A local's guide to Vietnam from the Hanoi old quarter to the Mekong delta and every noodle stall in between
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This is one real day from a schedule our planner builds. Yours will look different, because it is built around your answers.
Day 2 · Hanoi
Every hour worked out, every place open
The rest is already waiting, it just needs a few answers
Build me a day like thisFour worlds of Vietnam, pick a lantern.
The core guides to start from.
Where to stay in Hanoi: the Old Quarter versus the French Quarter versus the lake districts, which streets are too loud to sleep on, and how to pick a base that suits how you actually travel.
Two weeks in Vietnam, planned properly: the classic north-to-south route day by day, what to cut when you are short, and the three versions that suit different travellers.
What Vietnam actually costs: where the money goes, the three budget tiers explained honestly, why cash still matters, and the handful of expenses that quietly double a trip.
Vietnam runs three climates at once, so there is no single best month. Here is what the north, centre and south are actually doing through the year, and how to build a route that follows the good weather instead of fighting it.
How to travel the length of Vietnam: when to fly instead of taking the sleeper bus, what the trains are really like, how the bus classes differ, and the motorbike question answered honestly.
How Vietnam's entry system actually works: the official e-visa portal, who gets visa-free entry and who does not, passport validity, and the mistakes that get people turned away at the gate.
Every city, bay, beach and stall from our guides, on one map.
More than 245 of the best places in Vietnam, in one guide with photos and tips.
The War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City: what each actually covers, a content warning on the more difficult exhibits, and how to approach a heavy but important part of Vietnam's history respectfully.
The Tam Coc boat tour in Ninh Binh, often called Ha Long Bay on land: rowing beneath limestone karsts and through cave tunnels, the local rowers who steer with their feet, and when to go for green or golden rice fields.
Cat Ba Island: the largest island near Ha Long Bay, with a national park, sheer limestone karsts for climbing, and Lan Ha Bay on its doorstep. What to do there, its beaches and treks, and how it compares to a straight Ha Long Bay cruise.
Da Nang after dark: the Dragon Bridge fire show, riverside rooftop bars, the beach pubs along My Khe Beach, and a late-night food scene on the central Vietnam coast.
A guide to Hanoi after dark: Ta Hien beer street, hidden speakeasy bars, craft beer and live jazz, what a night out costs, and how to stay safe in the Old Quarter.
The best places to eat in Hoi An: cao lau, white rose dumplings, legendary banh mi, riverside restaurants and a one day tasting route through one of Vietnam's best food towns.
Most visitors need an eVisa, issued online in advance through the official portal for around 25 USD and valid for up to 90 days. It is worth applying about a week before you fly and keeping a printed copy for the border check.
Vietnam is long and the weather changes by region. In general, March to April and October to November are comfortable across most of the country. The north is cool in winter (December to February), while the south is tropical and warm all year.
Vietnam is one of the cheapest destinations in Asia. The currency is the dong (VND), and it is best to withdraw cash from ATMs. Cards are accepted at hotels and larger restaurants, but markets, street stalls and drivers need cash. A street meal runs about 2 to 4 USD.
Yes. Vietnam is considered a safe and friendly destination, hugely popular with first-time visitors to Asia. Take care crossing the road (dense scooter traffic), drink bottled water and travel with valid insurance.
Cheap domestic flights connect the north, centre and south. Within cities you can use the Grab app (car and scooter), metered taxis or a tuk-tuk. Between nearby cities there are sleeper trains and sleeper buses.
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