Explore the intriguing cities full of colonial grandeur and elegant buildings, but don’t forget the pristine beaches, iconic bays, vast rice fields, historic pagodas and mountainous regions.

Vietnam is a long, thin country situated in Southeast Asia, bordering China, Laos and Cambodia. It’s made up of tropical lowlands, forested mountains and rolling green hills with only around 20 percent of the country consisting of low level land.

This resilient country is steeped in history and although the war remnants of its past are some of the most visited sites in the country, there is also so much more to see on a visit to Vietnam.

Vietnam’s climate is tropical in the north and sub-tropical in the centre and south with average year round temperatures between 22–27°C (71–80°F).

The weather across Vietnam is largely influenced by monsoons, the southwest monsoon runs from May to October and the Northeast monsoon from November to April.

The best time to visit Vietnam on a whole is spring which runs from February to April and autumn, which is August to October. March and April are the two months with the lowest rainfall across the whole of Vietnam and temperatures are comfortable.

Transport around Vietnam is often crazy and chaotic, although its transport network is constantly improving. You will see many scooters and motorbikes as they are the most common means of transport here.

Buses

There are mini buses, tourist buses and long distance/night buses, all of which are relatively cheap with most being in good condition and some will also have air-conditioning.

Trains 

Most trains around Vietnam are newly renovated and fairly modern, they are also a reasonably cheap and a safe way to travel. Some of the trains also have sleeper cabins on them.

Taxis

Taxis can be found in major cities with average costs of 12–15.000 dong per km. Uber is also becoming readily available and is often a cheaper alternative.

Car hire around Vietnam will always come with a driver (there is no self-drive car hire available) and average costs are 70–130 USD per day for a standard car.

Planes

There are frequent domestic flights between the major cities as well as some in less frequency between popular tourist areas. Vietnam Airlines is the main domestic carrier along with Jet Star, Pacific and Air Mekong.

Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND) and note denominations come in 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000.

ATM’s are widespread around the bigger cities and tourist areas with most ATM’s having a maximum withdrawal of 4 to 5 million dong so you may have to make multiple withdrawals to hit your own banks daily limit which will also cost you more in transaction fees. Commonwealth banks have a higher withdrawal limit of 9 million dong so look out for these ATM’s. Most banks, hotels and travel agents will happily exchange USD and other major currencies for Vietnamese Dong.

Average Costs (in Vietnamese Dong)

• Mid range 3–4 star hotel 600,000–1.5 million per night
• Budget accommodation from 130,000 per night
• Meal for 2 in a mid-range restaurant 300,000–350,000
• Meal in a cheap restaurant 40,000
• Pint of local beer 20,000
• Street food meal 22,000–70,000
• Regular coffee 30,000–35,000
• Bottle of water 10,000

Halong Bay

An alluring, natural wonder of over 1,600 towering limestone islands and islets in Northern Vietnam. Many visitors will add on a trip to Halong Bay during their stay in Hanoi as they are situated just over 100 miles (170 km) apart. As this is a hugely popular place to visit there are many different ways to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi ranging from the budget coach trip taking 4–5 hours to an hour long helicopter flight. Once there you can chose to take a one day cruise and stay on the mainland, but to truly explore the area and see more of this amazing bay it is recommended to take a 1–2 night boat cruise so you can truly immerse yourself and wake up surrounded by the majestic rock formations.

Hoi An Ancient Town

This UNESCO World Heritage Site in Central Vietnam offers a wonderful diversity of wooden shop-houses, Chinese temples, a Japanese designed bridge and French-colonial buildings, surrounded by old canals. There is an entrance fee of VND 120,000 for tourists that is valid for 10 days. The area is small enough to get around on foot and offers a relaxed atmosphere. At night the area is lit up by hundreds of beautiful lanterns.

Imperial Citidel of Thang Long

Located in the Ba Dinh District in central Hanoi this ancient site was the political centre of the country for over 1000 years so has a significant historical importance. Incredible discoveries have been excavated dating back to the 6th century, including foundations of old palaces, along with bronze coins and pottery from all over China. Entrance fee is VND 30,000 and it is open from 8:00 am–5:00 pm.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This is a popular attraction in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. It is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the most popular leader in Vietnam. His body is preserved here in a glass case (although this was against his wishes as he wanted a simple cremation). The lines here are usually long as the place is always busy and you will need to keep moving as you pass his body so as to not hold up the queue. If you are lucky you may also get to witness the changing of the guard outside of the Mausoleum. Admission is free and the opening times slightly vary throughout the year, although it is only ever open in the morning on certain days. It also closed for two month stretch in October and November when Ho Chi Minh’s remains are sent to Russia for preventive maintenance.

Cu Chi Tunnels

An extensive network of underground tunnels used by Vietnam soldiers in the late 1940’s during the Vietnam War, they are located in the Cu Chi district about an hour from Ho Chi Minh City. The network includes trap doors, living areas, kitchens, field hospitals, storage facilities and weapon factories. Visitors can crawl through some of the safer areas of the tunnels, fire rifles on a firing range and eat a typical meal the Vietnam soldiers would have had to live with during their time living in the tunnels. There are plenty of tours available in Ho Chi Minh City which is the easiest way to visit these tunnels.

My Son Santuary

A complex of Hindu temples that were constructed by the Champa Kingdom, which ruled the Central and Southern part of Vietnam until the 1830’s. The impressive ruins feature wondrous stone sculptures and towers that are surrounded by green jungle. My Son is located about 25 miles (40 km) from Hoi An and can be accessed via a tour or by hiring a driver. Entrance fee is 150,000 VND and it is open everyday from 6:00 am–5:00 pm.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

A superb caving destination, this National Park contains karst mountains that are millions of years old, with hundreds of phenomenal cave systems. Some of these huge caverns contain amazing stalagmites and stalactites and magnificent underground rivers. The nearest big city is Dong Hoi which is 29 miles (47 km) away and there are a few accommodation options in Phong Nha Village very near to the park. There are many different tours available, from day tours to a 3 day tour.

Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam is known for its rich culture and its ancient, but well-preserved architecture. This charming city in Northern Vietnam has French colonial buildings, tree-lined avenues and the bustling Old Quarter, also referred to as the Ancient Quarter. In the Old Quarter you will find temples, pagodas and banyan trees amongst houses and workshops. Elsewhere in Hanoi you will also find the remains of the much-loved Ho Chi Minh at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake and One Pillar Pagoda. Hanoi is also getting increasingly modern with multi story shopping centres and plenty of desirable restaurants, cafes and boutiques. This is also a great gateway to the mountains of Sapa in the north and the famous Halong Bay.

Hoi An

A town located on Vietnam’s central coast is best known for it’s well-preserved ancient town. It was once a a major port from the 15th to the 19th century and its buildings and scenery reflect the historic influences that have combined to create this unique destination. The towns architecture combines Vietnamese design with Japanese and Chinese accents and French colonial design that has remarkably remained almost wholly intact. Hoi An doesn’t have an airport or a train station so the most popular way to get here is to fly to the nearby city of Da Nang and then take the bus, taxi or private car to Hoi An, which takes around 45 minutes.

Ho Chi Minh City

Formally known as Saigon until it merged with the surrounding province in 1976 and was renamed Ho Chi Minh City after the revolutionary leader credited with uniting the country after the Vietnam War. This high energy city is a mix of classy hotels and chic restaurants mixed with budget hostels and street food. It is a city of contrasts, where old meets new, sprawling shopping malls meet markets and war remnants meet religious temples. This eclectic mix and the buzzing nightlife makes this a fascinating and exciting city to visit.

Nha Trang

A coastal resort city in Southern Vietnam with a six-kilometre coastline of white sandy beaches, coral reefs for snorkelling and diving and offshore, tropical islands that can be reached via a short boat ride. Inland, you will find Buddhist temples, Gothic-style Catholic churches, waterfalls and hot springs. This is a cosmopolitan city that offers trendy restaurants, fresh seafood and a buzzing nightlife of rooftop bars, nightclubs and beachfront dance floors.

Hue

Situated on the Perfume River near the coast in Central Vietnam, lies the charming city of Hue (pronounced ‘hway’). The city was the political, cultural and religious centre of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty, and was established as the capital from 1802–1945. Due to this a huge draw for visitors to Hue is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Royal Palace of the Imperial City (Hue Citadel). This sprawling complex contains hundreds of monuments and ruins, including temples, pagodas, royal tombs and the Forbidden Purple City, that used to be reserved for the most important people in Vietnam. This laidback city is best explored on foot or by bike and in addition to the fascinating history it also offers tree-lined back lanes, beautiful rural scenes and Imperial Cuisine showcasing dishes that were once only served to royals and emperors.

Phu Quoc Island

Situated in the warm, turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand, about 28 miles (45 km) from the Vietnamese mainland in the far south, lies the picturesque island of Phu Quoc. With white sandy beaches, forests and a laid back atmosphere this is a great place to come to relax and unwind, although as much of the island is a protected National Park there is plenty to explore. You can trek through forests, hike to waterfalls and visit traditional fishing villages, Buddhist temples and lively markets. The island can be accessed by plane or ferry.

Da Nang

Located on the coast in Central Vietnam, this is a thriving city where new hotels and restaurants are emerging all the time and with the city’s close proximity to stunning beaches it is easy to see why. The surrounding landscapes, including the nearby Marble Mountain and Ba Na Hills are also popular destinations to visit whilst on a trip to this modern, up and coming city.

• The flag consists of a gold star and a red background, the five points of the star represent farmers, workers, intellectuals, youth, and soldiers. The red background pays tribute to bloodshed during the wars.
• Vietnam is home to the world’s largest cave, Son Doong.
• Snake wine is commonly drunk for health, vitality and restorative purposes.
• Lizard fishing is a widespread hobbie across Vietnam.
• Foreigners can apply for a Temporary Residence Card, which is cheaper and easier to process than a visa.
• Vietnam is the second largest producer of coffee in the world.