Discover the 7 Best Destinations in Vietnam for a Long Weekend 2024

From Historical to Natural Travel in Vietnam
Traveloka Accomodation
13 Jul 2023 - 15 min read

Vietnam Travel - Apart from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand, Vietnam is also one of the leading tourist destinations in Asia. This country still adheres to its cultural roots, and a country that has a dark history in wars offers a different sensation for your tour.

Beautiful beaches, shopping centers, and the longest river in Southeast Asia are things to do in Vietnam that can be enjoyed when you visit this country especially if you are on a long vacation enjoying the sensation of an unusual vacation.

The long holiday in Vietnam itself will take place in September, when National Day starts from September 1 to 4 2023. However, in other parts of the world, 2023 has quite a lot of long holiday schedules.

To enjoy this long holiday, you can visit Vietnam to learn about its history and beautiful natural charm. Here is Vietnam travel long weekend 2023 101 guidelines for you!

7 Best Destinations In Vietnam

1. Hanoi - Historical and Cultural Capital

The Old Quarter - Vietnam Travel

The first city you can visit is the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. This city has a lot of history and culture for you to enjoy. Even though it has transformed into a modern city, Hanoi still presents cultural aspects that give this country its own uniqueness.

You can visit several places in Hanoi, such as:

Visit with VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City Hanoi with your kids

VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City Hanoi

8.9/10

RM 35

VinKE (Vin Kids’ Edutainment) provides a complete education and entertainment model for children in an area of nearly 4000 square meters, a perfect combination between “Physical growth - Knowledge Fostering - Soul Development." Give your kid a "learn through play" experience through vocational education models, including Fire Department, VinKE Hospital, VinKE dance club, Junior Master Chef, Fashion, Creative World, etc.

Visit Ho Chi Min’s Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or what is known as Uncle Ho was the father of the Vietnamese people and this mausoleum houses his remains. The mausoleum is open from 09.00-12.00 local time.

Explore the Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is the most common area used as the main destination and place to stay for tourists in Hanoi. You can enjoy typical Vietnamese coffee at various existing coffee shops.

Watch a Traditional Water Puppet Show

Water puppet shows in Vietnam are still the main magnet for tourists. This water puppet show is usually held every Sunday at the Thang Long Theater.

Visiting other people's countries is certainly incomplete if you don't enjoy their typical food. Hanoi also has a variety of specialties that you can taste while visiting, such as:

Pho, is a Vietnamese specialty made from a mixture of fresh beef broth filled with beef, meatballs, chewy white noodles, and fresh vegetables.
Bun Cha is authentic Hanoi food. Bun Cha is a lunch menu consisting of grilled pork served in a bowl of soup, along with vermicelli, vegetables and chopped chilies and garlic.
Banh Mi, is a baguette sandwich filled with carrots, white radish, chunks of meat (in Vietnam it's usually filled with pork), and cilantro (cilantro leaves).

There are many hotel options that you can choose for the 2023 long weekend. The choices of places to stay in Hanoi City that you can book with Traveloka are:

1. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Location: 15 Ngo Quyen , Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam, 100000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 1,598.29

It is a luxurious and historic 1901 landmark that will pamper you with its relaxing spa services. It is only 160 meters from the famous Hanoi Opera House and 500 meters from the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake.

2. Melia Hanoi Hotel

Location: 44 Ly Thuong Kiet, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 714.77

Melia Hanoi is located in Downtown Hanoi, 650 meters from Hoan Kiem Lake and Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. The hotel offers guests a casino, an outdoor swimming pool and a spa.

2. Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay - Vietnam Travel

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is one of the newest 7 natural wonders of the world, side by side with Komodo Island in Indonesia. In this bay, karst hills stand in the middle of the water.

In fact, because of its natural beauty and panorama, this bay received the title as a world heritage site that must be protected by UNESCO in 1994. There are several things to do in Vietnam that you can do in Ha Long Bay, such as:

Cruise around the limestone karsts

You can enjoy a one day trip, two day trip to three day trip on a boat, a cruise to see the famous limestone karsts in Ha Long Bay.

Visit caves and islands

The beautiful bay of Ha Long Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin. Halong Bay has more than 1,600 large and several small islands that form beautiful and amazing white limestone clumps you can visit.

Watch the sunset

Nothing beats spending time watching the sun set over the mystical beauty of the calm waters of Ha Long Bay.

With so many activities in Ha Long Bay, of course you will also be treated to local food that is no less delicious than in Hanoi. Some of these foods are popular among tourists that you can try, such as:

Seafood, At Ha long Bay, you can enjoy seafood from various places such as in restaurants, on luxury overnight cruises or even at some street vendors.
Cha Muc, squid cakes or cakes made with squid. The way to make it is easy, just grind the squid meat by hand and then fry it over medium heat until it turns golden brown.
Nem Cua Be is a fried spring roll made with crab meat. Apart from crab meat, the fried spring rolls also contain pork, egg white, kohlrabi (cabbage), carrot, ear mushroom, bean sprouts and vermicelli.

