An overview of Vietnam
Vietnam is a popular tourist destination in SouthEast Asia. It is known for its stunning natural landscapes, interesting history and culture, delicious food, and warm hospitality.
Geography
Vietnam has three main regions: North Vietnam, Central Vietnam, and South Vietnam. Each region offers its own distinct features, including unique accents, cuisines, and climates.
- North Vietnam: famous for its breathtaking natural landscapes, rice terraces, and ancient pagodas and temples. Popular destinations in the north are Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, and Ha Giang.
- Central Vietnam: famous for its well-preserved historical sites, caves, and beaches. Popular destinations in the central region are Hoi An ancient town, Da Nang, Hue, and Phong Nha.
- South Vietnam: famous for its warm weather all year round, westernized atmosphere, and beaches. Popular destinations in the south are Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Mekong delta, and Mui Ne.
Other famous cities in Vietnam are the city of flowers – Da Lat in the central highland of Vietnam and the beach city of Nha Trang in the south central coast.
Weather and Climates
The weather in Vietnam is also divided into three main regions. The North has cold winter months while The Central and the South have warm weather all year round.
In North Vietnam, summers (May to September) are usually hot, humid with heavy rainfall. Winters ( November to March) have cool to cold weather with little to no rain. April and October are transition months between two seasons and they have the most pleasant weather.
North and South Vietnam have two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. In Central Vietnam, the dry season is from February to August, and the rainy season is from September to January. This region can experience flooding and tropical storms in the rainy season, particularly in October and November.
In South Vietnam, the rainy season is from May to October, the dry season is from November to April. In rain here is usually in the form of short-lived showers in mid to late afternoon. You still have plenty of sunshine during other times of the day.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
The best month to explore the entire Vietnam, in my opinion, is from March to April. These months are the dry season in all regions from north to south. The North has some spring drizzles, but it is not as hot and rainy as upcoming months. The Central and south are great places to go for beaches.
As the weather is splitted into 3 main regions. The best months to visit North Vietnam are from March to April and September to November. These months usually have comfortable temperatures and little rain, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities such as trekking and cycling.
The best month to visit Central Vietnam is from February to August in the dry season. The best months to explore South Vietnam are in its dry season from November to April.
Things to know before visit Vietnam
Apply for a Visa
Before visiting Vietnam, you need to check visa requirements for your nationality. Some nationalities don’t need to apply for a visa if they plan to stay in Vietnam for less than 45 days.
Vietnam E-visa allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days. If you apply for a visa, you can apply online at the official website of the government at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.
It only cost $25 for a single entry visa or and $50 for a multiple entry visa. The application will be usually approved in 3 working days.
Vietnamese currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the official currency in Vietnam. It includes both paper notes and polymer notes. There are no coins. The 20,000VND and 500,000 VND note are quite similar (both blue), so double check before you pay.
You can pay by card in restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping malls, in urban cities, but cash is still a preferred payment method in many places, at the local markets, small shops, and rural areas. Many places add a 3% surcharge if you pay by card.
For the best conversion rate at an ATM, I recommend bringing a Wise Card with you. I have a Vietnamese bank Card (I’m Vietnamese) but sometimes I use Wise in Vietnam too. I use Wise often when traveling to other countries like Japan and Thailand.
The best option is to bring some cash and a Wise Card topped up with VND. You can exchange money at currency exchanges or gold shops. Big airports have an exchange money counter and ATMA at the airport, but You might not have the best conversion rate.
Travel Adaptor for Vietnam
In Vietnam, we have three plug types: A (two flat parallel pins), C (two round pins), and G (three rectangular pins). The 2 pin type is the most common plug type in Vietnam. Our standard voltage is 220V.
If you don’t bring the right plugs with you, you can easily buy it at markets and convenience stores such as Seven Eleven and Family Mart.
SIM card and Internet
To stay connected to the internet, you can buy a physical SIM Card and e-SIM. Lots of SIM card agencies can be found at big airports like Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai airport in Hanoi. I recommend using Viettel services as they are the most popular telecom company in Vietnam.
Wifi is quite strong in Vietnam. You can use it free at restaurants, cafes, and hotels. Be sure to use VPN to keep you more secure when surfing the internet.
Where to fly into Vietnam? Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang?
Vietnam has three major international airports. They are:
- Noi Bai airport in Hanoi (North Vietnam),
- Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City (South Vietnam),
- Da Nang airport in Da Nang (Central Vietnam)
If you want to explore North Vietnam with its beautiful natural landscape and rich cultural attractions, you can fly into Hanoi. From Hanoi, you can easily take day trips and overnight trips to popular destinations like Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, Sapa, and Halong Bay.
If you want to explore South Vietnam with its modern atmosphere, beautiful beaches, you can fly into Ho Chi Minh City. From Ho Chi Minh City, you can easily go to Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, and Con Dao.
If you want to explore central Vietnam, it is best to fly into Da Nang airport. From Da Nang, you can easily take trains and buses to places like Hoi An, Hue, Hai Van Pass, and My Son sanctuary.
If you want to explore entire Vietnam, you can either fly to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang. From these cities, you can easily explore other parts of the country by domestic flights, trains, and buses.
How to get around Vietnam?
You can get around Vietnam by airplane, trains, buses, and motorbikes. Major airlines in Vietnam are Vietnam Airlines (national airline) and Vietjet (low cost airline). If you book in advance, you can find some good deals with Vietjet, sometimes cheaper than taking the long distance trains.
Traveling between cities by train is the favorite way of many visitors. The train connects most major tourist destinations around the countries. Many train stations are located right in the city center, while some of them are on the outskirts. You’ll need an additional taxi or Grab to get to your hotel.
Trains tickets can be purchased online or at the train station. You can buy it online for the best seats or beds options, but I usually buy it at the train station.
I recommend taking a heritage train ride in central Vietnam, which connects Hue and Da Nang. It is one of the best train rides in Vietnam where you can enjoy stunning views of Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach in slow motion and try some regional dishes.
Sleeper buses are widely available in all Vietnam and good ways to travel between cities. There are many overnight sleeper buses which can save you money on accommodations.
If you are an adventurous person, you can consider buying a motorbike in either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and travel to other parts of the country. At the end, you can sell it before leaving.
Once you are in each city, you can get around by walking, Grab, and motorbike rental. Grab is like Uber in the west. It is the most popular and safest riding shared services in Vietnam. I highly recommend installing this App. You can add your card there or pay by cash. You can even order food from Grab.
Is it safe to travel to Vietnam?
In my experience, Vietnam is generally a safe country to visit. I have traveled around the country both as a solo traveler and as part of a couple, and I’ve had good experiences in both scenarios.
As you travel to any place, it is recommended to use common sense, avoid walking alone in isolated areas in the dark, and beware of pickpocketing and bag snatching. Alway check the menu and the bills before ordering and paying to avoid overcharging.
You can read more about safety in Vietnam here:
Best Places to Go in Vietnam & Best things to do
Here are the top tourist destinations to visit and the best things to do in Vietnam from North to South.
1. Hanoi – the cultural capital of Vietnam
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam located in the northern part of the country. It has an international airport and is the transport hub of North Vietnam.
The best thing to do in Hanoi is just wandering around the old quarter and observing local life. Major attractions are Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Lo Prison, Thang Long Imperial Palace, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, and the train Street.
The old quarter is also a great place to try traditional Vietnamese food such as Pho, banh mi, and Bun Cha. You can go shopping for souvenirs such as silks and handicrafts at many streets in the old town.
At night, you can check out the night market for more shopping and street food. Head to Ta Hien Beer Street for some fresh beer and people watch.
I think 2 to 3 days in Hanoi is enough to see all the major sights in this city. You can explore at your own pace by walking or using Grab or use guided tours such as jeep tours or cyclo tours. Consider taking cooking class and street food tours to get to know more about the local culture and dishes.
You can visit Hanoi all year round, but if you want to avoid the hot, humid, and rainy weather, I recommend avoiding June, July, and August. The best month to visit Hanoi is from September to November and from March to April.
