12 Best Places to Visit in Central Vietnam

From mountains to beaches, breathtaking caverns, untouched woods, natural fauna to bustling, modern tourist cities, or old architecture, romantic landscapes, Central Vietnam is home to many unique sites as well as the World Heritage Road of Vietnam. In addition, along with delicious cuisine, central Vietnam is the home of amiable people, and first-rate hospitality services. To give you an intense knowledge of central Vietnam, Premium Travel Vietnam gives you the Top 12 Best Places to Visit in central Vietnam. Come and experience this stunning region!

WHERE IS CENTRAL VIETNAM LOCATED?

Central North Vietnam

It will include Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Nghe An provinces.

The tourist highlights Central North Vietnam are Hue Ancient capital with Hue Citadel, Hue King’s Tombs, Buddist temples, pagodas…; DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Vietnam, Khe Sanh Combat base, Vinh Moc Tunnels and beautiful Phong Nha Cave and Thien Duong Cave in Phong Nha National Park.

South Central Vietnam

It will include Da Nang city, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Quy Nhon, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan provinces.

In this region, many well know beaches are the highlights such as My Khe Beach in Da Nang, Nha Trang Beach, An Bang Beach in Hoi An), and Mui Ne Beach, Quy Nhon Beach are some of the best places for relaxing.

Central Highlands Vietnam

Beautiful natural landscapes like unspoiled woods, waterfalls, and breathtaking vistas can be found in the Central Highlands.

In addition, significant ethnic minority groups, including Daklak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong (Da Lat), are present in this area, and famous traditional music known as “Cong Chieng” or “Gong” has been recognized by UNESCO since November 2005.

Central Highland Vietnam boasts the homes of Cat Tien National Park, Yok Don National Park and Banhar and Jarai minority villages in Pleiku, Gia Lai.

12 MUST SEE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN CENTRAL VIETNAM THAT BLOWS UP YOUR MIND

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Historic Town is around 30 kilometers south of Da Nang on the coastal plain of Quang Nam Province, downstream of the Thu Bon River. Hoi An, a tourist city in the province of Quang Nam, served as the trading port and became the meeting point for many traders from various countries of China, Japan, India, Holland, Portugal…

Over the centuries, Hoi An is home to numerous old buildings and structures that were constructed in the 16th century and are still intact today.

Hoi An is a well-known city in the world and now has more than 1000 architectural landmarks, including streets, homes, assembly halls, community buildings, pagodas, temples, ethnic churches, and ancient wells. Visitors will be mesmerized by Hoi An’s ageless beauty and its extreme rusticity and picturesque setting.

Hoi An Ancient town was listed as World Cultural Heritage of Vietnam on December 4^th, 1999 and definitely should be your 12 must see tourist attractions in central Vietnam.

Entrance fee: 120,000 VND per person (approx $ 5,04)

Opening time: early morning till late evening

My Son Sanctuary

The My Son Sanctuary is situated in the western slopes of Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, along the upper Thu Bon River. It is a sophisticated and one-of-a-kind work of art and architecture from the Champa Kingdom, which existed from the end of the fourth to the beginning of the eighth centuries. So, My Son Sanctuary is situated in a small valley with a circumference of about 2 km, surrounded by numerous gorgeous mountains, around 30 kilometers from Da Nang city and 10 km from Tra Kieu. To this day, My Son has created a total of 13 groups of works with more than 70 temple and tower constructions.

After thousands of years of Cham culture, the art of building and sculpture is still present today despite being severely damaged by rain and storms.

My Son Sanctuary, which features Hindu architectural arts and effectively demonstrates the culture of the Champa kingdom for a period, is designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage on Dec 1999.

Entrance fee: 150,000 VND per person (approx $ 6,3)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

Hue Citadel

Another one attraction in your 12 best places to visit in central Vietnam is Hue Citadel. So, The Nguyen Dynasty’s capital is guarded by the Hue Citadel, which is the outermost citadel. Accordingly, it was constructed in 1805 and finished in 1833 under King Minh Mang and King Gia Long. At this time, Vietnamese architects and builders used Vauban architecture, which was a particularly effective architectural style for military fortification to design and construct the Hue Citadel.

Hue Citadel will include Hue Citadel: The Nguyen Dynasty kings constructed numerous citadels, palaces, and regal structures…; Hue Imperial city: features the location of the monarchy’s top offices and the spot where the late kings are worshipped; Forbidden city: built behind Thai Hoa Palace. The King and the Queen lived in the Forbidden City.

