The 5 most underrated places in Vietnam are Cao Bang and Ban Gioc Waterfall, Mu Cang Chai, Quy Nhon, Con Dao and Lang Co. Each offers a clear reason to go, from tiered waterfalls to rice terraces, beaches and prison history, with far fewer visitors than the main circuit.
Most first trips to Vietnam follow the same line from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. We think the better second trip, or an extra few days on a first one, goes somewhere else. These five places are less visited, cheaper and easy enough to reach, and we give costs as approximate figures as of 2026.
1. Cao Bang and Ban Gioc Waterfall
Ban Gioc is a tiered waterfall on the Quay Son River in Trung Khanh district, about 90 km from Cao Bang city on the Chinese border. A central rocky island divides the falls, and part of the flow belongs to China. The viewing area costs approximately VND 45,000, and a bamboo raft ride that takes you closer costs around VND 100,000 to 150,000 per raft.
- Getting there: Hanoi to Cao Bang city is about 270 km, then 2 to 2.5 hours by motorbike on a sealed road.
- Nearby: Nguom Ngao Cave is 3 km away (approximately VND 40,000), and Pac Bo, where Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam in 1941, is 55 km north of Cao Bang city.
- Best time: high water in the wetter months gives the fullest falls.
Local tip: do the waterfall first and the cave afterwards, and aim to be back in Cao Bang city by 16:00 to 17:00. Read our Cao Bang and Ban Gioc guide, the hotel guide and compare Cao Bang tours.
2. Mu Cang Chai
Mu Cang Chai is a rice terrace district in Yen Bai province, 280 km northwest of Hanoi at about 1,000 m. The terraces are carved into steep hills, and three viewpoints stand out: La Pan Tan (9 km from the district town), Che Cu Nha (10 km) and De Xu Phinh (17 km). There is no train or flight. Most people take a sleeper bus (6 to 7 hours, approximately VND 200,000 to 280,000) or ride a motorbike.
- Cost: guesthouses are approximately VND 150,000 to 350,000 per room, and homestays with meals VND 200,000 to 300,000 per person.
- Best time: the late September harvest, which turns the terraces from green to gold over about three weeks.
Local tip: buses fill up during harvest, so book at least three days ahead. Our Mu Cang Chai rice terraces guide, the getting there page and where to stay in Mu Cang Chai cover routes and homestays.
3. Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon is a working port city on the coast of Binh Dinh province, about 300 km south of Da Nang. It has a 2 km city beach, seafood, Cham tower ruins and the wind-carved Eo Gio cliffs 15 km out of town. Its banh xeo and com ga have a good reputation among food travellers. Beach hotels cost about VND 500,000 to 1,500,000, well below Da Nang.
- Getting there: Phu Cat Airport is 35 km north, with flights from Hanoi (1.5 hours) and Ho Chi Minh City (1 hour). Dieu Tri Station is on the Reunification Express line.
- Best time: April to October is the swimming season.
Local tip: budget guesthouses on Nguyen Hue Street, 2 to 3 blocks from the beach, often do not take online bookings, so walk in. Our Quy Nhon guide, the Quy Nhon beaches page and where to stay in Quy Nhon help planning. See current prices with Quy Nhon accommodation deals.
4. Con Dao
Con Dao is an archipelago of 16 islands, 230 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. The main island, Con Son, was a French and American prison colony from 1862 to 1975, and the prison complex is preserved as a museum. A national park covers about 80% of the land and sea, protecting nesting green turtles and coral reefs. Diving is considered the best in southern Vietnam, at approximately VND 800,000 to 1,500,000 for a two-tank dive.
- Getting there: flights from Ho Chi Minh City take about 45 minutes and run on small ATR-72 aircraft, so book 1 to 2 weeks ahead in peak season.
- Best time: July to October for diving and turtle nesting.
Local tip: turtle nesting visits are run through the national park, so check with the park office when you arrive. Our Con Dao guide, the Con Dao history page and Con Dao tours explain the options, and where to stay in Con Dao covers rooms.
5. Lang Co
Lang Co is a narrow peninsula between a lagoon and the sea, 50 km south of Hue and 40 km north of Da Nang, at the base of the Hai Van Pass. The old pass road climbs to 496 m over 20 km with views back over the beach. Bach Ma National Park, on the mountain above, has five trails, including an 8 km Five Lakes loop of 4 to 5 hours. The park costs approximately VND 60,000, and the gate opens at 07:00.
- Getting there: trains from Hue take about 1 hour and from Da Nang 30 to 40 minutes.
- Cost: budget rooms run VND 250,000 to 500,000 as of 2026, and lagoon seafood costs VND 100,000 to 250,000 per person.
- Best time: April to October.
Local tip: the town is quietest from September to November outside Vietnamese holiday weekends. See our Lang Co guide, the Hai Van Pass guide and the Lang Co hotels page. You can pre-book a private transfer from Hue or Da Nang.
How to fit them in
Cao Bang and Mu Cang Chai both start from Hanoi, so they suit a northern loop, and Lang Co fits between Hue and Da Nang. Quy Nhon sits on the Reunification Express line, and Con Dao is a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City. For route planning, see our 2 weeks in Vietnam itinerary and the best time to visit Vietnam. For official visitor information, see the Vietnam national tourism site.