Many destinations in Vietnam are now highly popular among travelers. Some have become must-sees, like Hanoi or Hoi An, while others, such as Phu Quoc, are quickly gaining popularity.
But beyond these iconic spots, Vietnam still holds numerous hidden treasures, tucked away in the mountains, forests, or along the Mekong River.
In this article, we present our top 10 off-the-beaten-path destinations, perfect for discovering Vietnam away from the crowds, for a more authentic and inspiring journey.
And if you’d like to explore some of these regions on your next trip, request a personalized quote— we’ll help you create a unique itinerary tailored to your interests and pace.
Mu Cang Chai district in Yen Bai province
Mu Cang Chai district is located in Yen Bai Province, about 300 kilometers from Hanoi. Less known compared to Sapa, Mu Cang Chai offers breathtaking landscapes that we highly recommend you don’t miss!
The road between Nghia Lo and Mu Cang Chai is called “the photographers’ route” because of the stunning scenery along the way.
With our three-day tour through Thai and Hmong territories, you’ll discover several sites such as the Tu Le Valley and the Hmong villages of La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, and De Xu Phinh. You’ll have the chance to stay either in an eco-lodge amid the rice fields or with a local family for an immersive experience with the Hmong community.
Dare to go off the beaten path — you won’t regret it!
Mu Cang Chai Rice Terraces. Photo: Mathieu Arnaudet
A tip: despite the recurring rains at this time of year, we recommend visiting during the rice harvest season in August and September. The green and yellow hues of the terraces are truly unique!
Read our full article about Mu Cang Chai
Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa province
Located in a region inhabited by the Thai minority, in the Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc districts of Thanh Hoa Province, about 180 km from Hanoi, Pu Luong is a nature reserve that has almost everything to offer! You can hike amid a breathtaking natural setting: forested hills, limestone karsts, rivers, pristine waterfalls, and terraced rice fields.
The province focuses on developing eco-tourism with homestays and environmentally friendly eco-lodges. We fully support this approach!
As with Hoang Su Phi, there are several ways to explore the reserve:
# Book a private tour with a English-speaking guide: this is the most comfortable option. You’ll depart from Hanoi by car with your guide, hike for 2 or 3 days in the reserve, and stay with local families. Discover our private tour in the Mai Chau valley.
# Book a tour with a local guide: we can organize trips for you that include round-trip bus transport and on-site assistance. During your hikes, you’ll be accompanied by a local resident. With only basic English, communication may be limited. This option is primarily for enjoying the stunning landscapes of the reserve.
# Book directly with on-site accommodation: Pu Luong hosts a few quality establishments, the first of which is the beautiful Pu Luong Retreat eco-lodge. You can stay for a night and book a hike, accompanied by a local guide, though interactions will be limited.
In Pu Luong Nature Reserve, rice is harvested twice a year, in May-June and October. Don’t miss the harvest season under any circumstances!
Bamboo raft ride in Pu Luong. Photo: Mathieu Arnaudet
Read our full article about Pu Luong
Ba Be national park, Bắc Kạn province
Located in the heart of the northeastern mountains of Vietnam, Ba Be National Park is home to one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, a true natural gem.
Surrounded by lush forests and majestic landscapes, it captivates with its rich biodiversity and pristine scenery. Its shores are inhabited by several ethnic minorities, notably the Tay and Dao, whose traditional villages add a unique cultural dimension to the experience.
Hiking in the region allows you not only to admire breathtaking panoramas but also to share in the daily life of these warm communities, all within a setting equipped with the necessary infrastructure for a stay that is both authentic and comfortable.
Hiking around Ba Be lake
Hoang Su Phi in Tuyên Quang Province
Hoang Su Phi is a remote mountainous region on the Chinese border, renowned for its spectacular terraced rice fields, ranked among the most beautiful in Vietnam.
