{"id":41906,"date":"2018-09-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wanderlusttstg.wpengine.com\/inspiration\/vietnam-local-guide-to-best-off-the-beaten-track-spots\/"},"modified":"2024-03-08T00:09:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T00:09:12","slug":"vietnam-local-guide-to-best-off-the-beaten-track-spots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/inspiration\/vietnam-local-guide-to-best-off-the-beaten-track-spots\/","title":{"rendered":"A local guide to Vietnam: 5 off-the-beaten-track spots you haven&#8217;t visited"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"first\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-744488\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-first\" data-placement-id=\"63374\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    <style type=\"text\/css\">.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-advert .wak-advert-container{display:flex;justify-content:center;width:100%}<\/style>\n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63374\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63374'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1: M\u00f9 Cang Ch\u1ea3i district<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/dreamstime_xl_117306690.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">Rice fields in harvest season in M\u00f9 Cang Ch\u1ea3i (Dreamstime)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>For many, Hanoi is the northernmost slice of Vietnam they\u2019ll see, before venturing south. But those who do are missing a trick, with the country\u2019s north-western corner of M\u00f9 Cang Ch\u1ea3i an off-grid land of steep emerald valleys pocked with sleepy villages. Its remoteness \u2013 to reach it you need to navigate the mountain pass of Khau Pha \u2013 means many travellers don\u2019t make the effort to visit, leaving its lesser-treaded wilds free for you to roam. Visitors should explore M\u00f9 Cang Ch\u1ea3i on motorbike, making regular stops to admire picturesque views of the rippling rice paddies and lush green hills en route.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>The star attraction here are the lush rice paddies that stretch across 20 sq km of the area\u2019s undulating hillsides, farmed by locals for centuries. Head there in autumn (September-October) and you\u2019ll see them at their best, the late afternoon sun bathing the rice fields in soft golden and toast-brown hues at the height of harvest season. It\u2019s also a great excuse to join in the festivities at the annual Rice Paddy Festival, where minority Thai groups perform traditional bamboo-based music and Xoe dances.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Webs of walking trails offer spectacular views across this natural light show, as well as offering a glimpse of the ethnic minority villages that dot this wild land.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><strong>Local insider tip:<\/strong> Time your visit for the harvesting season in September when there are plenty of festivities to be enjoyed, including street food exhibitions and group performances among the local Thai communities.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2: Bai Tu Long Bay<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_474582664.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">Boat in Bai Tu Long Bay (Shutterstock)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>We\u2019ve all heard of the well-cruised karsts and limpid-blue waters of Halong Bay and rightly so \u2013 it\u2019s one of Vietnam\u2019s natural gems. But with that comes boatloads of visitors, especially come high season, which can sometimes dull the allure.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>However, float along the coastline a little further and you\u2019ll reach Halong\u2019s less-celebrated sister, Bai Tu Long. Here, the fine limestone islets that speckle the creamy ripples of this national park more than rival its more popular peer for natural drama, but it comes without the crowds, meaning you have its misty sunrises and otherworldly views all to yourself.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_1\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-454107\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_1\" data-placement-id=\"63376\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63376\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63376'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>The calmer bay allows for kayaking at a leisurely pace and swimming under the looming karsts is a refreshing joy. Some of the larger islands are rich in wildlife, while dugong frequent the surrounding waters. Sometimes it pays to extend your search and, in this case, sliding through the Gulf of Tonkin a little further reveals a glimpse of what Halong Bay was probably like before it was streaked with the foamy wakes of tourist-bloated boats.<br><br><\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><strong>Local insider tip:<\/strong> Explore more of Vietnam\u2019s lesser-known beautiful bays:<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nha Trang Bay<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_60499624.