navigate

Vietnam

Explore

Ha giang loop

Currency

language

Population

Must-Do

Dong

Vietnamese

50 Million

Quick Facts

The

I always say that you need at least 4 weeks to explore Vietnam properly - but even then, 4 weeks is just scratching the surface. Backpacking? I recommend getting a hop-on / hop-off bus ticket and traveling from north to south or south to north. Vacationing? My must-see spots are Ha Giang, Hanoi and Hoi An - for a perfect mix of rural, city and beach.

Pro Tip: vietnam is used to tourists. So venturing off the beaten path, even just a few blocks away from the main tourist hubs, opens the door to encounters with warm and hospitable Vietnamese people. Their genuine hospitality and friendship may surprise you.

Most ideal time to visit the North: February - April (to avoid the coldest and wettest months).

Most Ideal Time to Visit the South: December - March for fewer crowds and dry weather.

The center for Vietnam (in and near Hoi An) stays relatively nice year-round.

How to Plan Your Itinerary:

If visiting during Spring/Summer, travel from South to North.
If visiting during Autumn/Winter, travel from North to South.

Best Time to Visit

Want to move less and absorb more? Here's a relaxed 3 or 4-week itinerary.

Travel from the North to the South or South to North like this…

Fly into Hanoi
Explore Hanoi (3 days)
Ride the Ha Giang Loop (3 days)
Back to Hanoi (2 days)
Stay on Lan Ha Bay or Ha Long Bay (2 days)
Travel to Ninh Binh (3 days)
Take an overnight bus to Phong Nha
Explore Caves in Phong Nha (3 days)
Take a bus to Hoi An City (3 days)
Move to Hoi An Beach (3 days)
Spend one night in Da Nang (1 day)
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (4 days)

A Quick Itinerary

My Top Advice

Ride the Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam
Camp inside the Tiger Cave System in Phong Nha
Go on a street beer tour in Hanoi, Vietnam
Float through Van Long Natural Reserve Ninh Binh
Visit the American War Museum in Saigon
Go on a street food tour anywhere
Get drunk on Bui Vien Street in Saigon
Visit night markets in Da Nang
Take the hop-on / hop-off bus up or down the coast

Vietnam Bucket List

Floating House on Lan Ha Bay
Happy Bird B&B, Hoi An Beach
Tam Coc Garden Resort, Ninh Binh
Tam Coc Horizon Bungalow, Ninh Binh
Funny Monkey, Phong Nha
Phong Nha Farmstay, Phong Nha
La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa, Hanoi
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa, Hoi An Ancient City
La Siesta Premium Sai Gon, Ho Chi Minh City

Best Hotels in Vietnam

Carry cash. Most street food vendors and market vendors only take cash.
Wear a cross-body purse with zippers.
Look both ways before crossing the street (seriously, motorbike come out of nowhere).
Order Chicken Pho to avoid getting served mysterious cuts of meat and tendon.
Practice the language - but accept that you will butcher it for your entire trip...

Tips for Vietnam

Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, you can't just show up to Vietnam and walk in. You need to apply for your 30-day or 90-day visa at least a week ahead of time.
How to Get a Visa:
Option 1: Through the government website.
Option 2: Through a visa agent. I recommend vietnam-evisa.org
Not American? You might be visa exempt. Check here.

Americans Need a Visa

Most ideal time to visit the north: February - April (to avoid the coldest and wettest months).
Most Ideal Time to Visit the South: December - March for fewer crowds and dry weather.
How to Plan Your Itinerary: