Hi there, I am an average traveler. I am traveling through Asia since 6 month now. I got a lot of information from blogs and private websites but I am tired of the long texts I have to read to get some information. Of course everybody wants someone to listen to them but here I […]
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Da Nang is a city with a really long beach-coastline. However, the surrounding of this coastline is one big construction site where they build up one resort next to the other. So this area is a “tourist-ghetto” with insane expensive restaurants and the charm of a plastic box. But if you enter the actual city it is pretty nice.
It is possible to take the stairs or an elevator to get uphill. Take your time to explore the temple-like caves with historical statues and small shrines. Through a small tunnel, you can climb to reach one of the peaks. From the top, you can see the ocean… and the many construction sites. There are also temples, a pagoda, a cafe in the area.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
free
Entrance fee:
40000 Dong
Elevator fee
15000
Time I spent there:
2,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Even if at several websites this Pagoda and the Lady Buddha are listed as separate attractions they are in fact at the same place. It is a large area with a temple, a pagoda, an ocean view spot, artistic gates and a lot of holy figures.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
for donation
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
1,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
The city is colorful enlightened at night. If you go to the river, you can see the different decorated bridges, the Ferris Wheel and Love Park. If you are a hobby photographer, you will love to take pictures there by night.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
free
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
The creative pictures at the walls and at the floor will serve as the setting of your fantasy picture. Fight a Phoenix, balance over an imagine bridge or enter a fantasy world through a mirror. You need to at least one other person to correct your position and take pictures. You can do creative, funny and beautiful pictures.
Even if google maps tells you a different position, the museum is a little further at the point I marked.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
200000
Time I spent there:
2 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Mui Ne is just a little town. There are some attraktions but actually you can see everything with one tour and within one day.
There is a little water stream. You will barefoot walk through it and see the colorful stone formations and a lot of posing Asians with selfie sticks. It is nice and refreshing walking through the water and the area is very photogenic. You can pay entrance BUT you don’t need to! Go to the bright at the town. There are stairs down to the stream. Tours bring the tourists to this entrance so it should be ok and the entrances where people want money from you, are just private or the persons random trickster.
How I got there:
local bus (the blue one)
Entrance fee:
free up to 10000 Dong
Time I spent there:
2 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
The name is the program. It is not very big. In 5 min you can walk through it completely. More fun is it to rent a slide mat (10000 Dong) and slide down the dunes. A local bus directly stops in front of the dune. Just tell the person in the bus where you want to get of the bus.
How I got there:
local bus (the blue one)
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,75 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
As the red dune just in white. It is a little bigger. You can rent a expensive buggy for 30min and drive through the dune. There is no local bus going to the white sand dune. So you can rent a motorbike or a bicycle. I took a bicycle- bad idea. It is 20km to the dunes and the whole way is uphill.
How I got there:
bicycle
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,25 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Because it is always warm and less rainy, a day at the beach is always an option. The beaches in Mui Ne are often very dirty but if you leave the very touristic area, there are some nice beaches as well.
How I got there:
bicycle
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
2 hours
Location:
almost everywhere
Phong Nha Ke Bang is a national park famous for various caves and activities. The entrance to the area is free. If you rent a motorbike be careful because the ways are often muddy and suddenly there are buffalo or ducks at the street which block the way.
They say, it is the most beautiful cave in Phong Nha Ke Bang. You walk over a wooden path and will see a huge cave covered in light, with different rock formations and little waterfalls.
How you get there:
by motorbike
Entrance fee:
250000 Dong
Time you’ll spent there:
0,75 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Amazing caving tour. You pass the public area and when you reach the final platform, they open the gate for you and you go into the cave complex. You will see huge stalagmites and other thousand year old rock formations, experience the darkness and how you sense become more focused. Climb over rocks and swim through a cave lake. Eat lunch at next to a cave river under a whole that lets in some sunbeams. For me the best thing I did in Vietnam!
