Updated October 2026: A few corrections to the list below. Hue sits on Vietnam's central coast and was the Nguyen dynasty's capital from 1802 to 1945. Mount Fansipan above Sapa can now be reached by a cable car (opened in 2016), so you no longer have to trek it. Son Doong can only be visited on a multi-day expedition run by the one licensed operator, Oxalis, and every slot for 2026 and 2027 is already sold.
1. Thu Bon river
Vietnam is one of the "photogenic" scenes in Asia, as indicated by CNN Travel. The most lovely goal here is the Thu Bon stream in focal Vietnam. The river originates from Ngoc Linh (Kon Tum) and flows through Hoi An ancient town (Quang Nam) to Cua Dai beach.
2. Hanoi Opera House
Designed and built by France from 1901 to 1911, the Hanoi Opera House is based on the Palais Garnier in Paris, the most prominent architectural project in the capital. This is the venue for major events, concerts, contemporary cultural performances... by Vietnamese and foreign artists. This theater is also the largest in Vietnam with a capacity of 600 people. Attempt the Hanoi visits to appreciate its excellence.
3. Dong Van
Dong Van shake plain (Ha Giang) has a place with the worldwide geographical stop framework, with rough mountains and shake decent variety. This is a tourist attraction attracted by the local cultural life, rich flora and fauna, the mountains are up to 550 million years old.
4. Sapa
Located in Lao Cai, Sa Pa is an attractive destination for adventurous travelers, who enjoy fresh air, waterfalls, terraces, indigenous cultures, and countless hiking routes. Having Sapa tours, visitors also conquered Mount Fansipan 3,143 m high. The best time to get here is April, May, just before the rainy season.
5. Son Doong cave
Discovered in 1991, Son Doong cave (Quang Binh) with 3 million years old is now the largest cave in the world. Located in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, this mysterious world in the ground also contains an underground river, huge rock stalks and slides bring natural light. The cave is open from February to August every year but the cave only receives a certain amount of visitors.
6. Hue
Located along the peaceful Huong River in the Central Highlands, Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty between the 1500s and 1945s. The city still preserves many historic buildings such as the mausoleum, temples and pagodas... and especially Hue ancient relics are recognized as UNESCO world heritage.
7. Rock Band
Situated in the Central Sea, Da Rock is a natural landscape with the strange beauty of the prismatic black columns lying close to each other as arranged. This tourist destination is in Phu Yen province, about 40 km from the center of Tuy Hoa city.
8. Can Tho
One of the most beautiful cities in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam is Can Tho. Not only the canals, green fruit gardens, paddies spread, Can Tho also has a unique floating market culture attracts tourists everywhere. You must have Mekong Delta tours one time in your life.
9. Da Lat
Located at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level, Dalat (Lam Dong) is a city with many hills, valleys and cool weather all year round. Not only fascinated by the ancient French architecture, the romantic scenery surrounding the city is equally attractive, such as pines, hills, winding roads, lots of waterfalls.
10. Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang) with fine white sand beaches, many beautiful resorts... are attractive destinations not only summer but also holidays. From above, Phu Quoc is blessed with tropical forests, long coastline, and 20 uninhabited islets ideal for swimming, diving and kayaking.
Which of these places suit a family or senior trip
The places in this list sit in three different regions and are not equally easy to reach:
- Easy for all ages: Hoi An and the Thu Bon River (an evening boat ride with lanterns), Hue's citadel and tombs, Da Lat's cool weather, Phu Quoc's beaches, and the Hanoi Opera House. The Cai Rang floating market at Can Tho is easy too, but you have to be on the boat at sunrise.
- Moderate: Sapa. The Fansipan cable car is about 6.3 km long, climbs roughly 1,400 m and takes about 20 minutes. At the top it is much colder than in town, so carry warm layers even in April. The road from Hanoi takes most of a day, so give Sapa at least two nights.
- For fit adults only: the Dong Van karst plateau in Ha Giang, which means long days on winding mountain roads, and Son Doong, which needs a fitness check, trekking experience and a booking more than a year ahead.
Getting there from Ahmedabad
As of October 2026, VietJet flies non-stop from Ahmedabad to Ho Chi Minh City daily. The flight leaves just before midnight and lands around 6 am after about five hours. VietJet also flies non-stop to Hanoi, and Vietnam Airlines is starting its own Ahmedabad–Hanoi non-stop on 3 November 2026, four times a week. There is no non-stop flight to Da Nang, the airport for Hoi An and Hue, so you connect through Hanoi or Bangkok. Phu Quoc is about an hour's domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam is 1½ hours ahead of India.
Best months by region
| Region | Places from this list | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang | October–April | Sapa is near freezing in December–February |
| Central | Hue, Hoi An, Thu Bon River | February–August | September–December: heavy rain, and the river can flood Hoi An's old town |
| South | Can Tho, Phu Quoc, Da Lat | November–April | Afternoon downpours from May to October |
A Diwali trip works best in the north and south. Leave Hoi An for a February or May vacation.
Vegetarian and Jain food
Most Vietnamese dishes use fish sauce (nuoc mam), so a "vegetable" soup or stir-fry is rarely vegetarian. Vietnam has a Buddhist vegetarian tradition, though: look for the word “chay” on signboards (“com chay” means vegetarian rice). Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An and Phu Quoc all have Indian restaurants. Sapa, Ha Giang and Can Tho have very few, so carry thepla, khakhra and ready-to-eat packs for those days. For Jain meals, the no-onion, no-garlic, no-root-vegetable rule has to be explained to each kitchen in advance. Our team in Ahmedabad sends that note to hotels and cruise boats before you arrive.
E-visa for Indian passport holders
As of October 2026, Indians apply for an e-visa on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn. It allows stays of up to 90 days and costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries. Processing usually takes 3–5 working days, so apply at least two weeks before you fly. We prepare and submit the application, but the decision rests with the Vietnamese immigration authorities.
What it costs
A private 5-night trip with hotels, transfers and sightseeing costs from ₹28,000 to ₹1,05,000 per person, depending on hotel class. Return flights from Ahmedabad add about ₹18,000 to ₹30,000. These figures are as of October 2026, and prices vary by date. A trip that covers two regions also needs a domestic flight. You can compare routes on the Vietnam trip planning page for Ahmedabad travellers.
A sample 7-night plan
- Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi and rest; in the evening walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and past the Opera House.
- Day 2: Drive to Sapa.
- Day 3: Fansipan cable car in the morning, a rice-terrace village walk in the afternoon.
- Day 4: Return to Hanoi.
- Day 5: Fly to Da Nang and drive to Hoi An; evening lantern boat on the Thu Bon.
- Day 6: Day trip to Hue's citadel and royal tombs.
- Day 7–8: Free morning in Hoi An's old town; fly home via Hanoi.
Frequently asked questions
Can senior citizens visit Sapa?
Yes, if they can manage a long road journey. The cable car does the climbing, but the top is cold and windy, so warm clothes matter more than fitness.
Can we visit Son Doong cave on a normal holiday?
Not easily. It is a strenuous multi-day expedition, and slots are sold out through 2027. Phong Nha and Paradise caves in the same national park are far easier and are walked on boardwalks or reached by boat.
Which part of Vietnam is best in October or November?
The north (Hanoi, Sapa) and the south (Phu Quoc). Central Vietnam is in its heaviest rain then.
