Hiking in Vietnam: TOP 11+ scenic routes for the most authentic experience

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Hiking in Vietnam will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any visitor (Source: Collected)

Thanks to the diverse natural landscape, Vietnam is the ideal destination for any adventure seeker. Hiking in Vietnam offers an opportunity to go off the beaten track and explore wonderful places like hills, mountains, valleys, the countryside, terraces, national parks, etc. These incredible destinations will give you chances to see the fullest of Vietnam travel.

1. Hiking in Vietnam: Ba Be National Park (Bac Can)

Lush and green Ba Be National Park offers everything you can find in a perfect hike, including limestone peaks, misty valleys, stunning lakes, dense forests, and remote villages. This park is also home to plenty of flora, fauna, and Vietnamese ethnic minorities. The best way to discover the region is a multi-day hike that passes karst outcrops, waterfalls, caves and rice fields. 

Best time to hike: from April to October

Popular hikes in Ba Be National Park:

• Pac Ngoi Village – Chay Village
• Coc Toc Village – Pe Lu Stream – Dau Dang Waterfall – Hua Ma Cave
• Nang River – Puong Cave – Coc Toc Village
• An Ma Temple
• Lo Mo Cave

2. Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Thanh Hoa)

This nature reserve is a rustic and breathtaking location for hiking in Vietnam. It is blessed with the stunning beauty of lush forests, towering mountain ranges, and magnificent rice terraces. Covering an area of 17,662 hectares, Pu Luong is endowed with a rich biodiversity of wildlife and plants. Wandering in Pu Luong Reserve, you can also get a glimpse of Thai and Muong’s daily lives and cultures. 

Best time to hike: during the rice harvest season, from September to October, and from February to April

Popular hikes in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

• Pu Luong Forest – Kho Muong – Kia Villages – Hang Village
• Hieu Village – Nua Village 
• Nua Village – Son Village

>>> Read our article about Vietnam locations for more interesting destinations in Vietnam!

Pu Luong – the popular hiking trail in Vietnam (Source: Collected)

3. Where to go hiking in Northern Vietnam – Cat Ba National Park (Hai Phong)

Among the various attractive trails for hiking in Vietnam, Cat Ba is an epic choice for those interested in exploring the island landscape. This national park is famous for its unique geology and ecological value, including tropical forests, wetlands, mangroves, and coral reef ecosystems. It is also home to 32 species of mammals, one of which is the golden-headed langur – the world’s most endangered primate. 

Best time to hike: from April to November

Popular hikes in Cat Ba:

• The strenuous hike from Kim Giao Forest to the top of Ngu Lam Peak 
• The tough 9-kilometer hike through the nature park to Viet Hai Village
• Trung Trang and Uy Ban Grottoes 

Cat Ba National Park – a green oasis in Hai Phong city

4. Sapa ethnic villages (Lao Cai) – one of the best hiking trails in Vietnam

Sapa, which combines culture and natural beauty into one enticing package, is well worth a visit. Apart from an inspiring landscape, you have easy access to the most authentic ethnic side of Vietnam, unique tribal villages of minorities such as Black Hmong, Red Dao, Zay, Tay and Xa Pho… Coming to Sapa, you will experience the most impressive trails for hiking in Northern Vietnam through remote yet rustic villages. 

Best time to hike: from March to May and from September to November

Popular hikes in Sapa:

• Cat Cat – Sin Chai Village
• Lao Chai – Ta Van Village 
• Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai and Ta Van Village 
• Sa Seng and Hau Thao Village 
• Ta Giang Phing Village 
• Thanh Kim Village
• Conquer the Fansipan Summit – the Roof of Indochina 

>>> Check out Vietnam where to go to find out the best places to visit in Vietnam!

Hiking through the stunning rice terrace in Sapa (Source: Collected)

5. Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields (Yen Bai)

Mu Cang Chai offers one of the most amazing landscapes of rice terraces for hiking in Northern Vietnam. Nestled 100 meters above sea level, Mu Cang Chai has a unique topography with steep hills and deep valleys where ethnic people such as Hmong, Thai, and Dao have created a worldwide masterpiece – Terraced Fields. 

Best time to hike: during the planting season in June or harvesting season in September to October

Popular hikes in Mu Cang Chai

• Mu Cang Chai to Tu Le Valley
• Mu Cang Chai to Khau Pha Pass
• Mu Cang Chai to La Pan Tan
• Mu Cang Chai to Che Cu Nha 

6. Hoang Su Phi (Ha Giang) – a must-see for hiking tours in Vietnam

When visiting Ha Giang, you will be captivated by the poetic beauty of Hoang Sung Phi’s rice fields. Here, the colorful array lying in the middle of the mountain, gently hugging the cliff, creates rustic and lively pictures. Whichever hike you choose, you will be rewarded with some of the most breathtaking views.

Best time to hike: during the harvest season in September

Popular hikes in Hoang Sung Phi

• Ban Phung Terraced Fields
• Ho Thau Terraced Fields
• Thong Nguyen Terraced Fields

• Nam Hong – Nam Khoa Village
• Hoang Sung Phi – Giang Ha Village – Ban Luoc Village

>>> Read our article about Vietnam weather for a well-planned trip! 