How I got there:
by tour
Entrance fee:
2600000 Dong
Time I spent there:
7 hours
12persons share a boat (only 2 seats next to each other). You will go down the river, see normal houses, fishing boats and hills. Then you enter the cave on the water way, pass by enlighten rock formations. The boat will stop, in the cave and you walk back out and have more time to look at the stalagmites and stalactites.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
150000 Dong
Boat fee
360000 per boat
Time I spent there:
2,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
They filmed the new King Kong movie in this area. There is no flower garden! It is a jungle trail. There are three trails:
1. Only leads to the beautiful waterfall, where you can take a bath at the bottom. Use a rope to get down on the steep rocky way (20min)
2. Includes a jungle hike, you will reach the waterfall from another side and go back with route no. 1 (40min)
3. Hike up to the peak and through more rural jungle and reach the waterfall this way and go back with route no. 1 (3h)
The routes are marked and they way is prepared with stares and official paths.
How I got there:
motorbike
Entrance fee:
40000 Dong
Parking fee
5000
Time I spent there:
2 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
My most Asian entertainment experience. Feeding ducks, run with ducks, let them nibble on you feet and throw a duck and see which one flies longest. Also, wear a rice paddy hat rides on a buffalo and get a cool picture at a rice field. One drink and small dish is included.
How I got there:
motorbike
Entrance fee:
150000 Dong
Parking fee
free
Time I spent there:
2 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Explore the rural area, see the villages, rice fields, forest and hills by bike or motorbike.
How I got there:
motorbike
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
3 hours
There is basically nothing to see. There is a sign that tells about the 8 ladies that got closed up in this tiny cave. There is a little unspectacular temple and a small shrine in the tiny cave.
How I got there:
motorbike
Entrance fee:
free
Parking fee
5000
Time I spent there:
0,25 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
The former capital of the Nguyễn-Dynastie, is a place full of old monuments and history. It is the place to be to learn more about the Vietnamese history before the Vietnam-/American War.
The Imperial city including the plaza and holy canons, the citadel and forbidden city. There is a lot to see. A few of the buildings got destroyed during the war but the government is about to rebuild and reconstruct most buildings, so you can get an impression. There are houses, ruins, little parks, temples, an imperial theater (still in use for performances), a cafe and a souvenir shop. I did a Walking Tour with a guide of beebee Travel. It was great and full of information in (good!) English.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
150000 Dong
Time I spent there:
3 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Almost every emperor of this dynasty build a tomb for themselves, so you will find the characteristics of the emperor in this place (they say). Here I present the three famous. I did a tour with these tombs the Thien Mu Pagoda, Green Garden House and Boat trip for 200000 Dong excluding the entrance fees… I didn’t like it because the guide spoke bad English and everything was too rushed. I recommend a motorbike or bicycle rental.
Beautiful Park with monuments, a lake, bridges and temple.
How I got there:
Tour
Entrance fee:
100000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Special about this one is, that it is build like a European castle. A golden figure of the emperor is sitting at a golden Throne. The walls of the hall are covered with mosaic arts.
How I got there:
Tour
Entrance fee:
100000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
The tomb of the “sad emperor” has nothing special to offer, if you saw the Minh Mang (witch is nicer)
How I got there:
Tour
Entrance fee:
100000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
A small pagoda at the perfume river, a temple complex and the car of the Monk who killed himself to protect his faith.
How I got there:
Tour
Entrance fee:
100000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
It is a spooky place, where a lot of people should have fun. There is a path around the beautiful lake. At the way you will find a water stadium, slides, an aquarium and a dinosaur tower inside full of graffiti. There is an entrance where is a “guard” that decides if you can go in and if and how much you have to pay for it… however, if you reach the area beside the lake, go to the right and just walk the other way round, no one will stop or bother you.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking:
free
Entrance fee:
between free and 20000 Dong
Time I spent there:
2 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
It is a ancient house. You can enter the house and drink a cup of green tea.
How I got there:
Tour
Entrance fee:
20000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,25 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Just an old House but I liked the story about the Princess who lived there.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,15 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
It is possible to take a boat tour over the perfume river. The few is not very beautiful and nothing special takes place at the boat if it is included in a tour but if you love boats trips you should go for it because if you pay the normal price of 300000 there should be more than what we got.
How I got there:
Tour
Entrance fee:
was included
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Nice Park with flowers, stone figures and benches. From there you can also see the Truong Tien bridge.
At night, they use colorful light to stage it in a different view. The Night Market is also next to this park. I went there during daytime and just saw the night view only on my way to the train station.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Hoi An is a small historical town famouse for their silk craft and lanterns. You can visit this town for a day trip or stay there and explore more than just the old town.