If you want to enjoy a longer day in Ha Long Bay, then you can stay at some of these popular hotels:

1. Paradise Suites Hotel

Location: Paradise Town, Tuan Chau Island, Tuan Chau Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, 200000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 268.31

Paradise Suites Hotel offers modern accommodations on the shores of Ha Long Bay, on the beautiful island of Tuan Chau.

2. Muong Thanh Quang Ninh Hotel

Location: Block 1, Area 2, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, 200000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 309.80

Located in Ha Long City, Muong Thanh Quang Ninh Hotel is 800 meters from Bai Chay Beach, while Ha Long Night Market and Marine Plaza are 4 km from the hotel with complete facilities to indulge guests.

3. Hue – Imperial City and Cultural Center

Thien Mu Pagoda - Vietnam Travel

Hue City is located in the center of Vietnam. There are many places to visit in Hue as the city is home to museums, tombs and a river that witnessed history during the Vietnam War. This city was indeed the city that suffered the most during the War.

There are several tourist attractions in Hue that you can visit, namely:

Visit the Imperial City

Hue Imperial City is a monument complex whose landscape is like a fortress. This place is the most historic place in Vietnam and is a relic of the Nguyen emperor who ruled in the 19th century and a UNESCO heritage site.

Explore the Thien Mu Pagoda

located on Ha Khe hill, next to the banks of the romantic Huong river. This pagoda was officially built during the time of the local King Nguyen Hoang and is the holiest pagoda in the city.

Take a Dragon Boat Ride on the Perfume River

For an exciting tour in Hue, you can take a dragon boat that circles Truong Tien and Phu Xuan bridges to enjoy Hue's folk songs.

For those of you who are curious about the typical food in Hue, you can sample some of their popular culinary delights:

Bun Bo Hue, Bon Bo Hue means Bun: vermicelli, then Bo means cow. The taste of the broth is similar to Tom Yum but still different because here the taste and aroma of the lemongrass really tempts the taste buds.
Bank Khoai, is a cake made of mashed cassava, coconut milk, sugar and salt. The combination of these four ingredients produces a sweet, legit taste that melts in the mouth.
Nem Lui, is a dish with ground pork grilled on a lemon grass skewer. Other ingredients often include black pepper, pork rind, garlic, shallots and fish sauce.

Lodging in Hue can also be an option when you spend time in Vietnam. Some of them are:

Eldora Hotel Hue

Location: 60 Ben Nghe Street, Phu Hoi Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, 531354

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 302

Also read: Eldora Hotel

ldora Hotel is located in Hue city and only 500 m from Huong River. The hotel is 800 m from the famous Redemptoris Church, 1 km from An Dinh Palace and Trang Tien Bridge.

Hotel Saigon Morin

Location: 30 Le Loi, Phu Nhuan Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, 532952

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 692.427

Located in downtown Hue, Saigon Morin Hotel has direct views of the Perfume River and Truong Tien Bridge. Featuring French colonial architecture, this hotel also offers guests an outdoor pool and 3 dining options.

Azerai La Residence Hue Hotel & Spa

Location: 05 Le Loi, Vinh Ninh Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, 530000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 3,052.500

Azerai La Residence, Hue is a villa in classic colonial buildings spread over 200 meters on the banks of the beautiful Perfume River. The location is also 1.5 km from Hue Imperial Fort. Dong Ba Market, Hue Royal Museum of Fine Arts, An Dinh Palace, and Esplanade Nam Giao.

4. Hoi An – Ancient Town and Coastal Getaway

Japanese Covered Bridge - Vietnam Travel

Hoi An which means “peaceful meeting place” is a coastal city in Vietnam that has a long history of the spice trade dating back to the 10th century.

VinWonders Nam Hoi An Tickets

8.8/10

RM 72

Because of its strategic location, Hoi An was a major trading port with China, which also attracted other traders (and eventually settlers) from Portugal, the Netherlands and Japan. There are several popular tourist sites here, such as:

Explore the ancient town

The entire old city center of Hoi An is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many rows of wooden and brick houses from the 15th to the 18th centuries line the roadside, and lots of places to watch the sunset as it falls over old buildings.

Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge

This 18 meter long bridge dates back almost four centuries and is one of the most famous landmarks in Hoi An. This bridge leads directly to a small shrine dedicated to Tran Vo Bac De, the Taoist god of the weather, who protects people during earthquakes and floods.

Cycle around the countryside

A good way to explore Hoi An is by pedaling slowly, making it easy to find nearby bicycle rental shops. You can enjoy the view of Hoi An Old Town view by bicycle around the city.

