Camping in Vietnam

Best time by region

Each cell counts the places in this list marked as worth visiting in that month (the best months on each location page). Darker means more of the region's places agree. 10 places have no month data yet and are not counted.

Camping by region45 places

North Vietnam (16)

Destination guides Cao Bang, Ha Giang · North Vietnam guide →

Mountain

Angel Eye Mountain (God Eye Mountain)

Cao Bằng

Angel Eye Mountain - also known as God Eye Mountain or Núi Thủng - is a limestone karst peak in Cao Bằng with a perfectly circular 50m hole piercing through its summit, set in the Thang Hen valley where the surrounding flatland floods into a 15-hectare lake each rainy season.

Year-round→

Photo coming soon

Mountain

Chung Nhia Vu Mountain

Lai Châu

Chung Nhía Vũ is one of Vietnam's highest peaks at about 2,918 m on the Vietnam-China border in Lai Châu - usually climbed together with Po Ma Lung, through near-untouched forest with 50-metre trees, big clear streams and bamboo groves along the border line.

Go in the dry months, Sep - Apr, when streams run lower and the long stretches beside them are safer and less slippery. From Dec to Mar the forest is at its freshest, with rhododendrons and wild orchids flowering. Apr - May stays mild and comfortable before the heavy rains begin. Skip Jun - Aug: the valley sections and bamboo forest turn treacherous in the wet, and the cold, damp air makes the trek miserable.→

Waterfall

Cửa Tử Stream

Thái Nguyên

Suối Cửa Tử in Thái Nguyên province is a 9-gate stream trek through primary forest in Đại Từ district, approximately 2 hours from Hanoi - with natural swimming pools, waterfall jumps, and camping options that make it one of the most accessible wilderness day trips from the capital.

Apr - Oct→

Photo coming soon

Mountain

Khang Su Van Mountain

Lai Châu

Khang Su Van (Phàn Liên San) is one of Vietnam's highest peaks at about 3,012 m on the Vietnam-China border in Lai Châu - a steep trek through cardamom forest, ancient Shan tuyết tea trees and waterfalls to border marker 79, often called the highest border marker in Vietnam.

Feb - Apr is spring, when ban→

Mountain

Ky Quan San Mountain

Lao Cai, Lai Châu

Ky Quan San (formerly Bạch Mộc Lương Tử) is one of Vietnam's highest peaks at about 3,046 m, on the Lào Cai-Lai Châu border - a 2-3 day trek through bamboo, moss and primeval forest to one of the country's most famous cloud-sea viewpoints at Núi Muối.

Sep - Apr is the main trekking season, and the end of the year is usually considered the best. Sep - Nov brings cooler, comfortable weather. Nov - Jan is the peak window for cloud seas, and Dec - Mar is cold, especially at dawn and at night, which helps the cloud form. Apr - May is warmer, a good option if you'd rather avoid the cold at altitude. Jun - Aug is the rainy season - trekkers who went in steady rain describe slippery, muddy and dangerous conditions and no views - so it is best avoided. For the best chance of a cloud sea, check the forecast and go one to two days after rain, once the weather has turned dry.→

Mountain

Mẫu Sơn Mountain

Lạng Sơn

Mẫu Sơn is one of the few places in Vietnam where snow falls - a highland massif topped by Phia Pò peak (1,541m) in Lạng Sơn province near the Chinese border, with abandoned French colonial ruins, a sea of clouds, and genuine subalpine conditions in winter.

Jul - May→

Photo coming soon

Mountain

Nam Kang Ho Tao Mountain

Lai Châu, Lao Cai

Nam Kang Ho Tao (2,881 m) in Hoàng Liên National Park, on the Lai Châu - Lào Cai border, is often ranked among Vietnam's hardest treks - a 2-3 day route of steep stream-bed climbs, cliff faces with ropes and ladders, primeval forest and pơ mu wood huts.

Feb - Apr, Oct→

Mountain

Ngu Chi Son Mountain

Lao Cai, Lai Châu

Ngũ Chỉ Sơn (Five-Finger Mountain) is a 2,858 m peak on the Lào Cai-Lai Châu border near Sa Pa - a short but very steep trek up wooden ladders, rock scrambles and narrow ledges to five finger-like summits, often rated about 7/10 for difficulty.

