Off the beaten path destinations in Vietnam – you think you’ve seen every corner of this country? We don’t think so!
Oftentimes, most of the travelers headed to Vietnam aim to see the typical must-see destinations of the country. And more often than not, anywhere close to the notable cities too. However, on this list are off the beaten path destinations in Vietnam that are considered fresh to the eyesight and soul.
Wander along as you read on…
Moc Chau
First on the off the beaten path destinations in Vietnam is the Moc Chau Plateau. It is dubbed as a great destination for those who are seeking solace and tranquility surrounded by lush greens and unparalleled landscapes.
The place features a cool breeze, tea hills, and ethnic villages, a soothing experience just 200 km from the center of Hanoi. Notable activity in the area is to visit the tea hills which span around 300 hectares of fresh green and black tea gardens.
This creates the perfect landscape backdrop for photographers and Instagrammers. Aside from this you can visit nearby Hua Tat village with authentic local culture and breathtaking scenery or admire the captivating beauty of Dai Yem waterfall.
If you are lucky enough, you can visit the cauliflower village called Ba Phach in Lunar New Year. During this time, you can get lost in spectacular sights of plump and peach flowers blooming and enjoy the richness of H’Mong and Thai people’s customs and traditions in celebrating the new year.
If you like something more adventurous, don’t forget to try trekking Pha Luong mountain with a moderate level of difficulty and wild nature beauty.
Ma Thien Lanh Valley
Need a break from all the noise of a bustling city? Give your soul a break when you visit the Ma Thien Lanh Valley. Nestled in the southern province of Tay Ninh, Ma Thien Lanh Valley is believed to be a piece of heaven on earth. The place offers a level of unequaled tranquillity and fascinating nature scenes. Travelers will stumble on a dense blanket of trees and, inevitably, numerous poetic streams snaking their winding bodies through pits and pumps.
Ma Thien Lanh Valley is regarded as Da Lat of the southeastern region because of the cool atmosphere. This is also one of the reasons why visitors are fond of this place.
Expect to see remarkable yet mysterious paths, listen to the comforting chirps of birds, and see an abundance of flora and fauna – an ideal destination for foreigners learning Vietnamese in the heart of Ho Chi Minh.
Ly Son Island
Ly Son Island is located off the South Central Coast, in Quang Ngai province, this remote island recently opened up to allow non-Vietnamese tourists. It takes a while to get to Ly Son Island as you need to take a speedboat from Sa Ky Port, but it’s well worth the travel time to spend a few days here.
The island is blessed with rich soil molded from volcanic rocks and white sand – enough to sustain the needs of growing garlic and onions which the island is known for. In fact, due to its mass production, a common scent from the island is from garlic and onion fields.
It’s recommended to rent a motorbike and explore the small island. It’ll take about 20 minutes to cross the island from the east to the west side.
The top things to do in Ly Son include eating the delicious seafood cooked with the island-grown garlic and onions, swim in the blue waters of the neighboring Be Island (a 15-minute boat ride from Ly Son), visit pagodas, and hike up the Gieng Tien Mountain.
Lak Lake
Lak Lake is considered the largest natural freshwater lake in Central Highland that connects to Krong Ana river. The lake is 5 km wide and features a deep blue surface.
The lake is surrounded by mountains with calm water and vast primeval forests with various flora and fauna. Along the way to the lake, you will have a chance to experience the indigenous culture of central highlands in the nearby villages like Jun and Mo Lieng villages.
In these villages, local people still live in traditional long houses with bamboo walls, thatched grass roofs, and having more than 20 elephants.
Visitors will also have a chance to enjoy interesting activities like playing gongs, playing musical instruments, dancing with ethnic people, riding elephants, and taking a timber boat on the lake. The lake’s environment is protected quite well and you will have a chance to discover 43 species of fish, crabs, shrimps, and snails living in the lake.
My Tho
My Tho is a refuge for anyone running away from the hustles of city life. It is less than two hours from Ho Chi Minh thus the perfect getaway!
A notable attraction of My Tho is the Vinh Trang Pagoda with a perfect combination of Vietnamese, Khmer, Chinese, and European styles. The pagoda is well known for its splendid beauty, purity, and solemnity.
If not, why not spend time visiting the My Tho fruit market, a huge district of exotic fruits and offers many best types of fruits in the Mekong Delta.
For nature seekers, Thoi Son island should be on your itinerary for off the beaten path destinations in Vietnam. It gives you a strong impression of ancient houses and special cuisine.
Renting a boat to the island, you will catch images of gardens, green trees, and enjoy the fresh and cool atmosphere. Local markets also seem to be an interesting place to go where you can try various exotic fruits like durian, mango, longan, and dragon fruit.
