There are several things that I personally look for when choosing hiking destinations in different countries.

First, there needs to be a sense of adventure, the sense that being in this different setting will bring some sort of thrill and excitement.

I also want to see a variety of landscapes. Whether these are plunging green valleys or jagged limestone peaks, a hiking trip should have beautiful contrasts that make them all the more memorable.

This is exactly what you’ll find in Vietnam. It presents a range of challenges that are suitable for novice hikers to more experienced trekkers and hobbyists.

You’ll love the landscapes that this Southeast Asian country has, and one of the most wonderful parts is that each destination has something different to offer. You’ll see rice fields, limestone mountains, ancient villages, pristine coastlines, and more.

There are over 3,000 kilometres of coastline, a 1,500-year history, and hundreds of traditions that trekking in Vietnam will bring you a most memorable experience.

Also Read: 20 Best Underrated Hikes in Asia That Are Barren and Beautiful

Reasons to Hike in Vietnam

Plenty of beautiful trekking routes

Thanks to the diverse topography of the country, Vietnam has many incredible trekking routes that will satisfy the adventurous thirst of any traveller.

There are trails with varying levels of difficulty, so hikers with different levels of experience can always find something to their liking.

It may be an easy walk through historical villages such as Mai Chau for one trekker or a long-distance route in Cuc Phuong National Park.

Some may even prefer harder treks such as the highest peak in the Indochinese Peninsula, Mount Fansipan. All are incredible trails that allow you to see the best of Vietnam.

Meet the ethnic minorities

In Vietnam, you’ll also get a chance to meet people of different ethnic minority backgrounds.

While the Kinh people make up about 85% of the population of the country and live in bigger cities, smaller ethnic groups live closer to mountainous areas.

Meeting local people through treks is the best way to have more genuine interactions with them. They can be women working in the fields or children playing.

Whoever you meet along your path, it is a sure way to gain more insight into the lives of villagers, especially in rural areas.

Also read: Best Things To Do in Dalat: Coffee, Culture & Nature

Spectacular mountain views

Three-quarters of Vietnam is covered by mountainous areas, which makes it so much easier to organise a trek.

No matter where you go, you will always find a place to hike and enjoy the spectacular views from the peaks you climb.

Vietnamese culture

One of the best ways to experience hiking in Vietnam is by staying at a homestay. This allows you to meet the locals and befriend natives that live near the mountains when you go on your hikes.

You’ll also have a taste of true Vietnamese cuisine, experience farming, and fully immerse yourself in their culture.

With that said, here are some of the best places to hike when trekking in Vietnam:

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Also Read: The Ultimate Offbeat Vietnam Itinerary in 10 days, 2 Weeks or 3 Weeks

Some Trekking Tours Worth Considering

While some treks can be done independently, I strongly believe in going for these tours with a guide as it provides much-needed knowledge and backstory of the tribes, people and history.

A good mix of independent and hiking tours are recommended on your trip to Vietnam, plus they’re relatively inexpensive!

From Hanoi: 2-day Sa Pa, Fansipan, and Muong Hoa Valley: This covers a little bit of everything. You get to see the rice fields in Muong Hoa Valley, visit villages and meet the Dzay people, then ascend to the majestic Fansipan Peak (but with a cable car!).
One Day Conquering Fansipan - The Roof of Indochina: You get to trek the the highest mountain in Indochina, what more there is to say!
From Hanoi: 2-Day Sa Pa Ethnic Homestay Tour with Trekking: This involves a bit more trekking than the other one. The first day is a 4 hour hike and the second day is a 2 hour hike!
From Hue: Bach Ma National Park Hiking Day Trip with Pickup: This is worth a nice detour from the usual sightseeing. You get to trek the beautiful five lakes, Do Quyen Water Fall and Hai Vong Dai.

1. Lao Chai and Ta Van Village

Muong Hoa Valley’s Lao Chai and Ta Van Valley are excellent choices to get started on your treks in Vietnam.

They are located in Sapa village, which is found in Lao Cai Province. Here you’ll get to see the golden rice terraces and meet the Hmong, Dao, Xa Pho, Tay, and Day people in their villages.

This is a great trek for beginners because it is mostly flat with few uphill inclines.

You’ll have to go through some tricky areas, such as the muddy and slippery paths through the rice terraces and forest areas. Otherwise, you can expect a paved path for most of the hike.

Depending on how long your stay in Sapa will be, you can visit both places as a day trip or over the span of two days.

