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Vietnam Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

Most people either love or hate traveling in Vietnam. When I first went, there was a negative attitude towards foreign travelers (for good reason), lots of scams, and just not a lot of good vibes. But, since that trip many years ago, the country has changed a lot: it’s embraced tourism, people have opened up more, there’s fewer scams, and Ho Chi Minh City has even become a hub for digital nomads.

From exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi to the delicious food and fancy garments of Hoi An , Vietnam has a lot to see and do so take your time. Don’t rush your trip.

This budget travel guide to Vietnam can help you plan your trip and ensure you make the most of your visit.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Vietnam

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in vietnam.

1. Tour the Mekong Delta

The delta is a 60,000-kilometer (37,000-mile) long web of interconnected waterways, which spans three Vietnamese provinces and has been used since the 4th century BCE. What I love about this area is it’s filled with small villages, pagodas, mangroves, and orchards. The best way to experience the area is to go on a boat or bike tour, where you’ll experience rural Vietnamese culture. Some of favorite things include the Cai Rang floating market for the colorful fruits and veggies and vibrant atmosphere; Vinh Trang Pagoda for its impressive golden exterior and lush gardens; and the incredible Sadec Flower Village that is stunning and serene, even if you’re not a flower enthusiast. Spend a few days really getting to know the region outside the hustle and bustle of the cities. Day trips on the river start at around 575,000 VND per person.

2. Wander Hanoi

Vietnam’s capital dates to the 3rd century BCE when it was the capital of the ancient nation of Au Lac. I love to wander around the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. It’s a great place to get a feel for the city as there are tons of vendors, smells of street food, people watching, and bustle. Some of my favorite places to visit include the One-Pillar Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and the Hanoi Water Puppet Theater. Be sure to check out the history museum to learn about French colonialism and Communist rule (from the Vietnamese perspective) as well as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Hanoi is also a good base for doing multi-day tours to Ha Long Bay.

3. Explore Ha Long Bay

This iconic region is home to more than 3,000 islands and is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. The towering limestone islands are covered in lush jungles and surrounded by calm emerald waters. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s located 2-3 hours from Hanoi and travelers can take multi-day boat cruises around the islands (most are 2-5 days). During the cruise, you’ll visit floating markets, incredible beaches, massive caves, and either sleep onboard your boat or on one of the many islands. Just keep in mind that this area is super popular and is often overcrowded. Cheap tours start around 1,200,000 VND while a mid-range tour costs around 3,000,000-4,500,000 VND. Just remember that you get what you pay for and the cheaper boats might be a bit run down.

4. Hang out in Hoi An

Hoi An was a thriving port city between the 15th and 19th centuries and the architecture is incredibly well preserved (the entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It was easily my favorite place in Vietnam because I loved walking around, taking a thrilling sidecar trip in the countryside, and of course, Vietnamese cooking classes, which are great because you learn to prepare fresh fish caught right there. This place is famous for its tailors so if you’re looking to buy some custom made clothes at an inexpensive price, this is the spot to do it in. They will even ship it back to your home country.

5. Get adventurous in Sapa

This is northern Vietnam’s premier trekking area and it’s hugely popular with all sorts of travelers. Sapa is famous for its hill tribes, lush vegetation, beautiful hiking trails, and breathtaking mountains. If you’re looking to experience the scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities Vietnam has to offer, this is the place. This area is rich in culture because it is comprised of 85% ethnic Vietnamese minority groups that have different colorful traditional dress and unique styles of houses. To avoid the tourists, come during the off-season or take longer hikes to parts the crowds don’t go to.

Other Things to See and Do

1. take a free walking tour.

The first thing I do when I visit a new destination is take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to get the lay of the land, see the main sights, and connect with a local guide who can answer all my questions. Both Hanoi and HCMH (the two largest and most popular cities in the country) have a few free tours available that cover the main highlights and are a great primer to the country (Hanoi Free Walking Tours and Saigon Free Day Tours are two companies worth checking out). Just remember to tip your guide at the end!

2. Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels

This extensive network of tunnels spans nearly 310 miles (500 kilometers). It was utilized by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about the maze and fire AK47s at shooting targets. It’s a sobering experience and not one meant for anyone claustrophobic. However, if you want to better understand the terror of the Vietnam War, this is a must-visit. Admission is around 100,000 VND per person.

3. Relax or find adventure in Dalat

Dalat is nestled in the hills of the Central Highlands and is popular with tourists who want to relax in the mountain air and those who want to participate in a host of adventure sports (such as rock climbing, ziplining, and rappelling). The hills around Dalat are filled with traditional tribal villages, which you can tour as well. Expect to pay around 2,000,000 VND per person for a full day of ziplining and rappelling around waterfalls.

4. Visit Cuc Phuong National Park

South of Hanoi lies Vietnam’s first National Park, Cuc Phuong. Covering 222 square kilometers (85 square miles), this place is home to over 2,000 species of trees and some truly rare wildlife including the Clouded Leopard, Delacour’s Langur and Owston’s Civet. It was my favorite park in all of Vietnam and the only place I didn’t find hordes of tourists. The entrance fee is 50,000 VND.

5. Explore Ho Chi Minh City

Also known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city and is definitely worth exploring. Ho Chi Minh is the place to really gain an understanding of French colonialism as well as the US headquarters there during the Vietnam War, which you can learn more about at the War Remnants Museum. Like most cities in Vietnam, you’ll be met with the roar of motorbikes speeding through colonial streets. I loved Ben Thanh Market, which is a must-see for amazing food and there is a great buzz of activity within the place. Don’t miss your chance to get the best Pho soup in Ho Chi Minh, that means some of the best is right on the side of the street.

6. Get active in Mui Ne

Despite being a fishing village, Mui Ne has a significant tourism scene due to its popularity as a wind- and kite-surfing destination. The best highlight for me aside from the beach was riding on the rolling sand dunes similar in size to the Saharan ones and also the Jeep Tour to the Fairy Stream through a canyon, which is not something you get to do very often! Also, don’t miss the 9th-century Po Shanu Cham Towers with beautiful views of the Phan Thiet coastal town. Mui Ne is definitely worth checking out for a day or two when you’re passing by on the bus because it has a nice chill vibe to it, friendly people, and beautiful sunsets.

7. See My Son

My Son is a set of Hindu ruins in Vietnam that date back to the Cham Empire. The Champas ruled over Central Vietnam from the 3rd to the 19th century. The temples here are of incredible historical importance, but they have been largely reclaimed by the surrounding jungle, and have fallen into a great state of disrepair. Don’t come here expecting something as marvelously preserved as Borobudur or Angkor Wat. The entrance fee is 150,000 VND.

8. Visit the caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang

Hang Son Doong is reputed to be the world’s largest cave and is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It was discovered by a local in 1990, and “rediscovered” by a British caving team in 2009. You can arrange trips to see this stunning cave in all its glory with stalactites and stalagmites, an inner cave forest, and even cave pearls. You’ll be blown away by its beauty. Entrance to the caves is around 150,000 VND per person.

9. Check out the rice terraces

Outside of connections to the Vietnam War, the stereotypical image of Vietnam is of the many rice paddies. You can find these in the Muong Hoa Valley. If you’ve never visited rice terraces, you should make a point to see them in Vietnam. Visit them to learn about rice production and take stunning photographs of the unbelievable Vietnamese countryside. Expect tours to cost around 600,000 VND per person.

10. Relax in Hue

Hue is generally passed by, making it a bit of a quieter stop along the tourist trail. Stroll along the beautiful Perfume River and into the Imperial Citadel. Don’t miss the Tu Hieu Pagoda and the Tombs of the Emperors, which mostly date from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the main tombs to see are the Tomb of Minh Mang, the Tomb of Tu Duc, and the Tomb of Khai Dinh.

11. Take a cooking class

Vietnamese food is delicious and the best way to learn about these incredible dishes is to take a cooking class. You’ll not only learn how to make some of these tasty meals but you’ll get to interact with a local chef who can teach you about their history and cultural significance. Many cooking classes also include a visit to the local market where you’ll shop for ingredients. Prices vary but expect to pay at least 800,000 VND per person.

12. Tour the former DMZ

The Vietnamese Demilitarized zone was the dividing line between the Communist north and anti-Communist south during the Vietnam War. It was in use from 1954 to 1976. These days, you can take a tour of the DMZ from Hue and learn about the conflict from expert guides who were actually involved in the war (or survived it as civilians). You’ll see secret tunnels, learn about military surveillance, and get insight about the conflict from a perspective not often shown in the media. Full-day tours from Hue start around 2,500,000 VND.

13. Buy a motorbike

If you’re an adventurous traveler, buy a motorbike and drive the length of the country. This is considered the best way to travel Vietnam by veteran backpackers who like to get off the beaten path. You can buy bikes in Hanoi or HCMC at either end of the country and then make your way to the opposite end, stopping along the way over the course of a few weeks. While it’s not for everyone, this mode of travel offers the most freedom as you’ll be able to visit a lot of places that the buses and trains don’t stop at. You can buy a bike for as little as 4,800,000 VND, and then you can sell it once your trip is done to recoup some of the cost. There are always backpackers looking to buy a bike in HCMC and Hanoi.

14. Sample the local coffee

Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer (after Brazil) exporting a whopping 1.5 million tons of it per year (after rice, it’s their biggest export). Even if you don’t drink coffee (I don’t), trying fresh coffee here is a must. Whether you just hop arounds cafes, do a tasting experience in Hanoi of HCMC, or head out to one of the many coffee plantations, learning about this vital crop (and also sampling it fresh) is an experience not to be missed. Expect a half-day plantation tour (with lots of samples) to cost around 700,000 VND.

For more information on specific cities in Vietnam, check out the following guides:

• Hanoi Travel Guide
• Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
• Hoi An Travel Guide
• Nha Trang Travel Guide

Vietnam Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostels start at around 100,000 VND per night for a dorm room. These can be a bit rustic and no-frills. For a hostel with more amenities, such as free breakfast or a a free happy hour (as well as improved cleanliness), expect to pay double. Private rooms cost at least 350,890-425,000 VND per night for a double room. Most hostels include free Wi-Fi, and many also include free breakfast or free beer during certain hours of the day. Self-catering facilities are not very common since eating out is so cheap.

For those traveling with a tent, wild camping is not legal in Vietnam. While it is still possible to do as enforcement is sparse (especially if you’re sleeping in a hammock), I also wouldn’t recommend it. Insects and animals can be an issue, there are lots of landmines still undiscovered out in the brush, and robbery can occur. Stay safe and stick to hostels.

For a budget hotel with a double bed, expect to pay around 225,000 VND per night. This usually includes free Wi-Fi and free breakfast.

On Airbnb, a private room costs at least 325,000 VND per night. For an entire home or apartment, prices begin around 600,000 VND. Prices double when not booked in advance so plan accordingly

Food – Vietnamese cuisine is fresh, flavorful, and uses a lot of herbs and vegetables. Rice and noodle dishes are common as are various soups such as the iconic pho (a beef noodle soup). Wonton soup, meat curry, fresh French bread (known as bahn me , and grilled fish are just some of the popular dishes you’ll encounter. Standard ingredients include fish sauce, lemongrass, chili, lime, Thai basil, and mint.

You can get a bowl of pho or a rice dish for 20,000 VND. Street food is the cheapest and the most delicious food option in the country.

Most sit-down restaurants are also inexpensive at around 45,000-95,000 VND. The fancier (and more touristy) the restaurant, the more expensive.

Western food is also more expensive, usually around 110,000 VND for a fast food meal, so skip it if you’re on a budget.

If you want to splash out on a fancy three-course meal, expect to spend around 250,000 VND.

A liter of water at a convenience store is about 15,000 VND, while beer or soda is about 20,000-35,000 VND.

For those looking to cook their own meals, expect to pay at least 400,000 VND per week for basic groceries. Be sure to shop at the local markets to get the cheapest and freshest food. That being said, food is so cheap in the country that it’s simply easier – and cheaper – to just eat street food, especially as most hostels and hotels don’t have shared kitchens.

