar can be tricky to find. Head to the building’s main entrance, go up one floor with the escalator and follow the signs for the 52 bar. You will be shown a lift that will take you directly up to the bar on the 52nd floor.

4 – Central Post Office

The iconic Saigon Central Post Office, built in the 19th century by no other than the architect of the Eiffel Tower (sounds pretty random, I know), is known for its stunning architecture! It’s a French colonial building with details from both Gothic and Renaissance eras, so a pretty unique thing to see in Ho Chi Minh. Outside, the entrance of this bright yellow building is marked with a large clock; inside, looping arches frame the high ceiling.

TIP: This is still a functioning post office with two wings branching out from the main office, so you can take the opportunity to send a postcard home.

5 – Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

The Notre Dame Cathedral (no, not the one in Paris, but VERY close!) was built by the French colonies between 1863-1880. Before the re-construction, a competition was held to decide who the architect of the church would be. The winner, Jules Bourard, decided to build a smaller version of Paris’ original Notre Dame. Today, the cathedral is a place of worship for the catholic community in the city of Ho Chi Minh.

By the way, you can visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh city free of charge!

FUN FACT: The Cathedral is located in Paris Square and it has a red brick facade brought all the way from Marseille.

6 – Cu Chi Tunnels

This network of tunnels, located in the Cu Chi District, played a huge part in the Viet Cong surviving (and eventually overcoming) the American War. The tunnels, dug deep and running across a large part of the country, were the main war bases for the Viet Cong. Not only were they used as hiding spots during combat, they also contained entire living spaces – kitchens, supply routes, communications, medical aid rooms and storage for food and weapon supplies.

TIP: I recommend visiting this place with a professional guide in order to fully understand the importance and rich history of this place. For example, on this half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels you can learn interesting facts of how the Viet Congo resisted against the US Army, how they lived in the tunnels, and much more. Alternatively, you can combine Cu Chi Tunnels with the Mekong Delta (more info about it below) and take this VIP tour instead.

7 – War Remnants Museum

Speaking of the war… the War Remnants Museum is devoted to telling the history of the Vietnam War. After passing through the ticket offices, you encounter a courtyard filled with aircrafts used by the United States Army. The inside of the museum is split into areas which showcase different aspects of the war; the worldwide fight for peace, the photographers and press that helped share the reality, horrific stories of war crimes, and much, much more.

Warning to the wary, this is an emotionally heavy experience, but also incredibly interesting and important.

War Remnants Museum entrance fee: 40,000 VND (1.70$)

TIP: If you’re passionate about this subject, I recommend booking this War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels full-day tour; you’ll learn tons of precious information from your guide!

8 – Tân Đinh Church

The Tan Dinh Church, famous to tourists for its cotton candy pink colour, may be the most photogenic site in town! It features details of Gothic and Renaissance architecture and it’s also the second biggest church in Ho Chi Minh, after Notre Dame Cathedral!

FUN FACT: In 1887, Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres were invited to set up a boarding school and an orphanage by the church, giving home to over 300 children within three years. Afterwards, a publishing house was added, where disadvantaged children were taken in and educated.

9 – Independence Palace

The Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, is famous worldwide because of the events of 1975 – a tank led by the Northern Vietnamese Army crashed through its front gates to date the end to the Vietnam War. The building now functions as a museum and the most interesting feature of the Independence Palace is its basement, where you’ll find the war rooms and tunnels, telecommunications rooms, and other equipment used to spread war propaganda.

10 – Ben Thanh Market

One of the top things to do in Ho Chi Minh city for foodies! From local handicrafts to knock-offs of branded goods, Ben Thanh Market is the place to shop for ALLLL kinds of things and it’s located in District 1. From Rolex replicas to Nike sneakers, tailor-made suits, designer handbags, porcelain tea sets and painted fans – this market provides a mish mash of bits and bobs to fill your suitcase with. And let’s not forget about the street food stalls at Ben Thanh Market as well! Alternatively, you can also visit Binh Tay Market.

TIP #1: Remember to always, always bargain! Their first price will be a “tourist price” that will have you paying way too high.