Entrance fee: 120,000 VND per person (approx $ 8,4)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00 p.m

Hang Son Doong

The enormous Hang Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) in Central Vietnam is regarded as the biggest cave in the entire world. It is also one of Southeast Asia’s most breathtaking locations. This cave is situated in Phong Nha National Park, Quang Binh province, Vietnam. A local hunter named Ho Khanh found this massive cave in the early 1990s and now only one local expert operator (Oxalis Adventure) is authorized to arrange Son Doong cave tour. However, it is among the most expensive adventure cave that you have to consider. It is hence very expensive for a four-day adventure that costs a staggering US$3000 per person, with a capacity of 10 people per journey. There is a lot of climbing on the journey but worth it as you can explore untouched jungle scenery of one of famous national parks in Vietnam.

In short, Son Doong Cave must be one of your 12 best places to visit in central Vietnam.

Entrance fee: 70,821,746 VND per person (approx $ 3000)

Opening time: fixed time of the year, book in advance

Khai Dinh Tomb

The Khai Dinh Tomb – the 7^th Nguyen Dynasty tomb, is situated in a rich and varied natural setting with mountains and hills, and its architectural style blends with Asian-European, classical, and modern styles. With endless streams providing awe-inspiring natural landscapes… These characteristics make Khai Dinh Tomb the most distinctive mausoleum among those in Vietnam.

Building on Hue’s most stunning mausoleum, the Khai Dinh Tomb, began on September 4, 1920, and took 11 years to complete, finished in 1931.

Hence, if you are looking for one of the 12 best places to visit in central Vietnam, Khai Dinh Mausoleum must be the one to find special architectures.

Entrance fee: 150,000 VND per person (approx $ 6,3)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

Minh Mang Tomb

Near the Bang Lang intersection, where the source combines to form the Perfume River, Minh Mang Tomb (Hieu Lang) is situated on Cam Ke Mountain, about 14 kilometers from Hue City. King Thieu Tri oversaw its completion in 1843 after work on the mausoleum started in September 1840.

A 700-meter-long Shinto route from Dai Hong Mon outside to the foot of the wall of the La Citadel behind the king’s tomb is lined by 40 major and small works, including palaces, temples, and memorials, in the Minh Mang Tomb. The tomb is shaped like a person who is on his knees and resting on Kim Phung Mountain, with his legs spread out in front of him at the confluence of rivers, and with his arms naturally submitting to the two halves of Trung Minh Lake.

In addition to having its own distinctive scale and spatial proportions, the structure also has a distinctive shape embellishment. We may see porcelain mosaic artwork paired with paintings that have a Hue folk art effect at this mausoleum.

Entrance fee: 150,000 VND per person (approx $ 6,3)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

Dragon Bridge Da Nang

The representation of a dragon with wings spread widely represents the size and development of Da Nang city.

The Da Nang Dragon Bridge, which has a length of 666 meters, a width of 37.5 meters, and six lanes, was constructed in 2007 and opened to traffic in March 2013. Dragon Bridge Da Nang tooks six years to build a unique bridge for the city.

There is no other dragon-shaped bridge like the one in Da Nang, which soars far into the sky and symbolizes the city and its residents’ aspiration for successful development.

Entrance: Free

Opening time: all year round

Son Tra Peninsula Da Nang

There are numerous lovely and picturesque vistas on the Son Tra Peninsula. A massive shield protecting the city from storms is formed by the 4,370 acres of ancient forest that extends into the sea and covers the low mountain ranges.

The Son Tra Peninsula is a rich and varied natural area. With unusual flora and animals, Son Tra woodlands are practically in their original condition. There are nearly 300 uncommon brown-shanked douc langurs are thought to exist.

At the foot of Son Tra Peninsula are some white sand beaches as well and you can see Da Nang city and Marble Mountains and East Sea in a distance.

Entrance: Free

Opening time: all year round

Vinh Moc Tunnels

Vinh Moc Tunnels Vietnam is situated 7 kilometers north of Cua Tung beach in Vinh Moc hamlet, Vinh Thach commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province. The local people of Vinh Thach built the Vinh Moc tunnels as a stronghold against American bombs. Hence, thousands of people were hiding in this underground network that was built in early 1966 till end of 1967. To protect the whole village and to give the supplies to soldiers for the fighting, the government decided to built this tunnel network. So, the tunnels are the evidence for the bravery and iron steel of the Vietnamese people in the fight for independence of the country.

Vinh Moc Tunnels are a truly historical site that you must visit while in central Vietnam.

Entrance fee: 50,000 VND per person (approx $ 2,1)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

Phong Nha Cave, Paradise cave

PHONG NHA CAVE

The cave, which is the one with the longest underground river system in the world, is 7,729 meters long. Visitors disembark a watercraft and walk down the Son River to the entrance of Phong Nha cave. You will notice a cool, pleasant atmosphere when visiting Phong Nha cave, especially in the summer when the temperature is just 18 to 22 degrees Celsius. The breathtaking beauty of nature is known as the “First Cave,” and this beauty is no exception. Visit the caverns in Bi Ky, Co Tien, and Cung Dinh to see stunning stalactites in a variety of hues and shapes.