The ancient town is the area around close to the river. Enter small streets with historical houses and decorated with lanterns. If you buy the entrance ticket you can enter every attraktion in the old town like Chùa Cau (japanese bridge), Assembly Hall Of Fujian Chinese, Phung Hung House etc.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
150000 Dong
Time I spent there:
3 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Maybe it is interesting for you to see the busy local market where vendors offer fruits, fish, meat, cloth etc.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Every evening starting from 7pm they turn on the lights at the river. The streets of the old town are full of lanterns. The bridges are enlightened and at the river, they sell little candle-lanterns you can put at the water. So the river is decorated with this little lights. It is a nice sight. Moreover, it is possible to do a little boot tour through this “lantern-river”.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
43km from Hoi An there is the UNESCO heritage My Son. You reach the old Indian style ruins over the paths through the park area they created. 50 of the former 70 ruins were destroyed during the war, so there are not so many left as you might think. There is a traditional dance show, a souvenir shop a little cafe.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
5000 Dong
Entrance fee:
100000 Dong
Time I spent there:
1,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
You will sit in front of a small water stage. They present short scenes out of the daily live, myth and slap stick sketches. They give a short English information before every scene. Even if you don’t understand the words of the song they sing, you will get the story and the jokes.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
80000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,75 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Puli is a small town in the center of Taiwan. With all the little local restaurants and hostels it is an ideal base for trips and activities. Everything I listed here is reachable by bus. I stayed at I Puli Hostel. It is simple and cheap. The owner and the staff are very nice and will help you find the right bus to every destination.
They pick you up with an English translator who takes care for you most of the time. They explain everything to you, put you in the equipment and introduce you to you instructor. The only active part you have, is to run in the beginning until you lose the ground under your feet. For 15 min you can enjoy the feeling of flying and the view over Puli.
How I got there:
pick up at the Hostel
Entrance fee:
2900 twd
Time I spent there:
1 hour
Location:
Link to Google Maps
It is a famous place for the honey moon of a lot of couples. The water is blue and the sun almost always shining. If you like, rent a bicycle and do a nice ride around the lake. Stop from time to time for eat ice cream or have a coffee. With a nice boat tour you can cross the lake to the temple and another cafe – It is not breathtaking but very relaxing.
How I got there:
local bus
Entrance fee:
free
Bike rental:
200 twd
Time I spent there:
4,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Usually in Taiwan there is a permission needed to hike up a Mountain that is higher than 3000m. The Hehuanshan is the only Mountain with 3422m which can be hiked without a permission because the bus is running to a platform near the top. Sounds disappointing? Don’t underestimate the altitude. The trails are well-marked and lead to view points where you will see how clouds try to get over the mountainous landscape.
How I got there:
local bus
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
3 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
It is funny, that Taiwan marked their northern, southern and central spot. So I visited all of them 🙂
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,25 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Ninh Binh has the typical flair of a vietnamese city. In the city itself is basically nothing really special to see but the surrounding has much to offer.
6 km from the Center of Ninh Binh there are the Trang An Grottoes. You will sit in a boat with four to six persons. A boats person is paddling in the backside and lead the boat through the area of mountains, grottoes, temples. In the boat there are additional paddles. If you feel like doing it, you can support him/her. When you stop at a temple. You get out off the boat walked around and get picked up at the other side of the temple. Most of the boat persons don’t speak English. Don’t panic, the amount of ways you could take is limited ;)
There are 2 Routes for the same price. Route 1 last 3,5 hours with focus on the landscape and temples. Route 2 last 2,5 hours and is more focused on grottoes.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
15ooo Dong
Entrance fee:
200000 Dong
Time I spent there:
2,5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
If you search on google for the Mua Cave, you will get a lot of pictures of a Mountain with stairs. Actually it is a combination of mountain and cave at the same location. Round about 9km from the Center of Ninh Binh is the Hang Mua (Dancing Cave) and Nui Ngoa Long (Lying Dragon Mountain).
