Foreign tourists advise each other not to miss 2 provinces in Vietnam

Try searching for the keyword phrase “The top 10 places to visit in Vietnam”, and you will always see the suggested list of major cities, along with coastal resorts, islands and the most famous natural wonders.

The first thing you feel when stepping off the plane in Vietnam is the heat. This is a big reason why coastal resorts and tropical islands are always in the “top 10” for foreign visitors to Vietnam.

However, more than 10 years in Vietnam helped me realize that "hidden gems" like Da Lat and Dong Nai are worth paying attention to if foreign tourists want to have new experiences.

Da Lat: A hidden gem for foreign visitors

Da Lat is arguably one of the most romantic cities in Vietnam, and there are plenty of things to do and see there. The city is located about 300km from Ho Chi Minh City and is about 1,500m above sea level.

It is said that the city center was designed to create the atmosphere of a French countryside village. The streets surrounding Dalat Market are lined with impressive buildings that can easily make you think you are on vacation in Europe.

Xuan Huong Lake is the central symbol of the city, with a cool climate all year round, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Whether it is a romantic stroll, jogging or just sitting by the lake drinking coffee or wine, this place will still attract your attention with its beauty and tranquility.

As night falls, the Da Lat Market, located right next to the lake, lights up. The famous steps of this market become a haven for visitors to sample local dishes such as grilled rice paper, known as Vietnamese pizza, soy milk and a variety of other hot street foods.

For those living in the South, this is a rare opportunity to sit outside, put on a warm coat and hat, and enjoy the fresh, cool air.

Throughout the city, local dishes in restaurants will satisfy every palate, as Da Lat is also one of the culinary centers of Vietnam. Vegetables, fruits and coffee are grown in abundance in Da Lat due to the special weather conditions here.

Adventurers have plenty of options with adventure games such as zip-line, jungle exploration...

Tourists who like to relax will not have to worry about lacking experiences with many cultural activities such as visiting Lat commune - one of the places where ethnic people live, visiting XQ Su Quan to see the art of embroidery. Or Cu Lan village about 25km from the city, where the K'Ho people live, is also a door to explore Vietnamese culture.

Dalat is famous for its flower growing and the lakeside flower gardens are beautiful, especially in December, so spend a morning to see all the flowers here. The city also has some temples that are not to be missed.

Two other activities not to be missed when visiting Da Lat are visiting Langbiang peak and wine tasting.

Dong Nai: A gem waiting for foreign visitors to discover

If Da Lat is a hidden gem, Dong Nai, 40km east of Ho Chi Minh City, is an undiscovered gem. A new international airport is being built there, and will help the locality gain more popularity in the near future. For now, Dong Nai is chosen by many people in Ho Chi Minh City as a weekend getaway because it is only about an hour's drive from Ho Chi Minh City.

Actually, Dong Nai has long been a favorite destination for young people in Ho Chi Minh City to camp and have fun outdoors on weekends, but this place is developing even more than that.

Dong Nai has recently become known to many people as an ideal place for glamping camping, with Tri An Lake and Nhon Trach being two of the top destinations in Vietnam to enjoy this exciting camping experience.

For family travelers, Dong Nai also has many options with large tourist areas. If you plan to go somewhere for a day from Ho Chi Minh City, visiting sheep farms, grapefruit farms, mountain climbing, visiting pottery villages… in Dong Nai are also activities you can consider experiencing.

In addition, Cat Tien National Park is also a place that environmentalists should not miss. With homestay and eco-tourism tours, this area is loved by both Vietnamese and foreigners living in Vietnam, because there people have the opportunity to see local nature and connect with nature.

As a foreigner myself, it seems that every time I come to Dong Nai I find something new to experience.