Entrance fee: 150,000 VND per person (approx $ 6,3)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

PARADISE CAVE

One of the most gorgeous and enchanted natural wonders in the world is Thien Duong Cave, also known as the “royal palace in the ground” and located in the Bo Trach district of Quang Binh province. A limestone mountain complex at an elevation of 191 meters, Phong Nha Cave is situated 20 kilometers away on the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh route and is encircled by the prehistoric forest of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. The longest dry cave in Asia is known as Thien Duong (Paradise) Cave. So, Paradise Cave is 31.4 km long, 30 to 100 m broad, with 150 m being the widest point.

Entrance fee: 250,000 VND per person (approx $ 10,5)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

7 hectare Cam Thanh Water Coconut Jungle

Bay Mau (7 hectare) coconut forest is a popular tourist destination in Hoi An, Central Vietnam. This belongs to Cam Thanh coconut trees with stunning, undeveloped scenery and fishing life. If you come here, you may take basket boats to see the nipa palm groves or try rowing one on your own to experience what is fishing life in Hoi An.

This location was chosen by our army and local resident as a revolutionary base since it only had a few acres of nipa in the past. The people of Cam Thanh Village use this to create a safe haven in the American and French resistance.

Therefore, taking a basket boat tour in Cam Thanh village should be one of must do activities in central Vietnam.

Entrance fee: 30,000 VND per person (approx $ 1,2)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

Cham Island Hoi An

Located around 15 kilometers from Cua Dai Beach in Tan Hiep Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, is the group of islands known as Cu Lao Cham Hoi An. After touring the busy old town of Hoi An, many visitors opt to travel to this location because of its wild and serene natural beauty.

Cu Lao Cham Hoi An is a popular tourist destination since it is close to Da Nang, Hoi An, Cua Dai, and the My Son Sanctuary. As a result, the tourism sector is flourishing here bringing many deep sea activities such as diving, snorkeling or simply drive around the island to sightseeing untouched nature.

Entrance fee: 400,000 VND per person (approx $ 16,8)

Opening time: early morning till 18:00

BEST FOODS IN CENTRAL VIETNAM CITIES YOU MUST TRY

FOOD IN DONG HOI CITY

Pancake Tu Quy: probably the food that you must try when coming to Dong Hoi city.

Seafood Me Toai: At the charming Nhat Le beach in Quang Binh, there is a fantastic seafood restaurant called Me Toai Seafood. The restaurant is well-known for its seafood specialties, which include lobster, snails, squid, crab, and more.

Eel soup Mrs. Nghanh: The eel here is tough, when eating, it has a sweet and soft taste mixed with the spicy taste of chili, pepper and the yellow color of turmeric.

FOOD IN HUE CITY

Beef Noddle Mrs. Phuong: The beef noddle here is very delicious, the broth is rich, the shrimp paste, beef, and pork are all delicious.

Address: 24 Nguyen Khuyen street, Hue city

Banh Beo Nam Loc Ba Do:

Banh Beo (Steamed rice dumplings) – Nam (flat steamed rice dumplings) – Loc (Vietnamese clear dumplings) Ba Do is one of the most famous cake shops in Hue, with many years of experience in making cakes, the cakes here are full of Hue cake flavor.

Address: 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Hue city

Grilled pork at 81 Dao Duy Tu street, Hue

FOOD IN DA NANG CITY

Quang Noodle: When visiting Da Nang, you must try Quang Noodles, also known as Quang Dry Noodles. Rice flour is used to make the thick, chewy noodles, which are eaten with raw veggies to bring out their natural, rich taste. Other ingredients include pig, chicken, shrimp, and spring rolls, as well as some broth prepared from stewed bones.

Ba Mua Noodle

Address: 19 Tran Binh Trong street, Da Nang city

Fish Cake Noodle: It is a common meal across the Central area, however only in Da Nang can you consume a lot of cha while just eating a little bit of vermicelli. The fish is fresh, so it retains its firmness, and the flavor of the pureed fish is not overpowering. The thick broth is also very tasty.

Ong Ta Fish Cake Noodle:

Address: 113A Nguyen Chi Thanh street, Da Nang city

Rice paper rolls with pork

Although rice paper rolls with pork are available throughout Vietnam, but Da Nang one stands out for its soft, thin, oily skin and somewhat fatty meat.

Address: 35 Do Thuc Tinh street, Cam Le district, Da Nang city

4 Le Duan street, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city

FOOD IN HOI AN

Cao Lau (Pork Noodle)

It would be hard to discuss Hoi An specialties without including Cao Lau. This noodle meal is made of yellow noodles, shrimp, pork, fresh veggies, and a very small amount of liquid. Ash from a nearby tree is added to the bowl of yellow noodles. When customers eat Cao Lau, they will experience crispy noodles with the flavors of raw veggies that are sour, spicy, light acerbic, and sweet.

