Vietnamese market towns off the beaten path.
Less-touristed market towns in Vietnam, for travelers seeking fewer crowds but all the beauty.
Đông Hà's position at the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 9 — the eastern gateway of the East–West Economic Corridor linking Vietnam's central coast to Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar — makes it one of the most consequential crossroads on the continent, and it's just one of 16 towns across this list. From the Soviet-financed dam that shaped Hòa Bình to Go Cong's crumbling French colonial facades and Cao Bang's riverside café culture along the Bằng Giang, Vietnam's regional commercial centres carry their histories in plain sight.
Hà Tiên
A coastal city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, Hà Tiên sits on the water at the Cambodian border with mountains close by and a walkable centre of cafés and restau…
Go Cong
This Mekong Delta city where a grand two-storey colonial building with arched green shutters and ornate facades slowly surrenders to tropical vegetation, off…
Sơn La
A patchwork of vivid rice and vegetable fields spreads across the valley floor of this northwest Vietnamese provincial capital, with forested karst peaks ris…
Cao Bang
This walkable riverside town in northern Vietnam, Cao Bang sits on the Bằng Giang river with a centre full of cafés and restaurants.
Hòa Bình
A city in northern Vietnam near the Đà River, Hòa Bình is the provincial capital of Hòa Bình Province and sits close to the mountains southwest of Hanoi.
Đông Hà
Đông Hà, the provincial capital of Quảng Trị in central Vietnam, sits at the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 9 — the eastern starting point of the East–Wes…
Lai Chau
A wide civic square fronted by a flag-lined government hall opens dramatically against a jagged limestone mountain backdrop in this provincial capital of Vie…
Thai Binh
Compact city in Vietnam's Red River Delta, Thai Binh sits on the water with a centre where cafés and restaurants are concentrated within easy walking distance.
Tuyen Quang
This Vietnamese provincial capital on the water's edge, Tuyên Quang comes alive after dark around a glowing central roundabout, with wide boulevards, festive…
Cà Mau
A canal city at the southern tip of Vietnam's mainland, Cà Mau is the former provincial capital of Cà Mau province in the Mekong Delta, where goods move thro…
Phu Tho
Rows of vivid green tea plantations sweep across rolling hillsides around this Vietnamese provincial city, offering visitors an immersive look at the cultiva…
Vinh Yen
The January 1951 Battle of Vinh Yen — the first direct confrontation between General Võ Nguyên Giáp and French commander Jean de Lattre de Tassigny — gives t…
An Khe
A workaday Central Highlands town in Gia Lai province, An Khe sits along a broad tree-lined highway corridor connecting the coast to the uplands, with local…
Tam Ky
A workaday Vietnamese coastal city on the South Central Coast, Tam Ky offers wide palm-lined boulevards, a lively street scene of motorbikes and local commer…
Cao Lanh
This waterside city in Vietnam's Đồng Tháp Province, Cao Lãnh sits in the Mekong Delta with a walkable centre well supplied with cafés and restaurants.
Vinh Chau
This mid-sized Vietnamese coastal city where the water meets everyday urban life, offering visitors a glimpse into a working waterfront community in the Meko…