Are you interested in traveling to Vietnam? It’s a fascinating country. From history to food, there’s so much to do and see that it’s well worth a visit. Let us tell you why.
All we hear about growing up in the United States is the Vietnam War, where our fathers fought. My father did, and I sat in front of the black-and-white screen of our TV. watching Walter Cronkite every night waiting for him to mention my dad. He never did, thankfully.
And so, when I started hearing what a wonderful place Vietnam was to visit, I had to go. Call it morbid fascination, but I couldn’t wait. Of course, entering any communist country is a little unnerving, at least before you get there.
It’s the preconceptions and the unknown that gets you. Once you get your visa stamped and are through customs, you look around, and you begin to realize what friendly people live here. It’s not so scary after all.
That was our very first trip to Vietnam in 2013. This beautiful country left such an impression on us. So much so, we decided to head back post-pandemic and live there for almost a year, exploring the country from the farthest south to as north as we could.
In this article:
Getting to Vietnam
Most people will arrive in Vietnam via air transport, as we did. It is convenient, and the only thing you might need to worry about is getting your Vietnam tourist e-visa before you arrive.
We found out the hard way that even though the website says it will take a minimum of three days, it was more like five. Then Jim had a problem with his, so they sent it to be rectified, and this was added another couple of days before we actually received the e-visa. Because of this, we had to cancel our initial flight and rebook. So beware.
Once you arrive at the airport and get through immigration and customs, you are right in the middle of the taxi chaos. As you probably already know, either have your hotel pick you up, take an official taxi or bus, or our go-to is getting a Grab car. You can download the app before you arrive, and it will work fine if you have an Internet connection.
Getting Around
Getting around Vietnam between cities can be a bit challenging. There are many modes of transport; you just need to choose the one that best suits your travel style.
For the most part, we fly Vietjet all around the country. This is because Vietnam is bigger (read: longer) than it looks, and going by rail or road will take you quite a bit more time.
Rail – There are main train lines that connect all the significant tourist sights, and we took one from Hanoi to Da Nang. It was comfortable and pretty easy, but long. You can also book overnight rides, which might save you cost if you don’t have to pay for a hotel for one night.
Bus – There are lots of overnight bus options as well. We’ve yet to try this, since it seems as if you won’t get much sleep even though you have your own bed. I’ve heard various thoughts on this, and it’s 50/50 whether they had a good ride. If you are adventurous, this is the cheapest option.
Word of warning, however, if you are taller than five feet ten inches, you will have a hard time fitting in the bed space.
Rental cars – You cannot rent a car in Vietnam. Period. Well, that’s not entirely true. You can hire a car and a driver for a day, even a week. However, there’s no option for you to drive yourself. A good option here is to check with the hotel in your destination to see if they offer a transfer service.
The exception to the “no rental” rule is for motorbikes. That is if you are okay with renting scooters and riding them through the chaotic Vietnamese streets. We have not done this, because it can be terrifying. However, if you’re up to it, it can be very rewarding. Again, how much adventure are you up for? It’s entirely up to you.
Best Time to Visit
The absolute best time to schedule a visit to Vietnam is between the months of November to April. This keeps you out of the rainy season. As Vietnam hosts a tropical climate, the temperatures are pretty moderate during these times as well.
I think the absolute worst time to come is June through September. It’s really hot and humid, and when it rains, it can last for days!
If you would like to hear what our Top 5 places to visit in Vietnam, you can hear Jim and I battle it out right here on this episode of our podcast, Streets and Eats.
Places to Visit in Vietnam
There are so many places to visit in Vietnam that we’ve only scratched the surface. There’s plenty to see and do to keep you sightseeing for a very long time. Here are some of our favorites:
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Hanoi
- Hue
- My Son
- Hoi An
- Nha Trang
- Dalat
- Phu Quoc
- Mekong Delta
- Phong Nha
- Tam Coc
- Ha Nam
- Ban Gioc
- Sapa
Ho Chi Minh City
We lived in Ho Chi Minh as expats, and intimately got to know the city and all her charms. There is so much to do, to see, to eat, and to enjoy.
Ho Chi Minh City, also still referred to as Saigon, is the largest city in the country. It’s where many of the big governmental tourist sights like Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum are. But it’s not all museums. There are plenty of excellent coffee shops and restaurants to keep us happy.
If you are heading to Ho Chi Minh, check out our podcast:
Or you can always subscribe to one of these:
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Spotify
Amazon Music
Hanoi
A very provincial city, looking like some old European capital with an Asian flair, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and it has been able to grow without losing its small-town feel. There is plenty to see like Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, some stunning and historical temples, and a few colorful markets.
Hue
It rained on us most of the time we were in Hue, but it didn’t dampen our spirits, because it is a host to many important sights in Vietnam, a series of which combines to make the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Complex of Hue Monuments. We visited the many areas and found the architecture extraordinary and quite majestic.
My Son
My Son is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, located up the famous Perfume River. The only way to get there is to take a day tour from Hue, but these are plentiful. The day we explored My Son was one of the drier of the few we experienced in the Hue area, so it was quite satisfying walking around the temple complex. Everything was very overgrown and very green.
Hoi An
Hoi An, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, was much cheerier than anything in Hue. Of course, the major draw to this quaint town is the abundance of cheap tailoring. Everywhere you walked, there were tailor shops promising to make you a suit, coat, or any other type of clothing that you desired.
And yes, it would be done before you pull out of town. “We’ll have it to your hotel before you leave”…and they did. What fun to have clothes made for you. Hoi An is a town where a lot of backpackers head and then hang out for a while and there were plenty of good little hang-outs, hotels, and all kinds of restaurants and bars.