Backpacking Vietnam Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Vietnam for 600,000 VND per day. This budget covers a stay in a large hostel dorm, eating street food for all of your meals, limiting your drinking, taking the bus, and doing free activities in each destination. If you plan on drinking, add another 20,000-40,000 VND to your daily budget.

A mid-range budget of about 1,125,000 VND per day covers staying in a cheap hotel, eating street food and at the occasional sit-down restaurant, enjoying a few more drinks, taking the occasional taxi to get around, and doing more paid activities such as museum visits and water upper shows.

On an upscale budget of 2,460,000 VND, you can stay in a nice hotel, eat out for all your meals anywhere you want, enjoy lots of drinks, and more taxis, and do whatever tours and activities you want, including a multi-day trip to Ha Long Bay. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Vietnam Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Vietnam is a very affordable country. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest in Southeast Asia. Even with the explosion of tourism in the last few years, it still remains very affordable. You’ll be hard pressed to spend money if you’re sticking to non-Western food, cocktails, and hotels. However, if you’re looking to travel even cheaper and save some money, here are some tips:

• Eat delicious street food – The street food here is excellent and cheap, and you can watch it being cooked in front of you. Stick to the local food and you’ll save money. The street-side pho, bread, sandwiches, donuts, and bananas are your best deals.
• Late-night travel – If traveling on long journeys, try to take the late-night “sleeper” buses or trains as these will save you the cost of a night’s accommodation. Depending on the company, you may even have a chance to comfortably lie flat as you ride through the dark countryside to your next destination.
• Take the tourist bus – It is actually cheaper to take the tourist bus around the country than taking local transportation because of the “tourist” price you get at the bus station. Tickets from one end of the country to another are very affordable.
• Fly for cheap – Vietnam’s low-cost airlines VietJet and FlyVietnam are extremely inexpensive. This is a great option for people with limited time to explore different regions of Vietnam. Both airlines frequently offer special deals and at the time of writing this, Hanoi to Da Nang is just 820,000 VND!
• Bargain hard – Tourists tend to be charged more than locals for everything from cyclos (a three-wheel bicycle taxi) to clothes to street food. Bargain harder than you would ordinarily, and don’t underestimate the value of walking away.
• Avoid paying tourist prices – Before you leave the hostel, ask them to estimate how much what you want to do should cost. How much should a ride to the museum cost? How much should I pay to have a gown like this made? They will be able to give you bargaining guidelines.
• Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water in Hanoi is not safe to drink. To save money and reduce your plastic use, bring a reusable water bottle with you. LifeStraw make a reusable bottle with a built-in filter so you can be sure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Vietnam

To help you save money on accommodation, here’s a list of my recommended hostels and budget hotels in Vietnam:

• Mad Monkey (Hoi An)
• Hoi An Golden Holiday Hotel (Hoi An)
• Little Hanoi Hostel (Hanoi)
• San Palace Hotel & Spa (Hanoi)
• Hanoi House Hostel & Travel (Hanoi)
• Ccasa Hostel & Coffee Bar (Nha Trang)
• The Hideout (HCMC)
• Orchid’s Saigon Hotel (HCMC)

How to Get Around Vietnam

Public transportation – Larger cities in Vietnam (such as Hanoi and HCMC) have reliable and safe public transportation. In Hanoi, there are buses that cover most of the city and generally have stops near all the major tourist sites. Tickets are paid for in cash on the bus and generally cost 7,000-15,000 VND depending on how far you go. HCMC also has a large network of buses, with tickets costing up to 10,000 VND (again, depending on how far you travel).

Cyclos (a bicycle rickshaw) is one of the cheapest ways to get around. A short ride costs as little as 12,000 VND, while a longer night ride costs upwards of 40,000 VND. A more popular option is the ze om , a motorbike taxi that has fares starting from 15,000 VND. You’ll have to hold on tight though (and make sure you wear a helmet as accidents are common).

Train – A lot of people love taking the train in Vietnam because it’s safe, affordable, and comfortable and, although some routes might be slow, you’ll get some amazing views of the Vietnamese countryside. The rail network also covers most of the country, so you can get just about everywhere you want to go (except the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta). You can use the website Baolau to research train schedules and book your tickets. A train journey between Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi (which spans the entire length of the country) starts at 1,000,000 VND for a soft seat (not a berth). The journey takes three days. Hanoi to Hue costs around 600,000 VND and takes around 13 hours while HCMC to Nha Trang costs around 500,000 VND and takes 8 hours.

Bus – It’s easy to find long-distance hop on, hop off bus tours running the length of Vietnam. You can hop on or off at any stop along the way. They cater to tourists, but locals actually use this service too since it’s super affordable. Prices depend on route and operator but generally, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is between 815,000-1,600,000 VND.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Flying – Flying domestically in Vietnam is a good idea if you’re looking to fit a lot into a shorter trip. For example, a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes two hours while the train ride would take at least 30 hours. One-way flights around the country start at around 590,000 VND.

Car rental – Vietnam is very easy to navigate by bus, so I don’t really suggest renting a car here — especially because traffic in the cities is very hectic and accidents are common. That said, car rentals are affordable, costing around 500,000 VND per day. An IDP (International Driving Permit) is required. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Vietnam

In the southern part of Vietnam, the dry season lasts from December to late April/May while the rainy season occurs from May to the end of November. The rainy season usually just means brief heavy downpours in the afternoon, although sometimes the Mekong Delta will flood. The dry season is the best time to visit but keep in mind that it’s winter up north and it’s going to be a lot colder in the north than the south. Rainy season isn’t that bad either but, like the name implies, it rains a lot.

May through November is still a good time to visit. Temperatures rarely dip below 20°C (68°F), but they can sometimes get as high as 40°C (104°F) in the hottest months (March to the end of May). The south especially gets very hot and humid during this time but it’s perfect beach weather!

Along the central coast, the rainfall pattern differs quite a bit. In the northern part of the region (like Hué and Da Nang), the rain lasts from September to February. February to May is the best time to visit this area. Temperatures soar from June to August, often in the high 30s°C (80s°F).

In Northern Vietnam, the weather is most pleasant from October to December.

The weather in Vietnam varies so much per region so it’s hard to pick the best time to go. But generally, it’s recommended to visit sometime between September-December and March-April if you’re hoping to get an overall experience in the country.

How to Stay Safe in Vietnam

Vietnam is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel. Violent crime is really, really rare. Petty theft is the most likely thing to happen to you here. Always keep your valuables secure when out and about just to be safe. Lock your windows and use common safety sense, especially in bars at night and in touristy areas.

Traffic in the major cities (specifically Hanoi) is super hectic and there are virtually no rules of the road. There are also millions of motorbikes and scooters here (literally). For that reason, take extra caution when crossing the street. It’s best to just walk as directly and calmly as possible and let the traffic weave around you. If you’re not comfortable doing that alone, follow locals when they cross.

If renting a bike or riding on the back of one, make sure you always wear a helmet. Accidents are incredibly common here, both in the traffic-heavy cities but also in rural areas where roads can be less than optimal.

There are some common scams in Vietnam, such as the motorbike scam where vendors try to charge you for pre-existing damage to your bike rental. When renting anything, take photos and videos beforehand just in case.

Be sure to always count your change. The money is similar looking here so oftentimes people will “mistakenly” give you the wrong change hoping you won’t notice that the 200,000 VND bill you just got is actually only 20,000. Always count your change here!

Most scams here are really just people trying to try to nickel and dime you and try to get you to spend extra money since they know, as a tourist, you have more than they do. You can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). Use common sense when using dating apps while traveling and meet in public places.

Street food here is very safe, but whenever you’re not sure of where to eat simply find somewhere where there are locals eating. If it’s good (and safe) enough for them, you should be fine. Avoid meat that looks uncooked or that has been out in the sun too long. Always wash your hands before and after eating just to be safe.

If you experience an emergency, dial 113 for assistance.

Be sure to make copies of your important documents in case of theft.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Vietnam Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Agoda – Other than Hostelworld, Agoda is the best hotel accommodation site for Asia.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Vietnam travel and continue planning your trip:

Is Southeast Asia Safe for Travelers?

Biking the Mekong Delta in Vietnam

Why I’ll Never Return to Vietnam

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From family beach days to hiking in the highlands, here are the best activities for kids in Vietnam, along with some top planning tips.

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Vietnam was made for exploring by road. From the mountains to the Delta, here are our top road trip routes.

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Vietnam tourist map

We would like to introduce a great companion for your journey to explore Vietnam: Vietnam Map , which includes all the types of maps you need, such as region, transportation, and city map. We have compressed them to the highest quality, so you can print them on paper and use them on your trips.

Topography and climate of Vietnam

Based on geography and climate, Vietnam is divided into eight regions: Northwest, Northeast, Red River Delta, North Central Coast, South Central Coast, Central Highlands, Southeast, and Mekong River Delta. Each region has relatively different climatic and topographic characteristics.

1. Northwest

Northwest Vietnam consists of 6 provinces: Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Lao Cai. The famous tourist destinations: Sapa (Lao Cai), Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), Dien Bien Phu (Dien Bien), Mai Chau (Hoa Binh), Moc Chau (Son La). It is a mountainous area which shares the borderline with China and Laos. This is home of magnificent fold mountains and extremely unmatched landscapes.

The region has two distinct seasons: summer and winter. The summer (April to October) is hot and humid. Winter (November to March) is cold, cloudy that is characterized by drizzle. The average annual temperature is about 25 ºC. In winter, the lowest temperature is in December and January; some places have temperatures below 0 ºC.

2. Northeast

Northeast Vietnam consists of 9 provinces: Ha Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh. The famous tourist destinations: Dong Van (Ha Giang), Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang), Ba Be Lake (Bac Kan), Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh), Mau Son (Lang Son). The region is geographically distinguished with the Northeast by the Red River. There are middle-high mountain ranges blended with vast plateaus. The complicated system of water bodies carving into the limestone mountains creating deep valleys across the region.

The climate is quite similar to the Northwest, but the region is more affected by the humid monsoon climate than the Northwest. Therefore, the Northeast is directly affected by tropical storms in the summer.

3. Red River Delta

Red River Delta consists of 10 provinces: Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Ha Noi, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Vinh Phuc. The famous tourist destinations: Hanoi, Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Do Son (Hai Phong), Trang An (Ninh Binh). The delta is situated in the North of Vietnam, this is one of the most densely-populated regions across the country due to the fertile soil and a large concentration of waterways, which are advantageous for agricultural activities.

Like the Northeast and Northwest, the Red River Delta also has two distinct seasons: the summer is from April – November; the winter is from December – March. However, the weather here is milder than in the other two regions.

4. North Central

North Central consists of 6 provinces: Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien Hue. The famous tourist destinations: Thien Cam Beach (Ha Tinh), Cua Lo Beach (Nghe An), Phong Nha – Ke Bang (Quang Binh), Hue (Thua Thien Hue). This region is a long-stretching land and also the most narrow part of the country, which is one of the most important economic regions featuring aquaculture and tourism. The area is home of a great collection of three out of eight UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in Vietnam.

Due to the monsoon in the northeast, the whole area is affected by cold weather with rain in the winter. This is different from the dry weather in the winter of the North. In the summer, there is the southwest monsoon (also known as Laos wind), so the whole region will have a hot and dry climate. At this time, the daily temperature can reach over 40 ºC; meanwhile, air humidity is very low.

5. South Central Coast

South Central Coast consists of 8 provinces: Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan. The famous tourist destinations: Da Nang, Hoi An (Quang Nam), Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Mui Ne (Binh Thuan). South Central Coast has a strategic position in terms of economic and transport values. The landscapes are dominated by the fertile whale-shaped hills, which is beneficial for herding activities. Bordering a large sea area, the economy strongly relies on marine resources. Here is also a potential travel hub thanks to its well-developed transport system.

