Vietnamese big cities off the beaten path.
Less-touristed cities in Vietnam, for travelers seeking fewer crowds but all the beauty.
Ha Long
The gateway city to Hạ Long Bay — a UNESCO-listed natural heritage site off its southern shore — this city in Quảng Ninh province sits on the bay's edge with…
Nha Trang
Vietnam's most prominent seaside resort city, Nha Trang sits on the South Central Coast with a long beach, a dense café and restaurant scene, and a reputatio…
Da Nang
A large coastal city in central Vietnam with a dense café and restaurant scene, long beaches within walking distance, and mountains close by offering scenic…
Nam Định
This Vietnamese city in the Red River Delta where a tall-towered Gothic-style Catholic church — its facade decorated with colorful painted panels and a rose…
Lam Ha District
This sprawling Central Highlands district in Vietnam where a towering white Guanyin statue and a wide cascading waterfall rise dramatically from lush green s…
Vinh
A large city on the Lam River in Vietnam's North Central Coast, Vinh has a walkable centre with a solid spread of cafés and restaurants.
Kiên Giang
Former coastal province in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, Kiên Giang was long regarded as one of the region's leading cultural and tourism destinations, known for t…
Long Xuyen
This riverside city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, Long Xuyen is the capital of An Giang Province and has a concentration of historic churches in its centre.
Ninh Thuận
Ninh Thuận, a former coastal province on Vietnam's South Central Coast now merged into Khánh Hòa, was for centuries the political and cultural heart of the C…
Biên Hòa
A large city in Dong Nai Province, northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Biên Hòa sits on the water with a walkable centre full of cafés, restaurants, and historic…
Haiphong
Vietnam's principal northern port city, Haiphong is also the gateway to Cát Bà Archipelago, home to a UNESCO-recognised biosphere reserve, and to the beach r…
Đà Lạt
This highland city in Vietnam's Central Highlands, Đà Lạt sits roughly 1,500 metres above sea level on the Langbiang Plateau, giving it a cool, misty climate…
Viet Tri
Widely regarded as the first capital of Vietnam and the origin of the Vietnamese nation, Việt Trì in Phú Thọ Province is home to the ancient capital of Văn L…
Ha Tinh
This city in Vietnam's North Central Coast region with a walkable centre and a dense café and restaurant scene, Ha Tinh sits close to the South China Sea and…
Vũng Tàu
A coastal city on a peninsula in southeastern Vietnam, Vũng Tàu draws visitors with its beaches — including Bãi Sau and Bãi Trước — a warm year-round climate…
Cần Thơ
Floating markets on the Mekong Delta's rural canals are the defining draw of Cần Thơ, one of Vietnam's largest cities and one of its seven centrally administ…
Bac Ninh
Vietnamese city whose traditional temple architecture — dark timber columns, sweeping tiled rooflines, dragon carvings, and red lanterns — anchors a lively u…
Buôn Ma Thuột
Vietnam's coffee capital, Buôn Ma Thuột is the largest city in the Central Highlands of Đắk Lắk Province, with a walkable centre dense with cafés rooted in t…
Quảng Ngãi
Quảng Ngãi, a city on Vietnam's Central Coast, is most closely associated with the My Lai massacre of 1968, making it a significant stop for those tracing th…
Thanh Hóa
Sitting on both banks of the Ma River, Thanh Hóa is a large provincial capital in Vietnam's North Central Coast region, with mountains visible from the city…
Bắc Giang
Compact Vietnamese city where the Thương River meets a busy transport corridor, its dense red-tile rooftops and modern commercial blocks sitting within easy…
Huế
Vietnam's former imperial capital, Huế holds a UNESCO-listed complex of palaces, tombs, and temples from the Nguyễn dynasty, which ruled here from 1802 to 1945.
Thai Nguyen
Nationally recognized for its Tân Cương tea, Thai Nguyen is a northern Vietnamese city on the Cau River, with mountains close by and a large university prese…
Qui Nhon
Qui Nhon is a large Vietnamese coastal city with a lively central café and restaurant scene, easy waterfront access, and enough independent-traveller appeal…