Buzz
With the dawn of 2021 comes the anticipation of fresh travel trends, signaling a departure from the norm as we navigate the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recent surveys indicate a shift in Vietnamese travelers' preferences, veering away from popular tourist spots towards lesser-known destinations boasting natural landscapes such as mountains and beaches, favoring serenity over bustling cityscapes.
Let's uncover the projected 'trending destinations' for 2021 with Vntrip's curated list below!
1. Mù Cang Chải (Yên Bái)
Mù Cang Chải is hailed as the ultimate dream destination for any adventurer. It's more than just endless fields; it's majestic and full of challenges for the daring souls.
Mù Cang Chải during the rice season. Image: Nguyễn Hồng Thu Trang
With each season, the terraced fields of Mù Cang Chải unveil their unique charm. At the onset of spring, meticulously tended terraces burst into lush greenery. The harvest season, typically between the middle of September and October, showcases vast waves of golden rice, complemented by the earthy hues of red soil and the fresh mountain air.
Expansive golden rice fields. Image: Hoang Mata
Imagine waking up in a remote location amidst the majestic scenery of terraced fields hugging the mountainside, stretching from the foothills to the peaks, traversing from one hillside to another, seamlessly extending endlessly. No noise, no honking cars, no dust, just the scent of ripe rice and a serene, refreshing atmosphere. It's like ascending steps to a new, wonderful paradise.
Bamboo forest in Mù Cang Chải. Image: Ngô Anh
2. Bắc Yên (Sơn La)
Bắc Yên, nestled in the mountainous region of Sơn La province, holds immense potential for tourism development. Blessed with a refreshing climate, diverse terrain characterized by towering mountains, deep valleys, and steep slopes, it offers numerous advantages for tourism activities. Among its attractions, Tà Xùa and Pu Nhi hills stand out.
Tà Xùa, a mountain range sought after by adventure enthusiasts, is enveloped by towering peaks, resulting in thick blankets of clouds that often create stunning cloudscapes even at midday.
Those familiar with Tà Xùa are well-acquainted with its perilous spine, considered one of the most treacherous roads in Vietnam. With elevations exceeding 2500 meters, the narrow ridge road, only about 1 meter wide, is strewn with rugged rocks and steep cliffs on both sides, posing significant risks. Without focused attention and utmost caution, adventurers may encounter unforeseen dangers at any moment.
Tà Xùa. Image: Bùi Việt Anh
Camping Experience at Tà Xùa. Image: Đỗ Quang Huy
In stark contrast to Tà Xùa, upon setting foot on Pu Nhi hill, one might feel transported to Da Lat, captivated by its pristine beauty characterized by pine-covered hills, vast grasslands, and remarkably fresh air. From atop the hill, one can gaze in awe at the surrounding mountain ranges, the district center of Bắc Yên shrouded in a thin mist, meandering streams, and winding roads that appear diminutive amidst the vast expanse of land and sky.
Pu Nhi Hill. Image: Nguyễn Quỳnh Trang Chu
Pu Nhi Farm. Image: Nguyễn Quỳnh Trang Chu
3. Sapa (Lào Cai)
With its perpetually misty, cool weather and picturesque landscapes, Sapa remains an ever-popular destination, regardless of the time of year. Simply rent a small motorbike in Sapa, and you can freely explore amidst the rolling hills, enveloped in serene clouds, admiring the majestic natural scenery, or wandering to remote villages like Lao Chải, Tả Van, Tả Phìn, mingling with ethnic children, conquering the Ô Quy Hồ pass...
Sapa engulfed in clouds. Image: Hien Pham Thu
Moreover, Sapa's Love Market is a particularly unique highlight. Stepping into the market, you'll immerse yourself in a space of love. Sapa girls adorned in colorful traditional costumes and boys serenading with romantic tunes. The Sapa Love Market often takes place in the evening, so you can visit a night eatery and indulge in Sapa's delicacies such as 'thắng cố' (a local specialty), grilled pork, salmon, grilled fish,...
Sapa in cherry blossom season. Image: Phạm Lan Hương
Furthermore, if you seek a tranquil space amidst Sapa, visit quaint, nostalgic, and romantic coffee shops like The Haven Sapa Campsite, Gem Valley, Viet Emotion, Fansipan Terrace,... These places offer stunning views, especially from higher floors where you can observe the entirety of mist-covered Sapa.
Indulge in coffee amid the backdrop of rolling hills. Image: Đặng Vân Trang
4. Măng Đen (Kon Tum)
Măng Đen - a quaint town in Kon Tum surrounded by lush mountains, trees, and wildflowers. It's dubbed as Măng Đen tourist area, but perhaps that's not entirely accurate because tourism here isn't highly developed; everything remains rustic and simple, reminiscent of Dalat decades ago.
Located at an altitude of 1200m above sea level, Măng Đen is where the sky meets the hills. Thus, all the roads along Măng Đen are winding paths layered amidst tall, rugged pine forests. As you drive along these roads, you may occasionally hear the gentle murmurs of streams flowing beneath the mountain foothills.
The tranquil scenery of Măng Đen. Image: Nguyễn Sơn Tùng
In Măng Đen, you can immerse yourself in the pristine natural landscapes of Đăk Ke Lake, explore the hanging bridges - a characteristic feature of mountainous provinces, or find solace at Pa Sỹ waterfall.
