VISITORS ACTIVITIES IN VIETNAM

What to Do in Da Nang

Da Nang has miles of beaches, resulting in plenty of swimming opportunities from May to August when the sea is calm but for those who simply cannot wait to get wet the city also features an exciting water park – the first built in the country. In this mild climate a game of golf is a pleasure and Da Nang certainly delivers with three professionally designed courses with great views and facilities.

The city’s March 29 Park has many activities for both children and adults alike while if you’re rained in you can learn more about this country’s super healthy cuisine and its preparation.

It is not easy to find food that is as healthy as Vietnamese. If you appreciate Vietnamese cuisine try a cooking class when in Danang. Many hotels in Danang offer Vietnamese cuisine classes such as the Furama Resort Danang on China Beach.

Golf in Da Nang

Danang - Vietnam has become a golfer's destination. With three world-class golf courses, Danang Golf Club and The Montgomerie Links and Laguna Lang Co GC,  Danang is able to cater to the world-class golfer.

Danang Golf Tour is the local golf tour operator providing fully customised golfing, travel and accommodation services to Central Vietnam Golf destinations: Danang, Hue, Hoian and Dalat.

As an local golf operator based in Hoian - Vietnam, we are uniquely positioned to assemble every aspect of your visit. Custom tours requiring golf, accommodation, transportation & optional tours are our specialty. Danang Golf Tour will ensure your golfing adventure in the area is an enjoyable and memorable experience.

 

 Ha Long Bay Activities

What to Do in Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay is a paradise for photographers as each of its rock formations is unique to itself. Tour companies always offer tourists plenty of choices of where to stop and each stop is a guaranteed memorable one.

Some of the most popular activities in Halong Bay are swimming, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking, trekking and cycling. It is truly a paradise for active visitors. 

Sleeping On Board

Though many new hotels are being built on the bigger islands, experienced visitors recommend newcomers to spend a night on board a boat. This way, you will be able to admire the bay closer up and in quite a special way. The boats in question range from diesel-powered junks as well as higher standard cruisers. The junks are less expensive compared to cruisers but keep in mind that they are usually small and do rock a lot. Pick the boat/accommodation that suits your style and budget, then try it for at least one night.

Swimming and Sunbathing in Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay has thousands of limestone islands and grottoes. There are countless places to stop for swimming, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking when cruising around. On famous Cat Ba Island there are a few well-known beaches to relax on, some with easily remembered names like Cat Co One, Cat Co Two and Cat Co Three. The stunning scenery of sheer mountain cliffs rising out of the bay makes an ideal backdrop to water-based activities.

Trekking, Cycling

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Trekking is a good option on Cat Ba Island. There are lots of rare animals to see, including green and hawksbill turtles and golden-headed langur monkeys. Visitors can choose from various trek routes; either way it's an impressive experience.

Another good way to enjoy a visit to Cat Ba is to cycle around the local villages. 

Dalat Activities

What to Do in Dalat

Dalat is a south central Vietnamese town that offers travelers good weather, great food, fun shopping and plenty of things to do. In the city you’ll find many interesting French colonial buildings and deeper inland and in the mountains there are waterfalls, hill-tribe villages while farms and rice paddies can be seen everywhere.

Dalat is never short of fun outdoor opportunities such as golf, horseback riding, kids-friendly horse-and-cart rides, hiking, paragliding, and cooking classes. Those who come here just for a few days break from big hectic cities like Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi, will definitely enjoy it here. Its mild and pleasant temperatures alone (usually between 17°C to 25°C even in summertime) make Dalat worth a visit and as a result it’s a refreshing destination to escape the constant heat from lower-lying regions.

This doesn’t mean Dalat is a quiet town though; it is a very popular holiday destination for local tourists but the attractions are spread out over vast rolling green hilly areas, meaning you won’t feel crowded out most of the time.

Adventure Sports

Fans of adventure activities will love it here. Dalat and the nearby area is where visitors can enjoy great outdoor sports such as whitewater rafting, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, paragliding and canyoning. There are a few companies in Dalat offering good tour packages including Phat Tire Ventures. This company seems to have the most experience as well as a great team as their guides go through an intensive 30-hour Wilderness First Aid course designed by the Wilderness Medicine Institute and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). They also are sent to a refresher first aid course each year through Family Medical Practice in Ho Chi Minh City. That says a lot.

