Hanoi
133 hostels · dorms from €4
The capital: a dense old quarter, lakes, street food on plastic stools and the best coffee culture in Asia.
Vietnam country guide
Things To Do In Vietnam
Over three thousand kilometres of coast, two deltas, mountains in the north, and the cheapest good food in Asia. The classic overland trip, done north to south or the other way round.
€6
Dorm bed, from
3,260km
Of coastline
€1.50
A bowl of pho
3
Distinct climates at once
A long thin country you travel end to end
Vietnam is 1,650km from top to bottom and narrow enough in the middle to cross in an hour, which is why almost everyone travels its length rather than basing themselves in one place. The standard route runs Hanoi, Ha Long or Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, then Nha Trang or Da Lat and finishes in Ho Chi Minh City, or exactly the reverse.
The country changes as you go. Hanoi in the north is older, tighter and cooler, with a proper winter. Hue and Hoi An in the centre are imperial and lantern-lit. Ho Chi Minh City in the south is bigger, hotter, louder and more commercial, and the Mekong Delta below it is another country again.
That length also means there is no single best season — the north, centre and south have different weather at the same time, which is the one thing worth understanding before booking.
Where to go
The overland route runs the length of the country. Trains, sleeper buses and cheap flights link it.
Sapa
65 hostels
Rice terraces and hill tribe villages in the far north, and trekking between homestays.
Ha Giang
42 hostels
The far north: a four-day motorbike loop through limestone mountains that most travellers rate the best thing they did in Vietnam.
Ninh Binh
93 hostels · dorms from €4
Limestone karsts rising out of rice paddies, often called Ha Long Bay on land. Cheaper and quieter than the bay.
Cat Ba
36 hostels
The island base for Ha Long and Lan Ha bays, with cheaper boat trips and a national park behind the town.
Phong Nha
41 hostels
Caves on a scale that has to be seen, including the largest in the world, in a karst national park near the old DMZ.
Hue
51 hostels
The old imperial capital, with a citadel, royal tombs along the river and the country's most distinctive food.
Da Nang
51 hostels
Beaches, the Marble Mountains and the Dragon Bridge, thirty minutes from Hoi An and the flight hub for the centre.
Hoi An
111 hostels · dorms from €4
A lantern-lit trading town, tailors, a beach nearby, and the prettiest place in the country.
Da Lat
34 hostels
Cool highland air, French colonial villas, canyoning and the flower and coffee country of the central highlands.
Nha Trang
18 hostels
A long city beach, islands offshore, and a Russian-influenced resort scene unlike anywhere else in the country.
Mui Ne
12 hostels
Sand dunes beside the sea, kitesurfing wind from November to April, and a fishing village behind the resort strip.
Ho Chi Minh City
131 hostels
Bigger, hotter and faster than Hanoi, with war history, rooftop bars and the Mekong below it.
Phu Quoc
1 hostel
The big southern island: beaches, a night market, and a fast-developing resort coast in the Gulf of Thailand.
What kind of trip is this?
Vietnam is an overland trip more than a destination, and it does food, coast and mountains equally well.
Food in Vietnam
The cheapest good eating anywhere, and the best coffee in Asia.
What to do
- Pho for breakfast on a plastic stool
- Egg coffee in Hanoi
- Banh mi from a cart
Spots to visit
- Hanoi old quarter
- Hoi An markets
- Ben Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City
Best cities for it
Adventure in Vietnam
Karst mountains, caves and the Ha Giang loop.
Beach in Vietnam
Over three thousand kilometres of it, and mostly uncrowded.
What to do
- An Bang beach near Hoi An
- Con Dao islands
- Phu Quoc in the south
Spots to visit
- An Bang
- Phu Quoc
- Con Dao
Best cities for it
Culture in Vietnam
Imperial cities, the war, and a French colonial layer on top.
What to do
- The Cu Chi tunnels
- Hue citadel and royal tombs
- War Remnants Museum
Spots to visit
- Hue citadel
- Cu Chi
- My Son
Best cities for it
Reading on culture in Vietnam
Budget in Vietnam
One of the cheapest countries in Asia.
What to do
- A €1.50 bowl of pho
- €6 dorms
- Sleeper buses that save a night
Spots to visit
- Hanoi
- Hue
- Ninh Binh
Best cities for it
Reading on budget in Vietnam
Nightlife in Vietnam
Bia hoi on the pavement, and rooftops in the south.
What to do
- Bia hoi corner in Hanoi for 25 cents a glass
- A Saigon rooftop
- Hoi An riverside
Spots to visit
- Hanoi old quarter
- Bui Vien, Ho Chi Minh
- Hoi An
Best cities for it
Reading on nightlife in Vietnam
Things to do
Things to do in Vietnam
Ha Long Bay is the famous one and it is genuinely spectacular, though heavily trafficked — Lan Ha Bay next door and Ninh Binh inland give you the same limestone karsts with a fraction of the boats.
