look voyage vietnam

Vietnam Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

Most people either love or hate traveling in Vietnam. When I first went, there was a negative attitude towards foreign travelers (for good reason), lots of scams, and just not a lot of good vibes. But, since that trip many years ago, the country has changed a lot: it’s embraced tourism, people have opened up more, there’s fewer scams, and Ho Chi Minh City has even become a hub for digital nomads.

From exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi to the delicious food and fancy garments of Hoi An , Vietnam has a lot to see and do so take your time. Don’t rush your trip.

This budget travel guide to Vietnam can help you plan your trip and ensure you make the most of your visit.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Vietnam

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Top 5 things to see and do in vietnam.

1. Tour the Mekong Delta

The delta is a 60,000-kilometer (37,000-mile) long web of interconnected waterways, which spans three Vietnamese provinces and has been used since the 4th century BCE. What I love about this area is it’s filled with small villages, pagodas, mangroves, and orchards. The best way to experience the area is to go on a boat or bike tour, where you’ll experience rural Vietnamese culture. Some of favorite things include the Cai Rang floating market for the colorful fruits and veggies and vibrant atmosphere; Vinh Trang Pagoda for its impressive golden exterior and lush gardens; and the incredible Sadec Flower Village that is stunning and serene, even if you’re not a flower enthusiast. Spend a few days really getting to know the region outside the hustle and bustle of the cities. Day trips on the river start at around 575,000 VND per person.

2. Wander Hanoi

Vietnam’s capital dates to the 3rd century BCE when it was the capital of the ancient nation of Au Lac. I love to wander around the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. It’s a great place to get a feel for the city as there are tons of vendors, smells of street food, people watching, and bustle. Some of my favorite places to visit include the One-Pillar Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and the Hanoi Water Puppet Theater. Be sure to check out the history museum to learn about French colonialism and Communist rule (from the Vietnamese perspective) as well as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Hanoi is also a good base for doing multi-day tours to Ha Long Bay.

3. Explore Ha Long Bay

This iconic region is home to more than 3,000 islands and is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. The towering limestone islands are covered in lush jungles and surrounded by calm emerald waters. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s located 2-3 hours from Hanoi and travelers can take multi-day boat cruises around the islands (most are 2-5 days). During the cruise, you’ll visit floating markets, incredible beaches, massive caves, and either sleep onboard your boat or on one of the many islands. Just keep in mind that this area is super popular and is often overcrowded. Cheap tours start around 1,200,000 VND while a mid-range tour costs around 3,000,000-4,500,000 VND. Just remember that you get what you pay for and the cheaper boats might be a bit run down.

4. Hang out in Hoi An

Hoi An was a thriving port city between the 15th and 19th centuries and the architecture is incredibly well preserved (the entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It was easily my favorite place in Vietnam because I loved walking around, taking a thrilling sidecar trip in the countryside, and of course, Vietnamese cooking classes, which are great because you learn to prepare fresh fish caught right there. This place is famous for its tailors so if you’re looking to buy some custom made clothes at an inexpensive price, this is the spot to do it in. They will even ship it back to your home country.

5. Get adventurous in Sapa

This is northern Vietnam’s premier trekking area and it’s hugely popular with all sorts of travelers. Sapa is famous for its hill tribes, lush vegetation, beautiful hiking trails, and breathtaking mountains. If you’re looking to experience the scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities Vietnam has to offer, this is the place. This area is rich in culture because it is comprised of 85% ethnic Vietnamese minority groups that have different colorful traditional dress and unique styles of houses. To avoid the tourists, come during the off-season or take longer hikes to parts the crowds don’t go to.

Other Things to See and Do

1. take a free walking tour.

The first thing I do when I visit a new destination is take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to get the lay of the land, see the main sights, and connect with a local guide who can answer all my questions. Both Hanoi and HCMH (the two largest and most popular cities in the country) have a few free tours available that cover the main highlights and are a great primer to the country (Hanoi Free Walking Tours and Saigon Free Day Tours are two companies worth checking out). Just remember to tip your guide at the end!

2. Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels

This extensive network of tunnels spans nearly 310 miles (500 kilometers). It was utilized by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about the maze and fire AK47s at shooting targets. It’s a sobering experience and not one meant for anyone claustrophobic. However, if you want to better understand the terror of the Vietnam War, this is a must-visit. Admission is around 100,000 VND per person.

3. Relax or find adventure in Dalat

Dalat is nestled in the hills of the Central Highlands and is popular with tourists who want to relax in the mountain air and those who want to participate in a host of adventure sports (such as rock climbing, ziplining, and rappelling). The hills around Dalat are filled with traditional tribal villages, which you can tour as well. Expect to pay around 2,000,000 VND per person for a full day of ziplining and rappelling around waterfalls.

4. Visit Cuc Phuong National Park

South of Hanoi lies Vietnam’s first National Park, Cuc Phuong. Covering 222 square kilometers (85 square miles), this place is home to over 2,000 species of trees and some truly rare wildlife including the Clouded Leopard, Delacour’s Langur and Owston’s Civet. It was my favorite park in all of Vietnam and the only place I didn’t find hordes of tourists. The entrance fee is 50,000 VND.

5. Explore Ho Chi Minh City

Also known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city and is definitely worth exploring. Ho Chi Minh is the place to really gain an understanding of French colonialism as well as the US headquarters there during the Vietnam War, which you can learn more about at the War Remnants Museum. Like most cities in Vietnam, you’ll be met with the roar of motorbikes speeding through colonial streets. I loved Ben Thanh Market, which is a must-see for amazing food and there is a great buzz of activity within the place. Don’t miss your chance to get the best Pho soup in Ho Chi Minh, that means some of the best is right on the side of the street.

6. Get active in Mui Ne

Despite being a fishing village, Mui Ne has a significant tourism scene due to its popularity as a wind- and kite-surfing destination. The best highlight for me aside from the beach was riding on the rolling sand dunes similar in size to the Saharan ones and also the Jeep Tour to the Fairy Stream through a canyon, which is not something you get to do very often! Also, don’t miss the 9th-century Po Shanu Cham Towers with beautiful views of the Phan Thiet coastal town. Mui Ne is definitely worth checking out for a day or two when you’re passing by on the bus because it has a nice chill vibe to it, friendly people, and beautiful sunsets.

7. See My Son

My Son is a set of Hindu ruins in Vietnam that date back to the Cham Empire. The Champas ruled over Central Vietnam from the 3rd to the 19th century. The temples here are of incredible historical importance, but they have been largely reclaimed by the surrounding jungle, and have fallen into a great state of disrepair. Don’t come here expecting something as marvelously preserved as Borobudur or Angkor Wat. The entrance fee is 150,000 VND.

8. Visit the caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang

Hang Son Doong is reputed to be the world’s largest cave and is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It was discovered by a local in 1990, and “rediscovered” by a British caving team in 2009. You can arrange trips to see this stunning cave in all its glory with stalactites and stalagmites, an inner cave forest, and even cave pearls. You’ll be blown away by its beauty. Entrance to the caves is around 150,000 VND per person.

9. Check out the rice terraces

Outside of connections to the Vietnam War, the stereotypical image of Vietnam is of the many rice paddies. You can find these in the Muong Hoa Valley. If you’ve never visited rice terraces, you should make a point to see them in Vietnam. Visit them to learn about rice production and take stunning photographs of the unbelievable Vietnamese countryside. Expect tours to cost around 600,000 VND per person.

10. Relax in Hue

Hue is generally passed by, making it a bit of a quieter stop along the tourist trail. Stroll along the beautiful Perfume River and into the Imperial Citadel. Don’t miss the Tu Hieu Pagoda and the Tombs of the Emperors, which mostly date from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the main tombs to see are the Tomb of Minh Mang, the Tomb of Tu Duc, and the Tomb of Khai Dinh.

11. Take a cooking class

Vietnamese food is delicious and the best way to learn about these incredible dishes is to take a cooking class. You’ll not only learn how to make some of these tasty meals but you’ll get to interact with a local chef who can teach you about their history and cultural significance. Many cooking classes also include a visit to the local market where you’ll shop for ingredients. Prices vary but expect to pay at least 800,000 VND per person.

12. Tour the former DMZ

The Vietnamese Demilitarized zone was the dividing line between the Communist north and anti-Communist south during the Vietnam War. It was in use from 1954 to 1976. These days, you can take a tour of the DMZ from Hue and learn about the conflict from expert guides who were actually involved in the war (or survived it as civilians). You’ll see secret tunnels, learn about military surveillance, and get insight about the conflict from a perspective not often shown in the media. Full-day tours from Hue start around 2,500,000 VND.

13. Buy a motorbike

If you’re an adventurous traveler, buy a motorbike and drive the length of the country. This is considered the best way to travel Vietnam by veteran backpackers who like to get off the beaten path. You can buy bikes in Hanoi or HCMC at either end of the country and then make your way to the opposite end, stopping along the way over the course of a few weeks. While it’s not for everyone, this mode of travel offers the most freedom as you’ll be able to visit a lot of places that the buses and trains don’t stop at. You can buy a bike for as little as 4,800,000 VND, and then you can sell it once your trip is done to recoup some of the cost. There are always backpackers looking to buy a bike in HCMC and Hanoi.

14. Sample the local coffee

Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer (after Brazil) exporting a whopping 1.5 million tons of it per year (after rice, it’s their biggest export). Even if you don’t drink coffee (I don’t), trying fresh coffee here is a must. Whether you just hop arounds cafes, do a tasting experience in Hanoi of HCMC, or head out to one of the many coffee plantations, learning about this vital crop (and also sampling it fresh) is an experience not to be missed. Expect a half-day plantation tour (with lots of samples) to cost around 700,000 VND.

For more information on specific cities in Vietnam, check out the following guides:

• Hanoi Travel Guide
• Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
• Hoi An Travel Guide
• Nha Trang Travel Guide

Vietnam Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostels start at around 100,000 VND per night for a dorm room. These can be a bit rustic and no-frills. For a hostel with more amenities, such as free breakfast or a a free happy hour (as well as improved cleanliness), expect to pay double. Private rooms cost at least 350,890-425,000 VND per night for a double room. Most hostels include free Wi-Fi, and many also include free breakfast or free beer during certain hours of the day. Self-catering facilities are not very common since eating out is so cheap.

For those traveling with a tent, wild camping is not legal in Vietnam. While it is still possible to do as enforcement is sparse (especially if you’re sleeping in a hammock), I also wouldn’t recommend it. Insects and animals can be an issue, there are lots of landmines still undiscovered out in the brush, and robbery can occur. Stay safe and stick to hostels.

For a budget hotel with a double bed, expect to pay around 225,000 VND per night. This usually includes free Wi-Fi and free breakfast.

On Airbnb, a private room costs at least 325,000 VND per night. For an entire home or apartment, prices begin around 600,000 VND. Prices double when not booked in advance so plan accordingly

Food – Vietnamese cuisine is fresh, flavorful, and uses a lot of herbs and vegetables. Rice and noodle dishes are common as are various soups such as the iconic pho (a beef noodle soup). Wonton soup, meat curry, fresh French bread (known as bahn me , and grilled fish are just some of the popular dishes you’ll encounter. Standard ingredients include fish sauce, lemongrass, chili, lime, Thai basil, and mint.

You can get a bowl of pho or a rice dish for 20,000 VND. Street food is the cheapest and the most delicious food option in the country.

Most sit-down restaurants are also inexpensive at around 45,000-95,000 VND. The fancier (and more touristy) the restaurant, the more expensive.

Western food is also more expensive, usually around 110,000 VND for a fast food meal, so skip it if you’re on a budget.

If you want to splash out on a fancy three-course meal, expect to spend around 250,000 VND.

A liter of water at a convenience store is about 15,000 VND, while beer or soda is about 20,000-35,000 VND.

For those looking to cook their own meals, expect to pay at least 400,000 VND per week for basic groceries. Be sure to shop at the local markets to get the cheapest and freshest food. That being said, food is so cheap in the country that it’s simply easier – and cheaper – to just eat street food, especially as most hostels and hotels don’t have shared kitchens.

Backpacking Vietnam Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Vietnam for 600,000 VND per day. This budget covers a stay in a large hostel dorm, eating street food for all of your meals, limiting your drinking, taking the bus, and doing free activities in each destination. If you plan on drinking, add another 20,000-40,000 VND to your daily budget.

A mid-range budget of about 1,125,000 VND per day covers staying in a cheap hotel, eating street food and at the occasional sit-down restaurant, enjoying a few more drinks, taking the occasional taxi to get around, and doing more paid activities such as museum visits and water upper shows.

On an upscale budget of 2,460,000 VND, you can stay in a nice hotel, eat out for all your meals anywhere you want, enjoy lots of drinks, and more taxis, and do whatever tours and activities you want, including a multi-day trip to Ha Long Bay. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Vietnam Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Vietnam is a very affordable country. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest in Southeast Asia. Even with the explosion of tourism in the last few years, it still remains very affordable. You’ll be hard pressed to spend money if you’re sticking to non-Western food, cocktails, and hotels. However, if you’re looking to travel even cheaper and save some money, here are some tips:

• Eat delicious street food – The street food here is excellent and cheap, and you can watch it being cooked in front of you. Stick to the local food and you’ll save money. The street-side pho, bread, sandwiches, donuts, and bananas are your best deals.
• Late-night travel – If traveling on long journeys, try to take the late-night “sleeper” buses or trains as these will save you the cost of a night’s accommodation. Depending on the company, you may even have a chance to comfortably lie flat as you ride through the dark countryside to your next destination.
• Take the tourist bus – It is actually cheaper to take the tourist bus around the country than taking local transportation because of the “tourist” price you get at the bus station. Tickets from one end of the country to another are very affordable.
• Fly for cheap – Vietnam’s low-cost airlines VietJet and FlyVietnam are extremely inexpensive. This is a great option for people with limited time to explore different regions of Vietnam. Both airlines frequently offer special deals and at the time of writing this, Hanoi to Da Nang is just 820,000 VND!
• Bargain hard – Tourists tend to be charged more than locals for everything from cyclos (a three-wheel bicycle taxi) to clothes to street food. Bargain harder than you would ordinarily, and don’t underestimate the value of walking away.
• Avoid paying tourist prices – Before you leave the hostel, ask them to estimate how much what you want to do should cost. How much should a ride to the museum cost? How much should I pay to have a gown like this made? They will be able to give you bargaining guidelines.
• Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water in Hanoi is not safe to drink. To save money and reduce your plastic use, bring a reusable water bottle with you. LifeStraw make a reusable bottle with a built-in filter so you can be sure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Vietnam

To help you save money on accommodation, here’s a list of my recommended hostels and budget hotels in Vietnam:

• Mad Monkey (Hoi An)
• Hoi An Golden Holiday Hotel (Hoi An)
• Little Hanoi Hostel (Hanoi)
• San Palace Hotel & Spa (Hanoi)
• Hanoi House Hostel & Travel (Hanoi)
• Ccasa Hostel & Coffee Bar (Nha Trang)
• The Hideout (HCMC)
• Orchid’s Saigon Hotel (HCMC)

How to Get Around Vietnam

Public transportation – Larger cities in Vietnam (such as Hanoi and HCMC) have reliable and safe public transportation. In Hanoi, there are buses that cover most of the city and generally have stops near all the major tourist sites. Tickets are paid for in cash on the bus and generally cost 7,000-15,000 VND depending on how far you go. HCMC also has a large network of buses, with tickets costing up to 10,000 VND (again, depending on how far you travel).

Cyclos (a bicycle rickshaw) is one of the cheapest ways to get around. A short ride costs as little as 12,000 VND, while a longer night ride costs upwards of 40,000 VND. A more popular option is the ze om , a motorbike taxi that has fares starting from 15,000 VND. You’ll have to hold on tight though (and make sure you wear a helmet as accidents are common).

Train – A lot of people love taking the train in Vietnam because it’s safe, affordable, and comfortable and, although some routes might be slow, you’ll get some amazing views of the Vietnamese countryside. The rail network also covers most of the country, so you can get just about everywhere you want to go (except the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta). You can use the website Baolau to research train schedules and book your tickets. A train journey between Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi (which spans the entire length of the country) starts at 1,000,000 VND for a soft seat (not a berth). The journey takes three days. Hanoi to Hue costs around 600,000 VND and takes around 13 hours while HCMC to Nha Trang costs around 500,000 VND and takes 8 hours.

Bus – It’s easy to find long-distance hop on, hop off bus tours running the length of Vietnam. You can hop on or off at any stop along the way. They cater to tourists, but locals actually use this service too since it’s super affordable. Prices depend on route and operator but generally, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is between 815,000-1,600,000 VND.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Flying – Flying domestically in Vietnam is a good idea if you’re looking to fit a lot into a shorter trip. For example, a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes two hours while the train ride would take at least 30 hours. One-way flights around the country start at around 590,000 VND.

Car rental – Vietnam is very easy to navigate by bus, so I don’t really suggest renting a car here — especially because traffic in the cities is very hectic and accidents are common. That said, car rentals are affordable, costing around 500,000 VND per day. An IDP (International Driving Permit) is required. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Vietnam

In the southern part of Vietnam, the dry season lasts from December to late April/May while the rainy season occurs from May to the end of November. The rainy season usually just means brief heavy downpours in the afternoon, although sometimes the Mekong Delta will flood. The dry season is the best time to visit but keep in mind that it’s winter up north and it’s going to be a lot colder in the north than the south. Rainy season isn’t that bad either but, like the name implies, it rains a lot.

May through November is still a good time to visit. Temperatures rarely dip below 20°C (68°F), but they can sometimes get as high as 40°C (104°F) in the hottest months (March to the end of May). The south especially gets very hot and humid during this time but it’s perfect beach weather!

Along the central coast, the rainfall pattern differs quite a bit. In the northern part of the region (like Hué and Da Nang), the rain lasts from September to February. February to May is the best time to visit this area. Temperatures soar from June to August, often in the high 30s°C (80s°F).

In Northern Vietnam, the weather is most pleasant from October to December.

The weather in Vietnam varies so much per region so it’s hard to pick the best time to go. But generally, it’s recommended to visit sometime between September-December and March-April if you’re hoping to get an overall experience in the country.

How to Stay Safe in Vietnam

Vietnam is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel. Violent crime is really, really rare. Petty theft is the most likely thing to happen to you here. Always keep your valuables secure when out and about just to be safe. Lock your windows and use common safety sense, especially in bars at night and in touristy areas.

Traffic in the major cities (specifically Hanoi) is super hectic and there are virtually no rules of the road. There are also millions of motorbikes and scooters here (literally). For that reason, take extra caution when crossing the street. It’s best to just walk as directly and calmly as possible and let the traffic weave around you. If you’re not comfortable doing that alone, follow locals when they cross.

If renting a bike or riding on the back of one, make sure you always wear a helmet. Accidents are incredibly common here, both in the traffic-heavy cities but also in rural areas where roads can be less than optimal.

There are some common scams in Vietnam, such as the motorbike scam where vendors try to charge you for pre-existing damage to your bike rental. When renting anything, take photos and videos beforehand just in case.

Be sure to always count your change. The money is similar looking here so oftentimes people will “mistakenly” give you the wrong change hoping you won’t notice that the 200,000 VND bill you just got is actually only 20,000. Always count your change here!

Most scams here are really just people trying to try to nickel and dime you and try to get you to spend extra money since they know, as a tourist, you have more than they do. You can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). Use common sense when using dating apps while traveling and meet in public places.

Street food here is very safe, but whenever you’re not sure of where to eat simply find somewhere where there are locals eating. If it’s good (and safe) enough for them, you should be fine. Avoid meat that looks uncooked or that has been out in the sun too long. Always wash your hands before and after eating just to be safe.

If you experience an emergency, dial 113 for assistance.

Be sure to make copies of your important documents in case of theft.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Vietnam Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Agoda – Other than Hostelworld, Agoda is the best hotel accommodation site for Asia.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Vietnam travel and continue planning your trip:

The 6 Best Hostels in Hanoi

Is Southeast Asia Safe for Travelers?

Biking the Mekong Delta in Vietnam

Why I’ll Never Return to Vietnam

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Vietnam Travel Guide

Last updated on May 18, 2024 by Shannon

While lumped together with Southeast Asia for geographic and tourism purposes, Vietnam stands out as a destination unique among its neighbors. Each region balances the other.

The frenetic chaos in Saigon is just a stone’s throw from the sleepy colonial towns in the Mekong Delta. Hoi An’s charming, historic ancient town is a mere 40 minutes from the fast-growing and friendly Danang.

History and tradition infuse every aspect of life in Vietnam—from food to religion—and the culture and people are remarkably welcoming to tourism, having built a thriving industry that makes traveling and backpacking in Vietnam unforgettable.

As such, modern Vietnam is a favorite hotspot for budget-loving backpackers traveling Southeast Asia , and destination travelers from all over the world. Although I had spent years traveling other regions of Asia, Vietnam was my final country to visit on mainland Southeast Asia. What an incredible experience.

I have no idea what took me so long to backpack through Vietnam. I spent three months traveling south to north and I discovered cities across the country highlighting various aspects of Vietnam’s long history. I traveled from the War Remnants museum in Ho Chi Minh City to the Japanese and Chinese influenced Hoi An to the French-influenced coffee and baguette culture throughout.

Vibrant, unique, chaotic, traditional—no single word sums the experience of traveling Vietnam.

If you’re visiting Vietnam, this guide covers the essential travel information you should know, pre-trip reading , how to travel responsibly in Vietnam, and specific travel and accommodation recommendations to jumpstart your research.

Table of Contents

Is it safe to travel in Vietnam?

Vietnam is safe for travelers on the physical level—you don’t have to worry about bodily harm from the Vietnamese people. That said, theft is an issue and the scams center around money. Travelers should never walk the streets with cameras and bags draped on their shoulder or a motorbike might speed by and grab it from you.

Wear your purses cross-body and cameras secured to your wrist or neck. For the same reason, don’t walk with your cell phone held away from your body (consider investing in a phone leash ) they are fantastic and give peace of mind when wandering).

In touristy areas especially, count your change. Confirm your taxi fare before the ride (or just use Uber , which is what I did—it’s explained more in the transportation section). Use TravelFish to research possible scams in places like Hanoi ,  Hoi An  and Saigon . Since anything can happen on the road, I am a firm advocate of travel insurance and I always carry IMG Global travel insurance .

In addition to the safety concerns listed above, many travelers rent motorbikes and scooters in Vietnam. This is a dangerous place to learn to ride. In the months I visited, I saw dozens of travelers with serious road-rash scarring their bodies.

If you rent a motorbike, please make sure it’s covered by your travel insurance (usually only if you are licensed to drive in your home country) and that you wear the proper gear to protect you if you fall (pants and good shoes). If you have respiratory issues, pollution is a problem in both Hanoi and Saigon, so bring a surgical mask.

Fast Facts About Vietnam Travel

Vietnamese Dong (VND) ( current exchange rate )

Electricity

127V/60Hz (American or European plugs both work here, although only without the third prong)

Primary Airports in Vietnam

• Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)
• Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport (HAN)
• Da Nang International (DAD).

Can you drink the water in Vietnam?

No, it’s not safe to drink the local water in Vietnam. Drink bottled, bring a reusable water bottle so you can buy big jugs, or consider the merits of a SteriPen or LifeStraw for your trip.

How’s the internet in Vietnam?

WiFi is rampant and thoroughly spread even into the smallest of Vietnamese towns. Saigon has a bustling café culture and these coffee shops all offer fast free WiFi. It’s also a standard amenity in all hotels and guesthouses.

You’ll need a VPN if you plan to access many U.S. sites and to stream U.S. Netflix. A VPN is also crucial for those working from abroad since many U.S. sites either IP block or serve an international version of their sites. I’ve used NordVPN since 2016 while living abroad and it’s never failed me once.

Local SIM Cards

Data is very cheap in Vietnam, even the tourist bundles (locals have different rates, so ask your first guesthouse owner to buy your SIM card if you’re a data hog and really need a lot).

I paid 70,000 Dong for 16 GB lasting three months, and the tourist rate is about 150,000 Dong for 8 GB lasting two months. Because I had so much data, I tethered my phone and worked from my data when I encountered slow speeds. Read  a full Vietnam SIM card guide here .

And it’s handy that NordVPN works on my iPhone, too.

Vietnamese Visas

The visa situation for North Americans changes often and is entirely unpredictable. That said, in early 2017, the government implemented an online e-visa program that is fast, safe, and affordable.

For more information, check the visa requirements here . While most visitors had to arrange a visa through a third-party company, that is no longer the case, so use the government site directly to avoid fees.

Festivals of Note

• Tết is the country’s New Year’s celebration and is huge throughout Vietnam (late January or early February).
• Lantern Festival in Hoi An (14th day of every lunar month—not calendar month—so research to find out when it’s happening).

Food Considerations

Vietnam is one of the best food destinations in Southeast Asia. The country has a vibrant street food culture and a range of different dishes from north to south. If you are vegetarian, it’s possible to find food, but not always street food. And you have to be diligent.

On my Vegetarian in Vietnam guide , I outline the considerations and obstacles. If you’re celiac, this is a fantastic and thorough post , complete with a downloadable GF translation card .

This post shares the most common street food dishes you will find, and this book chronicles a beautiful food journey through Hanoi. And if you decide to eat street food (which you will!), follow these food safety principles .

Pick out accommodation on Booking.com.

This is the only booking platform I use because it rewards you for loyalty, and I regularly score free breakfasts and 15% off my hotel.

Accommodation

The links in city guides below go to my favorite hotel booking site, Booking.com many options are also found on or VRBO , if you are member.

For backpackers and families,  Booking.com  is perfect for pre-booking hostels and hotels; in high season the bigger towns book up fast ( Hostelworld has a solid selection of hostels, too).

And if you buy a local SIM (which you should), you can easily call ahead and directly reserve spots en route. If none of these will do, check out my detailed guide to finding good places to stay .

What’s the weather like?

Vietnam is long, with a varied topography, meaning at least one region has poor weather at all times of year. This chart is by far the best visual to use in planning your trip weather-wise (although note that Jan/Feb is noted as clear for Sapa, when in reality it’s bitterly cold and often very foggy).

How much should you budget to travel in Vietnam?

Vietnam may well be the most budget-friendly location in Southeast Asia, and that is saying a lot, because nearby Thailand , Laos , Cambodia are quite affordable. Budget backpackers sleeping at hostels and eating street-food will easily stay under $20 a day.

The only activity requiring you to splash out on cash is a Halong Bay Tour—and often you will get better value for a bit more if you choose your tour company wisely.

Mid-range travelers will spend $25 a night on nice accommodation (with A/C and spacious rooms), and another $10-20 on food. High-end travelers get a lot bang for their buck as even nice hotels and food are affordable—scale up from the mid-range budget of $45 a day depending on if you choose to splurge on food, accommodation, or both.

How to Get Around Vietnam

Most backpackers in Vietnam take an overland route starting in one of the two primary cities, either Hanoi in the north or Saigon in the south. Vietnam offers train travel in many areas and buses in others—you can suss out the best routes around Vietnam on Bookaway .

It’s a very long country, so keep that in mind when you consider timing your trip. The distances are longer than you expect and if you’re cramming the entire country into a short week or two-week trip, you will need some long overnight trains and buses to navigate it all.

Air travel is another option. VietJetAir is the country’s privately run low-cost carrier and you can find fares as low as $25 to hop around the country. This is mega convenient and I recommend using SkyScanner to search for fares since it includes all the regional low-cost airlines.

Locally, when you are within a city you will likely use mototaxis and taxis to navigate.  Uber operates in this area and you can even catch a mototaxi with it! Instead of haggling with xe om drivers, I used Uber exclusively in the cities.

And because of the taxi scams in Saigon and Hanoi, I stuck with Uber getting to and from the airports and such, but if you need to hail a cab, stick to either Vinasun or Mailinh.

