Vietnam travel guide

Getting there

The main international airports are Nội Bài in Hanoi, Tân Sơn Nhất in Ho Chi Minh City and Đà Nẵng in the centre. Land borders connect Vietnam with China, Laos and Cambodia, and boats run along the Mekong to Cambodia.

Best time to visit: Feb–Apr and Aug–Oct for a good balance across the whole country.

Tougher months: No bad time – but central Vietnam gets heavy rain and typhoon risk from about October to December, and the south is wet from May to October.

Weather by month in Hanoi

• 19°J
• 20°F●
• 23°M●
• 28°A●
• 32°M●●
• 33°J●●
• 33°J●●●
• 32°A●●●
• 31°S●●
• 29°O●
• 26°N
• 22°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Bangkok, Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 39 of 198 other passports can enter Vietnam without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 159 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Vietnam (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-06-24). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Vietnam travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Vietnam are based around Hanoi, Hạ Long Bay or Hội An. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$25–35 for a backpacker and US$60–110 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Vietnam page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: A, C. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +84.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Hanoi (North · capital): A captivating capital of lakes, temples, French-era boulevards and the buzzing Old Quarter.
• Hạ Long Bay (Northeast coast · seascape): A UNESCO-listed bay of limestone islands, best seen on an overnight cruise or kayak trip.
• Hội An (Central coast · old town): A beautifully preserved trading port with tailors, temples, beaches and superb food.
• Huế (Central · imperial city): The former royal capital, with its Citadel, pagodas and imperial tombs.
• Ho Chi Minh City (South · metropolis): A high-energy city of rooftop bars, markets, museums and colonial landmarks.
• Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park (Central · caves): A UNESCO jungle park riddled with spectacular caves and underground rivers.
• Sapa (Northwest mountains · trekking): Cool highland town surrounded by rice terraces and ethnic minority villages.
• Ninh Bình (North · karst landscapes): Often called 'Hạ Long Bay on land', with boat trips, temples and cycling among limestone peaks.

Things to do

• Cruise Hạ Long Bay. Sail overnight among thousands of jungle-topped limestone islands rising from emerald water.
• Eat street food in Hanoi. Perch on a tiny stool in the Old Quarter for steaming phở, bún chả and egg coffee.
• See Hội An by lantern light. Wander the riverside old town as silk lanterns glow and paper candles float downstream.
• Explore imperial Huế. Roam the walled Citadel and the elegant royal tombs scattered along the Perfume River.
• Trek around Sapa. Hike through rice terraces and visit Hmong and Dao villages in the northern mountains.
• Ride the Hà Giang Loop. Take a motorbike, with a local rider if you prefer, through some of Southeast Asia's most dramatic mountain passes.
• Cave in Phong Nha. Paddle and walk into vast caverns in a national park home to some of the largest caves on Earth.
• Boat through Ninh Bình. Be rowed through flooded rice fields and caves beneath towering karst peaks.

Source: full Vietnam guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Pho – beef or chicken noodle soup
• Banh mi – crispy baguette sandwich
• Bun cha – grilled pork with noodles and herbs
• Cao lau – Hoi An's chewy noodles with pork

Source: RoamSun Vietnam guide

Talk

Twenty basic Vietnamese phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected; small tips for guides and good service are appreciated..

Emergency numbers: 113 police · 115 ambulance · 114 fire.

• The currency is the Vietnamese đồng; ATMs are widespread in cities, but carry cash for markets and rural areas.
• Cards are accepted in hotels, malls and many restaurants, and QR payments are common for locals.
• Vietnam is generally safe, but watch for bag-snatching from passing motorbikes and keep phones away from the roadside.
• Traffic is the biggest danger: cross streets slowly and steadily, and wear a helmet on motorbikes.

Source: RoamSun Vietnam facts