The weather here is different from the North Central Coast due to the northeast monsoon blocked by the Bach Ma mountain range. The remarkable feature of the Central climate is that there is a rainy season and the dry season does not occur at the same time in a year in the two climatic regions of the North and the South.

6. Central Highlands

Central Highlands consists of 5 provinces: Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kom Tum, Lam Dong. The famous tourist destinations: Dalat (Lam Dong), Mang Den (Kom Tum), Buon Me Thuot (Dak Lak). The region consists of many plateaus, which are surrounded by mountain ranges. Central Highlands is known as the coffee capital of Vietnam as the fertile basalt facilitates the growth of this industrial crop. Some distant and remote mountainous parts of the area are also home to various minority ethnic groups.

Located in the tropical savanna region, the climate in the Central Highlands is divided into two seasons: the rainy season from May to the end of October and the dry season from November to April, in which March and April are the hottest. Particularly, the lands are over 1.000 m high, the climate is cool all year round.

7. Southeast

Southeast Vietnam consists of 6 provinces: Ba Ria Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City. The famous tourist destinations: Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau Beach (Ba Ria Vung Tau), Con Dao Island (Ba Ria Vung Tau), Black Virgin Mountain (Tay Ninh). Southeast is the highly industrialized zone. A massive landmass is used for industrial trees and factories. The landscape highlights the midlands and low mountain ranges. This is where the major river systems meet and concentrate on the most vital ports as well as tourism.

The South is located in a region characterized by the equatorial tropical climate, abundant sunshine, and high humidity. The annual average humidity is about 80 – 82%. The climate has two distinct seasons: dry and rainy. The rainy season is from May to November and the dry season is from December to April.

8. Mekong River Delta

Mekong River Delta consists of 13 provinces: Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Can Tho, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau. The famous tourist destinations: Can Tho, My Tho (Tien Giang), Tram Chim (Dong Thap), Chau Doc (An Giang), Phu Quoc (Kien Giang). It is the southernmost part of the country and dominated by flat floodplains. The low basin of the Mekong Delta is rich in sediment from its mother source and greatly contributes to the agricultural practice of its people for centuries. The region is covered by very little forestry, mainly mangrove forests and swamps to prevent waves and preserve land.

The climate of the Mekong Delta is similar to the Southeast: the tropical monsoon climate, there are two distinct seasons: the rainy season (May to November) and dry season (December – April).

Best time to  visit Vietnam

The ideal time to visit Vietnam is during the dry season. In which the period from December to March is the best time to visit Vietnam. You can rely on the detailed map below to choose the appropriate time to visit each place in the country.

Vietnam Visa

It’s easy to come to Vietnam! Vietnam offers visa exemptions to tourists from 24 countries and e-Visas to travellers from 80 countries.

Vietnam visa exemption

Citizens of 24 countries are exempted from visa when entering Vietnam:

Vietnam visa application

Now you can easily apply for Vietnam Visa with an electronic Visa, E-Visa is available to nationals of 80 countries. What you need to do is visit the official website of the Immigration Department ( click here ) and follow the instructions.

The e-Visa costs 25 USD, takes three working days to process, and is a single-entry visa, valid for 30 days.

Learn more about Vietnam Visa >

Money and Exchange

Vietnamese currency is known as “Dong” or “VND” as currency code. There are no longer coins but only paper and polymerized money, so it is quite easy to carry around. Vietnamese banknotes, however, have many zeros: the smallest bills commonly in circulation are 500 VND, 1.000 VND, 2.000VND, and 5.000VND; and the highest one is 500.000VND.

Cards are widely accepted in restaurants, hotels, and other public amenities (but not at street-food stalls), and ATMs are placed densely. The most popular exchange rate when travelling in Vietnam is from USD to VND. It is known among travellers that the best exchange rate is given at jewelry shops; however, it is now considered illegal to exchange currency at those shops. So, the best way is to change money at the airport, local banks, or ATMs.

Learn more about the Vietnamese currency >

Transportation in Vietnam

Vietnam’s transportation network is quite complete with international and domestic airport systems in many provinces, the “famous” North-South railway system, and the extensive road system with the backbone of National Highway 1A. Below is a transportation map in Vietnam with train stations and airports.

Learn more about transportation in Vietnam >

Cost of living in Vietnam

I t is totally possible to live on a budget in Vietnam as the cost of living is claimed to be inexpensive. Most of the items cost less than half of what you would pay in the West or even relatively cheaper in comparison with some tourist hubs in Asia.

Although in big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Capital, things could be a bit pricey, there are still lots of opportunities to lead a comfortable lifestyle with an income of under 700 USD (of course, if you are willing to eat local food and enjoy a Vietnamese standard lifestyle). If you live outside of these two major cities, living expenses could be much less. Your lifestyle will determine your cost of living, but generally, Vietnam has a competitive yet fertile job market for both locals and expats and an average rate of living expenses. As long as one has a job and not too bad at money management, they can assure an enjoyable life and travel if they wish.

Internet and Telecommunication

Vietnam offers a very accessible Internet connection that covers most parts of the country. Wi-fi is available in every corner: at restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, or even at small food vendors sometimes. So there would be very little chance that you lose touch with the world while travelling here.

There are also many SIM card providers that offer 4G data service along. So if you are mostly on the road or wish to keep in touch with people, here is an option. Some of the most reliable telecommunication companies known are Viettel, Mobifone, and Vinaphone. SIM card’s price normally starts from 50.000 – 100.000 (2 – 4,5 USD), and you can add money to buy data packages that are totally affordable, ranging from just 30.000 VND for unlimited access.

Accommodation in Vietnam

Accommodation in Vietnam varies from around under 10 USD to as much as you could imagine, catering to different budgets and preferences. There are many types of accommodation that you can choose from, from hostels and guesthouses to homestays and luxurious resorts which keep popping up throughout the country. Although hospitality is a huge industry in Vietnam, it is obviously popular among the locals as the young Vietnamese tend to travel more and more these days. So, it is ideal to book your accommodation in advance to make sure of a preferable stay. Booking could be made easily through online booking websites or, particularly for homestays, through direct messages on their Facebook pages.

The vast majority of accommodations are considered very stylish and full of character, of which homestay is one form of accommodation you have to get yourself into. They are not only a place to crash after a long day exploring, but are experience itself. Most places have English-speaking staff, and they accept both cards and cash.

Best places to stay in Vietnam >

Shopping in Vietnam

It is no exaggeration that Vietnam is one of those shopping paradises. There is a whole range of shopping activities that you could take part in, which serve your craving for shopping and offer insight into the country’s culture. You could wander around the local open-markets to embrace the vibrance and dynamic energy of the street business culture of the Vietnamese, or opt for a less hustle and bustle shopping vibe in the shopping malls. A new breeze of shopping experience that is enjoyed by the millennials is the flea-markets, which are often held on weekends gathering the participation of local clothing and handicraft brands. Each market in Vietnam brings the characteristics and colors of the local community here. Going to the market is not only for shopping, but it is also a journey to discover the local culture.

For great trips, convenience stores are a good choice for you. There are many convenience stores in Vietnam, especially in big cities as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, which have almost everything you need. There are many well-known brands such as 7-Eleven, Vinmart, FamilyMart, and Cycle K. Therefore, if you need food or necessities, convenience stores are a quick choice.

Supermarkets or shopping malls are also an option, but most of them only appear in big cities with brands such as Vinmart, Co.op Mart, Vincom, and Lotte Mart.

Vietnam is also known as the manufacturing location for many big fashion names such as Nike and Adidas, so you are likely to get a very competitive price for those.

Due to the variety of items, affordable prices, and a wide range of shopping experiences, shopping would be a great part of your traveling in Vietnam.

15 best places to visit in Vietnam

Coming to the S-shaped country, you can admire the poetic and charming scenery wherever you go. The natural beauty, unique culture have made Vietnam become a tourist destination worldwide. At each place, we have designed an “all-in-one” travel guide page; click on the photo of the destination and explore it your way.

1. Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is a famous tourist destination of Vietnam, located in the western part of the Gulf of Tonkin in the northeastern region of Vietnam. With thousands of magnificent islands, Ha Long Bay has been recognized by UNESCO as a natural heritage of the world since 2003.

Ha Long City is a coastal region with two distinct seasons: winter (November to April) and summer (May to October). Affected by the climate of Northeast Vietnam, there are two distinct types of monsoons: the Northeast wind in the winter that brings coldness and drizzle; and the Southwest wind in the summer that brings warmth and rain. The best time to visit Halong Bay is in the spring and autumn (from April to October) because of the chilly weather.

Looking down from above, Ha Long Bay like a picture with thousands of unique rocky islands such as Dau Nguoi, Rong, La Vong, Trong Mai, and Canh Buom. Hidden inside the rocky islands are beautiful caves such as Thien Cung, Dau Go, Sung Sot, Trinh Nu, and Tam Cung.

2. Ninh Binh

About 100 km away from Hanoi, Ninh Binh is a gem of Northern Vietnam. It is located in the southernmost region of the Red River Delta, which is the intersection of two large rivers: the Red River and the Ma River. This is known as the ancient capital of Vietnam, with many historical relics remaining.

You can travel to Ninh Binh at any time of the year. However, the ideal time for tourists to visit this land is in early spring, between the second and third month of the lunar calendar. At this time, the weather is mild, suitable for those who want to admire the spring beauty, and join the temple ceremony at the beginning of the year. If you come to Ninh Binh in late May and early June, you will admire the breathtaking scenery by the bright yellow rice fields along the banks of the Ngo Dong River. The golden color of rice interspersed with the green of the mountains creates a beautifully natural picture. In fall, you will be surprised by the peaceful beauty of the sky clouds combined with the blue Sao Khe River blooming full of lotus flowers and water lilies. The faint pink of the lotus flower combined with the pure white of water lilies creates a beautiful picture like in a fairyland.

Hoi An is located downstream of the Thu Bon River, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. It is a famous tourist city, only about 30km from Da Nang to the South. The Ancient Town of Hoi An carries the diversity of settings and the history of hundreds of years of cultural interference between the three countries of China, Japan, and Vietnam. You will be fall in love with the mix of vibrant lifestyle and ancient architecture of this little town.

As the most beautiful city in Vietnam, Hoi An is crowded year-round; the tourist season starts from November to the end of February. If you want to enjoy a “real” Hoi An, April to June is the right time for you, when there are the least tourists.

Hoi An is famous for traditional architecture’s beauty, the harmony of houses, walls, and roads. Along with many ups and downs of history, Hoi An ancient town retains the ancient beauty in every corner.

Da Nang is located in Central Vietnam, with an almost equally divided distance between Hanoi Capital and Ho Chi Minh City. Possessing one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet – My Khe and many incredible natural landscapes, Da Nang City is one of the most attractive tourist destinations of the Central region.

Da Nang’s climate is divided into two distinct seasons: the dry season (from December to August) and the rainy season (from September to November). The best time to travel to Da Nang is from January to July; at this time, the weather is not too hot; the temperature is about 25 – 32 °C, suitable for outdoor activities.

Da Nang is a “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” city in Vietnam, where there are mountains, forests, beaches, and delicacies. The famous tourist attractions in Da Nang include Ba Na Hills, My Khe Beach, Marble Mountains, and Asia’s largest Fantasy Park indoor amusement park. Da Nang also has many fascinating landscapes such as Hai Van Pass, and the primeval forest in Son Tra Peninsula.

Once was the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue is considered a royal land with many palaces and tombs of the Kings. If you want to learn about the glorious Vietnam history, you cannot miss this land. Hue also attracts visitors by the poetic and beautiful natural landscapes and friendly people.

The weather in Hue is generally quite harsh, with high temperatures in the dry season (35 – 40 °C), but the dry season is also a good time to visit this city because the weather is less rain, suitable for visiting the palaces and tombs.

In addition to the Hue Imperial Citadel and mausoleums, you should also visit places such as Lang Co Bay, Hon Chen Palace, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Thuan An Beach.

Hue dishes are extremely delicious and cheap. The delicacies can be mentioned such as mussel rice, Hue beef noodle soup, and Hue sweet soup.

Sapa is a scenic spot located in the Northwest of Lao Cai province in Vietnam. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Vietnam . Situated at an average altitude of 1.500 – 1.800 m above the sea, Sapa is always in the thick fog, creating a fanciful scene.

Sapa is a mountainous region with a cool climate all year round. The weather in Sapa has four seasons; the average temperature of Sapa is 15 °C. Summer in Sapa is not too hot; winter is often cloudy and cold, sometimes it snows.

Tourists come to Sapa to enjoy the fresh air and admire the wild beauty of the Northwestern mountains. Terraced fields, waterfalls, and majestic mountains create an impressive beauty for Sapa. Besides, visitors also can explore the customs and cultural beauty of ethnic minorities such as Black H’Mong, Red Dao, Tay, and Giay.

Referring to Sapa, it is impossible not to mention famous tourist destinations such as Fansipan Peak, Ham Rong Mountain, Stone Church, Muong Hoa Valley, and some villages such as Cat Cat, Ta Phin, Ta Van. Come to this foggy land, don’t forget to enjoy a salmon hot pot, drink a cup of Tao Meo wine.

7. Nha Trang

As a coastal city in Khanh Hoa Province, Nha Trang is the top destination of Vietnam. Nha Trang is surrounded by beautiful beaches , majestic mountains, and pristine islands, an ideal place for your vacation. Besides the beautiful beaches, the islands as Hon Tre, Hon Chong, and Hon Mun are always attractions to visit this coastal city.

T he most significant advantage of this city is the long sunny season during the first eight months, the temperature difference is not considerable. The rainy season of Nha Trang lasts from September to December and reaches its peak in October and November.

From fine dining restaurants facing the sea to favorite pubs, all are located along the beach in front of Nha Trang city. Coming here, you definitely have to try the famous specialties such as Banh Can, Banh Canh Cha Ca, and Nem Nuong.

8. Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the biggest city in Vietnam, which has long been known as the Pearl of the Far East, a lavish metropolis.

Ho Chi Minh City left a deep impression for the first time with anyone who has ever been to. The bright light of night streets, the colorful signs, the fresh beer pubs, the playgrounds that last all night; all turned Ho Chi Minh City into a paradise of shopping and food in Vietnam. People here are famous for being enthusiastic and generous. For strangers, they are willing to guide every intersection and street corner.

Ho Chi Minh City weather does not have four seasons like Hanoi but only two: rainy and dry. The rainy season is from May to November. In general, you can visit Ho Chi Minh City at any time of the year; the rainy season is also the most beautiful season of this city.

Ho Chi Minh City is subdivided into 22 district-level subdivisions. Urban areas include districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, Phu Nhuan, Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Tan Binh. The suburbs include Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh, Nha Be, Can Gio and Thu Duc City (sub-city).

District 1 is the administrative, economic, and transactional center of Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, if you are a first-timer, you should visit the famous spots such as Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue walking street, Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace, and Bui Vien Street. District 1 is also the place where the majority of tourists choose to stay while in this city.

District 2 and District 3 are the ideal residence with spacious street, elegant and quiet villas.

District 4 is the place where people mainly live by working in warehouses and docks. So coming here, you will discover the daily life of ordinary workers in the city.

District 5 is where more than half a million Chinese people have been living there for a long time. It is also an attractive tourist destination with the name “ China town “.

In the suburbs, a destination not to be missed when coming to Vietnam is Cu Chi Tunnels, a massive underground tunnel system; it is heroic evidence of the history of the “ Vietnam war “.

Coming to Ho Chi Minh City to sip a bottle of Saigon beer on Bui Vien Street, sometimes that’s enough.

Hanoi – the capital, is Vietnam’s important cultural, political, commercial, and tourist center. Over a thousand years of history, Hanoi has become a famous tourist destination in the world.

Hanoi attracts tourists by its ancient beauty, historical colors, and hospitality from local people. The best time to visit Hanoi is in the fall, from mid-August to the end of October. At this time, the weather in Hanoi is cool, and the scenery is extremely romantic.

Hanoi has more than 4.000 monuments and beautiful landscapes. In particular, there are more than 9.000 relics in the ranking of national monuments, with hundreds of temples, structures, and famous attractions. Some prominent relics of Hanoi are the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, Ngoc Son Temple, Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi Cathedral, and Opera House.

Also, the unique culture of the Hanoi people fascinates many tourists around the world. Hanoi is famous for its fine handicraft products in craft villages such as Bat Trang ceramics, Ngu Xa bronze casting, and Yen Thai village. Besides, Hanoi also owns unique cuisine and many different cultural festivals throughout the year.

Hanoi is also remembered as the city with the best street food in the world. Come to Hanoi, do not forget to enjoy specialties such as Pho, Bun Cha, Cha Ca La Vong, and Bun Thang.

Located 22 km northeast of Phan Thiet City center, Mui Ne is one of the most beautiful and famous destinations in Binh Thuan Province. In 2014, Mui Ne ranked 2nd on the top of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia by Canadian traveler site voted. According to Skyscanner, this place has been listed on the list of 10 impressive beaches of Asia Pacific.

The period from April to August is considered to be the best time to travel to Mui Ne. From September onwards, Mui Ne often rains, so it is inconvenient for outdoor activities.

Besides the poetic and idyllic scenery, Mui Ne attracts visitors by the desirable and affluent culinary features. Coming here, you definitely have to enjoy the delicately processed seafood dishes such as Dong, fish salad, Banh Can, and Banh Xeo.

11. Ha Giang

Famous for the majestic scenery, the endless terraced fields, the long buckwheat flower fields, and the cultural identity of upland ethnic people, Ha Giang is one of the destinations that attract many tourists in Vietnam recently. Located in the mountainous north of Vietnam, Ha Giang is a majestic mountain complex, with an average height of 800 m to 1.200 m above sea level.

The northern highland is Dong Van Plateau, including Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac districts, with 90% of the area is limestone mountains, typical for karst terrain. There are sharp rocky mountains, deep and narrow ravines, and cliffs. On October 3, 2010, Dong Van Rock Plateau joined the Global Geopark Network. The western include Hoang Su Phi and Xin Man districts, which are part of Bac Ha Plateau, commonly known as Chay River lift arch, with elevations from 1.000m to over 2.000m. The terrain here is usually domed or semi-arched, interspersed with steep, sometimes sharp, or jagged terrain. The low mountainous region covers the remaining districts and towns, stretching from Bac Me, Ha Giang town, through Vi Xuyen to Bac Quang. This area has strips of old forest interspersed with relatively flat valleys located along rivers and streams.

The best time to visit Ha Giang is from October to December in the buckwheat flower season. Another great time to visit this land is from September to October, which is the rice season.

Coming to Ha Giang, visitors also have access to mountainous residents’ culture through highland markets; one of them is Khau Vai Love Market, a dating place for couples. At this fair, people also sell various handmade products such as embroidered towels, cloth bags, dresses with bright and delicate patterns. Another thing that attracts visitors to come to Ha Giang is the specialties such as dried buffalo meat, Thang Co, Buckwheat flower pancake, and Chao Au Tau.

Moreover, Ha Giang has a rich and diverse cultural treasure, with more than 20 ethnic groups living here. Each ethnic group has its own unique cultural identity, expressed through customs, festivals, and religions.

Dalat is a city in Lam Dong Province, located on Lam Vien Plateau, at an altitude of 1.500 m above sea level, which has many beautiful landscapes. Dalat is one of the most famous tourist cities in Vietnam, a little Paris of Vietnam.

Dalat has an ancient, romantic beauty with many architectural works and old villas from the French colonial period. Dalat has a typical climate of the Central Highlands region with two distinct seasons: rainy season and dry season. The rainy season lasts from May to October, and the dry season lasts from November to April next year. The ideal time to visit Dalat is from October to December, when the flowers bloom throughout the mountains.

Dalat attracts tourists by famous attractions such as Tuyen Lam Lake, Xuan Huong Lake, Bao Dai Palace, Linh Son Pagoda, Truc Lam Zen Monastery, and many beautiful coffee shops. Come to Dalat, don’t forget to enjoy the delicious food such as Lau Ga La E, Banh Mi Xiu Mai, and Banh Can. At night, in the chilly air, visitors can stroll around the night market and Xuan Huong Lake edge to enjoy a cup of hot soy milk, or a Dalat baked rice paper.

13. Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is also known as a gem island, the largest island in Vietnam, located in the Gulf of Thailand. Phu Quoc Island, together with other islands, form the Phu Quoc Island District of Kien Giang Province. In 2006, Kien Giang coastal and island biosphere reserve, including Phu Quoc, was recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve.

As a tropical monsoon island equatorial, the Phu Quoc climate is divided into two distinct seasons, which are the rainy season and the dry season. Because it is the gateway to receive the west-southwest monsoon, the humidity in the rainy season is very high, from 85 to 90%. In the dry season, the island is affected by the northeast monsoon, so that the temperature will increase in April and May. The best time to visit Phu Quoc Island is the dry season, from the end of October to March next year. At this time, the weather in Phu Quoc is less rain, which is convenient for travel and relaxation.

Phu Quoc has many beautiful beaches stretching from the north to the south and 99 hills covered by vast primeval forests. In the north of the island, there are Rach Vem, Bai Thom, and Hon Mot fishing villages – with outstanding wild beauty. In the South Island, there are 12 large and small islands such as Hon Thom, Hon Mong Tay, Hon Gam Ghi, Hon May Rut – the ideal places for nature exploration activities such as night squid fishing, diving to see corals, and discovering pristine forest.

Phu Quoc not only attracts tourists with beautiful views but also the delicious dishes made from a rich source of seafood. Some dishes that you cannot miss when visiting Phu Quoc are Herring Salad, Grilled Squid, Quay Noodle, and Sim wine.

14. Quy Nhon

If talking about a hidden pearl of Vietnam, Quy Nhon is a leading candidate. Located in Binh Dinh Province, Quy Nhon is known as one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the South Central Coast with many ideal beaches such as Eo Gio, Ky Co, Cat Tien, Nhon Hoi, and Hai Giang, where visitors can immerse themselves in the majestic natural scenery.

Binh Dinh climate is characterized by humid tropical and monsoon with 2 distinct seasons in a year. The dry season lasts from January to August and the rainy season lasts from September to December. The ideal time to visit Quy Nhon is from January to September when the weather is sunny and less rain.

Coming to Quy Nhon, not only immersed in the clean beaches but also infatuated in the food here. Great dishes in Quy Nhon can be mentioned as Banh Xeo, Bun Ca, Banh It La Gai, and Bao Da wine.

15. Quang Binh

Quang Binh is known as the “cave kingdom” with more than 300 different large and small caves, including Son Doong Cave, En Cave, Thien Duong Cave, Phong Nha Cave, Tien Son Cave, Chay River – Dark Cave, System of Stunted Caves in Le Thuy. Not only that, but Quang Binh also has unbelievably pristine beaches such as Nhat Le Beach, Rock Jump Beach, Vung Chua, and Yen Island. And most importantly, Quang Binh also has attractive spiritual attractions such as the Tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap, relics of Hang Tam Co, General Memorial Hall, and Hoang Phuc – a pagoda is over 700 years old.

The ideal time to visit this land is from March to September when the weather is pleasant and less rain. From September to March, there are usually heavy rains.

The two famous of these destinations are Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Son Doong Cave. Recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2003, the Phong Nha – Ke Bang Complex is a destination not to be missed when traveling to Quang Binh. Son Doong Cave, located in the core area of ​​Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, is a new cave discovered by the Royal Cave Research Association of England, which was announced as the largest cave in the world in 2010; it was put into operation in the form of adventure travel in 2013. Tourism activities of Son Doong Cave are limited to the number of participants, so the number of people who have conquered Son Doong cave is even less than the number of people who have ever stood on Mount Everest.