The stunning views of Ho Thau Terraced Field in Hoang Sung Phi  (Source: Collected)

7. Hiking in Vietnam: Mai Chau Valley (Hoa Binh)

The poetic valley of Mai Chau is always on the list as one of the best places for hiking in Vietnam. The valley is an alluring area surrounded by a lush green valley and unique stilt houses of the local people. Strolling through this wonderful valley, you will not only admire the scenic landscapes but also experience the peaceful life of Thai and Hmong people.

Best time to hike: in the spring, from December to March

Popular hikes in Mai Chau

• Ban Lac Village – Xa Linh Village
• Easy trails: Ban Buoc, Cun Pheo, Hang Kia Village
• Tough trails: Mai Chau Valley, Pu Luong Nature reserve

8. Cao Bang Geopark – the ideal place for hiking in Vietnam

Cao Bang is a famous border region of Northern Vietnam with the mouth-dropping beauty of waterfalls, forests and mountain ranges. If you choose Cao Bang as your next destination, you should not miss the highlights such as Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Thang Hen Lake, Pac Bo Cave and Ky Sam Temple. During your hike, you should also hire an experienced guide and stay in a village homestay to enjoy local specialties and experience the normal life of the locals.

Best time to hike: in spring and summer

Popular hikes in Cao Bang

• Ban Gioc Waterfall
• Nguom Ngao Cave
• Tay Craft Weaving Village
• Pac Bo Relic
• Temple of King Le

>>> Check out the best time to visit Vietnam to plan your Vietnam journey in advance!

The majestic Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang (Source: Collected)

9. Where to backpack in Vietnam: Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh)

Cuc Phuong National Park is a fantastic natural spot for outdoor enthusiasts, who want to escape from the bustling city into the true wilderness. Regarded as the green lung of Northern Vietnam, this park is famous for its rich ecosystem, conservation center for endangered species and the unique culture of the Muong people.

Best time to hike: all year round except for the rainy season from July to September

Popular hikes in Cuc Phuong:

• Ngoc Son Natural Reserve
• Pu Luong Nature Reserve
• Cave of Prehistoric Man
• Mang Chieng Cave
• Crescent Moon Cave

Cuc Phuong national park – biodiversity hotspot in Northern Vietnam (Source: Collected)

10. Lang Biang Mountain (Da Lat) – a great Vietnam hiking site

Hiking to conquer Lang Biang Mountain allows you to experience various thrilling feelings while passing through vegetable farms, coffee plantations, pine trees, and jungle forests with the sounds of birds and wild animals. Standing on the mountain peak and looking down at the dazzling views of Silver Stream, Golden Lake, and the entire Dalat city, you will feel like a winner.

Best time to hike: from September to November

Popular hikes in Lang Biang Mountain

• Lac Duong Town to Lang Biang Peak

11. Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai)

Cat Tien National Park, one of Vietnam’s most beautifully preserved natural attractions, is a biodiversity hotspot. This is also home to many of the world’s most endangered species, grass fields, and streams. It is a great place for hiking in Vietnam to immerse yourself in the great outdoors by staying in the middle of the forest.

Best time to hike: during the dry season, from December to May

Popular hikes in Cat Tien National Park

• Ta Lai Village
• Crocodile Lake – Ban Sau
• 30 Botanic Garden Routes

>>> Read things to do in Vietnam to discover the fun activities in Vietnam travel!

The unspoiled forest in Cat Tien National Park (Source: Collected)

Hiking in Vietnam is an unforgettable experience that every visitor should try. As Vietnam is a well-known tourist country in Asia, there are a lot of things to explore and various impressive tourist destinations to visit, such as the capital city of Hanoi, the coastal city of Nha Trang, the charming Hoi An, the entertainment paradise of Da Nang, the Pearl Island of Phu Quoc, and the dynamic Ho Chi Minh City. 

Hoan Kiem Lake, the symbol of Vietnam travel (Source: Collected)

Coming to these stunning attractions, you are highly recommended to visit VinWonders – the leading entertainment brand of Vingroup, which offers the most exciting entertainment, discovery, cultural, and festival experiences. Below are the highlights of the VinWonders system that you should not miss on your Vietnam trip.

• Vinpearl Aquarium and VinKE – a favorite destination for families, especially those with young children
• VinWonders Nam Hoi An – a complex of entertainment and cultural experiences
• VinWonders Nha Trang – an amusement park of ground-breaking records
• VinWonders Phu Quoc – the largest theme park and leading destination in Vietnam

>> Book tickets to VinWonders Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Nam Hoi An, VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium for a memorable journey in Vietnam!

A magnificent beach view of Vinpearl

Vietnam is home to various famous tourist sites, most of which are easily accessible by modern transportation like car, motorbike, train, or plane, while some remote places can only be explored on foot. Hiking in Vietnam is a must and a favorite thing for any adventure lover. Let’s plan your Vietnam holiday with one of the 11 best places for hiking in Vietnam to see the country at its best.