I highly suggest visiting Lao Chai and Ta Van for two days so that you can wander through the villages without feeling rushed. This also gives you the opportunity to stay at a homestay and have dinner with a local family.

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 9.6 to 11 kilometers
Duration: 1 to 2 days

2. Cao Bang

If you have four days to spare, then it’s worth going to Cao Bang for one of the finest hill tribe treks in Vietnam.

Here you’ll also get to see Vietnam’s largest waterfall, the Ban Gioc Waterfall. It is one of the most majestic cascades you’ll ever see in Southeast Asia.

The hike will continue past several tribal villages of the Red Dao, Nung, Hmong, and Tay people.

You’ll reach Pac Bo village, where you’ll find Coc Bo Cave, which is famous for its involvement in the revolutionary efforts led by Ho Chi Minh in 1941.

You’ll also get views of Ba Be National Park, where you’ll find lakes and ponds to swim in and more caves to explore.

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 20 kilometers
Duration: 4 days

3. Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park is Vietnam’s largest national park.

It is also the one closest to Saigon, located in Dong Nai Province. Hikers will appreciate exploring this park to see giant Tung Trees and Uncle Dong redwood trees.

There’s also plenty of wildlife around, such as wild boar, sambar deer, gibbons, elephants, and, if you’re lucky, the occasional tiger.

This is one of those hikes that doesn’t necessarily need a tour guide. The walking paths of the park are well established, flat, and technical.

There are even hammocks inside the park where you can lay back and enjoy the jungle and rivers around you.

I would personally sign up for the three-day gibbon trek because it gives you a chance to see these primates in the wild, and they are definitely worth seeing.

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 8.5 kilometers
Duration: 2 hours

4. Chua Chan Mountain

Chua Chan Mountain is two hours away by car from Ho Chi Minh City, located in Dong Nai Province. This is a very low peak at 800 meters, but it still presents a challenge!

The first half of the hike involves a leg-burning section of paved stairs. After climbing them, you can take a break in the shade of the mountain’s pagoda. Here you can eat bánh xèo (sizzling pancakes) or fried banana chips.

After the pagoda, you’ll take a dirt path up to the summit. You’ll see the famous banyan tree, some breathtaking caves, and magnificent scenery all around.

The dirt path is easy enough to follow, and if you wish to, you can stay overnight at the summit.

Another option is to just take the cable cars from the pagoda until you reach the bottom of the hill where the dirt path is. I love a good hike, but after climbing those steps, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to take the cable cars instead!

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7.5 kilometers
Duration: 3 hours

5. Dinh Mountain

Ending a hike with a dip in a lake or a beach is always a good idea. If you’re a big fan of this, then I would definitely recommend hiking up Dinh Mountain.

This is just about an hour and a half away from Saigon, and it’s the perfect refreshing getaway.

Along the hike you’ll come across Suoi Da and Suoi Tien freshwater springs that are perfect to cool off from the heat. After your hike, you can also swim at Vũng Tàu beach nearby!

There aren’t a lot of signs along the trail, but there are blue, yellow, and red markers to guide you. Still, it’s best to take a guide or someone already familiar with the trail with you.

You’ll see Buddhist temples and pagodas between the mountain’s trees and streams. At the summit, you’ll be greeted by a panoramic view that is absolutely breathtaking.

This is one of my personal favorites, and I hope you’ll find it just as fun hiking this trail!

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 12.8 kilometers
Duration: 4.5 hours

6. Hang En Cave

Vietnam is known for its impressive limestone caves. Phong Nha has been called the “Adventure Capital of the World” because it is home to hundreds of limestone caves to explore.

One of the best caves to check out is Hang Én Cave, which can be found in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. It is actually the world’s third-largest cave.

If you’re going to visit this cave for your hike, then I suggest allotting two days for the tour. This will take you through the national park’s forest area and a small village to get to this hidden cave.

Oxalis Adventure is a tour company that has exclusive access to the cave, so your group of up to 16 people can have it all to yourselves.

This is a great hike for beginners especially since you can take many breaks.

There are usually two guides and two more support team members to assist hikers with crossing rushing rivers or going down tricky areas on the trail.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even arrange for an overnight stay in the cave!

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3.4 to 5.6 kilometers (per day)
Duration: 2 days

7. Mount Fansipan

The highest peak in Vietnam stands at 3,142 meters, and it is none other than Mount Fansipan.

It is often referred to as the “Roof of Indochina” because it is the tallest summit between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

This is one of the most challenging hikes you can conquer in Vietnam.

