The Best Hikes to See World Heritage Sites in Vietnam

Vietnam’s diverse landscape and cultural heritage make it a thrilling destination for outdoor enthusiasts. From the lush jungles of the south to the towering mountains of the north, there are countless hikes throughout the country that offer stunning views of world heritage sites.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, there’s something for everyone in Vietnam. Read on to discover the best hikes to see world heritage sites in Vietnam.

 

1. Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is one of the most iconic sites in Vietnam and a must-see for any traveler. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its towering limestone cliffs make it a stunning spot for a hike. The best way to explore Ha Long Bay is to take a boat tour, which will take you to the most remote and beautiful spots of the bay.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also hike up the nearby mountains for breathtaking views of the bay and its many karst islands.

There are several trails in the area that offer different levels of difficulty, so there’s something for everyone. One of the most popular trails is the Cat Ba Island Loop, which is an 8-kilometer loop around the island with beautiful views of the bay. It’s a fairly easy hike and takes about 3-4 hours to complete.

For more experienced hikers, there are also hikes up to the top of the nearby mountains. The most popular is the Ngu Lao Mountain, which is a 12-kilometer round-trip hike that takes about 5-6 hours to complete. This trail offers stunning views of the bay and is an incredible experience.

 

2. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam and is home to some of the most breathtaking hikes in the country.

The national park is located in the Quang Binh province and is known for its stunning limestone karsts, forests, and rivers. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular hikes in the park is the Hang En Cave Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the stunning jungle of the park and offers beautiful views of the surrounding karsts.

The highlight of the hike is the Hang En Cave, which is one of the largest caves in the world and is an incredible sight to behold.

For more experienced hikers, there’s also the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the park and offers stunning views of the surrounding karsts, forests, and rivers. It’s a challenging but rewarding trek and is an incredible experience.

 

3. Bach Ma National Park

Bach Ma National Park is located in the central part of Vietnam and is home to some of the most beautiful and challenging hikes in the country. The park is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the park is the Bach Ma Mountain Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the park and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The highlight of the hike is the summit of Bach Ma Mountain, which is a stunning view of the surrounding area.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Thien Vien Trail, which is a two-day, 16-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the park and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

4. Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park is located in the Ninh Binh province and is home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The park is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the park is the Cuc Phuong Cave Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the park and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

The highlight of the hike is the Cuc Phuong Cave, which is a stunning cave with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Cuc Phuong National Park Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the park and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

5. Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is located in the Thanh Hoa province and is home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The reserve is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the park is the Pu Luong Cave Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the reserve and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

The highlight of the hike is the Pu Luong Cave, which is a stunning cave with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Pu Luong Nature Reserve Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the reserve and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

6. Ninh Binh Province

Ninh Binh province is located in the north of Vietnam and is home to some of the most beautiful and challenging hikes in the country. The province is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the province is the Bai Dinh Pagoda Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike.

This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the province and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The highlight of the hike is the Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is the largest pagoda in Vietnam and is an incredible sight to behold.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Ngoa Long Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the province and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

7. Hoi An

Hoi An is located in the central part of Vietnam and is home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The city is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the city is the Tra Que Village Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The highlight of the hike is the Tra Que Village, which is an agricultural village with beautiful rice paddies.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Hoi An Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

8. Mui Ne

Mui Ne is located in the south of Vietnam and is home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The city is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the city is the Mui Ne Sand Dunes Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

The highlight of the hike is the Mui Ne Sand Dunes, which are some of the largest sand dunes in Asia and are an incredible sight to behold.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Mui Ne Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

9. Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park is located in the south of Vietnam and is home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The park is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the park is the Dalat Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the park and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

The highlight of the hike is the Dalat Waterfall, which is a stunning waterfall with crystal clear waters.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Cat Tien National Park Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike.

This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the park and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

10. Central Highlands

The Central Highlands of Vietnam are located in the south of the country and are home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The region is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the region is the Ethnology Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the region and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

The highlight of the hike is the Ethnology Museum, which is home to a variety of artifacts and art from the local ethnic minorities.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Central Highlands Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the region and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

11. Da Lat

Da Lat is located in the central part of Vietnam and is home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The city is known for its lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the city is the Langbian Mountain Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The highlight of the hike is the summit of Langbian Mountain, which is a stunning view of the surrounding area.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Da Lat Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

 

12. Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is located in the south of Vietnam and is home to some of the most stunning and diverse hikes in the country. The city is known for its bustling streets, vibrant culture, and stunning views of the surrounding area. It’s a great spot for hikers of all levels and offers a variety of trails.

One of the most popular trails in the city is the Cu Chi Tunnels Trail, which is a one-day, 8-kilometer round-trip hike. This trail takes you through the beautiful jungle of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

The highlight of the hike is the Cu Chi Tunnels, which are a network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

For experienced hikers, there’s also the Ho Chi Minh City Trek, which is a two-day, 20-kilometer round-trip hike.

This trail takes you through some of the most remote parts of the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterfalls. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike and is an incredible experience.

From the majestic limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay to the stunning karst formations of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam has some of the most breathtaking hikes in the world. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, there’s something for everyone in Vietnam.

These are the best hikes to see world heritage sites in Vietnam and are sure to be an unforgettable experience.