For An authentic experience in Hanoi, I recommend staying in the old quarter. This will also put you in the heart of the action, close to everything. Other best areas to stay in Hanoi for a more local atmosphere are Tay Ho and Ba Dinh district.
2. Halong Bay – for an overnight cruise
Taking an overnight cruise on Halong Bay is one of the best things to do in Vietnam. Halong Bay is one of the most famous natural wonders in the world. It is known for its thousands of breathtaking limestone karst rising above the sea.
Halong Bay is only located around 4 hours drive from Hanoi and easily reachable by buses and taxi. Many cruise offers pick up and drop off in the old quarter of Hanoi.
The most popular option to explore Halong Bay is taking a one night or two night cruise. If you have time and budget, the two nights are recommended. If not, the one night cruise is good enough to see the bay from sunrise to sunset.
3. Sapa – for trekking, explore tribe villages, and rice terraces
Sapa is a famous mountainous town located around 6 hours drive from Hanoi. It is best known for its pleasant weather, stunning rice terraces, and tribe villages.
You can take sleeper buses from Hanoi to Sapa town center. Another option is to take a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai train station, then use private transfer or taxi to get to the town center of Sapa.
In Sapa, you can have cool fresh air and a peaceful atmosphere. You can go trekking, explore different ethnic villages and learn about local culture. Popular tribe villages are Cat Cat village and Lao Chai village.
The best time to visit Sapa for yellow rice terraces is in autumn from September to October. Other pleasant times for clear skies and mild weather are from March to May and November.
You can choose to stay in the town center where you have easy access to many shops, restaurants, massage places, cafes, and the night market. You can also consider staying at a homestay to learn more about local life.
4. Ninh Binh – most famous for its Trang An boat ride
Ninh Binh is a popular destination in North Vietnam, known for its stunning natural landscape and rich history and culture. It is a popular day trip from the capital city as it is only a two hour drive away.
Ninh Binh was the ancient capital of Vietnam for nearly 50 years, just before King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long (now Hanoi). You can explore Hoa Lu ancient capital to learn more about its history and explore ancient temples of these Kings.
The best thing to do in Ninh Binh is taking a boat ride on Trang An to admire the scenery of the river and surrounding karts. You can see the caves, ancient temples and pagodas.
Other points of interest in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc boat ride, Bich Dong pagoda, and Bai Dinh pagoda. In my experience, one to two days in Ninh Binh are usually enough to see these sights, try local meals such as goat meals, and enjoy the nightlife in Tam Coc.
Like many other places in North Vietnam, the best time to visit Ninh Binh is from September to November, which is autumn. Another good time is March to May when the weather is dry and less rain.
The most popular place to stay in Ninh Binh is Tam Coc. This is the tourist strip of the city, where you can find many restaurants, bars, and shops.
5. Ha Giang – for scenic drive, breathtaking mountainous landscape
Ha Giang is one of my favorite destinations in Vietnam. It is located near the border with China and is around 6 hours drive from Hanoi.
The best way to explore Ha Giang is on a motorbike ride. If you are a confident and experienced driver, you can rent a motorbike and explore it at your own pace. If not, I recommend taking a guided easy rider tour. This means you’ll sit back on a bike of a local driver and just enjoy the views.
Ha Giang Loop is not only known for its scenic drives, winding roads, and stunning landscapes, it is also home to many ethnic groups. During the Loop, you can explore different viewpoints, rivers, caves, and waterfalls. You can stay in a traditional homestay, learn about local cultures and eat local food.
6. Da Nang – for beautiful beaches, delicious cuisines
Da Nang is a famous beach destination in central Vietnam. It is also a major city and transport hub of the region. It is known for its pristine beaches, delicious local cuisines, beautiful river, lively markets, and cultural attractions.
Some of the best things to do in Da Nang include Han River, Dragon Bridge, Han Market, My Khe Beach, Ba Na Hill, Marble Mountains, and Linh Ung pagoda.
To enjoy the beaches, go shopping, and try local food, I recommend spending at least two to three days in this city. You can easily get around on foot, Grab, and use services like private drivers.
The best area to stay in Da Nang for an authentic local vibe is the city center near Han River, either on Tran Hung Dao or Bach Dang Street. If you want to stay right on the beach, I recommend booking a stay along Vo Nguyen Giap Street and My Khe Beach. The beachfront has lots of luxury beach resorts.
Da Nang has a rainy season that starts from September to December. Flooding and tropical storms can occur during these months and can interrupt your travel plan. The best month to see Da Nang is from February to August, which is the dry season.
7. Hoi An – for ancient town, tailor shops
Hoi An is one of the top tourist destinations in Vietnam. It is located only 40km away from Da Nang in Central Vietnam and is best known for its well-preserved ancient town.
Hoi An was a bustling port town in South East Asia for a few centuries from 16th to 19th centuries. It is now no longer a trading port town but a well-known destination with many old shophouses, lantern-filled streets, and tailor shops.
The best things to do in Hoi An include exploring the ancient town, visiting popular old houses, temples, museums, and bridges. Famous attractions are the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, and the Central Market.
You can try local food such as Com Ga Hoi An, My Quang, Cao Lau, and Banh My Hoi An. You can take some classes such as cooking class and lantern marking class.
At night, I recommend taking a boat ride on Hoai River to release lanterns and make a wish. You can shop for souvenirs and street food at the night market on An Hoi island. And check out many bars and restaurants at the banks of Hoai River.
I think two to three days is the minimum amount of time to spend in Hoi An. You can use this time to see the old town and the beaches. An bang Beach and Cua Dai Beach are peaceful places for beach activities, located 10 minutes drive away.
Some of the best places to stay in Hoi An are the old town and An Bang Beach. I recommend staying in the old town for authentic experience and for first-timers.
Similar to Da Nang, the best month to visit Hoi An is in the dry season, from February to August. These months have lots of sunny days and minimal raingalls, ideal for sightseeing, swimming, and cycling.
8. Hue – for Imperial Citadel, royal tombs, and pagodas
Hue is another famous city in central Vietnam. It is not as popular as Hoi An and Da Nang, but offers plenty of things to do and see. It was the ancient capital of Vietnam and the residence of the last Vietnamese feudal rulers.
I recommend spending at least 2 to 3 days in Hue to explore the old citadel, pagodas, and royal tombs. If you like trekking and nature, you can take a trip to Bach Ma national park.
Famous things to see in Hue are Hue Imperial City, Huong River, Thien Mu pagoda, Khai Dinh tomb, Minh Mang tomb, and Tu Duc tomb. You can try Bun bo Hue and Hue cake, and have some fresh beer at Hue Walking Street at night.
Basically, the best time to visit Hue is in the dry season from January to August. Similar to other parts of central Vietnam, the city can experience flooding in the rainy season, particularly October and November.
If you are first-timers, I recommend booking a homestay or a hotel on Phu Hoi ward, which is the best area to stay in Hue. This ward, particularly the area around Nguyen Cong Tru street, is packed with tourist amenities and travel agencies.
9. Quy Nhon – for beaches
Quy Nhon is off the beaten path in Vietnam. This city is located on the eastern coast of Vietnam, only a 3-4 hours bus ride from Nha Trang. It also has an airport, so you can easily reach by air from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Top attractions in Quy Nhon are the beaches. You have Quy Nhon City Beach, Bai Xep Beach, Ky Co, and Eo Gio. Other places of interest are the colorful fishing villages such as Nhon Ly fishing village and Bai Xep fishing village.
You can take a look at cultural attractions such as Twin Cham Towers, Linh Phong temple, and Ong Nui Temple. Twin Cham Towers is located right in the city center, Linh Phong temple is outside of the city center (30 minutes drive away).
This city is quite small and has nothing much to do besides the beaches, so I think with my one to 2 days Itinerary, you can see most things in Quy Nhon.