Opening Hours: All year round
Location: Dalat and around 
Cable Car

The cable car ride from/to Truc Lam Monastery Complex is a popular way to see Dalat from above. Along the two and a half kilometre ride, you can enjoy the attractive scenery such as pine tree-covered hills, rivers, rice plantations and the sea. Truc Lam Monastery Complex is rather new and already famous for its beautiful pagoda. Avoid national and school holidays as well as weekends if you want to avoid the crowds. Truc Lam is a lovely place for picnicking.

Opening Hours: Truc Lam Monastery open daily from 06:00-18:00 but the cable car station closes at 17:00
Location: Located on a hillside very close to the city centre and just above Tuyen Lam Lake

Easy Riders Motorbike Tour

As soon as you arrive in town, the Easy Riders will somehow find you. This is a group of local men who offer to take tourists sightseeing around Dalat’s countryside on vintage Russian motorbikes and newer Hondas. The Easy Riders cleverly select many remarkable spots (mostly off the tourist track) including pine forests, local farms (rice fields are everywhere, as are fruit plantations and vegetable farms), silk factories, waterfalls, minority villages and some of the city’s major landmarks such as the Crazy House.

Easy Riders is not a business company therefore they don’t have an office but you can easily get a hold of them along Troung Cong Dinh Street, usually in front of the popular Hangout Café. They’re not professional tour guides (and some have limited English) but with their enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the area it makes for an interesting way to see the real Vietnam (and in a laid-back way).

Opening Hours: Daily
Location: Around town

Elephant and Ostriches Ride

Prenn Waterfall is not just another pretty site to visit in Dalat. It offers many interesting activities including elephant and ostrich rides. The humble elephant will take you through unspoiled nature such as small creeks, lakes and green forests. For those who really want to try something different, here is your chance. Ostriches might not be a common transport option but here in Dalat you can ride on one. The idea of climbing up on an ostrich’s back can be quite a challenge but once you manage to get up there and start the ride it is one of the most interesting experiences as these well-trained animals are used to human and are amazingly friendly.

Opening Hours: All year round
Location: Prenn Waterfall

Hiking in Dalat

Leisurely nature walks along forest trails (or many more adventurer treks for the experience hikers) are another way to discover this area’s beauty. Dalat is full of many natural sights where interesting animals and birds can be found. Some treks may lead you to caves, waterfalls, lakes, volcanic peaks, minority villages, suspension bridges and farmlands too.

Lang Bian Mountain (about 12km north of downtown Dalat) is one of the most popular locations for a day or a half-day out hiking. It has five peaks that range from 2100m to 2400m in altitude. Other hot locations for hiking include Ba Be Lake National Park, Pongour Falls and the Lake of Sorrows.

To go hiking in Dalat is quite easy and simple and you don’t really require a tour company; many people just rent a bike and use a local map and off they go. Warm clothing, a raincoat, sunblock lotion and mosquito repellent are usually needed.

Opening Hours: Daily
Location: Around town

Horseback Riding

Another way to enjoy Dalat’s beautiful countryside is on horseback. Visitors can hire horses by the hour and for about twice the amount they can also take a horse-drawn carriage for a pleasure ride around Dalat Flower Garden and the Lake of Sorrow too.

Opening Hours: Daily
Location: Dalat Flower Garden and the Lake of Sorrow

Paddle Boats

If you travel as a family with young kids, don’t forget to rent a huge swan paddleboat and take a spin around Dalat lakes such as the manmade lake inside Valley of Love, the Lake of Sighs (Ho Than Tho) and another popular artificial lake, Xuan Huong Lake. It can be great fun for a few hours at least.

Opening Hours: Daily
Location: The Lake of Sighs is located on Ho Xuan Huong Road about six kilometres northeast of town. Xuan Huong Lake is in city centre. The Valley of Love is just five kilometres north of the city centre.
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Toboggan Rides

If you want a bit of thrill in Dalat and without having to work out too much, check out the toboggan ride at Datanla Waterfall. With more than 40 cars (each with two seats), the roller coaster features medium-sized rapids and you can slide down the 800m long track with speeds of up to 40kmh. The toboggans are user friendly design and according to the operator the safety system fully meets European standards.

