Vietnam
Everything you need to plan a great trip — from Hanoi's Old Quarter to the Mekong Delta — without the guesswork.
Vietnam rewards a north-to-south route: 10 days minimum, 14–21 days ideal. Combine Hanoi (2–3 days), Ha Long Bay (1–2 days), Hoi An (2–3 days), and Ho Chi Minh City (2–3 days), connected by short flights or trains. Weather varies by region and season — the north has real winters, the south stays hot year-round — so check the calendar for your specific route. Most travelers need Vietnam's e-visa (90 days, $25–50, apply online); some nationalities get 30–45 days visa-free. Budget from $25/day backpacking, $60–120/day mid-range.
Vietnam has a way of rearranging your expectations. It's cheaper than you'd guess, the food is better than the hype, and the pace of a place like Hanoi's Old Quarter or Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 takes about a day to click into and then becomes genuinely addictive. It's also long — properly long, over 1,000 miles north to south — which means the trip you plan should follow a route, not a checklist.
This guide covers everything: where to go, how many days, when to fly, what it actually costs in USD, and the visa rule for your specific passport — not a generic one-size-fits-all answer. Written to be genuinely useful, and updated through the season.
Destinations
All Destinations ←
Hanoi
2–3 days in the Old Quarter, and the jumping-off point for Ha Long Bay and Sapa.
Hoi An
2–3 days, a UNESCO old town, and Vietnam's best custom tailoring.
Ho Chi Minh City
2–3 days, still widely called Saigon — Vietnam's biggest, fastest city.
Sapa
Terraced rice valleys and multi-day treks through hill-tribe villages, in Vietnam's far north.
Ninh Binh
Limestone karsts and rice paddies by rowboat — genuinely 'Ha Long Bay on land,' about 2 hours from Hanoi.
Da Nang
Central Vietnam's beach city, and the closest base for the Golden Bridge.
Beaches & Islands
All Beaches & Islands ←Ha Long Bay
An overnight cruise through nearly 2,000 limestone karsts — not a beach trip.
Phu Quoc
Vietnam's tropical beach island, near Cambodia, with a special visa-free entry rule.
Nha Trang
A lively, developed beach city on Vietnam's south-central coast, with the region's biggest theme park.
Attractions
All Attractions ←
Vietnam's Best Attractions
What's genuinely worth the detour — spread across a very long country.
Ha Long Bay Cruise Guide: What to Expect
What actually happens on board, hour by hour.
Hoi An's Ancient Town Ticket System, Explained
The confusing 5-tickets-of-22-sites system, decoded.
Cu Chi Tunnels: Tickets, Tours & What to Expect
A sobering half-day of Vietnam War history, done right.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for breathtaking limestone caves.
My Son Sanctuary
An ancient site filled with captivating Cham architecture.
Food
All Food ←Vietnamese Food: What to Eat and What It Costs
Must-try dishes, real prices, and how to eat safely.
Northern vs. Southern Vietnamese Food
Same country, two genuinely different flavor profiles.
Vietnamese Coffee Culture
Egg coffee, ca phe sua da, and why it's almost all robusta.
Practical Info
All Practical Info ←
Vietnam Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
The real answer, broken down by passport — not one generic rule.
Money, Safety & eSIM in Vietnam
Cash, cards, real safety risks, and staying connected.
Articles & Comparisons
All Articles & Comparisons ←Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City: Which Vietnam City Fits You?
An honest head-to-head — not just 'both are great.'
Pick ONE Region: North or South Vietnam?
The honest case for NOT doing the whole country in 10 days.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam
There's no single answer — it depends which region.
Biggest Mistakes First-Timers Make in Vietnam
The honest list — not the sanitized tourist-board version.