The best place to stay in Quy Nhon is the city center, but many foreign visitors choose to stay in Bai Xep. Bai Xep is a more remote area with secluded beaches, located 10 km south of the city center.
Similar to other coastal cities in central Vietnam, Quy Nhon has two seasons: dry and rainy seasons. The best time to explore Quy Nhon is without a doubt the dry season from February to August.
10. Nha Trang – for beaches, seafood, mud baths
Nha Trang is one of the most famous beach cities in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is famous for its beaches, seafood, affordable beach hotels, and healing mud baths.
Nha Trang has a train station and an airport, so it is easily accessible by road and by air. I actually took a 4 hour limousine bus ride from Da Lat to Nha Trang.
The best thing to do in Nha Trang is to enjoy the beaches. Check out Tran Phu Beach and Hon Chong Beach in the city center for swimming, sunbathing, and watersport activities. You can go island hopping for snorkeling and diving.
In addition to the beaches, you also have some interesting cultural attractions to explore. They are Po Nagar Cham tower, Long Son Pagoda, Nha Trang Cathedral, Dam Market, and Hon Chong Promontory.
I believe that 2 to 3 days in Nha Trang is a good amount of time to see major sights of the city, enjoy water activities, take a cable car ride to Hon Tre island, try fresh seafood, and relax at the mud baths.
Unlike Da Nang and Hoi An in central Vietnam, Nha Trang has a longer dry season and short rainy season. The best time to visit Nha Trang is from January to August when you can enjoy sunny weather with minimal rainfall.
If you want to stay in the middle of the action, I recommend booking a hotel or an apartment in the city center on Tran Phu Beach. The city center is the best area to stay in Nha Trang. Otherwise, I recommend staying a few nights in Vinpearl Resort on Hon Tre island for pristine private beaches and a luxury relaxing holiday.
11. Da Lat – cool weather, natural beauty, and serene atmosphere
Da Lat is a famous destination in the central highland of Vietnam. It is known for its cool climate, peaceful atmosphere, and stunning natural landscapes.
Da lat has an airport and frequent flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It can be reached by sleeper buses from Ho Chi Minh City, but will be a long ride.
Some of the top tourist attractions in Da Lat are the night market, Xuan Huong Lake, cable car ride, Crazy House, Linh Phuoc pagoda, and Datanla Waterfall. If you head to the countryside of Da Lat, you can visit the coffee plantation, Pongour Waterfall, Elephant Waterfall, and Linh An pagoda.
The city center also has many nice restaurants, trendy cafes, and bars to check out. Some of my favorite places are Goc Ha Thanh and An cafe. You can check my 2 to 3 Days Itinerary in Da Lat for more detail.
Most accommodations are concentrated in the city center, around Xuan Huong Lake. In particular, Ward 1 is the best neighborhood to stay in Da Lat for the first time.
The best month to go to Da Lat is from November to March. This is the dry season, which is perfect for sightseeing and enjoying outdoor activities such as trekking and whitewater rafting.
12. Mui Ne – for beaches, sand dunes
Mui Ne is a small beach town, located 4 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh CIty. This town is a great weekend beach holiday from bustling Ho Chi Minh CIty. It has beautiful sand dunes, fairy streams, nice beach resorts, and colorful fishing villages.
Some of the top things to do in Mui Ne are taking the sunrise jeep tour to the sand dunes. This tour will take you to the White Sand Dunes, the Red Sand Dunes, The Fairy Stream, and Mui Ne fishing village.
Mui Ne is quite small, within 1 to 2 Days Itinerary, you can see most attractions here. The best month to go to Mui Ne for the best weather conditions is in the dry season from November to April.
To book accommodation, I recommend staying in Ham Tien ward, on Nguyen Dinh Chieu street. This is the most popular area to stay in Mui Ne. It is packed with hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, and shops.
13. Ho Chi Minh City – for urban experience, nightlife and shopping
Ho Chi Minh City is a modern and bustling city in South Vietnam. It has a great place to go to enjoy nightlife, shopping and a westernized atmosphere.