If you have a local SIM, Grab is the regional version of Uber and offers slightly better rates. Either option works, I used Uber because I already have an account that I’ve used in dozens of cities around the world; I highly recommend that travelers at least sign up for Uber and have it in your phone because you never know when it will come in handy to summon a ride and get out of a sticky situation (happened to me in South Africa!).

History to Know Before Traveling to Vietnam

Vietnam has a lengthy and complex history, with each layer still visible in modern Vietnam. From tangible evidence of French colonial rule to the aftereffects of the American War and a food culture deeply influenced by the international flavors and cultures—this country has a lot on offer from north to south.

Vietnam has a lengthy and complex history, with each layer still visible in modern Vietnam. Consider this a quick rundown on the basic backstory you’ll need to understand and enjoy traveling and backpacking through Vietnam. Ruled by the Chinese in 111 B.C., Nam Viet (what we now know as Vietnam) was a part of the Han Dynasty.

Over the next thousand years or so, Vietnam remained in the hands of the tyrannical Chinese, before regaining full control of their country in the 15th century. By the middle of the 17th century, Vietnam’s independence was being chipped away by France and in 1884 France gained full colonial control over Vietnam.

France’s impact on Vietnam is a living, breathing, tangible part of modern Vietnam, which is why you need to understand this history before traveling there. The French brought a Western-style education system, European architecture and food, and also instituted political and cultural changes.

Not surprisingly, despite some good brought by the French, many Vietnamese were unhappy with colonial rule. The Viet Minh attacked French forces in 1946, which eventually ended with Geneva peace talks between the nations and the decision to split Vietnam in half: north and south. The communist insurgency began 1957 in South Vietnam; two years later, weapons and men from North Vietnam began gathering in the south.

In response, the United States increased aid to President Ngo Dinh Diem. By 1963, the Viet Cong, a communist group specializing in guerrilla warfare, defeated The Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In a U.S.-backed military coup, representatives from The Army of Republic of Vietnam  overthrew and killed the President Diem ; U.S. intervention in Vietnam would only escalate from this point forward.

In response to the threats posed by the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong, by 1967 the U.S. had sent roughly 500,000 troops to Vietnam. The Vietnam/American War lasted far too long, fueled by poor decisions made by U.S. politicians and resulting in horrifying escalation of violence throughout the war (this is a sad and informative  visual history of the war ).

Many thousands of people were killed before Paris peace talks brokered a ceasefire agreement in 1973. By that point, the actions by American troops had forever changed the country as the after-effects of Agent Orange and other chemical weapons continue to impact the Vietnam even today.

Two years after U.S. troops left, North Vietnam invaded the south and took control of the country. As the socialists assumed control over the country, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese continued to flee, many resorting to crowding into small vessels—anything to escape life in Vietnam. This war is one key reason for the massive Vietnamese diaspora spread around the world.

It’d be great if the warfare ended there, but tired of the Khmer Rouge attacking remote villages near the border, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1979 and removed the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot from power. Ten years later, Vietnam removed their troops from Cambodia. There is still a large ethnically Khmer population in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region. Since the 90s, Vietnam has grown and the government has stabilized, with tourism a major contributing part of the country’s economy.

Pre-Trip Reading Inspiration: Books About Vietnam

Fiction & Nonfiction Books About Vietnam

• Catfish and Mandala : Travel memoir is often an intriguing way to learn about the culture. A Vietnamese-American return to the Vietnam he left as a young child when his family moved to California. He bicycles around the country, and the journey is beautiful.
• The War. There are no shortage of books about the Vietnam-American War. If you read just two, go with  The Sorrow of War , a harrowing recounting of the war and aftermath written from the perspective of a North Vietnamese soldier, and Embers of War , a Pulitzer Prize winning account of the long path of policies and leaders that eventually led to the devastating war.
• Saigon: An Epic Novel of Vietnam : For historical fiction that perfectly accounts the war, but contextualizes it with romance, politics, story, and intrigue, this novel is a better read for those less inclined to learn about the war through drier non-fiction books.
• The Beauty of Humanity Movement: A Novel : Showcasing modern Vietnam in the context of its war-torn history, this beautiful novel takes place in Hanoi and is an easy read. If you’re looking for a better cultural look at contemporary Vietnam, however, Vietnam: Rising Dragon is my recommended non-fiction read.
• Inside Out and Back Again : A beautiful and lyrical story written from the perspective of a 10-year-old girl. This is a wonderful family-friendly read if you are traveling Vietnam with children.
• Eating Viet Nam : A journalist moves to Hanoi and begins a food journey through the back alleys and tiny street stalls of Vietnam. A great read for food lovers.

Podcasts and Online Reads

• The Sandwich that Ate the World : A close look at the history of bánh mì, a tasty Vietnamese sandwich that is wildly popular in Vietnam, and how that love has spread around the globe.
• The History of Pho : This longread recounts the history of Vietnam’s other famous dish, loved the world over: Pho.
• The Vietnam Solution : An interesting piece about current American and Vietnamese relations and how the two countries overcame the war to work together in modern politics.

Find more regional fiction and nonfiction  books and long-reads .

Recommended Guidebook

I traveled through Vietnam using the  Lonely Planet Vietnam . It was solid. It had just the right amount of detail I needed to understand the nearby travel options.

I used online booking sites ( Booking.com ) for accommodation, and then the Lonely Planet to help figure out transportation and what to do nearby.

Socially Responsible Travel in Vietnam

Let’s talk about socially responsible travel in Vietnam, as well as the greater opportunities in Southeast Asia. This topic has many layers. From volunteering to donating to beggars to choosing ethical activities. It’s a complex situation.

Animal tourism has a dark side, and responsible travelers should research alternatives. Child sex trafficking and tourism is particularly an issue in Vietnam. Environmental pollution from tourism has devastated parts of Halong Bay.

There are a lot of considerations. All travelers should also read this  post on giving to child beggars ; you will face this conundrum, so it’s best to be ready. Read our full Vietnam Responsible Travel & Social Enterprise Guide (and one more general responsible travel in Southeast Asia  to lessen your impact on any place you visit, then read below for specifics to Vietnam.

Let’s jump into activities you might want to do, as well as alternatives that are just as fun! And at the end, I share tips for responsible volunteering in Vietnam.

Engaging in Human Tourism

Vietnam is among the most unique places to participate in hill tribe tourism. Unlike the sketchy ethnic group tour options in Thailand , northern Vietnam has a well-developed infrastructure of hill tribe groups offering homestay and trekking. Most notably, Sapa O’Chau has a wonderful business model employing and supporting hill tribe communities.

Also, throughout Vietnam, home stays are a common and excellent way to respectfully visit rural communities, support the local economy, while also learning a lot about the people and culture. Use the regional and city guides below for links to community-based tourism options, and responsible tour companies throughout Vietnam.

Riding an Elephant

If you’ve long dreamed of riding one of these majestic creatures, you should read up on their treatment and what it takes to actually break an elephant’s will enough for it to perform tricks and ferry around tourists. It’s a sad industry and one that has grown exponentially alongside tourism.

Traditionally, the Southeast Asians used elephants for hard labor, to help clear land and forests. They make more money from tourism, however, and this has led to a cycle of overworked and abused animals. On the flip side of the debate , feeding an elephant costs a lot, and tourism (including rides) help  mahouts afford to properly care for their elephant. It’s a complex, complicated issue.

There are options though! To the best of my knowledge, there are no responsible elephant experiences in Vietnam. There are, however, several sanctuaries in Thailand and Cambodia that offer responsible traveler-elephant interactions. Travelers love  the responsible experience .

These sanctuaries are doing wonderful work to give elephants a home and a peaceful life. Avoid elephant experiences in Vietnam, and check out the Save Elephants Foundation to plan a visit in Thailand or Cambodia.

Side note. Generally, avoid riding any exotic wild animal. Riding ostriches in Dalat is gaining popularity and it’s beyond unfortunate. An ostrich’s body is not designed to hold an adult’s weight and these animals fully panic when ridden.  

Buying Endangered Animal Products

Vietnam has a massive industry built around selling, exporting, and trafficking in exotic wild animals. Likewise, many of these animals are used for tourist souvenirs. Avoid purchasing anything made from wild or endangered animals—turtle shells, skins, ivory, etc. And do not buy exotic animal meat or turtle eggs for consumption. Engaging in these practices is either illegal or contribute to the continuation of these destructive practices.

To ensure you’re buying authentic, ethical souvenirs handmade in Vietnam, shop at any of the fair trade shops that offer unique gifts made my vulnerable groups.

Haggling Too Much

Bargaining is a fun part of the culture in Vietnam, and it’s surely something you should engage in freely when buying fruit, souvenirs, and even tours. But be warned that certain over-touristed locations have started a dangerous precedence for the locals.

In Hoi An, for example, the prevalence of so many tailor shops has driven prices so low that some locations will accept a commission and lose money rather than lose business (the fabric is a sunk cost, so some are willing to lose net money if it means food on the table that night).

Bargain respectfully and remember, your sale is directly helping the local economy, so spend money and feel good about infusing your cash into the local economy.

Volunteering

Many travelers are keen to volunteer or support responsible businesses on the road. If you’re backpacking Southeast Asia, you may want to stop for a few weeks or months and support a cause near and dear to your heart. Since not all NGOs and volunteer companies are doing great work, consider this list of vetted independent volunteer opportunities in Vietnam .

Supporting Responsible Businesses

Vietnam has standout social enterprises operating all over the country. I highlight a few in the city guides below , and I profiled my absolute favorite social enterprises in Hoi An . Consider researching all of the options for supporting  social enterprises on your trip .

Supporting social enterprises is one of the easiest ways to create a trip with positive impact. This means picking businesses that are using funds to support local communities and to offer training, support, or to protect natural resources. You can do everything from get a massage or pick a trekking guide—all with companies committed to social impact.

Don’t forget to  book travel insurance for your trip —a great policy provides coverage in case of medical emergencies, lost or stolen gear, adventure sports riders, and more. I’ve used  IMG Global  for more than a decade  highly recommend it !

Best Things to Do in Vietnam

Starting in southern Vietnam, I spent three months backing north through Vietnam. Many travelers pick a direction for their Vietnam travels since the country’s long and skinny shape lends itself to this style of travel—if you’re backpacking across Southeast Asia , your clockwise or counter-clockwise route through the region will determine where you start.

I used a combination of buses, trains, and budget airlines to skip over some long distances, but it’s super common for adventurous travelers to rent a motorbike and ride the length of Vietnam either independently, or on a tour, while exploring the vast number of things to do.

Three months doesn’t make me an expert, but I did find information was surprisingly scarce in some areas (the Mekong Delta), so I offer these city and regional suggestions below as an accounting of how I did the trip, great accommodation I discovered, and my favorite social enterprises and tasty eats.

My Favorite Experiences in Vietnam

• Sipping tea at the Reaching Out Teahouse in charming Hoi An .
• Boating through the Ha Long Bay region from Cat Ba Island.
• Boating through the karst rocks in Tam Coc.
• Spending lazy days in the sun-drenched colonial towns in the Mekong Delta region.

Best Things To Do in Saigon

Humidity, noise, and a friendly face greeted me when I landed in Ho Chi Minh City airport. My friend James has lived in Ho Chi Minh City (known as both HCMC and Saigon) for several years, and he met me at the airport and served as my official welcome party over the next two weeks I visited the city.

We mowed down on spring rolls the first night, and then toured a range of tasty veggie spots and coffee shops around the city. I am far from the expert on this massive, vibrant city, so I polled my global community of travelers for inspiration and guidance during my time.

And I researched, a lot. I detail the handful of things I did before I traveled south to the Mekong Delta, and I’ll link out to other fantastic resources that will allow you to eat and sightsee your way around Saigon.

Take a self-guided walking tour of District 1 highlights.

Most tourists stay in D1 and spend most of their time exploring this part of the city—it holds the bulk of the historical monuments, museums, buildings, and markets. Grab a map or use your smartphone to walk the city.

You could start at Ben Thanh market, then pass the Ho Chi Minh City Hall and head toward Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office—each of these are beautiful structures.

Be sure to enter the post office and look at the old city maps along the walls. From there, you can either head to a coffee shop along the waterfront and beat the heat of the day, or loop around to visit the two primary museums that tourists should visit.

Visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum.

You could combine this with your walking tour, or fill a different afternoon with these two activities. Each one is a must visit, though if you had to pick just one, I recommend that all Americans should visit the War Remnants Museum for a sobering take on the Vietnamese-American War.

Spend a half-day visiting markets and temples in Saigon’s Chinatown, Cholon.

Either take the bus or a mototaxi to Cholon in District 5. This makes for a fascinating morning wander, especially for photographers or those keen on visiting architecture and temples. Check out this blog post for all the details —I saved the map offline to my phone, then used it as a guide throughout the morning.

I started at Binh Tay Market (furthest point east of D1 on the map), and walked back toward District 1, zig-zagging through town to see the buildings, pagodas, and churches. I summoned an Uber back to D1 once I had reached the end of the marked Cholon sites. All told, it took three to four hours at a very leisurely pace.

Hang out at a coffee shop.

The coffee culture is alive and huge throughout Vietnam, but especially in Saigon, where local chains dot every corner and hipster boutique coffee shops hide in plain sight. Many cafes have balconies overlooking busy intersections or streets, making for prime people-watching.

These cafes are also the ideal place to work from if you have a bit of travel planning research or work on your docket. This post has a map you can use to find an expat’s extensive list of quirky, fun, and unusual coffee shops throughout the city.

Take a day trip.

There are several popular day trips from HCMC. The Củ Chi Tunnels is the most common and you can join a tour bus from the backpacker district for less than $10 for the day (negotiate, negotiate, negotiate). You could also head to  the beaches of Vung Tau . Although I skipped this day trip in favor of flying to Phu Quoc , Vung Tau is a popular day or weekend spot that is quite easy to get to from HCMC, from what I am told.

Lastly, you could take a day tour to the Mekong Delta—it’s a canned tourist experience with heavy sales pressure at points, but if you’re pressed for time, you could get a taste of the Delta on the day trip (I opted to spend nearly two weeks in the Mekong Delta and below I detail how you can navigate the sun-drenched delta towns).

If you go for the day or overnight tours, consider researching more creative tour experiences, like the Delta by Vespa , or a private guide navigating you by motorbike through the interesting towns.

Sip coffee at Quán Cà Phê Cheo Leo.

This is a completely local spot beloved by those who sip local iced coffee and tea throughout the day. The owner has been written up in several local publications for her decision to continue preparing the coffee using traditional methods.

Grab your coffee from a new spot every morning.

Chances are that your guesthouse or Airbnb has several neat coffee shops nearby. Star this free Google map of the city’s coffee shops and try a new one every day.

Eat something tasty in Saigon.

Vegetarians in Saigon will find a wide range of tasty eats, although it’s hard to eat street food throughout the city unless you know where to look. But there are a plenitude of tasty vegetarian restaurants. Use Saigon Vegetarian and Happy Cow for initial ideas, and I marked a few of my favorite spots on the Google Map. Although many of the vegetarian street eats are sweet and dessert-like, I’ve included a few street food stalls on the map, too.

• Sample tasty food at Hum Vegetarian, Cafe & Restaurant . (32 Võ Văn Tần). Convenient place to eat just near the War Remnant’s Museum. It’s mid-range price but the dishes are beautifully prepared, the setting is lovely, and I highly recommended eating here. It offers both Western and Vietnamese dishes, but there are plenty of tasty dishes that do not rely on fake meat.
• Find evening street eats near Mani Vegan . (291/2 Võ Văn Tần). Although I didn’t sample this restaurant, there is a street food stall out front that serves delicious vegetarian soups and spring rolls. She’s there most nights and was the only one serving food on that corner, but be sure to confirm it’s “chay” before eating.
• Use this street food guide to eat well in Saigon . It includes a rundown of the dishes, as well as where to find them in the city.

Sleep somewhere central in Ho Chi Minh City.

With several weeks in HCMC, I tested out a couple of accommodation locations before settling on a VRBO located on a quiet street about halfway between the Ben Than market and the Pham Ngu Lau backpacker/party district. J

ust a six-minute walk to either area, it was central without having a party vibe and few other tourists. Those on an extreme budget and those wanting proximity to the backpacker scene will likely stay in Pham Ngu Lau, others should look for a place walking distance to the main sights in District 1.

• Book a VRBO in a central spot . Vacation rentals in HCMC average about $30-60 for a modern room that sleeps two people and often includes a kitchen nook where you could store breakfast items. Some have multiple bedrooms or beds and can sleep more, or a few even offer penthouse views for a bit more money.
• Stay at a central hotel . Uber-budget travels should look at Vintage Hostel Saigon and La Hostel Saigon . Midrange options are plentiful, including Ngoc Phan Guesthouse and Town House 50 Saigon (both a hotel and a hostel), and for a nicer central spot, consider Cap Town Hotel .

Phu Quoc Travel Guide

Phu Quoc surprised me with its lovely vibe and laid-back beaches. After years of avoiding the party vibe on the busiest of the Thai islands, I had feared that Phu Quoc would follow a similar fate.

Well, it’s not there yet. I tacked this trip on the end of my three months and I flew round trip from Hanoi for less than $100—Vietnam’s budget airlines have amazing deals. So, with flights secured I enjoyed a full week down south, with my last days coinciding with Tet holidays.

I had anticipated either the place would be packed, or everything closed. In reality, most of the island is open during Tet, but the restaurants tack on a surcharge to every meal. You’ll find quiet beaches during the day, and a bit of a party at night, if you want it.

The night market underwhelmed me, but it’s there if you want seafood and souvenirs one night. Otherwise, head to a resort or bungalow for beach time. The island has a lot of investment income—new airport, new roads, new resorts, etc.

So it’s developed, but in the anticipation of large-scale tourism, which it’s not there yet. It’s a beautiful island and I recommend at least a few days here, especially if you are at the end of your travels and need to detox a bit.

Enjoy pristine sands at Sao Beach.

Located a 30-minute motorbike ride from Long Beach, this is the most gorgeous white sand beach you can imagine. It’s very lightly developed, so pack snacks, sunscreen, and a good book.

While there are many chair and towel rentals just near the parking lot, walk further down the beach for shady palms and open sands. To get there, I rented a motorbike from my accommodation and drove out there for the day with a travel friend.

Sleep somewhere budget but nice.

Stay at Kim Lien Phu Quoc Guesthouse for private budget accommodation. This guesthouse offers a convenient location and basic but clean accommodation.

Although the bungalows are not beachside, you are incredibly close. It’s a one minute walk through Rory’s Beach Bar to reach the sand and sun. The family is exceedingly lovely too, and I enjoyed my time there.

Splash out some cash for a great sleep.

Splurge for luxury at La Veranda Resort . While I didn’t stay here, I chatted with a Canadian couple several mornings in a row who use this resort as their go-to vacation spot in Vietnam. The husband works for Vietnam Airlines and they escape here on long weekends.

Sip drinks at Rory’s Beach Bar .

This spot is pricey by Vietnamese standards and it’s straight-up Western, which is sometimes welcome. The Aussie owners serve the best cappuccino on the island and offer creative Western dishes if you are jonesing for a change of flavors. It’s also the central backpacker hangout spot on Long Beach, so head here if you want drinks and a bit of a party vibe in the evening.

Eat at September Vegetarian.

September Vegetarian (141 Trần Hưng Đạo) offers creative vegetarian fare and tasty smoothies. The restaurant is right on the main street, so the location is unfortunate, but the staff is friendly and the food is great.

Enjoy beach-side barbecue.

Around sunset, all the beachside restaurants on Long Beach set up barbecue stations and display fresh, iced fish and seafood. While expensive, my traveling friends said their meals were spectacular. Walk along the beach at sunset and you can peruse the selections and find ones that hit your price points and food preferences.

Things to Do in Hoi An

My custom Google Map shares a full list of cafes and vegetarian friendly spots and you can easily save this map and see it overlaid on your own Maps app while you’re in town.

I was in Hoi An for several weeks, so I visited many places. For that reason, the cafes and restaurants are just my favorite spots that I found myself returning to time and again.

Visit the historic sights in Old Town.

You’ll buy a pass at one of the entrances to Old Town. This pass includes entrance tickets to any five of the 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Each time you enter one, you’ll need to hand over your pass and they will snip one ticket.

Admire the Japanese Bridge.

The Japanese Bridge (Chùa Cầu) is obviously gorgeous and worth visiting and photographing, but the shrine inside is quite small and I don’t recommend that you hand over a ticket to visit—you can walk across the bridge with just your tourist pass, no ticket required. No matter how hard they try to snip your pass, don’t let them unless you’re keen to see the shrine. 

Photos from the bridge are lovely, although you will likely want to circle around to the small footbridge that gives you reflective views of the Japanese bridge in the water. Visit both day and night as it looks entirely different and they do a great job illuminating the structure.

Take in the vibes as you photograph Old Town.

Hoi An is seriously pretty. It’s also seriously touristy. More so than any other spot in Vietnam, you will find yourself navigating waves of Chinese and international tourists.

The crowds thicken throughout the day, so your best bet for gorgeous photographs is to roll out of bed early and stroll through town at sunrise. That’s when the sunshine-yellow houses look most atmospheric and you’ll be one of the few tourists up that early as the locals rush through breakfast and preparations for the day ahead.

This is a great blog post outlining timing and how to get gorgeous photographs in and around Hoi An . I was crushed that I couldn’t take  this photo tour , but the photographer was away leading a tour in Burma, so I’ll have to do it next time.

Visit all of the main sights at night, too!

Lanterns light the streets of Hoi An and it just couldn’t be more picturesque. If you enjoyed the city during the day, it’s time to take a look at your favorite parts at night, too.

Wander the central market.

You’ll find a labyrinth of food stalls inside of the central market, and numerous fruit and vegetable sellers lining the streets around the market. This is a good spot for lunch (there is one veg-friendly restaurant in the northeast corner inside), and also just interesting to see and experience the bustle of locals going about their daily business.

Sip tea and support a social enterprise.

Stop by the Reaching Out Teahouse (131 Trần Phú). Visiting this teahouse was a highlight of my time in Hoi An. It’s a quiet sanctuary away right in the center of Old Town. While the streets can be crushingly busy, the teahouse is run as a social enterprise employing deaf people from the local community.

The staff communicate through gestures, small word blocks, and notes. It’s thoroughly lovely and I recommend the tea or coffee tasting and sampling all the handmade sweets. Read my full profile on this delightful social enterprise.

Visit the temples and historic halls.

There are several main temples that travelers should explore to soak in Vietnam’s cultural heritage. One key significant site is the Quan Cong Temple, dedicated to General Quan Cong, adorned with exquisite carvings and remarkable craftsmanship.

Additionally, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Trieu Chau Assembly Hall, and Quan Thang Ancient House are must-visit destinations, each showcasing distinctive architectural features and offering insights into the town’s history and multicultural influences.

The map above shows the five places I think you should visit in Hoi An if you buy just one tourist pass while in town. These include the three ancient houses of: Tan Ky, Duc An, and Quan Thang. Also visit The Museum of Trade Ceramics, and Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall—the most impressive of the ones in Hoi An.

The Museum is low-key and the most interchangeable of the recommendations, so consider visiting a second assembly hall if you’re not keen on reading about the history of trading and how that built Hoi An.

Bike the rice paddies (and stop for coffee and treats!).

Many guesthouses provide free bicycles for your use, or you can easily rent one in town. While you can use the bike to navigate around town, you should also head out on the road toward the beach and get lost in the rice paddies.

It’s nigh impossible to actually get lost, so you should instead wander through narrow lanes and dig deep into this rural slice of life right outside of touristy Hoi An.

You could also stop by  Jack’s Cat Cafe for a coffee and cat cuddles—this social enterprise supports strays.

Visit the beach.

Near the beaches, try P&B Restaurant for food (corner of Nguyễn Phan Vinh and Hai Ba Trung) and Sound of Silence for a coffee—it’s has a great indie vibe.

Enjoy delicious vegetarian eats.

Eat something great at Minh Hien Vegetarian Restaurant (50 Trần Cao Vân). This is the best all-around vegetarian restaurant in town. They have an extensive menu with a range of options. This is a good spot to try vegetarian versions of local Hoi An specialties. They also have an informal cooking class every afternoon.

Other great vegetarian eats include:

• STREETS Restaurant Café   was one of my favorite nice dining experiences in the city. This social enterprise is right in Hoi An’s old city and has a hospitality and culinary training program for disadvantaged young people in the community. The restaurant not only provides opportunity to youth but also funding to the work of STREETS INTERNATIONAL, an organization that develops and operates sustainable programs for street kids and disadvantaged youth in SE Asia and throughout the world. I LOVED their vegetarian cao lau (this is a dish local to Hoi An) and you should try it here (they have a non-veg version too).
• Bánh mì Phượng . (2B Phan Châu Trinh). The most famous place in Hoi An for the iconic Vietnamese sandwich. The egg one is vegetarian option, but make sure to also reiterate that you want it vegetarian so that they don’t use pâté or any other meat ingredients. Meat-eating friends said it truly was the best banh mi of their entire trip through Vietnam.
• Sample other restaurants. Morning Glory has beautiful dishes of Vietnamese food and several tasty vegetarian options—it’s midrange prices but a great spot for meat-eaters to try the local Hoi An dishes. I deeply enjoyed the pizza at Good Morning Vietnam (near Morning Glory, the general Google Maps location is wrong; my map pinpoints it accurately). My custom Google Map shows all my other favorite spots. Or my friends Simon and Erin have shared a great guide to vegetarian restaurants in Hoi An , which provides a few recommendations that I did not include here.

Sample the best coffees in Hoi An—there are a lot!

• The Hill Station Deli & Cafe . (321 Nguyễn Duy Hiệu). A stunningly pretty spot, make sure you go upstairs. This is the most hipster spot in town and a surprisingly quiet setting to sit with a laptop or a book. If you’re into Instagramming against textured walls, you’ll be here doing that for hours. The menu offers artisanal cheeses and high-end charcuterie, as well as a mix of neat jams and other items from various provinces in Vietnam. The coffee is well-priced and equivalent to any place in town. The meals are a bit more dear, with most things starting at 100,000+ dong per dish. I spent Sunday mornings as the only person writing in the picture-perfect room upstairs.
• Faifo Coffee . This spot has excellent coffee and gorgeous upper floors with views of Old Town. Very chill place to sip coffee and relax.

Sleep somewhere nice.

• Midrange : Longan Homestay is my absolute top recommendation for budget to mid-range travelers. This spot is a four-minute walk to the Japanese Bridge entrance to Old Town, and an easy 15 minute walk to the backpacker street. It’s on a quiet side street, so you will get a good night’s sleep. Plus, it’s nice to be away from the action, but still so close. The family is so lovely and I spent two weeks here so that I could catch up on work while still exploring from a convenient base.
• Budget : Backpacker accommodation is condensed into one area, and it’s a bit intense if you’re spending anything more than a few days in town. Stay at  Tipi Hostel for the a classic uber-budget backpacker option where you’ll meet new people and it won’t break the bank.
• Stay near the beach : To stay near the water, head to An Bang Vana Villas  for budget accommodation, and Under the Coconut Tree for mid-range prices in a quirky setting. 

Hue Travel Guide

Central Vietnam experienced historic flooding and rains during my visit, and this impacted my time in both Hoi An and Hue. For that reason, I don’t have a heap of information on what to do. I spent three days in Hue, and it rained buckets each day. I stayed close to town, wore sandals, used an umbrella and poncho, and explore anyhow.

Plus, I loved my guesthouse so much that I have to include it here. So if you are visiting Hue, you will need to use other guides too, but here are the things I loved from my friend time there.

