Vietnam Travel Guide
Priya Nair· Asia Editor
Updated September 12, 2026 · 9 min read
Vietnam runs a thousand miles down a curve of coastline, and every region has its own season and its own food: Hanoi's pho, Hoi An's cao lau, Saigon's banh mi. Budgets run $50/day at the mid tier — the continent's best value.
The classic route: Hanoi (2) → Ha Long (1) → Da Nang/Hoi An (2–3) → Ho Chi Minh City (2) → the Mekong (1), flown between, trained where scenic.
Turn this guide into a personalized itinerary
Hanoi · dates and preferences pre-filled — adjust anything, then generate your day-by-day plan.
Plan your Vietnam trip with AI →Where to Go
Hanoi is the necessary capital; Ha Long's karsts the necessary water; Hoi An the lantern town; Ho Chi Minh City the engine; the Mekong the finale. Ninh Binh ('Ha Long on land') and Sapa's terraces are the insider adds.
- Classic: Hanoi 2 → Ha Long 1 → Hoi An 3 → HCMC 2 → Mekong 1.
- Food-first: the 8-day pho-and-fire trail.
- North-deep: Hanoi 2 → Ninh Binh 1 → Sapa 2.
The Season Split
The north is best October–December; the south December–April; February–March splits the difference across the whole country. Central Vietnam's typhoon season runs September–November.
Street Food Rules
Eat where the plastic stools are full, order what the table next door has, and learn two words: 'ngon' (delicious) earns smiles; 'cam on' (thank you) earns respect.
The Classic Route
North to south, flown between.
Day 1 · Hanoi — Old Quarter
Pho at dawn, the 36 streets, bia hoi.
Day 2 · Hanoi — history
The temples, egg coffee, cha ca.
Day 3 · Ha Long — overnight
The karst cruise and the deck stars.
Day 4 · Fly to Da Nang
The beach evening; Hoi An next.
Day 5 · Hoi An — lanterns
The Ancient Town and the river candles.
Day 6 · Hoi An — cooking
The herb-farm class.
Day 7 · Fly to Saigon
The rooftops and the banh mi.
Day 8 · HCMC — history
Cu Chi and the museum; the delta next.
Day 9 · Mekong Delta
The channels by boat; the farewell.
Practical planning info
Money
- About $50/day at the mid tier nationwide.
- Street meals $1–3; the Ha Long cruise is the big line.
When
- North: October–December. South: December–April.
- February–March splits the country honestly.
Frequently asked questions
Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City first?
Hanoi — the food is more distinctive and Ha Long follows naturally.
Is Vietnam cheap?
The best value in Asia: about $50/day at the mid tier.
How many days for Vietnam?
Ten days does the classic north-to-south arc properly.
Ready to plan your Hanoi trip?
Use this guide as your starting point — the AI planner builds a day-by-day itinerary around your dates and interests.
Plan your Vietnam trip with AI →Keep reading
Three days of Hanoi: pho at dawn, the Old Quarter, egg coffee, Train Street and Ha Long's karsts.
5 min read
Three days of the engine city: the colonial core, Cu Chi's tunnels, the museums and the rooftops.
5 min read
The Southeast Asia guide: the value arc, the island seasons and the budgets.
9 min read