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In Vietnam's cities, there are sights you can only see on foot.<\/p>\n
Backstreet eateries spreading out at the foot of high-rises, colonial buildings that retain traces of the French colonial era, and locals gathering at the morning market. On street corners where you weave through the flow of motorbikes, an everyday life not found in guidebooks lives on.<\/p>\n
The bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, the calm of Hanoi, the openness of Da Nang, and the glow of Hoi An's lanterns. The unique rhythm each city has can be felt in your skin precisely because you're on foot. Small discoveries you'd pass right by through a taxi window are scattered in countless numbers on a walking journey.<\/p>\n
Vietnam has several cities well suited to exploring on foot. Each has a different character and walkability, so you can choose to match your travel style.<\/p>\n
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city, is characterized by a scene where an incessant flow of motorbikes, high-rises, and local shops all mingle.<\/p>\n
The area around Dong Khoi Street is ideal as a starting point for a walking tour. Caf\u00e9s and shops that make use of French colonial architecture line the street, and historic buildings such as the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Central Post Office are also clustered within walking distance. From Ben Thanh Market to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee building, the main spots are within walking distance.<\/p>\n
That said, crossing the road requires care. Since the flow of motorbikes and cars hardly ever breaks, the trick is to cross slowly in step with the movements of locals.<\/p>\n
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Hanoi, the center of politics and culture, has a calm atmosphere in contrast to Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n
The Old Quarter area is the perfect place for a walking tour. Commerce and daily life are packed into narrow streets, and livelihoods that have continued for generations still go on today. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, you can see people doing morning exercises and locals enjoying strolls, and even though it's a tourist spot, there's a strong sense of everyday life being laid open as it is.<\/p>\n
Because major sights such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature are scattered about, taxi travel is generally the norm, but the Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake can be thoroughly enjoyed on foot.<\/p>\n
Da Nang, which has developed rapidly over the past few years, is gaining popularity as a place where resort and city blend together.<\/p>\n
The city itself is compact and easy to get around, making it well suited to a first stay in central Vietnam. The long sandy beaches, exemplified by My Khe Beach, are a place of relaxation not only for tourists but for locals too, and the beachfront promenade is ideal for walking and cycling. A key feature is how urban convenience and proximity to nature coexist.<\/p>\n
For a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City, it's efficient to focus on specific areas. Here we introduce three model routes you can do in a day.<\/p>\n
Start at the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral and head to the adjacent Saigon Central Post Office. Designed by a French architect in the late 19th century, the post office is still in operation today. Buying a retro-designed postcard and mailing it to yourself is also recommended.<\/p>\n
After that, head south down Dong Khoi Street and take a break at a caf\u00e9 housed in colonial architecture. Take in the exteriors of the Reunification Palace and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee building, then enjoy local food at Ben Thanh Market.<\/p>\n
This route has the main spots clustered within walking distance, making it ideal for the afternoon of your first day or the morning of your last.<\/p>\n
Start at the War Remnants Museum and confront the records of the war. The exhibits deal with heavy themes, but it's an essential place for understanding Vietnam's modern history.<\/p>\n
After that, tour the Reunification Palace. This building, the stage for the fall of Saigon in 1975, preserves the offices and meeting rooms of the time just as they were. There are also war rooms and communications rooms in the basement, conveying the rawness of history.<\/p>\n
In the afternoon, stroll around the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee building, and in the evening watch a water-puppet show. You can experience Vietnamese culture through the traditional performing arts.<\/p>\n
If you want to see Ho Chi Minh City's new face, the Thao Dien area is recommended.<\/p>\n
This area, dotted with stylish caf\u00e9s and goods shops, has many Western residents and a refined atmosphere. After being surprised by the vivid colors of the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, spend some relaxed time at a caf\u00e9 nearby.<\/p>\n
