Asia
A long, slender country of limestone bays, imperial cities, lantern-lit river towns and street food that is among the best in the world, all within a fortnight's reach.
Vietnam is a narrow, S-shaped country of nearly 100 million people, stretching about 1,650 km from the Chinese border in the north to the tip of the Mekong Delta in the south. Its history is one of thousands of years of Chinese influence and resistance, the Cham and Khmer kingdoms of the centre and south, the last imperial dynasty at Hue, French colonial rule from the 1880s and the long wars for independence and reunification that ended in 1975. Since the economic reforms of 1986, known as Doi Moi, it has become one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia.
The result for the visitor is a country that is easy, varied and rewarding. In the north, Hanoi's Old Quarter, the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, and the rice terraces of Sapa. In the centre, the imperial tombs of Hue, the lantern-lit trading port of Hoi An and the great caves of Phong Nha. In the south, the buzzing streets of Ho Chi Minh City, the waterways of the Mekong Delta and the beaches of Phu Quoc.
It is also a country where you eat superbly at almost every price, where transport is cheap and frequent, and where the people are generally curious and welcoming to visitors. Most travellers follow the north-south route, either by overnight train, by domestic flights or by motorbike, and it is one of the best-value trips in Asia.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend each for a first visit. Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City are the classic route; Hue and Ninh Binh fit between them, and Sapa, Phong Nha, the Mekong and Phu Quoc are strong additions.
Red River Delta, northern Vietnam
Vietnam's capital: a lakeside city with a maze-like Old Quarter, the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, colonial architecture, water puppets and some of the best street food in Asia.
Don't miss A bowl of pho at a pavement stall at dawn, before the motorbikes take over the Old Quarter.
Explore Destination — HanoiQuang Ninh, north-east Vietnam
A UNESCO-listed seascape of limestone islands and hidden lagoons in the Gulf of Tonkin, explored by overnight cruise, kayak and cave, with quieter Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays nearby.
Don't miss Waking on deck to mist lifting from the karst islands.
Explore Destination — Ha Long BayCentral coast, near Da Nang
A UNESCO-listed trading town of Chinese assembly halls, Japanese bridge and merchants' houses, famed for lanterns, tailors, food and its easy access to beaches and the ruins of My Son.
Don't miss The old town at dusk, when the lanterns are lit and the river fills with candle-lit boats.
Explore Destination — Hoi AnSouthern Red River Delta, northern Vietnam
A landscape of karst hills, rivers, caves and paddies two hours south of Hanoi, with the boat trips of Trang An and Tam Coc, the Hang Mua viewpoint, Hoa Lu ancient capital and Bai Dinh pagoda.
Don't miss A rowing boat gliding through a cave beneath the cliffs at Trang An, with water buffalo grazing beside the river.
Explore Destination — Ninh BinhPerfume River, central Vietnam
The former imperial capital on the Perfume River, with the Imperial City, the tombs of the Nguyen emperors, Thien Mu Pagoda and a distinctive royal cuisine.
Don't miss The Meridian Gate of the Imperial City, and the calm of a royal tomb reflected in its lotus pond.
Explore Destination — HueSouthern Vietnam
The commercial heart of Vietnam, with the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame Basilica, Ben Thanh Market, Chinatown and the Cu Chi Tunnels, plus a thriving food and nightlife scene.
Don't miss A bowl of noodles on a plastic stool at midnight, with the motorbikes of Saigon streaming by.
Explore Destination — Ho Chi Minh CityHoang Lien Son mountains, north-west Vietnam
A former French hill station at 1,500 metres, gateway to the terraced valleys of the Hoang Lien Son range, Hmong and Red Dao villages, homestays and Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak.
Don't miss Trekking through the Muong Hoa Valley when the terraces turn gold in September.
Explore Destination — SapaCentral Vietnam
A UNESCO-listed national park with hundreds of caves, including Phong Nha, Paradise and the giant Son Doong, plus jungle, rivers, ziplines and quiet countryside.
Don't miss The huge chamber of Paradise Cave, with its glittering formations lit for the visitors.
Explore Destination — Phong Nha–Ke BangMekong Delta, southern Vietnam
Vietnam's rice bowl: a delta of waterways south of Ho Chi Minh City with floating markets at Can Tho, fruit orchards, homestays, coconut candy workshops and a slow river pace.
Don't miss A dawn boat to a floating market, with fruit boats piled high and vendors hanging their wares from tall poles.
Explore Destination — The Mekong DeltaGulf of Thailand, southern Vietnam
A tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand with long beaches, snorkelling, a national park, pepper and fish-sauce farms, night markets and a cable car to the offshore islands.
Don't miss Swimming off Sao Beach in calm turquoise water, then dinner at the Duong Dong night market.
Explore Destination — Phu QuocExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and make a Vietnamese trip feel like one.
A cruise among thousands of limestone islands, with kayaking, caves and a night on board, is the country's best-known experience. See Ha Long Bay.
Tip Pick a reputable operator, and consider the quieter Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long.
Pho for breakfast, bun cha for lunch, egg coffee in the afternoon and a fresh beer on a plastic stool in the evening. See Hanoi.
Tip Take a guided street-food walk on your first evening to learn what to look for.
The Ha Giang Loop in the far north, and the Hai Van Pass near Hoi An and Hue, are among the most scenic rides in Asia, though the roads demand experience.
Tip Ride with an experienced guide or an 'easy rider' driver unless you are confident. Check your insurance first.
Central Vietnam has some of the largest caves in the world, from easy boat trips to multi-day expeditions to Son Doong. See Phong Nha.
Tip Check the season, since caves close during the wet months.
Tailors in the old town make shirts, dresses and suits in a day or two, at a fraction of Western prices. See Hoi An.
Tip Bring a picture or a garment to copy, and allow time for a second fitting.
A folk art dating back centuries, in which wooden puppets perform scenes from rural life on a pool of water, accompanied by live music.
Tip Book the evening show in advance.
A network of rivers, orchards and floating markets in the south, best seen by small boat. See the Mekong Delta.
Tip Take a night in Can Tho for the early-morning market.
Food and drink
Vietnamese cooking is built on fresh herbs, rice noodles, fish sauce, lime and chilli, and it varies from north to south. It is generally lighter and fresher than many Asian cuisines, and street food is at its heart.
The national dish: rice noodles in a clear, spiced beef or chicken broth, with herbs and lime. The northern version is simpler, and the southern one comes with more herbs and sauces.
Where to try it Street stalls and family restaurants, especially in Hanoi.
A crisp French-style baguette stuffed with pork, pâté, pickled carrot and daikon, herbs and chilli, a legacy of French colonial rule and one of the world's great sandwiches.
Where to try it Street carts everywhere, and famous shops in Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City.
A Hanoi lunch of grilled pork patties and slices in a sweet-sour broth, served with rice noodles, herbs and crab spring rolls.
Where to try it Lunchtime restaurants in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
Chewy noodles with pork, greens and crisp croutons, a speciality of Hoi An that is traditionally made with water from local wells.
Where to try it Market stalls and small restaurants in Hoi An.
Translucent rice paper rolls filled with prawns, herbs and vermicelli, dipped in peanut or fish sauce. A light, healthy staple of the south.
Where to try it Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
Strong robusta coffee dripped through a small metal filter, often with sweetened condensed milk, over ice or hot. Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer.
Where to try it Cafés everywhere, from streetside plastic stools to trendy roasteries.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Vietnam is easy and inexpensive, though visas, road safety and typhoon season need some attention.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
Vietnam stretches over 15 degrees of latitude, and each region has its own climate. The north has four seasons, the centre has a wet season in autumn, and the south is tropical, with a dry and wet season.
Warm and dry in the north and centre. Excellent for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue and Hoi An. The south is hot before the rains.
Hot and humid. Wet in the north and south, but dry and sunny in the centre and on the central beaches.
Clear, golden weather in the north, especially for Sapa's harvest. Typhoons and floods hit the centre from late September to December.
Cool and misty in the north, wet in the centre, and dry and sunny in the south, which is peak season for Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong and Phu Quoc.
Worth planning around: The central coast from October to December, when typhoons and floods are common, and Tet, the Lunar New Year in January or February, when many businesses close and transport is crowded.
Trip length
The country is long and narrow, and covering it from north to south takes at least ten days. Two weeks allows for a relaxed route with domestic flights, and three weeks adds the mountains and islands.
Getting around
Vietnam has a good mix of trains, internal flights, buses and ride-hailing. Most visitors fly for the longest legs and use trains, buses or private cars for shorter ones.
Sample route
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, north to south, with three domestic flights. Covers seven of the ten destinations in this guide.
Culture
Vietnamese society values family, respect for elders and harmony. Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and ancestor worship all shape daily life, and the Communist Party governs a market economy. People are generally friendly, and visitors are treated with warmth.
Cover shoulders and knees in pagodas and temples, and remove shoes before entering. Speak quietly.
Give and receive money, gifts and cards with both hands, or with the right hand supported by the left.
The head is considered sacred, and the feet are unclean. Avoid pointing your feet at people or altars.
Bargaining is normal in markets, but not in shops with fixed prices. Smile and keep a friendly tone.
Ho Chi Minh is revered, and the red flag with a gold star is respected. Avoid political jokes and criticism of the government.
Do not stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, since it resembles incense offerings at funerals. Wait for older people to begin.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Vietnam, several of which are specific to how the country works.
FAQ
Yes, generally. Violent crime is rare. The main risks are traffic, bag snatching and taxi scams, and it is best to use Grab and keep valuables secure.
Ten to fourteen days for a first trip. A week covers either the north or the centre.
It depends on the region. Spring is good for the north and centre, and the dry season from December to April for the south. Avoid the central coast from October to December.
Many nationalities can enter visa-free for 14 to 45 days, and most others can get an e-visa online. Check the official government site.
No. Drink bottled or filtered water. Ice in restaurants is usually made from safe water, but be cautious in small places.
Fly for the long stretches, such as Hanoi to Hue or Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and take trains or buses for shorter hops. A night train is an experience in itself.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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