Highlights
Hanoi
The Old Quarter's streets, each once dedicated to a single trade, are a mix of scooters, street kitchens and temples. See Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and eat bún chả and phở at plastic stools on the pavement.
Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay
Thousands of limestone islands and pillars rise from emerald water in the Gulf of Tonkin. Overnight cruises stop at caves, beaches and floating villages; neighbouring Lan Ha Bay is often quieter.
Ninh Binh
Sometimes called 'Ha Long Bay on land', with rowing-boat trips through karst caves and rice fields at Trang An and Tam Coc, and the Hang Mua viewpoint at the top of hundreds of steps.
Hoi An
A well-preserved trading port of yellow merchant houses, a Japanese covered bridge and lanterns along the Thu Bon river. Tailors can make clothes within a day or two, and An Bang beach is a short cycle away.
Hue
The former imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty, with the walled Citadel and Imperial City and grand royal tombs along the Perfume River.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
A UNESCO-listed karst region with enormous caves, including Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave. Son Doong, among the largest cave passages known, can be visited only on limited, multi-day expeditions.
Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi tunnels
Vietnam's largest city has the War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, French colonial buildings and a lively food scene. The Cu Chi tunnel network, used in the war, is a day trip away.
The far north and the Mekong Delta
Terraced rice fields and ethnic minority villages around Sapa and on the Ha Giang loop in the north contrast with the floating markets, orchards and canals of the Mekong Delta in the south.
Interesting facts about Vietnam
- Son Doong cave in central Vietnam has one of the largest known cave passages in the world, large enough to contain its own jungle and clouds.
- Vietnam is one of the world's largest coffee producers, mainly of robusta, and egg coffee is a Hanoi speciality.
- Vietnamese is written in a Latin-based alphabet, chữ Quốc ngữ, with diacritics that mark its six tones in the northern standard.
- Tết, the Lunar New Year, is the country's most important holiday, and many businesses close for several days.
- There are tens of millions of motorbikes in Vietnam, far outnumbering cars, so crossing the road at a steady, predictable pace is a skill visitors quickly learn.
Best time to visit
Vietnam's long shape means the weather varies by region. The north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay) is best from roughly October to April, though winters can be cool and misty; summers are hot and wet. Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An) is driest from about February to August, with typhoons and heavy rain most likely from September to December. The south (Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong) is warm all year, with a dry season from about December to April. Around Tết in late January or February, transport is busy and many businesses close.
Practical information
| Capital | Hanoi |
|---|---|
| Currency | Vietnamese dong (VND) |
| Languages | Vietnamese |
| Plugs | Type A, B, C, F |
| Voltage | 220 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not traditionally expected, but tips for tour guides, drivers and good service in restaurants are appreciated. |
Getting around
Domestic flights are frequent and save time between Hanoi, Da Nang (for Hoi An and Hue) and Ho Chi Minh City. The Reunification Express railway runs the length of the country, with sleeper berths for overnight journeys and scenic stretches such as the Hai Van Pass near Da Nang. Sleeper buses are cheap and widespread. In cities, ride-hailing apps for cars and motorbike taxis are the easiest option and avoid haggling. Renting a motorbike is popular but requires a valid licence and real caution.
Staying connected in Vietnam
Mobile coverage is good across cities, towns and along the main north–south routes, with 4G widely available and 5G rolling out in larger cities. Coverage can be weaker on remote parts of the Ha Giang loop, in mountain valleys, inside caves and on some islands, and drops out on parts of Ha Long Bay cruises. Free Wi-Fi is everywhere in cafés, hotels and restaurants, usually with the password on the wall. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so you can book a ride from the airport.
See Vietnam eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Vietnam
- Grab: Cars, motorbike taxis and food delivery in all major cities, with fixed fares.
- Xanh SM: Electric taxis and motorbike rides, widely available in Vietnamese cities.
- Google Maps: Navigation and finding street food; download offline maps for the north.
- Zalo: Vietnam's most popular messaging app, used by many hotels, tour operators and drivers.
- Google Translate: Camera translation for menus and signs.