Travel Guide to Vietnam 2026: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hội An & Saigon
Planning to visit Vietnam? This travel guide to Vietnam covers everything for a first trip: where Vietnam is, the best time to go in each region, visa-free and e-visa rules, the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, safety tips, and the best hotels and universities. From the Old Quarter of Hanoi and the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay to the lantern-lit streets of Hội An, the rice terraces of Sapa, the caves of Phong Nha and the energy of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is one of Asia's most rewarding and affordable trips.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to Vietnam were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Vietnam
- Capital: Hanoi💡 Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city
- Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND)💡 Carry cash for street food and markets. Check today's rate
- Language: Vietnamese💡 English is common in tourist areas
- Population: About 102 million💡 2026 estimate
- Area: 331,212 km²💡 About 1,650 km from north to south
- Time zone: UTC+7💡 No daylight saving. Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 9💡 Including Ha Long Bay, Hội An, Huế, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng and the Yên Tử complex (2025)
- Power: 220 V, plug types A, C and F💡 Bring a universal adapter
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Vietnam are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Vietnam?
Vietnam runs down the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It borders China to the north and Laos and Cambodia to the west, and faces the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam) to the east and south. The country has three regions: the mountainous north around Hanoi, the narrow centre with Huế, Da Nang and Hội An, and the flat south with Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
Cheap domestic flights link Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City in about 1–2 hours, and the Reunification Express train runs the length of the country. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Vietnam
Vietnam has very different weather in each region, so there is always somewhere good. The north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa) is best in October–December and March–April; winters are cool and grey. The centre (Hội An, Huế, Da Nang) is best from February to August, as September–December brings heavy rain, floods and typhoons. The south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phú Quốc) is best in the dry season, December–April. If you are covering the whole country, aim for February to April. Around Tết (Lunar New Year, January or February) transport is full and many shops close.
The best all-round time for a north-to-south trip.
Great for the central beaches; hot and humid in the north.
Lovely in the north; rain and typhoons in the centre.
Lunar New Year: festive, but travel is busy and many places close.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Vietnam to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Vietnam Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
Visa-free or e-visa: citizens of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Japan and South Korea (plus several more European countries) can visit visa-free for 45 days. Most ASEAN citizens get 30 days or less. Everyone else, including visitors from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, needs an e-visa, which is open to all nationalities and valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
- PassportValid for at least 6 months, with blank pages.
- e-Visa feeUS$25 single entry or US$50 multiple entry; allow about 3–5 working days.
- Visa-free entry45 days for listed countries; check your nationality before you fly.
- Phú Quốc islandHas its own 30-day visa-free rule for all nationalities arriving directly.
🔗 Official sources: Vietnam e-Visa portal · Vietnam Immigration Department. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Vietnam were last checked in October 2026.
🏞️ 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Vietnam, with the best months to see each one.
The Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Temple of Literature and the best street food in Asia.
💡 Best time: Oct–AprAn overnight cruise among thousands of limestone islands.
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Sep–NovA lantern-lit trading port with tailors, a riverside market and nearby beaches.
💡 Best time: Feb–AugRice terraces, hill-tribe villages and Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak.
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Sep–NovBoat rides through Tràng An's caves and rice fields, called "Ha Long Bay on land".
💡 Best time: Mar–Jun, Sep–NovThe imperial citadel, royal tombs and the Perfume River.
💡 Best time: Feb–AugGiant caves, including Paradise Cave and the world's largest, Sơn Đoòng.
💡 Best time: Mar–AugThe War Remnants Museum, colonial landmarks, rooftop bars and the Củ Chi Tunnels.
💡 Best time: Dec–AprFloating markets, fruit orchards and river life.
💡 Best time: Dec–AprWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on Vietnam's largest island.
💡 Best time: Nov–Apr🗺️ 7-Day Vietnam Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
A fast first trip from north to south. With only a week, choose the north and centre, or the centre and south.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Vietnam day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Hanoi: the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake and a street-food tour.
- Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay: an overnight cruise with kayaking and caves.
- Ninh Bình or Hanoi: back on land; Tràng An boat ride, then fly to Da Nang in the evening.
- Hội An: the Old Town, a tailor fitting and lanterns on the river at night.
- Hội An & Huế: the Hải Vân Pass by car to Huế's citadel, or a beach day.
- Ho Chi Minh City: fly south; the War Remnants Museum and Bến Thành Market.
- Củ Chi or Mekong Delta: a half-day trip, then fly home.
➕ With more time: add Sapa or the Hà Giang loop in the north, Phong Nha caves, or a few beach days on Phú Quốc.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Vietnam Cost?