• Stay at Hong Thien Ruby Hotel . One of the nicest places I stayed. The entire hotel is recently renovated. Although rooms are small, beds are cozy and all is spotless. It’s a great price too. Plus, the free breakfast is speedy and unlimited, and they always had welcome drinks and fruit plates when I returned from sightseeing. Can’t recommend it highly enough that you stay here while in Hue.
• Eat at Red Chili . There are many thoroughly tasty vegetarian items on the menu—good variety and well-flavored tofu dishes. The staff is friendly and didn’t mind when I camped out with a book and a hot tea one afternoon to beat the rain. It’s conveniently in the budget touristy area of town and makes for a great dinner or lunch.
• Eat at Lien Hoa Vegetarian Restaurant . This place is large and very popular with locals. The food was hit or miss for me as it’s heavy on the dishes made with textured fake meats. That said, the menu is extensive and it’s likely that there are many fantastic dishes (but the menu is not in English, so bring your cheat sheet of Vietnamese phrases and foods).
• Visit the Kinh thành Huế Royal Palace . The expansive Imperial City is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has large grounds and beautiful elements. Built in 1362, construction took 203 years to complete. This was the seat of religious and political power during the last royal dynasty in Vietnam, and visiting the Hue Complex is the primary reason many travelers pass through Hue.
• Venture out to Thien Mu Pagoda . Located on the river outside of town, this is a part of the UNESCO sites in Hue. Either arrange for transportation and a guide with your guesthouse, or you could easily bicycle out to this spot. This pagoda is included in the day tours outside of town.
• Consider using  Hearts for Hue tour operators . Its main purpose is to improve the living conditions of the boat people in Thua Thien Hue Province, just outside Hue. It runs tours to local community projects as a way to generate income for its programs.

Hanoi Travel Guide

Densely packed and filled with history, visiting Old Town Hanoi is an experience unlike any other city in Vietnam. While some areas of Vietnam ooze charm (here’s looking at you, Hoi An), and in some the pace of life moves at a glacier pace (hello, Mekong Delta), Hanoi has a vibe entirely its own. The jumble of people, sights, smells makes every moment in the city feel alive.

I spent more than five weeks in Hanoi house sitting over the holiday season. The expats returned home for the holidays, and I had a gorgeous flat overlooking the lake in Tay Ho—the residential and quieter part of the city.

I spent one week of that time in a wonderful hotel in Old Town that comes with my utmost recommendation. While there are many guides to the city far more comprehensive than my own, here’s a brief list of my favorite places and sights.

Use your smartphone to zip around the city.

I used Uber almost exclusively in the city, although I used the public bus once or twice from the airport (so handy!), and used private VIP coaches between cities around Hanoi for my day trips.

This map has the Hanoi bus routes if you’re feeling enthused to sort it all out. If you don’t use Uber or Grab, you should only use one of three trusted taxi groups Mai Linh Taxi (0438-222-666), Taxi CP (0438-262-626), or Hanoi Taxi (0438-535-353).

Take a Hanoi Kids tour of Old Town.

Hanoi Kids is a social enterprise that offers free personalized city tours run by students who want to practice their English and learn of other cultures. Any donations go to the organization, not the guides, which keeps the entire exchange as this sweet experience of pure cultural exchange.

You can ask your guide to show you any aspect of the city—food, architecture, history, markets—and you will pay for their entrance fees into the sites, and any transportation, but nothing else.

I went on the tour after an ALA reader raved about her experience, and I echo her sentiments—it’s a fabulous way to see the city and you will end the day with a new friend. Highly recommend.

Visit the Temple of Literature.

This Confucian temple is gorgeous and a real highlight of the various temples in Hanoi. It was the first national university in Vietnam and it’s well-preserved and lovely to stroll the shady grounds on a nice day.

Walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and visit the temple.

Old Town circles this lake, so it’s easy to visit. Walk around the lake on a weekend morning and you will see many locals using the parks for exercise and enjoyment.

Relax at Omamori Spa.

Omamori Spa is a social enterprise that employs the blind, and the massages are spectacular. The only downside is that it’s far outside of Old Town, so you will need to use Grab or Uber for transportation. Call or email ahead for a reservation as it’s a small spot.

Organize a tour to Sapa with Sapa O’Chau social enterprise. 

Sapa O’Chau is phenomenal social enterprise offering tours to Sapa with local guides and a lot of input from the indigenous groups you would visit. Includes treks, homestays, and most anything you’re interested in doing in Sapa.

Learn how to make your favorite Vietnamese dishes.

You’ve surely been mowing down on delicious Vietnamese food throughout your travels in the country, but you should consider learning the secret to all of those amazing flavors. Book a morning or afternoon cooking class with Rose Kitchen Hanoi to visit a local market for ingredients before having the chance to whip up your favorite Vietnamese dishes.

Try egg coffee!

You can’t leave Hanoi without sampling egg coffee, which is unlike anything you’ve likely tried before. Originating during the war, when milk was in scarce supply, the frothy, sweet egg coffee drink is delightful.

Although you will find many shops offering it, Giảng Cafe (39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân) is the best place to sample for the first time. Read more on the history of egg coffee , and this shop.

Pull up a tiny stool alongside locals for a delicious street food desert.

Mow down on chè, a local desert. On your evening wanders, stop by  Chè 4 mùa (4 Hàng Cân), pull up a tiny stool among the locals, and point to whatever looks tasty. Although no one spoke English, the proprietress brought me the dish of the night, a sugary-sweet concoction with sesame and ginger.

Drink lots of Vietnamese coffee.

Vietnamese, in general, loves coffee, and Hanoians are no different. There are dozens and dozens of great coffee shops in Old Town Hanoi. Use the map to find my favorites when you’re out and about.

Eat something tasty.

If you’re on a gastronomic trip through Vietnam, then you should start your Hanoi travels by reading Eating Viet Nam , a chronicle of a journalist’s quest to eat the streets of Hanoi. Then try some of these wonderful restaurants in the city.

• KOTO Training Restaurant . (59 Van Mieu). This hospitality training restaurant aims to give at-risk and disadvantaged youth the possibility to learn and thrive in their lives. Located conveniently near the Temple of Literature, which you should visit, the food is priced mid-range and has many great Vietnamese dishes. It’s a social enterprise and mission worth supporting.
• Eat at the Hanoi Social Club .  (6 Ngõ Hội Vũ ) . Delicious western food and has several great vegetarian options. It’s all very healthy and the vibe is cozy and nice, although very Western. There is live music certain nights during the week, so check the Facebook for details. Although not a formal social enterprise, the restaurant aims to hire those who have just finished the hospitality training programs.
• Sample favorite student street eats . This street food guide  lists the most iconic dishes, and where the university students running Hanoi Kids go to find them.

Sleep somewhere central.

• Midrange : Mai Charming Hotel  is my favorite spot in Hanoi .  After several failed attempts at a good hotel, I found this budget to mid-range option, and then extended my stay since I so enjoyed my time here. Located near the cathedral, the staff go out of their way to make your stay amazing. Every single staff member learned my name and greeted me warmly, and provided great advice for onward travel. It’s central, cozy, and the free breakfast is filling. Rooms are newly renovated and bathrooms are modern—the most budget rooms are very small, but completely worked for one person. While there are certainly budget hostels, and pricier hotels, this place offers great value for money.
• Budget : Head to Hanoi Lotus Hostel for a nice budget travel spot. I booked a spot here after some long weeks of travel, when I was returning to the city and wanted to meet other travelers. There are many mega party hostels in Hanoi, and this seemed like a good alternative. A glitch in their system meant my booking didn’t go through (cue me scrambling for a place to sleep), but I did check out the place and would easily try again if I needed a hostel option in the city (they have a private room).

Mekong Delta Travel Guide

Many backpackers head to the Delta on a one- or two-day arranged tour from Saigon. This is a mistake. If you have a few days (or a week), head to the region as an independent traveler.

For me, I took the one-day tour to My Tho from Saigon and I brought my luggage with me and then journeyed on to Ben Tre instead of returning to Saigon with the tour bus. This is convenient if you want an easy ride out of town, but the tour is awful. It’s one of the worst packaged tourist experiences in my many years on the road.

Consider just heading straight to Ben Tre, or better yet, catch a bus to Can Tho, where I had a phenomenal tour organized from my guesthouse (more on that in second).

I took a mototaxi to Ben Tre from My Tho, and I spent two nights in Ben Tre, using my full day to take a long and scenic bike ride around the nearby islands. The next morning, I took a scenic cargo boat for six hours to Tra Vinh, a quaint and quiet city with a lively day market and a few interesting Khmer temples.

From Tra Vinh, I took a cheap and fast bus ride to Vinh Long, just 1.5 hours. Near Vinh long is the Cai Be market; it’s a larger market with the bigger boats selling bulk vegetables to vendors in the area. My tour left at 6am and returned by noon, so I took an afternoon bus to Can Tho, which was less than an hour away.

In Can Tho, I took a deep breath for the final push of early morning wake ups and river tours. I had the option of visiting the larger Cai Rang floating market and Phong Dien, or doing an alternative tour to Phong Dien and then a backwaters tour of the villages. I am so glad I did the second option as it was fascinating and exactly what I had hoped for in a tour of the Mekong Delta. From Can Tho, I took a cheap VietJet flight to Da Nang.

• Stay at the  Oasis Hotel , this is the best accommodation option in town. It’s run by a Kiwi-Vietnamese couple, and the owner Ken is a character. It’s spotless, breakfast is tasty, and it has many cozy touches and a Western-style bed. Ken is a fountain of advice for onward travel too, especially if you are looking to explore the area off the path a bit.
• Relax with a drink . If you’re staying at Oasis, Coffee 3D is very close and is a great spot for an afternoon coffee or a sweet smoothie after dinner. It has wifi and a very relaxed vibe of teens and young couples hanging out.
• Bike through the countryside . Oasis provides free bicycles to guests and this makes navigating Ben Tre a cinch. Using the giant map painted on the guesthouse wall, I followed a route through the tiny paths and used tiny ferries to bike across two nearby islands. It was about an 18 kilometre ride that took about four hours with many stops for photos and coconuts to refuel—it was lovely.
• Visit the night market . Along the riverbank each evening you can find the usual street foods and wares for sale. It’s a pleasant, low-key town and the market reflects that.

• Visit the morning market . This morning market is my favorite in all of the Mekong towns. Tra Vinh sees few tourists and so the locals have a fresh and delightful joy in seeing you wander around. Many vendors beckoned me to their stalls and then asked to take their photo, or they asked me to photograph their son/cousin/reluctant brother, etc. It was a lovely way to spend the morning before my bus ride.
• Sleep somewhere central . Khách Sạn Thanh Trà is serviceable and central but completely underwhelming; this is where I stayed. They have several tiny rooms at backpacker to mid-range prices and will never be fully booked. If I go back, I will try Gia Hoa 2 , which looks just generally a bit nicer. Or consider staying in the rural areas at a nicer location, like the Coco Riverside Lodge , which looks a bit swanky and lovely.
• Stop at the Chùa Mạc Dồn pagoda . This is located very near to the bus station (which is on the outskirts a ways out of town) so it’s easiest to pay for your mototaxi/taxi to stop for a few minutes here before dropping you off at the bus station.
• Cai Be Floating Market . I organized the tour from my guesthouse and it had overtones of the My Tho tour, but nicer. The tour stopped at a coconut candy factory and honey farm, but it there was no pressure to buy and far fewer tourists. If you’re into the idea of visiting these shops and seeing how they make it, opt for a tour from Vinh Long. Alternatively, if you’re just interested in seeing the Cai Be floating market then you can bargain at the dock and arrange a morning tour with a guide who will motor you out to the market in a tiny boat, show you around, and then motor you back—I would do this option if I ever return.
• Van Tram Guesthouse is very near to everything and was perhaps the nicest value of all my time in Vietnam. The rooms are large and spotless. The only downside is the karaoke across the street until 10pm-ish. I had planned to stay at Hotel Ánh Hồng, but it was fully booked and I was good with Van Tram as my alternative since it turned out the most central budget option. Also, most tourists stayed on the island in a homestay. Having just come from very rural areas, I opted to stay in a guesthouse, otherwise, I had picked out the Bay Trung Homestay .
• Eat veggie food or at the local market . The owner of Van Tram Guesthouse did me a solid by scooting me across town to a hole-in-the-wall vegetarian restaurant. It’s linked on my custom backpacking Vietnam map . The market is just outside the hotel’s front door and makes a great dinner spot for non-vegetarians. If you’re wandering near the market at sunset, check the map and walk across the small bridge—great views and a long board walk on the other side makes for a wonderful stroll.
• Sip drinks riverside at Cafe Hoa Nắng . While I would not eat here, I did enjoy a coffee mid-afternoon and a cold been in the evenings. This is more than just a tourist spot, it’s favored with locals and makes for great people-watching.

Can Tho has an airport easily accessible from the city center. Viet Jet flies from Can Tho to various other cities around Vietnam (I flew to Hoi An/ Da Nang, and many travelers also fly to Phu Quoc or Hanoi). This was my last stop in the Mekong Delta before I jumped half-way up Vietnam to Hoi An.

The city is very plain; it’s primarily a stop-over point for travelers exploring the floating markets, or those en route to Cambodia. I actually traveled north, and then headed back down to spend a week lounging on the beaches in Phu Quoc—I highly recommended heading there after Can Tho so that you don’t have to back track.

• Visit Cai Rang and Phong Dien morning markets . Plan on a very early morning as the Cai Rang market begins as early as 5am. Many tours leave Can Tho around 5:30am so that you arrive while there is still a lot of activity. If you stay at a homestay then you will cut about an hour off of your morning commute to the market. These markets showcase a fading way of life. As bridges span more of the rivers, these floating markets are shrinking. It’s a lovely way to spend a morning.
• Stay at the  Mekong Logis Guesthouse  in Can Tho . I highly recommend this guesthouse; it’s among my favorite places that I stayed in Vietnam. The family is fantastic and so accommodating and the rooms are spotless and comfortable. The family goes out of their way to ensure you have all the knowledge and help that you need to enjoy Can Tho. I took Linh’s special tour. We rode motorbikes outside of town and then visited the smaller of the two markets by boat. After a tasty breakfast, we toured the smaller rivers and visited a few homes in the rural areas. She shares a lot about the culture and people as she shows you the region. The family speak French and English. Because I had already seen the market near Vinh Long, I appreciated that this tour included a few other aspects.
• Stay at the Nguyen Shack Homestay  outside of town . I had definitely planned to stay here as my favored homestay in the Delta, but this place books up far in advance. It’s a lovely location and my best friend loved her time there so much that she wrote about the love story of the couple who run it . It’s outside of Can Tho proper and closer to the floating markets. You can arrange tours directly through them, too. And the market tours are generally cheaper from Nguyen Shack because you’ve already paid to travel outside of town.

Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba Island

This is a signature item on the bucket list for travelers in Vietnam. It’s a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site and worthy of a visit, truly. Before I visited, I had heard awful stories from travelers who had been scammed or disappointed by the experience of visiting Ha Long Bay.

The area is well trodden on the tourist path and, as such, there are a range of experiences on offer, and some are cringe-worthy. The moment that you step foot in the north of Vietnam, you will have no shortage of companies promising to arrange your Ha Long Bay excursion.

For my trip, I got myself to Cat Ba Island and only then entertained the various organizations trying to woo my business. I found a highly-acclaimed, locally-owned tour company and used them for a one-day trip around Lan Ha and Ha Long Bays. It was beautiful and I loved the experience. One of the sections below shares information for those also visiting via Cat Ba Island.

What Are Your Options?

• Book a Round-Trip Experience from Hanoi . If you are short on time, this is likely your best option. The companies will arrange for your transfer from Hanoi to the coast (about 4-5 hours all-in from Hanoi to the bay area). They will then put you on a boat for a one- to three-day liveaboard experience where you cruise around the karst rocks. The quality of your live-aboard varies wildly depending on your budget and your tour company. After your cruise, your tour deposits you back on a shuttle and brings you back to Hanoi.
• Stay on Cat Ba Island & Explore From There . Use the shuttle transfers to make the trip between Hanoi and Cat Ba Island (by way of Haiphong, since you’ll need to take a ferry to the island). From there, rent a room at the very affordable hotel rooms (private budget rooms are less than $10). Then organize either a day trip, or a multi-day experience. You will also have the chance to visit the beautiful national park on the island. From there, organize a shuttle back to Hanoi, onward to Sapa, or to Ninh Binh/Tam Coc.
• Visit a Different, Less Touristed Bay . Ha Long Bay has very likely reached peak tourism capacity. The UNESCO area extends across the entire Ha Long Bay Archipelago and to many other bays that are equally beautiful. When on Cat Ba Island, you are adjacent to Lan Ha Bay, which you can easily visit on a Cat Ba cruise. But there is one other main option that is just emerging on the tourism scene. Several travelers that I met in early 2017 had beautiful experiences on Bai Tu Long Bay. The boats running here are a bit pricier, but they are better maintained and it’s a far more remote and tranquil experience.

How to Choose a Tour Company

My hands-down best advice: Wait before booking. Do NOT allow any hotel or tour operator to pressure you into booking a trip before you have sat down with several companies and then researched them all on Trip Advisor.

The most common “scam”—which I use the word lightly because it’s not a full scam, it’s a case of unmet expectations—is to book you on a low-quality boat and take you on an underwhelming but well-trodden path. Some of the boats are dirty, dingy, and infested with rats or roaches.

When you book through a budget hotel or operator, there is no telling which company is actually running your tour.

Find a reputable company. Truly take your time deciding which company you use to book the multi-day cruises. I painstakingly researched before selecting Cat Ba Ventures , a locally run business of repute and was well pleased with the quality of my tour. Here are a few things to consider before booking.

• Quality of the boat . Many of the boats operating in Ha Long Bay are very old; some of the rock-bottom priced budget options are patently unsafe. There are high-end luxury boats, but you would likely have a good trip on a mid-range choice too, it’s not necessary to go luxury to have a good trip, it’s just necessary to know the quality of your boat. The less touristed bays tend to use newer boats from what the locals told me when I chatted them up on Cat Ba Island.
• Sights Visited . If you take a budget backpacker tour you can be 100% sure that you will share the bay each evening with hundreds of other boats, and your boat may tend toward the closer caves and inlets that don’t require much fuel for the boat to visit. If you do just one night, you really lack the time to visit anything in the remote areas of the bay. When you start from a different bay, or the island, you are able to see less touristed areas since you are starting far from the most popular tourist city, Ha Long City.
• Reputation . There are  hundreds of tour operators booking trips. They dot every single corner of the northern cities. Use Trip Advisor to find one that you trust. Read the hotel reviews too for any associated properties as many guests book through the hotels and then include the review of the boat trip in their general review of that hotel. Hotels make a hefty sum from your tour package so they have an incentive to charge more and book you on the most budget option they can find. This happens a lot. Research.
• Price . The adage “you get what you pay for” proves true here. You don’t have to blow money to enjoy the trip, but I would highly recommend considering Cat Ba Island as a base for budget backpackers instead of the packaged trips to Ha Long Bay. You will pay about the same, so it’s still budget, but it’s just alternative enough to provide a better experience for the same price.

Cat Ba Island Travel Guide

• Get to Cat Ba Island with a shuttle service . Your hotel in Old Town can organize transport, or you can book it through either Good Morning Cat Ba (what I used to get there) or email  Cat Ba Ventures to organize (that’s who I used to book onward trip to Tam Coc).
• Use Cat Ba Ventures for your boat excursion . This company has, by far, the best reputation on the island for a strong standard of service. The tours are priced mid-range, and the vibe on the boats is very nice since everyone paid a bit more to enjoy their trip. I took their one-day trip with kayaking.  Cat Ba Local  is much newer to the scene, but as of early 2017, feedback from other travelers indicated it was a more affordable alternative for budget travelers looking for something a small step down from Cat Ba Ventures but still well-run.
• Go rock climbing with Asia Outdoors . This is the only organization you should use if you are keen to organize rock climbing; it has a highly trained staff and was the original company pioneering the rock climbing scene in the region.

Day & Weekend Trips Around Northern Vietnam

The north of Vietnam is a gorgeous region of the country and has many of Vietnam’s most notable backpacker experiences. If you’re heading south, there are also gorgeous spots worth an overnight stay at the very least.

Tam Coc/Ninh Binh

• Stay at Nam Hoa Hotel  in Tam Coc . I love this hotel so much. The staff is lovely beyond measure. The rooms are small but spotless and freshly renovated. It’s mid-range if you’re solo, but budget if you’re a couple and able to split a room. Breakfast included and an easy walk to town. Bike rental is free and the bikes are in great condition. Highly recommend that you use this as your base, I will stay here again.
• Homestay at Nguyen Shack . Although I loved Nam Hoa Hotel, I would be remiss to not recommend Nguyen Shack as a gorgeous homestay option. This tiny Vietnamese chain of bungalows is thoroughly lovely. If you’re after a home-stay experience then it will get no better than here. Book in advance as it is often fully booked.
• Eat at Sunflower Restaurant . Vegetarian options and is a low-key, locally run restaurant serving good food. There aren’t a ton of eating options in town, so this is a good lunch or dinner choice.
• Visit Hang Mua Cave by bike . The bike ride here is flat and easy, or you could ask the taxi to Tran An to stop here as well. However, you get there, hike to the top here for sweeping views over the river. My friend Jimmy visited, and his Tam Coc photos show just how beautiful it is at the top if the weather is on your side (it wasn’t the day I visited).
• Bike to Bich Dong Pagoda . This is a pretty spot and an easy ride from town. Although it’s not a “must visit,” if you have an extra afternoon in town, it’s worth visiting.
• Take a boat tour from Tràng An . If you’re staying in Tam Coc, rent a taxi for a couple of hours and take the boat tour from Trang An, rather than those offered in Tam Coc. The tours are run with precision since this is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the scenery is stunning.

Onward Travel

Having spent years backpacking Southeast Asia across many trips, plan your time in the following locations.

Thailand » Chiang Mai | Digital Nomad Costs | Elephant Tourism | Loy Krathong | Songkran | Bo Sang | Transportation, Explained | Fun Facts

Vietnam » Hoi An | Eating Vegetarian

Laos » Luang Prabang | Gibbon Experience | Mekong River | Kuang Si Waterfalls | Pak Ou Caves | Vang Vieng

Cambodia » Angkor Wat | Apsara Dancing

Myanmar » Bagan | Inle Lake | Yangon | Hpa-An | Eating Vegetarian | Spirituality | Burmese Hospitality

How to Plan Your Time in Southeast Asia

📍 Navigate more effectively. Bookaway  is super handy to assess the full range of transport options between two cities—it shows everything from flights to trains, buses, minibuses, and more. If you’re booking a rental car, I’ve always found the best deals on  RentalCars.com .

🛏️  Find great accommodation . Agoda has the widest and most affordable selection in Southeast Asia. It’s part of the Booking.com family, but has better reviews for SEA. You can book hotels, hostels, and even vacation rentals.

❗ Yes, you need travel insurance . IMG Global  is the travel insurance I’ve used for well over a decade of traveling solo, and with kids.  Here’s why .

Book Tours Ahead of Time I use Get Your Guide to book locally run tours since I can assess the options, read reviews, and lock in a date.

✈️  Book affordable flights. Expedia and Skyscanner are the first places I look for  low-cost flights .

🧳 Smart packing can save your trip. Shop my favorite travel gear , including all of the packing essentials for traveling , gear to keep you safe in Southeast Asia, my favorite travel books , and more.

📖 Read up on any off-the-path activities. Travelfish is among my go-to resources for anything in Southeast Asia. It’s updated far more often than print guidebooks and has extensive local insight and a fairly active forum, too. If you head off-the-path, this should be the first place you check for tips, transport advice, etc.

☕ Peruse all of my tips for round the world travel , or learn how to move and live abroad .

Vietnam Travel Guide: Travel Stories from the Blog

Discover all of my travel stories blogged in real-time while I was traveling through this beautiful country.

A Little Delight… Stories of Responsible Travel in Hoi An, Vietnam

The Perfect Vietnam Itinerary for 1, 2, or 3 Weeks

• Last Updated: January 25, 2024

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam for 1, 2, or 3 weeks then you must start with this post to help plan your Vietnam itinerary. 

Vietnam has something for everyone. It’s bursting with history, delicious foods, hiking opportunities, beautiful landscapes, beaches, and of course the wonderful Vietnamese people.  

Our Vietnam itinerary guide will give you an overview of the country, with some great itinerary options depending on how long you plan to visit. 

We have something for everyone with:

• 10 days in Vietnam: Highlights Itinerary – These are the must-see places in Vietnam
• 1 week in Vietnam focusing on the North
• 1 week in Vietnam focusing on the South
• 2 weeks in Vietnam, by combining the two above
• 3 weeks in Vietnam, or longer, by adding our extended options to your itinerary.

READ MORE: Don’t miss our complete guide to travelling in Vietnam !

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Hanoi 

Day 2 and 3 – halong bay, day 4 and 5 – sapa , day 6 and 7 – hue , day 8 – hoi an, day 9 and 10 – explore saigon, and take a full or half-day tour to the cu chi tunnels or the mekong delta, tour options, da nang , day 2 and 3 – ha long bay, day 4 and 5 – sapa, day 6  – hue, day 7 – hoi an, ninh binh (near hanoi), phong nha – ke bang national park (near hue), my son (near hoi an), ba be national park (near sapa), bach ma national park (between dan nang and hue), dong ha – for dmz tour (between dong hoi and da nang), day 1 – nha trang , day 2 – dalat , day 3 – mui ne , day 4 and 5 – ho chi minh city, day 6 and 7 – phu quoc island, cu chi tunnels or the mekong delta , con dao island, cat tien national park, did you find my vietnam itinerary helpful, 1, 2, and 3-week vietnam itinerary options .

We broke this Vietnam Itinerary into three main sections. 

Simply decide how long you have, and use one of our itineraries to guide you to the top things to do in Vietnam!

10 Days in Vietnam Itinerary: Vietnam Highlights

Our 10 days in Vietnam itinerary will highlight the absolute best of North and South Vietnam – from hiking in Sapa , to sinking beer in lively Ho Chi Minh City (more commonly referred to by its former name, Saigon).

This can be the core of a longer 2 or 3-week journey by adding extension opportunities to it.

You can do this trip from North to South, or in reverse.

After flying into Hanoi, you’ll have one day to see this beautiful city, so get ready to hit the ground running. 

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is full of beautiful architecture, culture, and unique food.  The old city is surrounded by remnants of fortified walls, and most things you will want to visit are in the Old Quarter. 

I would suggest finding a walking tour, so you can learn about the city’s history as you explore the city.

Take a stroll around the Hoàn Kiếm Lake and visit the Temple of the Jade Moutain, and stop to help the locals practice their English. 

Try the local beer called Bia hơi or fresh beer, which is brewed fresh each morning, and doesn’t contain any preservatives. 

One of the best things to do in Hanoi is to have an egg coffee while sitting at a café in Hanoi’s Train Street. 

Then get ready to get out of the way when the train rattles past, so close to you that it takes your breath away!

For dinner, don’t forget to have a regional specialty, called Bun Cha. It’s found all through the old quarter, so you won’t have to go far to find it. 

Where to stay in Hanoi: We recommend staying right in the Old Quarter.

READ MORE: Learn more about what to do in Hanoi with our Hanoi city guide .

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and is one of the most popular things to see in Vietnam.  

The stunning bay is full of thousands of limestone islands, pristine beaches, caves, and floating villages.  The Vietnamese call it The Bay of the Descending Dragons. 

One of the best ways to visit the islands is by boat. 

You can take one of the many cruises on offer from the tour operators in town, taking you from Hanoi to Halong Bay, spending a night onboard a boat, and returning you to Hanoi the following day. 

Alternatively, make your own way to Halong Bay, and arrange a boat from there. 

Halong Bay cruise options vary depending on your budget.

The cruises normally include kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, swimming, visiting floating villages, and exploring caves.

If you find the Halong Bay cruises a little out of your budget, check out this guide to Halong Bay on a budget . 

Where to stay in Ha Long Bay: Spend the first night at Halong bay, preferably on board a junk boat.  Alternatively, spend the night on Cat Ba Island . Return to Hanoi, and spend the second night there, ready to head to Sapa in the morning.

