Top 5 spots to visit in Vietnam for Lunar New Year

Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Danang & Hoi An, Dalat and Sapa are the five destinations to visit in Vietnam for Tet - Lunar New Year, according to Booking.com, a global travel site.

"If you haven’t already heard of Tet, aka Vietnamese Lunar New Year, it’s the country’s biggest annual celebration," it wrote.

According to Booking.com, this huge festival is a fantastic opportunity to visit and explore Vietnam, while locals enjoy an unforgettable staycation and spend time with family.

Phu Quoc island

"Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc, is located off the south coast and is often said to lay claim to the best beaches in the country - from the powder-soft sands of the island’s Khem Beach to the idyllic, crescent-shaped Sao Beach," Booking.com described.

"Visitors here can hike between waterfalls, caves and secluded bays, or take one of the region’s popular snorkelling, island-hopping cruises," it recommented.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island off the southern province of Kien Giang, became well-known globally after the government allowed 30-day visa-free entry to the island in 2014. The island received five million visitors in pre-pandemic 2019, 541,600 of them foreigners, according to official data.

In October, Phu Quoc was named among the top 10 best islands in Asia for Readers Choice Awards 2022 by U.S. travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler.

In July, Phu Quoc was ranked fourth on the list of top 10 islands in Southeast Asia as voted for by readers of the Travel + Leisure magazine.

Phu Quoc, also known as “Pearl Island”, was named among the 17 best places in Asia by cable news network CNN in 2019. “The island is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia and the world's longest overseas cable car," it wrote.

“Besides resting on beautiful beaches like Sao, Long and Ong Lang, travelers can kayak through fishing villages, dine on fresh seafood aboard a floating platoon, go squid fishing and visit a pearl farm.”

Nha Trang town

"With high-rise buildings backed by verdant mountains and a long stretch of white sand lapped by clear blue sea, Nha Trang’s striking cityscape is reason enough to visit. But it’s also a perfect destination for a Tet holiday, owing to its abundant nightlife and family-friendly activities," booking.com gushed.

"You’ll find an array of nightclubs for revelling in new year celebrations and restaurants specialising in fresh seafood caught just offshore," it added.

Nha Trang, a coastal town of Khanh Hoa provine, was named among the global Top 10 best places for scuba diving in 2020 by Forbes magazine.

In June 2003, Nha Trang Bay was recognized by UNESCO as one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world. It is one of the rare natural models of bay systems in the world.

The bay has rare ecosystems, such as wetlands and a tropical sea with beautiful coral reefs and colorful marine species, estuarine ecosystems, marine island ecosystems, and coastal sandy ecosystems. Among the islands, Hon Mun has the most biodiversity in Southeast Asia.

Danang & Hoi An

"Whether you’re travelling with family, friends, solo or as a couple, combining a Tet trip to the coastal city of Danang with a jaunt around the nearby seaside village of Hoi An promises something for everyone," Booking.com said.

"Danang has nightlife, shopping and fireworks from its striking Dragon Bridge every weekend. It also caters to a more spiritual Tet escape, with a visit to the Marble Mountains, where you can admire cave temples containing Buddhist statues and a great view of the city. Or visit Linh Ung Pagoda just outside of Danang, where they have a vast Buddha statue and the tallest Bodhisattva statue in Vietnam (at 67 metres tall)."

Meanwhile, "the captivating village of Hoi An will transport you back in time. Set at the mouth of a river within cycling distance from the beach, Hoi An oozes historic charm - its well-preserved Old Town features yellow-painted pagodas, canals and paper lanterns hanging from the eaves of old wooden buildings."

"Nature lovers can book themselves on a guided tour to visit An Bang Beach, the Cham Islands (Cù Lao Chàm) or the Bay Mau Coconut Forest, from both Hoi An and Danang. Stay beachside in Hoi An at the idyllic Red Flower Cottages Homestay," it suggested.

In August, Danang, "a culinary powerhouse with an array of palate-pleasing delights", was listed among 18 great group trip locations, according to Travel + Leisure.

"The night market stalls overflow with fresh-hauled seafood, and the fragrant aroma of bun cha ca (noodles with fish balls) fills the air outside the cafes. Besides mouth-watering food, there are sandy beaches, the Marble Mountains, the Ba Na Hills, and the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort for a swish group stay," Lindsay Cohn wrote on the U.S. travel site.

In July, the ancient town of Hoi An in central Vietnam was ranked 20th in Travel + Leisure readers' list of the 25 best cities in the world for their mix of culture, food, and friendliness.

Da Lat

According to the travel site, surrounded by pine forest-cloaked hills, tea plantations and pretty lakes, Da Lat offers an equally pleasant alternative to Vietnam’s coastal spots.

"Dotted with Swiss-style chalets built during the French colonial period and with a cool, spring-like climate, it can feel worlds away from the beach. But it boasts just as much natural beauty, from the Xuan Huong Lake, Tuyen Lam Lake and Datanla Waterfalls, to Langbiang Mountain and Robin Hill for panoramic views of Da Lat," Booking.com noted.

"It’s also ideal for travellers hoping for an active Tet holiday, with mountain biking, white-water rafting, canyoning and treks into the surrounding hills all available," it recommented.

Da Lat, also called Vietnam's ‘Little Paris’, in Lam Dong province is the most charming town on any tour of Vietnam's Central Highlands.

In December, the town was on the list of 18 Asia's most underrated destinations tapped by CNN Travel's network of colleagues and contributors.

"With its fresh mountain air and pine forests in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Da Lat is a popular destination for local Vietnamese that isn't as well known among international travelers," the news channel wrote.

Sapa

Booking.com suggested that: "Tet is a great time to head to Sapa, with snowfall sometimes coating the sublime scenery to dramatic effect. The rest of the year, it’s northern Vietnam's premier trekking base."

"Views are often eclipsed by thick mist rolling in from the Tonkinese Alps but on a clear day, the peak of Fansipan looming over the rainforest is a staggering sight. It’s the highest mountain on the Indochinese Peninsula and it’s also possible to take a cable ride to the summit for incredible views," the travel site described.

Next, "visit Cat Cat village, nestled in a scenic valley and offering a rare glimpse into the cultures of the ethnic minorities that live there. Buying souvenirs here – or in Sapa’s lively central market – will ensure your money goes directly to the people who made them."

Sapa, a mountainous resort town in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, is one of northern Vietnam's top tourist attractions.

In November, Sapa was named among Asia's 10 new winter wonderlands beyond Nepal by Canadian travel site The Travel.

The climate of Sapa is cool all year round with unique indigenous imprints, including the culture of the two ethnic minorities in Sapa, namely the Mong and the Dao, combined with the European architectural space.

In 2019, Sapa ranked sixth in the top 10 most attractive destinations in Southeast Asia by Rough Guides.

The U.K. travel publisher commented: “Việt Nam die-hards will know this former hill station is where to come for a whiff of heart-shifting Southeast Asian scenery. Established by the French in the 1920s as a summer escape from the north’s blasting heat, its popularity has ballooned in recent years, but the adventures remain time-worn."

“Hike to tiered rice terraces in the plunging Mường Hoa valley, overnight in mist-wrapped hills, or ascend Fan Si Pan Mount, the highest peak in Indochina and an unbeatable experience in the smoky light of dawn,” it added.