Just like in other cities in Vietnam, Hoi an also has popular specialties that can be tasted, such as:

Cao Lau, a famous Vietnamese bowl noodle dish with thick and chewy vermicelli, aromatic broth, chunks of meat, fresh green vegetables, bean sprouts and delicious crunchy croutons.
Banh Mi
White Rose, is a dumpling filled with meat. White rose is made from rice flour and alkaline water that comes from a well in Hoi An that has been filtered 20 times.

Enjoy your 2023 long weekend in Hoi An and stay at these hotels:

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai

Location: Block Ha My Dong B, Dien Duong Ward, Hoi An, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 3,836.91

Beautifully located on Vietnam's culturally rich central coast, Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai offers a gateway to three outstanding UNESCO World Heritage sites and a cool retreat on the country's most famous beach.

Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An

Location: Binh Duong Commune, Binh Minh Commune, Binh Duong Commune, Thang Binh District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, 560000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 770.01

Located south of Hoi An, Vinpearl Resort and Villas is located in Lang Gi which features a private beach and an outdoor swimming pool on the property.

Almanity Hoi An Wellness Resorts

Location: 05 Le Loi, Vinh Ninh Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, 530000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 3,052.500

The residence is situated around a stunning pristine saltwater swimming pool and a lush Zen garden in the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town. It is 700 meters from Hoi An History Museum and 1 km from Hoi An Ancient Town and Hoi An Central Market.

5. Ho Chi Minh City – Vibrant Metropolis and Cultural Hub

War Remnants Museum - Vietnam Travel

Ho Chi Minh City is in southern Vietnam. Quoting the Vietnam Tourism website, this city which is near the Mekong River delta is the economic heart of Vietnam. As a cosmopolitan city, Ho Chi Minh City offers many tourist attractions that mix old and new Vietnam in one city.

You can visit several popular tourist attractions, such as:

Visit the War Remnants Museum

This museum is still a favorite for foreign tourists to get to know and see the dark history of the Vietnam War. Housed in a former American administration building, the War Remnants Museum contains exhibits designed to show the Vietnam War's impact on its inhabitants.

Explore the Notre-Dame Cathedral

This tourist spot is located in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. This church was crowned with the title of Basilica in 1962 and is one of four Basilicas in Vietnam.

Shop at Ben Thanh Market

Located directly across from the bus terminal and in the District 1 area. Easily accessible by public transportation as well as taxis and motorcycle taxis.

Ben Thanh Market is one of the oldest markets in Saigon city. This market originated from a collection of street vendors selling on the banks of the Saigon River.

Some of its specialties are quite popular among tourists. Maybe you are interested in tasting some of these foods:

Banh Xeo, Vietnamese-style fried pancakes made from rice flour are cooked in a hot pan and make a loud sizzling sound. Made from rice flour, water and turmeric powder filled with pork, shrimp or vegetables.
Com Tam, This one dish is popular as a street food, especially in southern Vietnam. Served with a variety of side dishes and vegetables and accompanied by suon nuong, a typical Vietnamese pork dish, fried eggs and vegetables pickled or cooked like Korean kimchi.
Local people usually consume Hu Tieu, This food as breakfast. Can be served as soup or dry without broth.

The best hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are here at Traveloka for you. Here are the recommendations:

Park Hyatt Saigon

Location: 2 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 70000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 5,372.786

This hotel with typical French colonial style is strategically located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The view is directly facing the Opera House in Lam Son Square, and the distance is only 100 meters from Dong Khoi Shopping Street.

InterContinental Saigon

Location: Corner Hai Ba Trung,St.& Le Duan Bl, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 00000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 2,846.119

Located in downtown Ho Chi Minh City is the InterContinental Saigon, connected to M Plaza Saigon, which offers a variety of retail options. The hotel is also close to several historical and cultural attractions including Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market and Reunification Palace.

Hotel Majestic Saigon

Location: 01 Dong Khoi, Ben Nghe Ward, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 700000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 2,162.385

A colonial-style landmark from 1920. This hotel is located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City and overlooks the Saigon river. Hotel Majestic Saigon offers boutique-style accommodation and features a beautiful outdoor swimming pool.

6. Phu Quoc – Island Paradise and Water Sports Destination

Sao Beach - Vietnam Travel

Soak up the sun and immerse yourself in Vietnam's rich culture on Phu Quoc Island, with white sands and tropical beaches that attract beachgoers worldwide. You can do many water sports here.

Grand World Phu Quoc Tickets

9/10

RM 32

You can try some interesting activities in Phu Quoc when you visit:

Visit Sao Beach

Sao Beach is considered the most beautiful and famous beach of a large island and Vietnam itself. The beauty of this beach is the blue water surface, white sand near the beach, and luxurious palm trees along the coastline.