After a restful night in Hanoi after your cruise, and having enjoyed some more Bun Cha and fresh beer, it’s time to get on a bus from Hanoi to Sapa.

You can also travel by train if you prefer, but buses are the fastest and the best way to get to Sapa from Hanoi. 

Alternatively, you can hire a private car, which will get you there faster, but at considerably more expensive.

Sapa is a region in Vietnam’s northwest and is home to beautiful terraced rice fields, great trekking, and exquisite vistas. 

Sapa has some of the best trekking in Vietnam . 

You can navigate some of these hikes yourself, arrange a private guide, or organize one of the many tours, either from Hanoi or in Sapa itself. 

The most popular attraction in Sapa is the highest mountain in the region, Fan Si Pan .

But unless you take the cable car to the top, you’ll need more time in the area for this hike. 

Some of the shorter day hikes are Cat Cat, and Tả Phìn , which can be done with or without a guide.

Where to stay in Sapa: Spend two nights in Sapa.  Consider a mountain lodge for the true Sapa experience, and then hop on the bus back to Hanoi early the following day.  Then fly from Hanoi to Hue. If you would prefer not to fly, you can take an overnight train or bus from Hanoi to Hue instead, arriving in the morning of Day 7.

Hue is the old Imperial City, and is where the Nguyen Dynasty held the throne for 143 years. 

The last Emperor, Bao Dai, abdicated his throne and power passed to Ho Chi Minh.

During the American War, the North Vietnamese Army captured Hue as part of the Tet Offensive. 

Thus began a battle to regain the Imperial city by the South Vietnamese and the Americans, which lasted almost a month with thousands dead, and the city was mostly destroyed. 

After spending the previous night in Hue, or arriving in the morning by bus or train, visit the Old City with its pavilions, beautiful temples, and the Royal Palace , all protected by high walls, exquisite gates, and moats. 

Hue is also known for the tombs of the Ancient Emperors.  They are all intricate and beautiful.

But don’t miss the Tomb of Tu Duc , or a visit to Tu Hieu Pagoda , which dates back to 1843. 

One of the last things to do in Hue is to try the famous Bún Bò Huế , a local noodle dish with beef and chili oil, washed down with fresh beer. 

Where to stay in Hue: Spend another night in Hue, then head off early on Day 8 to Hoi An.  The most spectacular way is on a motorbike tour through the Hai Van Pass.  The operators will take you on the back of a motorbike, and deliver both you and your luggage to your hotel in Hoi An.

Alternatively, you can take a private car or bus.

READ MORE: Learn more about what to do in Hue with our Hue city guide .

Explore the beautiful city, and enjoy some rest and relaxation at the beach, sitting on beach chairs and drinking cold coconuts. 

The old town is simply stunning. As you walk around you’ll pass stores selling little souvenirs,  great restaurants, and lots of clothes.

Hoi An is the place to be if you want to have some clothes made.  Tailors are everywhere, and prices are affordable. 

Make sure to head out into town at night, as the city lights up with hanging lanterns, and comes alive with markets, street food, and people. 

While out and about visit the wooden Japanese Covered Bridge from the 18 th Century, and take a boat ride up the river to get a better view of the lights. 

Use Grab or take a taxi or scooter and head to the beach.  You can sit at one of the many restaurants, use their lounge chairs and stay all afternoon soaking up the sun!

Where to stay in Hoi An: Spend the night in Hoi An, and fly from nearby Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City the next morning.

READ MORE: Add these things to do in Hoi An to your itinerary !

After experiencing incredible Hoi An, it’s time for one last big effort as we reach the home stretch of our 10-day itinerary. 

Our time allows for one of two tour options, or if you have an extra day, both.

Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh, is a bustling array of buildings, people, food and scooters! 

Saigon is where a lot of ex-pats live as it offers so much variety and, like New York, the city never sleeps! 

These are your last couple of days in Vietnam, and there is plenty to see.  The Vietnam War Museum, Notre Dame (yes they have one too!), the beautiful Central Post Office, and Independence Palace are all must-see destinations while in HCMC.

One of the things to do in Ho Chi Minh City is to head to Bui Ven Walking Street , where all the action happens. 

After dark, this street is packed with people sitting at small plastic tables and chairs sinking beers, eating street food, and people-watching. 

After a few beers and some food, head back to your hotel and get some rest before your flight home.

READ MORE: Consider these 8 day trips from Ho Chi Minh City .

The Cu Chi Tunnels

Even if you’re not particularly interested in Vietnam’s war history, this is an interesting place to visit. 

There are two different locations, Ben Dinh and Ben Doc . 

Most tour companies usually head to the one closest to the city, Ben Dinh, which is also the largest. 

The Tunnels offer an interesting insight into what it was like for the people fighting in the Vietnam/American War, their living conditions, and how they used the tunnels to hide underground during the day and fight the enemy at night.  

Today you can go into some of the tunnels, which have been widened for westerners to fit in. 

You can only visit the tunnels with a guide, which is provided as part of the entry ticket or part of your tour . 

The Mekong Delta Tour

If small little tunnels aren’t your thing and you would prefer to take a pleasant boat ride down the Mekong river instead, there are half-day tours available from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta. 

Mekong Delta tours usually include exploring small canals by a sampan boat, visiting villages and islands, sampling exotic fruit and touring a coconut candy farm. Yum!

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City: For your two nights in Saigon, stay in District 1 to be right in the middle of everything, District 3 if you’d like a more relaxed stay that’s still only moments away from the action or District 4 for a real local experience.

Extension Option

If you’re able to extend your tour to 2 weeks in Vietnam, you’ll have more time for these excursions. Any 2 week Vietnam itinerary should include these!

Da Nang has lots to offer .  If you are comfortable on a scooter or motorbike, you can ride from Hue to Da Nang (before going to Hoi An), through the Hai Van Pass . 

This route used to be a little dangerous due to all the cars and trucks using the pass.

But since they have built the new freeway and tunnel there is very little traffic, making it a very enjoyable and incredibly scenic ride.  

The best way to do this is by motorbike tour from Hue, to either Da Nang or to Hoi An, or in reverse. 

Setting out from Da Nang, Ba Na Hills is a scooter ride away.  You may recognize the bridge seemingly held up by two large hands.

Between Da Nang and Hoi An lies Marble Mountain , and to the east of Da Nang there’s a large Buddhist temple complex and pagoda called Chua Linh Ung .

If you have longer in Vietnam and would like to explore more of this beautiful country, combine our North and South options below to create a 2 weeks in Vietnam itinerary. 

2 Week Vietnam Itinerary – 1 Week in the North

Start your 2 weeks in Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, with beautiful architecture, culture, and food. 

While in Hanoi don’t forget to try egg coffee, fresh beer (Bia hơi), and especially the regional dish of Hanoi, Bun Cha .   (See Above 10-day Vietnam Itinerary)

Where to stay in Hanoi: Spend the night in Hanoi.  We recommend staying right in the Old Quarter.

Ha Long Bay, with its beautiful limestone islands, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

It’s a must-see while in Vietnam, with an overnight boat tour to the islands, and other fun activities like SUPing, kayaking, and exploring caves. 

The easiest way to see Ha Long Bay is to organize a tour from Hanoi . (See Above 10-day Vietnam Itinerary)

Where to stay in Ha Long Bay: Spend the first night at Ha Long Bay, preferably on board a junk boat.  Alternatively, spend the night on Cat Ba Island .  Return to Hanoi, and spend the second night there, ready to head to Sapa in the morning.

Think of beautiful rice terraces set high up in the mountains, trekking, and staying in mountain lodges. 

Sapa is located in the northwest part of the country, and best seen by a two-day tour from Hanoi. (See Above 10-day Vietnam Itinerary)

Where to stay in Sapa: Spend two nights in Sapa.  Consider a mountain lodge for the true Sapa experience, and then hop on the bus back to Hanoi early the following day.  Then fly from Hanoi to Hue.

If you would prefer not to fly, you can take an overnight train or bus from Hanoi to Hue instead, arriving in the morning of Day 7.

The old imperial city still has many secrets to uncover. 

Hidden behind towering walls and large gates, you can explore where the last Emperor ruled from before abdicating his rule in favor of Ho Chi Minh.

This is where the North Vietnamese overtook the city, sparking a battle that lasted for almost a month in what was known as the Tet Offensive. (See Above 10-day Vietnam Itinerary)

Where to stay in Hue: Spend the night in town.  Leave your bags at your hotel while you explore the city the next morning, then head to Hoi An after lunch. 

The most spectacular way is on a motorbike tour through the Hai Van Pass .  The operators will take you on the back of a motorbike, and deliver both you and your luggage to your hotel in Hoi An.

Head to the beach during the day and relax on one of the many lounge chairs offered by the restaurants lining the foreshore of Central Vietnam.

In the evening enjoy the magical old town that comes alive at night with lights, markets, food, and more!  (See Above 10-day Vietnam Itinerary)

Where to stay in Hoi An: Spend the night in Hoi An, and fly from nearby Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, or head to Nha Trang to link up with the Southern Vietnam Itinerary below.

READ MORE: Add these things to do in Hoi An to your 2 week Vietnam itinerary!

Extension Options

If you want more time in the north during your 2 week Vietnam itinerary, add on these trips such as Ninh Binh and some cool national parks.

Considered the inland version of Halong Bay, Ninh Binh is best seen by boat, on a pushbike, or scooter. 

We spent two full days in Ninh Binh and enjoyed a pushbike ride in the surrounding area.

We then hired a scooter in Ninh Binh and set out to see more of the beautiful lush hills, taking a boat ride through Tam Coc, and visiting pagodas.

You can easily book an awesome 2-day, 1-night tour of Ninh Binh from Hanoi if you’re not comfortable riding a scooter in the crazy Vietnam traffic.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is home to over 300 caves and grottoes.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects the oldest karst system in Vietnam. 

It comprises of a precious ecosystem, limestone forest, and the world’s largest cave, Son Doong . 

The park offers eco-tourism, mountain climbing, trekking, flora and fauna, and caving. 

Some of this can be done independently, but tours are often the best option to get the most out of your time. 

The My Son ruins are another important UNESCO World Heritage site in central Vietnam. 

This temple complex was built by the Champas during their rule, and was influenced by Hinduism. 

The ruins of the brick temples and sculptures are often likened to Angkor Wat in Cambodia or Bagan in Myanmar.

Book a tour of My Son to make the most of your experience.

Ba Be Lake is the centre of the National Park, and of the Ba Be Lake legend. 

People believe that the lake was formed by an enchantress, who cursed the people of the surrounding area for not showing compassion to her when she asked for help.

Legends aside, Ba Be Lake offers a wide range of activities, from trekking, kayaking, motor-biking, waterfalls, caves, and the natural beauty and diversity of the area. 

The highest point of Bach Ma National Park is the 1450m high mountain of the same name. 

The park is known for its biodiversity, with lots of birds, flora, mammals, and primates.

The government finally protected the area in 1962, after the area was greatly damaged due to the use of agent orange during the Vietnam War.

The area is now safe for people to explore and is best seen with a tour guide . 

You can hike the Five Lakes Cascade Trail taking in the waterfalls, visit the monastery, and hike the Pheasant Trail .  

A visit to the demilitarized zone (DMZ), is a great one-day outing for history buffs. 

The DMZ area was the dividing line between North and South Vietnam during the war, and as a result, saw heavy fighting. 

The tour explains the extent of the fighting in this area, and the importance of the location in the Vietnam War. 

2 Week Vietnam Itinerary – 1 Week in the South

Next on your 2 weeks in Vietnam, spend 1 week in the south of Vietnam. You could easily spend 2 weeks in Vietnam in just the north or the south, but you can also spread out your time between both areas.

Our Southern itinerary begins in Nha Trang.  Either fly there from Saigon or Hanoi, or take a bus down from Hoi An if you’re continuing on from our Northern Itinerary.

Nha Trang is the most famous seaside resort in Vietnam and is known for its white-sand beaches, coastal islands, and clear waters with abundant marine life, making it perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling. 

The town itself also offers interesting cultural sites close by, and places where you can pamper yourself with a mud-bath, or enjoy a seafood dinner. 

Where to stay in Nha Trang: Spend a night in Nha Trang, and take a bus or private car to Dalat the next morning.

After a relaxing time on the beach, it’s time to get some more culture in during your 2 week Vietnam itinerary! 

Dalat is heavily influenced by the colonial period from the French occupation, as the French built their holiday homes here to take advantage of the temperate weather.

With beautiful buildings, gardens, interesting architecture, coffee and tea plantation tours, waterfalls, mountain biking, hiking, and canyoning , you don’t want to miss out on this city!

Where to stay in Dalat: Spend the night in Dalat, and take a bus or private car to Mui Ne the next morning.

READ MORE: Learn more about what to do in Dalat with our Dalat city guide .

Three main things are offered in this beautiful resort destination; relaxation, watersports, and sand dunes.

Mui Ne beach is dotted with resorts, hotels, and hostels, and is a great place to just sit and enjoy your surroundings. 

Although Mui Ne is more than just the beach, this area is set up for tourists and has one main street of shops, cafes, bars, and shopping.

Being a beach town, watersports are a big thing here, and just about everything is on offer from kitesurfing to parasailing. 

The Mui Ne sand dunes are popular, and a spectacular sight. 

There are two locations, the smaller, closer, red sand dunes, and the white sand dunes about 26km from town. 

Tours are available for both locations and you can also hire dune buggies, or go sledding! 

Where to stay in Mui Ne: Spend a night in Mui Ne, then shake the sand from your belongings and take a bus or the train to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the next morning.

There’s so much to see and experience in this historic city, including day tours to some pretty important locations, that you’ll need two days .  

On the first day, you’ll head out into Ho Chi Minh City.  It has some great cultural sites, like the Vietnam War Museum, Independence Palace, Notre Dame, and it also boasts some pretty great nightlife too.  

For the second day, we suggest you head out of the city on a day tour.  There are two great options: The Chu Chi Tunnels, or a trip to the Mekong Delta. (See Above 10-day Vietnam Itinerary)

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City: For your two nights in Saigon, stay in District 1 to be right in the middle of everything, District 3 if you’d like a more relaxed stay that’s still only moments away from the action or District 4 for a real local experience. Fly to Phu Quoc Island on Day 6.

Phu Quoc is a small island off the coast of Cambodia, lined with white sand beaches and palm trees.  

There are many resorts along the southwest coast providing you with ample opportunity for some relaxation time, while you swim, and eat your last fill of tasty Vietnamese food.   

Phu Quoc island is home to mountains, tropical rainforest, hiking and wildlife, all within its National Park. 

Lots of tours are available to explore the island which offers snorkelling as well, or you can hire a scooter and set off by yourself.

Where to stay in Phu Quoc Island: Spend two relaxing nights on Phu Quoc Island, then fly back to Saigon to catch your onward flight!

If you have more time to spend during your 2 weeks in Vietnam, take the ferry to the mainland, and continue overland to some of the extension options listed below, or to Cambodia.

If you have more time for your 2 week Vietnam itinerary, or you want to further explore one area rather than hopping around, here are some ideas!

Depending on what you did in 7 days for our Southern Vietnam Itinerary, if you have time you might like to see the other option best explored out of Ho Chi Minh City.  (See Above 10-day Vietnam Itinerary)

During the French occupation, and later the Saigon regime, this island was used to house political prisoners and prisoners that were considered especially dangerous.

Aside from its harrowing past, the island is known for its natural beauty with over 80% of the island being a National Park. 

These days the island is frequented for its spectacular snorkelling and diving, with abundant coral reefs, beautiful beaches, and hidden lagoons.   

Can Tho is the de facto capital of the delta region and an unassuming city full of life. 

Most of the activity happens around the pier where you can enjoy great food and cold beer. 

Boat rides are available to show you more of the city and surrounding area, and visit some early-morning markets. 

If you’d like a little break from the tourists and are looking to just relax and hang out with the locals, Qui Nhon is the place to come . 

Unspoiled by tourism, this sleepy town has squeaky white sand beaches, snorkeling, swimming, temples, and museums. 

Cat Tien National Park is comprised of two sections Cat Loc, and Nam Cat Tien, the former being the most visited of the two. 

The river by Nam Cat Tien houses an important Hindu archaeological site and temple, where a large number of artifacts have been uncovered and are now in the Dalat museum. 

The national park has spectacular flora and fauna and trekking.

READ MORE: 33 amazing things to do in Vietnam !

Vietnam is a large and diverse country, with a great deal to offer the traveller who goes in with an open mind and heart. 

While we’ve listed what we feel are the main highlights, there is much more to be explored when you visit Vietnam.

Friendly people really make Vietnam a special place to visit.

The itineraries listed above are a bare minimum if you need to get the most out of a short amount of time. 

While doable, if possible it would be a much more relaxing trip if you could pad it out by adding a few days to your Vietnam itinerary, and slow down a little!

We hope you have a wonderful time there!

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Vietnamese street food is the best.

Great food makes people happy. Surely, you will have the happiest moment when traveling to Vietnam where you cannot escape from the heaven of street food: banh mi, Vietnamese pho, Vietnamese hot pots,...

Explore the ethnic minorities in the North of Vietnam

The area that surrounds Sapa unquestionably offers tranquility and beauty if that is what you're seeking. The deep valleys in the region offer some of the nation's most breathtaking rural vistas and several ethnic minorities presented in Vietnam, including the Red Dzao, Giay, and Hmong people. Also, you cannot miss out on conquering Fansipan Mountain, 'the Roof of Indochina'. 

Be indulged in the natural beauty of UNESCO World Heritage

Halong Bay undoubtedly becomes one of the most unique places to visit in Vietnam. Thousands of thick limestone are layered side by side, creating a stunningly unique view while you are sailing on the well-known Halong Bay.

Roam around and explore the 1000-year-culture city 

Hanoi is famous for the food, the busy streets, and the hospitable people. And of course, don’t forget to take a deeper look into the historical sites in Hanoi with the day tour around this bustling city.

Stop by the worth-living city named Da Nang 

Danang - once an indigent area is transforming so quickly. Now, in this city, you can take advantage of both the romantic beaches and a variety of world-class luxury resorts in Vietnam. 

Unlock the hidden charm of Hoi An

As the homeland of lanterns in all different colors and sizes, Hoi An sightseeing is not only renowned for its unique and intact architecture of temples, and pagodas but also for its tranquil rural Vietnamese sceneries. Several untouched communities that still retain their traditional beauty are waiting for you to discover.

Visit the old capital of Vietnam

Hue is known for its dreamlike scenery, which is a result of a variety of internationally renowned structures spread around its former capital, as well as its long history and culture. Taking a Hue walking tour to admire wonderful landscapes influenced by the Perfume River's beautiful curve is a must-activity that will make you fall in love with the serene vibe of the city.

Discover the 2-sided story of Dalat

Dalat can be gentle but also vigorous at the same time. Which one will you choose: enjoy a cup of coffee with a hill view or get ready for a wet and wild adventure such as white water rafting?

Try seafood in Nha Trang

Already famous for beautiful beaches and luxury resorts in Vietnam, you cannot miss Nha Trang for its wonderful variation of seafood. And guess what? It is ridiculously inexpensive.

Enjoy a sleepless night in Ho Chi Minh City

Different from the North, the lifestyle of the center of Southern Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City  is more “Western”. Take a Saigon bus tour to watch over the top attraction of the city in the morning but when the sun goes down, you are invited to crazy night parties and have so much fun.

Get closer to local life in Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta is where the famous Mekong River finds its way to the sea. It is one of the most fascinating regions for travelers to discover, which includes chaotic floating markets, authentic local life, paddy field mangroves, and wonderful vistas. It is just simply beautiful.

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Vietnam itinerary: the perfect itinerary for 2 and 3 weeks backpacking!

You can find the perfect Vietnam itinerary with the ultimate highlights of the country in this blog: a 2-week itinerary and an itinerary of over 3 weeks of travelling through Vietnam! We also share a lot of tips for Vietnam.

Itinerary Vietnam: the highlights of this beautiful country

Finally, it was time to get to know Vietnam ourselves, a country that has been on our bucket list for a long time! We travelled by public transport from the south of Vietnam to the north in a bit more than two weeks. It was a cool journey in which we got to see a lot of Vietnam, but definitely not everything. That is why we also have included a three-week itinerary for Vietnam in this blog.

Under both itineraries, you will find a short description of the different highlights of Vietnam which makes planning easier.

Itinerary Vietnam: 2 weeks backpacking through Vietnam

In less than two weeks you can already see a beautiful part of Vietnam. The map below shows a representation of the itinerary you will travel these two weeks in Vietnam.

Map Vietnam with itinerary 2 weeks:

Ho Chi Minh City – Dalat – Hoi An – Phong Nha – Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi

What does this itinerary through Vietnam look like in two weeks?

In two weeks you will travel from the south of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) to the north (Hanoi). It’s also possible to reverse the route, just keep in mind, in North Vietnam it is a lot colder than South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh (2 days) is your first destination. It is a busy city, with a small concise centre for tourists. Two days in Ho Chi Minh is enough, but more time is nice too. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remenants museum. This gives you an idea of the history and war this country was in. The next destination? Dalat (2 days), a beautiful mountain town where it is a lot cooler than in Ho Chi Minh City. Transport to Dalat can be done by bus, but we decided to fly. In Dalat, enjoy adventure activities like Canoeing.

The itinerary from Hoi An to Hanoi:

You fly from Dalat to Hoi An (3 days) . The airport at Hoi An is called Da Nang, a big city that is much less fun than Hoi An. From Da Nang it is still half an hour by taxi to Hoi An. Hoi An is a beautiful and ancient city. Especially the architecture is beautiful! But Hoi An is also a place to relax and Hoi An is on the beach!

Vietnam budget tip : taxis from Da Nang to Hoi An can inflate their prices. Therefore, book a taxi online in advance for only 5.50 euros per person. Click here for more information.

After three relaxing days, you continue by bus to Phong Nha (2 days) where you will see the largest caves in the world. Definitely don’t stay for more than two days, the village is tiny and there is not much to do outside the caves. From Phong Nha, it’s an easy one-hour flight to Hanoi (3 days) , where we advise you to stay at least three days. Here you can enjoy the small streets full of merchandise, the beautiful parks and the delicious food.

Still, some time and energy left? Then the northern region of  Sapa (2.5 days) should be added to your Vietnam itinerary! From Hanoi, you travel by bus in 5 hours to Sapa where you should definitely do one of the beautiful hikes. Sapa is a mountainous area, bordering China and hiking is very cool here! Finally, travel back to Hanoi where your journey ends.

Vietnam itinerary: 3 weeks backpacking through Vietnam!

Do you have more time? Lucky you, then you can see a lot more of this beautiful country! The Vietnam itinerary below is for three weeks but can be done at a slower pace in 4 weeks or a month.

Map Vietnam: itinerary 3 or 4 weeks

Hanoi – Sapa – Cat Ba/ Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh – Phong Nha – Hue – Hoi An – Mui Ne – Dalat – Ho Chi Minh City

Backpacking Vietnam: what does the 3-week itinerary in Vietnam look like?

This time you start in Hanoi (3 days) , and you are now travelling from north to south. The other way around is also possible. Here too you will visit Sap a (2 days) but after Sapa, you will immediately travel to Cat Ba / Ha Long Bay (3 days) . Plan some time for this: first, you go by night bus from Sapa to Hanoi in 5 hours, then you change to the night bus and take the boat to Cat Ba, total travel time: 15 hours. Don’t worry, on the cruise you will be doing from Ha Long Bay from Cat Ba, you’ll have plenty of time to rest from this long journey.

Travelling from North Vietnam to South Vietnam!

After a few days of relaxation, continue by bus to Ninh Binh (2 days) . Here you can enjoy the beautiful nature and the huge karst mountains that you can sail by boat. Your next destination is Phong Nha (2 days) , a 7-hour drive from Ninh Binh by bus. Here you visit the caves but don’t stay too long, it is a small place. If you still have time, consider continuing to Hoi An earlier, but make a short stop in Hue . In Hoi An (3 days) you stay a little longer to rest after the many travel days.

The next destination is also very relaxed: you fly to Mui Ne (3 days) , a nice coastal town for surfing or sandboarding of the dunes. Mui Ne is a quiet beach town, but if you want white beaches and a clear blue sea, you can always consider swapping this with a trip to Phu Quoc , in the south of Vietnam. From Mui Ne it is about 4 hours by bus and then you are in Dalat (2 days) . The trip ends in Ho Chi Minh City (2 days) after which you leave Vietnam.

This is a full schedule, but achievable. Travelling in Vietnam is easy by (night) bus, but for a few euros more you also have a plane ticket. Want to take it easier? Then skip Phong Nha and Hue and fly directly from Ninh Binh to Hoi An or choose to skip Ha Long Bay and enjoy the equivalent mountains in Ninh Binh.

The most important highlights of Vietnam at a glance!

Below is an overview of the highlights of Vietnam. Do you miss a place? Let us know!

Highlights Vietnam 1:  Hanoi city, Nort Vietnam

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, a city with a lot of history. The French influence on Vietnam is clearly visible in the beautiful old buildings in the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. Join a food tour and taste a thousand flavours of the Vietnamese cuisine! And enjoy the peace in the park in the middle of the city. While going back into the tiny street, beware that you are not driven over by the thousands of motorbikes that blow through traffic.

Highlights Vietnam 2:  Sapa, the mountain region of Vietnam

Sapa is a small town in the North of Vietnam, a very quiet and peaceful area. Here you will find hills and extensive rice terraces. Make a multi-day trek and stay overnight with locals, a great experience!

Highlights Vietnam 3:  Ha Long Bay/Cat Ba a beautiful bay full of limestones!

Ha Long Bay is a region in the north-west of Vietnam. It is a huge bay with thousands of limestone islands that rise up above the sea. The largest island is Cat Ba, from where you can do all kinds of multi-day cruises.

Click here for a multi-day cruise through the bay of Ha Long

Highlights Vietnam 4:  Ninh Binh green valleys and high peaks!

Ninh Binh is a small city in the Ninh Binh province. The beautiful surroundings are the reason to visit Ninh Binh. Here you will find huge karst mountains between the green valleys, just like in Ha Long Bay. The places Tam Coc and Trang An are highly recommended!

Highlights Vietnam 5:  Phong Nha, exploring the best caves of Vietnam!

Curious about the largest caves in the whole world? Be sure to visit the town of Phong Nha. You will find here the Paradise Cave and the Phong Nha Cave , both impressive Limestone Caves. The largest cave in the world, So’n Doong Cave, is not (yet) open to the general public. There are only a few visitors per year who may visit this cave through a multi-day trek (very expensive).

Do you also want to enter the caves and marvel at this beautiful natural phenomenon? Click here for more information for a full-day tour of Phong Nha.

Highlights Vietnam 6:  Hué, the old imperial capital of Vietnam!

Hue is the old imperial capital of Vietnam, clearly visible in all the beautiful old buildings in the old city centre. Hue is relatively small and half a day is enough to see everything. Use this as a strategic resting place between Phong Nha and Hoi An.

Highlights Vietnam 7:  Hoi An, a lovely colonial village in the middle of Vietnam!

Hoi An is a beautiful small city in central Vietnam. It is one of the few cities that has remained almost completely in the old state despite the Vietnam War. You will find centuries-old colourful buildings that are still in full use. This makes a visit to Hoi An like travelling through time. Hoi An is close to the sea which also makes it a great place to rest a little longer. Be prepared, Hoi An is a very touristic place, totally understandable considering the beauty of the city. Read about our time in Hoi An (only in Dutch).

Two beautiful sights from Hoi An: My Son and Ba Na Hills

There is also plenty to see outside Hoi An. A must-see on your Hoi An route is a day trip to the My Son Sanctuary. This beautiful area is full of temples and other excavations and is truly magical! Click here for more information about a possible tour to My Son.

Highlights Vietnam 8:  Nha Trang / Mui Ne, beach life in Vietnam!

