Vietnam travel guides
Everything you need to plan a tour of Vietnam, from when to go and how long to stay to choosing a Ha Long Bay cruise, visas, costs and what to pack. Each guide links to top rated tours you can compare and book.
When to go
Best time to visit Vietnam: north, central and south explained
Vietnam has three climates. March and April are good everywhere; the north is best in spring and autumn, the centre from February to August and the south from December to April.
Updated 14 October 2026
Vietnam month by month: weather, festivals and where to go
A month by month planner for Vietnam: the weather in each region, the festivals worth timing a trip around, and where to go.
Updated 14 October 2026
Typhoon and flood season in Vietnam: when, where and how to plan
Central Vietnam floods most years in October and November; storms can stop Ha Long Bay cruises from July to September. A month by month risk table and how to plan around it.
Updated 14 October 2026Month by month
Weather, festivals and the best places to go in each month.
Itineraries
How many days in Vietnam? Routes for 7, 10, 14 and 21 days
One week suits the north or the centre, two weeks covers north to south with a Ha Long Bay cruise, and three weeks adds Sapa, the Mekong and a beach.
Updated 14 October 2026
Ha Long Bay cruise guide: which bay, how long and what it costs
One night is the sweet spot. Choose Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long Bay for fewer boats, or Ha Long Bay for the famous caves. Live prices for 1 and 2 night cruises.
Updated 14 October 2026
Vietnam and Cambodia in one trip: routes, visas and how long you need
Add Angkor Wat to a Vietnam trip. Two and three week routes, how to cross the border, visas, Angkor pass prices and the best season for both countries.
Updated 14 October 2026Places and things to do
25 best things to do in Vietnam
From a night on Ha Long Bay to a lantern lit evening in Hoi An, the experiences that make a trip to Vietnam, grouped from north to south.
Updated 14 October 2026
Sapa trekking guide: villages, routes, homestays and when to go
Rice terraces, Hmong and Dao villages and homestay nights in Vietnam's northern mountains. Routes, difficulty, seasons and how to get there from Hanoi.
Updated 14 October 2026Ninh Binh guide: Tam Coc or Trang An, and how long to stay
Limestone peaks, rice fields and rowing boats through caves, two hours from Hanoi. Tam Coc and Trang An compared, plus why one night is better than a day trip.
Updated 14 October 2026Hoi An guide: lantern nights, tailors, beaches and when to go
Vietnam's most charming town: a lantern lit old port, tailors, beaches and countryside. Lantern night dates, what to do, when to go and how long to stay.
Updated 14 October 2026
Mekong Delta guide: day trip or overnight, and which floating market
Canals, orchards and floating markets south of Ho Chi Minh City. Why an overnight trip beats a day trip, which market to see and the best seasons.
Updated 14 October 2026
Phong Nha caves guide: Paradise Cave, Son Doong and how to visit
Some of the world's most spectacular caves, from an easy boardwalk in Paradise Cave to the four day expedition into Son Doong, the largest cave passage on Earth.
Updated 14 October 2026
Sapa or Ha Giang? Which northern Vietnam trip to choose
Sapa is for trekking and homestays and is easy to reach; Ha Giang is a wilder road trip through the most dramatic mountain scenery in Vietnam.
Updated 14 October 2026Festivals
Costs and budgets
Practical tips
Vietnam visa guide: e-Visa and visa free entry explained
Many Europeans can visit visa free for 45 days. Everyone else, including Americans, Australians and Canadians, can get a 90 day e-Visa online from US$25.
Updated 14 October 2026
Vietnam travel tips: 20 things to know before you go
Money, getting around, crossing the road, staying healthy, etiquette and the scams to avoid: what first time visitors to Vietnam should know.
Updated 14 October 2026What to pack for Vietnam: a packing list for every region
Light, quick drying clothes, a rain jacket, layers for the north in winter, good walking shoes for Sapa and modest clothes for temples.
Updated 14 October 2026Private tour or group tour in Vietnam? How to choose
Private tours give you your own guide and driver and set dates; small group tours are cheaper for solo travellers and more social. Live prices for both.
Updated 14 October 2026Vietnam or Thailand? Which is better for your first trip
Thailand is easier and stronger on beaches; Vietnam has more dramatic scenery and a clear north to south journey. How they compare, and who each suits.
Updated 14 October 2026
Train or flight in Vietnam? Getting from north to south
The full train journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes about 33 hours; the flight takes about 2. Use flights for long hops and the train for the scenic stretches.
Updated 14 October 2026Ready to compare tours?
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