Hanging bridge in Măng Đen. Image: Nguyễn Sơn Tùng
You absolutely must visit Konbring Village. As soon as you turn right downhill towards the village, a sense of tranquility fills the air. The narrow village road will take you past stilt houses, golden rice fields, up to a tall hill. This is one of the four community cultural tourism villages in Kon Plông district, with over 90% of the population belonging to the Mơ Nâm ethnic group, primarily earning a living through rice cultivation.
The most precious aspect of this village is its children. Here, kids enjoy sitting in front of their houses, playing the same childhood games as those ten or so years ago. The older ones love flying kites, and in the evening, the eldest child from one end of the village rides a bike to gather the others for some open field playtime. Here, children don't know what a smartphone is; they only know mountains, forests, flowers, leaves, and trees as their companions.
Konbring Village. Image: Hoàng Linh Hà
5. Buôn Ma Thuột
Buôn Ma Thuột? Are you thinking of those sun-drenched dusty roads, the towering stilt houses, the lively sound of gongs, or the waft of coffee scent in the breeze? You might be right, but there's more! Buôn Ma Thuột is also among the top spots for the most picturesque virtual check-ins in Vietnam.
Draynur Waterfall. Image: Cường Quốc Phạm
Elephant Rock. Image: Cường Quốc Phạm
Nestled amidst the skies stands the majestic Elephant Rock, an emblem of the Central Highlands, while the Dray Nur – Dray Sap waterfall cluster flows like soft white silk against the rocky cliffs. The Buôn Ma Thuột Coffee World Museum, one of the world's largest living coffee museums, Buôn Đôn captivates with its wild beauty, boasting an incredibly diverse and rare flora and fauna ecosystem. Troh Bư tourist area or the wind turbine fields reminiscent of the Western sky...
Coffee Museum. Image: Yu Mi Nhon
6. Đà Lạt
No matter how travel trends may change, there will always be souls addicted to Đà Lạt. Unlike seasonal tourist destinations, Đà Lạt welcomes visitors year-round, each season boasting its own unique charm. Hence, you can comfortably choose the best time for your Đà Lạt getaway.
Đà Lạt immersed in clouds. Image: Tạ Xuân Hương
If you want to admire the blooming cherry blossoms, then from January to March when spring arrives is the best time to enjoy the flowers. Or the rainy season in August will enhance the allure of waterfalls like Pren, Pongour, Dambri... The end of the year is when Đà Lạt is adorned with wisps of misty clouds against a deep blue sky, the season of vibrant wild sunflowers.
Đà Lạt cherry blossom season. Image: Nhã Nhi
Moreover, if you seek a peaceful escape from the bustling city, Đà Lạt is the paradise for you with numerous romantic cafes and serene homestays. At night, when Đà Lạt returns to its inherently dreamy beauty, take the time to savor local dishes like grilled sweet potatoes, grilled corn, tiny rice pancakes, and chicken heart-shaped steamed rice cakes...
Relaxing at a cafe. Image: Sơn Đoàn
7. Phu Quoc Island
Similar to Sapa and Đà Lạt, Phu Quoc is a sought-after destination. The feeling of relaxation when immersing yourself in the sea breeze on Phu Quoc will surely make you forget the busyness of daily life to enjoy a wonderful vacation.
Phu Quoc boasts numerous photo spots. Image: Thu Hoài Shim
Apart from its 'blue sea, white clouds, and golden sunshine,' Phu Quoc also boasts a range of luxury, world-class hotels for you to experience living like 'the rich kids club' to the fullest. Or if you prefer simplicity and lightness, Phu Quoc also offers plenty of minimalist-style homestays that are simply stunning.
Oh, and if you're in Phu Quoc, you absolutely must experience snorkeling to admire the coral reefs. There are plenty of diving spots here, such as the An Thoi archipelago area, Thơm Island, Ganh Dau, Cua Can, May Rut Island... Each spot offers a completely different experience and feeling. Also, spend your time indulging in the Safari, riding the ultra-modern cable car to Hon Thom Island for some Instagram-worthy moments, and eat lots of seafood.
Relaxing by the beach. Image: Phuong Nguyen
Luxurious resort experience in Phu Quoc. Image: Phượng Phượng Nguyễn
8. An Giang
Situated alongside the lush Mekong River, An Giang resembles a small-scale painting of the tranquil and picturesque countryside of the Mekong Delta. Here, you'll enjoy a peaceful vacation amidst the fresh air, experience the simple life of the local water dwellers, check-in at numerous ultra-fancy destinations, and indulge in the rich and enticing local cuisine.
An Giang Province. Image: Bí Ngô
When it comes to traveling in An Giang, you can't miss out on Tra Su Melaleuca forest, a 'hot' destination on the Vietnamese tourism map. Tra Su Melaleuca forest is located about 30 km from the center of Chau Doc. On a motorboat, you'll venture deep into the mangrove forest. In the core area, you'll switch to a rowing boat to enter the habitats of various bird species, herons.
Moreover, you shouldn't miss out on the floating market in Long Xuyen, gathering from around 5 in the morning until about 8-9 o'clock daily, with hundreds of boats clustered along the Hau River starting the fascinating trading activities on the river. Unlike other famous floating markets in Tien Giang or Can Tho, this floating market still maintains the typical lifestyle of a typical Mekong Delta floating market without being overly commercialized.
Tra Su Melaleuca forest. Image: Hoàng Linh Hà
Floating market in Long Xuyen. Image: Collected
Have you chosen your favorite destination yet? Gather your team and embark on this adventure! Don't forget to book your accommodation and cheap flight tickets on Vntrip for your plan!
