Voted as Asia’s top travel destination in 2021, Vietnam is one of the hottest destinations in the world for tourists looking for adventure, great weather, and untouched beauty — all with an attractive price tag.

If you are planning a trip to “the land of the blue dragon”, this Vietnam Travel Guide is your go-to information hub and you can learn all about the best places and the best time to visit Vietnam.

Vietnam tours can take you from lush mountainous highlands to crystal-clear tropical beaches and everything in between. Go cycling in Vietnam’s verdant rice paddies or search for endangered primates at some of the best nature & wildlife destinations in Vietnam. Beat the heat with a visit to northern Vietnam in December or escape to the country’s hidden gem, Phu Quoc island, where it is summer all year round.

Spend five or 10 days in Vietnam, or plan for a multi-week excursion. You will be able to visit all the popular locations and dine the finest Vietnamese cuisine during these days. This handy travel guide will help you determine how many days to spend in Vietnam, and to know your Hanoi from your Hoi An.

Top Destinations in Vietnam

Discover the highlights of Vietnam.

Visit the Floating Markets in Mekong Delta

Visit the Floating Markets in Mekong Delta

Venture into the iconic floating markets on the Mekong River and eat your fill of exotic fruit in an ultra-unique setting. The Mekong Delta is known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. People here live off farming and fishing. Observing these practices is a highlight of a visit to southern Vietnam. View Tours

Hike the Gorgeous Vistas in Sapa

Hike the Gorgeous Vistas in Sapa

Sapa is famed for its picturesque green rice terraces and quaint mountain setting. The undulating landscape of Vietnam's highlands is green beyond comprehension and is laden with hiking routes dotting the gorgeous vistas. You will be able to take in the natural beauty and indulge with the local communities. View Tours

Explore Vietnamese Culture in Hanoi

Explore Vietnamese Culture in Hanoi

Hanoi’s old quarter with its charming winding streets has seen centuries of history pass, but it remains a lifeline for the everyday folk, where they sell various wares and food items. Simply walking through the city gives one a snapshot of Vietnamese life, making them appreciate this dynamic country even more. View Tours

What to do in Vietnam

Read all about the top things to do in Vietnam.

Trekking in Sapa: Everything You Need to Know

Trekking in Sapa: Everything You Need to Know

Sapa, a mist-shrouded town in Lào Cai province, is one of Vietnam’s most astonishing destinations. Resting at the foot of the country’s highest mountain, the town overlooks a vast green valley covered in maze-like rice terraces. Trekkin ...Read more

Top 12 Best Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Top 12 Best Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Going to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam? Let’s make sure you get the most out of visiting this fabulous city, previously also known as Saigon. Below, we are listing the Top 12 best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City. The activities are listed in random o ...Read more

Cycling in Vietnam: The Top Travelers Guide

Cycling in Vietnam: The Top Travelers Guide

Whether it’s cycling through the pancake-flat sprawl of the Mekong Delta, the cultural echoes of Hoi An’s colonial French beauty, mountain biking in the Cat Tien National Park, or the bustling daily life of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, a bike s ...Read more

Vietnam at a Glance

Quick facts about Vietnam.

CAPITAL CITY

Vietnam’s capital is Hanoi. Located to the north of Vietnam, the city is more than 1,000 years old.

SIZE

Vietnam covers an area of 331,210 km². With 98 million residents, it is the third most populous country in the world.

COUNTRY CODE

+84. Just add 4 after the country code if you need to call in Hanoi.

CURRENCY

Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong. The currency code is VND. Card facilities are not widely available and tourists are encouraged to exchange money for cash. ATMs are available in all major cities, but are hard to come by in rural areas and small towns.

MAIN AIRPORT

Tan Son Nhat is the main and the largest airport in Vietnam. It is located around 15 minutes from Ho Chi Minh’s city center. CODE: SGN CLOSEST CITY: Ho Chi Minh

VISAS

Vietnam is undergoing various visa restructuring, but most visitors are able to get a 30-day visa on arrival. Check with the Vietnamese embassy in your home country on whether you need a visa to enter Vietnam and how to get one.

LANGUAGE

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. Few people speak English outside of the large cities. Although you probably will not master the language before your trip, greeting people with a friendly “Xin chao” will go a long way.

EMERGENCY CONTACT

For police emergencies, you can call 113 or 115 for an ambulance.

WHAT'S UNIQUE

Motorcycle culture is the backbone of Vietnamese society. If you are not brave enough to drive yourself you can use Grab, a ride-sharing app like Uber. Vietnamese are also fond of naps in the middle of hot days, so expect many stores to close over lunchtime.

When to visit Vietnam

Read the below travel guides to find the best time to visit Vietnam.

