Hello, tourists! I am so pleased to express my love for Vietnam, a land filled with many colours in its streets, green scenery, and excitement in its history. Having travelled through towns and countryside, I have created my very own guide for planning this terrific trip. We’ll be talking about everything from the Vietnam War, to the capital city, how long to stay there, its flag, its map, visa requirements, and places to see, combining personal experiences with great suggestions. There are activities within each city and tips to help you make those memories of your trip last forever. Enjoy!
Vietnam 101 – The Basics
Capital of Vietnam:
- Hanoi: busy markets are contrasted against historic temples (Ngoc Son Temple and Quan Thanh Temple).
- Vietnam’s Time: No Daylight Saving Time is exercised in Vietnam. Instead, it adheres to Indochina Time (ICT), which is UTC+7.
- The flag of Vietnam depicts a golden five-pointed star against a red background, which stands for revolution and unity.
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)—for rough budgeting purposes, consider that 25,000-26,000 VND is about 1 USD.
- Map of Vietnam: Picture a long, S-shaped country bordered by Cambodia and Laos, hugging the South China Sea, which extends from China in the north to the Mekong Delta in the south.
- The history of Vietnam is almost inseparable from the Vietnam War (1955-1975), which saw the country divided into an anti-communist South and a communist North. The whispers of that war can still be heard at sites such as the Cu Chi Tunnels (I will discuss this later) and the War Remnants Museum.
- Getting into Vietnam- One should start planning the trip as November to April is the best season to visit Vietnam and to avoid border incidents.
- A tourist visa for Vietnam is valid for either 30 days (single entry) or 90 days (Multiple entry).
- E-Visa for Vietnam is an attractive option for tourists of more than eighty nationalities. Go online on the official immigration site of Vietnam to apply for a 30-day single-entry pass.
- Citizens of the US can apply for an e-visa, pre-approved visa upon arrival, or even apply for a one-year multiple-entry visa for regular trips to Vietnam. A single entry costs $25, while multiple entry costs $50 (verification of latest info is strongly advised upon travel).
- [Vietnam Tourist Visa] Fast and Easy Vietnam Visa On Arrival Service | General and EMERGENCY
- Provide details as per passport and please double-check prior to submission of the e-visa application online on official Vietnam’s website.
Exploring the Must-See Cities in Vietnam
Vietnam presents great contrasts and each city has its own personality. My favorite spots are listed here, tied in with your great tips for slightly off-the-beaten-path things to do and restaurants to eat in.
Ho Chi Minh City: Where History Meets Energy. Saigon now Ho Chi Minh City, is the heart of Vietnam. If there’s anywhere to stay, I would suggest staying in District 1, close to the action.
- Capture photos of the stunning French-colonial-era Saigon Central Post Office.
- Enjoy some pho in Ben Thanh Market and haggle for trinkets.
- Exploring Nguyen Hue Walking Street is simply electric!
- Landmark 81 SkyView
- Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels Full-Day Tour | Explore History & Culture
Da Nang City: Is a wonderland for digital nomads, the best palette of leisure for a nomad on the run: beaches, mountains, and stunning co-working venues.
- My Khe Beach is postcard-perfect for swimming.
- Marble Mountains are breathtaking, providing a fantastic view along with caves while on weekends, the Dragon Bridge comes ablaze in lights, adding to the magic.
- Helio Night Market or Son Tra Night Market, for food and shopping.
- Hike up Ban Co Peak or stroll across the Han River Bridge.
- Day Trip for the Instagrammers Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge is recommended.
- Foodies must try Com Ga (chicken rice), go for seafood at My Hanh, and Eat Mi Quang at My Quang Ba Mua.
Hanoi city: Heart of Vietnam, Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam.
- It is all vibrant chaos, a collision of the new and the old. Old Quarter is where it’s at.
- Ngoc Son Temple will be one of the attractions while the other is Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Egg Coffee: creamy heaven, at Note Cafe or Eden Coffee.
- Visit the Thang Long Theatre for a water puppet show –
- Try Bun Cha at Obama Restaurant where President Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate Bun Cha.
- Taste a variety of coffee while trains rumble by at Ngo 224 Le Duan.
- Amazing street food in Ta Hien Street and some budget relaxation with incredibly cheap massages.
- Go to Ha Long Bay for the day. It was magical when I went on an overnight cruise with Tai Chi at dawn.
- Lotte World Aquarium Hanoi
- Hanoi: 3-Day Mu Cang Chai Trekking, Hidden Trail, Local Life
Ninh Binh City: Two hours from Hanoi, Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) is a hidden gem of rivers and karsts.
Things to Do:
- Glide through caves on a boat in Trang An.
- Go to Bai Dinh Pagoda or other smaller temples.
- Stay at Tam Coc Hello Homes Homestay for the local feel.
- Trek Dragon Mountain (Hang Mua)—painful trek but worth it for the view.