In addition to owning a beautiful landscape, Quang Binh also attracts tourists with rich and featured cuisine. With only 100.000 VND, you can enjoy many delicious dishes, including Banh Bot Loc, Banh Canh Ca Loc, and Banh Khoai.

10 must-try foods in Vietnam

Vietnam has been long known as a culinary paradise; for thousands of years of civilization, Vietnamese people have created countless beautiful, harmonious, and delicious dishes. To explore Vietnam is to dive into its diverse cuisine as not only does it always burst with flavors but also is an incarnation of a prosperous breadth of history.

Pho is considered the national dish of Vietnam, a must-try food when coming to this S-shaped country. It has been voted by CNN, BBC, and Business Insider as the best dishes in Asia. In 2016, Pho was voted as one of the top 3 most delicious Vietnamese dishes in the world.

The main ingredients of Pho include noodles, broth, thinly sliced ​​beef, and herbs. A qualified broth has to fulfill three strict criteria: firstly, the broth has to be clear to guarantee visual attractiveness; secondly, it has to come with the subtle sweetness extracted from the pork bones slowly cooked for hours; and thirdly, it has to bring up the herby aroma of cinnamon, anise, ginger. When eating Pho, we usually eat with hot sprinkles and spices such as chili sauce and sauté.

Culinary experts and international media recognized Banh Mi as the must-try dish when coming to Vietnam. The Guardian of England ranked Banh Mi in second place in the top 10 most delicious and attractive street food in the world. This newspaper once wrote: “There is a little known secret that the best sandwich in the world is not in Rome (Italy), Copenhagen (Denmark) or New York City (USA), but on Vietnamese streets.” David Farley, a BBC travel and food writer, praised Banh Mi as “the best sandwich in the world.”

Banh Mi makes of flour, like the Baguette but smaller, with fillings inside. Typically, the fillings have grilled pork, Vietnamese sausage, pate, egg, herbs, and cucumbers.

Banh Mi is sold in almost every street in Vietnam. Thanks to its simplicity and convenience, Banh Mi has become a familiar breakfast for Vietnamese people.

3. Goi Cuon

Goi Cuon is one of two Vietnamese dishes featured in CNN’s list of the world’s 50 best dishes in 2011. It is a favorite dish in Southern Vietnam.

Goi Cuon is usually made from boiled pork, boiled shrimp, fresh vermicelli, thinly sliced ​​cucumber, long-stemmed chives, split onions, pickled carrots, or chopped green mango, herbs, and lettuce. All the ingredients are then rolled with rice paper. Saigon people like to eat Goi Cuon with black sauce. The habit of using black sauce is the culinary touch between Vietnamese and Chinese.

4. Bun Bo Hue

In an episode of “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” on CNN, the famous American chef said: “Hue beef noodle is the best soup in the world.” The Asian Record Organization had also put Hue beef noodles into the top 100 delicious Asian dishes in 2016. This is a popular dish of Hue. Hue beef noodle ingredients include pork leg meat, a piece of boiled pork blood, beef ball, and lemongrass.

To have a good bowl of Hue beef noodles, choosing the ingredients is very important: Beef should be bright red, smooth, and yellow fat. The broth is stewed with beef bones for a naturally sweet taste.

Nowadays, you can enjoy a bowl of Bun Bo Hue anywhere, but a proper bowl must be enjoyed at a roadside restaurant near Trang Tien Bridge, Hue.

5. Mi Quang

Mi Quang is a typical dish of Quang Nam, a province known for many famous tourist destinations such as Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary.

Mi Quang is a Vietnamese soup, which has all kinds of proteins that you could think of. For a “special” bowl of Mi Quang, there are noodles, sliced pork, shrimps, and quail eggs. Mi Quang is not complete without a handful of green herbs, crispy “Banh Da” – a type of rice paper that is thick, cracky, and added sesames.

6. Banh Xeo

Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe) was one of the Vietnamese dishes participating in the 2016 Street Food Congress (WSFC), which was held in Manila, Philippines. According to CNN, this was one of the most popular street food in the world in 2016. There are two types of Banh Xeo, Banh Xeo of the Mekong Delta people (usually bigger and softer) and Banh Xeo of the Central Vietnam people (smaller and more brittle).

Due to the popularity it has gained among the foodies from all over the world, the fillings have been added to maximize the dining experience. Authentically, however, Banh Xeo is stuffed with pork belly, shrimp, bean sprouts, and mung beans. The “right” Banh Xeo batter is mixed with coconut milk, added garlic chives, and has to be fried in pork fat. Banh Xeo is no good as take-away food as what makes it really stand out is the dining vibes: the constant sizzling noise on the background, the scent of coconut milk, and turmeric powder as well as the vibrant talking of the eaters who gather to share not only food but stories.

Bun Cha has been voted CNN’s top 10 delicious summer food, National Geographic’s top 10 best street food in the world, which was more famous after president Obama enjoyed this dish in Hanoi in 2016.

Bun Cha consists of three main parts: dipping sauce, grilled pork, and rice noodle. The success of Bun Cha is determined by the dipping sauce. Sauce to eat Bun Cha is a combination of fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, chili, green papaya, and carrots.

Bun Cha is a perfect combination of five flavors: bitter (from herbs and pickled papaya), spicy (from chili), sour (from lemon and vinegar), salty (from grilled pork), and sweet (from meatballs).

For thousands of years of wet rice cultivation, Vietnamese have processed rice into many different dishes, typically noodles, Pho, vermicelli, and Hu Tieu. Hu Tieu is a delicacy born from the essence of rice in one of the largest rice-growing regions in the world: the Mekong Delta.

When being ordered, the cook blanches noodles in a separate pot of boiling water before presenting them in the bowl with blanched bean sprouts, chopped scallions, sliced pork, shrimp, and quail eggs. It is often served with green vegetables and basil.

Cao Lau was voted the best street food in Asia by Australia Traveler News. This dish has been mentioned many times by CNN as one of the best dishes in Vietnam. Cao Lau is a specialty of Hoi An ancient town.

A special feature of Cao Lau is the yellow noodles, which make from rice soaked with ash – from trees in Cham Island, Hoi An. It does not need much broth, but instead, Cao Lau must have minced meat, soy sauce, and roasted pork skin.

Cao Lau is often sold in restaurants with two floors, which are hanging red and blue lanterns. Tourists have enjoyed the delicious taste of Cao Lau and the ancient tourist atmosphere of street corners.

10. Vietnamese Coffee

You may not know it, but Vietnam is the second biggest exporter of coffee in the world. And the coffee here is unlike any you’ve ever seen, Vietnamese often drink coffee with condensed milk, coconut, and sometimes with … eggs. Vietnamese coffee is usually Robusta, stronger than any other type of coffee; a cup can make you awake all day.

Vietnamese drink coffee anywhere and anytime, coffee is so popular that you can find coffee shops anywhere for about 15.000 VND (less than 1 dollar).

Tips and notes

1. Watch carefully when crossing the road: As you know, traffic in Vietnam is quite messy, especially in big cities, so always follow closely and obey traffic signals when crossing the road to ensure your safety. Don’t be afraid as it would be a highlighted experience of your travel. You can always follow a local nearby to cross, we are sure they will happy to help.

2. Keep your phone and wallet carefully when visiting crowded attractions: Anyplace in the world has good and bad people, so remember to keep your personal belongings carefully, especially valuable items. If you visit crowded places, it is a good idea to wear your package on your front.

3. Mo torbike Safety: If you are planning to rent a motorbike in Vietnam, you must have an international driving license and always wear a helmet when driving. Make sure to test the bike carefully to see if it fully functions before going on a long trip.

4. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: Vietnam is a land with many interesting, strange and unexpected things, especially in cuisine, the street food looks gruesome such as “flipped duck eggs” (aka baluts) or “Bun Dau Mam Tom”, but believe us, they are delicious! Even if it is not tasty for you, it is still a unique experience, isn’t it?

5. Tip or not tip? In Vietnam, there is almost no “tip culture”, in most cases, you don’t need to tip; but at the following services, tips are often accepted: Spa, massage, nails, foot-massage, tour guide: 3 – 5 USD.

6. Saving the phone number of the embassy (or consulate) of your country in Vietnam. An additional copy of passport, travel insurance, and air tickets to provide in case of loss.

Vietnam itineraries

Here are some suggested Vietnam itineraries you can refer to. The itineraries include detailed information on maps, routes, and costs. Click on the images to learn more!

Vietnam travel guide book

We would like to recommend a great companion: the Vietnam Travel Guide. The book contains travel information from overview to detail, consists of 6 chapters, 135 pages, which is designed in the form of graphics and visual images.

Read more > 

Vietnam travel FAQs

What zone is vietnam in.

Vietnam is GMT/UTC + 7h during Standard Time  (GMT +7) .

Is Vietnam worth a visit?

As a country that owns beautiful beaches, magnificent natural caves, delicious street food, fascinating history, and unique culture, Vietnam must be on the list of destinations to visit at least once in your lifetime.

What is the main language spoken in Vietnam?

Vietnamese’s native language is known as Vietnamese or the Kinh dialect, which is widely spoken by the majority of the Vietnamese. The language is written in the form of Latin alphabets with the addition of five tones. It may be tricky to learn, however, considered as tourist-friendly compared to other character languages in the area.

Do people in Vietnam speak English?

English is the  common  language in Vietnam. Vietnam ranks  31st  among 72 countries in the world and seventh among 19 Asian countries in English proficiency, according to the latest annual English Proficiency Index released by the Swiss Education First (EF).

Is Vietnam safe for tourists?

Do you know? Vietnam is one of the safest countries in the world. A country without war, without ethnic conflict, without guns, without violence, and without terror. According to a recent survey,  78%  of Vietnamese people feel that their life is  happy  or  very   happy .

What can you buy in Vietnam for 1$?

1 USD  is equivalent to about  23.300 VND , a nutritious breakfast such as Pho or Hu Tieu, 2 cups of coffee, 2 loaves of bread, 4 bus tickets in Ho Chi Minh City, 4 500ml bottles of mineral water,… even a dinner!

How many days do you need in Vietnam?

Two weeks is sufficient time to explore Vietnam’s famous localities, but if you want to enjoy more fully, then four weeks would be ideal; 30 days is also the maximum stay for Vietnam E-Visa.

Is street food safe in Vietnam?

Street food is a Vietnamese specialty, mostly safe, but sometimes you can have a little stomach ache with strange foods. But it’s okay, you are traveling, right?

Should you tip at a restaurant in Vietnam?

To be honest, in Vietnam, we don’t have (or very little) “tip culture”. So if you eat in small or medium eateries, you don’t need to worry about it, just pay the right amount on the menu. Of course, you can tip a small amount if you wish to (we’re sure the server would be happy too) but note that it is not necessary.

Thank you for reading the Vietnam travel guide!

#MeetinVietnam

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The Best Ways To Fly to Vietnam With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

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Best programs to use to book flights, final thoughts.

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Vietnam is the fastest-growing country for tourism, full stop. With an annual tourism growth rate exceeding 20% to 30%, one might wonder why exactly Vietnam is poised to become one of the world’s economic powers after being ravaged by war in the mid- to late-20th century.

Simply put, Vietnam is more attractive than ever from a foreign investment perspective. The country also has a relatively stable government and strong geographic centrality to the rest of Asia.

All of these factors contribute to the growth of tourism in Vietnam. While nonstop routes to the U.S. are not currently available , they may soon become a reality since Vietnam has received the FAA certification to do so. With all being said, visiting this Southeast Asian country is a must-do for all travelers.

Flying deep into Southeast Asia can be challenging, especially with all the route possibilities of connecting flights such as on Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and more. In this guide, we’ll be working to demystify the process for booking flights to Vietnam with points.

Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to fly to Vietnam using your hard-earned points and miles.