In Winter time the Cave is quite small. You will reach a grotto after a few steps. But if you take of your shoes off and grab your flashlight, you can go over a little path deeper into the cave. I bet you can go further than I did at other times of the year – the path went deeper but the water level was too high there.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
15oooDong
Entrance fee:
150 000 Dong
Time I spent there:
2 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
More interesting than the cave is the 450 stairs long way up the Mountain to have a great view over the mountains, rice fields, the lake and little monuments
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
15oooDong
Entrance fee:
20000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,30 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Next to Hoa Lu there is Dong An Tien. You can walk there and leave your motorbike at the parking lot of Hoa Lu. The cave of this area is promoted. Yes there is a cave but actually it is ridiculous small. It is more like a nice walk around a lake. There is also a small temple and a kind of gate. It is not special but nice for a walk.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
15oooDong
Entrance fee:
20000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,25 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
The highest pagoda of Vietnam is part of the Bai Dinh Temple. I went there by night to take some night view pictures. Because I didn’t enter the temple complex I actually don’t know what is to see there but it is highly recommended on other travel blocks.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
?
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,30 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
National Park Cúc Phương with monkey salvation center
Planned as a french resort during the colonial time Dalat today is a mixture of European style city with Vietnamese life style with small restaurants, bars, cafes and a lot of things to see.
You will not regret the 47 km motorbike or car ride from the City of Dalat to Pongour Waterfall! It is a rocky platform where you can sit down and have a pick nick in front of the beautiful waterfall.
In summer, the waterfall is very strong and impressive. It is calm in wintertime, so take your swim cloth with you, if you want to swim in the lake in front of the waterfall.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
free
Entrance fee:
23000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,50 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
In a distance of 29 km from Da Lat is the Elephant Waterfall. It makes sense to combine this two waterfalls because they are at the same direction. You will walk and in part climb over stairs and rocks up to a platform and down to the bottom of the waterfall.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
5000 Dong
Entrance fee:
20000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,50 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
You pay the entrance fee to take the roller coaster (Sommerrodelbahn) to get to the Datanla Waterfall. You can control the speed of your roller coaster car and have a fast fun ride or a nice view at the mountainous forest. The waterfall is nice but not comparable to the other two. There are benches where you can sit down and have some soft drinks from the little shop. You can go up until you reach the elevator but to see the upper part you have to buy another ticket at another place. The two parts are separated (why ever…)
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
3000 Dong
Entrance fee:
150000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,50 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
Someone told me: “It feels like Alice In Wonderland” to walk around at the Crazy House. Discover the architecture by walking up to the three towers and over all the little ways and bridges. You can also drink a coffee in the yard. It is also possible to stay over night in one of the little rooms.
How I got there:
by walk
Entrance fee:
50000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,75 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
This pagoda is actually very colorful and beautiful. There are three buildings: 2 temple, pagoda and a pavilion with Lady Buddha. Buses full of tourists come to this place and it is very crowded.
How I got there:
Taxi
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
0,50 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
To hike up the Lang Bian is a nice exercise through a nice but not breathtaking scenery. The picture I took from the only nice view point at the peak of Lang Bian Mountain. Most things you will see are plastic roofs of greenhouses but the way is very quiet and green. The way up is not very hard for an average hiker but quite steep in the end.
How I got there:
by Bus
Bus ticket:
7000 Dong
Entrance fee:
free
Time I spent there:
5 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
At the map you can see the street where you can find the bus stop. Take the bus which is going to the direction to the red mark. The final stop is the entrance to Lang Bian National Park. You can pay the entrance fee and go or drive up to the beginning of the hiking trails OR you take the little parallel street at the right hand side of the entrance. Follow this way until the way go hard to the right. Don’t take this curve. Leave the street and go straight up the path walk. Go straight up until you reach the big road. Turn right and follow this road for 100m and turn left and go a little further up and you will reach the hiking entrance.
Enjoy the view of Dalat from above in a private cable car. In one cabin there is space for four persons. You can open the windows to take pictures. At the other side of the cable car there is a little nice temple. You can also reach the Tuyen Lam Lake this way, do a boat ride or take a walk.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
3000 Dong
Entrance fee:
150000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,50 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps
My tip for everyone who is as chocolate addicted as I am 😉
How I got there:
by walk
Tip:
Chocolate Dynamite Ice Blender
Products:
coffee, good (!) hot chocolate, cake, chocolate fondue…
Location:
Link to Google Maps
A little park with a small lake and flowers. You can walk around and see some figures made out of flowers. I mistook it for the Valley of Love Park, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone there.
How I got there:
Motorbike
Parking fee:
5000 Dong
Entrance fee:
10000 Dong
Time I spent there:
0,50 hours
Location:
Link to Google Maps