Still largely untouched by mass tourism, it offers an authentic immersion into the lives of ethnic minorities, with traditional villages, colorful markets, and breathtaking landscapes.
The best times to visit are late May, when the rice terraces are flooded and reflect the sky, and early October, during the golden harvest. Iconic areas such as Ban Lươc, Ban Phùng, Ho Thầu, and Thông Nguyên allow you to combine hiking, local encounters, and homestay stays for an unforgettable experience.
Hoang Su Phi Terraced Rice Fields. Photo: Mathieu Arnaudet
An off-the-beaten-path destination, expect to share unforgettable moments with the local communities. It’s a stunning area, perfect for multi-day hikes.
This is exactly what Vincent did last December during a six-day trip.
He brought back beautiful memories, captured in this touching video about Northern Vietnam:
Read our full article about Hoang Su Phi
The caves of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park
Here’s a destination you really should include on your itinerary! Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is still off the typical tourist routes, yet it is home to some of the most beautiful and largest caves in the world.
There are two ways to explore the national park:
# The classic way: Stay in a hotel within the park and visit the most accessible caves, such as Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave, which can be explored by small boat. Accessible doesn’t mean they are any less impressive! For example, you’ll be amazed by the natural beauty and history of Paradise Cave.
# The adventurous way: The park is a top destination for adventure tourism in Asia! You can choose from several excursions combining trekking with caving or canyoning. If you’re in good shape and want a mix of sightseeing, discovery, and physical activity, this is the perfect option.
Finally, if your budget allows, you might want to visit Son Doong Cave, considered the largest cave in the world. An 8 km river runs through it! Keep in mind, however, that this adventure will cost several thousand euros.
Paradise Cave in Phong Nha Ke Bang. Photo: Mathieu Arnaudet
Read our full article on Phong Nha.
The Buon Ma Thuot region in the Central Highlands
Buon Ma Thuot is the capital of Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands.
The city was founded by the French in 1904 and developed as an important commercial crossroads. Vietnamese populations only settled in the region after reunification. Buon Ma Thuot and its surroundings are primarily inhabited by ethnic minorities, different from those living in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. Here, you can meet the Ede, M’Nong, Jarai, Rhade peoples, and more.
Beyond the opportunity to immerse yourself in diverse cultures, you can also taste the best coffee in Vietnam—truly! Coffee was first introduced to this region during the French colonial period (around 1870). Thanks to the particularly suitable soil, coffee cultivation thrived, and today Dak Lak’s robusta coffee is internationally renowned. So beware—you might get addicted!
Among the destinations around the city, you can visit:
- Dray Sap Waterfall: located about 30 km south of the city. The road to the largest waterfall in the Central Highlands is stunning, immersing you in the region’s natural beauty. Hiking is possible around the waterfall.
- Don Village: 40 km northwest of Buon Ma Thuot lies Don Village (Buon Don). The Ede people, the largest ethnic group in the region, venerate elephants. Here, you can visit the tomb of the Elephant King, Khun Yu Nop, a famous elephant tamer. Elephant rides are also available if you wish.
You can fly directly to Buon Ma Thuot, as the small city has its own airport.
Tuy Hoa in Phu Yen Province
Here’s a lesser-known destination that lives in the shadow of the nearby major seaside resort, Nha Trang. Yet Tuy Hoa and its Phu Yen Province boast some stunning spots to explore… and it’s also a great destination if you just want to relax.
What to do around Tuy Hoa?
# Relax on the beaches of Vung Ro Bay and Bai Mon: located about 30 km from Tuy Hoa, these white-sand beaches are largely undiscovered… they are also home to many floating houses. Perfect for capturing some amazing photos!
# Climb Da Bia Mountain: the Highlands here are relatively modest in altitude, and the top of this mountain reaches only 700 meters. From the summit, however, you’ll enjoy impressive rock formations and panoramic views of the surroundings, including the two beaches mentioned above.