TIP #2: I recommend visiting the market in the morning, as vendors will offer smaller prices because they want to make their first sale quickly. Why? Good question. They say this will bring them good luck for the day!

11 – Binh Quoi Village

Located only a short car ride from Ho Chi Minh City, the Binh Quoi Tourist Village is a real-life replica of a traditional Vietnamese village. It has been created amazingly well and has a real sense of authenticity! My personal highlights were the lakes and ponds with large lily pads, traditional fisherman boats and bamboo bridges.

By the way, Binh Quoi is a great place to visit if you love photography, as there are so many hidden, picturesque corners to explore!

TIP: Make sure you stay for lunch, as they prepare an amazing buffet where you can feast on some incredible Vietnamese food. The price is higher than local restaurants in Saigon, but you’ll be able to try everything!

12 – Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is the Southeastern region of Vietnam. The river and its subsidiaries are now home to a whole river-world where you can find villages and its pagodas, markets, houses, and so much more – a great place to taste some authentic Vietnamese life! The Mekong Delta can be visited on day trips, where you will paddle in between villages, eat at delicious riverside restaurants and explore the life of the river communities.

TIP: I recommend this 9-hour tour for 45$ that will take you on a rowing boat adventure for 9 hours.

BONUS: Extra things to do in Ho Chi Minh city if you have more time

Extra things to do in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

The 12 attractions in Ho Chi Minh above are totally unmissable, but if you have some more time for exploration or this is not your first time visiting Saigon, then you might be eager to find out about some extra things to do. No worries, here’s my list of bonus places to visit in Ho Chi Minh city:

Drink a cocktail on a rooftop bar – yep, rooftop bars are a real thing in Ho Chi Minh city and AIR Saigon is one of the best places to enjoy a drink with a view and some live music;
Jade Emperor Pagoda – actually, you can add this to your list of top things to do! The Jade Emperor Pagoda is one of the most famous and beautiful in the city;
Cao Dai Temple – one of the most beautiful temples in the city, if you ask me!
Giam Lam Pagoda – colourful and impressive, it is said that this is the oldest temple in the city;
Pham Ngu Lao Street and Bui Vien Street – if you’re interested in experiencing the nightlife of Saigon. By the way, Bui Vien Street is also known as the “Backpacker Street” because there are many affordable hostels there;
Tao Dan Park – a nice place for a walk, plus one of the best spots to try the famous phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk);
The History Museum – if you’re a Vietnamese history lover, I recommend going to this museum;
Fine Arts Museum – another cool museum if you’re interested in Vietnamese art;
Giac Vien Pagoda – if you want to see an authentic pagoda that wasn’t restored over time;
Saigon Opera House – if you want to see some theatre shows.

Best tours of Ho Chi Minh city by type of traveller

I know, the list of things to see in Ho Chi Minh city is huge and super interesting, but if you don’t want to deal with all the hassle of organising your entire itinerary by yourself, an excellent solution would be to book some already organised guided tours. Below I have chosen some of the best ones I could find in the city:

Private tour of the city by motorbike – for travellers that want to see all the highlights of the city stress-free, with a private guide;
Private Street Food Evening Walking Tour – for foodies that want to taste the local gastronomy during a complete food tour;
Ben Thanh Market Tour and Cooking Class – if you want to learn how to actually make some Vietnamese food by yourself;
War Remnants Museum & Ben Thanh Market – if you want the best of both worlds: Vietnamese history and gastronomy;
Bitexco Tower and Dinner Cruise – for a more luxurious experience.

Find more tours

BONUS: Organised day trips from Ho Chi Minh

If you have some more time on your hands and you’re up for a day trip from Ho Chi Minh, here are your best options:

Mekong Delta rowing boat tour
Cu Chi Tunnels: Morning or Afternoon Guided Tour
Cu Chi Tunnels & VIP Speedboat Tour – a more VIP version of the tour above;
Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels combined – if you simply don’t want to choose!
Cao Dai Temple & Black Lady Mountain Tour
Vam Sat Mangrove Forest
Vung Tau Beach

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh city is no short on accommodation options. You can choose from anything from hostels and budget places to more luxurious hotels that offer everything you can wish for. District 1 is the BEST place for tourists visiting Saigon, especially if you want to be close to all the main attractions. Here’s my top recommended accommodation for travellers visiting Saigon for the very first time:

LUXURY: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint

MID-RANGE: Lotus Central Hotel

BUDGET: The Akoya Ben Thanh Hotel

HOSTEL: The Common Room Project

ENTIRE APARTMENT: Somerset Ho Chi Minh City

Book your hotel in Ho Chi Minh

RELATED READ: If you want to find out more information about where to stay in Ho Chi Minh city, including hand-picked recommendations for accommodation and advice about which part of the city to choose, you can read this article: Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh.

