Travel to Vietnam

Vietnam in numbers

Why visit Vietnam

Karsts, rice terraces, imperial cities and street food

Regions and landmarks

North to south: Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City and the islands

Vietnam stretches more than 1,600 km from end to end, so most people travel north to south, or the reverse, mixing domestic flights, trains and buses. These are the stops that appear in most itineraries.

The north: Hanoi, Ha Long, Ninh Binh and Sa Pa

Hanoi, a quiet yet dense capital, is best met in its old quarter, around its lakes and along its street stalls. A few hours away, UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay lines up its limestone islets, and Ninh Binh offers the same mood by river. Further north-west, Sa Pa and its terraced rice fields suit walkers, especially around harvest time.

The centre: Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An

Hue, the former imperial capital, keeps its gates, tiled pavilions and the emperors' tombs along the Perfume River. Da Nang, a big seaside city, is a base for the beach, the nearby mountains and the famous Golden Bridge held up by two giant hands. Hoi An, half an hour away, charms with its pedestrian old town, its tailors and its lantern-lit evenings.

Ho Chi Minh City and the south

Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, is the country's biggest city: red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral, the central post office, Ben Thanh market, streets full of thousands of motorbikes and modern towers above the river. From here day trips lead to the Mekong Delta, with its floating markets and canals, and to Da Lat, a cooler hill town.

Beaches and islands: Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Con Dao

Nha Trang stretches its big bay and sandy beaches along the south-central coast, with boat trips to nearby islets. Phu Quoc, in the Gulf of Thailand, mixes beaches, night markets and a cable car, while wilder Con Dao protects its nature in a national park where sea turtles come to nest.

Before you go

The best time to go changes with the region

Area	Climate	Best time to visit
North: Hanoi, Ha Long, Sa Pa	Four seasons: a cool, often misty winter and a hot, rainy summer. It can be cold in the mountains in December and January.	October to April, with lovely autumn colours
Centre: Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An	Monsoon rains mostly in autumn, with typhoon and flood risks; spring and summer are drier.	February to August
South: Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong	Two seasons, dry and rainy; hot all year, with rain usually in the afternoon.	November to April
Islands: Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Con Dao	Phu Quoc and Con Dao are more pleasant in the dry season; Nha Trang prefers the drier months of the centre.	Roughly November to April for Phu Quoc, January to August for Nha Trang

Rainfall averages 1,500 to 2,000 mm a year, mostly during the monsoon, and humidity is high almost everywhere. Pack light clothes, a rain jacket and sun protection, and keep an eye on flight prices before fixing your dates.

Getting around

Domestic flights, trains, night buses and motorbikes

For long distances, domestic flights link Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and the islands in one to two hours. The north-south train calls at Hue, Da Nang and Nha Trang, but it takes more than a day to go from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Night buses with sleeper berths are a budget option.

In towns, taxis, app-booked cars and motorbike taxis make short trips easy. Traffic is dense: cross the road slowly and at a steady pace, and the motorbikes will flow around you. Boats and short flights serve the islands.

Food and culture

Pho, bun cha, banh mi and coffee with condensed milk

The cooking changes from north to south: the north favours noodle soups and restrained flavours, the centre spicier dishes like Hoi An's cao lau, the south fresh herbs and sweet-and-savoury notes. Spring rolls, banh mi and bun cha are eaten on a plastic stool for a modest budget.

The country carries the mark of Buddhism, Confucianism and the French presence: pagodas, ancestral temples, cathedrals, bakeries and cafés. Tet, the lunar new year, sets the calendar and closes many shops.

Flying to Vietnam

The Vietnamese airports covered by SniperAir

SniperAir destinations

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Vietnam