Vietnam travel guide

Ha Long Bay

Quang Ninh

Limestone karsts — overnight cruises are popular

Hoi An Ancient Town

Quang Nam

Lanterns and riverside old town

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Quang Binh

Giant caves including Paradise Cave

Sapa

Lao Cai

Rice terraces and trekking in the mountains

Imperial City of Hue

Hue

Walled Nguyen dynasty citadel

Mekong Delta

South

Floating markets and river life

Ninh Binh (Trang An)

Ninh Binh

“Ha Long Bay on land” — boat rides through caves

Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

Wartime tunnel network

Hanoi

Capital: Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and French-colonial streets

Guides in Hanoi →

Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon — energetic business hub, markets and war history museums

Guides in Ho →

Da Nang

Beach city with the Dragon Bridge and access to Hoi An and Hue

Guides in Da →

Hoi An

UNESCO-listed lantern-lit trading port and tailors

Guides in Hoi →

Hue

Former imperial capital with the Citadel and royal tombs

Guides in Hue →

Nha Trang

Beach resort city with islands and diving

Guides in Nha →

✈️ Ho Chi Minh City — Tan Son Nhat (SGN)

• Grab or Xanh SM ride-hailing apps — fixed price in advance
• Airport bus 109 to Ben Thanh / District 1
• Metered taxis (Vinasun, Mai Linh) from the official ranks

✈️ Hanoi — Noi Bai (HAN)

• Bus 86 express to the Old Quarter and Hanoi railway station
• Grab or official taxis — the airport is about 45 minutes from the centre

✈️ Da Nang — Da Nang Intl (DAD)

• Only a short ride from the city — Grab or taxi
• Hoi An is about 45 minutes by car

🚆 Getting around

• Domestic flights (Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo) cover the long north–south distance
• The Reunification Express train runs Hanoi–Saigon; the Hue–Da Nang stretch is very scenic
• Grab and Xanh SM for cars and motorbike taxis in cities
• Sleeper buses are cheap but less safe than trains — choose reputable operators

🙏 Culture & etiquette

• Dress modestly at pagodas and temples, and remove shoes
• Don’t touch people’s heads
• Avoid public displays of anger — keep calm to save face
• Don’t leave chopsticks standing upright in rice

📍 Places, scams & seasons

• Unexploded ordnance remains in some rural areas, especially central Vietnam — stay on marked paths
• Typhoons and floods hit the central coast mainly September–December
• Watch for bag snatching from motorbikes in big cities
• Check the UK Foreign Office or your government’s advisory for current warnings

⚖️ Laws & restrictions

• Drug penalties are extremely severe, including the death penalty for trafficking
• Flying drones needs a permit
• Criticism of the government and political protests can bring serious penalties
• Your hotel or host must register your stay with local police — keep your passport available

💬 Words & topics to avoid

• Call it “the American War” locally rather than only the “Vietnam War”
• Avoid political jokes about the Communist Party or Ho Chi Minh
• The South China Sea (East Sea) is a sensitive topic

Hanoi

Old Quarter (atmosphere) or French Quarter (quieter, upscale)

Walkable to Hoan Kiem Lake

Ho Chi Minh City

District 1 (central) or District 3 (local feel)

Bui Vien Street is for budget and nightlife

Hoi An

Ancient Town edge or An Bang beach

Rent a bicycle

Da Nang

My Khe Beach or the riverside

Great value beach hotels

Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi

Pho, bun cha and street stalls on tiny stools

Ben Thanh Market

Ho Chi Minh City

Food stalls by day, more outside at night

Hoi An Central Market

Hoi An

Cao lau and banh mi

Con Market

Da Nang

Local snacks and Mi Quang

Pho

Beef or chicken noodle soup — Hanoi style is the original

Banh mi

Baguette sandwich with pâté, meats and pickles

Bun cha

Grilled pork with rice noodles (Hanoi)

Goi cuon

Fresh spring rolls with shrimp and herbs

Cao lau

Hoi An’s chewy noodle dish

Ca phe sua da

Strong iced coffee with condensed milk

Tet (Lunar New Year)

January/February

Nationwide — many businesses close

Hue Festival

Varies (spring/summer)

Hue

Hoi An Lantern Full Moon

Monthly, on the full moon

Hoi An

Reunification Day

30 April

Nationwide

Da Nang International Fireworks Festival

June–July

Da Nang

Mid-Autumn Festival

September/October

Nationwide, especially Hanoi Old Quarter

National Day

2 September

Nationwide

📱 SIM & eSIM

• Main networks: Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone
• Airport counters sell tourist SIMs (passport needed); eSIMs also work

📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi

• Good 4G (and growing 5G) in cities and most tourist areas
• Free Wi-Fi in almost every cafe and hotel

🔌 Power plugs

220V, 50Hz — plug types A, C and F