Thinking about visiting Vietnam? You’re in for a treat. This is a love letter to a country I completely fell for during my two-month stay – a place of breathtaking landscapes, mouthwatering food, rich history, and the kindest people.

Whether you’re backpacking through Southeast Asia or planning your first big trip to Asia, here are 7 reasons why you’ll fall in love with Vietnam – and practical tips to help you plan your adventure. If Vietnam isn’t already on your travel wish list, it will be by the end of this post!

Reason #1: The Fascinating History

Vietnam’s history is as complex as it is captivating. Vietnam has experienced more conflict than any country should, from the French dominance to the American-Vietnamese war.

I highly recommend visiting at least a few of Vietnam’s world-class museums and heritage sites to gain a deeper understanding of its past. Some of my favourites include:

• War Remnants Museum (Ho Chi Minh City) – a deeply moving collection of photos and artefacts from the American-Vietnam War.
• Hanoi’s Hoa Lo Prison Museum (known as the “Hanoi Hilton”)
• Temple of Literature – dedicated to Confucius and Vietnam’s first university.
• Cu Chi Tunnels – explore the underground network used during wartime.

Vietnam also boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Hạ Long Bay, Hội An Ancient Town, Huế Monuments, My Son Sanctuary, and Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. If you don’t manage to visit them all, simply strolling around Vietnam’s cities and towns is a history lesson and feast for the eyes. You will come across an abundance of temples, shrines, pagodas and mausoleums, many of them dating back hundreds of years.

Before visiting Vietnam, my husband and I made sure to watch Ken Burn’s 10-part documentary. I am so glad I watched this fantastic series as it gave me a much better understanding of the country, both historically and geographically. As we explored the country from north to south, everywhere we visited had more context and significance as I had something about it in advance.

Top Tip: Book your museum and cultural tours in advance through GetYourGuide or Klook to skip the queues and support local guides.

Reason #2: The Incredible Vietnamese Food

If there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s that Vietnamese cuisine is unforgettable. I love how herbs and fresh vegetables are incorporated into almost every dish. Light, fresh, and full of flavour, it’s the perfect balance of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour.

You’ll find endless variations of phở (Vietnam’s signature noodle soup) across the country – from the north’s clear broths in Hanoi to the heartier, spicier versions in the south.

Other must-tries include:

• Bánh mì – the perfect blend of French baguette and Vietnamese fillings.
• Gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls) – light and refreshing.
• Bún chả – grilled pork with noodles, popular in Hanoi.

Don’t miss the fruit! Fresh coconuts, dragon fruit, mangoes, and lychees are everywhere — and so cheap.

Read more: 12 Must-Try Dishes in Vietnam: Ultimate Foodie Guide.
Top Tip: Join a Vietnamese cooking class or street food tour — they’re affordable and a highlight for food lovers.

Reason #3: The Stunning Nature and Scenery

You may have seen photos of Vietnam’s rivers, mountains, waterfalls, limestone islands, caves, hills, rice paddies and coastline, but trust me – photos do not do them justice!

I was completely blown away by how gorgeous, varied, and luscious the country is. We ventured out of the big cities to take a boat ride along the Mekong Delta, climb 486 steps up Hang Mua mountain, marvel at the panoramic view of Heaven’s Gate Pass, admire the limestone cliffs of Bai Tu Long Bay and almost get decapitated in the long, deep caves of Trang An (worth it though!). 

Don’t worry if you don’t drive – Vietnam is extremely easy to travel around. Airlines fly domestically from city to city, there’s a long train network connecting the north and south, and buses and coaches connect all the major towns and cities.

We used 12Go Asia (which lets you pay online and emails you a booking confirmation), Grab for shorter taxi or motorbike rides (we were happy to travel as passengers!) and our accommodation helped us book private minivans and get on the right public buses.

Reason #4: The Activities & Excursions

Whether you’re a foodie, beach lover, or thrill-seeker, Vietnam has something for everyone. If you want to sit back, relax and indulge in amazing food and coffee, Vietnam is a great choice for you.

However, it is also the perfect location for more active travellers. You can:

• Cruise through Ha Long Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay here (one or two nights)
• Trek through Sapa’s rice terraces
• Go kayaking or caving in Ninh Bình
• Motorbike the famous Ha Giang Loop
• Relax with a massage or spa day after your adventures

It’s very easy to book these excursions, either directly with the providers, through travel agencies or via your accommodation.

#5 – The architecture

Vietnam has stunning scenery and natural landscapes, but its cities are incredibly photogenic as well. In Hanoi, admire the crumbling French-style buildings and vibrant street life. In Hội An, the ochre-yellow houses and hanging lanterns make every corner photogenic. Ho Chi Minh City, meanwhile, blends stately French architecture with gleaming modern towers.

Take time to simply wander the streets – that’s when you’ll really feel the soul of Vietnam. The bustling narrow streets with vendors laughing and joking with one another. Green vines snaking down from the upper levels of buildings and colourful lanterns swaying in the wind. How tangled electricity cables zigzagging across the street can be strangely attractive. The alluring scents of street food wafting towards you, distracting you from the roar of a million motorbikes. It’s truly intoxicating!

#6 – Vietnamese coffee

As a self-confessed coffee addict, I can tell you that Vietnamese coffee is on another level. I discovered it on my first day and was immediately hooked. As with many cultures, coffee is an integral part of a Vietnamese person’s daily routine. There are millions of coffee shops across the country, which has created a wonderful laidback café culture.

Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world, and its café culture is both strong and social. Most of Vietnam’s coffee plantations produce Robusta coffee beans which have a strong, bitter taste and twice as much caffeine as the better-known Arabica beans.

Try:

• Cà Phê Sữa Đá – iced coffee with condensed milk (sweet and strong!)
• Cà Phê Dừa – blended with coconut milk
• Egg coffee (Cà Phê Trứng) – Hanoi’s signature dessert-like coffee

Don’t miss: The original Giảng Café in Hanoi, where egg coffee was invented.

#7 – The people

At the end of the day, a country can have great food, stunning scenery and fascinating history, but it’s the people that makes somewhere truly special. We met so many friendly, patient and generous people during our two months in Vietnam. Even when we didn’t speak the same language, people tried to help us with a smile on their faces.

Waiters and waitresses discreetly demonstrated how to eat local dishes correctly, small children ran up to us in villages to say hello and even when we didn’t share a language, smiles and gestures went a long way.

The warmth, humour, and pride Vietnamese people have in their culture make every visitor feel welcome. If you’re planning your first trip, I promise you: Vietnam will capture your heart.

To help you plan your trip to Vietnam, check out my other blog posts including:

• Ultimate 3 Weeks Vietnam Itinerary: From North to South
• Ultimate 3-Day Hanoi Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
• The Perfect 3-Day Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary

If you’ve already been, I’d love to hear your thoughts – what did you love most about Vietnam? Drop your tips in the comments below!

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow