Top 10 things to do in Vietnam

Fly around city streets on the back of a scooter in search of soul saving sustenance or enjoy a day or two on-board an antique junk boat as it glides between sandy coves; whatever fills your banh mi, our top 10 things to do in Vietnam guide gives travelers a tempting taste of things to come. We’ve sifted through our favourite family, small group and tailor made tours to find a diverse range of cultural, adventurous and intrinsically Vietnamese activities so all you have to do is sit back, relax and read on, as Southeast Asian dreams swirl like the steam from a freshly served bowl of pho.

Hanoi’s highlights come thick and fast, although crossing roads to get a closer look can be something of an art form. See the sights, including the Temple of Literature, tea houses, Hoa Lo prison museum and Hoan Kiem Lake, on an urban adventure tour with a local guide and you’ll be navigating the streets in no time whilst others are still watching wave after wave of scooters whizz by.

Another, more sedate, means of discovering Hue’s highlights is onboard a colourfully carved dragon boat as it journeys along the Perfume River en route to Emperor Tu Duc's royal tomb and a Buddhist monastery where you’ll alight for lunch. The Perfume River is so called due to the spring blossom and autumnal leaves that fall into the water from the fruit orchards that align the river’s banks.

Crossing the Mekong River by sampan – flat-bottomed boat – is as authentic a Vietnamese activity as you can get, although tuk tuk tours around remote rural villages run a very close second. Of course, being invited into a family’s home on the Mekong Delta is also really worthwhile, with chances to help with the cooking or just kick about with the kids guaranteed to linger longer than any five-star alternatives.

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Traveling from top to toe in Vietnam is definitely recommended. Not only will you get to compare the major cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh but you'll also be treated to the highlights of Halong Bay, Hue and Hoi An, along the way. Two weeks gives you enough time to take it all in rather than whizzing from one location to the next, especially if you include a couple of domestic flights instead of lumpy, bumpy, and often lengthy, overland travel arrangements.