With such a vast network of connecting flights to Vietnam, it can be easy to get overwhelmed quickly. When flying to Vietnam, you will typically fly to 1 of 3 airport hubs:

• Da Nang (DAD)  in Central Vietnam
• Hanoi (HAN) in North Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) in South Vietnam

Award bookings consist of 2 parts:

• Frequent flyer miles
• Taxes and fees (of which fuel surcharges make up a majority)

While flights to Europe typically command $500 to $1,000+ in fuel surcharges on top of the miles/points you pay , fuel surcharges above $300 per person round-trip to Asia are incredibly rare. In other words, seeing large taxes and fees above a couple of hundred dollars per person is more the exception than the norm.

This is good news because it’ll minimize your out-of-pocket costs when thinking about which flights to book. In any case, let’s take a look at the best programs to consider when booking flights to Vietnam.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Without a doubt, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is one of the most attractive frequent flyer programs in the world. Alaska miles are worth around 1.8 cents per point, making them the most valuable airline miles according to our valuations .

The rich partnerships and best-in-class award redemption rates are why there are so many great ways to redeem Alaska miles for maximum value . Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance , which includes airlines like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, and also has non-alliance partnerships with some of the best airlines in the world like Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

In addition to this, it has generous low fuel surcharges, often less than $100 round-trip. Lastly, Alaska Airlines has an awesome stopover allowance on one-way flights , which is the icing on the cake.

These are the major reasons why Alaska Airlines has managed to preserve its mileage value in the face of competitors devaluing its currency. The most helpful airlines for flights to Vietnam are:

• Cathay Pacific
• Japan Airlines
• Korean Air (round-trip flights only)

The following table illustrates the one-way award costs to/from the U.S. and Southeast Asia, which includes Vietnam:

* Korean Air redemptions are only available round-trip

As you can see, Cathay Pacific has the best mileage prices. Pair this with the quality of the Hong Kong-based airline and flying on Cathay Pacific is essentially a no-brainer.

Also, Hong Kong is a short, 2-hour hop away from Vietnam, so it’s as close to a nonstop flight as you can get without actually having a nonstop flight. In particular, the Cathay Pacific first class and business class prices are insanely good, especially when you take into consideration that you can book a stopover in Hong Kong for free.

Cathay Pacific is cutting back on first class in Asia; luckily for travelers originating in the U.S., you can book the majority of your itinerary in long-haul first class (14 to 16 hours). Be sure to refer to our guide on Cathay Pacific’s direct routes from the U.S. when planning your trip.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class and business class for 70,000 Alaska miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Da Nang (DAD) one-way in Cathay Pacific business class for 50,000 Alaska miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Cathay Pacific economy class for 30,000 Alaska miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: Alaska Airlines doesn’t currently allow online bookings for Cathay Pacific, so you’ll want to call them to book Cathay Pacific first class and business class .

If flying on Japan Airlines or having a stopover in Tokyo is more desirable to you, you can make that happen with Alaska miles. Once you’ve taken a look at Japan Airlines’ direct routes from the U.S. , you’ll probably want to book. Check out some great example routes you can take:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (NRT) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Japan Airlines first class and business class for 70,000 Alaska miles one-way + ~$33 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – Tokyo (NRT) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Japan Airlines business class for 60,000 Alaska miles one-way + ~$33 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (NRT) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Japan Airlines first class and business class for 70,000 Alaska miles one-way + ~$33 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: Japan Airlines’ first class and business class are industry-leading, so heavily consider these when thinking about how you’re going to get to Vietnam. 

You can book your Japan Airlines flights completely online when using Alaska miles, so check out our step-by-step guides on the best ways to book Japan Airlines’ first class and business class for more information.

Although the award availability on Korean Air is limited  and you’re required to book round-trip flights, some travelers may understandably be interested in either trying Korean Air business class (you can’t book Korean Air first class using Alaska miles) or stopping in Korea to visit the land of K-pop.

Korean Air’s nonstop U.S. routes are plentiful, so you have plenty of American airports to depart from. Remember that you must always connect in Seoul (ICN).

Let’s talk about some great example routes to Vietnam via Seoul:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul (ICN) – Hanoi (HAN)  round-trip in Korean Air business class for 120,000 Alaska miles + ~$78 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN) – Nha Trang (CXR) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – Seoul (ICN) – Seattle (SEA) in Korean Air business class for 120,000 Alaska miles + ~$78 in taxes and fees

Here’s how you can book Korean Air business class using Alaska miles:

• Visit Alaska Airlines .
• On the homepage, you’ll see a search box .
• Check off the box that says Use miles .
• Type in your city pairs .
• Choose your departure and return dates .
• Select the number of passengers .
• Click  Find Flights .
• Find the Korean Air flights that work for your schedule and preferences.
• Check out, spend your miles, and pay for any applicable taxes and fees with your credit card.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

While not as easy to earn as some other miles, you can still earn Alaska miles easily. The first option to explore is the co-branded Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® Credit Card . There is also a business equivalent, and both credit cards routinely offer big welcome bonuses.

The second, and perhaps the easiest way to earn Alaska Airlines miles is to transfer from Marriott Bonvoy , Alaska’s only transfer partner. The transfer ratio is 3:1, and you’ll receive a transfer bonus of 5,000 Alaska miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred. Transfers to Alaska Airlines take around 4 business days to complete.

The maximum you can transfer in a single day from Marriott Bonvoy is 240,000 points, which would equate to 100,000 Alaska miles. There are loads of ways to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points , so don’t sleep on this method to accrue Alaska miles!

Hot Tip: Thinking of other ways to spend Marriott Bonvoy points? Check out our best ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for flights , as well as for hotel stays , too.

The last major option to earn Alaska miles is to buy them . Alaska Airlines frequently offers sales with a 30% to 50% bonus on purchased miles, which can make business class and first class flights ridiculously cheap.

Bottom Line: Overall, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan’s partnerships with Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air make it an extraordinarily useful loyalty program to utilize on flights to Vietnam. Additionally, the award redemption prices, particularly on Cathay Pacific, represent a too-good-to-pass-up deal, especially when taking advantage of its stopover policy and low taxes/fees. 

ANA Mileage Club

Our next pick for the best booking programs is All Nippon Airways Mileage Club , or ANA Mileage Club for short. ANA offers spectacular value consistently, and this instance is no exception. However, ANA is subject to a few more rules that make it slightly more complicated than other booking programs.

• 2 award charts (ANA-operated versus partner flights)
• Seasonality rules (award price ranges depending on the dates you fly)
• One-way flights are not permitted

ANA is in the Star Alliance , which includes airlines like United Airlines. You can also fly on one of its extremely useful non-Alliance partners, Vietnam Airlines .

Here are the most useful airlines that we’ll be exploring using ANA miles :

• Air Canada (for Canada-based travelers)
• Air China (based in Beijing)
• ANA (based in Tokyo)
• Asiana Airlines (based in Seoul)
• EVA Air (based in Taipei)
• United Airlines (based in Chicago)

Flying on ANA is the cheapest, especially when doing so during low season. However, the taxes and fees will generally be the highest, running at around $420 round-trip.

Here is the ANA award chart on its flights to Asia 2, which includes Vietnam.

To figure out whether your travel dates fall under low, regular, or high season, visit ANA’s international flight awards page and click on the button that says Seasonality and Required Mileage Charts .

As you can see, the difference in seasonality can have a huge impact on how many points you’ll spend on these flights, so it’s important to plan accordingly.

Here are a few great example redemptions you can make for ANA flights to Vietnam using ANA miles:

• Houston (IAH) – Tokyo (NRT) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)  round-trip in ANA business class during low season for 100,000 ANA miles + ~$420 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (NRT) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in ANA first class and business class during low season for 195,000 ANA miles + ~$420 in taxes and fees
• San Jose (SJC) – Tokyo (NRT) – Hanoi (HAN) round-trip in ANA business class during regular season for 110,000 ANA miles + ~$420 in taxes and fees

If trying out ANA business class or first class is something you’ve already done, you can also book the partners we discussed above on flights to Vietnam. Here’s the ANA award chart for partner-operated flights :

You’ll pay 80,000 ANA miles for round-trip economy, 136,000 ANA miles for round-trip business, and 240,000 ANA miles for round-trip first class. We generally don’t recommend booking first class with partners using ANA miles for 2 reasons:

• High mileage cost (better deals elsewhere)
• No first class products are flown to Vietnam from Asia

You’d essentially be paying the difference between a business and first class round-trip booking for the initial long-haul flight from the U.S.

That being said, let’s examine some great example routes:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK) – Hanoi (HAN)  round-trip in Air China business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$82 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$102 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Hanoi (HAN) round-trip in United Polaris business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$72 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)  round-trip in Asiana Airlines economy and Vietnam Airlines economy for 80,000 ANA miles + ~$100 in taxes and fees
• Toronto (YYZ) – Shanghai (PVG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in Air Canada business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$60 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: When using ANA miles, you can book up to 1 stopover and 1 open-jaw . Use these to add extra value and convenience to your trip. 

Here’s how to redeem ANA miles for flights to Vietnam:

• Visit ANA’s website .
• Click Award Booking on the homepage search box.
• Log in with your ANA Mileage Club number and password .
• Choose either  Round-trip or Multiple cities/Mixed classes .
• Type in your city pairs , travel dates , class of service , and the number of passengers .
• Click Search .
• Choose your flights and pay for taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Miles

Earning ANA miles is easy, especially since ANA is an Amex transfer partner and a Marriott transfer partner . Transfers from Amex take around 2 to 3 days at a 1:1 ratio, whereas Marriott Bonvoy takes 4 days at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card ® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck ® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck ® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

American Express Membership Rewards

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Bottom Line: ANA’s amazingly attractive redemption sweet spots are for business class redemptions on its airplanes. In addition to this sweet spot, ANA Mileage Club offers some similarly fantastic rates for partner flights to Vietnam. Be sure to take advantage of the plentiful ways to earn ANA miles, stopover/open-jaw allowances, and unique non-alliance partnership with Vietnamese flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.

American Airlines AAdvantage

Spending American Airlines miles is very attractive for flights to Vietnam. Although award availability on American Airlines’ own long-haul flights is terrible, you’ll have luck by exploring its Oneworld partners, specifically Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Hot Tip: Crossing the Atlantic Ocean en route to Asia on an airline like Qatar Airways is not a permissible routing in AAdvantage’s eyes and can’t be booked as a single itinerary.

The award costs for one-way flights to/from the U.S. and Vietnam are:

The main appeal of AAdvantage is that there are more ways to earn AAdvantage miles from credit card spending.

Unfortunately, there are no stopovers allowed, but your taxes and fees will be extremely low.

• New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Japan Airlines first class and business class for 110,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$45 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Cathay Pacific business class for 70,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$61 in taxes and fees

You can book most partner itineraries completely online, including Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Here are the instructions:

• Visit American Airlines’ website .
• On the homepage, click the checkbox that says  Redeem miles .
• Fill out the search box, submit it, and find the flight you like.
• If you’re not ready, you can book a 5-day award hold. Just be cautious, however, in making sure you book the ticket before the expiration because the tickets may not always go back into inventory if the award hold expires.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

By focusing on co-branded American Airlines credit cards , you can earn a lot of American AAdvantage miles. Both Citi and Barclays offer several American Airlines credit cards, so your options are plentiful.

If you don’t quite have enough AAdvantage miles to make a redemption, you can top off your balance by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy . Transfers come at a 3:1 ratio and they take around 2 business days.

Bottom Line: Using American Airlines AAdvantage miles represents an easy way to book award travel to Vietnam. With a simple pricing structure, great redemption prices, and numerous ways to earn miles, it’s not exactly a secret why AAdvantage is a great program to leverage on flights to Vietnam. 

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is a great partner to utilize, especially if you have lots of Capital One miles. Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart for flights between North America and the Pacific:

Aeroplan points can be used for any Air Canada partners, which includes the entire Star Alliance . Aeroplan is also partners with Cathay Pacific, but its use is limited since you can only redeem award flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and:

• Bangkok (BKK)
• Chiang Mai (CNX)
• Hanoi (HAN)
• Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
• Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
• Manila (MNL)
• Phuket (HKT)

Hot Tip: If you fly on one-way itineraries between the U.S. and Vietnam using Aeroplan points, you can add a stopover or open-jaw for just 5,000 miles! 