Mui Ne is a quiet beach town. It is not (yet) discovered by mass tourism and you will find authentic fishing villages in the area. You will go to Mui Ne to relax, or to surf, kite or sandboard. In doubt between Mui Ne and Nha Trang? Do not hesitate any longer: Nha Trang is flooded by (drunken) Russians and therefore not a pleasant place anymore.

Highlights Vietnam 9:  Dalat, a small mountain village great for outdoor activities!

Dalat was a very positive surprise for us. It is a small mountain town, built at the time of French rule as a summer residence for wealthy French. The city itself is beautiful to see with a large lake in the middle. In addition, you can undertake great outdoor activities, such as Canoeing. Dalat is also a good place to start or end with one  Easy Riders motortour !

Highlights Vietnam 10:  Ho Chi Minh City, the old Saigon!

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It is a bustling, warm city full of skyscrapers and bars. Looking for a good night out? That is not a problem here, the nightlife is over the top. But Ho Chi Minh City is also a must-visit when you are interested in culture and history. Be sure to pay a visit to the war museum and take a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels.

Here you will find a nice tour to the Cu Chi tunnels that you can book online.

Highlights Vietnam 11:  Mekong Delta, exploring markets

The Mekong Delta is a large branch of the Mekong River that runs through Cambodia, China and Laos. People in this region live on the river. Not only their homes are here but also shopping and trading takes place on the water. Visiting the Mekong Delta is easiest from the town of My Tho, where various boat tours depart.

Vietnam tip: You can also visit the Mekong Delta as a day trip from Ho Chi Minh. Click here for more information about such a trip that you can book online.

Highlights Vietnam 12:  Phu Quoc, tropical life in Vietnam!

White beaches, swaying palm trees and a clear blue sea. Something you will not encounter much in Vietnam, except on this beautiful tropical island. Phu Quoc is slightly more expensive than the rest of Vietnam, but from what I have heard, the money is more than worth it!

Click here for all my Vietnam blogs !

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The 10 best places to visit in Vietnam in 2024

Feb 24, 2024 • 8 min read

Experience the best of Vietnam with these top places to visit © hadynyah / Getty Images

With its rolling emerald landscapes, perfect beaches and energetic cities, Vietnam is unsurprisingly a magnet for visitors in search of an incredible travel experience.

This country is teeming with attractions, so it pays to plan your trip around the places you absolutely can't miss. Where you want to go will influence whether you fly into cultured Hanoi in the north or energetic Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in the south, or whether you bypass these two megacities for the laid-back beaches of tropical Phu Quoc.

Start your travel to-do list now with our ten favorite places to visit in Vietnam.

1. Phu Quoc

Best for beach lovers

About as far south as you can get from Hanoi without splashing into the Gulf of Thailand, the island of Phu Quoc is where beach worshippers come to pray. Lapped by jewel-blue waters and edged by fine sandy beaches, this is a place to slip into low gear, reaching for a cocktail as the ember-colored sun dips into the bay.

But it's far from undiscovered – local tourists come in droves for theme park thrills at VinWonders and giddying views over the sea from the world's longest over-sea cable car. Phu Quoc is a popular stop for families, and if you fancy a change from the tourist scene, there are dense jungles to explore inland from the sand.

Planning tip: If you're bound for Phu Quoc, there's no need to go via Hanoi and HCMC; numerous Asian airlines offer flights from hubs such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul, connecting with long-haul flights further afield.

Best for city slickers

Every trip has to start somewhere, and the ideal point of arrival for first-timers is Vietnam's historic capital. As well as easy infrastructure, inexpensive accommodation, world-class dining and more history than you'll ever have time to take in, Hanoi is the leaping-off point for the islands and outcrops around Halong Bay and the forest-draped trails of the mountainous northwest. Give yourself time to graze through Vietnam's catalog of street food treats  and pause to soak up the atmosphere in cozy cafes in the Old Quarter as well as rush around the sights.

Planning tip: To enjoy Hanoi nightlife on a budget, swing by the streetside bia hoi (draft beer) stalls at busy Bia Hoi Junction on the drinking strip of P Ta Hein.

3. Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay

Best for iconic photos

The crowds mob Halong Bay , but for our money, the shimmering bays to the north and south have a slight edge over Vietnam's most famous collection of outcrops and islands. While trips to Halong Bay are highly commercialized, with motorized luxury junks blowing diesel fumes around the eroded karst islands, Lan Ha Bay  and Bai Tu Long Bay  are a bit more laid-back, and you won't have quite so many cruise ships in your photos. Try kayaking between the outcrops, explore the tropical trails on Cat Ba Island – gateway to Lan Ha Bay – or kick back on the sand on Bai Tu Long's idyllic Co To Island.

Planning tip: If you visit Cat Ba Island, take time to explore the trails around Cat Ba National Park – if you trek with your own guide, it's easy to leave the crowds behind.

4. Ho Chi Minh City

Best for a sense of the past

Cosmopolitan Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the southern counterweight to Hanoi in the north, taking its cultural cues from the Mekong Delta and neighboring Cambodia . It's fast-paced, frenetic and fun, particularly after dark, when the pavements transform into a mobile buffet of street food stalls and roadside bars.

A little of the frontier feel of the war years lives on in HCMC, and you can learn more about this violent period at sites such as the War Remnants Museum . The ghosts of French Indochina linger too – set aside some time to wander past the city's colonial-era landmarks, then settle into a coffee shop with a drip-brewed ca phi .

Planning tip: For a break from the city crush, swing out to nearby Tay Ninh, where the Cao Dai Holy See offers a fascinating introduction to the all-embracing Cao Dai religion.

5. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Best for unique experiences

Vietnam's biggest natural attraction – literally – is Hang Son Doong Cave, the largest cavern in the world by volume and a true wonder. An entire New York City block could fit inside its vast main passage, but this monster cavern is only accessible on expensive guided treks.

The good news is that  Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park  is pockmarked with caverns that you can clamber, crawl, boat or zipline through for a fraction of the cost. Trips to the Tu Lan, Phong Nha and Paradise caves are possible on a shoestring budget; more cash will buy access to Hang En, where trekkers set up tents on an underground beach, illuminated by shafts of natural light.

Best for history

A stay in harmonious Hoi An is a journey into Vietnam's lavish, layered past. This was once one of the most important ports in Asia, and traders from as far afield as Japan, Spain and North America filled the pockets of its merchants with gold. Locals used their money wisely, packing the Old Town with teetering shophouses, tea warehouses, fanciful covered bridges, elaborate Chinese guildhalls, and colorful Confucian and Buddhist pagodas. History is only the beginning – many travelers stay for days, learning to make white rose dumplings and summer rolls on chef-led cooking courses, and ordering made-to-measure suits and gowns from the city's modestly priced tailors' shops.

Planning tip: For a change of pace, head inland from Hoi An and spend a night in a friendly community homestay in the Co Tu minority village of Bho Hoong.

7. The Central Beaches

Best for sun-seekers

Sandy bays stud Vietnam's central coastline, but the mood varies widely from beach to beach. Package tourists flock to high-rise Danang  and Nha Trang – famed as military R&R stops during the American War – but we rate the calmer beaches along the coast, where a little of Vietnam's old seaside charm still endures. To the south of Nha Trang, Mui Ne is a lively kitesurfing hub following a string of sandy coves, while Doc Let Beach to the north serves up 18km (11 miles) of sand, surf and seafood. For a quieter experience, hit the coast between Hue and Danang – Thuan An is the gateway to a string of serene and sandy beaches flanking a lagoon-backed barrier island.

Best for imperial history

The former capital of the Nguyen dynasty – which ruled over large parts of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in the 19th and 20th centuries – drips with imperial history, despite the ravages of US bombers during the American War. Much was lost in Hue , but the grandeur of dynastic Vietnam lives on in the Citadel and Imperial Enclosure , housing the emperor's residence, temples, palaces and court. At one time, entering without permission would bring instant death. Just outside town are the tombs of Vietnam's greatest emperors, resting serenely in green compounds beside the Perfume River. Another relic of royal rule is Hue's imperial cuisine – arguably the finest in the country – try a spicy bowl of bun bo Hue (vermicelli noodle soup) or a crispy banh khoai pancake, and you'll see what we mean.

Planning tip: To stay one step ahead of the crowds at Hue's imperial tombs and rent a motorcycle or scooter to explore; don't miss the Thien Mu Pagoda on your way out of the city.

9. Ba Be National Park

Best for lake and forest scenery

Vietnam has more than 30 national parks , taking in everything from coastal swamps to mountain jungles, but some are firmly on the tourist trail, and the crowds can be an impediment to spotting wildlife. That's less of a problem in lovely Ba Be National Park , where trails weave between the limestone peaks to Hmong, Tay and Dzao villages, and boat and kayak trips cross serene lakes hemmed in by forested ridges, creating scenes worthy of a medieval woodcut. The park is a haven for everything from macaques and langur monkeys to rare black bears, scaly pangolins and the spectacular crested serpent eagle.

Planning tip: Comfy accommodation in village homes completes the sense of stepping off the mainstream tourist circuit. For an intimate homestay experience, check out the family-run guesthouses in Pac Ngoi village, accessible by bus from Hanoi, via the village of Cho Don.

10. Ha Giang

Best for mountain views

Trekking to the minority villages in the hills around Sapa  is one of Vietnam's top draws, but the country's trekking capital feels rather commercialized these days. Hikers have to walk further every year to find the rural idyll that first drew people to the northwest.

For scenic countryside without the company, remote Ha Giang  province is Vietnam's new frontier. Staying in simple village homestays, you can hike out to minority villages and rice terraces tucked between the soaring limestone peaks, and motor (or pedal) over some of Vietnam's most spectacular passes. You'll want to take plenty of photos on the winding mountain road between Ha Giang town, Dong Van and Meo Vac.

Planning tip: If you're confident in the saddle, motorcycles can easily be rented in Ha Giang town – just ride slowly and be ready for rainy conditions!

This article was first published Apr 13, 2021 and updated Feb 24, 2024.

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Home » Southeast Asia » Vietnam » Backpacking Guide

Backpacking Vietnam Travel Guide (BUDGET TIPS • 2024)

Backpacking Vietnam will ignite your senses in a way you have never experienced before. This unique country in the middle of Southeast Asia is unlike anywhere I have ever been before.

The colours, the lanterns and the smiley faces of Vietnam will forever be etched into my mind. Packed with rice-paddy fields, roaming buffalos and zooming motorbikes; there is so much to see and experience in this magical land. 

Not only delicious but also kind to the budget; Vietnam has some of the best and most fascinating street food in the world. From a simple, delicious Bahn Mi to fresh Bun cha. Prepare for your mind (and your taste buds) to be blown. 

Vietnam leapt into the 21st century so fast, that much of its countryside is still buffering to catch up – which I hope it never does. 

While you can spend weeks exploring Vietnam’s off-the-beaten-track jungles and villages, you can also encounter EPIC cities with bustling traffic and fast wifi. Vietnam has it all (and more!)

Vietnam is a big ol’ place with rich diversity in terms of its cities and towns; each offering something completely unique from the next. You’ll want to be as prepared as possible to make the most of your time backpacking Vietnam

That’s where I come in! I’ve compiled all of the wisdom I have gathered from my trips into this ULTIMATE backpacking Vietnam guide. From the best places to visit to the boring (but important) stuff like insurance, I’ve got you covered. 

Avast! Let’s get into the good stuff and stock you up with everything you need to know before backpacking Vietnam.

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Why Go Backpacking in Vietnam

Travelling Vietnam has many of the classic markers of backpacking Southeast Asia . It still presents all the gorgeous sights: rolling green highlands, steaming jungles, twinkling azure coastlines, and ancient delights. There’s still an element of debauchery waking up still drunk in a city you don’t know. However, there’s an unshakable element of maturity that Vietnam asks of you.

I think it’s partly that the horrific history of this country is still in your face. Some of the mountains are still pockmarked from the insane bombing they endured in the war of the 1960s and 1970s. It’s also partly because Vietnam was not a well-visited destination until the 1990s. Even today isn’t full of cookie-cutter tours to the same degree as its neighbouring countries.

It’s also incredibly cheap to travel here. Vietnamese cuisine is sublime, the cities offer a metropolis-meets-charming-chaos style of living and the mountains? The mountains are damn fine. This has made it quite a popular base for English teachers, digital nomads, and other veteran traveller ex-pats.

I found Vietnam to be a heady collision of worlds. One day you might be chilling in a Vietnamese village that hasn’t seen foreigners in forty years, and the next you’re kicking it with Vietnamese students who deal weed to the ex-pats next door.

This all leads to this feeling that this is Southeast Asia. Or this is what Southeast Asia could be if there was a little more responsible tourism. Vietnam is a world away for most backpackers – and it sticks with them as a highlight of their years vagabonding Southeast Asia.

Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking Vietnam

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Below we have put together the grand tour itinerary. This is great if you have over 3 weeks to backpack Vietnam, and best completed by motorbike or bus! If you only have 2 weeks, aim to complete the first  or second half of the itinerary.

Vietnam is generally split into two regions, the north and the south. Deciding on where to stay in Vietnam , and what the best area for you is, can be a pretty hard decision.

If you only have less than two weeks, you can focus on one region. Another popular way to backpack Vietnam is to combine a trip with a neighbouring country. For example, combining Southern Vietnam and Cambodia.

2-Week Travel Itinerary for Vietnam: The Quick Trip

This trip is best done over about two weeks. It lends itself to bus travel in between some of Vietnam’s most beautiful places . You can start at either end, but I will talk about it from north to south.

Flying into Hanoi will be an experience in itself. Hanoi is an epic blend of modern skyscrapers and streets full of mouthwatering foods. Be sure to check out the Temple of Literature while you’re there.

After spending a few days in Hanoi, pop down the coast to the old imperial capital of Hue . My love affair with Vietnamese food was truly consummated here. Yes, if I could bed with the bun bo hue, I would. From Hue, it’s not too far to another beautiful Vietnamese city – Hoi An.

Hoi An has a slow pace of living and it’s a good place to catch up on the first leg of your trip. You can stroll through the picturesque streets, and catch up on some market shopping.

The chill times continue in Da Lat . It’s well worth taking a motorbike trip through the mountains on the way here -it’s stunning! Finish up your trip in Ho Chi Minh City !

This trip has the best of Vietnam in one neat little 2-week package!

1-Month Travel Itinerary for Vietnam: The Grand Tour

This itinerary can be complete in either direction, but I will discuss it from North to South. Start your trip backpacking in Hanoi – Vietnam’s beautiful capital city. Make a side trip to the countryside of Sapa,  where you can ride your motorcycle through the hills and explore waterfalls. Then arrange a trip to  Halong Bay,  a highlight on any Vietnam trip.

Head south, stopping to stay in the town of Hue , before moving on to visit Hoi An , where you can get an affordable, good quality suit made. Then go to Nha Trang  to let loose, get a bit wild and have some fun on the water. A popular water sports area with the likes of windsurfing, paragliding and jet skiing on offer; there’s enough adrenaline here to keep even the most adventurous happy.

Head to Mui Ne and for a short stay in Da Lat , then on to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) , the starting point for most backpackers travelling Vietnam. Saigon is a crazy bustling city. You can also go explore the Mekong River, a paradise for wildlife.

As I mentioned earlier, backpacking Vietnam is a collision of worlds. Some cities feel like old-world Asia, others still retain strong French colonial influences, and others are straight-up party hubs. Vietnamese cities are still among my favourite in the world – the heady mix of skyscrapers and good internet with carts selling pig ears and Chinese medicine peddled throughout them.

There is so much to unpack and discover that I can give you my favourite places to go in Vietnam, but inevitably you’ll discover your own hidden gems.

Always, there is colour and the smell of pho.

Backpacking Hanoi

One of my favourite cities in all of Asia, Hanoi is a beautiful combination of Old meets Modern: a gateway to the incredible mountains and scenery to the North and the warm beaches and bustling cities to the south. Hanoi is worth spending at least a couple of days exploring, on foot, or by bicycle. You could end up joining the ranks of ex-pats that call Hanoi home.

In Hanoi, it is definitely worth visiting the War Museum,  easily spotted it has a great collection of weaponry marking the entrance. It costs just $3 to get in and it’s a good introduction to exploring Vietnam’s war-torn past. Oh and be sure to check out the Old Quarter . It’s here that the traffic looks most like schools of fish, and that the best bowls of noodles can be found.

As for my personal favourite places to visit in Hanoi ? Other than the street carts selling banh mi until the early hours of the morning, it’s got to be the Temple of Literature.

The Temple of Literature was founded in 1070. It was Vietnam’s first university where the rich and incredibly brainy attended. Even if you’re not into the history behind it, its handcrafted architecture is pretty breathtaking. If you aren’t templed out, definitely head over to the ‘old section’ of the city and stop by Bach Ma Temple aka the oldest temple in the city. If you only see one temple while backpacking through Hanoi , make it this one.

Hoan Kiem Lake,  also known as the ‘Lake of the Restored Sword’. The legend goes that once the Emperor defeated the Chinese from Hanoi, a giant golden turtle grabbed the sword and disappeared into the lake to restore it to its rightful owners. All traffic here is banned between 7 P.M. to midnight every Friday to Sunday turning this beautiful place into a meeting place for friends, giving it an almost funfair vibe. If you’re an early bird and like morning exercise, 6 am Thai Chi takes place every morning.

Hanoi is a popular place to buy and sell motorbikes from or to other backpackers. It functions as both an entry and exit point to this epic country. As such, there is a contagious and frenetic energy in the hostels. You bump shoulders with those that have got stuck and fallen in love with Vietnam and those who are moving on. What a place to trade travel tips over a pint!

Backpacking Sapa

An explorers paradise, you are likely to arrive here early in the morning. Check into one of the awesome hostels in Sapa , leave your bags here, and go in search of Motorbikes for hire ! It’s around $10 per day to hire a motorbike. The price of freedom is cheap here.

Getting lost on a Motorbike, exploring the beautiful countryside is just one of the many  adventurous things to do in Sapa . Drive to the beautiful Thac Bac Waterfall , around 15kms outside Sapa main town. A legend says if you look at the falls long enough, you will see a white dragon peering down into the valley below.

Get off the beaten track while backpacking Vietnam and take a day trip out of Sapa town and visit the incredible  Ban Pho Village.  One of the friendliest tribes in South East Asia, it stands out among others due to the Mongolian Ban Ha population here. Settled on a Mountainous cliffside these guys literally live life on the edge. Come and explore the culture, talk to the villagers and try not to get too drunk off the legendary corn wine they will insist you taste. Multiple times.

If motorbikes aren’t your thing, you can still make an awesome tour of Sapa Valley by bicycle. If you go with a company all of your food and extra transportation (not on a bicycle) is covered, but it is easy enough to organize yourself.

There are some truly awesome treks around Sapa and you could spend a few days (or a few lifetimes) here exploring. For the more adventurous, why not  conquer Vietnams highest peak , Fansipan. Not quite Everest but standing at 3,143m it’s pretty impressive; it is possible to do in a day but most will recommend at least 2 days. You can do this hike solo or with trekking companies in the area.

Backpacking Ha Giang

If you fancy heading off on some even more adventure-fuelled forays, consider treks around the area or better yet, motorbiking the Ha Giang Loop ! It’s one of the most under-appreciated areas in Vietnam and attracts far fewer Western tourists than Sapa.

Although it’s getting more and more popular every day, there are still some hidden gems here, like the remote lake of Na Hang . There’s plenty of ripe adventure material left to find travelling in this part of Vietnam.

When looking for accommodation in Ha Giang, be sure to check out our friends at Hmong Moonshine! They are great people (ask for Tuyen) and the property itself is very beautiful. You can also learn how to make local moonshine while staying here! Allegedly, this is where I was drunk under the table by a Vietnamese grandma… Turns out I can’t hold my moonshine as well as the locals – who knew!

Backpacking Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

This UNESCO world heritage site, often known as the Eighth Wonder of the world, is an unmissable stop whilst backpacking Vietnam. Almost everyone who visits Halong Bay does it as part of a pre-arranged package. I’m not normally one for taking the tour option but it is pretty impossible otherwise. The tour’s not too expensive and it was totally worth it.

We had a great time and were surrounded by some awesome people. It’s essential to prebook your trip and accommodation in Halong Bay ; we booked a two day, two-night tour from our stay at the Central Hanoi Backpackers Hostel.

Whilst exploring Halong Bay we stayed on a cool ‘ Junk Boat ‘ one night and in beach huts the other. Being part of a prepackaged tour meant all our food, transport and everything else was included, making it a hassle-free adventure.

Once the tour is over you can either stay on Cat Ba island and check out the rock climbing scene or head back to Hanoi for a night before travelling South.

Backpacking Hue

This is a beautiful small town offering a great break in the journey from Hanoi to Hoi An. One of Vietnams most royal cities, Hue is littered with impressive historic sights, delighting the inner nerd in us all!

There are also heaps of cool backpacker hostels in Hue with bouncing little traveller vibes. It is one of Vietnam’s sticky spots – it’s just so easy to get stuck exploring and chilling out here. There is a slower pace of life compared with some of the other cities in Vietnam.

Check out the impressive Citadel  on the other side of the perfume river. This impressive piece of history is made up of 4 separate citadels and will take a full day to explore. So you can hire a bike to get around!

There is a ton of things to do in Hue and you could easily spend weeks here. Check out the Thien Mu Pagoda ; standing at 21 metres high and decorated with mind-blowing architecture this pagoda is a pretty spectacular eyeful.  

If rest and relaxation are what you are after the beaches of Lang Co  and the mineral hot pools of Phong An are just a short distance away.

Backpacking Hoi An

Hoi An is THE place to get tailor-made clothes whilst backpacking Vietnam. There are loads of things to do but most backpackers visiting Hoi An come here to get a suit made.

Clothes tend to take at least 3 days to make so you want to get measured as soon as possible… So first stop? Find a tailor!

Check into Mad Monkey Hoi An – dorms start from $7 USD a night, and it has an awesome pool! Spend a few days exploring the local area by bicycle. (The hostel provides them for free.) It’s located close to the beach which is great on hot days, as you don’t have to go far!

Looking to get back into the city? Da Nang is a great day trip, only a 40-minute drive from Hue; the sandy beaches, caves and Buddhist shrines among many other activities make for the perfect day out. Or, if you’re short on cash then check out one of the great places to stay in Da Nang instead of staying in Hoi An itself.

Backpacking Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a perfect place to let loose, get a bit wild, and have some fun on the water. A popular water sports area with the likes of windsurfing, paragliding, and jet skiing on offer, there’s enough adrenaline here to keep even the most adventurous happy. No need to prebook; all can be arranged from the beach.

The best area to stay in Nha Trang is down the side alleys and not on the main road. It’s quieter, cheaper, and just more chill.

Something I found interesting about Nha Trang was its popularity with wealthy Russian tourists. I wasn’t expecting to eat mystery meat soup next to a large Slavic man with a shiny watch but hey, that’s travelling! Some of the bars popular with backpackers here can err on the side of dodgy , so keep your wits about you.

There are some great backpacker hostels in Nha Trang with awesome social vibes. The beaches are beautiful and there’s a pretty laid back vibe to backpacker life here.

There is a strange feeling that hovers over Nha Trang that I can’t quite put my finger on. It made me love it all the more, but still, there’s an oddity to it.

I think it’s got to do with the availability of cheap drugs and the associated changes to locals – and tourists who get hooked – that this brings. Rumours of Russian mafia activity abound and some of the hookers are pretty good pickpockets too. This all contrasts with a stunning, postcard-perfect exterior to create the ‘odd’ feeling.

Nha Trang is one of those interesting places that you’ll be glad you went to, but also, probably glad you left.

Backpacking Lak Lake

Recover from the heavy nights in Nha Trang and break up the journey to Dalat by venturing out to the tranquil and beautiful Lak Lake, the largest natural body of water in central Vietnam.

This region of Vietnam is home to the Mnong people . An ethnic group indigenous to Vietnam (with a small population in Cambodia too), the Mnong people, rather curiously, are renowned for designing one of the world’s oldest instruments: the lithophone .

Paddle out in a kayak at sunset and enjoy the still waters and beautiful scenery. You can also explore Jun Village : A Mnong settlement of wooden stilted houses. It’s a very beautiful place to go in Vietnam and a slight departure from the regular tourist trail.

Backpacking Mui Ne

From Nha Trang you can head to Mui Ne which is home to one of the best beaches in Vietnam . You can check out the awesome sand dunes or hire a motorbike from Easy Rider for roughly 30 dollars and ride up the mountain paths to Dalat.

There isn’t much other than the sand dunes, beaches, and a fairy stream in Mui Ne. Ostrich riding is totally a thing though, which sounds totally awesome but it’s really kind of fucked. I am going to please ask you to consider your actions when engaging with animal tourism .

That is to say, please don’t ride the ostriches. Bombing the sand dunes is plenty fun enough.

Backpacking Da Lat (Dalat)

There is not a whole lot to do in Da Lat, but the ride itself is very scenic. I managed to crash and hurt myself quite badly because the roads are difficult, and if you have limited riding experience I suggest you hire a driver and just go on the back of the bike.

Although it’s not as stacked with activities as a lot of other destinations in Vietnam, there are still awesome budget accommodations in Dalat for backpackers to stay at. It’s a nice place in Vietnam to stay and take a breather for a few days.

I liked slowing down and getting to know the quieter side of Vietnam while in Da Lat. I couchsurfed here and we barbequed octopus and played hopscotch with the kids until late in the night. It’s one of those little memories that didn’t feel special at the time but has stuck out as a wonderful memory as the years have gone on.

Backpacking Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

The starting point for most visitors to Vietnam, backpacking in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) is a crazy bustling experience. Expensive for us broke backpackers in comparison to the rest of the country, I recommend venturing into the ‘real’ Vietnam pronto.

Although there are plenty of cool things to do in Ho Chi Minh , many of the ‘must-see’ sights around are related to the terrors of the Vietnam War.

The War Remnants Museum is a haunting insight into the life of those fighting on the front line during the period of 1954 – 1975. It costs around $1 to enter.

Take a trip out of the city and tour the incredible network of Cu Chi Tunnels . Brave claustrophobia and crawl around the safer sections of the restored tunnels, popping (or squeezing) out at the other end. You can pre-book half-day tours of the tunnels through the Hide Out Hostel travel desk.

From Ho Chi Minh, it is easy to arrange a bus onwards to Phnom Penh in Cambodia. You get your Cambodian visa for a fee on the border.

Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta is often referred to as the ‘Rice Bowl’ of Vietnam (there are lovely rice paddies everywhere) this maze of rivers, swamps and islands are home to tiny villages floating on the banks of the Delta.

Paddle into the floating markets and pick up some cheap trinkets, you’ll find anything and everything. Unfortunately, the market is becoming increasingly popular and much of the trinkets being sold are aimed at those travelling Vietnam.

If you have a day to kill in the Mekong consider renting a vintage Vespa scooter and checking out the Delta countryside and local culture.

Moving past the ‘tourist’ trap section, the Mekong Delta is a paradise for local wildlife. The quiet and noise of nature is a refreshing change from the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh.

Trips to the Mekong can be as quick as half a day or a couple of days, depending on budget. However, I would recommend spending at least a day exploring the Mekong Delta. The best place to stay when exploring the Mekong Delta is Can Tho , just south of Ho Chi Minh

Getting Off the Beaten Path in Vietnam

Vietnam is certainly shooting up as a popular destination for both backpackers and holidayers. While you can stick to exploring the typical areas of Vietnam that most people visit, there is so much more to discover once you get off the tourist trail.

The Ha-Giang Loop (which I’ve already mentioned) is one such choice. It’s not one of Vietnam’s completely hidden gems anymore, however, it’s still far from touristic. Even attempting the Ha-Giang Loop by motorbike is going to give a feeling of real adventure material while simultaneously bringing you into closer contact with local communities.

As an extension of that, travelling Vietnam by motorbike (while definitely a common activity for tourists) brings even more potential for exploring the unseen sides of the country. The good thing about having your own wheels is that you can go anywhere! No village is too far off the beaten track.

