Vietnam’s overwhelming beauty of nature, friendly people, and bustling cities is certain to leave a lasting impression on tourists. This is a first-class destination for Lesbian travel to Vietnam and a region that offers great hospitality and service much like neighbouring countries, but in a location that has been less affected by tourism.

Bordered by Cambodia, Laos and China, a visit to Vietnam makes it possible to really appreciate not only the beautiful landscapes, but also the diverse ethnic groups and cultures.

For the Lesbian travel to Vietnam, this is a country that is relatively stress-free when it comes to lesbian, gay, or trans- travellers. Vietnam is a country with no official rules in place that restrict same-sex sexual or same-sex relationships, and it is possible to travel without being harassed. Vietnam has the Viet Pride march taking place in the capital city, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, while less prominent events are held in small cities throughout the country. This is an annual event (July/early August) that celebrates the local Vietnamese LGBT Pride series and includes activities like a bike rally, parties, talks and film screenings.

Overall, the outlook in Vietnam in relation to LGBT people is quite progressive and a holiday in this South East Asian country is certain to be worth the effort and an exciting experience.

Tips for travellers
Ho Chi Minh City is the city with the most prominent gay scene, but the gay and lesbian venues still maintain a quite low profile.

But, for the lesbian travellers in Vietnam there shouldn’t be any issues with travelling through the country or checking into guesthouses or hotels. Booking a room for a same-sex couple is rarely an issue and perfectly acceptable. Public acts of affection aren’t overly welcomed; though this applies to both non-heterosexual and heterosexual couples.

The tourism infrastructure in Vietnam has seen significant improvements in recent years, and this is a country that has developed into a world-class destination. Tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the local culture in an authentic way without having to witness mass tourism that has impacted local neighbours.

Vietnam is split into three distinct regions (north, central and south) that can vary with differences in the climate, culture and history. However, for those in search of the gay nightlife this can be an issue as there aren’t really any exclusively lesbian or gay venues in Vietnam. The gay scene is more varied and may rely on talking to the right locals who can give guidance on the location of the next party. The lesbian scene isn’t obvious when travelling around Vietnam, but women are just as welcome to visit the places that men can go.

When booking a guesthouse or hotel for the Vietnam travel packages, there are plenty of travel sites that give the option to filter results to match the specific needs. One option to look for is LGBT/gay-friendly which clearly shows that these places are more welcoming and much less likely to give any hassle.

Visit the coffee shops or bars that are lesbian-friendly and look out for maps, flyers, or other relevant LGBT information that can help find the local establishments that are worth a visit.

Booking a tour targeting the LGBT traveller is certain to be a possibility with several of the local travel operators. Organizing this type of holiday can be that much easier with a lot less potential for awkward situations with other travel providers and hotels. Also, the companies that sell the trips for LGBT travellers have the ability to help identify the best places to see and visit on the tour of the country.

Read more about Gay travel guide to Vietnam.

Best places to go
The lesbian travel guide to Vietnam has plenty of top places for LGBT people to visit in the country, including:

North
A visit to the capital city, Hanoi is certain to be a must-see destination on the travel itinerary to Vietnam. This is an ancient city with plenty of unique history and architecture to admire. One of the most scenic spots in the city is Hoan Kiem Lake that is located in the centre of this historic city. The food and shopping experience in the city is quite incomparable. Hanoi is one place to visit for the mixed bars and clubs that appeal to the local LGBT crowd, but there are not venues that are lesbian exclusive.

Nearby is the Halong Bay World Heritage Site and regarded as one of the must-see and spectacular sights to see in Asia. This seascape is rich in thousands of limestone islets with plenty topped with dense jungle vegetation. A kayak trip in these waters gives an up close view of the surrounding caves and grottoes.

On the northern border is the Sa Pa terraces which gives easy access to the rustic and authentic ethnic minority villages (Dao, Tay, Hmong, etc.), as well the local lush-green landscape that makes a perfect destination for trekking. The paddy terraces are a stunning site and used by the locals to grow vegetables, corn and rice.

A visit to Ninh Binh province makes it possible to experience the heritage and culture of a thousand-year-old capital. This region has the Cuc Phuong National Park with its integrated and lush-green landscape of Karst Mountains, hills, and green valleys, as well as homestays and eco-tourism centres to get an authentic feel of the local communities. This part of northern Vietnam has a significant spiritual and cultural feel and has a noticeable blend of religions, including Christianity and Buddhism.

Central
In between Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south, there are plenty of stunning places to stop at and explore on the Vietnam travel guide. Hoi An is an unspoiled and charming village that dates as far back as the 16th century and still has a many of the 400 year old buildings in place. Plus, this was originally a traditional fishing village and its long, narrow canals and lanes are still in existence. A perfect place to round off the visit to Hoi An is the picturesque stretch of beaches that are especially great in the warm months when the humidity and temperatures soar.

The Imperial City of Hue has a long and interesting history with the Thien Mu Pagoda well worth a visit. It is well located and overlooks the Perfume River. This pagoda is the tallest in Vietnam and dates to the 15th century, while the country was under the rule of the Nguyen Lords. Also, this is a great place to see the novice monks in training who are going about their studies and duties.

South Coast
Vietnam’s largest island is Phu Quoc, which is located relatively close to the border with Cambodia. This island is blessed with great beaches, untouched coral reefs, and pristine tropical rainforests. Long Beach (or Bai Dai) is regarded as one of the most beautiful and clean beaches in the region.

A visit to Mui Ne makes it possible to explore a quaint beach that is situated close to a fishing village. This beach has not only great weather, but also strong breezes which has made it become a popular destination for wind-surfing and kite-surfing. An evening trek to the sand dunes, which is a short distance from town, makes it possible to get a stunning sight of the sunset, as well as panoramic views of the local surroundings.

Also, Nha Trang is a favoured resort town with its striking beaches, warm water and fine clean sand, as well as being a perfect scuba diving destination. The actual city is more lively and urban than most other beach regions in the country.

South
The major city in the south is Ho Chi Minh City (formally known as Saigon) which is the country’s economic capital and a fun-loving and stylish place to be. The city has a lot to offer when it comes to beautiful architecture, cultural houses, theatres, museums and parks. The local restaurants and street food scene serves up an incredible range of food. Ho Chi Minh City is among best places to visit for lesbian travel to Vietnam and has a few mixed clubs and bars that are open to the LGBT community.

This part of the country is beautiful with Mekong River nearby which is perfect for a full day tour to see its wide range of attractions. The mighty Mekong River helps to create over 50% of the country’s agricultural produce with its rich-lush rice fields.

About an hour bus ride north of the city is the Cu Chi Tunnels that make up a complex network of underground tunnels that were used by the Viet Cong for the duration of the Vietnam War. This immense network of tunnels was a place of hideouts, shelter and a base of operations. A section of the tunnels has been reinforced and made safe to let tourists crawl though, and get an idea of the cramp conditions.

Also, Dalat is nearby (approx 300 km) and worth a visit on the Vietnam travel packages to see this sleepy French hill station town.