Practical guides
Answers to the questions you ask before you leave.
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.6 min readVietnam eSIM: get online the moment you landeSIM or local SIM card in Vietnam? Networks, coverage, 5-step setup and the airport traps to avoid.5 min readVietnam 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.5 min readMoney 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.4 min readGrab, 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.4 min readScams 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.5 min readTravel 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.4 min readWhat 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.6 min readVietnamese 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.5 min readVietnam 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhere 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.4 min readWhen 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.3 min readWhen 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.3 min readWhen 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.3 min readWhen 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.3 min readWhere 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.3 min readHanoi 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.4 min readHoi 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.4 min readSaigon 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.4 min read