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in ANA business class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$182 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in EVA Air business class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in United Polaris class and Cathay Pacific business class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$20 in taxes and fees

Air Canada Aeroplan presents an option for travelers to book Star Alliance flights at a great price without having to book round-trip flights as required when using ANA miles. Other highlights of this method include low taxes and fees and the stopover allowance for another 5,000 miles.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Air Canada Aeroplan is an Amex transfer partner , Chase transfer partner ,  Capital One transfer partner , and Marriott transfer partner .

Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Ultimate Rewards have the best transfer ratio, sitting at a simple 1:1 ratio. Transfers from Amex, Capital One, and Chase to Aeroplan are instant.

The last transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy , which transfers in 4 business days at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 Aeroplan points for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred, up to 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per day.

Recommended Capital One Cards

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Bottom Line: Over the years, Aeroplan has fallen off the radar of many points enthusiasts. However, the addition of Capital One as a transfer partner makes it most appealing for Capital One loyalists. Remember that you can add a stopover on one-way flights for just 5,000 miles, which can add significant value to your trip. Aeroplan provides a straightforward method to redeem your points for high-value flights to Vietnam. 

Avianca LifeMiles

LifeMiles falls closely behind Air Canada Aeroplan and ranks lower due to the relatively inflexible nature of its booking engine. Avianca LifeMiles struggles tremendously with any bookings with 2 stops. Furthermore, it is known to not show all available flights, which can be aggravating.

That being said, its abundance of transfer partners, competitive award pricing to Vietnam, and the absence of fuel surcharges make LifeMiles an excellent option nevertheless.

Here’s the award chart for one-way flights from the continental U.S. to Vietnam:

As you can see, LifeMiles charges 7,000 fewer miles than Aeroplan for one-way business class flights, and it is significantly cheaper for first class bookings. However, there are no open-jaws allowed, which is why LifeMiles falls just behind Aeroplan.

Avianca LifeMiles is capable of booking Star Alliance itineraries, so you’ll want to stick with the airlines we mentioned in the ANA and Aeroplan sections to get inspiration for routes.

You can also explore the direct U.S. routes on Asiana and Air China for further analysis.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles is one of the easiest types of miles to earn out there. You can earn LifeMiles easily by doing 1 or more of the following:

• Transfer from Amex Membership Rewards (1:1 ratio)
• Transfer from Brex Rewards (1:1 ratio)
• Transfer from Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1 ratio)
• Transfer from Capital One Miles (1:1 ratio)
• Transfer from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio)
• Buying LifeMiles

Transfers from Amex, Citi, Brex, and Capital One are nearly instant, and transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take less than 1 business day, so you’ll have very few issues with transferring to LifeMiles. Furthermore, be on the lookout for transfer bonuses of 25% to 30% from Amex and Citi.

Also, Avianca LifeMiles regularly offers mileage sales with up to a 125% to 200% bonus, which is a huge discount. You can purchase LifeMiles for around 1.0 to 1.5 cents per mile during these times.

Recommended Citi Card

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired and the card is no longer open to applicants.

The Citi Premier ® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit
• $95 annual fee
• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou ® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Bottom Line: Avianca LifeMiles is one of the most underrated programs. There are tons of ways to redeem LifeMiles for maximum value, but the ease of earning, absence of fuel surcharges on award bookings, and easy online booking process makes this method a no-brainer, particularly for Citi loyalists. 

United MileagePlus

United Airlines’ frequent flyer program is known as MileagePlus , and as you’ll find out, booking using United miles is exceedingly simple.

That, along with the presence of Chase as a core transfer partner and the network of Star Alliance routes to Vietnam, is why United MileagePlus makes it on our list of best ways to fly to Vietnam.

Let’s first look at the partner award chart on one-way flights from the U.S. to Vietnam (United uses dynamic award pricing, so the actual cost may fluctuate):

While using United miles for first class redemptions isn’t the best idea out there, it might be your only shot if you are especially low on other transferable currencies.

If you’re open to having a connection in Hong Kong (HKG), Tokyo (NRT), or Taipei (TPE), you might even be able to locate Saver-level availability on United Polaris for a cheaper price of 70,000 to 75,000 United miles.

You can then purchase a cheap positioning flight to get to your final destination in Vietnam, saving 15,000 to 20,000 United miles in the process.

When using United miles , another luxury you’ll experience is the lack of fuel surcharges, which will do wonders to minimize your overall out-of-pocket costs.

• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in United Polaris class and EVA Air business class for 99,000 United miles + ~$11 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Asiana business class for 99,000 United miles + ~$20 in taxes and fees

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

One of 2 Chase transfer partners covered in this piece, United Airlines MileagePlus is an extremely simple way to use points to book flights to Vietnam. Chase transfers at a 1:1 ratio to United almost instantly.

United Airlines miles are easy to earn due to the suite of co-branded Chase United credit cards and the abundance of credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points , Chase’s proprietary rewards currency.

If this wasn’t enough, Marriott Bonvoy also transfers to United. What’s even better is that Marriott Bonvoy’s transfer ratio to United is slightly better, sitting at 3:1.1 instead of the usual 3:1.

With every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred, you’ll also receive a slightly improved 5,500-mile bonus. This means that every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to United will result in a total of 27,500 United miles compared to the normal 25,000 miles elsewhere.

If you transfer the daily maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll earn 110,000 United miles.

Bottom Line: The process of using United miles to book awards online is probably one of the easiest in the world. If you’re looking for a simple way to book flights to Vietnam leveraging the Star Alliance and using Chase Ultimate Rewards points, United is probably your best bet. 

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel SM , 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel SM . For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel SM  immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel SM . For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass TM  Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited ® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards ® , our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

Air France/KLM’s Flying Blue employs a variable award pricing structure, and it can be difficult to predict just exactly how much a certain ticket is going to cost in points.

Specifically, here is the best estimation for one-way flights from the U.S. to Vietnam using Flying Blue miles:

Interestingly, Flying Blue is one of the few programs that permits transatlantic routes to Vietnam without adding to the mileage price. We can exploit this to get 2 long-haul business class flights in many instances, though taking the long way is going to shorten your vacation a little bit.

Here are some great example transatlantic routes you can take:

• Atlanta (ATL) – London (LHR) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Delta One and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$20 in taxes and fees
• Detroit (DTW) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Delta One and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$20 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Moscow (SVO) – Hanoi (HAN)  one-way in Aeroflot business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$200 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Paris (CDG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Air France business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$140 in taxes and fees

Keep in mind that flights that traverse the Pacific will likely be priced at 115,000 Flying Blue miles one-way, instead of 85,000 miles. So, it’s mostly more cost-effective to take the long way via Europe than the short way via Asia.

Earning Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles

Perhaps the most flexible rewards currency out there, Air France/KLM Flying Blue takes the cake in having the most ways to transfer from credit card points. There are tons of ways to earn lots of Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles .

Even though Flying Blue has the most transfer partners of any currency out there, the miles are still extremely valuable and can be redeemed for tons of value .

Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Captial One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards all transfer at a 1:1 ratio and almost all transfers are instantaneous.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers in around 1 business day at a 3:1 ratio. You will receive a 5,000 Flying Blue miles bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. You can transfer a maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points daily, which would get you 100,000 Flying Blue miles.

Japan Airlines Mileage Plan

Another fantastic niche program is Japan Airlines Mileage Plan . Although the quality of the loyalty program has been ravaged through devaluation after devaluation, it remains one of the cheapest ways to book certain flights that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Japan Airlines miles are among the hardest airline miles to earn , which is why it tends to command lower costs for flights relative to partners like American Airlines. Nonetheless, it has 4 non-alliance partners that would be interesting on flights to Vietnam.

Specifically, these are:

• Air France (based in Paris)
• China Eastern (based in Shanghai)
• Emirates (based in Dubai)
• Korean Air (based in Seoul)

Japan Airlines Mileage Plan employs a distance-based award chart on partners as follows:

The distance computed by Japan Airlines is not always the same as calculated from Great Circle Mapper , so you’ll want to use the Japan Airlines distance calculator . Due to the distance-based pricing of award charts, longer flights will be more expensive, so flying across the Atlantic is not usually recommended.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is one of the last ways you can book  China Eastern first class , which barely makes our best international first class airlines in the world . It is near the top of the list of best first class seats for couples because it is the only airline besides Etihad and Singapore that has double beds .

Unfortunately, there aren’t many ways to book them, but JAL Mileage Bank is an excellent way to do so. Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip in China Eastern first class for 165,000 Japan Airlines miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) – Da Nang (DAD) one-way in China Eastern first class and business class for 120,000 Japan Airlines miles
• New York (JFK) – Shanghai (PVG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in China Eastern first class and business class for 190,000 Japan Airlines miles

The first option is somewhat of a misnomer since it’s technically not a route to Vietnam. It’s actually a sweet spot if you book the round-trip ticket. The round-trip ticket falls into the 12,001 to 14,000 distance bracket, while the one-way distance bracket is 6,001 to 8,000 miles. You’ll notice that the one-way flight costs 120,000 miles, but round-trip is only slightly more expensive at 165,000 miles. It’s extremely easy to book a cheap ticket from Shanghai to Vietnam if it means saving loads of miles.

If you needed a cost-effective way to fly to Vietnam from Shanghai, you can often find round-trip economy tickets nonstop for ~$240. When you consider that one-way tickets typically cost around 10,000 to 20,000 miles one-way, you’ll definitely want to use cash when you can.

You can also fly on Emirates via Dubai (DXB) to Hanoi (HAN). Unfortunately, this route doesn’t currently have first class, only business class in a 2-3-2 layout, which is an inferior arrangement. You’ll also have to shell out significant amounts in fuel surcharges to book the ticket, but it’s still an option.

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

Unfortunately, while Japan Airlines has great redemption rates, particularly for round-trip award bookings, it only has 1 transfer partner, Marriott Bonvoy .

With a 3:1 transfer ratio and transfer time of ~2 days, you’ll receive 20,000 Japan Airlines miles plus a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

Bottom Line: Japan Airlines is useful for niche redemptions, particularly for China Eastern first class and Emirates. However, the difficulty in earning Japan Airlines miles nullifies some of the value, but it’s still a cost-effective option to fly to Vietnam once you’ve accrued enough miles. 

Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles is the last frequent flyer program we’ll talk about. The most useful partners for flights to Vietnam are:

• China Airlines (based in Taipei)
• Delta Air Lines (based in Atlanta)
• Vietnam Airlines (based in Hanoi)
• XiamenAir (based in Xiamen)

On top of this, Delta routinely offers award sales to Asia that cut economy award prices nearly in half, so be sure to hold out for one of those if you want to fly in economy. Here are the normal one-way award costs:

You want to avoid booking close-in departures of 21 days or more since that will make your business class awards skyrocket in price.

The best SkyTeam partner options to fly to Vietnam are:

• China Airlines (best business class product)

Booking China Airlines business class necessitates connecting flights through Taipei before continuing to Vietnam, just like Korean Air does with Seoul and XiamenAir with a Chinese airport.

• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul (ICN) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Korean Air business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$40 in taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Shanghai (PVG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in China Eastern business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$298 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Xiamen (XMN) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in XiamenAir business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$135 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in China Airlines business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Earning Delta SkyMiles is made easy by the fact that the airline is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy .

Also, Delta offers many co-branded credit cards issued by American Express .

As usual, the Amex transfer ratio is 1:1, and Amex transfers instantaneously to Delta. Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio and takes around 3 business days.

We provide an in-depth analysis of the various Delta credit cards available.

Bottom Line: With so many ways to earn Delta SkyMiles and the ease of booking SkyTeam flights, Delta’s frequent flyer program is worth considering as a good way to fly to Vietnam using points. There are few fuel surcharges, and searching for SkyTeam award availability is ridiculously easy. 