I’m also going to throw the suggestion of the Ta Xua mountain range at you. Close to Moc Chau village (another underexplored locale), the Ta Xua mountains give the feeling of walking above the heavens themself. Mountain trails wind the ranges over oceans of rolling cloud formations – sunrise is a real treat.

And lastly, if you’re packing for a beach day but prefer the feeling of lost isolation, Vietnam has heaps of lesser-known beaches to explore too! Just heading north up the coast from Nha Trang is going to land you in some dope spots like Quy Nhon . If you’re still keen to branch out from there, just rent a bike and start looking!

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Vietnam is loaded with cool activities – both for lovers of tourist affairs and for lovers of the road less travelled. Here’s my top pick of the coolest things to do in Vietnam!

1. Cruise Halong Bay

No journey to Vietnam is complete without a trip to check out Ha Long Bay. Admire the breathtaking scenery of mountainous limestone rocks while cruising Halong Bay. When the humidity hits take a leap off the side and into the tranquil water below and splash around till your heart’s content.

2. Squeeze into the Cu Chi Tunnels

See how the Vietnamese used underground tactics during the Vietnam War. Squeeze yourself into the tiny tunnels, overcoming claustrophobia as you try to experience what the Vietnamese Soldiers once did back in 1954.

3. Trekking in Sapa

Leave the hustle and bustle behind and check into some of the most beautiful mountainous landscapes in Asia. Home to Vietnam’s highest peak Fansipan, Sapa is a dream to trek, and standing at 3,143m it’s pretty impressive. If this is a bit too adventurous, enjoy the day walks or simply kick back and take in the beautiful views.

4. Suit up in Hoi An

Thailand has Elephant Pants and Vietnam has incredible Silk Suits. Watch the talented tailors at work in Hoi An and get your own creation made cheaply, beautifully, and in just a few hours!

5. Motor Bike across the Country

This is a fantastic way to see the countryside. Of course, more information is coming about exploring on 2 wheels in the motorbike travel section below.

6. Water Puppet Show

Originating as far back as the 11th Century from the villages of the Red River Delta in Northern Vietnam, Water Puppet Shows are incredible. Lasting from as little as 5 minutes to hours, these are shows that you have to check out when travelling in Vietnam.

7. Bar Hop Ba Hoi

Friendly bars with cheap beer, laid back feels and even more friendly locals. Often located up sketchy looking side streets, these little bars are a great place for a laugh and cheap beer.

8. Street Food

For as little as $1 for a great meal, you really have no excuse not to try some of the local delicacies. We’re talking the classic Banh Mi and fetal duck eggs. There’s turtle soup, pho, and beef in every way you can imagine. This country is simply spoiled with the finest food in Southeast Asia.

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These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Vietnam has some of the cheapest accommodation in Southeast Asia . You can find a dorm bed for as little as $3 USD a night or a private room with a fan for $7 USD .

The hostel scene is pretty awesome. It’s super diverse with party hostel, co-working spaces, and grungy, old school hostels all in the mix.

You can expect to meet some interesting characters while staying in a hostel . This is where you can trade travel stories and pick up tips about where to go next. If hostels don’t sound like your thing – or maybe you just want to indulge in a double bed for a special occasion – Vietnam also has a range of great Airbnbs.

You can stay in whole apartments for less than $50 a night. When that one guy at the hostel has told you the story about how he almost became an international drug smuggler but then he remembered about his ethics so he just dodged taxes instead, an Airbnb can seem more appealing for a night. And even luxury Airbnbs in Vietnam is not out of the question for a solo backpacker in Vietnam looking to splurge for one night.

In between swanky Airbnbs and party hostels are a bunch of great guesthouses and homestays. Many of these aren’t listed online but are well known via word of mouth.

Wherever you choose to stay in Vietnam, it’s not going to be expensive – but it will be a great time!

The Best Places to Stay in Vietnam

Travelling in Vietnam can be cheap without you really having to think about it. I spent around 20 dollars a day in Vietnam, sometimes a little more when splurging on a day trip or imported beer. You could very easily travel on less than 10 dollars a day, while still enjoying yourself.

As I’ve (hopefully) made clear in this guide, I LOVE Vietnamese food! Mostly that’s because it’s so damn delicious, but partly it’s because it’s so cheap. If you spend $3 on a meal in Vietnam, you’re going to be full to the brim and overdosing on tastiness.

A l ocal beer costs around 80 cents , although imported beers are still expensive. Going out for a night to see some music or have drinks in a bar can be done for less than $10! (And that’s drinking A LOT!)

Local transport is very cheap; though an airconditioned bus ride will be around $15 . Generally speaking, the further from the city centres that you get, the cheaper life becomes.

A Daily Budget in Vietnam

Money in vietnam.

Ever wanted to throw cash in the air and feel like a millionaire? Well, the Vietnamese Dong allows every broke backpacker travelling in Vietnam the opportunity to feel rich. Find out how much your money is worth today by using the up-to-date converter below.

Plus the name is Dong… Which, when enjoying multiple dirt-cheap beers, is consistently amusing.

Don’t try to obtain Vietnamese currency before entering the country, it’s pretty much impossible. If you managed to snag some, you’ve probably had a pretty bad exchange rate. Take US dollars into Vietnam, you’ll find many shops and services accept US dollars.

Credit and Debit cards are widely accepted in the more built-up areas such as Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi but many of these, charge pretty insane withdrawal fees so it’s advisable to avoid small ATM transactions and get out a bunch of cash at once – just make sure you hide it well.

For all matters of finance and accounting on the road, The Broke Backpacker strongly recommends Wise – The Artist Formerly Known as Transferwise! Our favourite online platform for holding funds, transferring money, and even paying for goods, Wise is a 100% FREE platform with considerably lower fees than Paypal or traditional banks. But the real question is… is it better than Western Union? Yes, it most certainly is.

Travel Tips – Vietnam on a Budget

Vietnam is one of the cheapest destinations in Asia. However, it is still possible to go a little out of control, especially when the currency makes you feel like a millionaire. Standard budget backpacking tips aside, here are my top tips to keep it for backpacking Vietnam on a budget…

• Camp : Vietnam has some incredible countryside and coastline, views that shouldn’t be wasted by sleeping inside. Camping is most popular within the National Parks up and down Vietnam. Pack up your best backpacking gear and take adventures outdoor.
• Take the Bus : The national bus service or ‘the chicken bus’ has great links throughout Vietnam, even into some of the more remote areas. For as little as $1 a ticket, I’d happily sit next to a chicken for a few hours.
• Eat Street Food : Seriously, the food here is so cheap – and so declicious – you might as well indulge! Cooking for yourself probably won’t end up saving you much when you can get a meal on the street for $2 USD. Plus, you can’t make pho like the grandma up the road can!
• Understand the Money : If, like me, you don’t have a great mathematical brain, use a currency app to help you understand how much you are spending. Knowing the value of the currency will help you avoid being ripped off or spending too much without realising.
• Couchsurf: To connect with the locals, try meeting people with Couchsurfing. You’ll get a free place to stay, and you’ll probably make a friend!
• Keep it Local : Where possible drink the local beer, eat the local delicacies, and for day trips, try to use local companies. By using local companies you can haggle a bargain price that larger, international tour operators won’t offer. Plus supporting local businesses thrive is awesome!
• Hitchhike:  I didn’t hitchhike whilst backpacking Vietnam but I have a couple of amigos who have hitched the whole length of the country, no worries. Getting around by hitchhiking is a great way to travel for free, meet local people, and kick plans to the kerb!
• Budget-friendly Tours: If you do happen to go on any guided tours, at least make it a tour where you can pay it off in instalments. Global Work and Travel have the broke backpacker in mind with this one. You can even choose the amount per instalment! There are loads of Vietnam tour options to tickle your fancy.

Why Should You Travel to Vietnam with a Water Bottle?

Whilst there’s a lot that we can do when it comes to travelling responsibly , reducing your plastic consumption is one of the easiest and most impactful things you can do. Don’t buy one-use water bottles, don’t take plastic shopping bags, and forget straws. All of this just ends up in landfills or in the ocean.

There’s nothing worse than showing up to a picture-perfect beach, only to discover plastic bottles littering the sand. One way to get around this is by investing in a premium filtered travel bottle like the Grayl Geopress. You can filter any kind of water, save money on buying endless plastic bottles – and sleep easy knowing you’re not contributing to the plastic bottles lining our beautiful beaches.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Vietnam is a country with multiple weather patterns ranging from monsoon rains, cold snaps, and hot, humid sunny days. It can be hard to catch the whole country at a consistent time of year. But no fret, it is possible!

If you are planning to backpack Vietnam from top to bottom, the best time of year generally is September – December (Autumn) and March – April (Spring). These times of the year are your best weather window, where you might be lucky enough to see the whole country in sun!

Looking for specifics? Let me break down by regions, the best time of year for backpacking Vietnam:

• North Vietnam : October to May will give you dry weather the majority of months. Expect some colder temperatures in the mountains and from March onwards, a little more rain as it gets more humid.
• Central Vietnam : February to July is the best time of year to avoid heavy rain. Temperatures will hit the upper 30s in June to August.
• Southern Vietnam : December to April is the ‘dry’ season. Temperatures will rarely fall below 20 degrees and will reach up to 40 degrees come March/April.

What to Pack for Vietnam

Make sure you get your packing for Vietnam right! On every adventure, there are 6 things I never go travelling without:

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

With these essentials, I still make sure to do a rundown of my full  backpacking packing list .

Vietnam is extremely safe for travel. Violent crime is almost nonexistent in Vietnam. Petty crime and pickpocketing can be an issue in the cities however, so just watch your valuables or leave them locked at your hostel. Where backpackers need to be careful is riding a motorcycle.

Vietnam’s cities are hectic, and the countryside has windy roads and animals roaming around. Even though road tripping with a motorcycle is a huge part of Vietnam tourism, I don’t recommend this for beginners.

Dense cities and tourist attractions are still questionable (as they usually are). Vietnam isn’t rife with petty crime, but keep an eye on your valuables.

Past that, Vietnam is pretty standard ‘travel in Southeast Asia’ stuff, and even by that metric, it’s very chill. Stick to the standard advice for safe travel and you’ll be fine.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in Vietnam

The penalties for drugs are really harsh in Vietnam, like other neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia. Weed is the most commonly used drug throughout Vietnam, but you will get into a bunch of trouble for having it if you’re caught.

Let’s be realistic though, you’re probably going to try drugs on the road. In Vietnam, there are definitely underground scenes amongst locals – especially students – so having local friends helps when looking for a joint.

I’d advise against travelling even between cities with anything considered illegal. Once you arrive in a new city, ask around from there.

As for sex? Well you’re a backpacker, aren’t you? 😉 Of course, there will likely be a one night stand in your backpacker travels – whether you bone down in a hostel or have a sensuous encounter with a particularly beautiful local.

Through it all, you gotta be a good person. Free love is about love as much as it is about sex, y’know?

Also, I’d be remiss not to mention ‘sex tourism’. Everything is cheap in Asia, including the services of sex workers. This has led to an industry in Southeast Asia that can be very ethically murky. Regardless of your opinion on sex working in general – and whether or not you engage with sex working services – there is no reason for you to not have respect for another human being.

There are enough people in this world with bad intentions and rotten hearts – there’s no need to add your name to that list. But you know that.

Travel Insurance for Vietnam

Right, now let me be the first to admit that my travels sometimes involve some sketchy activities! But rather than ignore my wild side, I just insure in with World Nomads! That way, I can still have my adventures while knowing if shit hits the fan – I’m covered by insurance.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most accessible countries. Whether you are travelling the Southeast Asia loop and entering by land, coming down from China, or flying directly there, border crossings are relatively straight forward and the days of the tricky Vietnamese visa are now over.

There are long-distance bus/train services that you can use to get all the way from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, train it from Europe all the way to Vietnam…

For those backpacking Vietnam without the luxury of time, the best way in is to catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. There are flights with the likes of Emirates (via Dubai), Air China (via Guangzhou), and many more Airlines.

I’ve found Vietnam Airlines tend to have the best deals for flying direct to Ho Chi Minh City. Most flights will land in Ho Chi Minh but you can fly to other parts of the country.

You can enter Vietnam by motorbike easily and you can easily travel from Cambodia across the border to Vietnam using local buses. Or, if you fancy travelling in style, there are VIP bus services available for flash-packers.

Entry Requirements for Vietnam

Most countries require a visa to enter Vietnam, however, there is a shortlist of countries that are exempt for short stays. Past that, you’ll need to organise a Vietnam e-visa for a 30-day stay.

Thankfully e-visas are relatively straightforward to organise before you travel to Vietnam. If you don’t want to organise it yourself, there are many companies out there who can help you apply.

And if the 30 days in Vietnam just feels too short, no worries! You can extend once you’re there.

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Comfortable long-distance transport and constantly improving road quality make travelling in Vietnam pretty smooth. Vietnam has a great coastal train line that extends up to the Chinese border making travelling onwards to China a snap! It’s a great way to travel across Vietnam on a time limit.

Most backpackers choose to explore Vietnam via bus network. Buses in Vietnam are cheap, plenty are hop-on/hop-off style tickets, and they have ever-increasing presence of Air Con. Basically, they are a broke backpackers dream.

A great way to get from one end of the country to the other fast and scenically. Vietnam Railways operates a single track train network running from Ho Chi Minh city all the way to the Chinese border with beautiful views of the countryside and coast. Slightly slow in places as much of the train line dates back to the colonial period – but that’s just part of the charm, right?

Ensure you book your tickets in advance. Hard sleeper class offers the best value. Be aware that if you buy a through ticket you cannot break up the journey along the way, you will need separate tickets for this. Hop on the Reunification Express for a breathtaking journey.

I did not travel via domestic flight within Vietnam. However, if you are on a time limit, a 2hr flight from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi is a lot more favourable than 30hrs + it can take on the train. Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier, and Jetstar both offer cheap and backpacker-friendly flights  to many destinations within Vietnam.

Rather than just rocking up at the station in the hope they will have space to fit you on, you can now book tickets in advance for most of Southeast Asia using Bookaway .

Travelling by Motorbike in Vietnam

To kick your backpacking adventure into the next gear, get a motorbike. Travelling by motorbike across Vietnam is often more cost-effective than paying for multiple train/bus tickets.

It gives you the freedom to really explore, get off the highway and go in search of raw adventure… Plus you look cool and you don’t have to deal with the drunken Aussie lads on the bus attempting to rope you into a game of ‘drink the beer’.

I picked myself up a Honda Win Manual Motorbike second hand from one of the many backpackers selling their bikes in Ho Chi Minh. I paid around $300  and, for the few weeks I had it, only some minor repairs were needed.

Before travelling to Vietnam,  I had never actually ridden a motorbike before and I was, in truth, a little intimidated. Luckily, riding a motorbike is a lot easier than it looks and after about an hour of (somewhat, hilarious) practice, I was good to go.

I had this expectation that the roads in Vietnam were going to be dangerous dirt tracks. But for the most part, they are fairly decent besides a few potholes. The biggest threat to you on the road is your own lack of attention, other drivers and animals/people. Make sure your travel insurance  covers you for riding a motorbike in Vietnam.

Unfortunately, accidents among travellers are common; I came off my motorbike myself in Dalat and got away with just cuts and bruises… The bike flipped and hit me in the back of the head, and my helmet almost certainly saved my life – always wear a helmet .

I’d also consider bringing a dedicated tent for your motorbike if you want to save money on accommodation. I usually rocked up to a restaurant for dinner & politely asked if I could set up there for the night. They always said yes and never charged me a dime.

Onwards Travel From Vietnam

Vietnam is well placed for onward overland travel to Cambodia , Laos, and China which all border Vietnam. You can bus, motorbike, or hitchhike in a truck full of onions over any of these borders. There are also cheap flights to Thailand, Malaysia, and beyond if you want to carry the Southeast Asia party on that a-ways!

If your travel funds are running low, it’s well worth considering a flight Down Under to the famously high minimum wage of Australia! Or, if you want to chill out in some colder climates, why not try backpacking in New Zealand ?

The long and the short of it is, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to onwards travel from Vietnam!

• Backpacking China
• Backpacking Malaysia
• Backpacking Laos
• Backpacking Thailand

Yes, yes, 1000 times, yes! I have no short number of long-term travelling friends that do a stint working a backpacker job in Vietnam to build up their cash supplies.

You will need a work permit to work in Vietnam though. A work permit/visa is valid for up to 2 years (non-renewable) and the pressure of the paperwork is off because the responsibility is on your employer! You’ll need to be sponsored by your prospective employer who will then be responsible for the organisation of your working permit.

Vietnam is also an up and coming digital nomad hotspot. It’s got fast internet, a good ex-pat science, and it is ridiculously cheap. There are not many other places in the world where you can get lunch for 2 dollars, and a beer for 80 cents while working with lightning-fast internet.

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

Teaching English in Vietnam

Teaching English in Vietnam is one of the most popular forms of work for foreigners in the country. With the right qualifications (i.e. a TEFL certificate ), you’ll find a lot of doors opening to you with some decent wages too (relative to the standards of Asia).

TEFL courses open up a huge range of opportunities and you can find teaching work all over the world with one!  Broke Backpacker readers get a 50% discount on TEFL courses through MyTEFL (using the code PACK50).

You’ll need a prospective employer to sponsor you (and to go on a contract too). However, then an expat lifestyle in Vietnam awaits! There are heaps of schools around Vietnam that are always looking for fluent English speakers willing to teach. There are even heaps of adults wanting to learn.

A lot of people end up working in the major cities (like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh) simply for the amount of work available and modern lifestyle. Of course, as I always tell people looking to teach English abroad , getting out of the urban jungles and into the villages and rural areas is going to offer a much more authentic and wholesome experience.

Volunteering in Vietnam

Volunteering abroad is an amazing way to experience a culture whilst helping your host community. There are plenty of different volunteer projects in Vietnam including teaching, construction, agriculture, and pretty much anything.

If the regular ol’ day job isn’t beckoning however, volunteering in Vietnam is a spectacular backup choice! You’ll lower your travel costs, connect with local communities, and give back all your best vibes and smiles while you’re at it! Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers and Workaway still have their flaws but they’re a great way to get your foot in the door of the volunteering community.

Although only surpassed only by Indonesia as Southeast Asia’s most heavily populated country, Vietnam is the region’s most ethnically homogenous country with the Vietnamese making up about 85% of the population. Most of the remaining population in Vietnam is made up of a variety of minority ethnic groups and peoples with their own customs and traditions.

Being a communist country, Vietnam has no state religion and atheism is encouraged. In truth, the majority of the Vietnamese people either identify with folk traditions or are just straight atheistic. Buddhism and Catholocism are the other two big religions in the country. Across all beliefs, the family and ancestor worship remain pillar belief concepts.

Once you get to know a Vietnamese person, I can guarantee you that you won’t stop laughing. There’s a lot of banter and a kind of humour that’s a second cousin of sarcasm. I don’t know quite how to describe it, but there’s a lot of pointing out the randomness of life and having a good laugh about it.

You don’t want to start a friendship with a Vietnamese person with too much banter; you still have to respect that people do not want to lose face. But once you’re out of a formal situation – and after some rice wine has been consumed – then you can unleash the sarcasm!

I think this makes sense for a country that had a brutal civil war and then still has to navigate communist “niceties”.

When my Vietnamese friend and I went on a bit of a street food bonanza, we joked a lot about things that only made sense in Vietnam – like the couple wearing matching pyjamas while dining at a fancy coffee shop. Also, she found it far too funny that people would stop to take selfies with me because I had blue eyes. Obviously, she had to start calling me “Miss America” despite the fact that I am Australian…

Useful Travel Phrases for Vietnam

Below I have listed helpful travel phrases for Vietnam. It always pays to learn a new language as you travel to be able to communicate with the locals. At the very least, try!

On my first days in Vietnam, the only word I could remember was sorry – sin loi . This was lucky, as it’s something I found myself saying a lot as I tried to navigate the dense city of Ho Chi Minh.

Thankfuly, the Vietnamese people are some of the most gracious and good-humoured people on the planet. Nobody cared that I was in the way, although it was pretty funny to hear a little, white foreigner saying sorry over and over!

• Hello – Xin Chao
• Goodbye – Tam biet
• Thank You – Cám on Ban
• No Problem – Khong Van De Gi
• I like to Eat – Toi Muon An
• What is this? – cái si te nài?
• I am Sorry – Toi Sin Loi
• No plastic bag – Không có túi nh?a
• No straw please – Không có r?m, xin vui lòng
• No plastic cutlery please – Không có dao nh?a xin vui lòng
• I’m Hungry – Tôi Doi
• What is your name? – Tên cua ban là si
• I don’t understand  – Toi khong hieu

What to Eat in Vietnam

Vietnamese food is popular all around the world! I would be gobsmacked if you have yet to try rice paper rolls or noodle soup.

The Vietnamese know how to cook something mouthwatering out of thin air. As well as tasting absolutely wonderful, Vietnamese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world. Prepared with fresh ingredients, vegetables, herbs, and either rice or noodles, each dish is different but delicious!

And I will begrudgingly pay the  French  a complimen: they know how to cook some damn fine food. So, if you can imagine salivating snacks a la Vietnam with just a hint of French influence left over from the colonial days.

Yes, the food is the best reason to backpack Vietnam!

I remember sitting in a sliver of an alleyway deep within the bowels of the old imperial capital of Hue. I was sweating my sweet tushy off and thought the best way to combat sweat is with sweat, so I proceeded to order the most memorable meal I had in Southeast Asia.  Bun Bo Hue .

I don’t believe in God, and neither do most Vietnamese people, but how do you explain such divine flavours?

While in Vietnam, I would suggest eating out at every opportunity. It’s cheap and delicious. You’ll understand, first hand, why McDonalds has never caught on in Vietnam.

Popular Vietnamese Dishes

• Buncha – One of my favourites! This is basically a Pork Meatball Noodle Salad. Yum!
• Goi Cuon –  The famous Vietnamese “Summer Rolls” are a perfect light bite. Normally filled with shrimp and/or pork, herbs and vegetables. They are wrapped in rice paper and served with Peanut dipping sauce.
• Pho – Basically noodle soup. There are many varieties of Pho, perfect for those slightly unsure about Vietnamese food.
• Banh Mi Thit – Or in other words, the best sandwich in Asia! Basically, a well-sized baguette stuffed with yummy treats such as ham, cheese, fish, vegetables etc.

Brief History of Vietnam

People have been living in Vietnam for thousands of years. It was one of the first places in the world where rice was cultivated! There were several dynasties that ruled over a unified Vietnam – although alongside this dynasty were many other indigenous groups who never fully assimilated into any dynasty.

The Chinese often invaded and were periodically rulers of Vietnam. The Mongols did invade as well but were driven back. When the French showed up in the 19th century though, a unified Vietnam was not willing to be a colony of yet another foreign power.

When France was losing in WWII, Japan took advantage and occupied French Indo-China. The Vietnamese Communists or Viet Minh fought the Japanese and by 1945 they controlled parts of North Vietnam. Viet Minh took control of most of Vietnam and declared Vietnam independent by 1945, but France ignored this. With no intention to give up power, fighting broke out between them and the Viet Minh.

After a siege lasting 57 days, the French were forced to surrender.

In North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh introduced a Communist regime while in the south Ngo Dinh Diem became ruler. Gradually, the USA became involved in the Vietnam War during the Cold War. First, they were sending military advisers to South Vietnam. Financially, they supported the French and later the South Vietnamese government.

Then in 1964 two US ships were supposedly subject to ‘unprovoked’ attacks by the North Vietnamese. The Americans then bombed the north and Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution allowing the president to take ‘all necessary measures’ to prevent ‘further aggression’.

As a result by December 1965, there were 183,000 US soldiers in Vietnam and by the end of 1967, there were nearly half a million. However, the Vietcong continued their guerrilla war.

Americans withdrew from Vietnam in 1973, but the South Vietnamese continued to fight the Vietcong alone until 1975 until the North Vietnamese captured Saigon. Vietnam was reunited under Communist rule.

Every first time backpacker to Vietnam has a few questions that they are dying to know! Luckily, we’ve got you covered…

Is Vietnam safe for backpacking?

Yes, Vietnam is SUPER safe for backpackers. Petty theft is a fairly small risk and violent crime against tourists is very low. However, the roads can be quite dangerous – especially if you aren’t used to driving in heavy, chaotic traffic.

Where should I go backpacking in Vietnam?

There is a fairly defined tourist trail along the Ho Chi Minh highway that winds its way from north to south. This is not to say that it’s not worth checking out! The cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are along this route, as are the old capital of Hue and the city of lights AKA Hoi An. Off the beaten path destinations in Vietnam include along the Laos border and the very northern border with China. You can pretty much pick anywhere in Vietnam and be sure that it will be a good time!

What is considered rude in Vietnam?

Both men and women should dress conservatively when visiting Vietnam and be extra respectful toward elders. Don’t beckon with your palm facing up (as this is how you would beckon a dog) and generally keep a respectful tone. Obviously, tourists do have a little leeway but it pays to be respectful as a guest of this country.

Is Vietnam expensive?

Noo. Noooooooo, nope. Not in the slightest. I mean, you could spend hundreds of dollars per day living like a royal, but why would you bother? For 10 dollars a day you can have a good hostel bed, eat out at every meal, and even enjoy a cold beer at the end of it.

What is the highlight of backpacking in Vietnam?

For me, the highlight was seeing the modern world meet the old world. In many ways Vietnam is as advanced as cities in the west – the wifi is better than in Australia, for example. There are high rises, public transport, and hipster cafes. And then there is still the Vietnam of rice paddies, buffalo carts, and wet markets. It’s such a juicy, fascinating mix of cultures that simply never gets boring!

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Be good to Vietnam.

Writing your name in black marker on temples, chugging beer in Saigon while shirtless, swearing loudly, and visiting unethical animal attractions? You, Sir, are a twat. Luckily, most backpackers don’t fall into this category but, when you’re out and about and have had a few too many drinks, it can be easy to embarrass yourself.

By no means am I telling you not to drink, smoke, or party. Do it and enjoy it. Just don’t get so drunk you turn into an imbecile your mum would be ashamed of .

Go to Vietnam and have the time of your life, but be respectful along the way. There are mountains to hike, cities to explore, and some delicious bun bo hue to try along the way. You are sure to experience a very special slice of the world when you travel to Vietnam.

When we travel, we make choices that not only impact ourselves but the local communities around us and the travellers that come after us. When we are privileged enough to experience a country like Vietnam, it’s up to us to make sure it stays special for those that come after us.

Vietnam has had it rough over the years. Just be good to it, is all.

Now all that’s left is for you to book your ticket and get trying that banh mi!

• Best festivals in Vietnam
• Best backpack for travel
• Hanoi VS Ho Chi Minh
• Best hostels in the world!

Updated November 2021 by Indigo Atkinson .

Will Hatton

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60 Comments

Thanks for all the info, really loved it 🙂 I am travelling alone around Asia during 3-4 weeks. I am trying to decide between Vietnam or Indonesia. I am looking for nature a bit of beach and a destinations where its easy to meet people (but not too touristic). From your posts both seem great options! Any recommendation?

Hi Paula, I would suggest Northern Vietnam, Thailand and maybe one other destination. Indonesia is certainly an amazing country but you would be able to experience a number of different countries on one trip is you choose the first route.

I worked in Hanoi for a short time in 1996, and thought it was an amazing country. Have always meant to go back, but it is now 2020 and that hasn’t happened yet. Would love to see the rest of the country and backpacking might be the way to do. The guide is much appreciated! Many thanks 🙂

What a nice post. Vietnam is definately a must visit place in South-East Asia. We have everything from beautiful landscape, friendly people, amazing nature and delicious food,… Thank you very much for visiting our country and sharing your experiences to travel community. I love to read your amazing blog. Wish you all the best and keep doing a good job!

Hi! I was wondering if any vaccinations/medicines are necessary or recommended to enter Vietnam and its surrounding countries. I’ve heard advice to get Malaria pills but wasn’t sure if it’s absolutely necessary. Thank you in advance!