What to eat in Ho Chi Minh City & Best restaurants in the city

When it comes to gastronomy, Vietnam is a very special place and Ho Chi Minh city is one of the top destinations if you want to get a taste of real, authentic food! If you’re heading to Saigon and want to make sure you don’t miss anything important when it comes to street food and restaurants, make sure to get a taste of each of the following dishes:

PHO

An absolute must while you’re in Ho Chi Minh! This is an authentic Vietnamese noodle soup with different types of meats. Because it’s so popular among locals and tourists alike, you’ll find this dish everywhere in the city, but one of the best places to go is Pho 24.

BANH MI

Banh Mi is one of those unmissable dishes to try while you’re in Vietnam. It’s basically a baguette sandwich with pickled vegetables, pork (usually), cilantro and some chili. It may sound simple, but it’s bursting with flavours! You can try one of the best banh mi sandwiches at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa.

BANH XEO

This is a crispy pancake made of rice flour, stuffed with various fillings. It is traditionally eaten using your hands, so get ready to get messy eating a banh xeo like a real Vietnamese! You can find the best one at Banh Xeo 46A.

OC

If you’re feeling adventurous, then you should try Oc – a platter full of shellfish (clams, shimp, snails, crabs) cooked in sauce, steamed or grilled. There are various options for this dish, depending on what shellfish and cooking methods you prefer. I recommend going to Oc Dao in Saigon for some of the best culinary experiences when it comes to oc.

CA KHO TO

If you love fish, this is an absolute must-try. Picture this: caramelised, braised catfish soaked in a rich gravy made of soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic and more spices. All served in a clay pot, alongside a bowl of steaming rice. Yummy! One of the best versions in Saigon is found at Dong Hoa Xuan.

TIP: If you’re really into gastronomy and you want to learn how to make some traditional Vietnamese dishes, a cooking class is one of the best ideas. This Farm-To-Table Healthy Cooking Class is a very good option, as well as this Ben Thanh Market Tour and Cooking Class.

Getting around Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

When it comes to Ho Chi Minh, getting from point A to point B might be a bit of a challenge because of traffic, which is similar to everywhere in Vietnam. But if you’re fully informed about the public transportation system of HCMC, everything will be a breeze! Here’s what you need to know:

WALKING

If you’re staying in the city centre (read: District 1), the easiest and most convenient way to get around the city is by foot. The central area of Ho Chi Minh is not that big and if you’re only planning on visiting the main attractions in the center, you’ll be fine just by walking.

TAXI

The best way to get from point A to point B while you’re here is to take a taxi: Mai Linh or VinaSun are two reliable, scam-free options. Alternatively, you can use the Grab taxi app, which is only available in the big cities of Vietnam.

MOTORCYCLE TAXI / XE ÔM

These are like taxis, only they’re… motorcycles, of course. This means they’re faster and way more convenient than a car or bus when you travel during high traffic. Perfect for short distances! And don’t forget to wear a helmet, please (should be provided by the driver).

BUS

Although they’re cheaper, they are way slower than a taxi or a motorbike. Still, buses can be convenient ways of getting around the city if you’re on a super tight budget, as the usual fare is 0,50$.

HOW TO GET TO THE CITY FROM THE AIRPORT

The most popular option is to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the center of the city (45 minutes, no more than 2$). Or, alternatively, if money is not a problem and comfort is a priority, I recommend you to take a private transfer for stress-free transportation.

