Limestone bays, ancient towns and street food
Vietnam is a long, narrow country running down the eastern edge of Southeast Asia, from northern mountains to the Mekong Delta. Ha Long Bay's limestone islands, the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An and the imperial city of Hue are highlights. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are chaotic, exciting and full of street food. It suits food lovers, backpackers and travellers who want variety at a low cost.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Thousands of limestone karsts rising from emerald water, explored by overnight cruise. Lan Ha Bay nearby is quieter.
A well-preserved trading port of yellow houses, wooden shophouses and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Lanterns light it at night.
The citadel of the Nguyen emperors, with palaces, gates and royal tombs along the Perfume River. It is the heart of Vietnam's imperial history.
Limestone mountains holding huge caves, including Paradise Cave and Son Doong, the largest known cave in the world. Most caves are visited by boat or trek.
Rowing boats glide through rivers, caves and karst valleys, with temples and rice fields. It is called Ha Long Bay on land.
A tangle of streets once grouped by trade, with street food, cafes and Hoan Kiem Lake. It is lively day and night.
A green maze of rivers, floating markets and orchards in the south. Boats explore small canals.
Mountain villages and rice terraces of ethnic minorities in the north. Treks and homestays are popular.
A network of wartime tunnels used by the Viet Cong. Visitors can crawl through sections.
Vietnam's biggest city, with the War Remnants Museum, French colonial buildings and buzzing nightlife. It is fast and modern.
A spectacular mountain road loop near the Chinese border, usually ridden by motorbike over three or four days. The passes are dramatic.
Ruins of Cham Hindu temples in a jungle valley, built from the 4th to 13th centuries. Some were damaged in the war.
A modern beach city with long sands, the Marble Mountains caves and the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills. It is close to Hoi An.
An island in the Gulf of Thailand with beaches, fishing villages and resorts. It is best from November to April.
A cool highland town of pine forests, lakes, flower farms and coffee. It feels very different from the coast.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital of street food and culture.
food, culture · Open the city guideAncient town and tailors.
history · Open the city guideImperial city.
history · Open the city guideEnergetic southern hub.
city, food · Open the city guideBeach city.
beach · Open the city guideKarst landscapes.
nature · Guide comingMountain treks.
hiking · Guide comingAn island for beaches and resorts.
beaches, relaxing · Open the city guideA cool highland town with pine forests and cafes.
cool weather, nature · Guide comingA beach city with diving and islands.
beaches, diving · Guide comingCapital, bays and mountains.
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa
Imperial and trading towns.
Hue, Hoi An, Phong Nha
Big city and delta.
Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels
Cool hills and island beaches.
Da Lat, Phu Quoc
High passes, terraced fields and ethnic-minority villages.
Sapa, Ha Giang Loop, Mu Cang Chai
Hanoi, rice plains and the Ha Long coast.
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: February to April. Mild weather across most of the country.
The north is cool and misty in winter and hot in summer; central coast storms peak from September to November; the south is dry from December to April.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
69°F daily high, 60°F average, 1.3 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Vietnam Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, noting petty theft in tourist areas and unexploded ordnance in some rural areas.
Cheap domestic flights, sleeper trains and buses link the length of the country.
Vietnam is excellent value for food, hotels and tours.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check e-visa and entry rules with the Vietnam Immigration Department's official e-visa portal and your own government's travel advice, such as the US State Department country page, before you travel. |
| Plugs | Type A, C, F; 220 V 50 Hz |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Tipping is not required but small tips are appreciated. |
| Payments | Cash is common; QR codes and cards are used in cities. |
| Emergency | 113 police |
| Etiquette | Cross roads slowly and steadily so motorbikes can steer around you. Avoid public criticism of the government. Remove shoes in homes and temples. |
| What to wear | Cover shoulders and knees at temples and pagodas. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Domestic flights are cheap and link Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. The Reunification Express train runs the length of the coast. Buses and sleeper buses fill the gaps. |
| Main airports | HAN, SGN, DAD, PQC |
| Ride apps | Grab |
Vietnamese kingdoms emerged in the Red River Delta and spent centuries under or resisting Chinese rule. The Nguyen dynasty ruled from Hue until French colonisation in the 19th century. After independence was declared in 1945, wars against France and then the United States divided the country until reunification in 1975. Economic reforms since 1986 have made Vietnam one of Asia's fastest-growing economies.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.