Sep - May is the best time to trek Ngũ Chỉ Sơn, with the best chances of cloud seas and sunsets along the route. The core dry season, Oct - Apr, brings clear skies and cloud swirling around the peaks. From May to Sep the rains make the steep trail and wooden ladders muddy and much more dangerous - if you go then, bring a raincoat, boots and trekking poles. Year-round, the summit is often foggy and windy; calm days with a full cloud sea are a matter of luck. After long dry spells, the upper huts run very short of water.→

Mountain

Nhiu Co San Mountain

Lao Cai

Nhiu Co San (Sừng Trâu, the Buffalo Horn) is one of Vietnam's highest peaks at about 2,965 m in Bát Xát, Lào Cai - a 2 days 1 night trek past the Ong Chúa waterfall and through primeval forest to a summit famous for sunrise and cloud seas.

Sep - May is the trekking season, with the best chances of a cloud sea and Ong Chúa waterfall running well. Sep - Oct is when the waterfall carries the most water and the goat pasture is at its greenest. Oct - Mar usually brings the clearest, driest weather. In winter cold snaps the mountain can freeze, coating leaves and branches in ice like glass - beautiful, but bitterly cold and slippery. Spring brings red and yellow rhododendrons in the old forest and peach and plum blossom lower down, and maples change colour in autumn. Jun - Aug is the rainy season, when the access road and trail are at their muddiest and most slippery.→

Photo coming soon

Mountain

Po Ma Lung Mountain

Lai Châu

Po Ma Lung is one of Vietnam's highest peaks at about 2,967 m on the Vietnam-China border in Lai Châu - widely rated one of the hardest treks in the country, with its infamous 3-hour slope, primeval forest, bamboo groves and streams, and a border permit required.

The dry season, Sep - Apr, is the best window: little rain, firmer trails and lower streams, which makes the many stream crossings safer. Dec - Mar is spring on the mountain - cool, with fresh growth in the primeval forest and rhododendrons and wild orchids in flower; around late March, primroses can bloom along some of the streams. Apr - May is mild, neither hot nor cold, and usually before the dangerous forest rains arrive. Avoid Jun - Aug: rain makes the relentless slopes very slippery, and the air is wet and bitterly cold.→

Photo coming soon

Mountain

Pu Si Lung Mountain

Lai Châu

Pu Si Lung is one of Vietnam's highest mountains, at roughly 3,076 m on the Vietnam-China border in Lai Châu province - often called the toughest high-peak trek in the country, through primeval forest to border marker 42, with a border-area permit required.

Oct - Apr is the dry season and the most comfortable window: cool, dry weather, less slippery trails, forest flowers in bloom and good odds of a cloud sea. Spring→

Mountain

Pu Ta Leng Mountain

Lai Châu

Pu Ta Leng is one of Vietnam's highest mountains, at about 3,049 m in the Hoàng Liên Sơn range in Lai Châu - a tough 2-3 day trek through primeval forest, mossy streams and bamboo cloud forest to ancient rhododendron groves that flower from February to April.

Oct - Apr is the dry season and the window most trekkers recommend: clearer skies, longer views, less rain and less slippery trails. Feb - Apr is rhododendron season, when the ancient forests near the summit flower in red, pink, purple and white - but blooming varies a lot from year to year, so ask locals or your operator before you commit to a date. Winter→

Mountain

Ta Chi Nhu Mountain

Lao Cai, Sơn La

Ta Chi Nhu (properly Phú Lương mountain) is one of Vietnam's highest peaks at about 2,979 m, on the border of the former Yên Bái and Sơn La - often called the most beginner-friendly high-peak trek, famous for cloud seas, open summit views and purple Chi Pâu flowers in September.

Ta Chi Nhu is pretty year-round, but Sep - Oct is peak season, when purple Chi Pâu flowers cover the slopes around the summit→

Photo coming soon

Mountain

Ta Lien Son Mountain

Lai Châu

Ta Lien Son (Cổ Trâu mountain) is one of Vietnam's highest peaks at about 2,996 m in the Hoàng Liên Sơn range, Lai Châu - a forest trek through moss-draped primeval woods, red maples, white camellias and rhododendrons, doable in a long day or 2 days 1 night.