You can begin the hike by registering at the ranger’s station before heading off on the Tram Tom route, which is the way most hikers take.

You’ll see forest areas with trees, running streams, and even blooming wildflowers, but the trail also requires some scrambling because of the huge boulders and stairways.

This is definitely a more intermediate hike, not an easy one.

Once you reach the summit, you can visit attractions such as the Buddha statues, temples, and of course the branded Sun World’s Fansipan Legend.

This must-visit spot allows you to take pictures with signs indicating how high the climb was.

This is a difficult hike to complete in one day, even for more seasoned hikers.

It takes six to 12 or more hours depending on your level of experience and how many rests breaks you take.

I would recommend taking the more leisurely route over two days with an overnight stay at a camping site or one of the indoor shelters. You can also hike up one way and take the cable car going down.

Difficulty: Intermediate to Hard
Distance: 22.5 kilometers
Duration: 1 to 2 days

8. Black Virgin Mountain

If you want to explore southern Vietnam, then I would recommend going to the highest peak in the area, which is none other than the Black Virgin Mountain.

Standing at 966 meters high, this mountain is located in Tây Ninh Province, a 2-hour motorbike ride away from Saigon.

Make your way to Black Virgin Mountain Park, where you can choose a short hour-long hike up to a pagoda or a 4-minute cable car ride.

I would recommend taking the latter because after reaching the pagoda, you’ll go on a 45-minute staircase climb before the real hike begins!

Like the other trails and mountains on this list, there is also an overnight option.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Distance: 8 kilometers
Duration: 6 hours

9. Mai Chau

Those who are looking for an easy trek should check out Mai Chau. If you are a beginner, then this is the hike to go on.

Mai Chau is located about 150 kilometers from Hanoi, and it is almost like entering a totally different world.

Here you’ll see rural valleys that give off a more laid back and peaceful ambience.

There are also several places you can visit while you are there, such as White Rock pass, Chieu Cave, Go Lao waterfall, Hoa Binh lake, and Thung Khe pass, among others.

I’ve found that the best time to hike here is between late September to early May, so bear that in mind when planning your trip to Vietnam if you want to hike.

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5 to kilometers
Duration: 3 to 4 hours

10. Lang Biang Mountain

Lang Biang Mountain actually consists of two of the highest peaks in the Lam Vien Highland: Lang Biang and Bidoup Ban, which is often said to be the roof of Dalat.

The mountain is well known for its incredible show of nature and the beautiful views of Dalat City from atop the summit.

You can camp overnight or complete the hike within the day. Whichever one you decide to do, you can still set aside enough time to canyon and abseil too!

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 9.5 kilometers
Duration: 4 hours

11. Bidoup Nui Ba National Park

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is found in a remote location and often overshadowed by Lang Biang Mountain nearby, but don’t sleep on this option for hiking in Vietnam, my friend!

If you get the chance to do so, I highly recommend checking out Bidoup.

The national park is quiet and you’ll find that it rarely has any visitors.

This is great because you can walk through the forest with little to no disturbances.

The only downside to reaching the summit of this mountain is that it does not provide the same panoramic views as other mountains on this list since it is in the middle of the forest.

However, you still get to take a photo with the triangle-shaped summit sign to let others know you’ve made it to the top!

This is a more intermediate hike, which means it is more challenging. It’s better to join a tour group for two days with one night at a campsite.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Distance: 28 kilometers
Duration: 1 to 2 days

12. Ta Cu Mountain

If you want to see the largest reclining Buddha in Southeast Asia, then Ta Cu Mountain is your next destination.

The mountain itself is part of a larger TTC World Ta Cu tourist attraction, complete with a beautiful outdoor garden and rides for kids.

The great part about hiking Ta Cu mountain is it’s peaceful – there isn’t anybody else on the trail.

You can just walk through the forest area and bask in the quietness. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t see some surprises along the way.

You might come across the occasional monkey on this trail, so it’s important to stow away any belongings that can be grabbed or snatched since these creatures are notorious for stealing things!

Once you get to the top of the mountain, you’ll climb a stairway to the reclining Buddha.

While most people do not continue after this point to reach the peak, it may still be worth doing for avid hikers.

If you opt not to continue, then you can always explore the small cave near the Buddha statue or head back down the mountain. Non-hikers can also take a cable car back down.

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7.2 kilometers
Duration: 2 to 3 hours

Also Read: 10 Best Doable Mountains To Climb In The World

If you’ve got a favourite hike, let me know in the comments below?

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