When it comes to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is truly a remarkable destination. This wonderful city caters for all types of travellers, from backpackers eager to explore some of the most beautiful pagodas as food markets (such as Ben Thanh or Binh Tay Market) to luxurious travellers that are coming to Saigon to spend their days sipping on a cocktail on a rooftop bar. Regardless of what your travel style is, Ho Chi Minh won’t disappoint!

In my complete Ho Chi Minh travel guide above I’ve told you everything you need to know about the best things to do in Saigon – from the Insta-famous Coffee Apartments to Cu Chi Tunnels and some day trips as well. I’ve also offered you LOTS of precious information regarding accommodation in the city, must-try dishes and public transportation. I hope this travel guide was useful!

Although Ho Chi Minh is pretty much amazing, it’s not the only destination in Vietnam worthy of a plane ride. If you want to read more about other cities and my complete adventures in Vietnam, I recommend clicking here.

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Vietnam?

Check out all my Vietnam Travel Guides here.
Need to book your flights? Head over to Skyscanner!
Time to book a tour in the city? Head over here.
Did you not get travel insurance??? Get it – it’s not a hassle you want to risk!
Don’t forget to download my nifty Google Maps Guide for your trip to Vietnam so you don’t miss a thing!

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9 Things to Do in Hoi An, Vietnam – A Complete Hoi An Guide

If you’re heading to Hoi An in Vietnam soon, I hope you’re ready for a real adventure! Scroll down to find my recommended list of things to do in Hoi An, as well as a complete Hoi An guide that includes the best accommodation options for all types of travellers, as well as the best places to eat and precious information about how to get around the city – and more!

Hoi An (Hội An) is a charming town located on the central coast of Vietnam and an underrated tourist destination – that’s if you ask me, of course. Stepping into Hoi An is like stepping into another world. In fact, it’s more like stepping back in time to when there were no skyscrapers, electronics and traffic full of cars. Old temples, a Japanese bridge, An Bang beach, night markets… Hoi An has it all – and my heart, too!

There is a simplicity to Hoi An. And this simplicity creates a charm and magic that make this town the most loved destination in all of Vietnam. Are you ready to find out everything you need to know about the best things to do in Hoi An? Let’s get going:

9 Best things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam

There are countless unique things to do in Hoi An, but I did my best and made a special selection below with some of the most exciting places and activities that turned my vacation into an unforgettable experience:

1 – Hoi An Old Town

Hoi An Old Town is one of the most special places in this town – and in all of Vietnam, if you ask me. The reason is pretty simple: the Old Town of Hoi An wasn’t bombarded during the Vietnam War, so all the beautiful, ancient buildings are still well-preserved here. Taking a walk around Hoi An Ancient Town is a top activity here; while you’re there, take your time and admire the unique architecture of this place and maybe stop for a coffee in one of the numerous coffee places. By the way, did you know that Hoi An Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

2 – Hoi An Central Market

If you’ll take a stroll down the banks of the Thu Bon River, you’ll discover one of the gems of the city right there: I’m talking about Hoi An local market, of course, also known as Chợ Hội An! This is a great place to buy some handmade souvenirs to bring back home to your loved ones. You’ll find everything you wish for there, from silk dresses to spices and, of course, a lot of amazing street food stalls!

TIP #1: The best time to visit is after 8 PM when there are fewer crowds around.

TIP #2: If you have the time, make sure to visit Hoi An Night Market as well!

3 – Japanese Covered Bridge

The Japanese Covered Bridge is one of the most interesting Hoi An attractions in the centre of the city. Its ornaments are simply stunning and it’s the perfect place to take some superb photos!

TIP #1: If you want to enter the bridge, you’ll need a Hoi An Old Town Ticket – a basic ticket worth 120.000 VND (5,20$). This was created as an initiative to preserve the old, precious buildings of this city – you’ll often be required to present it when entering parts of the historic centre, so it’s best to have it on you at all times. You can buy it at numerous attractions throughout the centre of the city.

TIP #2: If you’re already close to the Japanese Bridge, make sure to visit Phung Hung Old House as well, as they’re very close to each other!

4 – Fujian Assembly Hall / Phuc Kien

This gorgeous building (spoiler alert: it’s PINK!) dates from the 17th century and it’s one of the most beautiful things to see in Hoi An. It’s actually a sacred place built by the Fujian Chinese community and it has a gorgeous gate full of carvings of Chinese figures.

