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.

Filter the list

100 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 0 Places of worship 0 Nature sites 1186 Viewpoints 462 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 1648

Interests

History 5375 Art 4592 Museums 565 Nature 1648 Sea and beach 1186 Viewpoints 462
  17. Bàu Trắng
    17 1 hour

    Bàu Trắng

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  18. Biển Lạc
    18 1 hour

    Biển Lạc

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  25. 1
    25 20 min

    1

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Hanoi
  26. 1
    26 1 hour

    1

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Hanoi
  28. 5 Hiếu
    28 1 hour

    5 Hiếu

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  36. An Hai beach
    36 20 min

    An Hai beach

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  46. Ao Đình
    46 1 hour

    Ao Đình

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Hanoi
  58. Ao Phủ
    58 1 hour

    Ao Phủ

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Hanoi
  59. Ao Quan
    59 1 hour

    Ao Quan

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  61. Ao sen
    61 1 hour

    Ao sen

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Hanoi
  64. Ao Thiếc
    64 1 hour

    Ao Thiếc

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  66. Ao Tròn
    66 1 hour

    Ao Tròn

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Hanoi
  69. Arung
    69 20 min

    Arung

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Da Nang
  73. Bãi An Hải
    73 1 hour

    Bãi An Hải

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  75. Bãi Bàng
    75 1 hour

    Bãi Bàng

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  83. Bãi Bìm
    83 1 hour

    Bãi Bìm

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Da Nang
  86. Bãi Cô Vân
    86 1 hour

    Bãi Cô Vân

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  87. Bãi Đá
    87 1 hour

    Bãi Đá

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Da Nang
  93. Bãi Dâu
    93 1 hour

    Bãi Dâu

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  95. Bãi Dứa
    95 1 hour

    Bãi Dứa

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  96. Bãi Dương
    96 1 hour

    Bãi Dương

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  97. Bãi Hầm
    97 1 hour

    Bãi Hầm

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Da Nang
  98. Bãi Hòn Cau
    98 1 hour

    Bãi Hòn Cau

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  99. Bãi Lãng Du
    99 1 hour

    Bãi Lãng Du

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  100. Bãi Lò Vôi
    100 1 hour

    Bãi Lò Vôi

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • 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.