What to skip in Vietnam and what to do instead

Vietnam – endless green rice fields, traditional hats, delicious food and long country roads along the coast line. Vietnam is a popular travel destination for any type of traveller in South East Asia. Travellers who are searching for a new adventure, travellers who love history and culture and those tourists who simply want to enjoy the peaceful beaches – everybody seems to be caught up by the fascination of Vietnam. But, are there any things to skip on a trip through Vietnam?

Yes, there are a few things to do and a few stops on your route through Vietnam which can be skipped. While some are not worth the visit, others are simply not what they show you on Social Media or in Travel Guides. Get to know the real highlights and learn what things to skip in Vietnam.

Skip the rice fields in Sapa

Yes, Sapa does look incredibly beautiful on the pictures. The green rice fields of the area are one of the many reasons why travellers are fascinated by the idea of exploring Vietnam. But the reality of Sapa is different. The area has turned into a tourist hotspot and many of the rice fields have changed to photo spots for Instagram. Even though, you would not believe it, but there are better places to witness the beautiful Vietnamese rice fields. Sapa is one of the things you can skip when travelling Vietnam.

But what to do instead?

Skip the Cū Chi Tunnel (outside of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Vietnam is also a great travel destination if you love history. The Vietnam War is the main topic in Vietnamese history. Especially in the capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, you have multiple options to educate yourself on the Vietnam War.

One popular tourist attraction is the Cū Chi Tunnel, which is located outside of Ho Chi Minh City. it is often promoted as the “number 1 thing to do in the area”. But is it really?

To reach the tunnels, you need to make your way through the horrible and chaotic traffic of the city which will take you about an hour.

A tour through the Tunnels is all about simply getting the tourists´ attention, taking photos in the tunnels and less of thoughtful and respectful journey through the dark history of Vietnam.

For history lovers, this can still be a great experience. But if you are on a limited time and want to get the best out of Ho Chi Minh City, you should skip the tourto the Tunnels.

Really? Can I skip on an important historical thing to do in Vietnam? Yes, you can!

But what to do instead?

Instead visit the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City

No reason to worry – you do not have to waive at your history experience in Ho Chi Minh City. The War Remnants Museum in the center of the city is one of the best museums in all of Vietnam. It is known for its very informative and thoughtful documentation of the war. Plus, it adds a lot of personal information on the awful time, which many visitors did not know about.

If you are keen on getting yourself educated and want to extend you knowledge from history class, the museum is the best choice. You could spend an entire afternoon in the museum, reading all the information and visiting the different rooms.

Skip the Phong Nha National Park in Vietnam

Do not get this wrong: the landscape around the park is beautiful and it is definitely a quiet and peaceful place in Vietnam. But still, it is not worth the visit. The Phong Nha National Park is center of the country and is a part of the typical route through Vietnam. Most travellers visit the Park by taking a night bus from different locations around the country.

The reason why most travellers choose to visit the Phong Nha National Park are the impressive caves in the area. The popular attraction is to book a boat tour and to visit the caves in the area. But you know what? That´s it. There is nothing more to see and even the caves (except if you are a cave lover) are not a must-see for a traveller in Vietnam. Therefore, the National Park is a thing to skip in Vietnam.

With only a few accommodations in the little village and only a few things to do and to see, this is a waste of time. Sounds hard? Well, it´s still the truth.

But what to do instead?

Skip the Golden Bridge in the Bà-Nà-Hills near Da Nang

If you look up the South of Vietnam on Social Media, you will most likely find a couple of photos of a quite impressive bridge. The Golden Bridge is carried by two giant stone hands and is located in the middle of the Bà-Nà-Hills. It actually does look like a really cool place on Social Media, but the reality is different.

The Golden Bridge is a tourist magnet. The 150-meter-long bridge does not only offer you a unique view over the hills and the ocean, but is as well a popular photo spot. But is it really worth it? The answer is no. It is not really worth it as the entry fees are quite high and you will find yourself in the middle of tourist crowds.

But what to do instead?

Skip the sightseeing in Huế

The historical city of Huế is located directly in the middle of the usual route from North to South of Vietnam. It was not only once the capital of Vietnam, but as well played an important role in history. You can do quite a lot of sightseeing in the city. From visiting museums to temples and squares – but it is not really worth it. Sightseeing in the city is therefore another point on the list of things to skip in Vietnam.

If you are keen to explore the city life in Vietnam, you should visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. For exciting history adventures, Ho Chi Minh is more exciting and the sightseeing of Huế is … let´s say not really worth your time.

But what to do instead?

For even more information on travelling Vietnam and preparing a trip through the country, check out The 8 things nobody tells you about travelling Vietnam.