We recommend Hep A, Typhoid, and Tetanus vaccinations. Malaria pills are always good to have on hand in tropical areas. The CDC is a good resource for specific information by region. Happy adventuring!

Thank you so so much! This was put together so very well ! And it sounds like a practical and realistic itinerary for people on a budget ! Thank you so much 🙂

Thanks for dropping by! Hope your time in Vietnam is a good one 🙂

The best time to visit Vietnam: – The North: From November to March is great if you like cold air, very typical surroundings, but the weather may be rainy, and the remaining months are quite good weather – Central region: From April to November, sunny weather is very good, the rest is even rainy and cold. – Southern: All months

During my own trip to Vietnam last year I used this page as a reference. I ended up using Vietjet airways (not listed on this page) and had no problem finding a cheap flight. The central downtown Backpackers Hostel was spot on, and made for a great launching point into the rest of the country. My only additional recommendation in Hanoi is touring the Ho Chi Mihn museum, the glowing dead body of the fearless leader is crazy to see.

-be sure to cover all visible tattoos while visiting religious sites, as well as cover shoulders and legs to the knees -do not give money to children on the street, many are forced to beg and the more money given by tourist encourage them to not attend school

Hoi An, Danang will be great if you go there, sure you will have a great time. i love hoi an

Hey Will, I understand that you recommend traveling by motorbike. I’m planning on traveling to Vietnam for about 4 weeks “alone” (I’m hoping I’ll meet someone one the way) next year. Honestly, to me it sounds a bit scary to motorbike everywhere. I have never done it and afraid I won’t manage it. So my question is, do you think I would get a lesser experience by not renting a motorbike? Thanks

Having a motorbike in Vietnam is hands-down the best way to experience the country. It is not only one of the cheapest ways to get around but also gives you the most freedom. I’ve found some pretty amazing places in Vietnam that were only accessible by bike.

BUT you must be experienced with a bike before traveling to Vietnam. The roads can be super intimidating, thanks to all of the crazy drivers and speeding trucks, and being sheepish at all could result in disaster. I highly recommend that you practice on a bike before heading for the country – specifically, a semi-auto – and to know what you’re doing.

Hope that helps.

Best time to visit Northern Vietnam (Ha Noi, Ninh Binh, Phong Nha, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang) is from Mar to Sep. It’s sunny and hot season. So boring if you visit these places in winter, rain all day, sometimes have storm >_<

Southern Vietnam like Hochiminh, Mekongdelta, Phuquoc island …, you can visit anytime. It's warm, hot, sometimes rain 1h or 2h. From here, it's easy to go to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand by flight or bus or boat.

Thanks for your suggestions. We have finally made a plan of 15 days. Saigon(2n)- Mui Ne (half day) – Da Lat(2n)-Hoi An(2n)-Danag(1n)- Hue(half day) -Phong Nha(2n)- Ninh Binh(1day) – Halong Bay(1 and half day) – Hanoi (2n). We have eliminated Sapa trek because we have just completed himalayan range trek. Though it’ll be a speedy one but no way out. Wish to have a good time.

Wow, what a wonderful write up for someone who is planning to head for Vietnam for the 1st time. Would you please tell me if 12 days are enough to cover all of them? another thing is how much does is cost for Ha Long Bay cruise?

Waiting for your reply.

It’s not possible to do this whole itinerary in 12 days and I don’t recommend trying – it’ll be too rushed. For Halong Bay, there are many different packages and it partly depends on your haggling abilities but bank on somewhere between $100 – $200.

When you take a break and go to a new place, where everything is simply amazing and great to look at, then Vietnam is the place for you. I got Hanoi transfer service from Hanoi Travel Bus. It helps you from the airport to your lodging.

I have been to Vietnam so many times and I absolutely love it!

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to write this. I have traveled Asia plenty of times before and I am just researching an upcoming trip to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The information you have provided here is so detailed and by far the most useful I have found. I’m pretty ‘laissez faire’ when it comes to travelling but in the past a lack of planning has seen me in a sticky situation. This makes me feel just prepared enough to arrive without a plan. Thanks and keep it up!

Thanks for your kind words, I’m glad you enjoyed the blog! 🙂

Hi everyone,

I just accidentally visit this blog, I’m a Vietnamese. I have some tricks to travel VietNam with cheapest price. I’ve just travelled across VietNam with 5,000,000 VND ~~ 250 USD with my motorbike. (around 4800km ~2900 miles in 9 days) Here is my tips: + Live in small hotel (hostel, in VietNamese => “Nhà Ngh?”) -> it cost from 5$ ->10$ per night 🙂 + There’s almost beautiful places in Northwest of VietNam, it called “Tay Bac”, it includes some provinces: – Ha Giang (you should visit Ma Pi Leng pass – small himalaya mountain range :)) – Lao Cai (SaPa is good) – Lai Chau(O Quy Ho pass (~40km)) – Dien Bien (many historical places) There also many places that I can’t list here.

If you interest in travel or something you can ask. Please contact [email protected] It’s my hobby, not work, so there no charge or fee. 🙂

Thanks for read my comments 🙂 Tan Pham

Have been struggling over multiple travel blogs to know more about Vietnam. This article has literally answered all my questions . Thanks Will, this is really great . We are a group of 4-5 girls, heading for Vietnam in December , just a quick question, how’s the safety for female travelers there ? Thanks again! 🙂

Have an awesome time – safety in Vietnam for ladies is really pretty good if you follow normal precautions of not being alone at night in the street etc.

Awesome blog WILL!!! This is informative & especially relevant for a traveler on budget. Thank you so much.

Thank you for a very detailed information. This blog is really suitable for one who wants to go and visit Vietnam. Hope that you will provide us the more interesting articles about this beautiful country. looking forward reading your others blog <3

Hey Will, thanks a lot for this beautiful blog. I’m heading to Vietnam next month and cant ask for more now. Great job, will surely leave a review when I get back. Thanks again!

Love how detailed your article is! I even share this to my friend who’s going to backpack here in Vietnam for a month and he also found your article very informative.

Brilliant blog and pictures! Sapa adjustments each year as swiftly do other terrific destinations in vietnam alas! Even though it nonetheless is a super united states of america to visit! Thank you for sharing.

Hey Will! been following your travels for a while now! Awesome stuff! did you spend any time in Da Nang? I have been living here for eight months and love it here, so much more than Hanoi, HCMC and Hoi An!

I haven’t been to Da Nang, would love to go though! 🙂

O gosh how I miss Vietnam. I absolutely loved the area of Halong Bay ad Ha Giang. The people are so lovely and friendly. The food is super. I want to go back!!

Awesome piece, some really helpful stuff on there for a first time traveller like me. I had a quick question. I’m planning on travelling through Vietnam solo in May next year and I was keen to find out exactly how “planned” my trip should be. Do you reckon I should pre-book all my accommodation before I go or do you think initially arriving with an idea of where I want to go will be fine? I obviously would like to have a good balance of being able to do things spontaneously if I meet a good crew of people but also wouldn’t want to be stuck without anywhere to stay! Thanks for the help

Play it by ear amigo!

The trip is really fun if you choose to have a great trip to experience all the best things that the tour has done, the difficult roads need patience and beautiful roads. will be recorded for your journey.

Hi Will Hatton thanks a lot for posting this interesting blog and also a worth read.People who are plannnig to visit vietnam should definitely go through this blog.

Thanks so much for this Will! My girlfriend and I are planning a budget trip to Vietnam and this guide is super helpful! You also shared so many destinations that I haven’t come across yet or found recommended so I definitely have a lot to consider with our upcoming trip.

Quick question for you – is it just as easy to get around using the train as the bus? Similar to how it is in Europe? or would you recommend using the bus for smaller destinations and the train to get between bigger cities?

Thanks Will!

Hey Stefan! It’s real easy to get around Vietnam using hop on hop off buses but I strongly recommend exploring by motorbike, that’s the best way to see the country! 🙂

Pour découvrir tout le Vietnam, je pense que cela prendra un mois. Et pour ce faire, mon budget doit être abondant

Hello! My understanding is that you cannot ride a motorbike in Vietnam without a proper license? My insurance won’t cover me without a motorcycles license. You mentioned you had no prior riding experience before going there. How did you get around that?

Hey man, I’m not sure if the situation has changed but as far as I know it’s very unusual to get into any problems with the police – a small bribe will get you out of most traffic situations. Your insurance wont’ cover you to drive a bike but if you did get into an accident…. *cough* perhaps you could say you were on the back *cough*

Recently completed our month long trip from Ho Chi Min to Hanoi & then beack to Thailand for another month. We based our trip on this article as we knew nothing of Vietnam. Found it usefull & informative.

Pretty impressive article! Thanks for sharing?

,great blog. worth a read.I am currently planning my Vietnam- Cambodia backpacking and this will definitely help me a lot but I think I’m going to skip some places though.

Very Informative article, Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! Hopefully I can get there soon!

– Jessica | http://brokegirlsdiary.com/

Loved your article.! Im planing my trip according this.! Also should i drop some of the stuff given above being a solo women traveler.?

…ps, your guide refers to around 20 different places to visit from North to South. Have you done this route & what would your estimated time frame be to travel this at a moderate, relaxed pace? How much time do you think we realistically need?

Great article Will. We “Will” be using this as a basis for planning our backpacking trip through Vietnam, possibly in June or July. The trip will be anything from 6-8 weeks. We will be slackpacking as we are 49 & 50 years young. Don’t mind camping as we rough it often in South Africa on 4×4 trails & bike rallies. We don’t, however do hostels or share bathrooms. Not sure how much that will influence the daily spend, although in Thailand we found that we spent more on accommodation yet less on getting scammed and wasting money like we saw lots of the young backpackers do, so maybe this will balance figures. Will, do you have any tips you may think are relevant to us “Midlifebackpackers”? Cheers

I’m Vietnamese and working in tourism but I learn more from your post. Great blog Will Hatton.

Great blog and pictures!

Sapa changes every year as rapidly do other great destinations in Vietnam unfortunately! Though it still is a great country to visit!

Tom and I met in Vietnam so it is quite dear to us! He rode a motorbike throughout Vietnam and had the time of his life! I went on buses but joined him along some of the stops. We will be posting a photo diary of his motorbike adventure on our blog soon. Great article, Will!

I would love to see the photo-diary!! keep in touch 🙂

In my opinion, no, not really. Hanoi is WAY nicer. Saigon has a good party vibe but it’s still not there best place in Vietnam to party so if I was planning a trip it would be the first place on my list I would scratch out if I was low on time.. 🙂

I loved backpacking in Vietnam, and visited everywhere that’s on your list. Sapa was the only place that, unfortunately, I really wasn’t keen on..

I think Sapa has changed a lot from what I have heard… I havn’t been for over three years now, I’d love to head back to Myanmar but I’m just preparing to head off on a whirlwind adventure around Central and South America! 🙂

Woah, also, I think that ostrich riding is not an activity that should be recommended. I saw the signs for it when I was in Mui Ne… Made me feel quite sad.

I’m currently in Central America, though will be travelling north I think. Unfortunately I don’t really have the funds to go south yet – as I want to do a massive long journey around South American in one go sometime in the future.

Hmmm, I don’t know enough about ostrich riding, other than that it is quite popular in South Africa, to say whether or not it should or should not be recommended. It was an interesting experience for sure and the ostriches seemed well looked after in a professionally run center.

Hi again Will – I would definitely recommend reading this post: http://right-tourism.com/2014/09/ride-ostrich/#sthash.frdGIE5P.KSwVRI2K.dpbs

Hi Charlie,

An interesting read for sure but it doesn’t really provide any evidence that there is a problem with riding ostriches, it uses phrases like ‘may’ and ‘maybe’ – although I think it’s important to be an ethical traveler, one has to try and get the balance right – after all, the most ethical thing for the planet would be to not travel at all! Riding an ostrich was a unique experience which I enjoyed, I’m not sure I would repeat it (I havn’t yet had a chance), and I saw no risk of harm to the ostriches themselves. When I can see a risk to an animal I will never increase that risk – for example, I would never dream of riding horses or donkeys abroad as they are usually treated badly.

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• 20 ideas to inspire your Vietnam travels

All photos by Christian Berg

If you haven’t already, this may be the year you fall in love with Vietnam. A country in the making, Vietnam surprises travellers with a wealth of amazing moments. Lush landscapes, ancient architecture and incredible food all contribute to create unforgettable holidays.

If you’ve never been, now is an exciting time to plan your first trip. already visited you’ll find many new reasons to come back. below are 20 of our favourite holiday ideas in vietnam now., foodie travel.

Vietnamese cuisine is so light, fresh and nutritious, it’s destined to be the highlight of any holiday. Though nothing will ever beat a local meal on the street, lately the country is stepping up its restaurant game, with more interesting venues to check out, especially in major cities.

Our Top Foodie Trips in Vietnam

Check out Ho Chi Minh City’s buzzing restaurant scene. Anan Saigon’s banh xeo tacos and 100-dollar banh mi are just two examples of how Vietnamese food is being reimagined for modern diners. Try Quince, Laang, and Pizza 4Ps for a taste of the city’s new culinary direction.

Make a self-guided exploration of Vietnam’s coffee culture. K’Ho Coffee Farm in Da Lat is a fitting place to start. From there, visit modern cafes in Ho Chi Minh City and the sidewalks of Hanoi to sample egg coffee, coconut coffee, and bac xiu. 

Get acquainted with real Vietnamese street food. There’s no better place to get a sense of Vietnamese cuisine, than down the capital’s tiny, atmospheric alleys. Go beyond pho and fill up on bun dau, bun cha, bun thang and other Hanoian hits.

Adventure 

Vietnam’s raw, remote landscapes are still the stuff of dreams for many adventure-seekers. The country’s outdoor options are constantly expanding, as more world-class experiences open in previously unheard-of locations.

Our Top Adventure Destinations in Vietnam

Motorbike the mountain passes of Ha Giang. This northern province has the ability to take your breath away, not once, but over and over again. Apart from its outrageous scenic roads, Ha Giang endears itself with warm if humble hospitality, and rich ethnic culture. 

Take on the world’s largest caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. There’s a long waiting list for tours into Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave. But don’t let that deter you. There are more than 300 caves of all sizes in Phong Nha . Join a multi-day tour for the full experience. 

Challenge yourself in Da Lat. Dreamy Da Lat, once a retreat for couples and flower festivals, is reinventing itself as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Go camping in Bidoup National Park, try SUP on Tuyen Lam Lake, and take on Datanla Falls with world-class canyoning tours. 

Cultural treasures

Vietnam boasts a well-deserved reputation for culture, with no less than eight UNESCO Heritage Sites sprinkled up and down the country. The Vietnamese way of life encompasses cool new urban culture as well as time-honoured craft villages and traditional music.  

Our Top Cultural Holidays in Vietnam

Slow down along the water in Hoi An. The ochre-painted shophouses in this former trading port look much as they did a century ago. Draped with silk lanterns, they create an irresistible atmosphere . Verdant rice fields and white sand beaches are only a quick bicycle ride away.

Step back in time in Ninh Binh.  Ninh Binh, a surreal destination two hours from Hanoi, was once the capital of Northern Vietnam. Here, snaking rivers, mossy pagodas and towering karsts offer some of Vietnam’s most iconic scenery. Climb to the top of Hang Mua for epic views of the flooded landscape.

Immerse yourself in Vietnam’s imperial history. Often overlooked by travellers, Hue offers some of Vietnam’s most impressive historical sites , including the Hue Citadel and the tombs of the Nguyen Kings. Stay along the gorgeous Perfume River and slow down with cyclo rides and long strolls. 

Festivals and events

Vroom vroom Vietnam! Every year Vietnam welcomes more exciting events. The Hue Festival, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, and the Mid-autumn Festival are a few great reasons to visit. 

Our Top Festivals and Events in Vietnam

Celebrate Hue imperial culture along the riverside. Every year Hue stages a cultural festival celebrating the city's legacy as the former imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. Street performances, ao dai fashion shows, and traditional arts are staged in the streets and parks along the river.

Lace up for a mountain trail or city marathon. Vietnam’s new marathons provide an excellent excuse to see the country’s beautiful destinations. The Sapa Mountain Marathon leads the pack in terms of vistas, with trail runs in Da Lat, Tam Dao and Moc Chau not far behind.

Watch the world’s best pyrotechnic teams in Da Nang. Every year the coastal city of Da Nang stages an extended fireworks festival, with international teams competing to create stunning displays over the Han River. Buy a front-row ticket, or watch from the city’s sleek rooftop bars.

Barefoot escapes

From sea-view villas to humble fishing hamlets, Vietnam’s long coastline promises beach holidays of every variety. Apart from its coastal cities, Vietnam also offers quiet islands, such as Con Dao and Ly Son, where you can have whole stretches of sand to yourself and immerse in local life. 

Our Top Beach Itineraries in Vietnam

Bring the whole family for a getaway in Phu Quoc. With a surplus of white-sand beaches , as well as enticing bars, easy island-hopping, and luxe resorts, Phu Quoc has it all. Families can check out the shows at VinWonders Amusement Park, and ride the over-water Sunworld Cable Car to Hon Thom. 

Spoil yourself at a five-star resort in Cam Ranh. Still something of a secret, Cam Ranh is quietly establishing itself as a desirable destination for those who want to escape the world in style. Striking beaches, five-star resorts, and an award-winning golf course make it easy to do just that.

Play castaway on the beach in quiet Quy Nhon. There’s no place quite like Quy Nhon if you need to get away from it all. This laidback fishing town in Central Vietnam is dotted with empty bays. Take a motorbike for long windy rides along the water, and dine on fresh seafood every evening. 

Sustainable getaways

Looking for a feel-good vacation? Vietnam’s lesser-known destinations promise authentic local encounters and unspoiled views. Here you can stay with ethnic minorities, go on community-based tours, and learn more about local culture and traditions. 

Our Top Eco-friendly Travels in Vietnam

Strike out for the Central Highlands. Still largely undiscovered, the province of Dak Lak is brimming with waterfalls, coffee plantations, and ethnic minority villages. Stay at Lak Tented Camp, and try Vietnam’s first ethical elephant tour at Yok Don National Park. 

Experience real Vietnamese hospitality at a homestay. At only 10 to 20 dollars a night, Vietnam’s homestays offer amazing value and wonderfully warm hospitality, plus delicious local meals. Try a family-run homestay in Mai Chau, Sapa or in Mekong Delta towns such as Cai Be and Can Tho. 

Bed down beneath karsts in Ninh Binh. Only two hours from Hanoi, Ninh Binh is famous for epic landscapes. In the area of Tam Coc, you’ll find charming eco-boutiques and homestays in the shadow of ancient karsts. Take an eco-tour of Trang An Scenic Complex, a UNESCO-listed site.

Leisure and luxury 

Vietnam’s striking scenery and fascinating culture make it the perfect backdrop for luxury escapes. In the cities, colonial-inspired hotels give a glimpse into the past, while on the beaches, Vietnam’s resorts are the definition of modern luxury, infused with unique local touches. 

Our Top Luxury Itineraries in Vietnam

Cruise through the Gulf of Tonkin. Vietnam’s incredible bays never fail to impress, but these days travellers are going beyond Ha Long to explore Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long as well. Spend a few magical days on the water, waking up to breathtaking scenery, and dining on gourmet fare. 

Check yourself in for a wellness retreat. Need a bit of RNR? Why not give Vietnam’s soothing wellness destinations a go. Visit Da Nang for spa-inclusive resorts and award-winning wellness programs, or the foothills of Hue for natural hot springs and Vietnam’s first seven-step onsen. 

Play Vietnam’s top-rated golf courses. Vietnam’s Central Coast is staking a claim as the region’s hottest new golf destination . A string of six courses designed by golf greats such as Sir Nick Faldo and Greg Norman line the coast, making the most of rice paddies, jungles and mountains. 

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How to plan a trip to Vietnam: everything to know!

Last updated on March 15th, 2024

Planning a trip to Vietnam? We’re sharing all of the logistics to be aware of before you go, plus what to expect once there! In 2023 we spent almost 6 weeks traveling all over Vietnam, including the large cities, smaller towns, epic nature spots, and so much more. It is hard to put into words how much this trip meant to us. Everytime we think about it, we get emotional because it was so incredibly special and as cheesy as it sounds, life changing.

Our trip to Vietnam was our first trip to Asia. And compared to other places we have visited, planning a trip to Vietnam was by far the most complex. There was so much to know! Where do we even go? How do we get around? What do we need to legally visit? And beyond those questions, we also had some anxiety around the language barrier and navigating a completely different culture. But in the end, the trip went so smoothly. We may have had a few minor hiccups here and there, but overall, it went even better than we could’ve imagined. And more importantly, we LOVED Vietnam. It is truly an incredible country! And in this guide we are sharing all of the things to know and consider when planning a trip to Vietnam. We hope that it can help you go into your own Vietnam trip with a bit less stress and anxiety and give you as smooth and memorable of an experience as we had!

About Vietnam

Logistics for planning a trip to vietnam , what to pack for vietnam, things to know once you’re in vietnam, final thoughts on planning a trip to vietnam, ready to begin planning a trip to vietnam.

Located in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is a long and narrow country that spans 128,066 square miles, with Cambodia and Laos bordering it on the west, China in the north, and the ocean along the east. It is the 15th most populated country in the world, with over 97 million residents. The population is made up of 54 different ethnic minorities, with Kinh being the largest.

Check out 12 of the best cities to visit in Vietnam .

Quick Vietnam history

There have been a handful of monumental events that have occurred in Vietnam over the years that are important to be aware of before visiting. The first being French colonialism. Back in the 1850s, the French invaded Vietnam, plus Laos, Cambodia, and part of China, creating a group of colonies called French Indochina. They didn’t leave until the 1950s and during this time period they heavily influenced Vietnam. The French heavily taxed the Vietnamese, overworked Vietnamese workers, and imprisoned and tortured those who resisted their rule. Today, you can still see evidence of the French in both the architecture and food.

Another important event was the Vietnam War, known as the American War by the Vietnamese. This war took place between 1955 and 1975 and was officially fought between North and South Vietnam, with the United States intervening heavily in the 1960s.  We highly recommend watching the Ken Burns PBS documentary about the war before you go, as it shares perspectives from all three sides involved. The war had many negative effects on the country, including massive bombings, Agent Orange, and so much more. So you may be wondering “do the Vietnamese hate Americans and French?” While we cannot speak for the French experience visiting Vietnam today, as Americans, we had no issues. We asked many locals how they felt about Americans and all responded similarly with “the past is the past.” Everyone was very welcoming to us! 

Why visit Vietnam?

There are so many reasons to visit Vietnam! Here are some of the reasons why we chose to visit Vietnam over other Southeast Asian countries:

• The scenery is diverse! You can experience large cities, the ocean, mountains, caves, rice fields and farmland, and rivers all in one trip.
• People are kind and friendly.
• The food is delicious! We’ll share some of our favorites later on in this guide.
• There are a wide variety of unique experiences.
• It is affordable to visit.
• You’ll find handfuls of cute, quaint coffee shops in every town and city.
• You can have many cultural experiences.
• There is a lot of interesting history to learn.
• It feels underrated. We know of many people who have been to Thailand, but far less that have been to Vietnam. We encountered many Europeans and Australians in the country, but very few Americans.

Different regions of Vietnam

As we mentioned above, Vietnam is a long country, spanning 1,025 miles from south to north. The country is typically split into three regions: north, central, and south. Each area has so much to offer and in our opinion, all are worth visiting! Which one you prioritize will depend on what interests you the most.

Northern Vietnam

In the north, you have the capital city of Hanoi , plus stunning mountainous terrain. This is the most scenic part of Vietnam in our opinion! Here you can go on epic motorbike trips , see tons of karst mountains , visit Vietnam’s largest waterfall , cruise Ha Long Bay, and interact with different ethnic minorities.

Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam is home to many historical sites, including the ancient cities of Hoi An and Hue. It’s also home to great surfing in Da Nang, tons of caves near Phong Nha, plus forests and mountains.

Southern Vietnam

Southern Vietnam is less mountainous than the rest of the country, but still has tons to offer! It is home to Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), also known as Saigon. This bustling city is a ton of fun to explore! Southern Vietnam is also where you can find the Mekong River Delta, visit islands like Phu Quoc, and crawl through tunnels from the Vietnam War.

The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). All prices you’ll see in Vietnam will be listed in VND, minus some tour providers and at the airport. We recommend downloading the My Currency Converter & Rate app before you go, but if visiting from the United States, 25,000 VND = ~$1 USD (at the time of writing).

Vietnamese is the main language spoken in Vietnam, although different ethnic minorities have their own languages as well. English is spoken some, mostly in the major cities and by tour providers, but don’t expect to see tons of English. We found that most signage, outside of mega tourist attractions, were in Vietnamese. There are sometimes translations, but they aren’t always super accurate.  Despite this, we didn’t have any issues communicating in Vietnam. Most Vietnamese, even if they don’t speak much English, will understand key words, like “toilet,” and you can also gesture with your hands to get your point across.  Google Translate also has a feature where you can speak into the phone and it’ll translate. This helped us multiple times, so make sure to download Vietnamese for offline use on the Google Translate app! We went into our trip wanting to learn some Vietnamese, but wow, it’s a HARD language to learn. It is very tonal, which means that how you say it is important. There can be one word that means three different things depending on your tone and inflection. To make things even more confusing, some words are said differently in the north and south. Although we didn’t learn Vietnamese as much as we hoped beforehand, there are some key words to learn before you go:

• Xin chào (Sin chow): Hello
• Chào (Chow): A less formal way to say hello. Our guides told us this is more of the local way to say it.
• Cảm ơn (Gam un): Thank you 
• Dạ/Không (Dza/Kong): Yes/No
• Xin lỗi (Sin loy):  I’m sorry
• Tạm biệt (Tam biet): Goodbye
• Một, Hai, Ba, YO!: 1, 2, 3, Cheers! (This is done A LOT on tours!)
• Một (Moat): One
• Hai (Hai): Two
• Ba (Ba): Three
• Bốn (Bone): Four
• Năm (Num): Five
• Sáu (Sow): Six
• Bảy (Bay): Seven
• Tám (Tam): Eight
• Chín (Chin): Nine 
• Mười (Mu-oi): Ten
• Bánh mì (bun me): Bread
• Bún (boon): Rice noodles
• Bò (Bo): Beef
• Gà (Gah): Chicken
• Cá (Cah): Fish
• Thịt lợn (Tit lohn): Pork
• Trứng (Choong): Egg

Is Vietnam safe?

When planning a trip to Vietnam you may wonder if it’s safe to visit. And from our experience, Vietnam is totally safe! The only time we felt slightly unsafe was in the car. Seatbelts are sometimes missing from cars and drivers go so fast, zip around, and pass people. There appears to be few road rules in Vietnam and driving like this is normal. It took a bit of getting used to for us though.  But besides that, when walking around cities, even with our cameras out or at night, we never once felt unsafe or encountered anything sketchy. Our female friends who live in Ho Chi Minh City also said they have always felt safe in the country. Of course things can happen anywhere, so be alert! The major crime you would encounter would be pickpocketing or theft. But for us, we had zero issues with safety.

In this next section we’re going to cover all of the logistics for planning a trip to Vietnam, including airports, transportation options, how to get a visa, and more!

How to get to Vietnam

There are three major airports in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) (Airport code: SGN), Hanoi (HAN), and Da Nang (DAD).  The HCMC airport is the largest of them all and tends to have the cheapest options, especially if traveling from further away. If traveling from within Vietnam or nearby countries in Asia, make sure to check the other two as well.  For our trip, we flew both in and out of HCMC. This was mostly due to how our credit card travel portal required us to book our flights. Ideally, we would’ve flown into HCMC and out of Hanoi, since we started in the south and ended in the north.  Flights within Vietnam tend to be really affordable though, so we were able to book a cheap flight from Hanoi to HCMC to make our flight back to the US.

