green bicycle parked beside yellow concrete house at daytime

Asia

Vietnam

Vietnam is a long, narrow country on the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, known for the limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay, the old town of Hội An and street food from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Its climate changes from north to south.

Start with the essentials Where to stay Plan a trip to Vietnam

Vietnam lies on the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia. It borders China, Laos and Cambodia and faces the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. The country is only about 50 km wide at its narrowest point, in Quảng Trị province, and about 600 km wide in the north, so a trip from one end to the other passes through several climates. Hanoi, the capital, sits in the north. Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city, is in the south.

Common stops include Hạ Long Bay, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, the old town of Hội An and the canals of the Mekong Delta. The north has four seasons, while the centre and south have a rainy season and a dry season. The dry season, roughly November to April, is the main window for most of the country.

Five things to know before Vietnam

Check entry for your passport
UK, German and Spanish passports get 45 days without a visa. US, Canadian and Australian passports need an e-visa, valid up to 90 days. Governments quote six months of passport validity, counted from arrival or departure. Visa checker
Plan for three climates
The UK advice puts the rain season at June to September in the north and south and October to December in central Vietnam, with tropical cyclones on the east coast from May to November. Hanoi is cool and damp from December to February. Best time to visit Vietnam
Give Ha Long Bay a night
Day trips spend most of their time on the 2.5 to 3 hour road from Hanoi. One night on a boat means the bay at dawn, before the day boats arrive. Check the boat's safety record first. Ha Long Bay
Book rides in Grab or XanhSM
The UK advice recommends pre-arranged transport or licensed taxi apps such as Grab or XanhSM, and warns of scammers claiming to be from them. Book the whole journey in the app and check the driver and car match.
Change money at official counters
The UK advice says only to change money at official exchange counters with a clear sign, and that changing it elsewhere is illegal. Cash over 15 million dong or 5,000 US dollars must be declared on entry or exit. Money

Vietnam travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Visa checker

Your passport's entry rule, checked against official sources

Read the guide Vietnam e-visa and exemption

Who needs an eVisa and who is visa-free

Read the guide Best time to visit Vietnam

Weather in the north, center and south

Read the guide Hanoi

Old Quarter streets and the road to Ha Long

Read the guide Ha Long Bay

Overnight cruises, Lan Ha and Cat Ba

Read the guide Hoi An

Lantern-lit old town and An Bang beach

Read the guide Ho Chi Minh City

Street food, history and the Mekong

Read the guide eSIM and data

Staying online for Grab and train apps

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Vietnam

See all attractions in Vietnam

Sight · Ha Giang ProvinceLung Cu

Museum · Ho Chi Minh CityHCMC History MuseumBring cash for the admission ticket.

Landmark · Hoi AnOld House of Tan KyArrive early to explore before the busiest part of the day.

brown and green pagoda temple under blue sky

Temple · Ho Chi Minh CityKhanh Van Nam Vien Taoist templeVisit on a weekday for a quieter experience.

Destinations in Vietnam

brown cable car over green mountains during daytime

National parkCuc Phuong National ParkExplore

Where to stay in Vietnam

Neighborhood first, hotel second.

All stay guides

a building that is next to a body of water

HueWhere to stay in Hue: south bank, Citadel side, Kim Long or the beach

A beach with palm trees and a white sand beach

Phu Quoc IslandWhere to stay in Phu Quoc: four coasts, from Duong Dong to Bai Sao

Itineraries

2 daysHue in 2 days: Imperial City, royal tombs, garden houses and Thien MuA two-day Hue plan: the Imperial City early, two royal tombs and dinner on day one, then pagodas, garden houses and Thien Mu at dusk, with heat, rain and flood swaps.

