How I planned a trip to Vietnam

Last spring, my wife and I finally made it to Vietnam, and we were honestly so blown away. Being a travel editor here at Rough Guides, it’s always been a place I’ve wanted to visit. At the same time, I hadn’t been before and didn’t really know what to expect! Here I’ve collected some tips and advice on how to plan a trip to Vietnam. 

When to go to Vietnam

Deciding on the best time to visit Vietnam really depends on what kind of trip you want. Here’s how I narrowed it down:

• Spring (March to April): This is when we went. Temperatures sat between 68°F and 86°F (20°C and 30°C), and the humidity was much lower than in summer. Exploring cities and temples felt manageable instead of exhausting.
• Autumn (September to November): My second choice. The weather is mild, and the harvest season makes the countryside especially beautiful. I’d like to come back then next time.
• Rainy season (May to October): We skipped this. The benefit is fewer crowds and lower prices, but the downside is heavy, frequent rain. For us, comfort was worth paying a little extra.

Spring ended up being the perfect choice: comfortable weather, plenty to do, and no need to carry an umbrella everywhere.

Choosing how many days

For us, two weeks in Vietnam felt just right. It gave us enough time to explore several regions without feeling rushed. Here’s how I’d break it down:

• 5 days in Vietnam: Honestly, too short, unless you’re combining Vietnam with other countries. You’ll only have time for one or two cities.
• 7 days in Vietnam: Better, but still tight. You can see a couple of highlights, like Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, or Ho Chi Minh City, with a side trip to the Mekong Delta.
• 10 days in Vietnam: The minimum I’d recommend. It gives you time to adjust to the time zone and still see the main sights without sprinting from one place to the next.
• 14 days in Vietnam: This was perfect for us. We managed Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City at a relaxed pace. I could have easily stayed longer in Hanoi alone, but two weeks gave us a well-rounded trip.

More time is always a bonus, of course. But if you’re planning a bigger Southeast Asia trip, aim for at least 10 days here. It’s the best balance of depth and practicality.

Deciding what region of Vietnam to visit

Deciding where to go is probably the hardest part of planning. For our Vietnam itinerary, we spent 8 days in the North and 6 in the South. Most travelers start in the south and head north, but we did the reverse to avoid crowds and because it was cheaper to fly home from Ho Chi Minh City.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Vietnam, broken down by region:

North Vietnam

• Hanoi’s Old Quarter is full of narrow streets, markets, and endless bowls of pho.
• Ha Long Bay is best experienced on an overnight cruise through its limestone islands.
• Ninh Binh, sometimes called “Ha Long Bay on land,” has temples, rice paddies, and dramatic karst scenery.

Central Vietnam

• Hue, once the imperial capital, has pagodas, tombs, and a rich historical vibe.
• Hoi An is a small town famous for its lantern-lit streets, riverside cafés, and well-preserved ancient architecture.

South Vietnam

• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), buzzing with energy, street food, and history.
• Cu Chi Tunnels, where you can learn about Vietnam’s wartime past.
• Mekong Delta, best explored by boat, with tropical landscapes and floating markets.

When you’re working out how to plan a trip to Vietnam, think about what balance of history, food, culture, and landscapes you want. Each region has a different flavor, and mixing them gives you the fullest experience.

How do you get around Vietnam?

There is public transportation in larger cities in Vietnam (most of which is cash-only, by the way). Most people fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and are transported from there. We opted to have a taxi pick us up from Hanoi Airport to our accommodation.

Once in the country, Grab was super handy to get around in Vietnam. If you’re familiar with Uber, it’s the same idea. You can use Grab for cars and motorbikes. It was a super convenient option for getting around cities. 

We also took trains at points, which was a comfortable and scenic way to travel between cities. The buses were certainly an experience, but quite a bit less comfortable. Renting motorbikes for a few days allowed us to explore more remote areas at our own pace and was a lot of fun. 

How we connected to the internet

Most hotels, restaurants, cafes, and tourist attractions in Vietnam offer free Wi-Fi access. Still, it’s important to have some kind of service in case of an emergency or in case of getting lost.

We ended up going for a prepaid SIM card when we got to Hanoi. These are widely available across the city, and they usually come with a generous data allowance and options for calls and texts. We picked up one at the airport. The process was straightforward, and the connection was reliable.

That said, double-check that you have a phone that allows you to insert a SIM card, as some smartphones don’t have this feature. 

How we budgeted our trip

Luckily, Vietnam is known for being pretty affordable. The conversion rate was a little confusing from Vietnamese Dong to US Dollar (1$ = 25,500 VND). 

On average, we ended up spending about $60-100 each per day. This budget allowed us to stay in comfortable accommodations, enjoy a variety of meals, and use mostly public transit. We could have easily spent more if we had stayed in a resort or booked more private tours. Seasoned backpackers and budget travelers could definitely get by on less. 

In general, we tried to plan our trip to be prepared for extra costs. It’s not often that we can come to Vietnam or Southeast Asia in general, so we wanted to make the most of the trip.

Don’t miss the street food

Since we both love to research before a trip, we ended up spending a lot of time finding the “best” places to eat. In reality, our favorite meals came from when we simply walked around and found a street food stall. Instead of finding reviews online, we simply went to places that seemed crowded.

Each region in Vietnam has its own specialties. Don't miss the chance to try unique dishes like banh xeo (sizzling pancakes) in the south or bun cha (grilled pork with noodles) in the north.