°C °F
  • Jan Avg Daily: 19 ° C Avg Nightly: 15 ° C
  • Feb Avg Daily: 19 ° C Avg Nightly: 15 ° C
  • Mar Avg Daily: 23 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
  • Apr Avg Daily: 26 ° C Avg Nightly: 21 ° C
  • May Avg Daily: 31 ° C Avg Nightly: 24 ° C
  • Jun Avg Daily: 32 ° C Avg Nightly: 25 ° C
  • Jul Avg Daily: 32 ° C Avg Nightly: 26 ° C
  • Aug Avg Daily: 32 ° C Avg Nightly: 26 ° C
  • Sep Avg Daily: 31 ° C Avg Nightly: 25 ° C
  • Oct Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 22 ° C
  • Nov Avg Daily: 24 ° C Avg Nightly: 19 ° C
  • Dec Avg Daily: 21 ° C Avg Nightly: 15 ° C
Best Time to Visit:
  • Excellent
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Poor
Best Time To Visit Vietnam

Best Time To Visit Vietnam

Vietnam is a beautiful country that has had its reputation and geography tarnished by the war. But forty years after the war, Vietnam is starting to gain momentum as a tourist economy. What draws the tourists on a tour to Vietnam is its beautiful white be ...Read more

Vietnam in July: Weather and Travel Tips

Vietnam in July: Weather and Travel Tips

Although Vietnam receives a healthy dose of rain on both ends of the country in July, its central coastal regions become a beach lover’s dream. Therefore, even with most trekking and cycling routes out of the question in the northern and southern pa ...Read more

Vietnam in December: Travel Tips for Festive Season

Vietnam in December: Travel Tips for Festive Season

The country known for its hot and humid weather takes a different turn in December. For a small fraction of time, Vietnam experiences four different seasons spread across the country. December is one of the few times when you might need a jacket. Still, y ...Read more

Where to go in Vietnam

Discover the best places in Vietnam.

14 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam

14 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam

Mountains, rice terraces, majestic rivers, and dramatic bays; Vietnam is blessed with countless magical landscapes. The towns are full of history and atmosphere, and the great cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh buzz with life, twenty-four-seven. Wherever you ...Read more

Best Nature & Wildlife Destinations in Vietnam

Best Nature & Wildlife Destinations in Vietnam

Vietnam has been blessed with over 3,000km of coastline, pristine forests, mountain ranges, and some of the planet’s most impressive limestone pinnacles and plateaus. Combine all this and you have the best nature tourism location in Southeast Asia. ...Read more

How long to stay in Vietnam

Read about the ideal duration to stay in Vietnam.

10 Days in Vietnam: Our Recommendations

10 Days in Vietnam: Our Recommendations

A wealth of attractions awaits anyone planning 10 days in Vietnam. Cities including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) have an evocative blend of traditional and contemporary, while Vietnam’s natural wonders are also hard to beat thanks to the like ...Read more

Two Weeks in Vietnam: Our Recommendations

Two Weeks in Vietnam: Our Recommendations

One of the most beautiful and fascinating countries in Southeast Asia, a Vietnam tour is an essential part of any Asian adventure. Urban wonderlands like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Hue will captivate you at every corner. Trips to traditional vil ...Read more

7 Days in Vietnam: Our Recommendations

7 Days in Vietnam: Our Recommendations

With 7 days in Vietnam, it’s possible to explore many of this beguiling South-East Asian country’s most important natural, cultural, and historic sights. From north to south, and east to west, a tour in Vietnam will reveal this country’s ...Read more

Vietnam Tour and Holiday Packages

Select the tour type that you are looking for.

FAQs for Vietnam

Read the most frequently asked questions and answers about traveling to Vietnam below.

  • How many days do I need to travel in Vietnam?
  • What is the best time to travel to Vietnam?
  • Is a trip to Vietnam expensive? Will I need a visa?
  • Is English spoken in Vietnam?
  • Is anything considered rude in Vietnam?

Sustainable travel — How to travel through Vietnam responsibly

In line with Bookmundi’s vision, we wish to provide our travelers with a sustainable travel experience through Vietnam. As part of this effort, we carbon-offset any Vietnam tour that you purchase through us. You can read more details about our carbon offsetting efforts.

Here’s what you can do to travel to Vietnam more responsibly:

  • Carbon-offset your trip to Vietnam via Vietnam Airlines. The moment your tour starts in Vietnam, and provided that you have purchased your tour through Bookmundi, we will carbon-offset your tour from its starting point to its ending point.
  • Vietnam, especially its street food culture, is big on single-use plastics. Try to bring your own reusable container when walking around the city and carry a water bottle that you can refill, instead of buying bottled water.

Vietnam travel tips and insights

  • Robbers on motorcycles snatching people’s belongings are fairly common in city areas. So, always keep your belongings close.
  • Haggling is common in Vietnam. So, don’t hesitate to bargain when shopping for souvenirs and other goods.
  • You should be able to connect to Wi-Fi for free in hotels, hostels, cafes and restaurants.
  • Vietnamese food will vary according to the region. Central Vietnam is full of spicy foods, while food in the south is more sweet.

Ready to customize your Vietnam Vacation

Book your trip when it is perfectly designed and customized, just for you.

  • Jacqueline Nguyen
    Jacqueline Nguyen Travel Expert in Cambodia & Vietnam
  • Linh Do
    Linh Do Travel Expert in Cambodia & Vietnam
  • Thanh Kim
    Thanh Kim Travel Expert in Vietnam
Looking for a different destination? Explore here
Customize Tours Bookmundi

Why book with Bookmundi

FINEST SELECTION

Hand-picked selection of the best multiday tours and trip packages globally.

BEST PRICE

We guarantee you the best price. Found a lower price? We will match it.

CUSTOMERSUS

4.8 stars of more than 25,000 trip ratings.

Reviews.io badge