As one of the most appealing destinations in South East Asia area to many visitors, backpackers and flashpackers, Vietnam has a lot of places to travel to. But the question is, where do tourists usually start with, and where should you choose for your own travel? Of course you always have choices for your landing city. However, if you are just totally new to Vietnam with the intention of discovering the modern vibe of the country, these top 5 cities below will be worth your Vietnam tours. Full of colors and attractive activities, these cities also offer a whirlwind of great food, culture and an urban groove uniqueness, which make them outstanding amongst other cities in the country. And one more thing before we get to see the list: it’s all in alphabetical order, no ranking at all. Let’s start!

Da Nang

Da Nang in late sunset, filled with lights and more lights.

Ain’t nothing better than a city with a perfect view to the river and the sea at the same time like Danang! Though not as big as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, this is indeed one of the top choices for cities in Vietnam to travel. Moreover, this friendly city has been considered by many as “the worth living city in Vietnam”, due to its continuous improvement in infrastructure, environment and social security. With such natural conditions, Danang has made a name for itself as one of the most promising, potential cities for tourism with numerous tourism services and many quality resorts and hotels, while also offering to the visitors an active and young atmosphere of a breakout city. Rise up Danang rise, this is the beginning!

Hanoi

A look of Hanoi by night from Thanh Nien St.

Ladies and gentlemen, here comes Hanoi – the capital that everyone talks about! (You might have heard of this place many times already, so no surprises). It’s a beautiful city filled with nice Hanoians and an interesting culture hidden behind those old traditional houses in the central area, which balances the Western part and Eastern part perfectly. It is also the home to the famous Phở, and street food in Hanoi is a whole new world to discover. If you are in the mood for wandering around these central old towns, make sure to pull up a stool at a street-side restaurant or a street vendor, order a nice meal with phở, or the delicious bún-chả at Hang Than for a casual meal. And the next part? You scream for more of it. If you’re looking for a nightlife to enjoy in Hanoi, just head straight to Ta Hien at the central area, or West Lake District for a bit more luxurious. Soon you will find yourself gagging for nights over there, I promise!

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City by night

If you ever ask your friends (or your family) which is the most popular city in Vietnam, this city will definitely be the answer that you receive the most. And yes, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) isn’t popular for no reason – it’s the top leading city, the largest one and a popular intersection in terms of culture in Vietnam. At first the city might seem as just another large city with urban lifestyle, however the more you discover, the more you get to see that Ho Chi Minh City is a standout place. Full of hustle and bustle (from many sounds of honks, vehicles and daily activities), this lively city offers you amazing adventures if you want to. As Ho Chi Minh City is still evolving its modern side with many buildings and public services, the place still maintains its historical side through many apartments, museums and buildings in both the old French architect’s style and the Eastern style. And if you ever hear a remark that the city never sleeps, you know it’s filled with many bars and nightclubs located around the center of the city. Guess what? Party time!

Hoi An

Hoi An by night

Contrary to the urban lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or Hanoi, Hoi An is more of a taciturn and peaceful old town that attracts many visitors, both domestic and international to come and enjoy this ancient atmosphere. Not only because of its history, traditional architecture and crafts such as textiles and ceramics that caught the attention of the visitors, its surrounding modern side blends perfectly to create a chilly and laid-back vibe of Hoi An that makes the people long for the town even more. Plus, you get to see the famous Japanese Bridge in this town with great clothes that the place offers you (Say hello to the City of Tailors!). With good food (a bowl of Quang noodles or cao-lau is a must-try dish whenever you get there), nice atmosphere and a cold bottle of cider for a night out on the streets of Hoi An, T.G.I.F. has never been that real to many of us.

Hue

Complex of Hue monuments in daylight

Last but not least, Hue (yes it’s the name of a city) is somewhat even more peaceful and quiet than Hoi An, mostly because of how ancient this place was in terms of history as capital of the famous Nguyen dynasty. Para aquellos For those who want to have a look on the history of Vietnam through monuments, make sure to have Hue as one of your destinations, as these ancient remains will give you certain knowledge about the history of Vietnam. Moreover, the Hue festival (which is held on every 2 years) will leave you nothing but curiosity about the traditional culture of this place, since it’s going to be celebration all over, from culture to art and food. One more interesting thing is that this city is famous for many cooking schools, so if you are eager to learn how to make fresh spring rolls, Vietnamese pancakes or even pho, book yourself a class and get started! You can also rent a car that will help you explore Vietnam.

So, what will be your destination for your Vietnam tours?