Vietnam Travel Guide: Essential Answers to Your Burning Questions

To plan a trip in Vietnam is pretty exciting. From the turquoise waters of Ha Long Bay and the fog-covered hills of Sapa to the frenetic street food lanes of Hanoi and the glittering skyscrapers of Ho Chi Minh City, this S-shaped Southeast Asian country has a bewildering array of natural beauty, ancient history and vibrant modern energy.

But with so much incredible variety crammed into one country, making a start on seeing it all can seem like a daunting task. If you're wondering about visa entry rules, how to decide whether to travel north or south, or what it's like to cross a street filled with motorcycles for the first time, this travel guide offers up the must-know answers to help you plan your trip without a hitch.

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Yes, 99 percent of all travellers to Vietnam are required to have a visa. Luckily, the procedure has gotten a lot simpler with the development of Vietnam's official e-visa (e-Visa) website. Now people who are citizens of all countries and all territories can apply for an e-visa online. A single-entry visa and multiple-entry visa in a period of 90 days can be applied for via the official portal. Normally it takes around 3-5 working days to process, although you should always apply at least 2 weeks before your departure date to allow for public holidays or peak periods of traveling.

Make sure your application for your e-visa is from the same travel date as your passport validity. Check, always, that your full name, passport number, and entry ports in the e-Visa application match exactly with your physical documents, typos even minor ones can make you get denied boarding at your point of origin. Visa requirements A limited number of European and Asian passports holders are entitled to short term visa exemption, so be sure to consult the updated consular information for your nationality before purchasing your tickets.

When is the best time of year to visit Vietnam?

As Vietnam extends more than 1,000 kilometers from north to south, it has three climatic regions. So there's never really a "bad" time to go in any region of the country, since you can always find good weather somewhere in Vietnam. In Northern Vietnam – Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa – The landscape is shaped by four seasons. In general, Spring (March – April) and Fall/Autumn (September – November) have the best weather with warm days, low humidity, and clear skies. The steep weather contrasts continue into the mountains, which can get surprisingly cold and foggy in winter (December to February), while summer days are hot and humid, and there's the odd heavy shower.

Central Vietnam ( Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) is warm and dry from late February through August. But from September through November, the place is in rainy (sometimes typhoon) season that may bring flooding to some coastal towns. As for Southern Vietnam, there are two seasons—but they're simple. The dry season lasts from December until April, when one can enjoy the continual sunshine perfect for beach vacations and river trips, while the rainy season occurs from May to November; the rain comes hard and quickly, often in the afternoons.

How many days should I plan for a Vietnam itinerary?

A two-week trip (that is, between 10 and 14 days) is therefore a good time for a first visit to get a solid glimpse of the country without feeling like you're just rushing through transit. It transcends the classic highlights in all three main areas, while it is still manageable. You can spend your first 4 days in Hanoi, a bustling Old Quarter then head to the karst landscape of Ninh Binh for a couple of nights before taking a cruise overnight in between iconic limestone islets in Ha Long Bay. From there, continue south to Central Vietnam for four days to stroll through the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An Ancient Town, savor local noodle dishes such as Cao Lau, and tour the historic Imperial City in Hue.

For the last leg of your journey, catch a plane to Ho Chi Minh City to soak in French colonial buildings, wander the sinister Cu Chi Tunnels, and take a boat ride down the verdant channels of the Mekong Delta. You can even end with a couple days resting up on the white sand beaches of Phu Quoc Island before flying home. If you have just week or eight days, it is best to concentrate only on one area — an itinerary including Hanoi, Sapa and Ha Long Bay in the north is a far better way to spend your limited time than dividing it up by traveling time spent in domestic airport terminals. 

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What are the absolute must-see destinations in Vietnam?

Each area in Vietnam is great in its own way; however there are a few iconic destinations that are a must see for any first-timer. Ha Long Bay with adjacent Lan Ha Bay still maintains the worldwide recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage thanks to thousands of towering limestone islands covered with rain forests rising out of emerald green waters. Down south, Hoi An Ancient Town enchants with its immaculately restored, yellow-washed traders' houses, tailor shops, wooden bridges and the silken lanterns that float on the Thu Bon River every evening.

And in the north, Hanoi provides a mood-setting combination of bygone-era architecture and peaceful lakes; the city still retains a fair number of tranquil coffee shops and frenetic market streets. Off the beaten path adventures into the northern mountains around Sapa or along the Ha Giang Loop, travelers will find terraced rice fields, winding high-mountain roads, and intense cultural exchanges with indigenous ethnic minority peoples. And last, caver-buff people should not miss Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park boasting the world's largest cave systems that are hidden beneath primary tropical jungle. Whether you want to cruise through Ha Long Bay or wander the ancient streets of Hoi An, check out our popular Vietnam Tours to build your ultimate bucket-list itinerary.

Is Vietnam safe for solo travelers and families?

Vietnam is widely recognized as one of the safest destinations in Southeast Asia. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare, and locals are generally warm, welcoming, and eager to help visitors navigate their towns. Solo female travelers consistently rate Vietnam highly for its ease of travel, affordable infrastructure, and social traveler community. The primary issues travelers face are minor petty crimes such as bag-snatching or phone-snatching from passing motorbikes in crowded areas of Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Keeping your phone secure when standing near main roads and using reputable ride-hailing apps like Grab rather than unmetered street taxis will keep your trip hassle-free.

How do I navigate street food, tap water, and food safety?

Vietnam is a culinary powerhouse, but you do need to observe a few simple hygiene rules to avoid an unhappy digestive system. The tap water of Vietnam is not safe to drink in any place you should use only bottled water or water boiled for a reusable water bottle with a high-grade purification filter. Although tap water is not safe to drink, ice usually is – in big cities, urban restaurants and food stalls are supplied with commercial ice made from purified water. If you don't trust what you're given in the middle of nowhere, just ask that your drink be ice-free.

When you're shopping for street food, buy from crowded stalls, filled with local families and office workers. These open kitchens serve a high turnover of customers, which means ingredients are replenished constantly during the day and cooked right in front of you, on open flames and in boiling pots of broth. Don't be shy about pulling up one of those tiny plastic stools and ordering some of the classics like Pho, crispy Banh Mi baguettes packed with savory meats and fresh herbs, or Bun Cha, grilled pork patties served over fresh vermicelli noodles.

What is the local currency, and can I use credit cards?

The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). Since the exchange rate is in the hundreds of thousands or millions of dong to major foreign currency, it takes a day or two to get used to the thinking of 0s on the paper banknotes. Credit and debit cards can be used in most hotels, modern shopping malls, Western-style coffee shops as well as mid-to-high-end restaurants in the likes of Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

But life's daily essentials still need to be paid in cash throughout Vietnam. You will be charged in local currency and cash is needed for street food vendors, local wet markets, grab bike drivers, small family-run shops and entry fees to small temples or rural parks. Bank ATMs are prevalent all around, even in the smallest and most remote towns, but they usually have daily withdrawal limits, which vary. While tipping is not a traditional part of Vietnamese culture, small gratuities are always a welcome gift to tour guides, private drivers, spa therapists etc. particularly after a great service.

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