Flying from the US?

If you’re flying from the US, we suggest looking for flights to Asia out of the West Coast. We needed to fly from Austin to Vietnam, which is not a very straightforward or cheap route. But after doing some digging into flights, it was easier to fly from Seattle to Vietnam. So we flew Austin to Seattle (using Alaska Airlines points) and then Seattle to Singapore to Vietnam. We saved about $1,500 (or 150,000 points) this way vs. booking a flight from Austin to Vietnam. New York also has a nonstop flight to Singapore and may offer a more affordable route for those on the East Coast! While we really wanted a layover in Singapore , there are other airports in Asia that are common to fly directly to from the US, including Seoul and Tokyo. You can also look for flights from the US to these cities and then book a second flight to Vietnam from them, which may be cheaper.

We spent $0 on our flights to and from Vietnam, as well as within the country by using travel credit cards. This saved us over $2,500! Learn more about our favorite travel credit cards .

Where to go in Vietnam

The hardest decision you’ll have to make when planning a trip to Vietnam is where to go. There are so many amazing places to visit in Vietnam and you could easily spend a year in the country and not see it all. From our research and experience, these tend to be the top spots tourists go to:

• Ha Long Bay
• Ha Giang Province
• Cao Bang Province
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
• Mekong River Delta

Planning your route

Our biggest piece of advice when planning your route in Vietnam: don’t try to do too much! Vietnam is a larger country than it may appear. Due to how long it is, traveling between areas can take time and be exhausting. While you can fly between some areas, others will require trains, buses, or limos (a small van). You will want to ensure that you give yourself plenty of time on travel days and allot time for delays. A few things to consider when planning your route:

• If you only have a week, it’s best to stick to one region and explore that area more in depth.
• For two weeks , you could visit multiple regions more easily. With even more time you can spend more time in each destination or visit more destinations.
• We suggest going from south to north, as the scenery only gets better and better this way.

Our Vietnam itinerary at a glance

Where you choose to go really depends on what interests you. For us, we wanted a diverse trip that mixed beautiful scenery with historical sites, delicious food locations, unique activities, and both small and large cities. Here’s a quick rundown of how we spent 5.5 weeks in Vietnam!

• 4 days: Ho Chi Minh City (We have friends there, so we spent more time than most would. 2-3 days would be sufficient for most.)
• 1 day: Overnight train to Da Nang + taxi to Hoi An
• 4 days: Hoi An 
• 1 day: Travel day from Hoi An to Phong Nha
• 4 days: Cave tour near Phong Nha
• 1 day: Travel day from Phong Nha to Hanoi
• 3 days: Ninh Binh
• 3 days: Visa run from Hanoi to Chiang Mai, Thailand
• 8 days: Hanoi (We spent this time mostly working, but also exploring. 2-3 days is typically enough for Hanoi.)
• 1 day: Travel day from Hanoi to Ha Giang
• 1 day: Work day in Ha Giang
• 6 days: Motorbike trip through Ha Giang and Cao Bang, ending at Ba Be Lake
• 1 day: Travel day from Ba Be Lake to Hanoi
• 1 day: Travel day from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City 

While we could’ve visited multiple countries in this timeframe, we really wanted to dive deeper into one country. And we are super happy with that approach! By spending almost 6 weeks in Vietnam we were able to see so much of the country, plus have time to work and enjoy some places at a slower pace.

Need help planning your Vietnam visit? We have created 2 week and 3 week itineraries that are ready to go!

When to visit Vietnam

Another tough choice when planning a trip to Vietnam is when to visit. The country’s climate can heavily vary by region during specific times of the year. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect by region. However, weather isn’t 100% predictable, so be prepared to experience varying weather, regardless of when you go.

North Vietnam

In North Vietnam, the dry season in the north tends to run from October to April. However, the wintertime can be very cold in the north, so keep that in mind if visiting higher elevations. For milder weather and dry conditions, March, April, October, and November tend to be great months to visit. The rainy season in North Vietnam is from May until September. While this doesn’t tend to stop most motorbike tours in the north or heavily impact time in Hanoi, it can cause Ha Long Bay cruises to be canceled.  One huge draw during this time of year is the chance to see golden rice fields, which typically occur in September. If seeing them is a priority, September is a great time to go! It tends to be the end of the rainy season and much less rainy than the previous months.

In Central Vietnam, the warmer, dry season begins in January and runs through August. From August to December, you can expect a lot more rain. Since a lot of popular destinations are along the coast here, typhoons can also occur and cause flooding. We’d suggest sticking to the drier months here!

South Vietnam

In South Vietnam, you can expect warmer weather than the rest of the country year round. The dry season is between December and May and hottest temperatures tend to occur between March and May, reaching 100ºF. Between June and November, the weather is a bit cooler, but also rainier. Since there are many indoor activities in HCMC, rain isn’t a huge issue here. 

Tet Holiday

Besides weather, one important thing to know when choosing when to visit Vietnam is when Tet is. Tet marks the first day of the Lunar New Year and is a huge week-long celebration across the country. While visiting during Tet can provide a unique glimpse into Vietnamese culture, it can also be more challenging.  Many Vietnamese return to their hometowns during this time. Transportation and lodging tend to be in high demand, so you would need to plan further in advance. Also, many businesses shut down for days to celebrate, so you may struggle to find dining options and activities open.

When did we visit Vietnam?

We visited Vietnam from early March to mid April. This worked out really well as we were able to avoid the rainier months across the country. We did experience some heat in Ho Chi Minh City (90ºF), but the temperatures were moderate everywhere else and we only had a couple days of rain.  The only downside of when we visited is that the skies were pretty hazy everywhere. We aren’t sure if this was due to the time of year, burning farms, or pollution. It’s also not the best time to see the fields in the north, so some farming areas were brown vs. green or golden yellow. To us, having less chances of rain was worth missing out on that!

Vietnam Visa

Depending on where you are visiting from and for how long, you may need a Vietnam visa. Some nationalities do not require a visa for visits between 15-30 days, while some require it for any length of time. As Americans, we were required to have a visa to visit Vietnam for any length of time. At the time of our visit, we could only get a visa for 30 days. They have since brought back their 3 month visa, but the 30 day option was the only option we had.  You may be thinking “wait, you said you were there almost 6 weeks?!” We will explain that in a bit! Besides the visa, we were also required to have 6 months remaining on our passport, so make sure yours is within that window!

How to get a Vietnam visa

If you need a visa to visit Vietnam, we highly recommend applying for an e-visa in advance. While air travelers can get one on arrival, it’ll save you time to have it already. To get your Vietnam visa, you will want to go to this website . Yes, it looks a tad outdated and sketchy, but this is the website run by the Vietnamese government. There are other websites that you can get your visa from, but they may charge more. And speaking of costs, the e-visa cost $25 USD per person, which can be paid by credit card. We did run into a couple issues paying online, but were able to get it to go through eventually. If in doubt that it went through, check your credit card transactions. Ours showed up almost immediately!  On the website, you will need to fill out your information and provide a passport photo. Since we did not have copies of our passport photo, we used this app to take some at home.  After filling out the information, you will likely hear your results within 3 business days. We suggest planning for longer, just in case. If you apply for your visa around Tet, make sure to give yourself even more time. Make sure to print your visa before getting to Vietnam! While we did see someone show theirs on their phone, it does say to print it. 

Staying longer than your visa? Go on a visa run!

As we mentioned above, we were in Vietnam for almost 6 weeks, yet our visa was limited to 30 days. So what did we do? We went on a visa run! A visa run is when you leave the country before your visa expires and return on a new visa. This is a common thing to do in Southeast Asia, especially in Vietnam during their 30 day only visa policy. If you’re in HCMC around the time your visa expires, many people cross the land border in Cambodia and then return to Vietnam the same day. Make sure to check if Cambodia also requires a visa. They do require one for US citizens! Since we were further north, we flew from Hanoi to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a couple days instead. Thailand doesn’t require a visa for US citizens for 30 days, so this was an easy option!

Where to stay in Vietnam

When visiting Vietnam you have a handful of options for lodging, ranging in price, amenities, and experience. Below is a breakdown of your main choices and during our time in Vietnam, we stayed in all four of these!

Vietnam has a variety of hotel options, from larger chains (mostly in the major cities) to smaller, boutique hotels. The amenities will vary based on the hotel. Some of the larger hotels offer a pool, gym, and restaurants, while smaller hotels may just have rooms.  One of our favorite places we stayed in Vietnam was the Paddy Boutique House in Hoi An. This is a boutique hotel with a cafe on the first floor that serves amazing coffee and food. The rooms are super beautiful and modern and ours overlooked the rice fields! They also have free bike rentals to go explore. It was $41 per night, which felt like a steal! We also LOVED this bungalow in Ninh Binh ! The scenery felt like a magical garden, we had access to bikes, and there was a restaurant on site. This was our most expensive lodging and it was only $61 USD per night!

We stayed at many Airbnbs while in Vietnam, which were usually ~$30/night. For us, the main reason for choosing an Airbnb was to have a bit more space and to have access to a kitchen and laundry. While we ended up not cooking in Vietnam (eating out was just so cheap!), we did enjoy having access to laundry.

Homestays were some of our favorite experiences in Vietnam! What is a homestay you may ask? It’s when a local family has lodging on their property. This could be within their house or a separate area near their living quarters.  They are typically found in more rural areas and often have meals, some of which you may eat with the family. They also sometimes offer activities to help you see more of the area. Overall, homestays are a great way to get more immersed in the culture and also directly support locals. We loved the Yen Nhi homestay near the Ban Gioc waterfall, which has a dining area within a cave and the CUTEST pups! 

The cheapest lodging option in Vietnam is usually a hostel. While you may think of hostels as a bunch of bunk beds in a room, most offer private rooms as well. We stayed in a few hostels in Vietnam, always in private rooms, and it was a great option for areas where you tend to be out and about a lot. They were more bare bones than a hotel or Airbnb usually, but also extremely cheap and clean.  Before doing the Ha Giang Loop , we stayed at Be’s Home in a private room and for two nights with a light breakfast included, it was under $40 total!

A few things to know about lodging in Vietnam:

• Booking.com is a great resource to find lodging. You’ll be able to find both hotels and more Airbnb-like options here.
• Some lodging options will not charge you upfront, so you’ll pay when checking out.
• We also encountered a few homestays that were cash only or charged an extra fee for credit cards.
• Beds in Vietnam can be a bit firm. Our friends in HCMC told us this is pretty standard everywhere. We had a mix of bed firmness and softness, but if this is especially important to you, make sure to read reviews.

Transportation around Vietnam

There are many different ways to get around Vietnam and we tried just about every option during our trip. And we definitely preferred some over others! Below is a rundown of the different transportation options available and why we liked (or didn’t like) each.

When getting around the cities in Vietnam, Grab is the way to go! Grab is a rideshare app, just like Uber, and is an affordable and safe choice when in more populated areas. Similar to Uber, with Grab you get to choose the size of the car. You also get to confirm the rate you’ll be charged before pickup, which reduces any scams. The prices are so cheap for Grab that we used it a lot! We paid between $2-$5 for each ride around HCMC and Hanoi, including a tip (not required). We even used Grab to get food delivery, which is something we never do in the US because of how expensive it is.

If Grab isn’t available, you can also get a taxi. While a similar concept, we prefer Grab because you confirm the rate ahead of time. However, there were some scenarios in which a taxi was our best option. This was usually in more rural areas where Grab may be limited or not present. In these scenarios, we tried to have our hotel or homestay book the taxi for us and give us the rate ahead of time, to ensure we didn’t have any surprises.

One of the best ways to experience Vietnam is on a motorbike! You can either motorbike around the different cities on a GrabBike , rent a bike to explore the country, or hire a driver (called an Easy Rider). If choosing to drive your own motorbike, make sure to check motorbike laws for your country’s driver’s license. You will very likely need an IDP, which is an International Driver’s Permit.  However, not all country’s IDPs are valid in Vietnam. Only IDPs from countries under the 1968 Vienna Convention are legal. And unfortunately for US, Canadian, and Australian citizens, your drivers licenses do not apply. The only way for these travelers to legally drive a motorbike without a license is to drive one 50ccs or less. This may work in cities, but it will not be powerful enough in mountainous areas. While many people do drive motorbikes illegally, in places like Ha Giang , they are cracking down on illegal driving. You risk getting pulled over and having to pay a fine or bribe to the police or getting your bike taken away. Your health insurance will also not be valid.  Also, whether you drive or are a passenger, helmets are required by law in Vietnam for anyone on a motorbike. So make sure to wear one! 

Want to book a motorbike tour in Ha Giang? We highly recommend Ha Giang Road Trip ! If you book a tour with them through Tripadvisor, you can save 10% off with our code APLUSK10 .

Since we couldn’t legally drive a motorbike in Vietnam, we rode bicycles in some easy to bike areas! Both Ninh Binh and Hoi An are great spots to ride a bike and it was a super fun way to get around. One thing to be aware of is that you’ll likely have to bike around cars. Also, helmets for bicycles seem to be rare in Vietnam, which we didn’t love.

Busses/Limos

To get between cities and destinations in Vietnam, one popular option is to take a bus or a limo. A limo in Vietnam is just a multi-passenger van, not a cool stretch limousine like you’d take to prom. For some areas of Vietnam, where there are no airports or train stations, these will be your only option. When going to and from Ha Giang, the only options are a limo or an overnight sleeper bus (we hear mixed things on this one). We also had to take a limo from Ba Be Lake back to Hanoi.  Out of all of the options for transportation in Vietnam, this was our least favorite. And a big reason why was because of just how crazy the driving is. However, sometimes it was our only choice, so we had to suck it up and embrace the adventure!

Vietnam has a pretty expansive railway system , going all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi (which takes about 36 hours!), with many stops along the way. There are also some other routes that can take you to side destinations. We took a total of four trains in Vietnam, with one being a 17 hour overnight train . And it was probably our favorite way to travel! It felt safer than a bus/limo, we had space to spread out, we could walk around, we could use the bathroom whenever, and we got to see a lot of scenery. There were some downsides, like the bathroom cleanliness, which started out clean and then went downhill fast. We also had some small roaches in our overnight cabin, which made sleeping difficult. But for the most part, it was smooth sailing! In some situations, the train is only a little bit slower than taking a limo or bus, but in others, it is a lot longer to take the train. We suggest looking at all of your transportation options and seeing what works best for your schedule. If you do take the train, we highly suggest getting a first class cabin. Most of these have two bunk beds, so you will have strangers with you, but you still have a good amount of space. Some trains do offer a special cabin with just two beds, which we did for our overnight train. These are pricier, but you have total privacy if traveling with two people! 

Read all about taking an  overnight train in Vietnam , including the cabin types, how to book, and our experience!

The quickest way to get around Vietnam is flying. While not always an option depending on where you’re going, if flying is an option, it will be the easiest and fastest choice. Flying within Vietnam is relatively cheap and there are multiple airlines to choose from. We flew Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways without an issue. We heard VietJet isn’t super timely, but that can be said for all airlines at some point. The downside of flying is that you have to get to the airport early and may deal with potential delays. Plus, airplanes are not very spacious.

Tools to book transportation in Vietnam

So you may be wondering how we figured out which transportation method to use for our different traveling needs in Vietnam. One of our go-to tools in Vietnam was 12Go . On this site you can put in your origin and destination and it tells you if there are buses/limos, flights, or trains. It’s a great resource to compare options! You can also book transportation directly on their website. We also used Google flights to check flight prices, but we booked all of our flights through our credit card travel portals. 

Travel insurance for Vietnam

We highly recommend buying travel insurance for your trip to Vietnam. We have been using the Nomad Insurance plan with SafetyWing on multiple international trips this year. It not only gives us travel medical insurance, but also provides coverage for lost baggage and travel delays. Thankfully we didn’t have to use any of it! We also have personal article policies for our electronics with State Farm that works worldwide. Unfortunately we did have to use this one when our camera lens broke during a motorbike accident.

Booking tours in Vietnam

The tours we went on in Vietnam were the highlights of our entire trip! While planning a trip to Vietnam, make sure to look into different tours and book them ahead of time.  It seems many of the backpacker type travelers book last minute, but we liked booking early to ensure we had the best tour options. Some tools that were helpful in finding tours and activities were:

• Tripadvisor : you can not only read reviews for tour activities, but you can also book them directly on Tripadvisor! The company that we hired for the Ha Giang Loop is bookable on Tripadvisor. PS: For ANY experience you book on Tripadvisor you can use our code APLUSK10 to get 10% off!
• Airbnb Experiences : we found some great local guides here, including our Hanoi food tour .
• Klook : while we didn’t personally use Klook, we know it is popular to book activities in Asia.

Also, WhatsApp is what many tour companies use to communicate. So make sure to download it in advance!

It’s almost time to head to Vietnam! Before you go, here are some items we would highly suggest packing for Vietnam. To see even more, plus get a FREE downloadable packing list, check out our ultimate Vietnam packing list . Remember to check bag weight limits ahead of time! If your bag is too heavy, you’ll have to check it and it’s usually cheaper to pay in advance.

Layers: If you plan to travel across the country, make sure to bring a variety of clothes for different conditions. We brought pullovers and our winter jackets and ended up needing both! Rain jacket: Even if visiting in the dry season, you may experience rain (we did!). Kathryn wears the Patagonia Torrentshell jacket and Adam wears a Columbia rain jacket .  Temple attire : If you plan to visit any temples, make sure you have pants or a skirt that covers your knees and something to cover your shoulders. We suggest bringing something light and airy to avoid getting too hot! I had a thick cardigan and it was brutal at times. Shoes : Due to us just carrying backpacks, we only brought one pair of shoes with us to Vietnam. We wore ALTRA Lone Peak 6 Trail Running Shoes , which worked well for walking around cities and also hiking. We also bought some flip flops, which came in handy for our cave tour.

Feminine hygiene products : They may not have the exact kind you like in Vietnam, so make sure to bring enough! Toilet paper : This is something you can buy there, but we highly recommend carrying some with you. Some restrooms do not offer any or charge you a small amount to get some. Beauty products: We tried to bring enough of any hair products, makeup, etc to make sure we could use the products we liked the entire trip. Dual voltage items: In the US, the outlets are 120V, but in Vietnam they are 220V. Make sure to bring a hair dryer, straighter, or curling iron that will work with their outlets. I brought a small, dual voltage hair dryer with me to Vietnam.

We highly suggest bringing Advil, a small first aid kit, and stomach medicine, like imodium or pepto, just in case. 

Outlet adapters : While some outlets in Vietnam were just like the US, others were two prong and we had to use an outlet adapter to be able to use our electronics. Portable charger : We liked carrying a portable charger with us in case our phone or camera batteries got low during the day.

Miscellaneous

Don’t forget your passport and visa!

How we packed for our Vietnam trip

During our trip to Vietnam we carried everything we needed for 6 weeks in our REI Trail 40 packs , plus an additional foldable backpack . It was tough, but thankfully we managed to make it work by using Tripped compressible packing cubes . So why did we only bring backpacks? Our motorbike trip was starting and ending in different areas, so we had to carry everything with us. We didn’t think our normal Away carry on suitcases would fit on the back of a bike easily, especially with backpacks too, so we had to go minimal for this trip. This forced us to prioritize what to bring. Certain things, like our big zoom lens and bulky noise canceling headphones, had to be left behind. We also had to be okay with wearing the same things constantly. Each of us had about 4-5 shirts and 3-4 pairs of pants with us, plus the layers we mentioned above. Thankfully we wear clothes that can be reworn without washing constantly! While this scenario may not apply to everyone, we wanted to mention it anyway to show that it is possible to travel light. Although, we do have lots of practice because of van life , so it is a lot easier for us than most to live with less.

Check out our ultimate Vietnam packing list with free downloadable list!

Alright, you’ve made it to Vietnam! Now what? Here are some important things to know for once you arrive in Vietnam to hopefully make your trip go as smoothly as possible!

What to expect at immigration

Once landing in Vietnam you will go straight to immigration. WARNING: the lines can be VERY long, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is quite a bit quicker, at least from our experience. When it’s finally your turn, you will need to show them your passport and visa. During our multiple experiences going through immigration, the agents never asked any questions or said a word to us. They just took our documentation, did some computer magic, stamped our passports, and we were on our way.

Cell service & SIM cards

While you can get international data through your US cell phone provider, this can get a bit costly. Instead, get an eSIM from Airalo ! This is a SIM that you can download to your phone. It saves the hassle of having to get a physical SIM in every country you visit! You can get an eSIM for a specific country or for an entire region, making it extra easy to use if you plan to hop between countries. During our time in Vietnam, we got physical SIM cards and it was a hassle when we ran out of data. Now we use Airalo for our international trips and it is a much easier experience! As for cell service availability in Vietnam, we rarely did not have cell service during our entire time in the country. Even in remote areas of Ha Giang and Cao Bang , we still had service. It was pretty incredible!  However, just to be safe, we do suggest downloading offline Google Translate and Google Maps beforehand. That way you can communicate and find your way with or without service.

Cash and ATMs

Cash seems to be king in Vietnam! While some places do take credit cards, street food stalls, restaurants, and even some homestays only take cash. Even if you want to use the restroom in public, you will need cash to pay (usually 5,000 VND). We tried to figure out in advance where we would need cash and about how much so we always had enough on us. But if you need cash, you can find an ATM almost anywhere! To avoid crazy ATM fees, we highly recommend opening a Charles Schwab checking account before you go. They refund ATM fees from ANY ATM worldwide! This gave us lots of freedom to use whichever ATM was most convenient.

Crossing the street

It is pretty well known that crossing the street in Vietnam is chaotic. There are tons of motorbikes and cars and rarely crosswalks. And even if there are, red lights and crosswalks don’t always mean anything.  The advice we got from locals was that you just have to start walking. If you walk at a consistent pace (no stopping or running), the motorbikes will go around you. Of course, accidents can happen, so please look and be aware of your surroundings. For example, I walked into a moving bike in Hanoi. We had the walk sign and Adam said “let’s go,” so I started walking without looking to my right and a motorbike was running the red light and I ran into them. We were all okay, but it definitely took me by surprise! Also, alleyways can also surprise you with bikes, so look before you cross those too! 

Scams in Vietnam

It’s good to be aware of possible scams you may encounter in Vietnam. Like we said before, we felt totally safe in the country. But there are people who may try to trick you into getting some of your money. We are not experts on all scams that can occur, but here are a few that we heard of or encountered.

Parking Scams

This is super common in Ninh Binh. Essentially, people will try to force you to pay to park well before you need to. On the road to Mua Caves, locals will walk out right in front of your bike and try to demand that you park there. They often charge much more than the actual parking costs. If this happens to you, just keep biking and ignore them. 

Another money grab is people trying to get you to hold things for a photo. They will let you hold it and get the photo, but then try to demand money afterwards. As cool as some of these photo opportunities may be, don’t fall for it unless you want to pay.

Duplicate businesses

We learned of this one in Hanoi while on a food tour with a local. The bun cha place he took us to is very popular and delicious. And nearby businesses have tried to copy their name, colors, and look to trick people into going to them instead.

We almost fell for it the second time we went. The business right next door looked JUST like it and they tried to hurry us inside. Since we knew this was possible, we were a bit cautious and the real business directed us to their tables instead.

While this may not be a huge scam, it could mean a less delicious meal if you fall for the imposters. This also can happen with tour companies too!

Tourist prices

We hear sometimes that restaurants will charge tourists more than locals, but I don’t think we personally experienced this. If you go to a restaurant and do not see prices, this could be a sign that they’ll try to overcharge you.

Download a VPN

If working remotely, you may want to download a VPN to be able to access specific websites while in Vietnam. We downloaded NordVPN while there once we realized that some websites blocked Vietnam traffic. We were able to connect to a server in the US and get access to what we needed. VPNs can also allow you to access Netflix shows that are only available in specific countries and it is just a safer way to use public networks.

Services you may need in Vietnam

If you travel in Vietnam for an extended period of time like we did, you’ll likely have to take care of some everyday chores and tasks. 

Grocery store

The thing we missed the most from the US while in Vietnam (besides our pup Kona) were the grocery stores. There are some larger stores in Vietnam, but they are mostly in the major cities. And still, it’s a totally different country and the products do vary. In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi you can find a grocery store called Annam Gourmet , which has a lot of western products. The prices are higher, but if you want more of a taste from home, this is a good option. Some Vietnamese grocery chains to look for are Lotte Mart, VinMart, Big C, and Co.opmart. In the smaller towns, you’ll likely have to go to small convenience type stores for your needs.

It is pretty easy to get medicine in Vietnam without a prescription. If you start to feel sick while in Vietnam, you can find many pharmacies on the streets of HCMC and Hanoi. The names of the medicine may be different, so we suggest looking up what you need beforehand.  During our trip we did need some medicine for a cold and Adam was able to buy it without any issues.

The #1 chore we had to do while in Vietnam was laundry. A big reason why we booked Airbnbs for much of our stay was to have access to laundry. However, if you do not have access to a machine, don’t worry! There are many affordable laundry services in town, where someone does your laundry for you. This was kind of a weird concept for us at first, but you usually get it back the same day and it’s easier than carrying around detergent. Speaking of detergent, if doing your own laundry, make sure you get detergent! None of our Airbnbs provided this unfortunately. But we were able to find some small travel size detergents at a convenience store. Also, some of our machines were a washer and dryer combo, which didn’t always dry our clothes the best.

Eating and drinking in Vietnam

One of the most common questions we got while in Vietnam was if we got sick from the food or water. And the answer is no! At least, we don’t think so. We both did get sick our first week in Vietnam with a stomach bug, but we got sick days apart, so we think it may have been a virus vs. food related. Besides that, our stomachs held up well! I ate way too much of things I shouldn’t (eggs and gluten) and felt that a bit, but we didn’t experience sickness. As for water, both locals and tourists cannot drink out of the tap and you will find purified water everywhere. It is very easy to get!

Is street food safe?

While some are leery of street food, it was our favorite way to eat in Vietnam. We loved sitting in the tiny chairs at the tiny tables and eating right on the sidewalk. The food is typically fresh, delicious, and super affordable. Just make sure to read reviews in advance and go to reputable street food stands (or go with a guide) to ensure it’s high quality and safe.

Our favorite food and drinks in Vietnam

If you’re curious which food and drinks we’d suggest the most while in Vietnam, here is a quick list of our must try items! 

We also have a guide to the top 10+ foods to try in Vietnam (& where to get them!)

• Bún chả 
• Pho (both northern and southern style)
• Bún thịt nướng
• Bun bo nam bo
• Nem Nuong Nha Trang
• Cao lầu 
• Lemongrass chicken
• Cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk)
• Salt foam coffee
• Coconut coffee
• Lemon tea from a street food stand
• Tea from Mót in Hoi An

Tipping in Vietnam

It is not customary to tip in Vietnam. This is a weird concept coming from the US, where you tip for most services. But in Vietnam it’s not expected. However, we did tip as much as we could. We would often give a slightly larger bill for our meal and leave the change. People seemed to really appreciate this! We also always tipped our Grab drivers, food delivery drivers, and especially our tour guides. For tour guides, we always tipped a minimum of 20%.

We hope this guide has helped you with planning a trip to Vietnam. If we have any final advice, it’s to just embrace the adventure. Vietnam may push you a little out of your comfort zone at times and things may go wrong, but it’s all part of the adventure. If you have any questions about planning a trip to Vietnam, let us know! Cảm ơn bạn đã đọc!

Planning a trip to Vietnam? Check out these other Vietnam guides:

• eBook: The ULTIMATE guide to visiting Vietnam
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2 thoughts on “ how to plan a trip to vietnam: everything to know ”.

Thank you very much for guide and all your videos! They are very interesting and also very very helpful for planning our Vietnam trip! If you ever consider traveling to Bulgaria (what I hope), please do not hesitate to contact me for any support, ideas, recommendations etc. Best!

Thank you so much for reading and watching!

Bulgaria looks amazing, we hope to visit one day!

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