Sep - May is the trekking season, with little rain and drier trails; the driest stretch runs from late Nov to the end of Apr. Each season looks different: Sep - Nov brings golden rice in the valleys below and maples turning colour→

Mountain

Tà Xùa Mountain

Sơn La, Yên Bái

Tà Xùa (Phu Sa Phìn) is Vietnam's 13th highest peak at 2,865m, straddling Son La and Yen Bai provinces. The Bac Yen route - the most popular approach - crosses the legendary dinosaur spine ridge above a sea of clouds, passes the iconic turtle rock, and climbs through an ancient moss forest. Standard trek: 2 days, 2 nights, ~23km total.

Nov - Apr→

Forest

Yên Minh Pine Forest

Hà Giang

The Yên Minh Pine Forest is an unexpected stretch of man-made highland pine on the Ha Giang Loop, spanning Na Khê, Lao Và Chải, and Bạch Đích communes along Highway 4C - dense Pinus kesiya forest at around 1,200 metres, with morning mist threading between the trees and a completely different atmosphere from the surrounding karst landscape. Note: at the Cán Tỷ bridge fork before Yên Minh, only the longer 41km route passes through the forest - the shorter 22.6km route bypasses it entirely.

Mar - Apr, Sep - Nov→

Central Vietnam (19)

Destination guides Da Lat, Ly Son, Mui Ne, Phong Nha - Ke Bang · Central Vietnam guide →

Beach

Bãi Môn Beach

Phú Yên

Bãi Môn is a pristine 400m crescent beach at the foot of Mũi Điện in Phú Yên - sheltered between two headlands, with a freshwater stream running to the sea, and one of the first places on mainland Vietnam to receive the sunrise each morning.

Jan - Aug→

National Park

Bidoup Núi Bà National Park

Lâm Đồng

Bidoup Núi Bà National Park protects one of the largest remaining tracts of highland cloud forest in southern Vietnam - a roughly 64,800-hectare wilderness of montane jungle, endemic birds, and multi-day trekking routes 50km north of Đà Lạt, centred on Bidoup Peak, the highest point of the Đà Lạt Plateau.

Nov - Apr→

Grassland

Bùi Hui Grassland

Quảng Ngãi

Bùi Hui Grassland in Ba Tơ, Quảng Ngãi is a scenic highland meadow known for its purple sim flowers, cool mountain air, sea-of-clouds sunrise views, and overnight camping among rolling green hills.

Mar - Apr, Aug - Sep→

Stream

Đa Ploa Stream

Lâm Đồng

Đa Ploa Stream in Đạ Huoai district of Lâm Đồng is a multi-tier stream in the transitional forest zone between the southern highlands and the lowlands - much of the wider Đạ Huoai stream area remains genuinely undeveloped, though at least one organised camping site with basic facilities has emerged nearby in recent years.

Dec - May→

Island

Đảo Bé (An Bình Island)

Quảng Ngãi

Đảo Bé - also known as An Bình Island or Cù Lao Bờ Bãi - is a small outer island 3 nautical miles northwest of Lý Sơn's main island, reachable by a 10-15 minute boat ride. With clearer water, more intact coral reefs, and a fraction of the crowds of the main island, it's the best snorkeling location in the Lý Sơn archipelago and a quieter alternative for a half-day by the sea.

Apr - Aug→

Cave

Hang En Cave

Quảng Bình

Hang En is the third largest natural cave in the world - 3km from Sơn Đoòng, accessible by 2-day 1-night trek through jungle and Bru-Vân Kiều village, with a night camping on a white sandbar inside the cave under a 145m ceiling. The accessible alternative to Sơn Đoòng.

Dec - Aug→

Island

Hon Yen Island

Phú Yên

Hòn Yến is a small coral island 15km north of Tuy Hòa in Phú Yên - two islands (Hòn Yến and Hòn Sụn) connected by a rock path at low tide, with exposed coral reefs, lobster farming, and floating seafood restaurants. Named for the swifts that once nested here.

Mar - Sep→

Beach

Kỳ Co Beach

Bình Định

Kỳ Co Beach is a secluded 1km² cove near Quy Nhơn with turquoise water, golden sand, and dramatic cliff scenery - 25km from Quy Nhơn city, accessible by speedboat from Nhơn Lý fishing village or by road year-round.

