7 Reasons Why You Need To Visit Vietnam In 2025

Trying to sum up Vietnam in a sentence is like trying to capture a whole street market in one bite—impossible, and you’d be missing out on the best bits. Where ancient temples sit beside skyscrapers, fragrant bowls of pho are awarded Michelin stars and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches are still blissfully under the radar, there are endless things to do in Vietnam. 

Whether you're looking for a cultural deep dive, seeking five-star indulgence, or pursuing a good feed, Vietnam delivers in spades. If you need an extra push to finally book those flights, here are some of the best reasons of why Vietnam is a must-visit location.  

You can have a postcard-perfect beach holiday 

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With a coastline stretching more than 3,200 kilometres, Vietnam has its fair share of stunning beaches—some famous, some hidden. On Phu Quoc, Bai Sao’s powdery sand and calm, shallow waters make for the perfect laid-back escape, while the island’s coves offer some of the best snorkelling in the country. Mui Ne, famous for its towering sand dunes, is a hotspot for kite surfers thanks to its steady winds.  

In Nha Trang, Hon Chong’s rocky coastline meets the golden stretch of Tran Phu Beach, where beachfront bars stay lively late into the night. An Bang Beach, just outside Hoi An, has a more relaxed vibe with local seafood joints and gentle waves. Want more exclusivity? Ninh Van Bay is perfectly poised between jungle-clad cliffs and the sea. Further south, the Con Dao archipelago remains Vietnam’s best-kept secret—Con Son Island’s remote beaches feel worlds away and its marine park is teeming with sea turtles and coral reefs.  

Or a cosmopolitan city escape  

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Vietnam’s cities are buzzing with energy. In Ho Chi Minh City, motorbikes zip through neon streets, rooftop bars mix craft cocktails and new-wave restaurants push the boundaries of Vietnamese cuisine. In the country’s capital, Hanoi, tree-lined boulevards and ancient temples give way to modern buildings and chic boutiques.  

Meanwhile, Da Nang is becoming a hotspot, with a growing number of upscale restaurants and developments like the Golden Bridge—an elevated stretch in the Ba Na Hills held up by giant hands—making it a place not to be missed. To the north, Haiphong is emerging as a modern hub, with sleek waterfront developments and contemporary architecture like the Vincom Tower, home to upscale shopping and entertainment.  

You can eat like a king for very little  

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Vietnam’s food is reason enough to jet set, with street vendors and family-run eateries serving up steaming bowls of pho for as little as VND 30,000 (around $AU1.90). Try Pho Gia Truyen in Hanoi, widely considered the best in the city for around VND 50,000 ($AU3.10). Thanks to favourable exchange rates and a culture that values fresh, locally sourced ingredients, even a multi-course feast can cost less than $15 per person.

In Ho Chi Minh City, head to Ben Thanh Market, a favourite among locals for a hearty Bun Rieu Ganh (crab vermicelli soup) for only VND 50,000, fresh rice paper rolls for less than a dollar each and a sweet treat like dessert soup at just VND 40,000.  

Da Nang is a seafood lover’s dream where beachfront restaurants serve just-caught lobster and razor clams cooked over charcoal for a fraction of what you’d pay at home. Meanwhile, what some consider to be the world’s best Banh Mi can be found in Hoi An at Banh Mi Phuong—a humble eatery made famous by Anthony Bourdain that will cost you a mere VND 35,000 (around $AU2.20).  

There’s history and culture at every turn   

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Vietnam’s history is etched into its ancient towns, temples and streets—nowhere more so than in Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site where lantern-lit alleyways lead to wooden shophouses and centuries-old bridges. During the full moon, the town glows with thousands of floating lanterns set adrift on the Thu Bon River, a tradition from its days as a trading port.    

The imperial city of Hue, once home to Vietnam’s emperors, is a treasure trove of palaces, pagodas and tombs set along the Perfume River. The citadel tells the story of Vietnam’s royal past, while the nearby tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and Tu Duc are masterpieces of Nguyen dynasty architecture. For a genuine taste of Vietnamese culture, many resorts offer immersive experiences—from coffee-making and cooking classes at Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort to fishing with locals, wildlife spotting and even digital-free visits to nearby communities at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay.  

Its luxury resorts are upping the ante  

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What’s a tropical Vietnam holiday without a little luxury? In Ho Chi Minh City, Sofitel Saigon Plaza will have you feeling like royalty with eight-course degustation dinners and a boudoir lounge evoking the vibes of a 1920s-era speakeasy. Speaking of the twenties—the uber-luxurious Capella Hanoi oozes Années folles vibes with opera-inspired suites and a gilded indoor pool PH-balanced to protect your skin.   

At Villa Le Corail at Gran Meliá Nha Trang, you’ll find acclaimed fine dining, catamaran voyages and pristine views of Turtle Island, while the Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort has everything you could desire and more—an open-air cinema, Breeza Beach Club and optional all-inclusive dining and drinks. For those seeking pure seclusion, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is hidden away in a private cove with treehouse-style private pool villas, each with their very own wine cellars and golf buggies, to zip from yoga classes to a Pétanque court.  

It’s fast becoming a world wellness capital  

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Vietnamese wellness is rooted in sống khoẻ—the art of living well through balance, healing, and a connection to nature. At Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort, four- and seven-step wellness packages offer everything from massages to yoga, tai chi, sunset bath rituals, hydrotherapy circuits and meditation, all set against a tranquil jungle-fringed coastline. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay takes wellbeing to the next level with personalised programs based on your physiological biomarkers, helping you achieve your lifestyle and nutritional goals with expert guidance. 

Capella Hanoi’s award-winning Auriga Spa crafts treatments inspired by the phases of the moon, blending ancient rituals with complete opulence. Greet the sun with a tai chi session overlooking Vietnam’s most famed emerald waters at Oakwood Ha Long. Meanwhile, the tranquility of the  River View Suites at An Lam Retreats Saigon River are enough to put you in a complete state of bliss.   

It’s easy to get to   

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With direct flights from Australia to Vietnam’s main hubs—Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang—it’s never been easier to swap the everyday for a Vietnamese adventure. Vietnam flights from Sydney and Melbourne take around eight to nine hours, meaning you can be slurping a bowl of noodles in a bustling street market the same evening you depart.   

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