Ha Long Bay is must-see on any trip to Vietnam. Be sure to avoid winter so the water will be warm enough to swim! 

Like India, Vietnam can be a sensory overload of beauty and complexity. The scenery is diverse—the mist-covered mountains of Sapa, the seemingly endless swarms of motorbikes in Hanoi and the tower limestone pillars of Ha Long Bay. I consider travel the best teacher, and there’s no better place to get a lesson in world history than this Southeast Asian nation.

I visit Vietnam at least once a year for work, so I decided it was time to compile a travel guide of my favorite and least favorite spots. (I’ve worked for multiple travel companies running trips across the country. In addition, I did a month-long 2019 backpacking trip to some lesser-visited spots.) Keep reading for all the details about where to go in Vietnam and how to best prepare for your trip!

Affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog.

The best time to go swimming in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is between April and October. 

1. Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is one of those places like Machu Picchu that you must visit once in your life. The scenery is postcard-perfect: limestone pillars and tiny islands scattered through the Gulf of Tonkin’s emerald waters. It is the number one attraction in Vietnam. The best way to experience the bay is to do a multiple-day cruise on a houseboat to explore the islands, swim and eat year weight in fresh seafood! There are day boat trips and overnight cruises for every budget. I recommend spending a night or two on a houseboat!

If you like the idea of riding a boat through stunning caves, then add Tam Coc to your list. The rowers use their feet to move the oars just like this guy!

2.Tam Coc

Tam Coc, which means three caves, is the inland version of Ha Long Bay located south of Hanoi near Ninh Binh. The main attraction is a row boat trip through the giant caves underneath the karsts—towering limestone pillars—that dominate the skyline. The caves were unreal! I felt like I was in The Goonies and One-eyed Willie’s ship would be outside the cave. The rowers often use their feet to move the oars. The area is more popular with local tourists, but it was one of my favorite spots in Vietnam! It’s a three-hour bus or train ride from Hanoi. If you don’t have time to spend the night, there’s plenty of day tours from Hanoi.

This shot from Sapa is one of my favorite travel images from Asia.

3. Sapa

 The former 1922 French hill station is the trekking mecca of Vietnam. The views of the valley from the town are stunning. (The photo above is one of my favorite images I’ve shot in all my years in Asia.) Popular treks include Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam (3143 m); Cat Cat, a village three kilometers south of Sapa; Ta Phin Village, a 10-kilometer hike from the city; Sa Seng & Hang Da, a hike along the eastern ridge is great for valley views. Be warned—the tourist touts and aggressive vendors are relentless in Sapa. (I visited a village with a student group and each student had one vendor following them around town the entire day trying to see them something.) Despite this, the scenery is unreal and worth the trip!

Hanoi is the mecca of the motorbike madness, and this is just a taste of the crazy things you’ll see on motorbikes there!

4. Hanoi

Hanoi is both the capital of the country and the chaos. Hoards of motorbikes cover the streets. Find a safe spot on the sidewalk to people watch as the motorbikes defy gravity and logic with their loads which range from refrigerators to a family of five with a dog and my favorite – dozens of plastic bags filled with water and live goldfish tied to a giant hoop structure on the back of the bike.

Wander the streets of the Old Quarter and the Hoan Kiemshopping district where streets are organized by the goods they sell. (This is really annoying if you need to buy a pen and you’re on the shoe street.) Pho bo (beef noodle shop) is a must for breakfast along with a traditional Vietnamese coffee, which is medium to coarse ground dark roast with a small metal drip filter. You must stop by JOMA, my favorite café in Southeast Asia for breakfast.

Stop by the Ho Chi Minh Museum and if you want to say hello to him, stop by his mausoleum. Be warned – he’s been preserved and is on full display in typical communist fashion.

The Japanese Covered Bridge is one of the top sights in Hoi An. After a week of rain, this is the first time I saw blue sky!

5. Hoi An

Hoi An is my favorite city in Vietnam. The UNESCO site is one of Southeast Asia’s major seaports and reminds me a bit of Charleston—the same quaint historic charm, old colonial buildings and an overload of tourists. As per usual, I got up at sunrise every morning to photograph the city and did the same at sunset. Highlights include the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Assembly Hall of Cantonese Chine Congregation, which has cool dragon carvings, and the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation.