Hoi An is the town people extend their stay in: lanterns, a river, a beach twenty minutes away by bike, and tailors who will make a suit in two days. It floods in October and November, which is worth knowing.
In the centre, Phong Nha has some of the largest caves in the world and is still underrated. In the far north, the Ha Giang loop — three or four days on a motorbike through mountain passes near the Chinese border, usually with a local rider if you are not confident — has become the most talked-about thing in Vietnamese travel, and it deserves the attention.
More on things to do in Vietnam
Food and drink
Eating in Vietnam
Vietnamese food is the reason a lot of people extend their trips. Pho for breakfast costs €1.50 to €2.50 from a street kitchen, banh mi is under a euro, and bun cha in Hanoi — grilled pork in broth with noodles — is worth crossing the city for.
It changes as you travel. The north is subtler and less sweet, the centre around Hue is spicier and more complex, and the south is sweeter with more herbs. Hoi An has its own dishes, cao lau and white rose dumplings, that are only made there.
Coffee is a national institution and a genuine speciality: strong robusta with condensed milk, or egg coffee in Hanoi, which is whipped yolk over coffee and better than it sounds. Bia hoi, fresh draught beer sold on pavement corners, costs about 25 cents a glass.
More on food and drink in Vietnam
Bangkok vs Ho Chi Minh: Best For Digital Nomads, Nightlife & Food
From South to North: the best cheap eats in Vietnam
Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City: What to See, Eat and Where to Stay
Southeast Asian Markets: 10 of the Best in Thailand, Vietnam and Beyond
Top 10 budget restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
Nightlife
Going out in Vietnam
Hanoi's version is bia hoi: plastic stools on a street corner, fresh beer at about 25 cents a glass, and an old quarter that was subject to a curfew for years and now runs late at weekends.
Ho Chi Minh City is bigger and more varied — rooftop bars overlooking the river, Bui Vien street for the backpacker version, and a growing craft beer scene in District 1 and 2.
Hoi An does riverside bars and lanterns, and the islands and beach towns have their own small scenes. Alcohol is cheap everywhere, and the drink-driving enforcement on scooters has become genuinely strict, which matters if you were planning to ride back.
More on nightlife in Vietnam
Getting around
Getting around Vietnam
The Reunification Express runs the length of the country and the Hue to Da Nang stretch, along the Hai Van Pass, is one of the great train rides in Asia. Sleeper berths on the longer legs cost €20 to €40 and save a night's accommodation.
Sleeper buses are cheaper and more common on the backpacker route, with flat beds rather than seats. They are not comfortable for everyone but they are efficient.
Domestic flights on VietJet, Bamboo and Vietnam Airlines are cheap and turn two days of travel into an hour. Motorbikes are the local transport, and Grab — the regional ride app — works in every city for both cars and bikes and removes all haggling.
Costs
What Vietnam costs
Vietnam is among the cheapest countries in Asia. Dorms start around €6, a bowl of pho is €1.50 to €2.50, a beer is under a euro, and a sleeper train the length of the country costs €20 to €40.
A comfortable day comes to €20 to €35 including everything. The main extras are the Ha Giang loop with a rider, Ha Long Bay cruises and domestic flights, none of which are expensive by European standards.
The dong has a lot of zeros — hundreds of thousands are normal amounts — and the notes look similar, which causes mistakes. Check what you are handing over, and be aware that some places quote in dollars for tours.
More on costs in Vietnam
Safety
Staying safe in Vietnam
Vietnam is safe for travellers with very low violent crime. The risks are traffic, water and bag snatching.
Traffic is the big one. Crossing a road in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City means walking slowly and predictably while the scooters flow around you — stopping suddenly is what causes accidents. Riding a motorbike yourself carries the same insurance problem as in Thailand: most policies require the correct licence, and Vietnam's rules for foreign riders are strict.
Bag snatching from passing scooters is common in Ho Chi Minh City in particular: keep phones away from the road side and bags on the inside shoulder. Beaches on the central coast have strong currents from September to December.
Entry and documents
Entry and documents
Every nationality can apply online for an e-visa valid for up to 90 days, and the UK and many European countries get 45 days visa-free. The exemption list has changed several times in recent years, so check the official Vietnamese immigration site before booking.
Passports generally need six months' validity from entry.
Apply for the e-visa through the official government portal rather than the many lookalike sites that charge several times the fee for the same thing.
When to go
There is no single best month, because the north, centre and south are on different cycles. February to April is the best window across the whole country.