Fujian Assembly Hall entrance fee: you can enter using your Hoi An Old Town Ticket (more info above).

5 – My Son Sanctuary

Okaaay, I’m cheating a bit here (but it’s worth it!), as My Son Sanctuary is not technically inside Hoi An, but a bit outside of it. No worries, nothing that can’t be managed during a day trip from the city. Why am I saying that My Son Ruins are worth visiting (despite the weird name, lol)? Well, because this sanctuary hosts beautiful, ancient temples dating from the 4th to the 13th century – that’s a LONG time ago! Plus, My Son ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so if this doesn’t convince you, then you just need to take a look at some pictures!

My Son Sanctuary entrance fee: 150,000 VND (6,50 US$). I recommend visiting with an organised tour and a professional guide so that you can learn the history.

6 – Get tailor-made clothes just for you

This is SUCH a thing to do in Hoi An! Vietnam is well-known for its textile industry and going back home with a custom made suit or dress might just be the highlight of your trip!

The process is pretty simple and fun: you’ll first have to find the ideal tailor for you and your needs (some of them are more expensive, with high-quality materials, while others offer more regular services), show them the item you want made (Pinterest boards are ideal for inspiration!), pick your fabrics, get fitted (so the final piece will perfectly suit your body and preferences) and then pick up your custom-made items.

When I was in Hoi An, I actually had 3 identical dresses made across 3 different tailors of different budgets, as a fun little experiment. It was a very interesting experience seeing how the quality varied! If you want to read more about it, I recommend checking out this post.

7 – Beaches near Hoi An

I know I said that Hoi An is a superb ancient town, but let’s not forget that it’s also located on the coast of Vietnam, which can only mean one thing: cool beaches! Sunbathing! Fun in the water! Yep, all of the above is possible, and you’re even spoiled with choices when it comes to Hoi An, as there are more than a couple of beaches to choose from. Here are two of the best options:

An Bang Beach – one of the best beaches in Hoi An (3km from the Old Town, which makes it a popular bike ride away); there are no big crowds here and you’ll find plenty of seafood restaurants as well;
Cua Dai Beach – another excellent option, only 4km away from the city;

8 – Hoi An’s countryside and the rice paddies

If you ever get bored of roaming around the city, head over to the rice paddy fields near Hoi An for a taste of traditional Vietnam!

The best way to visit the rice paddies is by renting a bike. There are many little paths that you can take while exploring the area, and you’ll quickly see that there are also lots of buffalos around the fields that you cycle through. We even made friends with a super friendly one and I got a buffalo ride (don’t even ask… travelling Vietnam was an unforgettable experience, haha!). If you’re up for a longer ride, you can even arrive at An Bang beach at the end of Hai Ba Trung Street for a complete experience in Hoi An.

Alternatively, you can visit with a guided tour such as this 5-hour small group countryside tour. It includes the Japanese Bridge and some local food tasting as well!

9 – Hoi An Lantern Festival

Compared to other festivals around the world, Hoi An Lantern Festival has one amazing perk: it takes place once every month, on a specific day. The dates differ each month, so I recommend checking the upcoming events here.

I think this is one of the most fun things to do in Hoi An and a unique activity; in fact, many travellers visit the town only for this festival! The lantern festival takes place in the Old Town when hundreds of candle lit lanterns are released into the water.

PRO TIP: Don’t forget your camera for this one!

BONUS: Extra things to do in Hoi An

Except for the 7 Hoi An tourist attractions above, here are some extra things to add to your itinerary if you have more time:

Quan Cong Temple – pretty Chinese temple that stands as an example for the different cultural influences of Hoi An;
Take a cooking class and learn about traditional Vietnamese cuisine – Vietnamese cuisine is one of the richest and most delicious in the world, so why not spend a couple of hours cooking some authentic dishes? There are so many good cooking classes out there!
Get a Vietnamese massage – perfect way to relax at the end of a full day exploring the city;
Hoi An Museum – if you’re a history lover, here you’ll learn a lot of things about this charming town;
Hoi An Silk Village – this place is not located in the city centre, but it’s well worth getting there (it’s in Quang Nam, no more than 1km from the Old Town) if you want to learn more about silk weaving and the local artisans;
Tan Ky Family House – historically speaking, this is one of the most important buildings in the city, with beautiful Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese architecture and antique furniture;
Explore the nightlife of An Hoi – Hoi An… An Hoi… I think things can get a bit confusing here, right? No, I didn’t misspell anything – An Hoi is a small island right near Hoi An, where Hoi An Night Market is located and it’s also known as the nightlife hotspot sound the area;
Lantern Market – a cute, colourful market where you can buy different types of lanterns. For a small fee, you can pose within the lanterns for a photo;
Tra Que Village – Go there to indulge in yummy exotic fruits and vegetables, right from the source;
Day trip to Da Nang – located only 45 minutes away from Hoi An, this large city offers plenty of things to do and see and a unique mix of traditional and modern. If you’re interested, I recommend my dedicated article: 10 Unmissable Da Nang Tourist Attractions
Marble Mountains – another day trip idea close to Da Nang – 5 limestone and marble mountains with natural caves and temples. I’m telling you all about this place here: Da Nang Marble Mountain – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Best tours of Hoi An by type of traveller

If your bucket list for Hoi An is becoming longer and longer after reading this article and you want to make sure you don’t miss anything interesting from your itinerary, I got you! You don’t have to stress over creating the ideal trip – a great way to visit all the highlights of Hoi An is to book some tours of the city where you’ll be guided by a professional guide. It’s a win-win situation! Here are some of the best options I could find:

Hoi An walking tour in the Old Town – for those that want to see the highlights;
Free bike tour of Hoi An – for backpackers and those on a budget;
Market Tour, Basket Boat Ride and Cooking Class – for travellers that want to get a glimpse of Vietnamese rural life;
Local cooking class – for foodies interested in learning how to cook authentic traditional dishes;
Sunset dinner cruise – for all the romantics out there;
Day trip to Cham Islands – for active travellers that want to do some snorkelling.

More Hoi An tours

Where to stay in Hoi An, Vietnam

It’s not hard to find a nice place to stay in Hoi An, no matter what your budget is. The trick is to look for a place that’s near the places that you want to visit. And the most popular and best area to stay in Hoi An is, of course, the Old Town.

What’s great about Hoi An is that you actually have the option to either stay near the historical sites or by the beach. Either way, you’ll surely have the most amazing time! Here’s my list of the best hotels in Hoi An:

BIG SPLURGE: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An

BOUTIQUE HOTEL: Lantana Hoi An Boutique Hotel and Spa

BUDGET: Sun Paradise Villa

HOSTEL: Tribee Ede

ENTIRE APARTMENT: Bespoke Villa Hoi An

More hotels in Hoi An

Best restaurants in Hoi An & what to eat

When it comes to food, Hoi An is THE place to be! It’s well-known that Vietnamese food is bursting with amazing flavours, so you absolutely cannot leave this town (or country) without sampling some of their most popular dishes. Here is my list of the best food in Hoi An, together with the places where you’ll find their best versions:

BANH MI

Eating Banh Mi is a complete must-do in Hoi An! Hoi An has some of the best shops that serve this dish in the entire country – a baguette filled with meats and vegetables. Banh Mi Phoung and The Banh Mi Queen are two of the places in Hoi An where you’ll find the best Banh Mi (the authentic version, of course).

CAO LAU

You can’t visit Hoi An city without trying the famous Cao Lau, a hearty noodle dish with Char Siu pork or shrimp, bean sprouts, fresh greens and local herbs. You can find this dish in most stalls in Hoi An, but we sampled ours at a local place called Thanh Cao Lau, which still follows the traditional way of making this dish.

WHITE ROSE DUMPLINGS

Named because of their resemblance to the flower, the white rose dumplings, also known as Banh Bao Banh Vac, are another must-try in Hoi An. They are made with rice flour and stuffed with a shrimp filling and you can enjoy them on many stalls around the Central Market Hoi An. But if you want a truly authentic experience, dine at White Rose Restaurant – the place where these dumplings originally came from!

