Vietnam
The best food in Southeast Asia, remarkable scenery, a long coastline.
Vietnam packs an extraordinary amount into one country: the chaos of Saigon, the elegance of Hanoi, the karst seascape of Ha Long, the ancient lanterns of Hoi An, and beach towns scattered down a 3,400 km coast. The food is the strongest argument for going — and it's hard to overstate how good it is.
At a glance
- Best time
- February, March, April, October…
- Climate
- Warm
- Budget
- Backpacker – Mid-range
- Trip length
- 2–6 weeks
- Language
- Vietnamese
- Currency
- VND (Dong)
- January: fine
- February: peak
- March: peak
- April: peak
- May: fine
- June: avoid
- July: avoid
- August: avoid
- September: fine
- October: peak
- November: peak
- December: fine
Avoid: June, July, August. Shoulder: January, May, September, December.
Highlights
-
Hanoi
Old quarter chaos, lakes, and the best pho on earth.
-
Ha Long & Cat Ba
Limestone islands rising from emerald water.
-
Hoi An
Lantern-lit old town, tailors, and quiet beaches nearby.
-
Ho Chi Minh City
Coffee culture, war history, and electric energy.
Practical info
- Visa
- E-visa available for most nationalities (90 days). Verify before travel.
- Currency
- VND (Dong). Roughly 25,000 VND ≈ 1 USD.
- Language
- Vietnamese. Limited English outside major cities and tourist spots.
- Safety
- Safe. Traffic and pickpocketing are the main concerns.
- Getting around
- Trains run the coast (slow, scenic). Domestic flights cheap. Grab in cities.
- Tap water
- Tap water not safe.
- Plug type
- Type A Type C Type D 220V
- Money
- Cash dominant; cards limited to nicer hotels and restaurants.
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Last updated 2026-05-04