Nha Trang
Mainly a beach resort town, Nha Trang is not the type of place I often visit. However, the beach scene is quite beautiful, and we especially loved walking the promenade at night.
And then surprisingly, we did find quite a few sights to keep us busy. We visited Po Nagar Temple, Long Son Temple, took a ride out to Doclet beach through some scenic salt fields, and even visited the Nha Trang aquarium.
The first time we visited Nha Trang was at Christmastime. Imagine our surprise when we rolled into Nha Trang midway through our Vietnam winter break trip and arrived at our hotel to find a gigantic Christmas tree made entirely out of Heineken beer bottles!
Really, it was massive. It took over the entire front of the multistory building. Of course, the interior was decked out in holly, poinsettias, and garlands. We thought they had really laid it on for the Western visitors. As it turns out, it was probably as much for the locals. A steady stream of mopeds paraded past the hotel, through the drop-off driveway, and stopped for a quick picture in front of the tree. Young men taking their girls out for a ride were almost all wearing a Santa hat and a big cheesy smile. There were hundreds of them; this went on from around 4 PM till midnight.
Da Lat
Da Lat is a refreshing city to head to when the heat in the rest of the country has you a little worn out. Up in the mountains, the city stays a little cooler than other parts of Vietnam. This is a major produce-growing area and the number one flower producer in the country. There are so many fantastic things to do, like the Cave Tunnel, Alpine Slide, and some summer palaces to visit.
This quirky little city has a bustling night market, but our favorite thing to do was take the old train from Dalat to Trai Mat to see the Dragon Pagoda. With so much going on, this is a city that the kids will absolutely love!
Phu Quoc
An island of sandy beaches and the ultimate in pampering and relaxation, Phu Quoc is the place to unwind. With stunning resorts that feed you well and meticulously care for their beaches, pools, and other amenities, you can spend a few days in Phu Quoc and never have to leave the hotel. We don’t recommend this, though. There are plenty of really fun and interesting things to do on this beautiful island, and we wouldn’t want you to miss a thing.
We stayed at the stunning Salinda Resort and loved it so much that we’re planning on booking it again….soon!
Mekong Delta
In Southern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta can be a multi-day or just a one-day trip from Ho Chi Minh. There you can ply the waters of the river on a variety of boats, as well as visit a floating market, enjoy the fresh produce and the happy smiles of the locals.
Phong Nha
Phong Nha is a small town that is host to a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is a huge national park. The park is known for its caves,,there areare there a lot of them! We only visited two, but if you are a true spelunker or trekker, you can see so many more. We enjoyed Phong Nha Cave and Paradise Cave while staying at the superb Phong Nha Farmstay (homestay hotel).
Tam Coc
Tam Coc is another natural area that is full of stunning rice fields, lotus gardens, karst mountains, and yes…more caves. Here we took a couple of boat rides to the caves and enjoyed the coolness of the caves’ interiors after baking in the summer heat of Vietnam.
We stayed at a wonderful hotel called the Trang An Peaceful Homestay which was minutes from the boat launch for the Trang An cave circuit.
Ha Nam
A completely off-the-radar destination for most foreign visitors, we purposely stopped on a train trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Ha Nam which hosts two spectacular sites, the Tam Chuc Monastery and the Phi Lai Temple. We were supremely happy to have done them since they are now way at the top of our list of temples to visit in this amazing country.
Ban Gioc
Far enough out of the way that not too many tourists get here, Ban Gioc was a huge surprise. In the farthest north of the country, bordering China, sits these amazing waterfalls and pristine natural lanscapes. We loved visiting the Magic Eye Mountain, as well as the Ban Gioc Temple and the falls themselves.
Sapa
Mountains, terraced rice paddies, and colorful local tribespeople make Sapa a must-do destination. We loved Fansipan Mountain and Bac Ha where we visited a local market after taking the Chapa Express Night Train from Hanoi.
Conclusion
Vietnam is a great Asian destination to visit with so much to do and see packed with frenetic cities, stunning countryside and rice paddies, and beautiful beaches. The food is fresh, tantalizingly vibrant, and beyond delicious. Pack your bags and get ready to experience one of your best trips, ever!
If you are interested, here is some further reading about Vietnam travel:
- Dalat – Things to Do!
- Things to do in Ho Chi Minh
- Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
- Border Crossing: Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh
- Cat Ba Vietnam
- Vietnam – 1 month Itinerary
- Travel Vietnam
- Vietnamese Beaches
Have you been to Vietnam? Any tips?
Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.
Jim Vail
Wednesday 28th of December 2016
We did not get out into Ha Long Bay on our trip. We like to save something to go back for!
Danielle
Friday 16th of December 2016
I absolutely cannot wait to visit Vietnam. It's been at the top of my travel list for a while and I'm hoping to go within the next year or so. I hear the street food is amazing; what did you think about it?
Jim Vail
Wednesday 28th of December 2016
The street food is amazing, definitely enjoy it!
Rhonda Albom
Saturday 3rd of December 2016
I have not yet been to Vietnam but I have heard wonderful things. I would like to do all of Southeast Asia including Myanmar.
Corinne Vail
Saturday 3rd of December 2016
Rhonda, I've not been to Myanmar either. I need to get there!
Jill
Friday 2nd of December 2016
I haven't been to Vietnam but my daughter went 2 years ago and proclaims it her very favorite country in all the world. She was there during Tet - the Vietnamese New Year - which made it extra special. She toured the cities, kayaked Ha Long Bay and cycled through the countryside. But her absolute favorite was Hoi An which she calls the city of Lanterns. In fact, she loved it so much she almost moved there. I'm sold - and have moved it to my top 10 places I want to visit.
Corinne Vail
Saturday 3rd of December 2016
Jill, It's a great country to visit for sure. We loved Hoi An and Nha Trang the most!