Best Places for School Trips in Vietnam
Being home to breathtaking natural beauty, rich history, diverse culture, distinct customs and hospitable people, Vietnam is definitely an ideal destination for school trips. International students and teachers will have chance to discover, experience the country’s lifestyle, make friends and gain valuable knowledge while traveling. The S-shaped country has so much potential to offer for a great educational trip with many interesting and meaningful places to see.
Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary for your next student trips to Vietnam. We are always available via chat, email, phone number or WhatsApp.
Table of Contents
Best Destinations for School Trips in Vietnam
Hanoi – Capital of Vietnam
Hanoi have long been famous for its charming beauty, one-thousand-year culture and history with its wide tree-lined boulevards, well-preserved French colonial buildings, peaceful lakes, historical temples, unique museums and ancient oriental pagodas.
It is great to explore on foot or take a cyclo to stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake with its sacred Ngoc Son Temple as well as enjoy Water Puppet Show, a typical form of Vietnamese art which has existed for more than 1,000 years, to understand more about Vietnamese culture. Museums in Hanoi, such as Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Vietnam Fine Art Museum, are brilliant introductions to the diverse artistry of the country which students can learn about.
Hanoi also provides students a good chance to discover diverse cuisine in North Vietnam from delicious street food vendors to fine dining restaurants. Besides, you should watch Water Puppet Show, a typical form of Vietnamese art which is associated with the cultivation of wet rice in the Northern Delta.
Halong Bay
Being one of the Seven World Wonders of Nature, Halong Bay is definitely a must-visit place in any school trips. It is known worldwide for stunning rock formations rising out of the sea and mysterious hidden caves with superbly weird stalagmites and stalactites.
Located about 170km from Hanoi, 2.5 hours driving via the new high-way, Halong Bay is perfect for a day trip or you can totally spend more time to explore the place. An overnight cruise is the best option to immerse yourself in the natural and magnificent beauty of the bay.
There are also many interesting activities for you to take part in while on the bay such as visiting fishing villages by rowing boat, kayaking around the bay, exploring hidden caves, swimming, squid fishing at night…
Sapa
Sapa is one of the most famous attractions in North Vietnam. It takes the pride of magnificent mountains, beautiful terraced rice fields as well as the cultural diversity with many ethnic minorities, including including the Hmong, Giay, and Red Dzao…
Sapa is far from Hanoi about 315km, which takes about 5-6 hours driving so it is suggested to spend at least 3 days here. It is no better than taking a guided hike through peaceful valleys, visiting hill tribe villages like Cat Cat, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van to know more about local daily life. Ethnic local markets are highlights in Sapa, which gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the cultures of ethnic people.
Here you will see a lot of people in their most beautiful traditional costumes selling agricultural products from local fruits, vegetables, honey and corn wine to colorful fabrics, clothes and embroidered items, horses, cows and buffalos. Bac Ha, Coc Ly, Can Cau… are the most visited markets in Sapa.
Hoi An
Located in Central Vietnam, about 45 minutes driving from Danang International Airport, Hoi An should be included in a school trip for student travelers. This small town used to be one of Asia’s most important trading ports from 16th to 18th centuries, which has left behind a unique fusion of Japanese, French and Chinese cultural and architectural influences. You should spend a day visiting key sites in Hoi An Ancient Town, including Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, 400-year-old Japanese Bridge, 200-year-old Tan Ky ancestral house. Especially, experiencing an eco-tour with the local farmers in the rural outskirts of Hoi An is absolutely great. Here you will learn about the local life, try to grow rice and plant vegetables as well as enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing.
Hue
For history buffs, Hue, the capital city of the last dynasty of Vietnam’s feudalism – Nguyen Dynasty, is a perfect destination to explore. This quiet yet fascinating city possesses many well-preserved impressive feudal remnants and probably has witnessed some of the cruelest times in the history of Vietnam.
Hue features with weathered temples, places of worships and palaces that make a trip to Hue feel like a trip through history. Any visit here certainly includes Hue Imperial Citadel, Tombs of Emperors, Thien Mu Pagoda… Plus, Hue cuisine is distinctive with two forms: Hue traditional food and “royal” cuisine – the food of the Imperial Court.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (locally called Saigon) represents an exciting fusion of old meets new. The typical French colonial characteristics reflect Vietnam’s colonial past while luxury shopping malls and office skyscrapers reflect the city’s rapidly developing wealth. However, the city still offers a lot of enriching attractions to students such as War Remnants Museum, former Presidential Palace, Saigon Municipal Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office, Fine Art Museum…
If you love to learn about local daily life and bustling atmosphere, don’t forget to visit China Town (also called Cho Lon) and Ben Thanh Market for modern fashions, jewelry, CDs, luggage, and an array of local products.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels is worth-visiting for a great history lesson. This is a 250km extensive network of connecting underground tunnels with the innumerable trap doors, living areas, kitchens, armory, storage facilities, field hospitals, command centers, etc. The Viet Cong constructed and used it as a place to live and hide from being attacked during the Vietnam War (or American War).
Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime. You can combine a half-day tour in Cu Chi Tunnels with Saigon City tour in a day.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta is the Vietnam’s most fertile region and famous for a massive rice basket and a heaven for tropical fruits of the country. A trip to Mekong Delta gives students a chance to see rice patties, lush orchards, stilt houses and traditional lifestyles in rural Vietnam. Cai Rang (in Can Tho) and Cai Be (in Tien Giang) are two notable floating markets in the region.
Boats are loaded with produce from nearby orchards of the Mekong Delta converge to the floating markets, making them more colorful and bustling, especially in the early mornings. It is so easy for you to take a motorboat tour to get into the market and experience the local daily life on the water.
Travel Tips for Vietnam School Trip
- Prepare light and comfortable clothes.
- Minimize your footwear, a good pair of walking shoes is a must.
- The weather in Vietnam will vary from region to region so remember to check the weather forecast and bring enough and suitable clothes.
- Don’t wear shorts, tank tops, shirts when visiting religious places. It is recommended to wear long pants or long dresses that cover your shoulders and knees.
- Be polite and respect the country’s customs and traditions. Do as locals do.