Vietnam is a marvellous country packed with stunning scenery, history, culture, and amazing food. We've shared heaps of tips and guides, dived into Vietnam's food scene, and highlighted the best places you can visit in Vietnam. Not to mention, Vietnam is a budget friendly holiday destination where you can expect to spend $25-35 USD per day if you are backpacking. This might just get you to planning your next vacation to Vietnam, right? 😉🇻🇳
🚀 Best time to visit Vietnam
Because Vietnam is so huge, the weather in the country varies to a great extent depending on the region. You could make two trips and cover the Northern and Southern part at different times when the weather is best at respective regions. Alternatively, you can visit sometime between September to December or March to April to cover as much of the country as possible in one single trip. The northern part of Vietnam has its best weather between October to December. The southern part of Vietnam has its dry season from December to late April/May, and rainy season occurs from May to the end of November which makes for a decent time to visit. The northern part of the central coast region where Hué and Da Nang are located has heavy downpours from September to February, making February to May the best time to visit this area.
🚀 Currency in Vietnam
In Vietnam, you'll become a millionaire - figuratively that is! Vietnamese money has a lot of zeroes. A VND 20,000 note is equivalent to USD 0.86 and the VND 500,000 is USD 21.55. They are similar in colour, so we highly suggest organising your bills in descending order in your purse or wallet!
🚀 SIM Card in Vietnam
SIM cards are easily available at the airport at a reasonable price. A SIM card that comes with unlimited internet and 20 minutes free talk time costs USD 7. You could even pre-purchase a SIM card online and simply pick it up from a designated airport upon arrival!
🚀 Transport in Vietnam
When in Vietnam, GRAB, the southeast Asian ride hailing app is your most convenient option to travel within the city. When you hear someone yelling "You-Motorbike-You" that's when you know you're being offered a ride on a motorbike taxi. Mai Linh (Green taxis) and Vina Sun (White taxis) are also available. If you want to save some money and travel at your own pace and leisure, we recommend hiring a motorbike. Rental prices for a motorbike in Vietnam ranges between VND 120,000 to 250,000 (USD 5-12) per day, depending on the model you choose.
When travelling between cities, opt for the local buses/vans or ride your own rental bike. If travelling between far off cities, then choose to fly on Vietnam’s low-cost airlines such as VietJet or FlyVietnam, especially if you have a limited time to explore the different parts of Vietnam. If you choose to take the bus for long journeys, try to take the late night “sleeper” buses or trains so you can save on one night’s accommodation cost. There are long journey buses starting from Hanoi and stopping at Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Mui Ne, and finally Ho Chi Minh. The train is also a fantastic option to explore if you're up for a treat to get some amazing views of the Vietnamese countryside.
🚀 Accommodation in Vietnam
Standard hostels for budget travellers in Vietnam are priced between VND 100,000-250,000 (USD 4.3-10.8) per night depending on occupancy and air conditioner availability. A nicer private double room in a 3-star will cost between VND 350,000-450,000 (USD 15-20) per night. Most properties offer free WiFi and include free breakfast.
🚀 Vietnam's local cuisine
Vietnam is most certainly a happy hunting ground for the foodies. Not to mention you will find the choicest of vegan and vegetarian food options that will have you eating like a glutton! "Ăn Chay" means vegetarian, "Thực Phẩm Chay" means vegetarian food, and "Nhà Hàng Chay" means vegetarian restaurant. And remember, the most amazing food in Vietnam is enjoyed sitting on plastic chairs and tables by the street side. Not to mention, dine early, as most local restaurants open and close early. So have lunch at 12pm and dinner by 7pm! However, you will find lots of street vendors selling snacks till midnight.
A decent meal at an inexpensive local restaurant costs VND 50,000-60,000 (USD 2.5). A 1.5L water bottle costs VND 10,000-12,000 (USD 0.5). Below is a list of some of the best Vietnamese foods you must try when in Vietnam:
🥪 Bánh mì (sub sandwich of Vietnam)
🍕 Bánh Tráng Nướng (Vietnamese Pizza)
🥙 Bánh xèo (Sizzling Vietnamese Pancake)
🍙 Bánh cuốn (Steamed Rice Rolls)
🍜 Bún bò / Mì Quảng (Noodle Soups)
🥟 Cách Làm Ram Bắp (crispy, fried sweet corn and rice paper rolls)
🍲 Sweet Ginger Tofu
🍜 Cao Lau (Hoi An specialty noodle)
🥮 Bánh khô mè (Sesame Cake)
🥤 Trà Đá, pronounced as cha da (Ice Tea)
🥯🥐🥛 Pastries and warm soy milk (a Dalat specialty)
🍨 Chè Ba Mau (three coloured dessert - yellow mung bean paste, red beans, and green pandan jelly, all topped with coconut milk)
🍨 Chè Chuối (Banana, Tapioca Pearls and Sweet Coconut Milk Soup)
🍮 Chè Bắp (Sweet Corn Pudding)
🍰 Bánh Dau Xanh and Bánh Pia (Mung Bean Pastries)
🥖 Bánh Tra Xan (King Roti Coffee Buns)
🍰 Bánh Xoai (Mango Cake)
🥚☕ Egg Coffee (prepared with egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk and robusta coffee)
🚀 Best cities to visit in Vietnam (starting from the North down to the South)
🇻🇳 Hanoi (capital city of Vietnam with a taste of French colonial architecture and a famous gateway to Ha Long Bay)
🇻🇳 Ninh Binh (stunning rural farming landscapes with jutting towers of limestone karst, where the Trang An Grottoes are located)
🇻🇳 Sapa (a small, mountain town in Lao Cai Province, that is nothing short of mesmerising)
🇻🇳 Ha Giang (less visited city with a prominent cultural heritage)
🇻🇳 Cao Bang (paradise personified - lush green mountains and valleys and gorgeous waterfalls)
🇻🇳 Haiphong (an industrial port with colonial architecture and a base to catch some scenic spots)
🇻🇳 Dong Hoi (located right between northern and southern Vietnam, has a stunning coastline, and is home to the Phong Nha Cave)
🇻🇳 Hue (old Vietnam's imperial capital consisting of ruins from the American war)
🇻🇳 Da Nang (Vietnam's Singapore, located between Hanoi and HCMC, a famous holiday destination thanks to its gorgeous beaches, stunning skyline and unique bridges, also a gateway to the Ba Na Hills)
🇻🇳 Hoi An (Vietnam's Kyoto, an ancient town with canals and loads of lanterns)
🇻🇳 Kon Tum (a cool breezy city located along the Dakbla river in the highlands)
🇻🇳 Nha Trang (a resort town by the South China Sea with long stretches of umpteen beaches, and gateway to many stunning highlands, waterfalls, and hot springs)
🇻🇳 Dalat (Vietnam's Paris in the central highlands with French style colonial villas and resort)
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon (Vietnam's megacity)
🇻🇳 Vung Tau (great weekend getaway destination that can be accessed on the hydrofoil boat from HCMC)
🇻🇳 Can Tho (also known as the rice bowl of Vietnam, with a famous produce trading hub with lots of floating markets such as Cai Rang)
Vietnam is huge and jam-packed with stunning sites and attractions. The only way you can make the most of the country is when you opt for a lengthy vacation when visiting Vietnam. Then when your trip comes to a close, you'll leave with a tummy full of banh mis and pancakes, sweet smiles, dog-eared brochures, and all sorts of goodies along with a memory card full of gorgeous pictures. Vietnam is just a plane ride away or maybe even just a land crossing away! Read about crossing into Vietnam from Cambodia in this article.