Exploring Vietnam: A Local's Guide to Authentic Experiences
- Mekong ZigZag
- May 9
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 1
MekongZigZag's Personal Recommendation
If you want to explore Vietnam in a non-touristic way while still visiting all the important spots, we’re here to help. These are our recommendations on where and how to visit in Vietnam, based on our 20–40 years of living and traveling across the country as locals.
The Easiest Ways to Travel
North to South: by plane
North to Central or Central to South: by train or plane
Within each region: by bus or taxi
Within each town or city: book a local tour, or rent a scooter if preferred
Best Time to Travel
North: October - December (autumn) & March - May (spring)
Central: January - April (light sunny)
South: November - April (dry season)
How Long to Travel
Depends on your travel style:
- If you are keen on slow travel, 3 weeks to more than a month is recommended.
- If you don't have much time and prefer a shorter trip, 2 weeks is manageable.
- If you only have 1 week, I'd say to only see 1 region, and save the other 2 for the next time. This way, you can have the best quality of traveling and a deeper understanding of the culture of a specific region.
Now, Let's Dive Deep into Each Region
For more convenience, you can click on the desired destination in the table of contents below:
A. North Vietnam
1. Hanoi
→ Recommended stay: 2–3 nights or more
Main impression: Ancient town, rich history, local food, local lifestyle
Where to Stay:
We found this hidden gem - a quiet stay from this host on Airbnb that is right next to Hanoi Cathedral. Book via Airbnb
Nice design, small, minimalist, cozy room: Concon house. Book via Booking
What to Do:
If you are adventurous: Try out the tour from Hanoi Backstreet Tour – Dzung, MekongZigZag’s founder, used to work here. It includes scooter and jeep rides through the Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and hidden alleys that show authentic local life and food.
Where to Visit:
Old Quarter: Try to go deep into random small alleys in the ancient town and see the small local “quiet” houses lying deeply behind the main streets.
Long Bien Bridge: Take a walk across the bridge to catch the sunset.
Hoan Kiem Lake: You can walk at the walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake (every evening on the weekend).
Dong Xuan Market & Local Communal House: Located at 15 Ong Cao Thang.
Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam: Ancient architectures, gardens & Vietnam's first university.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel: (Our King used to live here).
Hoa Lo Prison: (Very touching).
Hanoi Cathedral: (Only looking at the outside is enough in my opinion).
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: (Only looking at the outside is enough in my opinion).
Nice ancient Chinese architecture & art center: Google Maps link.
Other Things to Do:
Watch a puppet show at night time: Google Maps link.
Train street at night time (check local updates to confirm availability): Google Maps link.
Massage at Ossum Spa: Google Maps link (reasonable price and good quality and services).
Take a walk passing Hồ Tây - West Lake and feel the relaxing breeze while watching the sunset: Google Maps link.
Where to Eat:
(For us, it’s never enough to try Hanoi food!!)
Here’s your clean and organized travel food & drink guide for Hanoi with bolded main items and clickable links, grouped by category:
🥩 Non-Vegan / Local Dishes
Bún Chả: Personal favorite but it's not available on Google Maps, that's why it's authentic haha. You can try "Nem" - fried spring rolls here too. Map.
Breakfast Dumplings & Warm Soy Milk: Fluffy, fresh, smell-good, best dumplings in Hanoi Map.
Pho Rolls (Phở Cuốn): It's a large Pho piece roll with beef and vegetables. Not too many tourists know this dish, but it's so tasty and worth a try. Make sure to try fried Pho cake as well. Map.
Other Local Dishes:
- Bánh đa cua: Red thick noodle with field crab.
- Miến gà: Glass noodle with chicken.
- Bún thang: Traditional noodle soup with chicken, pork, and egg.
🥬 Vegan / Vegetarian ("Chay")
🍮 Desserts & Drinks
Cooling Sweet Soup (refreshing!): Map.
2. Ninh Binh
→ Recommended stay: 2 nights
Beautiful rice fields and tranquil rivers mixed with majestic limestone mountains.
What to Do:
Tour: Ninh Binh Backstreet Tour – Also linked to Dzung. Includes jeep & scooter rides, boat through caves, uphill trekking, and ancient pagoda visits.
Or, you can do the activities by yourself. Here are our recommended things to do:
- Row Boat Rides through limestone caves on the relaxing river: (touristic but worth it)
- Trang An Wharf: Beautiful scenery, short route recommended (around 1.5 hours). Seats are hard. Map.
- Tam Coc Wharf: Classic boat route through rice fields and karst mountains. Map.
- Thung Nang: Quiet, scenic, less crowded. Map.
Temples & Villages
Linh Coc Pagoda: Peaceful and uncrowded. Features a cave that runs through the mountain. Reachable via a 20-minute walk through Dam Khe village.
Thai Vi Temple: Beautifully located, accessible by bike or jeep (from the tour). Map.
Outdoor Activities
Cycling/Scooter Route: Lovely countryside route. From here, continue to Linh Coc Pagoda via a hidden trail (ask locals for directions). Map.
Other Attractions
Where to Stay:
Toki Retreat: Quiet, hidden, charming, reasonable price.
Where to Eat:
Bun Cha (grilled pork with vermicelli): A local restaurant but very authentic and hidden. Map.
Minh Khoi: Vietnamese food adapted for Western tastes; clean and affordable. Map.
0 KM: Upscale Vietnamese restaurant with a nice ambiance. Map.
Little Italy: Surprisingly tasty pizza and cozy Italian vibe (in case you miss European food haha). Map.
Central Vietnam
What to expect: Each city of the central has unique things to love about. There are ancient sites, traditional villages, old towns, hidden tranquil villages, and nice beaches. And not to mention: delicious food.
1. Hue
Old Vietnam's capital. Beautiful ancient heritages.
