1. Cruise Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site with the double-wammy of having cultural and geographical importance. Thousands of limestone karsts and floating islands, secluded coves and fishing villages. Cruising through the bay for a few days of being pampered, swimming, kayaking, exploring, and partying– a Ha Long Bay junk cruise is definitely #1 on my Viet Nam Bucket List.

2. Sand-Sled the Dunes of Mui Ne

There are Sahara-like sand dunes not far from the beaches of Mui Ne, and if you make the trip out there you can sled or surf down them! There are the much larger, more remote White Dunes, and the smaller, easier to get to Red Dunes. It looks like a blast, and something I’m not going to miss!

3. Wander Hoi An Old Town

Hoi An Old Town is said to be a perfectly preserved time capsule to the days of ship trade and exploration. Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, French, and a whole slew of other cultures all left their own mark on Hoi An, so it’s a colorful, diverse, and beautiful look into the past. Plus they have some of the best artisans in Viet Nam. They can make you custom shoes or clothes in your own designs. I’m also thinking I need one of those jewel-toned silk lamps.

4. Homestay in Sa Pa

I’m a nature-junkie, especially for mountains and waterfalls. So I’m excited at the thought of hiking the hills and rice paddies of Sapa. Plus when you’re there you can do a homestay with a local family and get an authentic experience. I think that one of the most important things you can do when you travel is to get to know the people that call the place you’re in home.

5. Explore Son Doong Cave

Son Doong is the world’s largest cave, and it was only discovered a few years ago because it’s located in a remote part of the Vietnamese jungle. Just the trek to the cave is supposed to be a real adventure. Inside the cave is a river, a jungle, stalactites that reach 70 feet into the air and cave pearls the size of baseballs. It’s being described as a Lost World, straight from a Jules Verne novel. It’s the sort of trip I dream up when my mind wanders (which happens a lot), getting to go would be beyond incredible.

6. Relax on Phu Quoc Island

A few days on a white sand beach, drink in hand, working on my non-existent tan… I think tropical paradise sounds pretty good for a little while. Asia’s the best, isn’t it?

7. Float down the Mekong

Floating down the “Mighty Mekong” delta in a flat-bottomed boat while wearing one of those wide-coned hats sounds like that quintessential tourist experience that you can’t NOT do. Dense jungles, local fishing villages, and a day drifting in a boat. YES. Plus you can stop at floating markets and munch on fresh fruit, coconut candies, and honey from the locals… anything that involves that much sweet food sounds like something I’m in for.

8. Eat, eat, and eat in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter

Actually I want to eat, eat, and eat everywhere in Viet Nam. But especially in the Old Quarter of Ha Noi. The streets are still named from their past days of selling bamboo goods and herbal medicines and hand-woven silks and glittering jewelry– basically your typical traveling shopper’s dream, because all those goodies are still there (along with more modern electronics and knick-knacks), but I’m interested in the food. The street stalls selling BBQ minced pork, rice and veggies, grilled beef with noodles, to sip on some sugar-cane juice or slurp down a bowl of pho. The food in Viet Nam is already calling.

9. Party in Nha Trang

The “boat trip thing” is one of the most talked about parties among backpackers in Viet Nam– they take you on a day trip to visit some islands and do some snorkeling, all while plying you with food and drinks and making you do wild karaoke on deck. I’m guessing it’s a love it or hate it experience, but an experience I want in on all the same! Sounds fun and crazy and why-the-hell-not, right? Plus if I’ve got a hangover the next day I could go soak in the Nha Trang mud baths and chill out for awhile.

10. Roadtrip!

I. Love. Roadtrips. I’m pretty comfortable on a motorbike after two years driving one in Taiwan, so I’m feeling like I definitely need to rent a bike for a few days and just hit the road. The Northern Loop takes you through the mountains and over some really incredible countryside; the Ha Noi to Sai Gon trip is pretty popular, too, and that would get in a lot of those midlands that I probably wouldn’t otherwise see.

I’m going to be arranging my Viet Nam tours all in the next few weeks. Can’t wait to get started and head back to Asia. Seriously if you have any recommendations I’d love to hear them! I’m going to be planning my trip with Asia Tour Advisor, they’re a great company for those Southeast Asia trips, so you should check them out if you’re heading to that corner of the world!

21 Reasons To Fall In Love With Viet Nam