The best Banh Mi spots in town are Banh Mi Queen (I loved the chicken!) and Banh Mi Phuong (Anthony Bourdain loved this spot). Streets Restaurant Café had the best Cau Lau I had on the whole trip. It’s also a nonprofit that trains underprivileged youth to work in culinary and hospitality fields. I booked a direct transfer to Hoi A from Da Nang on Klook for around $10 but there are even cheaper group transfers. Read reviews before booking!

I highly recommend visiting the ruins of My Son, a Hindu temple complex built between the 4th and 14th Century to honor the god Shiva. It’s easily assessable from Hoi An or Da Nang by tour, car or motorbike. I did the sunrise tour to avoid the crowds in my photos.

Hoi An is a great hub to do a few day trips including visiting My Son, the ruins of a Hindu temple complex. (I recommend the sunrise tour.) You can do it on your own if you have a motorbike. I also recommend renting a bicycle and heading over to the coconut village for a boat ride on one of the circular boats. It’s a very touristy thing but such a fun experience. Check out my Instagram story for videos from the trip! 

Left: Pongour Waterfalls outside of Da Lat. Right: Crazy House, a Gaudi-inspired tourist site that is also a hotel mixed in the site.

6. Da Lat

Da Lat is the Medellin of Vietnam. The French fled to this mountainous region to escape the heat. It’s now the adventure capital—trekking, canyoning, white water rafting and mountain biking are all options. The vibe is much more laid back than the rest of Vietnam, which I loved. I spent most of my time here visiting waterfalls. My favorite was Pongour, but the roller coaster at Datanla waterfall is a must. (It’s a one-car self-controlled system so it’s super fun!) I recommend checking out the Hang Nga Crazy House, which was built by a Vietnamese architect inspired by Gaudi, and the 100 Roofs Bar that resembles the set of a Lord of the Rings movie.

Left: Fairy Spring in Mui Ne, Vietnam. Right: The “white” sand dunes that are 24 km from town.

7. Mui Ne

Mui Ne is the kitesurfing capital of Vietnam. The town itself doesn’t have the best beach but the town is close to some cool attractions. For $5, you can take a jeep tour to the red sand dunes near town and the white sand dunes (24 km from town). The tours also take you to Fairy Spring, a stream that flows through some cool rock formations and sand dunes. (It’s easily accessible from town by foot.) The best place to eat in town is a Mediterranean spot called Sindbad and Dong Vui Food Court, an open-air food court with independently run stalls that range from German sausages to paella. There are also loads of Vietnamese options and tons of beer.

Ke Ga Lighthouse was one of my favorite spots in Central Vietnam! Very few people visit so I totally recommend it. I had the island to myself!

The main reason I went to Mui Ne was to visit the Ke Ga Lighthouse, a remote lighthouse built by the French in 1899 that lies on a rocky islet 300 meters from the coast. I’m obsessed with lighthouses so I had to go.  To get to the lighthouse, you need a scooter or a car. Then, you have to take a ferry to the island ($6 USD in 2019). I had the island mostly to myself except for a few officials working on the island. For the best photos of the lighthouse, take the dirt paths that lead off to the side and shoot back toward the lighthouse. The lighthouse is right by a fishing village, so the sea is lined with boats to the right of the islet, which is also great for photos.

Banh Mi from L’Usine cafe in Ho Chi Minh.

8. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is another epicenter of the motorbike madness. This city is worth a visit for a few days just to witness the chaos and visit the war museum and other war-era sights. The view from Bitexco Financial Tower ($9 USD) really helps put into perspective the expansive size of the city. Surprisingly, HCMC is the craft beer capital of Southeast Asia. My favorite breweries were Pasteur Street Brewing Company (great IPA & tap room) and Heart of Darkness. BiaCraft and Belgo (Belgian brewery) also have good brews and food.

My favorite cafes and sandwich spots to eat are The Old Compass,  L’Usine, The Vintage Emporium, and Banh Mi 3362.  ABC Bakery Café was a great spot to grab a fast and cheap breakfast to go!

Au Lac Charner ($73/night plus taxes) is my favorite hotel with a rooftop pool in Ho Chin Minh City. It also has free breakfast and is located by the Bitexco Financial Tower. (My favorite hostel closed during the pandemic so I don’t have any hostel suggestions, unfortunately.) If you’re looking to splurge, the Park Hyatt Saigon ($289) is the nicest hotel in town with an amazing pool, gym and a mind-blowing breakfast! (I stay at the Park Hyatt for work but at the Au Lac Charner otherwise.)

Left: Artillery left over after the Vietnam War is on display at the Ben Douc tunnels, part of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Right: The entrance to one of the tunnels.

9. Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi is a rural area about 30 to 40 km from Ho Chi Min that’s famous for a legendary spiderweb of tunnels used in the 1960s by the Viet Cong to control the area. There are two sets of tunnels: Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Ben Dinh is the most touristy one because it’s easier for tour buses to reach it. Ben Duoc is the best one in my opinion because it’s not touristy. (Trust me, I’ve been to both!) There was only a handful of people when we went. (We went by public bus from Ho Chi Minh City, which was one of my favorite days in Vietnam. I wrote a post about how to get to the Ben Douc tunnels by public bus.)

I’ve found conflicting sources that state that Ben Dinh was constructed only for tourists and Ben Douc is part of the real tunnel network. I can’t find a reliable source to verify this. Lonely Planet says that Ben Douc was widened for tourists but is less touristy. (There’s a set of stairs leading into the tunnels, which clearly can’t be original. Honestly, they probably both were widened at the entrances, but they are still tiny.)

While it’s easy to find tours to visit Ben Dinh, I recommend taking the public buses (they have air conditioning!) to Ben Douc using this step-by-step guide!

Vendors tie what they are selling to poles at the Cai Rang Floating Market in the Mekong Delta near Can Tho.

10. Mekong Delta

Can Tho is the main hub in the Mekong Delta that’s filled with large gardens and bustling markets. It’s the jumping-off point for visiting the famous Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest one in the Delta. Vendors tie what they are selling to a pole so you can shop easily. There are also boats that serve coffee. Tours are available but I recommend showing up at the dock at 5 a.m. to negotiate for your own boat. I went with a friend and we met three cool Australians who joined us. We paid about $4.30 USD each in 2019. One of the highlights was stopping by a fruit orchard. We got to paddle around in little boats in the orchard and sample the fruits.  This town is also memorable because it’s how I ended up in a van with a rooster for five hours, which I wrote about here.  I’m also a huge fan of the market town of Chau Doc, which has a wet market that’s really cool to photograph.

Vietnam FAQ

SafetyWing travel medical insurance covers travelers in Vietnam and over 180 countries. 

Do you need travel medical insurance for Vietnam?

Yes, travel medical insurance is one of the most important things to purchase for any trip abroad, especially Vietnam. It covers all the things that could go wrong from injuries to travel delays so that you don’t have to worry and can focus on traveling!

SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance offers $0 deductible travel medical insurance coverage for over 180 countries for people aged 69 and under when traveling outside their home country. The best part is that it only costs a few dollars a day! If you get sick or injured abroad, you can visit any hospital or doctor. Other benefits of Nomad Insurance include coverage for lost checked luggage, travel delays over 12 hours, motor accidents (if properly licensed, wearing all safety equipment and not intoxicated) and injuries from sports or leisure activities. You can even add adventure sports, electronics theft and U.S. coverage (for non-residents) to your policy.

One of the best things about SafetyWing is that you can buy policies abroad and speak to a REAL human from the 24/7 customer support team if you have questions! (I can vouch that they are excellent at assisting and will follow up with you afterward.) Pay in full or choose an auto-renewing plan that can be canceled anytime.

If you’re abroad for 90 days, you can get 30 days of home-country coverage. (For the U.S. residents, it’s 15 days.) Plus, every single part of the process from purchasing a policy to filing a claim is easy, which is why SafetyWing has been the best travel medical insurance policy for me.

