Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Vietnam

A photograph of Vietnam
Photograph · Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0

Vietnam covers 331,344.82 km² and its 2025 population estimate is 102,300,000, held mostly in two river deltas at opposite ends of a long, narrow country: the Red River in the north around Hanoi, the Mekong in the south below Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is the capital and Ho Chi Minh City the largest city, and the ground between the two is the trip — a coast measured in days rather than hours, usually broken into three or four stops instead of run in one go. Which end a traveller starts from decides the order of everything after it.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Vietnamese
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+84
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Vietnamese đồng (VND)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and C · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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100 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 998 Museums 175 Places of worship 4202 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 5200 1 to 2 hours 175

Interests

History 5375 Art 4592 Museums 565 Nature 1648 Sea and beach 1186 Viewpoints 462
  1. Mỹ Sơn Mỹ Sơn
    01 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  3. Củ Chi tunnels Củ Chi tunnels
    03 45 min

    Củ Chi tunnels

    The Cu Chi Tunnels comprise an extensive underground network located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Constructed during the mid-20th century conflict period, these passages served as hiding spots, supply routes, hospitals, and living quarters.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  4. Hỏa Lò Prison Hỏa Lò Prison
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Hỏa Lò Prison

    Hoa Lo Prison Relic, locally known as Di tích Nhà tù Hỏa Lò, is a historical museum in Hanoi. The site preserves a former colonial-era prison complex.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hanoi
  6. Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
    06 45 min

    Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

    The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is a prominent Catholic cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Constructed by French colonists in the late nineteenth century, it stands as one of the city's most recognizable architectural landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  11. Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

    The Museum of Vietnamese History in Ho Chi Minh City opened in 1929 as the Blanchard de la Brosse Museum, the first museum in southern Vietnam.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  15. Dragon House
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Dragon House

    • High
    • Museum
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  22. Saint Joseph Cathedral Saint Joseph Cathedral
    22 30 min

    Saint Joseph Cathedral

    St Joseph's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Constructed in the late nineteenth century during the French colonial period, it serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Hanoi
  23. Nui Dat
    23 45 min

    Nui Dat

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  29. Roller Coaster
    29 45 min

    Roller Coaster

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  31. Giác Lâm Pagoda Giác Lâm Pagoda
    31 30 min

    Giác Lâm Pagoda

    Giac Lam Pagoda is the oldest major Buddhist pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City and ranks among the most significant temple complexes in southern Vietnam.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  38. An Quang Pagoda
    38 30 min

    An Quang Pagoda

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  41. Thuy Tu Temple
    41 30 min

    Thuy Tu Temple

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  42. Chùa Hà
    42 30 min

    Chùa Hà

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Hanoi
  46. Mỹ Sơn B1
    46 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn B1

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  47. Mỹ Sơn B3
    47 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn B3

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  48. Mỹ Sơn B4
    48 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn B4

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  49. Mỹ Sơn B5
    49 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn B5

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  50. Mỹ Sơn C1
    50 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn C1

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  51. Mỹ Sơn D1
    51 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn D1

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  52. Mỹ Sơn D2
    52 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn D2

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  53. Mỹ Sơn E4
    53 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn E4

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  54. Mỹ Sơn F1
    54 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn F1

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  55. Mỹ Sơn F2
    55 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn F2

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  56. Mỹ Sơn G1
    56 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn G1

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  57. Mỹ Sơn G2
    57 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn G2

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  58. Mỹ Sơn G3
    58 45 min

    Mỹ Sơn G3

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  62. Sét Pagoda
    62 30 min

    Sét Pagoda

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Hanoi
  66. 마누라집
    66 45 min

    마누라집

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  69. 0 km
    69 45 min

    0 km

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Hanoi
  72. 5 lakes
    72 45 min

    5 lakes

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  73. 7 wonders
    73 45 min

    7 wonders

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  74. 7 wonders
    74 45 min

    7 wonders

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  75. A1
    75 45 min

    A1

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  76. A10
    76 45 min

    A10

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  77. A11
    77 45 min

    A11

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  78. A2
    78 45 min

    A2

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  79. A3
    79 45 min

    A3

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  80. A4
    80 45 min

    A4

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  81. A5
    81 45 min

    A5

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  82. A6
    82 45 min

    A6

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  83. A7
    83 45 min

    A7

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  84. A8
    84 45 min

    A8

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  87. Affeninsel
    87 45 min

    Affeninsel

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  94. An Bình
    94 45 min

    An Bình

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  96. An Hai Beach
    96 45 min

    An Hai Beach

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Da Nang
  97. Anh Khánh
    97 1 hr 30 min

    Anh Khánh

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  98. Anh Linh Miếu
    98 30 min

    Anh Linh Miếu

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  99. Anh sao bridge
    99 45 min

    Anh sao bridge

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Ho Chi Minh City

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Vietnam be?

A north-to-south first trip needs about two weeks; with ten days, choose two regions such as Hanoi and the centre or Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight trains and domestic flights shorten distance but still consume transfer time.

What entry documents are needed for Vietnam?

Apply through Vietnam’s official electronic-visa portal if the passport and trip qualify. Confirm the approved entry point, validity dates and permitted stay before finalising the route, because an authorisation tied to one crossing should not be assumed valid for another.

What is the best way to travel around Vietnam?

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are the key gateways for common itineraries. Domestic flights, the north-south railway and coaches connect regions; local systems vary, so use licensed taxis or recognised booking channels and verify the correct station or terminal.

When is a practical time to visit Vietnam?

Vietnam’s north, central coast and south have different wet and dry periods. Choose travel dates around the most weather-sensitive region: central beach conditions, northern mountain visibility and southern rainfall cannot be summarised by one nationwide “best month.”

What money and payment basics apply in Vietnam?

The Vietnamese đồng is the recorded currency, and the high denomination numbers deserve a deliberate check before payment. Cash remains useful for small vendors and local transport; use reputable ATMs or banks and verify each zero on quoted VND prices.

What practical safety details should I save for Vietnam?

Police, fire and ambulance are recorded as 113, 114 and 115; common power is Type A and C at 220 V. Tap-water advice is Not recorded here, so ask locally and keep transport-provider details available for long rail or coach journeys.