Vietnam

In 2023 we spent almost six weeks traveling all over Vietnam. And we fell madly in love!

The country is full of lively cities, charming small towns, kind people, breathtaking scenery, unique activities, and loads of history. It pushed us out of our comfort zone at times, opened our eyes about other ways of life, and gave us some of the best experiences of our lives.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about visiting Vietnam, we’re here to help! On this page you can find every piece of content we created for Vietnam, plus itinerary options, planning logistics, and more!

The Ultimate guide to Vietnam

Save hours of planning! Our Ultimate Guide to Vietnam eBook is loaded with helpful information and tips for visiting the country. Including when to visit, how to get around, detailed destination guides, multiple itinerary options, where to stay and eat, a custom Google Map, and so much more! All in an easy to download or print, offline eBook!

Get the ebook

Vietnam planning resources

Whether you’re just getting started with planning a trip to Vietnam or looking for any last minute tips, we suggest checking out these posts!

where to visit in Vietnam

Hoi An at night | Things to do in Hoi An

The 12 best cities to visit in Vietnam

We’re sharing 12 destinations that should be on your radar to visit in Vietnam. From larger cities, to beach towns, to mountainous escapes!

How to get around Vietnam

There are many different ways to get around Vietnam and we tried just about every option during our trip. For traveling between cities, your options usually include a plane, train, or bus. You can find the best option on 12Go! Within cities, we either took a Grab or walked.

Overnight train Vietnam | Vietnam tips | Planning a trip to Vietnam

WHAT TO EXPECT ON A FIRST CLASS VIETNAM SLEEPER TRAIN

One unique way to travel in Vietnam is on an overnight train. Learn more about our sleeper train experience and what to expect.

Vietnam Itineraries

We created detailed 2 and 3 week itineraries for Vietnam to help you figure out how to structure your time in the country. Each itinerary includes time to travel between destinations, things to do, where to eat, places to stay, and more!

Ho Chi Minh City

Located in Southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) is the largest city in the country, with 9 million residents. Here you’ll find a mix of French colonial and modern buildings, markets, museums, street food, fine dining, parks, nightlife, and more!

Hoi An

Hoi An is a port city located on Vietnam’s Central Coast. From the 15th to 19th centuries, it was one of the most prosperous trading ports in Southeast Asia. Today, it is known for its Ancient Town, which is filled with yellow buildings, old roofs, tree lined streets, and lanterns. It feels like you’ve stumbled into a Vietnamese fairytale!

Phong Nha

This tiny town in Central Vietnam is an adventure lover’s paradise! It is known for its caves, including the world’s largest natural cave by volume, Hang Sơn Đoòng, at 38.5 million cubic meters. Here you can go on a wide variety of cave tours that include hiking in the jungle, waterfalls, swimming and floating through caves, camping, and so much more!

Video: Epic cave tour in Vietnam

Watch us go on a 4 day cave tour, where we hiked in the jungle, swam in caves, and so much more!

Watch the video

Ninh Binh

Nicknamed “Ha Long Bay on land,” Ninh Binh is known for its towering limestone karst peaks and beautiful valleys. Here you can ride a boat through stunning rock formations, cycle through rice fields, visit temples, climb up to viewpoints, and so much more.

Hanoi

Hanoi is the second largest city and capital of Vietnam. And there are TONS of things to do! Spend your time exploring the charming and chaotic Old Quarter, eating delicious street food, and seeing the iconic Train Street. It is easily one of the best cities to visit in Vietnam!

Ha Giang Loop

The Ha Giang Loop is a roughly 350 km (217 mile) multi-day motorbike loop through Vietnam’s northernmost province of Ha Giang. It is known for its mountain passes, windy and narrow roads, drop offs, and rocky cliff sides. Plus its many small villages, which are home to some of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities. It’s an epic adventure!

The ultimate guide to the Ha Giang Loop

Find out everything you need to know about completing the Ha Giang Loop, including tour options, the best stops, and so much more!

read the guide

Cao Bang

Cao Bang is a gorgeous province in Northern Vietnam, known for its mountains, rice fields, and for being home to the tallest waterfall in the country. It’s less visited by tourists, but in our opinion, just as gorgeous as Ha Giang!