Vietnam Travel Guide

This travel guide for Vietnam highlights the top places to visit, how to get there, safety, scams, logistics, and more to help plan your visit.

Vietnam is an amazing destination, with its bustling cities, friendly people, delicious food, fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, and more.

This travel guide and posts on Vietnam are updated as of April 2026.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Top Places To Visit

Hanoi

There’s an unmistakable charm to Hanoi. This is Vietnam’s capital, and a main hub of culture and history. With its lovely mix of Vietnamese, French, and Chinese architecture, friendly locals, lively markets, historical monuments, and amazing food, all as a background to the hum of millions of scooters, it is a city unlike any other.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter, with its narrow, winding streets, is one of its top spots. Especially its famous weekend night market. But there’s also the 19th century Heritage House, which showcases traditional architecture, and the Old City Gate of Hanoi which is the only gate remaining from the old city wall.

The luxurious French Quarter contrasts to the narrow, winding streets of the Old Quarter with broad tree-lined streets and elegant villas. It’s referred to as a “mini Paris” as much of this area was rebuilt when Vietnam was a French protectorate. There’s Saint Joseph’s Cathedral, modeled after the Notre Dame, and the Hanoi Opera House, modeled after the Palais Garnier. There’s also an upscale restaurant scene, and many cafés, patisseries, and bakeries to try.

Tranquil Hoan Keim Lake Park sits between the Old Quarter and the French Quarter, a peaceful green space to escape the chaos of the streets. You’ll see locals practicing tai chi and Vietnamese families out for a stroll. And don’t be surprised if you’re approached by students that want to practice their English with you.

In Hanoi there’s also the Imperial Citadel, the seat of power here for over 800 years, the Hoa Lo Prison, where French colonial government confined Vietnamese citizens and later the Vietnamese held American POWs in the Vietnam war, the Vietnamese Woman’s Museum, where you learn about historically strong Vietnamese women, and the Temple of Literature, which honors Confucius.

Day Trips From Hanoi

One of the top day trips from Hanoi is to visit Ha Long Bay with its thousands of stunning limestone karsts rising from the sea. Ha Long Bay is recognized as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its beauty. It’s about a 2-3 hour drive east of Hanoi, with many tours offered from Hanoi. Most offer cruises around the karst formations for the day, while some stay overnight to watch both the sunset and sunrise.

A similar, but more tranquil option to Ha Long Bay is Lan Ha Bay. Lan Ha is also part of the same UNESCO Listed area as Ha Long. While Lan Ha does not have the same picturesque grandiosity of Ha Long, it offer a more intimate experience as it is visited less frequently. Especially if you want to kayak or swim in the bay. There are tours to visit Lan Ha from Hanoi, but many combine Ha Long and La Han along with the cultural visit to the floating village of Cai Beo.

Ninh Binh is another top day trip from Hanoi. This is sometimes called the “Ha Long Bay on land”, as the limestone karsts here rise from rice paddies. This is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site, but in the Red River Delta area about a 2-hour drive southeast of Hanoi. This region once served as the capital, so there is also rich history here along with temples and ruins. There are many day tour trips to ride through the rice fields and network of karst caves. There is also an opportunity to hike to a viewpoint on Mua Mountain.

Sa Pa, in the mountainous region of northern Vietnam, is another top destination from Hanoi. Sa Pa is home to 5 different ethnic tribes, so arranging a home-stays to learn about the culture is very popular. There are also a lot of options for trekking here. Sa Pa is about a 5-hour drive north of Hanoi.

Hoi An

Old Town Hoi An, located between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, is a very poplar stop, with its bright shophouses, French colonial houses, Chinese temples, colorful silk lanterns, and world-class tailors.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, this was one of the best port towns in Southeast Asia, with traders visiting from far and wide. Luckily, there was minimal damage done here during the war, so Hoi An is very well-preserved. It provides a fascinating glimpse of Vietnamese life 200 years ago.

I recommend spending at least 2 days here to explore its charming old town, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Tan Ky Cultural House, Ong Pagoda, the Lantern Market, the Central Market of Hoi An, and experience the monthly Lantern Moon Festival (which is held the night before the full moon).

Da Nang

Da Nang is about 45-minute drive north of Hoi An (and its closest airport). This sprawling city is relatively quiet, but I enjoyed it and found some interesting sites. Its most Instagram-worthy site is Golden Bridge, a pedestrian bridge and scenic overlook in Ba Na Hills, about an hour southwest of Da Nang. This remarkable bridge looks like it’s being help up by a giant pair of hands. Quite dramatic!

Not as famous, but equally interesting, is Dragon Bridge in central Da Nang. Shaped like a dragon, it actually breathes fire and water on weekend evenings and holidays.

Da Nang also has many lovely, quiet, beaches, so if you want a peaceful getaway, they are a nice option.

My Son Sanctuary

Another fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam is the My Son Sanctuary. The ruins here are the remains of what was once the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom, who ruled the maritime Silk Route between China, India, and Indonesia between the 4th and 13th century. At its peak, there were about 70 temples here. My Son is located about an hour south of Da Nang and Hoi A with many tours leaving from both.

Ho Chi Min

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Min is the biggest and most populous city in Vietnam. Most locals still refer to it as Saigon, especially in the center of the city. It was renamed Ho Chi Minh after the war, in honor of the revolutionary leader, Ho Chi Minh, who helped to reunify Vietnam.

Two of the top things to do in Ho Chi Minh include taking a riverboat cruise around the city and visiting the War Remnants Museum, which provides a very sobering reality of the Vietnamese war. There’s also Reunification Palace and the Saigon Norte Dame Cathedral, which was built by French colonialists. This modern city also has a vibrant nightlife scene.

Day Trip To The Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta, also known as the River of the Nine Dragons, is a network of mangrove-lined waterways. It starts in the Himalayas, passing through China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia before arriving here.

The Mekong Delta is rich with wildlife and stunning landscapes, and dotted with villages, floating markets, and pagodas. This is considered a powerhouse of Vietnam, producing more than half the rice and fruit for the country.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Vietnamese Food

The food in Vietnam is some of the best food that I’ve tasted from around the world. Most dishes are a delicate balance of 5 flavors; spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet.

Pho, a noodle soup, is a delicacy of Hanoi (pronounced ‘fa’). But there are also the Bahn Mai sandwiches, Bun Cha, Lau, and much, much more. Experiment to see what you like. It’s all delicious! If you’re not sure where to start, try a food tour or a cooking class.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Best Time To Visit

The temperatures and climate can be quite different in the various tourist areas of Vietnam, making it challenging to pick the best time to see everything.

Northern Vietnam: It can be very chilly at night in the winter and uncomfortably warm and humid in the summer. The best times to visit are spring and fall, when the climate is more temperate.

Vietnam’s Central Coast: The central coast has two main seasons, rainy and dry, although it can also get quite hot in the summer months. The rainy season runs from September to January, making February to April the best time to visit.

Southern Vietnam: South Vietnam is warm and humid year round. Monsoon season, May to October, can bring heavy showers, but they’re usually brief and don’t disrupt travel too much. It can sometimes flood, however, in the Mekong Delta region during this time. The best time for the Mekong Delta is the dry season, November to April.

I visited in October and got lucky with great, comfortable weather everywhere (north, south, and along the coast).

Vietnam Travel Guide: Languages

Vietnamese is the official language, although English is very common as a second language in touristy areas.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Money Matters

Currency: The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the official currency. Conversion rates as of January 1, 2026 were as follows.

• USD (1) = 26,300 VND
• Euro (1) = 30,829 VND
• CNY (1) = 3,759 VND

Learn to recognize the notes. The 500,000 ($20) dong note is similar in color to the 20,000 ($1) dong note, so make sure to learn which is which!

Credit Cards: Cash is king here, but credit cards are becoming more widely accepted. Especially for big ticket items in touristy areas. MasterCard and Visa are the preference, when accepted.

ATMs: ATMs are widely available, but sometimes have maximum withdrawal limits. These limits will be lower in rural areas, so plan accordingly. It’s best to use a fee free debit card to withdrawal money, like Charles Schwab.

Tipping: Tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but is always appreciated. That said, it is becoming more common in tourist areas. Sometimes, a service charge will be included on your bill. This, however, will not go to the server, so leave extra in cash if you want to acknowledge outstanding service.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Safety

Vietnam is very safe and although petty theft is rare, it does occur. Take normal precautions, but always be vigilant and aware of typical scams (below).

Always check the latest situation on your country’s government website. Sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), or a similar program in your country. STEP sends you updates if an issue does arise.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Scams

Although Vietnam is safe, there are always a few trying to scam tourists. Here are some known scams to watch out for.

• Be cautious of taxi drivers telling you the site, or hotel you want to go to, is closed. They will take you to a place where they receive a kickback instead. Verify in advance that the place you want to go is open.
• If you must carry a purse, keep it close, as people on passing motorbikes may snatch it. If they do, don’t hang on, as you could be seriously injured. Same with your cell phone.
• Motorbike rental agencies have been known to steal the bike you rented, or say you damaged it, then charge you to get your passport back. Bring your own lock, and test drive the bike before renting to make sure there are no mechanical problems.
• Only buy tickets from official websites or on site.
• If you take a bus and need to be separated from your luggage, remove your valuables.
• Always check ATM machines to make sure they have not been tampered with. If possible, use ATMs inside, or connected to banks, as they are checked more frequently.
  

Vietnam Travel Guide: Getting Around

Hanoi to Da Nang, or Hoi An: There are flights and train service from Hanoi to Da Nang, where you can then catch a shuttle bus or taxi the approximate 45 minutes to Hoi An. Flights can cost as little as $55 and take about an hour and a half, while the train from Hanoi to Da Nang will take 16-17 hours. An overnight bus is another option, but not recommended. Not only is it about 18 hours, it’s also uncomfortable and less safe than the other options.

Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang, or Hoi An: There are flights from Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang, where you can then catch a shuttle bus or taxi the approximate 45 minutes to Hoi An. These flights can also cost as low as $55 USD and take an hour and a half, while the train is around 17 hours. The bus from Ho Chi Minh to Hoi An, taking over 24 hours, is not recommended.

Ho Chi Min to Hanoi: Due to the long distance, flying is the best option. Flights can be as inexpensive as $60 and take only a couple of hours.

Visa Info for Vietnam

While most European citizens do not need a visa for Vietnam, US and Chinese citizens need to obtain eVisas, which are valid for up to 30 days. See the Visa Policy of Vietnam for full details and information on other countries.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Top Destination Blogs

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Safe Travels!