Having written three guidebooks and over a hundred stories about Vietnam travel, author Joshua Zukas shared with Insider his tips to help tourists avoid the crowds but still enjoy the beauty of the S-shaped country.
According to Zukas, every town, city or locality has its own merits. Popular destinations are popular for a reason, but with popularity comes overtourism, crowds, noise and long waits.
“Fortunately, there are viable alternatives to Vietnam’s tourist hotspots, for those who want to escape the crowds rather than hunt for the highlights,” says author Zukas.
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| Mu Cang Chai. (Source: iStock) |
1. Northern rural areas
Sa Pa has a long history of tourism development. Famous as a hot spot in the north since the French colonial period, Sapa is now a six-hour drive from Hanoi and a popular tourist destination. However, the town centre is very crowded.
On the contrary, many other destinations around Sa Pa still retain their wild and peaceful beauty. Zukas suggests some typical names hidden in the vast northern mountains of Vietnam that tourists can explore such as: Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Mu Cang Chai, Ha Giang and Ba Be National Park.
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| Cat Ba archipelago seen from above. (Source: Dai Doan Ket) |
2. Hai Phong
Ha Long Bay, a three-hour drive from Hanoi, is the most famous destination in Quang Ninh province. This hotspot has all the hallmarks of a top tourist destination: fascinating legends, picturesque scenery, delicious local cuisine and affordable cruises.
But sometimes the number of tourists coming here seems too much. In 2016, 8.3 million tourists visited Quang Ninh. By 2019, a year before the Covid-19 pandemic, that number had risen to 14 million.
Meanwhile, Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong province have similar scenery, but have fewer cruise ships. At the same time, tourism activities have also been deployed more in recent years.
In addition, when coming to Cat Ba Island, visitors can participate in water activities such as kayaking or swimming as well as land activities such as mountain climbing and hiking.
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| Ngo Mon Gate, Hue. (Photo: Le Dinh Hoang) |
3. Hue
Walking through the lantern-filled old town of Hoi An, a cultural tourist destination in central Vietnam, can be overwhelming, with the influx of visitors even prompting local authorities to propose a controversial entrance fee.
Meanwhile, the ancient capital of Hue, another heritage city, 123km north of Hoi An, seems quieter. North of the Perfume River is dotted with palaces, pagodas and temples, steeped in history.
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| Quy Nhon seen from above. (Photo: HTG) |
4. Quy Nhon
As the largest city in central Vietnam with a population of over one million, Da Nang has an inner-city beach that can compete with many other coastal cities in the world such as Miami (USA), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Barcelona (Spain). However, finding a quiet place by the sea, especially during the holidays or the sunny summer months, can be a big challenge.
Fortunately, Central Vietnam's coastal geography has nurtured a number of other, lesser-known urban beaches.
South of Da Nang lies Quy Nhon, a clean and quiet coastal city surrounded by centuries-old Cham towers and maze-like fishing villages. North of Da Nang lies Dong Hoi, another peaceful coastal city and close to the unique caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
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| Nhat Beach, one of the 5 most beautiful beaches in Con Dao. (Source: Forbes) |
5. Con Dao
Phu Quoc is the country’s largest island, once known as Phuket or Bali. There are many abandoned construction sites and unfinished hotels here.
Con Dao, also an island in southern Vietnam, has fewer visitors. Accordingly, the island seems to have learned from the mistakes of other destinations by limiting construction, managing tourist numbers, and enacting environmental protection policies.
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