10 Fun Days Exploring Vietnam: From the North to the South

Your Vietnam trip starts up north in Sa Pa. If you go at the end of January or sometime in early February, be prepared for slightly cooler temperatures. Though, February is perfect for your trip, bring a rain coat in case it rains. The terrain is beautiful and you will see some cool waterfalls and beautiful rice fields. If you've never seen them before, it’s worth a visit!

• Fansipan Sun World: Take the cable car to the peak for stunning views. You will reach over 10,000 feet in elevation traveling via a cable car that is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest cable car ride ever, covering almost four miles! It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes with an elevation difference of over 4,500 feet to reach the top. It is gorgeous on the way there. Be sure to take a picture at the giant buddha statue!

• Sa Pa Lake: Take a stroll around the lake when you first get in.

• Cat Cat Village or Sin Chai Village: A roughly 20-to-30-minute walk from central Sa Pa into the beautiful valley. Witness people embracing the scenery (rice terraces), nature and culture.

You are in foodie heaven here. Prepare for a big city with tasty food, a laid-back vibe and relaxed travelers. Make sure you get all of Vietnam's tasty staple foods, such as pho, banh mi, spring rolls and more. Hanoi has a lot of culture and is a huge starting point for a multitude of day tours highly worth seeing! For the great price and value, these experiences should not be passed up.

• Old Quarter: You'll feel like you've got a glimpse of old history here. Make sure you check out the 36 streets or guilds, as it's been said that each of these streets represent a different craft.

• Hanoi Water Puppet shows: One of the coolest and unique puppet shows you will ever see. All on the water, but don’t worry, you won’t get wet!

Tours from Hanoi:

• Day trips to Ninh Binh: Experience nature and adventure in this area that's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Multiple day trips are possible, and the scenery is gorgeous. Make sure you check out some of the cool pagodas too!

• Tam Cốc-Bích Động, Hoa Lư & Mua Caves Day Trip: View ancient architecture, ride in a boat and climb into a cave all on this single day trip adventure.

• Tràng An: Take a cool boat ride visiting some grottos and beautiful scenery throughout the surrounding areas.

*All tours above are in the Ninh Binh ancient capital vicinity.

• Hạ Long Bay Tour: This is an absolute must do highlight trip in Hanoi!!! This bay is made up of various mounds of limestone sticking high out of the water, making for a beautiful landscape that looks like it’s out of a movie. It's a great boat ride to have your camera out and ready for!

Hội An is my absolute favorite place in Vietnam. Everyone that I know who has visited this city seems to agree. Make sure to try all of the food, go for a bike ride or walk around this boutique town. When you are done in Hội An, go over and take in the beach and nightlife in Da Nang. Stop by the temples, too. My personal favorite place is the dragon bridge. You can stay in Hội An while making time to visit Da Nang, which is only about 20 minutes away. Or, you can stay in a high-end resort and do day trips to Hội An! Either works, but don’t miss out on either because they are so close and full of uniquely amazing things to see.

• Hội An City Center: Make sure to take a day (or half-day) to stroll around this ancient town and soak in all of its well-preserved buildings. Pro trip: ride a bike or motorbike to make it even more memorable. You will fall in love with this World UNESCO Heritage Site destination. Make sure you go see the city and sit around the water at night. You are in for a lovely treat!

• Hội An Basket Boat Ride: Ride in one of these uniquely shaped bowls, sure to make for a great picture.

• Night River Boat Later Release: No Hội An trip is complete without the night boat ride later release. Even if you don’t get in the boat, visiting the area at night to see the floating lanterns and colorful lights all around the town center is worth it.

• Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills Tour (Da Nang): This massive Golden Bridge held by two large hand sculptures in the high hills makes you feel like you are in the clouds. Bonus points if you can get a picture before the clouds; go early!!!

• Lady Buddha (Da Nang): Vietnams largest buddha statue is here. Complete with 17 floors, you'll get your exercise if you want it! Trust me, the views make it worth it. The whole area is large including the Lin Ung shrine and pagoda (both are different, but great things to see in Da Nang).

• Dragon Bridge (Da Nang): A dragon shaped bridge that spits fire sometimes. Yes, I’m serious! The bridge changes colors at night, too. I love it.

• Imperial City Trip: A great trip to the imperial city of Hue to visit palaces, shrines and gardens. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Marble Mountains: There are stunning caves, shrines and pagodas here. Bring walking shoes and go early for less crowds and cooler weather.

• Han River Swing Bridge (Da Nang): This Da Nang bridge above the river comes alive at night, changing different colors, too. If you've never seen a swing bring, you can watch it open and rotate 90 degrees as it lets ships through. This happens late at night, so you have to be willing to stay up.

• Han Market (Da Nang): Looking for a true taste of Vietnam? Go to this market where you'll surely get a taste of food, shopping and culture all in one. There's a lot to see here for those looking for local souvenirs, etc.

• MY Khe Beach (Da Nang): Looking for beach time? I got you covered! This beach has smooth sand and warm waters for those to enjoy. You'll love it!

This city is a lively melting pot in Vietnam, combining people, food and flavors all in one place. Plus, they have a different spin and fusion on food. It's your final stop, complete with a few things to ensure a great Vietnam trip.

• Mekong Delta Tours: Seeing this jungle swamp-like area will leave you feeling as if you've been transferred to an area unlike anything you've ever experienced before while floating down the river. Totally worth it.

• Cu Chi Tunnels: Curious to learn about a bit of war history? Come here to see the network of underground tunnels that were used during the Vietnam War.

At the end of your travels, look back at your newfound memories in Vietnam and embark on a safe journey home.