Vietnam

Asia · 24+ destinations to browse

Sixteen hundred kilometres of coast, limestone karsts rising out of jade water at Ha Long, terraced rice valleys in the northern mountains and the canal-laced Mekong Delta in the south. Between them sit Hanoi's old quarter, the lantern-lit merchant town of Hoi An, and street food that is reason enough on its own.

Best time

Varies sharply by region — see below

Daily budget

₹1,800 – ₹6,000/day

Visa

eVisa

Safety

4.2 / 5

Practical information

Currency

Vietnamese Dong (₫, VND)

Languages

Vietnamese, English in tourist areas

Time zone

ICT (UTC+7)

Emergency

113 police, 115 ambulance, 114 fire

Internet

Fast and very cheap 4G nationwide; free Wi-Fi in almost every café, hotel and restaurant.

SIM cards

Viettel, Vinaphone or Mobifone tourist SIMs at the airport — cheap, generous data, passport required. eSIM widely supported.

Getting around

Cheap domestic flights link the length of the country, and the Reunification Express railway runs Hanoi to Saigon with sleeper cabins. Sleeper buses cover everywhere else for very little. In cities use the Grab app for cars and motorbike taxis — it fixes the fare and removes the haggling. Renting a scooter is the classic way to see the north, but only with real experience and an International Driving Permit.

Visa details

Indian passport holders need a visa. The 90-day e-Visa is applied for online through the official government portal and is usually issued within three working days — apply only through the official site, as look-alike agency sites charge many times the fee.

Know before you go

Popular foods

Phở
Bánh mì
Bún chả
Gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls)
Cao lầu
Cà phê sữa đá
Bánh xèo

Famous festivals

Tết (Lunar New Year) — the whole country shuts and travels
Hoi An Lantern Festival (full moon each month)
Mid-Autumn Festival
Hung Kings Temple Festival
Da Nang International Fireworks Festival

Etiquette

Remove your shoes before entering homes, temples and many small shops
Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas and temples
Pass and receive things with both hands, especially to elders
Don't touch anyone's head, and avoid pointing your feet at people or altars
Bargain in markets, but cheerfully — anger loses you the deal

Packing suggestions

Light clothes plus a genuinely warm layer if going north in winter
Rain shell and quick-dry footwear for the wet season
Modest cover-up for temples and pagodas
Mosquito repellent; Type A/C/D adapter

Travel tips

There is no single best season — the north, centre and south have different, partly opposite, wet seasons. Pick your route first, then your dates
Carry cash in dong; cards work in cities but not at the street stalls where the food is
Cross the road by walking slowly and steadily without stopping — traffic flows around you
Use Grab rather than negotiating with taxi and xe ôm drivers
Apply for the e-Visa only on the official government portal
Avoid travelling during Tết unless you plan for it — transport books out and much of the country closes

Popular cities

HanoiHo Chi Minh CityHoi AnHueDa NangSapaNha TrangPhu Quoc

Destinations in Vietnam200 total

Showing the 24 most popular of 200 — search or pick a tag above to find a specific place.

📍 City

4.5

Hanoi

Vietnam

Capital of Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April in the north; November – April in the southFull dayExplore

🏞️ Lake

4.5

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hanoi

Water area in Hoàn Kiếm Ward. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April1 – 3 hoursExplore

📍 Temple

4.5

Ngọc Sơn Temple

Hanoi

Temple in Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

Year-round; go early to avoid both heat and crowds1 – 2 hoursExplore

📍 Pagoda

4.5

One Pillar Pagoda

Hanoi

Historic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, Vietnam, dedicated to the deity Guanyin. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

Year-round; festival days are crowded but far more interesting1 – 2 hoursExplore

📍 Pagoda

4.5

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Hanoi

Buddhist temple in Hanoi. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

Year-round; festival days are crowded but far more interesting1 – 2 hoursExplore

📍 Historic

4.5

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Hanoi

Old imperial citadel in Hanoi, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – AprilHalf dayExplore

📍 Landmark

4.5

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Điện Biên

National mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April1 – 2 hoursExplore

📍 War History

4.5

Hỏa Lò Prison

Hanoi

Prison in Hanoi used for political prisoners in colonial times and for prisoners of war during the Vietnam war.

Year-roundHalf dayExplore

📍 Museum

4.5

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Hanoi

Museum in Hanoi, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

Year-round; mornings are quietest2 – 3 hoursExplore

📍 Landmark

4.5

Hanoi Opera House

Hanoi

Theatre in Hanoi, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April1 – 2 hoursExplore

📍 Bridge

4.5

Long Bien Bridge

Hanoi

Bridge in Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

Year-round; dusk for the lit ones30 minutes – 1 hourExplore

📍 Archaeological

4.5

Co Loa Citadel

Đông Anh district

Archaeological site in Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April; go at opening for the light and the quietHalf dayExplore

📍 Pagoda

4.5

Perfume Pagoda

Vietnam

Complex of Buddhist temples and shrines in Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

Year-round; festival days are crowded but far more interesting1 – 2 hoursExplore

📍 Village

4.5

Bát Tràng

Gia Lâm

Commune of Hanoi. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – AprilHalf day to overnightExplore

📍 Pagoda

4.5

Bút Tháp Temple

Thuận Thành

Buddhist temple in Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

Year-round; festival days are crowded but far more interesting1 – 2 hoursExplore

📍 Bay

4.5

Ha Long Bay

Vietnam

UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April; skip the summer typhoon monthsFull day to overnightExplore

📍 City

4.5

Hạ Long

Quảng Ninh

Provincial city of Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April in the north; November – April in the southFull dayExplore

📍 Island

4.5

Cát Bà Island

Haiphong City

Island in Haiphong, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

November – AprilFull day to several daysExplore

🦌 National Park

4.5

Cat Ba National Park

Haiphong City

National park. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

November – April in the south, October – April in the northFull dayExplore

📍 Cave

4.5

Sung Sot Cave

Quảng Ninh

Sung Sot Cave is a notable cave in Quảng Ninh, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

February – August; the caves flood in the wet season and closeHalf to full dayExplore

📍 Cave

4.5

Thien Cung Cave

Hoa Lư

Cave in Viet Nam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

February – August; the caves flood in the wet season and closeHalf to full dayExplore

📍 City

4.5

Haiphong City

Vietnam

Municipality under the direct control of the central government in Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

October – April in the north; November – April in the southFull dayExplore

📍 Nature Reserve

4.5

Tràng An

Vietnam

UNESCO World Heritage Site in Red River Delta, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

September – November for the rice terraces; October – April otherwiseHalf to full dayExplore

📍 Cave

4.5

Tam Cốc-Bích Động

Hoa Lư

Tam Cốc-Bích Động is a notable cave in Hoa Lư, Vietnam. It lies in northern Vietnam, best visited in autumn or spring.

February – August; the caves flood in the wet season and closeHalf to full dayExplore