Apr - Sep→

Stream

La Ngâu Stream

Bình Thuận

La Ngâu Stream in Tánh Linh, Bình Thuận is a rocky jungle stream with natural pools and multiple campsites - one of the top weekend camping destinations from Ho Chi Minh City (4-5 hours). No electricity, weak signal, cold water, and a dam that releases without warning. Far enough from Saigon to feel genuinely removed. Close enough for a 2-day trip.

Dec - Apr→

Mountain

Langbiang Mountain

Lâm Đồng

Langbiang is a mountain range north of Đà Lạt topped by Núi Bà, its highest peak at 2,167 metres - most visitors instead reach the easier, jeep-accessible Đồi Ra-đa (Radar Hill) viewpoint, while the true summit is a genuine trek through Bidoup-Núi Bà National Park, home to the K'Ho ethnic minority and their legend of the star-crossed lovers K'Lang and H'Biang.

Nov - Mar→

Mountain

Masara Hill

Lâm Đồng

Masara Hill in Đức Trọng district, Lâm Đồng is a 30-hectare expanse of open grassland that turns a deep pink from roughly November to December - unlike other pink-grass spots near Đà Lạt, Masara's grass grows on bare, treeless hills rather than under pine cover, giving it a darker, more saturated colour.

Nov - Apr→

Village

Mũi Trọ Fishing Village

Bình Thuận

Mũi Trọ is a small, little-documented fishing village on the Bình Thuận coast near Cô Thạch beach in Tuy Phong district - a handful of houses, round basket boats, and a rocky pebble beach off the well-known tourist track. Some stretches remain genuinely undeveloped, while at least one nearby camping spot offers basic facilities.

Jun - Aug→

Mountain

Núi Thới Lới

Quảng Ngãi

Núi Thới Lới is Lý Sơn's highest point at 169 meters and the island's largest extinct volcanic crater, its bowl holding the island's only freshwater lake and a peaceful cattle pasture. A 20-meter national flag tower stands at the summit facing the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) Islands, with panoramic views over garlic fields, fishing villages, Đảo Bé, and Hang Câu beach below.

Mar - Aug→

Waterfall

Phi Liêng Waterfall

Lâm Đồng

Phi Liêng is a 7-tier, 70m waterfall deep in the forest of Đam Rông district, Lâm Đồng - nicknamed 'Tây Nguyên Đệ Nhất Thác' (the greatest waterfall of the Central Highlands). 80km from Đà Lạt, no phone signal inside, a 40-45 degree descent with ropes - genuinely remote and genuinely rewarding.

Nov - Apr→

Cave

Son Doong Cave

Quảng Bình

Son Doong is the largest cave in the world - big enough to contain a 40-story skyscraper, with its own weather system, jungle, and river inside. Access is by expedition only, with a strict annual quota making it one of the most exclusive natural experiences on earth. All tours run exclusively through Oxalis Adventure.

Jan - Aug→

Lake

Tà Đùng Lake

Đắk Nông

Tà Đùng Lake in Đắk Nông is called the 'Hạ Long Bay of the Central Highlands' - a reservoir with 47+ forested islands that are actually the hilltops of submerged terrain, formed by the Đồng Nai 3 hydroelectric dam. Sea of clouds visible at 5-6 AM during rainy season. 250km from Saigon.

Jul - Apr→

Mountain

Ta Năng - Phan Dũng Trek

Lâm Đồng, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận

The Tà Năng - Phan Dũng Trek is the most celebrated multi-day wilderness route in southern Vietnam - a 30-55km crossing through 3 provinces (Lâm Đồng, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận) from highland to coast, passing a tri-province peak at 1,701m. Standard format 2 nights 1 day. First opened around 2015.

Jan - Mar, Aug - Oct→

Lake

Tuyền Lâm Lake

Lâm Đồng

Tuyền Lâm Lake is Đà Lạt's largest reservoir - one of the largest bodies of water in the area, surrounded by pine forests, accessible by cable car, kayak, or bicycle, with Trúc Lâm Thiền Monastery perched on Phụng Hoàng Mountain above the northern shore.