Opening Hours: Daily
Location: Datanla Waterfall

Golf in Dalat

Golf courses in Vietnam offer extra facilities such as bars, restaurants, and pro shops where rental clubs are available. Some courses offer also other recreational choices, with tennis courts, swimming pools and children’s playgrounds.

In general it is cheaper to play golf here in the afternoon from around 14:30 onward and weekdays are less busy and cheaper than weekends.

Dalat Palace Golf Club

The 18-hole Dalat Palace Golf Club first opened in 1922 (originally as a 9-hole course) and later was abandoned until 1993 when it underwent restoration and has since opened to the public. It is now considered the best golf course in the country with lakes, pine trees, valleys and beautiful flower gardens. Famous golfers who have played there beside regulars such as Bao Dai (the last emperor of Vietnam) were Masa Nishijima (the author of the award-winning book Analysis of a Golf Course. Nishijima was also the sixth person to play all the courses listed on GOLF Magazine’s World Top 100 List) and Billy Casper (American golf legend who won 27 tournaments on the PGA Tour).

Opening Hours: All year round
Location: Dalat Palace Golf Club situated on the western side of Xuan Huong Lake, Dalat

Hanoi Activities

What to Do in Hanoi

With a city plan almost tailor-made for exploring, Hanoi will keep you busy for days on end. From the main thoroughfares to the maze of back alleys there's something to see around every corner.

There are several walking tours to join and they seem like a good idea as only those with a working knowledge of Hanoi's layout should venture out alone.

For the athletically minded fitness clubs abound along with Golf and Hash House Harriers running opportunities. 

Hanoi City Tour

Throughout its thousand-year history, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples, as well as countless fascinating sites and attractions.

The Hanoi City Tour will take you to its highlights, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temples of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. With more time, pick a full-day trip, which will add a visit to delightful museums and a rickshaw tour around the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

Hanoi Water Puppet Show

Water puppetry, a unique variation on the ancient Asia puppet tradition, is a Vietnamese tradition dating back to the 11th century. Supported by a large rod placed under the water and manipulated by experienced puppeteers, the wooden puppets appear to be dancing over the water, telling folk tales. It’s entertaining and suitable for all audiences.

Visiting Bat Trang Ceramic Village:

n the left bank of Hong river and about 10 km from Hanoi in East (in Gia Lam District, Hanoi), there name of Bat Trang. Up to present, Ba Trang Pottery Village has still been operating and developing ceaselessly. According to a legend, the village was first called as Bach Tho Phuong before its name was changed into Bat Trang Phuong. People in the village remember in their memory that the place of their origin Bo Bat Village (or called Bach Bat Village), Yen Mo District, Ninh Binh Province.

Visiting Van Phuc Silk Village:

In recent years, the village has enjoyed the revival of its craft due to a surging demand for silk in both the domestic and foreign markets.

It has long been a universal byword of luxury, often worn by the world’s richest, most powerful citizens, nowadays, the fine and lustrous cloth that originally comes from the cocoon of the silkworm is much more affordable for "ordinary" folk.

Silk is currently enjoying a fashion renaissance, particularly as its many varieties can be made into a wide range of designs suitable for all facets of modern life.

Hue Activities

What to Do in Hue

Hue and its people are relaxed and it's easy to unwind here. This makes it one of the most attractive destinations in the country.

Also it is known as a university town as it is home to both Hue College of Fine Art and Hue National school of Music and Dramatic Arts. The two were amalgamated in 1986 to form the Hue College of Arts.

Hue is perfect for nature lovers and those enthusiastic about art and history. 

Art Galleries in Hue

Art lovers around the world have long been interested in Vietnamese paintings. When in Hue, check out the two main art galleries; New Space Art Gallery on 7 Pham Ngu Lao St.  and its second branch on 28 Nguyen Tri Phuong St. , both owned by painters and twins Le Ngoc Thanh and Le Duc Hai.