Cao Lau Hoi An Trung Bac

Address: 87 Tran Phu street, Hoi An city

Cao Lau Thanh

26 Thai Phien street, Hoi An

Quang Noodle

In a bowl of Quang noodles, there are typically pork, shrimp, chicken, and occasionally cooked eggs in addition to the broth made from stewed pork bones. Typically, Quang noodles have relatively little broth, giving the impression of eating a mixed dish.

My Quang Ong Hai

Address: 6A Truong Minh Luong street, Hoi An city

My Quang Di Hat

4 Phan Chu Trinh street, Hoi An

WONTON HOI AN

Although wonton is a Chinese cuisine, it has progressively been adapted to Vietnamese tastes through time and is now a well-known meal in Hoi An.

Hoanh Thanh Anh Ba

109 Tran Hung Dao street, Hoi An city

Hoanh Thanh Hoang Ky

67 Tran Phu street, Hoi An city

WHITE ROSE HOI AN

It is hard to discuss Hoi An’s exquisite cuisine without mentioning the White Rose cake. The elegantly wrapped White Rose cake has a thin crust stuffed with shrimp and pork, and is cut into the shape of a flower.

White Rose Hoi An

533 Hai Ba Trung street, Hoi An city

BANH MY HOI AN

Is a popular street food in Vietnam. After years of combining with meat, veggies, and sauces, the crispy, fragrant bread still has its unique flavor, providing a fresh and satisfying symphony.

Banh My Phuong Hoi An

2B Phan Chu Trinh street, Hoi An city

SOME MUST – DO ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL VIETNAM

VISIT DARK CAVE IN PHONG NHA

Join Dark Cave Tour in Phong Nha, you will enjoy Zipline above the Chay river leading you to the Dark cave entrance.Then you will have a mud bathing followed by swimming and kayaking on the river to cool you down in the summer time in Quang Binh.

TAKING DRAGON BOAT ON PERFUME RIVER IN HUE

As you are travelling to Hue city, let’s book for yourself a 45 minute dragon boat cruise on the Perfume river as you can see the daily life of the people. This is a lovely spot to catch some best pictures crusing along the Perfume river.

JOIN A BASKET BOAT TOUR IN HOI AN

As we all know, Hoi An is not only famous for the UNESCO World Heritage Town but Hoi An still boasts for many old age tradtional villages, of which is Cam Thanh Coconut Village. So, upon arriving in Hoi An, you can book a basket boat tour in the village. Thus, you will see how the locals paddle the boat and how to spin it.

TAKE NIGHT BOAT TOUR IN HOI AN

As we are concerned, Hoi An is the lantern city in Vietnam and thus you can see lanterns everywhere. It is amazing that you can hire a boat sailing along Hoi An river and drop a lantern on the river to make a wish or just take some astoshing pictures of Hoi An at night.

BOOK FOOD TOUR ON CYCLO IN HUE

Take a street food tour on cyclo in Hue, you will have a chance to know about Hue’s culinary culture. Therefore, you will try some of Hue’s best street foods such as Hue Beef Vermicelli Soup, Hue Grilled Pork Vermicelli, Banh Loc (Filtered Tapioca Dumplings), Banh Ram It (Fried Dumpling topped with Sticky Rice Dumpling), Nem Lui (Grilled ground Pork on Stick), Banh Uot (Grilled Pork wrapped with Hue Rice Paper), Banh Khoai (Hue Fried Pancake)…

WATCH DRAGON BRIDGE SPITS WATER AND FIRE

On every weekend in Da Nang, you can take a walk to Dragon Bridge at 9:00 p.m and see how the dragon bridge breathes water and fire. It will be an exciting moment and one-of-a-kind activity in Da Nang that you must do.

JOIN A ECO COOKING CLASS IN HOI AN

Hoi An Eco cooking class is a wonderful way to get away from the city and unwind while learning about and experiencing rural life in the Vietnamese countryside. Joining in this tour, you can learn how to make Rice Milk, Rice Paper for Spring Rolls, Fresh Spring Rolls, Aubergine with Soya Sauce, Beef Noodles. This tour deeps you more with Hoi An Food Culture.

SUGGEST THE BEST TRAVEL AGENT IN CENTRAL VIETNAM TO BOOK THE TRIP?

So, If you come to Vietnam and would like to look for The Best Travel Agent touring 12 Best Places to Visit in Central Vietnam, do not hesitate to contact us:

Premium Travel Vietnam Co., Ltd

100 Tran Van Du street, My An, Ngu Hanh Son district, Da Nang city

Website: https://premiumtravelvietnam.vn/

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Whatsapp/Viber at 0084 979613777

We will definitely make your your tour in central Vietnam an enjoyable one.

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