OTHER MUST-TRY VIETNAMESE DISHES: egg coffee (more like a custard dessert than a coffee, don’t get scared!), spring rolls, Banh Xeo.

Getting around Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is not a big town, and all of its top attractions are located inside or super close to the Old Town. Which can only mean one thing, my friends! Getting around the city can be easily done by walking or by biking. If you opt for biking, make sure to ask your hotel first; often they offer free bikes so you’ll save some money this way!

HOW TO GET TO HOI AN:

Sadly, Hoi An doesn’t have its own airport, but don’t be sad! You can easily reach this town if you fly to Da Nang Airport, then take the public bus for 1 US$ (45-minute ride). Or you can take a taxi. Or a private transfer.

All right you guys, this was my COMPLETE Hoi An travel guide! As I mentioned at the beginning of this article (and I’m sure that I’ve 100% convinced you by now), Hoi An has something to offer to all types of travellers out there. Regardless if you choose to get some custom made dresses made or if you just want to lay on An Bang beach, indulge in yummy food, light some lanterns at the festival, take a Vietnamese cooking class or spend your night exploring a local market, Hoi An is your destination.

Hoi An may be an incredible place in Vietnam, but it’s not the only worthy destination in the country. If you want to read more about my adventures in this incredible country, I recommend checking out all my articles here.

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Vietnam?

Check out all my Vietnam Travel Guides here.
Need to book your flights? Head over to Skyscanner!
Time to book a tour in the city? Head over here!
Did you not get travel insurance??? Get it – it’s not a hassle you want to risk!
Don’t forget to download my nifty Google Maps Guide for your trip to Vietnam so you don’t miss a thing!

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Quick facts about Binh Quoi Village, Ho Chi Minh City

Why visit Binh Quoi Tourist Village?

Where is Binh Quoi Village located?

Area breakdown

Binh Quoi 1

Binh Quoi 2

Binh Quoi 3

Binh Quoi evening buffet

Best things to do at Binh Quoi Tourist Village in Ho Chi Minh City

Best time to visit

Ticket prices

How to get there

TAXI

GRAB

GOVIET

BUS

BONUS: My top tips

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About the tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam

How to get tailor-made clothes in Hoi An – step-by-step process & tips

Step 1 – Find the best tailor in Hoi An

BEST TAILORS IN HOI AN – MY TOP RECOMMENDATIONS:

Step 2 – Discuss what you’d like made

Step 3 – Choose the fabric

Step 4 – Pay the deposit

Step 5 – Fittings and final product at your Hoi An tailor

Prices & recommended budget

WOMEN

MEN

My best tips & tricks

CHECK MORE THAN ONE STORE

TAKE TIME INTO CONSIDERATION

FOR CHEAPER TAILORS, DON’T SHOP DOWNTOWN

ALWAYS, ALWAYS BARTER

DO YOUR RESEARCH

DON’T GET TOO SET ON A SPECIFIC OUTCOME

BUY ITEMS IN BULK

ATTEND MULTIPLE FITTINGS

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Quick info about Da Nang Golden Bridge

But what’s so special about this bridge, after all?

Is there a story behind it?

Where is the bridge located?

The catch: Sun World Resort at Ba Na Hills

Getting there

1 – PRIVATE TAXI & GRAB

2 – SCOOTER RENTAL

3 – THE CABLE CAR RIDE

Ticket prices

Best tours of the Golden Bridge

When to visit

Our experience

My top tips for visiting the Golden Bridge in Danang

WHERE TO TAKE THE PERFECT INSTAGRAM PHOTO

CHECK OUT SOME OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

CHECK OUT THE HOTEL

BONUS: Recommended packing list

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Quick info about Ho Chi Minh Cafe Apartment

What is the Cafe Apartment Saigon?

Where is the apartment building located?

Useful info to know once you arrive

3 Best cafes worth visiting

1 – Saigon Ơi ($)

2 – Thinker and Dreamer ($$)

3 – Partea ($)

Other notable places to check out at 42 Nguyen Hue

BONUS: Everything you need to know about coffee in Vietnam

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Where are the Marble Mountains?

Why visit the Marble Mountains in Da Nang?

What can you see there?