Another good gallery in Hue is Boi Tran Arts Gallery on 85 Tran Hung Dao St., Hue city 

Boat Cruise on Perfume River

Travel by Dragon Boat on the romantically named Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda standing on the riverbank with its seven-storey tower. The boat rides also offer lunch prepared and cooked on board, making it a popular excursion among visitors. The dinner cruise and night boat trips usually feature live Hue folk music. 

Cooking Classes

Another fun and creative way to spend time in Hue is to join a cooking class. Vietnamese food is very delicious and healthy and on top of that Hue is famous for its royal cuisine as the city once served as the capital of Vietnam. There are many dishes that make Hue’s cuisine outstanding.

For cooking classes, try Y Thao Garden House on 3 Thach Han street. Missy Roo Bar & Restaurant on 62 Nguyen Tri Phuong. and the Pilgrimage Village Hotel on 130 Minh Mang Street

The teachers will take you to buy fresh ingredients from nearby local markets before heading back to class

Nha Trang Activities

What to Do in Nha Trang

One of the first things people do on arrival in Nha Trang is to head straight down to the beach. And what a beach! Facing east out over the East Sea and palm lined, it's definitely a place to hang out.

Because of this there are a lot of water-based activities such as diving and snorkeling as well as sailing when the weather permits. A fast-growing destination, you can be sure that Nha Trang will change from year to year. 

Boat Cruises

Nha Trang is flanked by 71 islands, and the sea at most times of year, is crystal clear so the plethora of boat trips daily heading out plus the easy availability of booking agents is self-explanatory. Trips are not expensive and are more often than not party cruises but with a fair amount of snorkeling and fishing fitted in between the drinking. Check whether lunch is included or not and compare deals before booking.

If you are not an extremely early riser then charter a boat the day before. Most hotels can handle the booking but the place to book in person is the Cau Da Dock.

Bicycle and Rafting Tour

 Biking trips are the best way to enjoy the beautiful countryside of south central coastal area of Vietnam. Some organized tours take you through rural areas, visiting some historic sites along the way. You can also combine biking with rafting down the Cai River. Tours usually includes light lunches.
Biking and Rafting Tour
Address: 1/12 Tran Quang Khai
Shamrock Irish Pub, organizes a variety of rafting trips catered for each age group. Address: 56a Nguyen Thien Thua

Boat Cruises

Nha Trang is flanked by 71 islands, and the sea at most times of year, is crystal clear so the plethora of boat trips daily heading out plus the easy availability of booking agents is self-explanatory. Trips are not expensive and are more often than not party cruises but with a fair amount of snorkeling and fishing fitted in between the drinking. Check whether lunch is included or not and compare deals before booking.

If you are not an extremely early riser then charter a boat the day before. Most hotels can handle the booking but the place to book in person is the Cau Da Dock.

Bicycle and Rafting Tour

 Biking trips are the best way to enjoy the beautiful countryside of south central coastal area of Vietnam. Some organized tours take you through rural areas, visiting some historic sites along the way. You can also combine biking with rafting down the Cai River. Tours usually includes light lunches.
Biking and Rafting Tour
Address: 1/12 Tran Quang Khai
Shamrock Irish Pub, organizes a variety of rafting trips catered for each age group. Address: 56a Nguyen Thien Thuat

Diving & Snorkeling

Nha Trang has 10 or so dive shops, so this is a 'buyer-friendly' market! Students looking for certification will find that the value for money here is superb, with PADI open-water courses available with full equipment rental. A two-dive boat trip with equipment rental and snacks can be had for a very reasonable sum. As with everywhere in Asia, check what you are getting for your money and make sure you speak to the Instructor who'll be teaching you, not just a 'salesman'. Diving, and especially training, should not be chosen by price alone.
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Half-Day Bike Tour of Nha Trang

Check out Nha Trang's attractions by bike. The Hon Chong Promontory, the Po Nagar Cham, Long Son Pagoda, with its huge seated Buddha, and Bao Dai's Villas. All these sights are within a hired bike ride away from each other. 

 Hot Air Balloon Ride

Established in Hon Tam Island in 2010, the new centre for hot air balloon rides now operates from near Pham Van Dong Street.
The hot air balloon has solid handrails and a protective net. The ride takes you to a height of 150 metres, and includes a 15-20 stop so you can enjoy the panoramic bird’s eye view of the city and take those hard-to-get aerial photographs of the bay and the sea beyond.