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">Nha Trang Bay temples and boats (Shutterstock)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><strong>Best for:<\/strong> Diving and snorkelling<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Thanks to its diversified marine life, the waters surrounding Nha Trang Bay draw in visitors from across Vietnam as well as overseas in the hope of swimming alongside a whole spectrum of fish, including cuttlefish, lionfish and clown fish. For those who are willing to take the plunge, snorkel a few metres deeper to the ocean floor for a dazzling spectrum of 350 species of coral that glow in the sun\u2019s reflection.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vinh Hy Bay<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/dreamstime_xl_106137260.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">Vinh Hy Bay (Dreamstime)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><strong>Best for:<\/strong> An authentic local encounter<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Compared to Vietnam\u2019s more iconic coastal attractions, Vinh Hy Bay attracts little attention. Its unlikely location on the east coast of Nui Chua National Park means travellers who venture to this unsuspecting corner can admire its natural beauty in seclusion. Surrounding the bay are minority communities such as the Cham and Raglai people, as well as a growing fishing community \u2013 meaning now is the best time to visit before the crowds arrive.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_2\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-130223\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_2\" data-placement-id=\"63377\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63377\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63377'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3: Northern mountain markets<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/dreamstime_xl_26345117.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">Bac Ha market (Dreamstime)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>M\u00f9 Cang Ch\u1ea3i isn\u2019t the only hidden gem in Vietnam\u2019s upper reaches. On first glance, its rugged peaks carry a peaceful charm, the landscape only interrupted by the trickle of a stream or locals going about their daily routine. But in the tribal villages that nudge the Chinese border, there\u2019s a handful of times a month where the mountains truly come alive: market day.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>From the break of dawn, once-quiet streets are flanked with bustling stalls ready for locals bedecked in colourful traditional dress ready to peruse. For travellers, it\u2019s a fine opportunity to glimpse tribal life and each village\u2019s cultural intricacies, and with such little tourist footfall here, you\u2019re guaranteed they\u2019re authentic.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Spend your Sundays in Bac Ha, which boasts the biggest market in the region, a riot of colour veining its streets, or in Dong Van, where you can taste foods such as <em>banh troi<\/em> (floating rice cake) and<em> ruou gao<\/em> (rice wine). Home-stewed thang co is also a must-try meat-based dish that gets its fine flavours from a mix of lemongrass and chilli leaf, giving it a flavourful kick that leaves the mouth ringing for more.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Elsewhere, you can pick up regional vegetables in Cao Son on a Wednesday, sip Lung Phin\u2019s namesake tea and twinning market mooching in Pho Bang with a wander among its ancient tiled roofs is also a delight.<br><br><\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><strong>Local insider tip:<\/strong> Make the most of being on the doorstep of a remote mountain range, where fresh produce can be selected and sampled, before cooking up traditional Vietnamese dishes, away from the tourist-packed markets in major cities. Whether you\u2019re tempted by beef jerk that\u2019s been slow-roasted over a firepit, or curious to try lemon fried chrysalis bees, there\u2019s plenty of food on offer to tease the palate.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4: C\u00f4n \u0110\u1ea3o islands<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/dreamstime_xl_25300799.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">C\u00f4n \u0110\u1ea3o island (Dreamstime)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>To find some of Vietnam\u2019s finest pristine wildernesses, you have to make the effort to get there. The islands that make up C\u00f4n \u0110\u1ea3o National Park are no different \u2013 either a 12-hour ferry from the mainland or an hour\u2019s flight will bring you to the archipelago \u2013 but the journey is well worth it.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_3\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-504895\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_3\" data-placement-id=\"63378\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63378\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63378'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>It was once covered in prisoner camps, with Vietnamese soldiers held here both under French rule and the American-backed government between 1862 and 1975. While you can still visit the prisons of old, it\u2019s the striking landscapes that are now the eye-catching focal point.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>C\u00f4n S\u01a1n is its largest hub, fringed with sandy beaches and snorkel-worthy coral reefs and inland, covered in patches of tropical forest and a charming colonial Old Town. Hiking trails serve up fine wildlife-watching opportunities both on the ground and in the sky, with the chance to spy black giant squirrels, the endemic bow-fingered gecko, red-billed tropic bird and the rare brown booby. Its shores are also one of Vietnam\u2019s most important nesting sites for green and hawksbill turtles, which can be spotted laying eggs along C\u00f4n S\u01a1n\u2019s 13 beaches throughout the nesting season between May and October.