Top things to see in Ho Chi Minh city include the War Museum, Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market, and the Central Post Office. You can spend a night at many bars and nightclubs on Bui Vien walking street and Nguyen Hue Walking street.
This city has many skyscrapers with rooftop terraces, infinity pools, sky bars, and stunning city views. I recommend checking out the Sky Deck of Bitexco tower for sweeping city views.
If you have time in Ho Chi Minh City, you can have a look at Chinatown where you can try some good Chinese food and visit temples such as Thien Hau pagoda.
Other activities are cooking class, street food tour on motorbike, and jeep city tour. Day trips to Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong delta are also one of the top things to do in Saigon.
I recommend spending at least 2 to 3 days in Saigon to see the most popular attractions in Ho Chi Minh, do some shopping, and check out some nightlife areas.
Saigon is a huge city with many different districts. But, district 1 and district 3 are the most popular places to stay in Ho Chi Minh city.
Saigon has a rainy season that starts from May to October. The rain is often a quick heavy shower accompanied with thunderstorms in the late afternoon. The best month to visit Saigon is from November to April when the rain is little.
14. Phu Quoc – for beaches and tropical paradise experience
Phu Quoc is one of the top destinations to go in Vietnam for a tropical beach holiday experience. It is an island located in South Vietnam, and is famous for its beaches, cable car ride, and luxury beach resorts.
Phu Quoc can be reached by Speed boats and by air. It has an international airport located in the middle of the island, 30 minutes drive from the main town. The most comfortable way to reach Phu Quoc from Saigon is by taking flights. You can find cheap deals with Vietjet.
Best thing to do in Phu Quoc is the beaches. You have some famous beaches such as Long Beach, Sao Beach, and Khem Beach. Long Beach on the west coast is famous for its stunning sunset views.
Other things to do are taking a cable car ride to Hon Thom island, island hopping, visiting Phu Quoc prison and Ho Quoc pagoda, and eating seafood at the night market in Duong Dong Town. Consider taking a tour to Pearl Farm, pepper farm, and bee farm.
If you come to Phu Quoc for relaxing, you can spend as much time as you want. But if you have limited time, I recommend spending at least 3 to 4 days on the island.
Phu Quoc is home to many world-class beachfront resorts. The most popular areas to stay in Phu Quoc for easy access to tourist facilities are Duong Dong town and Long Beach. However, you can choose to stay in any other parts of the island such as Ong Lang Beach, Sunset town, and Khem Beach.
Phu Quoc is at its best in the dry season which is from November to April. This is also the peak tourist season, so be sure to book in advance if you are visiting the island during these months.
How many days in Vietnam is enough? Suggested Itinerary
In my opinion, you should spend at least one month in Vietnam to be able to see most major tourist destinations in the country. If you have time and want to explore the entire Vietnam at a more relaxing pace, I recommend spending 2 to 3 months.
Basically, you choose the destinations that you want to visit. And spend at least 2-3 nights in each city. This time, in my experience, is usually enough to get an introduction of each place, visit major sights, enjoy the local dishes and nightlife, and do some shopping.
If you have 3-5 days in Vietnam, you can explore one city or one region of Vietnam. It depends on what you want to see and do. But I recommend spending your 3-5 days in Vietnam in:
- Hanoi if you are first timers who want to explore the traditional side of Vietnam and take an overnight cruise to Halong Bay.
- Ho Chi Minh if you are first timers who want to explore the modern side of Vietnam and day trips to Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong delta.
If you have one week to 10 days in Vietnam, you can explore 2-3 regions in Vietnam. You can visit major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang/ Hoi An on your trip. It will require lots of travel though if you want to see the entire country.
If you have two weeks to one month in Vietnam, you will have a chance to see the country more. Here are the itineraries for Vietnam if you have two weeks, three weeks, and four weeks in Vietnam.
This is my complete travel guide to Vietnam for beginners. It includes the best time to visit, the best places to see, how to get around, and where to stay. I hope you found useful information on my website. Have a good trip to Vietnam and I might see you somewhere in this beautiful country!