9 Must-Visit Tourist Cities You Can't Miss in April

As summer approaches, a myriad of tourist festivals are set to take place in the upcoming month of April. Make sure to prepare for at least one of the destinations below to enjoy a vibrant and joyful summer.

9 Must-Visit Tourist Cities You Can't Miss in April

1. Phu Quoc

Keeping up with travel news, you'll learn that this year, Kiên Giang has been selected to host the 2016 National Tourism Year – Phu Quoc – Mekong Delta with the theme 'Exploring the Southern Land.' And on April 9th, the opening ceremony of the 2016 National Tourism Year will take place in Phu Quoc, featuring various activities to attract tourists for exploration and discovery.

Moreover, you'll get to explore Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc Care and Conservation Park, spanning nearly 500 hectares and following the world Safari model. Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc boasts about 3,000 specimens of animals from 150 rare species worldwide. You'll witness species like Bengal tigers, Arabian gazelles, spiral-horned antelopes, black-and-white lemurs... Especially, Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc also houses a remarkable collection of rare species in Vietnam such as 200 flamingos, 100 rhinos, 60 giraffes.

2. Vung Tau

Just about a 2.5-hour drive from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau is one of the favorite destinations for Southern travelers, perfect for those with busy schedules in need of short getaways. When you arrive in Vung Tau, you'll feel peaceful and comfortable with its wide, airy streets. Below lie the blue sea, above are large and small mountains, along with serene temples... all combining to create a captivating Vung Tau. Some places to explore in Vung Tau include: Ho May cable car, the statue of Mary on Bai Dau beach, Vung Tau lighthouse, Hon Ba, Truoc beach, Sau beach, ...

Vung Tau also attracts tourists with thrilling dog races, delicious fresh seafood markets, famous banh khot pancakes, or night bars and beer clubs to cater to all the needs of tourists. During the day, you can leisurely stroll along Sau beach with friends and family to enjoy the sea breeze. In the evening, you can explore the night market area behind the Imperial Hotel, or visit the park for a walk and sightseeing.

3. Phan Thiet

Travelers to Phan Thiet will be mesmerized not only by the endless stretches of white sandy beaches, vast golden sand dunes, and ancient revered temples, but also overwhelmed by a plethora of beautiful hotels and resorts. Some places visitors often visit in Phan Thiet include: Mui Ne, flying sand dunes, Bau Trang, Ke Ga cape, Suoi Tien, Co Thach beach, Ta Cu mountain, Phu Quy island, Hon Rom, Po Sah Inu tower, Duc Thanh school,...

Not only delicious and diverse, but street food in the coastal city of Phan Thiet is also quite affordable. Among them, must-try specialties include: salad of mai fish, duck Quang noodles, banh quai vac, banh beo, squid teeth, Vietnamese pancakes, banh hoi with pork intestines,...

4. Da Lat

At an elevation of 1,500 meters above sea level, Da Lat enjoys cool weather and is an ideal resort destination in the Southern region. Key attractions in Da Lat that you shouldn't miss include: Datanla Waterfall, Lang Biang Peak, Golden Stream, Valley of Love, Cau Dat Tea Hill, Dairy Farm... Just about 300km from Saigon, Da Lat is a wonderful retreat, helping tourists escape the scorching heat and hustle and bustle of big cities.

One could say that Da Lat is a convergence of cuisine from all three regions of Vietnam. This small city boasts numerous restaurants, famous dining areas, such as the night food street near Da Lat market, offering signature dishes like grilled specialties, chicken heart porridge, corn on the cob, Quang noodles, pancake rolls, soy milk, various snail dishes... all delicious. Da Lat attracts tourists with its natural landscapes, culinary delights, and let's not forget the mountainous coffee shops that have long established Da Lat's brand, such as Tung Coffee, Cung To Chieu, Da Lat's Night, Thuy Ta...

5. Nha Trang

Every year, from the 20th to the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month (corresponding to April 26th - 29th, 2016), the Thap Ba Festival takes place at the national historical-cultural relic of Po Nagar Cham Towers, on Cu Lao Hill, Vinh Phuoc Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. Besides the Cham people from Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan participating in the festival, there is also the participation of the Kinh (Vietnamese) people and some other ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and Central Vietnam: Da Nang, Quang Nam, Phu Yen, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Thua Thien - Hue... Participants bring offerings, pilgrimage to Po Nagar Towers, sincerely expressing gratitude to a woman who taught the people how to make a living and live by farming.

Nha Trang is home to one of the most beautiful bays in the world, along with hundreds of beautiful large and small islands. Here, you not only immerse yourself in the crystal-clear waters where you can see the bottom, but also participate in exciting water sports. Some enticing attractions in Nha Trang to consider include: Vinpearl Land, Mun Island, Tam Island, Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, Po Nagar Cham Towers, Dai Lanh Beach, Dam Market... Nha Trang not only offers many scenic spots, tourist islands, but also treats visitors to mouthwatering dishes such as: fresh seafood, fish ball noodles, fish noodle soup, jellyfish noodles, Ninh Hoa nem (fermented pork roll), pancake rolls, wet cakes,...

6. Danang

Recently, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Danang City organized a ceremony to receive 150 cherry blossom trees (100 saplings and 50 branches) donated by the Japan Cherry Blossom Exchange Association. Accordingly, 100 saplings will be planted in the Asia Park and 50 branches will be arranged in the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festival, promising to bring visitors a space filled with vibrant blossoms. The Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled for April 9th and 10th, featuring the beauty of this flower symbolizing the nobility and pride of the Japanese people.

This is also an opportunity for city residents and tourists to learn about Japanese culture through traditional activities such as cuisine, tea ceremonies, Kimono costume displays, Origami art performances, Ikebana flower arrangements...

7. Hue

With the theme '710 years of Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan - Thua Thien - Hue - Cultural heritage with integration and development', the 9th Hue Festival will take place from April 29th to May 4th, 2016. The opening ceremony of the Hue Festival 2016 will be held on the evening of April 29th at the Hue Imperial City.

The organizers of the Festival have announced that 18 countries such as France, Belgium, Russia, England, Denmark, Poland, Morocco, China, South Korea, Japan, Israel, Sri Lanka, Australia, the United States, Mexico, Chile, Colombia... have officially confirmed their participation. Particularly, the Hue Festival 2016 will focus on exploring traditional cultural spaces, continuing the previous festival editions. The entire city of Hue will be transformed into a stage for art performances, culinary events, heritage exploration, and festivals.

Huế boasts numerous ancient palaces and tombs with unique architecture. The vast Imperial City of Hue requires a whole afternoon to explore thoroughly. Must-visit tombs in Hue include Khai Dinh Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Gia Long Tomb... along with Nam Giao Esplanade. This place also offers a plethora of famous, delicious, and affordable dishes, making it an ideal paradise for food enthusiasts, such as beef noodle soup, mussel rice, clam rice, savory rice cakes, crispy pancakes, noodle soup,...

8. Halong Bay

The Cherry Blossom Festival 2016 in Halong Bay will not only take place in Danang but also from March 18th to 23rd, 2016, at 30/10 Square (Halong City, Quang Ninh Province) under the theme of 'Integration, Cooperation, and Development.' The festival will introduce the image of the cherry blossom - the national flower of Japan and Japanese culture to the people of Quang Ninh and tourists; at the same time, it will promote the tourism potential and strengths of Halong, Quang Ninh to the Japanese people. The festival contributes to enhancing diplomatic relations, friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, as well as strengthening cooperation, promoting investment in tourism, commerce between Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises.

Next up, the Halong Carnaval cannot be missed. The Halong Carnaval has been organized for 9 editions and this year marks the 3rd consecutive time that Halong City has been entrusted to organize it in April. Halong Carnaval 2016 will continue the performance model of singing - dancing - music on stage combined with Carnaval floats, dances, and folk performances of ethnic groups, regions, and cultural areas of the province on the streets. It is expected to attract many tourists to visit.

9. Sapa

In early February, the Fansipan cable car was inaugurated with great joy from many people. The cable car has a length of 6,325 meters (one of the longest cable car routes in the world), with a height difference between the departure and arrival stations of 1,410 meters (the largest in the world). This is also the first 3-rope cable car system in Asia and the cable car system with the most complete rescue solution. In all cases, the cable car can still operate safely to bring passengers back to the station. The cable car helps tourists shorten the time to conquer Fansipan from 2 days to just 15 minutes and offers beautiful scenery when viewed from above.

April is perhaps the perfect time when the sky is clear, making it easy to observe the natural scenery from the cable car. The terraced fields in Sapa are flooded, making the landscape even more spectacular. Besides the cable car, Sapa also offers many majestic scenes from one of the four great mountain passes in the Northwest: O Quy Ho Pass, the ethnic villages like Ta Phin, Ta Van, Lao Chai... will surely bring visitors many exciting experiences.

By Tiểu Duy

***

Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook