Independent Vietnam guide
Plan your Vietnam trip, north to south
How many nights per stop, which season, what to book ahead: short, dated answers with no tour to sell.
In short
With 2 weeks, pick North + Centre (Hanoi, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An) or Centre + South (Hoi An, Saigon, Mekong, Phu Quoc). With 3 weeks, cover the whole country with domestic flights. Check Vietnam's current visa rules for your nationality before you go.
Most-booked activities
Things to do in VietnamHanoi: Ha Long Bay day cruise with swimming, lunch and kayaking
4.8/5 · 14,631 reviews 1 day
See and bookHo Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta and coconut village
4.8/5 · 7,918 reviews 11 hours
See and book
Three regions, three climates
Vietnam stretches more than 1,600 km north to south: the weather is always good somewhere, never everywhere at once.
North
- HanoiThe capital, its Old Quarter and its street foodRecommended nights · 2-3
- Ha Long BayLimestone karsts and an overnight cruiseRecommended nights · 1-2
- Ninh Binh"Ha Long Bay on land", by rowing boatRecommended nights · 1-2
- SapaRice terraces and homestay treksRecommended nights · 2
- Ha GiangThe most spectacular motorbike loop in the countryRecommended nights · 3-4
Central
Vietnam itineraries
7 daysNorthern Vietnam in 1 week: Hanoi, Ha Long, Ninh Binh and SapaA short trip or an add-on to an Asia trip, October-November and March-April.10 daysVietnam in 10 days: North and Centre itineraryA first trip, February to May.14 daysVietnam in 2 weeks: the north-to-south itineraryA complete first trip, February to April.14 daysCentral and southern Vietnam in 2 weeks: Hoi An, Hue, Saigon, the Mekong and Phu QuocCouples and families who want to end on the beach, February to April.21 daysVietnam in 3 weeks: the complete itinerary with Sapa and Phu QuocA complete, unhurried trip, March to April.
Comparisons to help you decide
- Ha Long, Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long Bay: which one to choose?
- Ha Long cruise: day trip, 1 night or 2 nights?
- Ha Giang Loop: easy rider or riding yourself?
- Sapa or Ha Giang: which mountains to choose in northern Vietnam?
- Stay in Hoi An or Da Nang?
- Phu Quoc or Nha Trang: which beach to choose in Vietnam?
- Night train or plane in Vietnam: how to get around?
- Vietnam or Thailand: which destination to choose?
- Tam Coc or Trang An: which Ninh Binh boat trip to choose?
- Hue or Hoi An: where to spend your nights in central Vietnam?
- Cat Ba Island or a cruise: how to see the bay?
- Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay: which to choose from Hanoi?
- Hanoi or Saigon: which city to choose in Vietnam?
Practical guides
Best time to visit Vietnam: the best month by regionNorth, centre and south have different weather. A month-by-month table to choose when to go to Vietnam and which direction to travel.Vietnam eSIM: get online the moment you landeSIM or local SIM card in Vietnam? Networks, coverage, 5-step setup and the airport traps to avoid.Vietnam visa: 45-day exemption and e-visaWho can enter Vietnam visa-free, for how long, and how to apply for the 90-day e-visa on the official portal in 5 steps.Money in Vietnam: dong, ATMs, card or cashWhere to pay by card, where cash is essential, how to withdraw without needless fees and the 20,000 vs 500,000 dong note trap.Grab, taxis and airport transfers in VietnamGrab, Be or Xanh SM, reliable taxis, cyclos and rides from Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang airports: getting around cities without being ripped off.Scams and safety in Vietnam: what to knowThe most common scams in Vietnam (taxis, cyclos, banknotes, motorbike rental), phone snatching, crossing the street and tap water.Travel insurance for Vietnam: what it must coverMedical costs, repatriation, motorbikes, activities: what to check before buying travel insurance for Vietnam, and the limits of credit card cover.What to see in Vietnam: the 15 must-seesHa Long Bay, Hoi An, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Ha Giang, Hue, the Mekong, Phu Quoc: the 15 places to see in Vietnam from north to south, and the time to allow.Vietnamese food: 15 dishes to try and where to eat themPhở, bún chả, bánh mì, cao lầu, bún bò Huế, egg coffee: the 15 Vietnamese dishes to try, which city to eat them in and useful words.Vietnam practical info: time zone, plugs, emergenciesTime zone, power sockets, currency, emergency numbers, useful words and tourism figures: the essentials to know before a trip to Vietnam.Where to stay in Hanoi: which neighbourhood to chooseOld Quarter, French Quarter, West Lake or Ba Dinh: which Hanoi neighbourhood to stay in for your trip, with the strengths and the catches.Where to stay in Hoi An: old town, rice fields or beachOld town, An Hoi island, Tra Que rice fields or An Bang beach: where to stay in Hoi An for your trip, and the autumn flood catch.Where to stay in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City): which districtDistrict 1, Bui Vien street, District 3 or Thao Dien: which Saigon area to stay in for your trip, with the strengths and the catches.Where to stay in Da Nang: beach, centre or peninsulaMy Khe beach, the Han River centre, Son Tra peninsula or the south: where to stay in Da Nang depending on your trip and your flight.Where to stay in Ninh Binh: Tam Coc, Trang An or the cityTam Coc village, Trang An and Hoa Lu resorts, countryside or the city: where to stay in Ninh Binh to see the rice fields and limestone karsts.Where to stay in Sapa: town centre, valley view or homestayTown centre, hotels overlooking the Muong Hoa valley, Ta Van homestays or resorts: where to stay in Sapa, and the no-view room catch.Where to stay in Nha Trang: centre, north or Bai DaiTran Phu seafront, the more local north, Bai Dai resorts near the airport or Hon Tre island: where to stay in Nha Trang for your trip.Where to stay on Phu Quoc: Long Beach, Ong Lang, north or southLong Beach near Duong Dong, quiet Ong Lang, northern resorts or southern beaches: where to stay on Phu Quoc, and which coast for the season.Where to stay in Hue: south bank, north bank or outskirtsSouth bank around Le Loi, north bank near the citadel, riverside or resorts towards the tombs: where to stay in Hue for your trip.Where to stay in Ha Long: cruise, Bai Chay or Cat BaOvernight cruise, Bai Chay hotels, Tuan Chau island or Cat Ba for Lan Ha: where to stay to visit Ha Long Bay, and when.Where to stay on the Ha Giang Loop: towns and homestaysHa Giang city, Yen Minh, Dong Van near Ma Pi Leng or Du Gia: where to stay on the Ha Giang Loop, stop by stop, and what to bring.When to visit Ha Long Bay: month by monthThe best months for Ha Long Bay, winter mist, summer typhoons: a 12-month table to choose the date of your cruise.When to visit Hoi An: weather month by month and floodsThe best months for Hoi An, beach season and autumn floods in the old town: a 12-month table to choose your dates.When to visit Sapa: rice fields, trekking, month by monthGolden rice fields in September, dry autumn trekking, cold winters: a 12-month table to choose when to visit Sapa.When to visit Phu Quoc: dry season and monsoonDry season from November to April, west coast monsoon from June to September: a 12-month table to choose your Phu Quoc dates.Where to stay in the Mekong Delta: Can Tho or a homestayCan Tho for the floating market, homestays in Ben Tre and Vinh Long, or riverside resorts: where to stay in the Mekong Delta.Hanoi in 2 days: a day-by-day planOld Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, the Mausoleum and West Lake: what to do in Hanoi in 2 days, step by step.Hoi An in 3 days: a day-by-day planOld town and lanterns, My Son sanctuary, a cooking class, Tra Que rice fields and An Bang beach: what to do in Hoi An in 3 days.Saigon in 2 days: a day-by-day planWar Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, Cu Chi Tunnels and Cholon: what to do in Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days, step by step.
Book activities in Vietnam
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