Vietnam is one of the best-value countries in the world. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding international flights. Use our currency converter to see them in your own currency.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$30–50 | Hostels, street food, sleeper buses and trains |
| Mid-range | US$70–130 | Boutique hotels, restaurants, domestic flights and a bay cruise |
| Luxury | US$250 + | Five-star resorts, private guides and luxury cruises |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Vietnam are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
💵 Dong notes have many zeros: 500,000 and 50,000 look alike, so check before you pay. Grab is the easiest way to order cars and motorbike taxis at fair prices.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Vietnam
Vietnam is safe for travellers, with low violent crime. The biggest danger is traffic: cross roads slowly and steadily, and think twice before renting a motorbike without a licence and insurance (accidents are common). Watch for bag snatchers on motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City, agree prices before services, and check weather warnings in the typhoon season (September–December in the centre).
Walk at a steady pace and let bikes flow around you.
For cars, motorbike taxis and food delivery.
Tailors need 1–2 days for fittings.
Ice in restaurants is usually factory-made.
Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas.
"Xin chào" (hello) and "Cảm ơn" (thank you).
🏨 Best Hotels in Vietnam: 8 Top Picks
Stay in or near the Old Quarter in Hanoi, near the Old Town or the beach in Hội An, and in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.
A French colonial landmark from 1901.
Check prices on Booking.com →Colourful French-Indochine style with mountain views.
Check prices on Booking.com →Villas on a long beach near Hội An.
Check prices on Booking.com →Walking distance to the Old Town.
Check prices on Booking.com →Terraced rooms above a private bay.
Check prices on Booking.com →Colonial style next to the Opera House.
Check prices on Booking.com →Lavish Italian design with river views.
Check prices on Booking.com →Pavilions in a national park above the sea.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Vietnam: hotels are picked for location, reputation and a spread of regions and styles. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Vietnam
Vietnam's universities are growing fast, with international partnerships and English-taught programmes.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam National University, Hanoi | Hanoi | Public |
| Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City | Ho Chi Minh City | Public |
| Hanoi University of Science and Technology | Hanoi | Public |
| Ton Duc Thang University | Ho Chi Minh City | Public |
| RMIT University Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh City & Hanoi | Private (international) |
A leading national university of several member schools.
Visit website →The south's largest university system.
Visit website →The top engineering university in the north.
Visit website →Ranked highly in international league tables.
Visit website →An Australian university campus teaching in English.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Vietnam: the leading universities in Vietnam by reputation and international programmes. Last checked: October 2026.
🌺 Vietnamese Culture & Food
Vietnamese culture combines Confucian family values, Buddhist pagodas and ancestor worship with French colonial and modern influences. Tết (Lunar New Year) is the biggest celebration, and you will see family altars, incense and offerings everywhere. Try a water puppet show in Hanoi, which grew out of village festivals held in flooded rice paddies.
Vietnamese food is fresh, herby and cheap: try phở (noodle soup), bánh mì, Hanoi's bún chả, fresh spring rolls (gỏi cuốn), Hội An's cao lầu, Huế's spicy bún bò, and finish with egg coffee or strong iced coffee with condensed milk.
❓ Travel Guide to Vietnam: FAQ
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
UK, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Nordic, Japanese and South Korean citizens get 45 days visa-free. US, Canadian, Australian and most other visitors need an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days.
How much is the Vietnam e-visa?
US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry on the official portal evisa.gov.vn.
What is the best time to visit Vietnam?
February to April is best for the whole country; the north is lovely October–December and the south December–April.
Is Vietnam safe for tourists?
Yes. Take care with traffic, motorbike rentals and bag snatchers in big cities.
How many days do you need in Vietnam?
Seven days for two regions; two to three weeks to travel from north to south.
What currency does Vietnam use?
The Vietnamese dong (VND). US dollars are not used for everyday purchases.
Is Ha Long Bay worth it?
Yes. An overnight cruise, or neighbouring Lan Ha Bay for fewer boats, is a highlight of most trips.
How many UNESCO sites does Vietnam have?
Nine World Heritage Sites, the newest added in 2025.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Vietnam
- Vietnam TourismOfficial tourism portal
- Vietnam e-VisaOfficial e-visa applications
- UNESCO: Viet NamWorld Heritage Sites in Vietnam
Finished this travel guide to Vietnam? 🌍 More Southeast Asia guides: Thailand · Cambodia · Laos · Indonesia · All of Asia
⚖️ Compare Vietnam with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
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