Welcome to Vietnam! This country has been a backpackers paradise for decades, but it’s quickly becoming a tourist hot spot for every kind of traveler. It’s incredible affordable showcasing mountains, rice terraces, limestone karsts and enormous caves.
We spent almost 30 days traveling through Vietnam during our 18 month honeymoon around the world. It was the longest amount of time you could stay with a visa at the time and it was an incredibly memorable trip.
- Capital City: Hanoi
- Population: About 98 million
- Language: Vietnamese
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong ($1 USD = 25429.96 VND)
- Time Zone: Indochina Time (GMT+7)
Top Places To Visit In Vietnam
Da Lat – Known for being a peaceful retreat, Da Lat is a quiet mountain town offering visitors mild weather and amazing scenery. This romantic village has farmers markers, coffee shops and a stable climate making it a great choice for slow travelers.
Halong Bay – Now A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this beautiful bay is filled with towering limestone karsts and emerald green waters. Most people visit to experience a Halong Bay cruise, see the famous floating fishing villages and enjoy various water sports.
Hanoi – Founded over 1,000 years ago, Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and it’s home to an extremely picturesque Old Quarter. This city is a foodies paradise because it’s one of the best cities in Vietnam for street food.
Ho Chi Minh City – A bustling travel destination, Ho Chi Minh City has consistent temperatures so it’s a year-round travel destination. It’s Vietnam’s most modern city with a vibrant energetic atmosphere, numerous attractions and vibrant nightlife.
Hoi An – One of the best preserved Southeast Asian trading ports, Hoi An’s ancint town is a must-see when visiting Vietnam. It’s filled with yellow buildings, stunning lanterns and a river of lights.
Hue – A unique region originally home to the Imperial Citadel and Nguyen Dynasty emperors, Hue is a great place if you’re interested in mausoleums, pagodas and tombs of emperors. There is also an incredible amount of amazing restaurants located here.
Ninh Binh – Located in the north along the Red River Delta, this region is one of our favorite places to explore rural Vietnam. You can climb to epic view points, visit 300 year old pagodas and explore caves under the limestone karsts by boat.
Phong Nha – Adventurers look no further then Phong Nha because it’s home to numerous cave systems. You can explore both small and large caves either on your own or as a part of a tour if you’d feel more comfortable.
Sapa – Tucked away in the northwest corner of Vietnam, Sapa is the perfect place for hikers. Picturesque rice terraces and home stays with ethnic minority communities are a large draw for the region.
Vietnam Travel Itineraries
Before heading to Vietnam, you’ll need to obtain a visa. The most common type issued to foreigners is the 90 day one-entry E-Visa for 25 USD. You can stay for just a few days or the full 90 days. Start with our guides below to get a feel for what you can experience:
15 Amazing Places To Visit In Vietnam (+ Things To Do)
3 Week Vietnam Itinerary: Perfect Route For Northern & Central Vietnam
Vietnam Itinerary 10 Days: 3 Northern + Central Vietnam Routes
Most Popular Tours In Vietnam
Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam’s hustling and bustling capital city. This is also where one of the two major international airports are located so there’s a good chance you’ll be flying into or out of Hanoi at some point during your trip.
Sapa
Sapa is a stunning area of natural beauty in the northwest region of Vietnam near the border with China. It’s a popular place for multi-day hiking and learning about local tribes who live in the area. We hiked with a member of the Black Hmong ethnic group and had an amazing time!
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Vietnam known for beautiful limestone karts jutting from the emerald green waters of the bay. Junk boat tours, sea kayaking, fishing villages, scuba diving, rock climbing, cave exploration and hiking are popular activities in this stunning region.
Ninh Binh
The Ninh Binh Province was one of our favorite stops in Central Vietnam. It’s sometimes known as the Halong Bay on land and the beautiful natural scenery will take your breath away. We think this is a great option if you don’t want to visit Halong bay. You can also visit the Tam Coc Pagoda when you’re in town.
10 Best Things To Do In Ninh Binh, Vietnam + 2 Day Itinerary
Trang An Boat Tour Review: Everything You Need To Know
How To Visit Mua Cave Viewpoint In Ninh Binh
Hoi An
Hoi An is a delightful blend of Japanese, Chinese and European influences which is complimented with a favorable climate and a UNESCO Heritage Site designation. We wished we’d planned more days in Hoi An because it’s such a beautiful place to visit. Read about our amazing tour with a Vietnam war veteran.
Phong Nha
Phong Nha is the premier adventure destination in Vietnam. Home to Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, here visitors can explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park showcasing numerous cave systems as well as the Phong Nha Botanical Gardens.
12 Best Things To Do In Phong Nha, Vietnam
How To Visit Dark Cave In Phong Nha (+ Is It Worth It?)
How To Visit Paradise Cave In Phong Nha (+ Is It Worth It)
Vietnam Resources
There are several ways to travel around Vietnam including train, plane and even the famous Vietnam Sleeper Bus. We’ve written a few guides to help make your travel in Vietnam easier including tips you should know before visiting. Don’t miss the popular abandoned waterpark near Hue if you want an adventure.
How To Book And Survive The Vietnam Sleeper Bus
30 Key Things To Know About Vietnam Before You Go
Da Nang to Hoi An, Vietnam Transport Guide: Best Travel Options
Want to see how much we spent in Vietnam? Here’s a one month expense report.
How Many Days Do You Need In Vietnam?
If this is your first trip to Vietnam, we’d recommend at least 7 days. This will give you enough time to scratch the surface to see if Vietnam is a place you’d like to visit again in the future.
However, if you can spare the time, two weeks is the perfect length to spend in Vietnam. This S shaped country is more than 1,000 miles long so it takes times to travel between cities. Even with almost a month, we could only cover north and central Vietnam so you’ll have to carefully pick and choose where you want to go or focus on just a few regions to cover more ground.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to go to Vietnam is between the months of November and April, but the weather will vary depending on region. Here is a quick overview:
- Northern Vietnam is mountainous and has two different seasons. From May to October, its very hot and humid. But the weather cools down from November to April with less rainfall. December and January can be cold with temps as low as 50°F.
- Central Vietnam is typically hot and dry from January to August. But in September to December, it can be very wet with comfortable temperatures.
- Southern Vietnam has a hot and dry season that lasts from November to April. However, rain is common between May and October, but the weather is still warm.
We visited North and Central Vietnam from mid-October to mid-November. It was cold and rainy in the northern region, but the weather got better the further we went south.
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