3 daysPhu Quoc in 3 days: sunsets, southern islands and the northA three-day Phu Quoc plan: the west coast, a southern island-hopping day from An Thoi, then the northern forest and starfish beach, plus rain plans

woman in white long sleeve dress standing beside tree during daytime

3 daysDa Lat in 3 days: lakes, waterfalls, coffee and a rainy-day planA three-day Da Lat itinerary: lake, market and villas on day one, Datanla and Langbiang on day two, Trai Mat and flower villages on day three, plus a rain plan.

2 daysCan Tho in 2 days: floating market, islets and old housesA two-day Can Tho plan: a dawn boat to Cai Rang floating market, an afternoon on the islets and Binh Thuy house, and how to reach the city from Saigon.

What a day costs in Vietnam

Per person, in VND

Work out your trip

Budget₫430,000a day≈ $17 · per person

Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.

Bed a night: ₫150,000
Food: ₫200,000
Transport: ₫30,000
Sights: ₫50,000

Mid-range₫1,350,000a day≈ $52 · per person

A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.

Bed a night: ₫400,000
Food: ₫600,000
Transport: ₫150,000
Sights: ₫200,000

Comfort₫3,900,000a day≈ $151 · per person

A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.

Bed a night: ₫900,000
Food: ₫1,500,000
Transport: ₫500,000
Sights: ₫1,000,000

Checked Oct 3, 2026 by Aisha RahmanA source for every line on the trip cost page. Flights not included. Rates By Exchange Rate APIWork out your trip

When to go

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best

JanuaryCloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Cool, damp
FebruaryCloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Tet, drizzle
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Mild
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Warm
MayRain19 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Hot
JuneRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low27°Hot, storms
JulyRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low27°Rainy
AugustRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low26°Rainy
SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Storm risk
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Dry, clear
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Dry, mild
DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Cool, dry

Average daily high and low in Hanoi, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to VietnamPut the places you like in Vietnam on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Vietnam

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 28°
Humidity: 94%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Vietnam

03:05 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today29°23°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed32°22°98%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 98%.
Thu31°22°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri30°22°90%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 90%.
Sat30°22°96%Saturday: Rain. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 96%.
Sun28°22°100%Sunday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
Mon23°18°100%Monday: Rain. High 23°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 100%.

Updated 11:18 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND

Amount

Converted to

VND · Vietnamese Dong

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Vietnam

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar

a group of small candles sitting on top of a table

NovemberDiwaliNov 6 – 10, 2026

people walking on bridge over river during daytime

NovemberPushkar Camel FairNov 17 – 25, 2026

NovemberLoy Krathong and Yi PengNov 24 – 26, 2026

Festivals by month

JanTếtAcross Vietnam
Feb
Mar
AprGiong FestivalHanoi
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Before you go to Vietnam

Ha Long Bay overnight cruisesCompare itineraries and refund termsCompare tours

Hotels in Hanoi, Hoi An, SaigonPlan your bases before domestic flightsCheck availability

eSIM for VietnamData for Grab and train booking appsRead the guide Travel insurance for VietnamCover for typhoon-season delaysRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Vietnam, checked

UK passport holders can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days for tourism or business; for longer, apply for an e-visa valid up to 90 days.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Read more The official e-visa portal: valid up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 single and US$50 multiple, entry only through designated border gates.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Read more

Vietnam FAQ

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

It depends on your passport. UK, German and Spanish passports get 45 days visa-free. US, Canadian and Australian passports apply for an e-visa on the official portal, valid up to 90 days. Check your nationality in the visa checker before you book flights.

North to south, or south to north?

Follow the weather. Starting in Hanoi in October or November and heading south into the dry season works well.

Is the train worth taking?

For one leg, yes: Hue to Da Nang over the Hai Van Pass is the best stretch. For the long distances, domestic flights save a day.

How many days do you need in Vietnam?

Ten days covers Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Saigon with two flights between them. Two weeks adds Hue or Ninh Binh, and three weeks lets you travel more slowly.

When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

There is no single best month. October to November suits Hanoi, February to May suits the central coast, and December to March suits Saigon and the south.