In the afternoon, walk along the Saigon River to the Landmark 81 Skydeck. The view from Vietnam's tallest building is spectacular.<\/p>\n
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Hanoi's Old Quarter is a treasure trove for walking tours. We introduce its distinctive atmosphere, where history and daily life mingle, through three routes.<\/p>\n
Start at Hoan Kiem Lake and walk the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. Each street deals in different goods\u2014the silver street, the lantern street, the medicinal-herb street\u2014and these historic commercial divisions still remain today.<\/p>\n
Pass by St. Joseph's Cathedral (Hanoi Cathedral) and take a breather at a nearby caf\u00e9. In the afternoon, enjoy some local shopping at Dong Xuan Market. The market's bustle and energy are Hanoi's daily life itself.<\/p>\n
In the early morning around Hoan Kiem Lake, locals enjoy tai chi and jogging. After circling the lake while soaking up that atmosphere, head to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.<\/p>\n
This place, enshrining the father of Vietnam's founding, is wrapped in a solemn atmosphere. Also visit the adjacent One Pillar Pagoda, and in the afternoon experience Vietnam's scholarly culture at the Temple of Literature. As Vietnam's first university, the Temple of Literature strongly retains the influence of Confucian culture.<\/p>\n
This route, starting in the evening, is for enjoying Hanoi's nightlife.<\/p>\n
After savoring authentic pho at \"Pho Thin,\" a famous spot popular with locals, stroll the backstreets of the Old Quarter. As night falls, more food stalls appear, and it bustles with people enjoying roadside beer and light snacks.<\/p>\n
A pub crawl on Ta Hien Street is the classic way to make the most of a Hanoi night. Local young people and tourists mingle, creating a distinctive energy.<\/p>\n
The two central cities each have a different appeal. We introduce routes that let you enjoy both a beach resort and an ancient town.<\/p>\n
Feel the sea breeze as you walk the long sandy stretch of My Khe Beach. In the early morning, locals enjoy strolls and jogs, and though it's a tourist spot, it also functions as part of everyday life.<\/p>\n
After breakfast at a beachfront caf\u00e9, head to Da Nang Cathedral. This church, distinctive for its pink exterior, is a remnant of the French colonial era. In the afternoon, savor fresh seafood at the market.<\/p>\n
The old quarter of Hoi An, registered as a World Heritage Site, is ideal for a walking tour.<\/p>\n
By day, tour old houses and merchant halls, tracing the memory of a port town that once thrived on trade. Historic buildings such as the Japanese Bridge (Lai Vien Kieu) and the Fujian Assembly Hall are dotted about.<\/p>\n
At night, the glow of lanterns envelops the town, showing a completely different face from the daytime. Walking along the river and enjoying the streetscape lit by lantern light is recommended. There's no excessive flashiness, and it has a curious charm that naturally slows even your walking pace.<\/p>\n
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Hue, the former royal capital, is a place that quietly conveys history. We introduce two routes that deepen your understanding the more time you spend on them.<\/p>\n
Start at the Hue Imperial City and trace the traces of Vietnam's last dynasty. Palaces, gardens, and temples are dotted across the vast grounds, so touring slowly and taking your time is recommended.<\/p>\n
In the afternoon, head to Thien Mu Pagoda. This temple, standing along the Perfume River, is a symbolic presence in Hue. Amid the quiet, immerse yourself in the lingering resonance of dynastic culture.<\/p>\n
This route tours the imperial tombs dotted around the outskirts of Hue. The Tomb of Khai Dinh, the Tomb of Minh Mang, the Tomb of Tu Duc, and others each have a different architectural style and atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Since it's hard to get around on foot alone, combining taxis and motorbike taxis is the realistic option. At each tomb, tour slowly on foot and enjoy the open space and quiet rather than flashiness.<\/p>\n
For a comfortable and safe walking tour, there are a few things to note and items to prepare.<\/p>\n
In Vietnam's urban areas, the flow of motorbikes and cars hardly ever breaks.<\/p>\n
When crossing, the trick is to walk slowly at a steady pace in step with the locals. Suddenly stopping or running is, on the contrary, dangerous. Drivers anticipate pedestrians' movements and steer around them, so cross calmly.<\/p>\n
Vietnam's public safety is relatively good, but in urban areas there have been reports of pickpocketing and bag-snatching targeting tourists.<\/p>\n
Don't carry valuables or large amounts of cash, and hold your bag in front of your body. Avoid walking with your smartphone in hand, and refrain from walking alone at night.<\/p>\n
Here's a summary of what to bring to make a walking tour comfortable.<\/p>\n
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