Where’s the best place to buy a SIM card in Vietnam?

The easiest thing to do is buy a Vietnam-specific eSIM card from Airalo that will work instantly when you arrive. If you are traveling to multiple countries in Southeast Asia on a short trip, then consider one of their Asia Regional eSIM cards. (Both the country-specific and regional eSIMs have worked wonderfully for me and even have a mobile hotspot option that’s critical for me because I’m always working remotely.)  Keep in mind it’s always cheaper to buy a country-specific eSIM than a regional one.

 Be sure to join the free Airalo Loyalty Program to earn 5% cash back for every purchase, which can be redeemed on future purchases. For more about eSIM cards, check out this post!! 

Where is the best place to get clothes made in Vietnam?

While Ho Ani is the most popular spot in Vietnam to get clothes made, I was unimpressed because every tailor shop I visited only seemed to only have material to make winter suits or wedding dresses. I was looking for wrinkle-resistant fabric for summer dresses and tanks. I tried again in Ho Chi Minh City but didn’t have any luck until a friend introduced me to Elegant Silk, the best place to get clothes made in Ho Chi Minh. This tailor had a wide variety of fabric options. She had silk blend fabric that was fairly wrinkle-resistant. In early 2024, I had her copy an existing tank and dress while also making a new wrap-around skirt for $70 USD.

In Hoi An, I have friends who raved about Blue Chic for men’s suits and Two Ladies for summer dresses.

Where is the best craft beer in Vietnam?

Vietnam has the best craft beer in Asia. Trust me, I’m a craft beer connoisseur and have traveled and lived all over Asia. While Ho Chi Minh is the epicenter, there are also taprooms in Hanoi.  The two biggest brands—Pasteur Street Brewing and Heart of Darkness—have multiple tap rooms in HCMC while Pasteur has one in Hanoi. Both do a great job of incorporating local flavors like jasmine and pomelo. (Pasteur Street’s signature Jasmine IPA and Pomelo IPA are my two favorites.) BiaCraft and Belgo (Belgian brewery) also have good brews and food in Ho Chi Minh City. In Da Nang, stop by the Heart of Darkness taproom.

What about the caves in Vietnam? 

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO site, is filled with hundreds of caves including the world’s biggest cave, Hang Son Doong. (Two of my friends went to Hang Son Doong and loved it. It’s not cheap and you have to book months if not a year in advance.) I was in the area during the rainy season so I didn’t visit any of the caves.  (Water levels are a huge safety issue during the rainy season. ) April to August is the best time to go.

How are the beaches in Vietnam?

I’m not a fan of the beaches in Vietnam. I’ve been on a quest to find the best beaches in the world, and they aren’t in Vietnam or even Southeast Asia for that matter. To be brutally honest, every beach I went to in Vietnam was polluted. I even went to Phu Quoc island, one of the main attractions. I went to all the prime snorkeling spots and there was trash and beer cans in the coral. This part of the world is notorious for plastic pollution, and I was there at the end of the rainy season, which tends to kick up more of the pollution.

This is a shot from one of the islands near Phu Quoc that’s part of all the snorkeling tours. All the debris you see on the left side of the frame under the trees is some kind of trash or plastic. Aside from the main small bit of beach, the sides of the island were covered with trash like this.

I visited three beaches in Vietnam—Mui Ne, Na Trang and Phu Quoc—on a 2019 trip and never wanted to go back to them. They were mostly polluted or overrun with tourists. If you stay at a resort then, it’s nice because they clean the beaches, but the snorkeling will still be polluted. (In my opinion, the best beaches in the world are in the Caribbean. Anguilla and Costa Rica are hard to beat. Maldives (resort islands) and Fiji are nice, too.)

Please be kind to the environment and avoid single-use plastics in this part of the world. Read this post about how to be a better eco-friendly traveler.

Vietnam 101: Logistics, Costs & Safety

                                   Alfred the Gnome did a bit of hat shopping in Hoi An. Clearly, this hat was meant for a gnome.