Snorkel or dive to explore the coral reefs

While in Phu Quoc, you can go snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing are the most popular water sports here. You can also jet ski, sail and fish for squid (that's right, squid).

Take a cable car ride to Hon Thom Island

Hon Thom is a small island located in the An Thoi Archipelago south of Phu Quoc. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists because of its unspoiled natural beauty, with green coconut groves, white sandy beaches and clear blue water.

Don't forget to enjoy Phu Quoc's specialties, such as:

Seafood
Banh Canh, Enjoy the beauty of the beach with thick noodles made from tapioca with a mixture of various ingredients, such as ham, snakehead fish and crab.
Bun Quay, or vermicelli stir is a dish with toppings made from fresh shrimp or fish meat and when eaten it must be filled with hot sauce and stirred thoroughly so that the shrimp or fish meat is cooked

Just like tourist sites that are close to the beach, Phu Quoc has a wide selection of hotels such as:

JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa

Location: Bai Khem, An Thoi Township, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, 920000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 4,994.524

This 5-star hotel has a unique Bill Bensley design and is located along the Khem beach area and has a private beach that guests staying at can enjoy.

Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island

Location: Tran Hung Dao, Cua Lap Hamlet, Duong To Commune, Duong Dong Township, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, 92000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 1,524.615

Located in Phu Quoc and just a few steps from Long Beach, this hotel offers accommodation with free bikes, a fitness center and a garden. Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island also offers a terrace for guests to enjoy the afternoon with beach views.

Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay

Location: Khem Beach, An Thoi Town, Phu Quoc, Phu Quoc, An Thoi Township, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, 920000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 1,873.520

Located in Phu Quoc, 2.5 km from Khem Beach, Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Managed by Accor offers luxurious facilities with an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and a garden. This 5-star resort also has a shared lounge and terrace as a place to relax from a day on the beach.

7. Sapa – Hill Station and Trekking Destination

Sa Pa is home to six ethnic groups that have different cultures and languages in Vietnam. The majority ethnicity is Hmong followed by Dao, Tay, Dzay, and Xa Pho. They are known as tourist-friendly people plus can be invited to communicate in English and French.

There are several interesting activities carried out here, namely:

Trek to Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam

Phan Xi Păng in Vietnamese is located in the northwestern region of Vietnam and has an altitude of 10,312 feet or around 3,143 meters above sea level. This mountain, located in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, is an ideal for mountain climbers. Usually, it takes 2-3 days to complete the trek to Fansipan peak and back.

Visit the ethnic minority villages

There are various ethnic minorities living in the mountain town of Sapa, Vietnam such as the Black Hmong, Red Hmong, Flower Hmong, Red Zao and Day. Visiting villages and interacting with them are the main attractions in Sapa apart from nature.

Enjoy the cool weather

When you arrive in Sapa in winter, you will have the opportunity to see the magnificent natural scenery, and enjoy the typical cold mountains of the Tay Bac area. When winter arrives, the average temperature is only around 3 to 10 degrees Celsius.

There are various typical Sa Pa foods that tourists, including you, can enjoy, such as:

Thang Co, is a popular dish among travelers as a special recipe of the H'Mong ethnic minority group. The main ingredient is horse meat, but the people of Sapa cook “Thang Co” using beef, buffalo or pork.
Grilled Pork with Sticky Rice
Banh Mi

Despite being in a high location, Sa Pa provides many hotel options for tourists, such as:

Topas Ecolodge

Location: Ban Lech Village, Thanh Kim commune, Ban Ho Township, Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, 330000

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 5,002.795

Also read: Topas Ecolodge

Enjoying panoramic views of the Hoang Lien National Park Valley, Topas Ecolodge is a unique and charming mountain hotel where guests can freely mingle with the ethnic villagers. Besides being able to see beautiful scenery, other activities are cycling and trekking.

Aliana Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa

Location: No. 30, Hoang Lien Street, Sa Pa Township, Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

Price: Price/room/night starts from RM 360

Located in Lao Cai District, Aliana Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa is 650 meters from Sa Pa Rock Church. This area is popular for hiking. Location Sa Pa Lake is only 1 km from Aliana Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa, while Mount Fansipan is 7 km away.

Those are 7 things to do in Vietnam that you can do during the 2023 long weekend. There are many interesting places in Vietnam, from cities full of history to refreshing natural attractions.

Not only Articles about Vietnam Travel that Traveloka provides, but we also have a lot of best-recommended articles for you guys to read! Here is the list of the best Articles recommendation special for you:

Of course, this can be the right choice for those of you who want to relieve stress from the hectic workload in your home country. Don't forget to book your hotel while on vacation only at Traveloka!

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