Jan
Cool and grey in the north, dry and pleasant in the south
Feb
Tet new year — the country shuts and travel gets difficult
Mar
Excellent nationwide. Warm, dry, and one of the best months
Apr
Hot in the south, lovely in the north and centre
May
Very hot. Rain starting in the south
Jun
Hot and wet in the south, hot and dry in the centre
Jul
Rainy season in the north and south. Cheapest month
Aug
Still wet, still green, still cheap
Sep
Rain easing in the north. Typhoon risk on the coast
Oct
Excellent in the north. Hoi An and the centre flood
Nov
Superb in the north and south. Centre still wet
Dec
Dry in the south, cool in the north, and busy
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Hanoi. The country spans three climate zones, so check the region rather than the country: the centre floods in October and November, and Tet in late January or February closes almost everything for a week.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel and how long for. Per night, for one person, in euro equivalents of Vietnamese dong.
Prices are in dong locally; these are euro equivalents. The Ha Giang loop, a Ha Long cruise and domestic flights are the main extras.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
What's on
What is on while you are there
Tet is the one that changes everything, and it is the week to plan around in one direction or the other.
Staff pick
15 November
Trang An Marathon
Hoa LÆ° District
The Trang An Marathon invites runners to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO Dual Heritage site in…
Staff pick
22 November
Halong Bay Heritage Marathon
Ha Long
The Halong Bay Heritage Marathon is a premier international running event set against the breathtaking backdrop of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site…
Staff pick
29 Oct – 2 Nov
Phu Quoc Summer Latin Festival
Phu Quoc
The Phu Quoc Summer Latin Festival brings together SBK enthusiasts for an immersive celebration of Latin dance and music on the stunning shores of…
Staff pick
23 November
Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day
Ho Chi Minh
Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, invites locals and visitors to explore the nation’s unique cultural identity through a variety…
Staff pick
5 May – 31 Oct
Water Puppet Show
Ha Long
The Water Puppet Show offers attendees a unique, enthralling exploration of an age-old Vietnamese story-telling method, using puppets on water. As a standout tradition…
29 May – 24 Nov
Lantern Festival
Hoi An
The Hoi An Lantern Festival 2026 promises an enchanting evening where the Old Town is illuminated by thousands of radiant lanterns, mirrored beautifully in…
27 Jul – 22 Dec
Hoi An Monthly Lantern Festival
Hoi An
Hoi An's Lantern Festival is a monthly spectacle that lights up the night with a dazzling display of lanterns. This year-round event offers attendees…
1–31 October
Halloween Festival
Da Nang
Ba Na Hills transforms into a pumpkin-filled wonderland each October, with over 40 tons of pumpkins creating whimsical landscapes like the Magic Village and…
Hostels
Where to stay in Vietnam
The highest-rated hostels in the country, live from Hostelworld. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An have the most, and many run the tours and loops themselves.
The One Hostel & Rooftop Pool Hanoi
Hanoi
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Saigon Cozy House
Ho Chi Minh
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
Cheerful Hoi An Hostel
Hoi An
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Tam Coc Mountain Bungalow
Ninh Binh
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Hanoi Oldtown Nomad Hostel & Pub
Hanoi
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
B&B Chill Home 2 Hotel – Formerly Phan Anh Hotel
Ho Chi Minh
Dorms from €15 a night
See dates and book
Terra Cotta Homestay and Hostel
Hoi An
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
Tam Coc Golden Sky Homestay
Ninh Binh
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
Queen Cafe Hotel & Pub
Hanoi
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Saigon Style Hostel & Cafe
Ho Chi Minh
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Coral Riverside:Where the river meets the sea
Hoi An
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Amy House
Ninh Binh
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Vietnam travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How long do you need in Vietnam?
Three weeks for the full length, north to south or the reverse. Two weeks works if you skip a section — most people drop either the far north or the Mekong Delta.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
There is no single answer, because the north, centre and south have different seasons at the same time. February to April is the safest window nationwide. The centre, including Hoi An, floods in October and November.
Is Vietnam cheap?
Among the cheapest countries in Asia. Dorms from €6, pho at €1.50 to €2.50, bia hoi at 25 cents a glass, and a comfortable day between €20 and €35.
North to south or south to north?
Either works and the route is the same. South to north ends with the mountains and Ha Giang, which many people prefer as a finish; north to south ends warmer and nearer the islands.
What is the Ha Giang loop?
A three or four day motorbike route through mountain passes near the Chinese border, and the most talked-about thing in Vietnamese travel. If you are not a confident rider, hire an easy rider — a local who drives while you sit behind.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
Every nationality can get an e-visa online for up to 90 days, and the UK and many European countries get 45 days visa-free. The rules have changed repeatedly, so check the official immigration site, and apply through the government portal, not the lookalike sites that charge more.
When is Tet and does it matter?
Lunar new year, in late January or February. It matters a great deal: businesses close for up to a week, domestic transport books out and prices rise. Either plan around it or accept that much will be shut.
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