Apricot Flower, Ha Giang, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
Vietnam is known for its green spaces and natural beauty, making it the perfect place to capture stunning landscape photos. It's a photographer's paradise of beaches, mountains, temples, and more. But where are the best places to take photos in Vietnam? Here are the top 6 photo destinations to visit in the North of Vietnam.
1. Sapa
Sapa is without a doubt the most popular tourist destination in North Vietnam. French colonialists constructed Sapa as a summer vacation destination. Since then, it has served as an excellent vacation from Hanoi as well as a leisure hub for visiting the area's attractions. You can bike or climb through some of the best rice terraces in the region from Sapa, and it's the best spot to learn about the H'Mong or Dao ethnic groups' unique lives.
Above the cloud, Peach flower, Sapa, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
Let's conquer the roof of Indochina, Mt. Fansipan (3.143 meters above sea level), in two days if you prefer challenging treks. When you reach the summit of the Fansipan, you can view the entire town of Sapa from afar, covered in clouds and framed by beautiful rice terraces. Sapa is also one of the few areas in Vietnam where snow occurs on occasion.
2. Ha Giang
Vietnam's northernmost region is also one of the poorest and most isolated in the country. As a result, Ha Giang offers some of the greatest mountainous views in Southeast Asia, particularly while passing via the majestic Ma Pi Leng Pass, Vietnam's King of Passes. The twisting road here, at 1.500m, runs right up against the high limestone mountain, with the Nho Que River looming far below.
Paddle Rice, Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
The Plateau of Dong Van Karst The Ha Giang province in northeast Vietnam is home to the Global Geopark. It is Vietnam's first Geopark and the second in Southeast Asia. The rocky plateau of Dong Van is not only a sculpting product but also a historical rocky page of nature that is visible to humans.
While the beautiful landscape and geological wonders are something you won't want to miss, the people of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark make this trek special. The locals here are a diverse mix of different cultures and ethnicities who have created a community that welcomes visitors.
The Dong Van rocky plateau is not only a sculpting product, but also a history rocky page of nature offered to human beings, with many potential benefits such as geoheritage, biological diversity, tourism, fossils, and so on. The traditional beauty of communities of 17 ethnic groups on Dong Van karst plateau Geopark, in particular, must be preserved and promoted. The Dong Van Karst Plateau is a one-of-a-kind blend of geological and cultural heritage. This has produced a lot of tourist potential and drawn a lot of visitors from all over the world.
3. Ban Gioc waterfall
Ban Gioc Waterfall, Cao Bang, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
Ban Gioc Waterfall (B&W), Cao Bang, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
The most spectacular waterfall in Vietnam is Ban Gioc. This incredible sight is located on the border of Vietnam and China and features a spectacular 30-meter vertical plunge spanning over 200 meters. Along the national border, this is also the world's fourth-largest waterfall. Ban Gioc is the name given to two waterfalls on the Quay Son River, which mark the Vietnamese-Chinese border. The falls are surrounded by a stunning natural setting. The water is especially thunderous during the rainy season, although it is also lovely during the dry season. Tourists can ride a raft to the base of the falls on the river. Make a flycam video of the waterfall when you visit for a lasting memory.
4. Mu Cang Chai
Mu Cang Chai is a small district in the Yen Bai Province, around 180 kilometers from Sapa. To many Vietnamese photographers, Mu Cang Chai has the most beautiful terraced rice paddies in North Vietnam. The best time to visit Mu Cang Chai to see its amazing rice terraces is between September and October. Today, the local government in Yen Bai province is focusing its efforts on promoting Mu Cang Chai tourism through annual festivals and investments in improving roads, lodging, restaurants, and community-based transportation services. As a result, traveling to Mu Cang Chai is now easier, with a 7-hour vehicle ride from Hanoi's capital.
Rice Paddie, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
Mu Cang Chai can be visited at any time of year due to its lovely climate. However, photographers who enjoy taking beautiful landscape photos of Mu Cang Cang rice terraces say that there are two best times to visit Mu Cang Chai: between May and July when the locals water the fields to plant a new rice crop, and between mid-September and mid-October, when the stepped fields turn from green to yellow, which is the best time to take photos of Mu Cang Chai rice terraces. The most spectacular rice terraces may be seen in the communes of La Pan Tan and Che Cu Nha.
5. Ha Long Bay
Halong Bay translates to "Dragon Descending Bay." Halong Bay is the country's crown jewel, not just in Northern Vietnam. There are many breathtakingly beautiful spots in the country, but Halong Bay is at the top of the list. It covers 600 square miles and has at least 1,969 islands, ranging in size from small islets to big populated islands. The islands, which are 500 million years old, are limestone karsts that protrude imperiously out of the Gulf of Tonkin, 170 kilometers from Hanoi. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and again in 2000. It was named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World by the New 7 Wonders Foundation in 2012.
Ha Long Bay from above, Ha Long, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
Ha Long Bay with cruise, Ha Long, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
There are numerous locations with excellent views of the harbor from various angles. The best way to see the entire area is by seaplane. While a seaplane view is prohibitively expensive, you can trek up to Nui Bai Tho, or Poetry Mountain, in Hon Gai city by crossing the Ha Long Bridge. Today, the Sungroup has constructed a bizarre cable vehicle for guests, which is also one option for viewing Halong Bay from above. Ti Top Island is also a great place to visit. If you take a two-day, one-night cruise, you'll almost certainly climb to the top. Thousands of unique rock formations with unbelievable shapes and sizes can be found while your overnight cruise boat is moving around.
6. Tam Coc
Tam Coc is a painting of the North, with rice terraces surrounded by limestone cliffs and rock formations, located 100 kilometers from Hanoi. Tam Coc is, in fact, one of the region's most breathtakingly gorgeous places. The best way to see the sights is by boat, and you can take a rowboat up beside the lush green paddies and between the dramatic limestone cliffs. You'll even be able to float through three caves that flow through the mountains and were created by the river over time. There are a few high points with excellent views of the area.
Golden season, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, Vietnam by Pham Huy Trung
After rowing into the rice paddies, ascend Hang Mua top or numerous high places, especially when the rice paddies become golden. Ask your boat rower where the finest locations to climb for the best shots are, and they'll point you in the proper direction.