Address: Pham Van Dong Street, or inquire at travel agents.

Golf

Golfers will not feel left out in Nha Trang, where a few professionally designed 18-hold golf courses are to be found at:
Vinpearl Complex, in Hon Tre Island, just across the bay of Nha Trang;

Mud Baths

The mud baths at Thap Ba natural hot springs are a healthy and fun way to spend a few hours. The best time of day to go is between 12:00 and 15:00 when they are less crowded. You will be offered single or shared mud baths and obviously the single ones are more expensive yet the communal tubs are more fun. Shower off in mineral-rich water afterwards or let the mud dry on you first for additional benefits before showering. 

Nha Trang Paintball

Nha Trang Paintball runs two paintball excursions a day. You will be given a gun, protective gear and equipment. An instructor is on hand to divide teams to compete for the matches. Booking is required. Bring towels and a change of clothes.

Address: 117 Nguyen Thien Thuat

Sailing

The same applies for renting out a yacht except this is a calmer (albeit more expensive) way to go out island hopping from May to September.
Dividing the cost among a group is a good way to go.

Mui Ne & Phan Thiet Activities

What to Do in Mui Ne & Phan Thiet

For a country with a tourism track record that goes back only 20 years or so, Vietnam is full of delightful surprises, with thing to see or do for just about everyone.

Whether you want to be far from the crowds or you want to get right into the action with people from all over the world, Vietnam can meet your demands. And if you crave outdoor action and sports, then Mui Ne and Phan Thiet have everything you need. 

Kiteboarding & Windsurfing in Mui Ne Beach

Mui Ne beach is great for kiteboarding and wind surfing. Pioneers in the two sports discovered the beach about ten years ago and for a long time the area was one of Vietnam’s best-kept secrets. Now the secret is out.

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Phu Quoc Island  Activities

What to Do on Phu Quoc Island

Clearly one of Phu Quoc's main activities, if you can call it that, is to lay on the beach and sunbathe, perhaps taking the odd swim now and then. But for many there's only so much 'doing nothing' you can do.

Looking beyond the beach, nature lovers have lots to explore around the center of Phu Quoc, where there’s verdant rainforest with the Suoi Ban River running through it, waterfalls and natural springs.

The natural park is definitely worth a look. 

Explore the Island on a Motorbike

Travelling around the island is one of most fun things you can do, but beware – many of the island's roads are not paved. Sturdy shoes and long trousers are a prerequisite. Scooters are easily rented from most hotels. In Duong Dong town you can see (and smell!) the fish sauce factories. Nearby is Suoi Tranh waterfall which is about 4m high (sometimes from January to May water can be a little lacking).

Checkout Bai Sao on the east coast, reputed to be the best beach on the island, think white sand and turquoise sea. Find a deserted spot on long beach to stop for a swim. In the northern part of the island the terrain gets more mountainous, and the roads a little more bumpy. Lots of isolated beaches are waiting to be found, along the way up to Dai Beach and beyond, many small fishing villages are passed. 

National Park

The national park, created in 2001 by the Vietnamese government, covers more than half the island. Thick foliage covers the mountainous slopes that are home to langurs, macaques, loris', otters, hornbills and fruit bats.

The best way to visit the park is to book a tour with your hotel as most of the trails are not signposted very well. It's not a good idea to visit the park when it's been raining heavily as you will get very muddy. 

Scuba Diving

There are some dive sites around the north of Phu Quoc but most dive trips head to the pristine reefs of both hard and soft corals that teem with colourful fish around An Thoi.

Nice reasonably shallow dive sites are numerous but don't expect to any manta rays or large pelagic fish. Dive centres can be found easily around the island. 

Snorkelling

Phu Quoc's crystal clear waters offer some of Vietnam's best snorkelling. Reefs fringe many of the islands and islets that make up the archipelago and snorkelling tours run daily during high season and will show you underwater habitats full of life and colour.

The An Thoi archipelago consists of 12 islands located due south of Phu Quoc with pristine scenenery and an abundance of colourful reef fish, daytrips here often include a spot of fishing.

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