What to Do:
Skip:
- Tu Duc Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda – they’re often crowded and honestly, not essential.
Visit:
- Incense Traditional Village: Just around 7 kilometers from downtown Hue, Thuy Xuan Incense Village lies along Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street in Thuy Xuan Ward. This village has been known for its incense-making tradition for centuries—dating back nearly 700 years to the time of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Tombs & Pagodas: Hue is full of them. As a rule of thumb, if it’s famous and packed with tourists, skip it. The lesser-known spots—especially those farther from the city center—are usually more peaceful and feel more authentic.
Imperial City (Dai Noi): Go early in the morning to beat the heat, or visit later in the afternoon when the crowds thin out and the light gets softer.
Pagodas: Stop by any random pagoda you come across along the way—they often offer quiet beauty and a sense of local life. If you're up for a bit of a ride, head to Tu Hieu Pagoda—it’s well worth it.
Where to Eat:
Traditional Vietnamese Dishes - Cơm niêu Chạn: A great place for classic Vietnamese meals in a comfortable setting—perfect if you want to try a variety of local dishes with proper seating. Map.
Beef and Meat Lovers' Noodle Soup - Bún Bò O Phượng: A specialty and must-try when you are at Hue. This restaurant is famous among locals for its rich and bold flavor — don’t be surprised if there’s a line; it’s worth the wait. Map.
Bún Bò O Cương – Chú Điệp: Another solid spot for bún bò, and they also serve bánh nậm and bánh lọc — Hue’s beloved chewy steamed rice dumplings. Map.
Quán Bánh Chi (Bánh Lọc & Bánh Nậm): A small local eatery specializing in Hue-style dumplings—delicate, chewy, and full of flavor. Perfect for a light snack or side dish. Map.
Bánh Mì O Tho: A no-frills street cart with a reputation for one of the best bánh mì in town—crispy bread, flavorful fillings, and unbeatable local charm. Map.
2. Hoi An - Da Nang
2.1. Hoi An
"I've been living in Hoi An for the past three months, and to me, it's a truly charming ancient town. While it can be quite touristy, it's absolutely worth a visit. Based on my own trial-and-error experiences, here are some of the best spots I’ve discovered that I think you’ll love too - whether you're just visiting or planning to stay."
→ Stay: 2-3 nights
What to Do
Suggested activities:
- Join local tours: Momo Travel for local vibe, Hoi An Backstreet Tour for adventurous rides.
- Stroll/bike through the Ancient town and enjoy a Banh Mi breakfast.
- Go to the rooftop to have a nice view of Hoi An ancient roofs in a local cafe: Faifo Cafe.
- Bike to Tra Que herbs & vegetable farming village.
- Bike to Triem Tay village: have a nice vegan lunch at Karma Kitchen – Yên vegan macrobiotics homestay.
- Swim in the early morning/sunset afternoon at An Bang Beach.
- Bike through rice fields to local villages.
- Join a local yoga class.
- If you have kids, try out Lantern making class, Cooking class.
A Bit Further:
Visit My Son Heritage Sanctuary by taxi.
Go to Cham Island by ferry.
Not Recommended:
Basket boat tours: overly touristic and unauthentic performance shows on the river.
Ancient town at night time: One night is enough. It’s the most crowded time in Hoi An, but it’s still very worthy to take a stroll through the canal and shops that are full of lantern lights.
Evening ideas: Watch a cultural show: Teh Dar (local, bamboo performances) or Hoi An Memories (light & impressive performances).
Where to Eat
Vegan Places: (Hoi An is a very vegan-friendly town)
Karma Kitchen at Yen Vegan macrobiotics homestay: Must try. You'll feel relaxing and totally far away from the bustling life here.
Peanuts: Best vegan Banh Mi I ever had.
Goodeats: Westernize & local vegan dishes.
ẤM: Soothing dishes.
Đạm (The restaurant name means "Protein"): Reasonable price and very local meal.
An Villa: A boutique hotel but they are restaurant as well. Try their Bánh Xèo, Vegan Bánh Cuốn (only Saturday morning) and Mango salad, are scrumptious.
Local & Traditional Places:
Com Ga Long: Real local chicken rice restaurant in the alley.
Cơm Linh: Traditional local Vietnamese food (pre-reservation is recommended, they're always busy).
Cao Lau Thanh: Famous dry noodle dish, a Hoi An specialty, must try.
An Villa or Anicca Villa: (same manager) Boutique homestay/hotel/retreat. The place is designed by a French-Vietnamese architect. The rooms are mostly hidden and private. They have a very friendly and welcoming service, with good English-speaking staff. The place has a nice pool and yoga deck. Their cooking is very good too.
2.2. Da Nang
Modern beach city, better as a quick stop
Dine at: Thuc Duong Bao An – healthy food, organic vegan snacks and products.
(Hoi An beaches are quieter and more local than Da Nang’s)
Not Recommended:
- Golden Hand Bridge: This is a newly-built, modern construction, touristic destination.
3. Son Doong Cave
A grand UNESCO site, only accessible via Oxalis Adventure tours – pristine, guided, and adventurous.
4. Quy Nhon (Not the central but the outskirts)
→ Stay: 2 nights
Island & Beach Destinations
1. Con Dao
To Do: Swim at pristine beaches
Visit: Con Dao Prison – historical site
Eat: An Oi Restaurant, Kim Ngan Restaurant – squid noodles, beef soup
Stay: Uyen’s House (local), The Mystery Hotel (modern)
→ Stay: 2 nights
→ Transport: 2.5-hour ferry from Soc Trang or fly (flights pricier)
→ Tip: Avoid rainy/windy days
2. Phu Quoc
More touristic than Con Dao. Great if you want luxury and busy beach life.
Comments