Pack for the weather

You’ll want to bring a versatile set of clothes, especially if you plan on hitting both North and South Vietnam in one trip. 

In the North, it can get a tad chilly, especially during the cooler months. Layers are key, so pack lightweight sweaters or jackets that you can easily add or remove as needed. 

In the South, you’ll find that the weather is a lot more tropical. You’ll want to bring lightweight and breathable shorts, t-shirts, and lightweight dresses or skirts.

If you’re planning on visiting historical sites or temples, it’s important to dress modestly out of respect. Consider bringing long, lightweight pants or skirts and tops that cover your shoulders. This will help you stay comfortable in the heat while also adhering to local customs. 

No matter where you go, don’t forget the essentials: comfy walking shoes, a hat or cap for sun protection, sunscreen, and bug spray. Personally, I’d rather pack light rather than having to carry large suitcases in the heat. 

Tours are worth every penny

We debated if we should opt for guided tours or take our own DIY approach. Every tour we ended up paying for turned out to be worth it. 

One of the most special days of our trip was spent in the Mekong Delta. The tour wasn't particularly expensive, and we got to see much more than we would have if we had traveled on our own. Not only did we visit remote villages and floating markets, but our guide also shared fascinating anecdotes and historical context with us.

Our tour also included the cost of transportation and came with meals: definitely worth it!

Mistakes to avoid

Making mistakes while traveling is all part of the process, but to save you some grief, here are a few things I wish I had considered before we left. 

Overnight trains

We both agreed that next time we go to Vietnam, we will plan our train rides at night to save money. This tip is especially useful for heavy sleepers.

We did this twice, and both times we were excited to have more time to spend at our destination. Traveling from one place to another takes longer than you might think, so overnight trains can be convenient and cost-effective, if you don’t mind sleeping on a train.

Itinerary overload

Being our first time in Vietnam and being avid travel enthusiasts, we ended up with a long list of things to do in Vietnam. In retrospect, we didn’t get to everything we had planned. 

The heat and jet lag definitely slowed us down (the journey from California took us 33 hours!). We could have easily added an extra week to our itinerary to allow for a more relaxed pace.

Low crime, but look out for scams

While violent crime is extremely rare in Vietnam, petty theft does happen from time to time. You’ll want to keep an eye on your valuables, and keep any bag you're carrying with you on your front.

One taxi we took let us know once we had arrived at our destination that the meter was broken, and we ended up paying a lot more than usual. After that, we stuck to using mostly Grab for taxis. That said, we both felt pretty safe the entire time we were in the country. 

Get to the airport early

If you’re choosing to fly domestically in Vietnam, you’ll want to arrive ideally three hours before your flight. Check-in and security took us a while to get through, and we really could have benefited from showing up a tad earlier.

People also ask

If you’re wondering how to plan a trip to Vietnam, I get it. I had the same questions before my trip. Looking back, there are things I’m glad I did and a few I’d plan differently next time. Here are some honest takeaways and thoughts for future travels, plus a few Vietnam travel tips I wish I’d known earlier.

What are the best beaches in Vietnam?

We didn’t make it to the beaches this time, but it’s high on my list for a future trip. While we focused on cities and cultural sites, other travelers we met raved about Phu Quoc for its laid-back vibe and Da Nang for wide, sandy stretches that are easy to reach. @

Personally, I would like to visit Con Dao Island next time, as I have heard that it is less crowded and more remote among the best beaches in Vietnam. After two weeks of busy sightseeing, I can see why building in a few beach days would be the perfect way to slow down.

Is Vietnam good for families and kids?

We weren’t traveling with kids, but I noticed plenty of families along the way. In Hoi An, especially, it seemed like an easy place to be with children; the old town is walkable, traffic is calmer, and there are lots of hands-on activities like lantern-making workshops.

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, I could see how the chaos might feel overwhelming, but parks and open spaces gave kids room to play. If I were planning Vietnam with kids, I’d definitely mix city time with smaller towns or countryside stays.

What is nightlife like in Vietnam?

We didn’t set out to explore the party scene, but nightlife in Vietnam has a way of finding you. In Hanoi, evenings in the Old Quarter felt electric: plastic stools spilling into the streets, bia hoi (cheap local beer) flowing, and a buzz that made the whole place feel alive.

In Ho Chi Minh City, we ended up on Bui Vien Street one night. It was neon-lit, loud, and crammed with backpackers, not my usual vibe, but worth experiencing once. Next time, I’d probably try a rooftop bar or riverside spot for something more relaxed.

What are the best street foods to try in Vietnam?

Vietnamese food was honestly one of the highlights of the trip. In Hanoi, we couldn’t get enough bun cha: grilled pork with noodles and herbs, served with dipping sauce.

In Hoi An, I tried cao lau, which has thick, chewy noodles unlike anything else I tasted in Vietnam. 

Down south in Ho Chi Minh City, the banh mi really stood out, with crusty bread and endless filling combinations. If I had to give one tip, it’s to follow the locals. The busiest stalls always turned out to be the best.

What are the must-see festivals in Vietnam?

We missed Tet (Lunar New Year), which everyone told us is both the best and hardest time to visit. Streets fill with flowers, and families celebrate, but much of the country shuts down for several days.

Next time, I’d love to be in Hue for the Festival of Arts, since the city already feels so full of history and atmosphere. I can only imagine what it’s like when the whole place turns into a stage. Festivals aren’t something we planned around before, but after this trip, they’re on my radar for the future.