When to Go To Vietnam

Hanoi, Sapa & Northern Vietnam: March – May & September – November
Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Mui Ne, Da Lat): March – September
Ho Chi Minh & South: November to February

July and August are high season. Monsoon rains are common. It’s really cold in Hanoi and northern Vietnam during January so avoid those months especially if you want to swim in Ha Long Bay.

The Cost of Traveling in Vietnam for a Month

In 2019, I spent a month in Vietnam and spent $991 in total. If you look through my Instagram highlights, you’ll find a saved story highlight on Vietnam with a detailed breakdown. This includes my $156 flight from Thailand.

Average Transport Costs: overnight buses ($15); overnight trains ($30) and the ferry roundtrip to Phu Quoc was $20.

Accommodation: Hostels cost about $4-9/night.

Food: Street food ranges from $1.40-2/meal. Restaurants start at $3 and up. Craft beer is $5 in the big cities.

Splurges: I splurged on a  $32 snorkeling trip in Phu Quoc (not worth it), $45 lighthouse tour (Ke Ga Lighthouse – totally amazing) and $50 Ba Na Hills visit (only good if the weather is nice).

A round boat anchored to the island where Ke Ga Lighthouse is located outside of Mui Ne in Central Vietnam.

How to Get a Vietnam Visa

Americans need a visa before entry into Vietnam, and an e-visa is the easiest option that I always use. (I visit every year.) E-visas are available for up to 90 days with single or multiple entries. I applied online for a 30-day e-visa, which was approved really quickly. The normal turnaround time is three “working” days in Vietnam. Please note these are only valid if you arrive at one of their main ports, which is most of the major airports. Be sure to check the list in advance. As of 2024, the cost is $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entry. To apply online, click here.  Make sure to apply early. I made a mistake on my recent multi-entry application, and it took them three days to tell me it was wrong. I had to start over again from scratch and wait another three days to get it approved.

Is Vietnam Safe?

Overall, Vietnam is a really safe place to travel. There are a lot of scams in Hanoi, Ho Chi Min and Na Trang. I honestly felt like taxi drivers were always trying to scam me. (Never take a street taxi by meter because the meters are often rigged. Agree on a price in advance or take a Grab, a rideshare app that’s similar to Uber and used all over Asia.)

Keep a steady hand on your phone, wallet or purse in the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Thieves on motorbikes are a real concern. I met people who narrowly avoided losing their phones this way. I use a phone case with a finger loop so I always have a stronger grip on my phone.

There’s still a large amount of unexploded landmines. Be on high alert in rural areas and abide by all signs. For example, the My Son ruins had signs warning you to stay on the trails.

The short boat ride to Ke Ga Lighthouse was a little sketchy but thankfully, the rest of the transit in Vietnam was reliable and felt a lot safer! (I was really close to the coast, so I knew I was safe.)

Vietnam Transit Options 

Buses are the cheapest way to travel. Overall, the sleeping buses are fairly nice. You’ve got a lot of space, and they are air-conditioned. I suggest a bottom bunk if you have a lot of luggage. (You have to take off your shoes and put them in a bag, which I find annoying when you stop at rest stops. They give you communal flip-flops but that grosses me out.)

Trains are okay but pricier. In 2019, it was about $30 for me to go from Da Nang to Na Trang. (There were definitely roaches in my cabin so take a sleep sack to sleep in!) In big cities, I used Grab, a rideshare app that’s popular all over Asia. The app also offers motorbike taxis, which I used a few times. Helmets are provided.

I took a ferry to Phu Quoc island, which was really nice. It was $20 roundtrip. Buy tickets for all transit from the station if possible. It’s always cheaper this way. Domestic flights are fairly cheap but always connect through big cities. In 2019, I traveled by land my entire month-long trip.

Overall, thoughts on Vietnam:

I always enjoy visiting Vietnam. It’s a bit more intense than the rest of Southeast Asia. There is some stunning scenery and the food was amazing. I highly recommend it but just avoid the beaches during the rainy season.

*Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use. 

For more about Southeast Asia, check out these posts:

• How to get to Cu Chi Tunnels by Public Bus in Vietnam
• Guide to Chiang Mai, Thailand
• A Photo Guide to Thailand
• Where to go in Southeast Asia