Nov - Jun→

Waterfall

Yavly Waterfall

Bình Thuận

Yavly Waterfall - also known as Thác Cặp (Paired Falls) or locally Thác Bay (Flying Falls) - is a roughly 100m cascade deep in the Tà Hoàng gorge along the Tà Năng - Phan Dũng trekking route, one of the most celebrated multi-day wilderness treks in southern Vietnam. Now developed enough for basic tourism, including abseiling, it can be visited as a quick stop on the through-trek or as the highlight of a 2-day, 1-night camping trip.

Nov - Apr→

South Vietnam (10)

Destination guides Con Dao · South Vietnam guide →

National Park

Bù Gia Mập National Park

Bình Phước

Bù Gia Mập National Park is one of the last intact lowland rainforest blocks in southeastern Vietnam - 26,000 hectares on the Cambodian border, 200km from Saigon. Difficulty 2/10, suitable for beginners. Famous for leeches, gibbon calls at dawn, and camping by Đắk Manh stream.

Nov - Apr→

National Park

Cát Tiên National Park

Đồng Nai

Cát Tiên National Park - established 1992, 71,920 hectares (larger than Singapore), UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Over 1,610 plant species, 1,568 animal species, 300+ bird species (nearly 50% of Vietnam's total). Once the last mainland Asian refuge of the Javan rhinoceros, declared extinct here in 2010. Winner of 4 awards at the 2025 AEN International Ecotourism Awards including top prize for Biodiversity Conservation.

Nov - May→

Lake

Dầu Tiếng Lake

Tây Ninh

Dầu Tiếng Lake is the largest artificial reservoir in Vietnam - a 270km² expanse of water on the Tây Ninh and Bình Dương border, surrounded by forest and used for irrigation, with sunrise photography, lakeside cycling, and the nearby Chùa Thái Sơn temple on Núi Cậu among the main visitor draws.

Jun, Dec - Apr→

Beach

Đồi Nhái Beach

Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Đồi Nhái Beach is an undeveloped, wind-swept stretch of coastline in Phường 11, Vũng Tàu, right by the mouth of the Cỏ May River - just 4km from the city centre yet largely untouched, and one of the few kitesurfing spots in Vietnam outside Mũi Né.

Dec - Apr→

Island

Nam Du Islands

Kien Giang

Nam Du is Vietnam's southernmost island archipelago - 21 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, closer and cheaper than Phú Quốc, with clearer water, outer islands for snorkeling, and a genuine fishing community character. 2 hours from Rạch Giá by high-speed ferry.

Nov - May→

Mountain

Núi Chứa Chan (Chứa Chan Mountain)

Đồng Nai

Núi Chứa Chan (also known as Gia Ray or Gia Lào) is the second-highest peak in southern Vietnam after Núi Bà Đen, about 100-110km from Ho Chi Minh City. A cable car reaches the cave pagoda partway up, while a numbered power-pole trail leads hikers on to the summit through forest, past old French colonial and wartime relics, to camping spots with sweeping views over the Đồng Nai plains.

Nov - Apr→

Mountain

Núi Dinh (Dinh Mountain)

Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Núi Dinh is a roughly 500m-high mountain range in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province - the highest in the region - with a paved road climbing much of the mountain, forested trails to Đỉnh La Bàn (a former US military helicopter pad and one of the mountain's best-known viewpoints), pagodas including Chùa Hang Mai, and streams with natural swimming pools at Suối Tiên and Suối Đá.

Jun - Nov→

Island

Pirate Islands

Kien Giang

The Hai Tac Islands (Quần đảo Hải Tặc) are a 16-island archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand about 28km from Hà Tiên, historically known as the Pirate Islands. Reachable by a regular, roughly 30-minute speedboat service, they remain one of the least-developed island groups in Vietnam, with coral reefs, quiet beaches, and a small fishing community.

Nov - Apr→

Photo coming soon

Beach

Six Senses Beach

Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Six Senses Beach is the most beautiful stretch of coastline on Côn Đảo - a crescent of white sand and clear turquoise water at Đất Dốc, fronting the Six Senses resort, with patches of coral reported offshore and the forested national park hills rising directly behind the beach.

Mar - Sep→

Lake

Tri An Lake

Đồng Nai

Tri An Lake is a large reservoir in Dong Nai province, 65-70km from Ho Chi Minh City, formed by the Tri An hydroelectric dam on the Dong Nai River. A popular weekend camping and kayaking destination for city residents, with 76 forested islands, calm water, and dramatic sunset views.

Year-round→

Browse other experiences

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