# Explore Cham ruins: near the city, you can visit a Cham tower, a remnant of this great civilization. Restored in 1960, it’s an excellent spot to enjoy sunrise or sunset.
Seaside at Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen
Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta
Now we’re in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice bowl! Vietnam is changing rapidly, and the Mekong Delta in particular… what once gave the region its charm, the floating markets, is gradually disappearing.
It’s important to plan your trip through the delta carefully to avoid disappointment. The first destination we recommend is Vinh Long, whose main town is a small port on the Mekong River.
The rest of the province is almost entirely dedicated to rice cultivation: 90% of the arable land consists of rice fields! You’ll also find some bean and sweet potato crops. Fruit trees are abundant as well: pineapple, jackfruit, bananas, oranges, lemons, and more.
Vinh Long invites you to slow down and enjoy peaceful moments: you can cycle through the surrounding countryside or take a sampan to navigate the arroyos and explore nearby islands such as An Binh and Binh Hoa Phuoc. There are also beautiful communal houses and pagodas (the population here is predominantly Kinh – Vietnamese).
Vinh Long is not very touristy, making it an ideal place to experience an authentic and tranquil Mekong Delta.
Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta
Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta
Chau Doc is a mid-sized city (around 150,000 inhabitants) in An Giang Province, located on the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. The city has belonged to Vietnam since the 17th century and is home today to Vietnamese, as well as Khmer and Cham communities (ethnic minorities).
As everywhere in the Mekong Delta, you have two main seasons for visiting: the dry season, from April to August, and the rainy season, which mainly lasts from August to December. During the latter, rainfall can be heavy, but it’s also the best time to discover the Mekong Delta under water. At this time, you’ll explore the area by boat—navigating more than walking!
So, what to do in Chau Doc? Like all the destinations on this list, we recommend Chau Doc for its tranquility. Together with Vinh Long, it is one of the best places to experience the region’s authentic way of life… but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do—far from it!
Visiting Chau Doc and its surroundings offers the chance to discover Cham culture. The countryside is dotted with Cham villages, where you can explore their ancestral traditions and crafts. You can also visit the Chau Doc floating market, which is more authentic than those of Cai Rang and Phong Dien. Next, you can climb Sam Mountain, the highest peak in the Mekong Delta, reaching 230 meters! While it’s not a trek, the summit offers stunning views of the surrounding rice fields. Finally, about 20 km from Chau Doc lies the Tra Su cajuput forest. This forest has become a nature reserve with a river running through it. We recommend a sampan ride along this “green path,” so named because it is covered with water hyacinths. A wonderfully relaxing excursion!
Chau Doc city crossed by canals. Photo: Mathieu Arnaudet
Read our full article on Con Dao
Con Dao island
Let’s finish this list with a paradisiacal destination… Con Dao island, located at the southernmost tip of Vietnam. The island is actually an archipelago of 16 islands, but only one is inhabited: Con Son.
Today a paradise, the island nonetheless has a darker past: renamed “Poulo-Condor Islands” by the French colonizers, it became home from 1862 to one of Indochina’s main penal colonies, where all political opponents were imprisoned. You can visit the remnants of some of these prisons, such as Phu Tuong Camp or Phu Hai Prison.
If you don’t believe in ghosts (many Vietnamese avoid the island out of fear of spirits…), you will still enjoy your stay. Beautiful beaches surround the island: Lo Voi near the town center, and Dam Trau in the north. Other beaches and coves are less accessible, such as Ong Dung and Dam Tre Bay.
Con Dao Island is home to a 20,000-hectare national park, where you can enjoy some beautiful hikes. The entrance fee is 60,000 VND per person. At the park office, you can obtain a hiking map in English.
Finally, Con Dao is an ideal place for diving! The island is surrounded by stunning coral reefs where you can see colorful fish, turtles… and perhaps even dolphins!
Fishing boat in Con Dao
You now know the destinations in Vietnam that are still off the beaten path!
