Vietnam Travel Guide

Weather - when to go

The North and South are 2000kms apart, ranging from bleak and chilly Hanoi winters to steamy tropical nights in Ho Chi Minh City. Peak season in Hanoi is September to December when the weather is warm in the day and cool in the evenings, otherwise expect cold misty winters from November to April and hot humid summers from May to October. The wet season falls between May through August in the south when it rains everywhere with occasional flood in almost all parts of Hanoi. The highland areas are always cooler and often freezing in winter.

Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): a hub of entertainment and industry with a variety of trendy places and charming sidewalks lined with French colonial architecture.

Hanoi: the vibrant 1000 year old capital city boasts an array of natural wonders and exquisite, timeless landmarks, including several misty lakes soaked in legend. Day trips to the remarkable local natural landscapes are a must.

Dalat: a quaint, arty hill station town with plenty of relaxing romantic character.

Hoi An: rent a bike and tour this charming, peaceful riverside town with ancient temples and an eclectic mix of foreign influence. Nearby is the two thousand year old Champa ruins of My Son.

Halong Bay: known as one of the most breathtaking sights in the country, Halong Bay boasts limestone formations, coves and gorgeous cliffs making it one of the world’s most remarkable seascapes.
Beaches: relax on one of many pristine beaches in the south including China Beach, located between Danang and Hoi An, the quiet My Khe Beach, the popular beach in Nha Trang, Mui Ne Beach, Hon Chong Beach and Bai Tam.

Recommended Itinerary

Realistically you need two separate trips to explore the North and South. Per region, two weeks is enough to see all the major highlights and indulge in the tranquillity and beauty of the nature.

The North

Four days in Hanoi, visiting historic sites and making day trips to nearby natural landscapes.

Three days in Sapa, trekking or enjoying the cooler climate.

Three days cruising Halong bay in mock junks, visiting caves and marvelling at the karst seascape.

Central Region

Three days exploring Hue the ancient capital, with its massive citadel and ancient Nguyen royal mausoleums. Day trip to the former de-militarized zone.

Three days in Hoi An to wander this quaint, ancient riverside port town famous for its eclectic architecture. Day tip to ancient Champa ruins at My Son.

The South

Thre days in Ho Chi Minh, a cosmopolitan city with trendy café and street markets. Day trip to Cu Chi Vietnam War-era tunnels.

Two days in Dalat, romantic hill retreat in the South.

A week to enjoy the beaches in the south such as My Khe Beach, Nha Trang, Mui Ne Beach and Vung Tau.

Three days meandering among the tributories of the Mekhong Delta on a boat trip.

Health and safety

Vietnam is tourist-friendly, due to very helpful locals and the fact that the government has strict laws on harming foreigners in the country. However, travellers should beware of pickpockets. Cyclos drivers can be quite persistent, simply avoid eye-contact if you don’t want to ignore. Bird flu is also a major health risk so try to keep distance from birds, ducks and chickens.

What’s cool

Ancient Hanoi, incredible scenery of Halong Bay and the North, trekking from Sapa hill station, charming Hoi An, friendly locals. Try fresh seafood, local beer and rice wine, sample intriguing history, culture and traditional shows, buy antiques, visit tribal villages near Dalat and Sapa, bask on endless beaches, or take boat trips in Mekong River. The enduring impression of Vietnamese ladies riding bicycles in ao dais (traditional dresses) with conical reed hats is unforgettable.

What’s not
The heat,  mad traffic in big cities and the unbearable din of scooter hooters, unreliable bus services, cyclos hustlers, aggressive sellers, nagging beggars, spicy food that causes diarrhea, occasional bird flu!

Main festivals

Vietnamese people, like other Asians, love celebrations. Here’s a low-down on fun, festive festivals.

February: Tet festival, the Vietnamese lunar New Year, is the biggest festival of the year and goes on for three days as families congregate. Expect a lot of food, drinks and bright colors.

August: Honchien Temple festival, held near the Perfume River, is full of fun and excitement. Expect to see an interesting performance of imperial characters in colorful costumes.

October: an eye-opening experience for tourists, Keo Pagoda festival is packed with activities like duck catching, rice cooking competition and firecracker throwing contest.

November: the New Year Eve for the Khmer people in Vietnam. Feasts, boat races and lantern rockets.

Activities

Boat trips: on the Mekong Delta, where you can see a combination of rice paddies, swamps and green forests interlaced with canals and river.

Caving: Vietnam boasts an array of great locations of caving enthusiasts particularly in Pong Nha river caves, north-western of Dong Hoi. Halong Bay is another location of some remarkable sites.

Cycling: bring your own bike,  the country is ideal for long-distance cycling and there are many routes for active cyclists. The North-South highway is a bit hectic and the hills are a pain.

Diving:, Vietnam features a great selection of diving spots near Danang and Nha Trang. Be amazed at colorful corals and a variety of underwater creatures.

Hiking and trekking: great hiking spots are found in the countryside including the Hill station of Sapa with its hilltribes, Dalat in the South, Cat Ba Island (Hlaong Bay) and Ba Be Lake National Park featuring several lakes, waterfalls and caves in the north.

Kayaking: a chance to admire the nature and work out at the same time, kayaking in Vietnam is fun and memorable, especially in the best place is the jaw-dropping Halong Bay.

Shopping: shopaholics will enjoy shopping in Vietnam as everything is so cheap. Notable souvenirs include lacquer painting, reed mats, embroidery, tailor-made ao dais (female national costume) and antiques. Locally made electronics, clothes and shoes are great value.

Food and Hospitality

Known as one of the most exotic cuisines in the world, Vietnamese food boasts a combination of Chinese and Vietnamese ingredients with a touch of French specialties. Eating in Vietnam ranges from a bowl of noodle soup (Pho) at a local shack to a fancy meal in one of the five-star hotels. Locals are friendly and helpful. The country’s tourism infrastructure is rapidly improving and presents a professional, good value experience even if it lacks sophistication.

Transportation

Vietnam has international airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang. Vietnam Airlines provides international flights from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phnom Penh, Siem Riep, Singapore, Osaka and many countries in Europe, with cheap internal flights available at short notice. Buses from Cambodia are also available but the journey is long and can be unreliable. Travellers may also get on a cargo ship to Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Haiphong from Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore or France while trains travel between Vietnam and its neighboring countries. To get around in Vietnam, mini buses and local buses get you there if you’re patient, cars cannot be rented without a driver. You’ll never have difficulty flagging down taxis, cyclos and motorcycle taxis.