- Day trip to Cat Ba Island with kayaking and trekking in Ha Long Bay.
Sapa countryside: This will be a dream for trekkers These are the Sapa mountains with fog velvet drapes on them and the homes of the natives.
What to Do:
- VIP Cabin Bus from Hanoi to Sapa & Vice Versa
- Ride a cable car to the rooftop of Fansipan Peak, the highest point in Vietnam.
- Admire the scenery from Finicula Viewpoint.
- Try Cong Ca Phe
- Trek to the Hmong villages or Cat Cat Village.
- Visit local markets and buy souvenirs.
Hoi An City: City of Lanterns Hoi An is a UNESCO heritage site because of its lanterns and tailor shops.
What to Do:
- Explore Hoi An Old Town; make sure to check out Tan Ky House and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
- Enjoy a riverboat ride on the 14th day of Lunar Month during the Lantern Festival.
- Get a fitting for a suit at the Tran Hung Dao Tailors.
- Drop by Banh Mi Phuong and taste their Cao Lau, white rose dumplings, and Banh Mi.
- Sip on a Mot Hoi An drink or egg coffee at Heyday Coffee.
- Paddle a basket boat in the Coconut Forest or chill out at An Bang Beach.
- Hoi An Coconut Boat Adventure and Ancient Town Discovery Private Tour (option: Marble Mountain)
Hue City and ancient Capital of Vietnam(1802-1945):
Known for its palaces, ancient tombs, temples, pagodas and shrines.
- Hue City brags about imperial history.
- Hue City is approximately 3 hours from Hoi An.
- Marvel at the beautiful grandeur of the tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh.
- Get Croissants at La Boulangerie Francaise or Coffee at Cong Ca Phe for the royal taste
- Explore the Imperial City.
Phu Quoc City:
Island Getaway Phu Quoc is my choice for fun and beaches.
What to Do:
- Travel to Hon Thom from the famous cable car.
- Explore Grand World for night shows, and canals.
- Visit VinWonders Phu Quoc and picture aquariums, and roller coasters.
- Take pictures of the Museum of Teddy Bears.
- Visit the Safari Park or unwind at Sao Beach.
- Phu Quoc 4 Island Snorkeling & Aquatopia Water Park with Cable Car Ride
- Phu Quoc | Camping :2Days1 Night |3 Islands – Xuong Island – Gam Ghi Island – May Rut Trong Island
The Greatest Road Trip: The Ha Giang Loop
Ha Giang Loop must be one of those increasingly rare trips that motorcyclists do over spectacular mountains. What to Do:
- Pure adrenaline makes a cruise pass like Ma Pi Leng.
- Visit villages such as Meo Vac or Dong Van.
- For breathtaking views, stop at the Lung Cu Flag Tower.
- Use 12Go Asia to book a bus.
Vietnam’s Iconic Attractions
These Places are Magical
- Ha Long Bay: A UNESCO wonder, including karsts and green waters. Dreamy kayaking here.
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park: Home to the largest caves in the world. Son Doong Cave is great.
- Explore the Mangrove forests and floating markets of the Mekong Delta.
- Hoi An Ancient Town: Lots of history, charm, and lanterns.
- Ba Na Hills: The actual Golden Bridge is just as awesome as it looks online.
Vietnam tours package
The money-savvy travellers will choose from Vietnam tours package that offer luxury to budget travel.
- For history enthusiasts, Hanoi, Hue, and Hoi An had a much cultural atmosphere.
- For adventure-seeking activities, try activities such as kayaking and sailing at Ha Long Bay, riding the Ha Giang trail, and trekking in Sapa.
- Beach getaway: This is Phu Quoc, Da Nang, or Nha Trang.
- Luxury getaways: Have a look at resorts such as Vinpearl Nha Trang
- Private island hopping tours in Nha Trang.
Tips & Hacks
- Mixing cities with hostels and street food can help save costs.
- $40 is enough for a day to stay in a hostel, coffee, food, nightlife and workout in Nha Trang.
- For Veggie Eats search ‘An Chay’ on Google Maps for restaurants that offer vegetarian food.
- 12Go Asia is a good app to book luxury buses for outstation trips if not using Vietnamese trains
- Hire scooters for extra independence for only $5.
- Download the Vietnamese Language offline from Google it is great to know a few sentences to deal in markets as foreigners may end up paying more.
- To vlog or take photos use Sony ZV1, microphone, and gimbal.
- Carry a water bottle and packable daypack with you.
The Reasons I Adore Vietnam as the best tourist destination are for its simplicity, its people, affordability, history, monuments, pagodas, temples, colours, flavours, rice farms, markets, eating pho, Banh Mi, beaches, UNESCO sites, Lanterns festival, Cozy trekking through Sapa Mountains, Train ride, unity in people after the the Vietnam War making it modern Vietnam. You will fall in love with Vietnam.
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