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Other islands here are also worth venturing to: Bay Canh is a major nesting site for sea turtles and Tre Long is surrounded by an impressive haul of coral reefs, teeming with kaleidoscopic fish.<br><br><\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><strong>Local insider tip:<\/strong> Take time to explore other off-beat islands:<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nam Du Islands<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/dreamstime_xl_117783741.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">Nam Du Islands, Vietnam (Dreamstime)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Considered the Halong Bay of south Vietnam, travellers to the Mekong Delta region can take a speedy boat trip offshore to Nam Du Islands. The archipelago is home to diverse marine life, expansive beaches and historical sites across half of its 21 islands, while 10 remain uninhabited and yet to be explored in depth.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cham Islands<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_732321733.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">Cham Island beach (Shutterstock)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_4\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-774336\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_4\" data-placement-id=\"63379\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63379\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63379'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>15km from the coast of Hoi An, Cham Islands are a series of eight pocket-size islets that remain little-explored by travellers in the southern region of Vietnam. Day trips run regularly in the dry season (March-September), but visitors can experience the islands\u2019 greatest highlights by snorkelling its rainbow-tinted reefs, or with a beachside camp out at sunset.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5: Ba B\u1ec3 Lake<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_120871276.jpg\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p class=\"caption\">A boat on Ba B\u1ec3 Lake (Dreamstime)<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>Hemmed in a ring of limestone karsts 250km north of Hanoi is Vietnam\u2019s highest and largest natural pool: Ba B\u1ec3 Lake. But the lake is only half the story, with waterfall-seeping plunging valleys on either side, densely forested shores, islands and vast cave systems forming an impressively diverse landscape. This abundant land naturally makes for a haven for wildlife and it features an impressive rollcall: loris, pangolins, black gibbons, macaques and the Tonkinese snub-nosed langurs all roam its wilds. Birders will equally satisfied, with over 225 bird and more than 350 butterfly species to spot.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p>The surrounding vistas also throw up plenty of experiences. Boats ford the Nang River which threads Puong Cave, floating past unusual stalactites to the echoes of bat wings. Hua Ma Cave is laced with impressive rock formations and Buddhist folklore and the still waters of Fairy paint a tranquil scene. Wooden stilt villages also stud the lake\u2019s banks, the ethnic locals having farmed and fished the wilderness for generations. Organised tours package up its waterfalls, caves, waterways and ancient villages into guided boat tours and hikes, meaning you get to see the best bit of a land that often slips under most travellers\u2019 radars.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/travellocal-logo.png\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-heading\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">TravelLocal \u2013 a better way to discover our world<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travellocal.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">TravelLocal<\/a><\/strong><em> help you to create holidays your way, with carefully selected local experts in your destination. Since 2012 they have scoured the globe to find these experts \u2013 entrepreneurs and innovators from Argentina to Zanzibar and anywhere in between.<\/em><\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><em>They know where you\u2019re going better than anyone \u2013 after all your destination is their home. They craft unforgettable trips that are unique to you, combining your ideas with their local knowledge and contacts, to bring the world to life. You get a better, more authentic holiday experience and the local experts get a fairer deal.<\/em><\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\"><p><em>For peace of mind, <\/em>TravelLocal<em> are members of <\/em>ABTA<em> and your booking is 100% financially protected.<\/em><\/p><\/div><div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"last\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-795790\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-last\" data-placement-id=\"63380\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63380\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63380'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most travellers to Vietnam flock to Hoi An and Halong Bay, but miss out on its crowd-free corners. 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