In all, there are tons of different ways to fly to Vietnam and even more ways to fly to using points and miles. Every major alliance and transferable currency has been covered in this piece, so it’s up to the traveler to pick the best frequent flyer program for their needs to get the best award redemptions to Vietnam.

Happy redeeming!

The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Citi Premier ® Card has expired and the card is no longer open to applicants. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® card, click here . For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Business Gold Card, click here . For rates and fees of The Blue Business ® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Which airlines include carrier-imposed surcharges on award flights to vietnam.

Generally, all the airlines discussed will impose some form of fuel surcharge. The magnitude can range from $100 to $300 one-way. Importantly, the fuel surcharges aren’t necessarily passed on by some frequent flyer programs.

Aeroflot, Air France, ANA, China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines will have the highest surcharges, though they’re all relatively mild.

By using a frequent flyer program such as United or Aeroplan, you can minimize these surcharges.

What is the fewest number of miles you can use to book an economy class award flight to Vietnam?

The cheapest mileage prices are achieved by spending ANA miles on ANA flights during low season. For economy, you will pay 55,000 ANA miles. Regular season is 65,000 ANA miles, while high season is 70,000 miles.

Another option is to spend Alaska miles booking Cathay Pacific economy for 30,000 miles one-way or 60,000 miles round-trip.

What is the fewest number of miles required to fly business class to Vietnam?

Without a doubt, spending Alaska miles is best here. You can spend as little as 50,000 miles one-way in Cathay Pacific business class. With this, you will pay $19 in taxes and fees, and you’ll also get a free stopover.

ANA offers a price of 100,000 miles for ANA flights during low season, but the round-trip requirement and seasonality restriction can be unattractive for some travelers.

What is the fewest number miles required to fly first class to Vietnam?

The 2 cheapest mileage prices to fly first class to Vietnam are flying on Cathay Pacific first class and Japan Airlines first class using Alaska miles. The prices are 70,000 miles one-way for these 2 airlines.

Best of all, the taxes and fees will only run around $20 to $40 each way, which is excellent.

You can also spend 195,000 ANA miles for round-trip first class on ANA during low and regular season.

What are the best business class airlines to fly to Vietnam?

The best business class airlines are generally accepted to be ANA, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, and Japan Airlines.

What are the best first class airlines to fly to Vietnam?

The best first class airlines are generally accepted to be ANA, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.

We didn’t discuss the redemption prices for Singapore Airlines in this guide due to the unattractive award costs.

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About Viet Cone Travel

Viet Cone Travel is a travel agency founded and animated by experts and well-known tourism professionals, whose passion is to make you discover the beauties and riches of a country with a thousand facets and of which they know the innermost corners.

With Viet Cone Travel you will benefit from the best tips to organize your trip to Indochina according to your time and budget needs. Whether you want to soak up culture and history, live authentic adventures, rest by the sea, experience the benefits of traditional treatments and practices or invest on site, we listen to you and are at your disposal. We will put our know-how at your service and we will watch over to satisfy all your needs, we will customize your travel destinations.

I graduated in foreign languages at the National University of Hanoi and subsequently in Tourism Sciences at the International School of Tourism Sciences in Rome (Italy), I did an internship at the Quality group in Turin and lived in Italy for more than four years. I have more than 15 years of experience in the tourism sector.

Dynamic and helpful, always in a good mood, I love my job!

GUIDE AND PRODUCTION MANAGER

I graduated in Italian at the University of Hanoi.

I am the creator and travel escort for Viet Cone Travel, one of the few Italian speaking guides in Vietnam.

I have always been passionate about nature, I especially love the northern mountains of my beautiful country, where many ethnic minorities live with their traditions and their teachings.

The trips you dream of, I make them!

TRAVEL CONSULTANT

Graduated in Italian at the University of Hanoi in 2014, I spent a year of exchange at the University of Catania and from there I understood that I wanted to continue supporting the Italy-Vietnam exchange but trying to reconcile ethics and love for these two countries. Arrived at Viet Cone Travel in 2016, I begin to work in the booking and then become a sales consultant: in addition to studying the new proposals, I am always ready to advise, solve any type of problem and satisfy the customers' requests.

Sustainable Development

Nowadays it is our duty to maintain the status-quo of our environment to be able to pass it on to our future generations. Viet Cone Travel, one of the creators of tours in Vietnam, carries out its activities within a form of responsible tourism which marries the respect for the environment with social equality and controlled economic development.If we want to enjoy the beauty of our planet for a longtime to come, we need to respect and preserve it!

Sustainable Tourism

Committing yourselves to Viet Cone, you will have the opporutnity to participate in the economy of our country. Your will offer the locals (farmers, artisans, traders) the chance to develop their businesses in regions very often isolated and poor, ensuring them honest and legal earnings.

Why Vietnam?

Visiting Vietnam is the journey of the senses to awakening, with its heart and soul. It is an escape from time, with nothing else between sea, rice fields and mountains. Come without waiting any longer, to soak up the aromas of an eternal Asia deep in lands, discreet and shrouded in mystery.

The dragon-shaped country invites you to immerse yourself in an intimate, authentic and still unspoiled universe, despite being well anchored in the twenty-first century made of promises of progress and prosperity. From the verdant highlands of the north, inhabited by ethnic communities that still live according to ancient rites and have had few and rare contacts with the western world, to the country of terraced rice paddies, perched on the sides of the hills, passing through the Mekong delta and the white sandy beaches of the south, whose quietness is cracked only by the reflected waves of an ocean of serenity, you will discover landscapes of breathtaking beauty and protected from unexpected glances.

This country with a thousand-year-old Chinese, Indian and Khmer-inspired architecture has never denied its colonial past, nor forgotten the trauma of the two wars that have not at all scratched the optimism and iron will of a peaceful people, devoted to the worship of ancestors and whose philosophy, inspired by Confucius and Lao Tse, translates into a delicate way of life, full of wisdom and deeper respect for others. With more than 4 thousand years of history, this far east will surely seduce you, as its inhabitants endowed with refined hospitality, kindness, generosity and joie de vivre.

At the rhythm of peaceful walks, the gourmet will appreciate fine, sophisticated cuisine and incredible diversity, so much so that the trekker will venture into the lands rich in spirituality, where, under the protection of venerated gods, he will lose his footsteps on the winding paths of the self-seeking.

Halong Bay, a natural and aquatic gem, a world heritage site, the imperial city and tombs of Hue, the old city of Hoi An, the shrine of My Son and the Phong-Nha-Ke Bang national park, not they will have to make us forget the other thousand natural, architectural, cultural and human riches designed with the consummate art of color against the backdrop of postcard landscapes.

For sure, you will not return unscathed from this fascinating Vietmam, which has delicately finally revealed itself to the avid, curious and discreet traveler.

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• Info for travelers on Covid-19 in Vietnam

Starting from 0:00 on May 15, all Vietnam destinations are open, no self-isolation is required, and all regulations for SARS-CoV-2 testing required before entering will be temporarily suspended.

Here are critical points of the new guidelines: Visa + travel insurance are now accepted for entry.

VISA EXEMPT

Visitors from the following countries may enter visa free, and stay for the indicated number of days.

• ASIA Brunei, Myanmar - 14 days. Japan, South Korea (ROK) - 15 days. The Philippines - 21 days. Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand - 30 days.
• EUROPE Belarus, Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, The United Kingdom - 15 days.

To stay beyond this number of days, you may apply for a visa extension upon your arrival in Vietnam.

VISA REQUIRED

Simply apply online for your tourist E-visa , valid for 30 days. E-visa fee is USD 25, the processing time is 3 working days. You will receive your code by email to print your visa.

Screening centers and health hotlines

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, or are concerned that you may have been exposed, call Vietnam’s health hotline 1900 3228   immediately.

Vietnam has appointed 323 authorized testing facilities to carry out testing and diagnosis of COVID-19. See the full list .

Health requirements

Incoming travelers need to follow the below guideline from the Ministry of Health :

Starting from 0:00 on May 15, temporarily suspend pre-entry SARS-CoV-2 test requirements.

No requirement for quarantine.

Within 10 days from the date of entry: self-monitor your health, if you have symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection (fever; cough; sore throat; runny nose, stuffy nose; body aches, fatigue, chills; decreased or lost taste; decreased or lost sense of smell; pain, headache; diarrhea; difficulty breathing; respiratory inflammation...) must immediately notify the nearest medical facility for instructions.

These are based on guidelines from the Ministry of Health .

How to Apply for Vietnam's e-Visa:

Step 1:  Prepare the required materials:

• One 4x6 passport photo in .jpg format with a white background, without glasses.
• One photo in .jpg format of your passport data page.
• A passport is valid for at least six months.
• Your temporary address in Vietnam and points of entry and exit.
• Debit or credit card for payment.

Step 2: Click this link or access https://immigration.gov.vn/ and go to 'E-visa Issuance' then click on the link for 'Outside Vietnam foreigners'.

Step 3:  Upload your .jpg images (passport data page and passport photo) and fill out the required fields on the form completely. Submit your form.

Step 4: Pay the e-Visa fee of 25 USD. Copy down the document code provided.

Step 5: Within three working days you should receive news of your e-Visa application via email. If not, you can also run a search for your e-Visa at this link .

Step 6: Use your document code to locate your e-Visa online. Download and print the e-Visa in two copies for extra safety.

TIP: Travelers with an e-Visa can go directly to immigration counters at their point of entry and do not need to queue at Visa on Arrival counters.

Insurance requirement: 

Purchase medical/travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum coverage: $10,000. This typically costs about USD 40.

Health checks on departure

Domestic travel: Travelers are required to:

• During 10 days from the date of entry, tourists are requested to continue to self-monitor health. If having signs and symptoms of SARS-COV-2, must immediately notify the nearest medical facility.
• Comply with the Ministry of Health’s 4K message: khau trang (face masks), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distancing), khong tu tap (no gatherings).
• Currently, domestic flights restrictions have been reduced until the new update. However, please notice that all requirements might have resulted in changes requirements of the different destinations.

International travel: These follow the guidelines and procedures published by the country you are returning to.

Health and safety precautions for travelers

Visitors to Vietnam are encouraged to take sensible precautions against COVID-19 during their trips.

The World Health Organization outlines these basic practices to keep yourself and your loved ones safe:

Avoid traveling if you have a fever and cough.  If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, alert health-care services and share with them your recent travel history.

Maintain social distancing. Stay a meter or more away from others, especially those who are sneezing or coughing, or have a fever. 

Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to spray your hands frequently.

Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of dirty tissues immediately and wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. 

Avoid contact with live animals. Wash your hands with soap and water if you touch live animals or animal products in markets.

Eat only well-cooked food. Make sure your meals, especially animal proteins and dairy products, are thoroughly cooked and prepared in a sanitary environment. 

Discard single-use masks.  If you choose to wear a single-use mask, ensure it covers your nose and mouth, avoids touching the mask, and wash your hands after removing it.

“Any travelers experiencing symptoms of the virus − fever, cough and difficulty breathing − should immediately call Vietnam’s health hotline: 1900 3228 . Vietnam has appointed 323 authorized testing facilities to carry out testing and diagnosis of COVID-19 disease. See the full list . For a full overview of the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam as it relates to travelers, as well as daily updates, please see our updated travel advisory. ”

The information above is compiled by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Guidelines may change at any time based on conditions, as determined by the Vietnam government.

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This Luxe Train Ride Lets You Take In Vietnam’s Lush Countryside Over Afternoon Tea

The vietage will operate a daily return journey between quy nhon and nha trang., rachel cormack.

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Exploring Vietnam by rail is about to get far more appealing.

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The carriage itself showcases sleek modern interiors inspired by Indochine design, expansive picture windows offering sweeping views, and two private booths with a total of 12 reservation-only seats. You can also post up at the bar and watch the expert mixologist create railway-inspired cocktails and mocktails.

Speaking of drinks, guests can enjoy free-flowing wines, cocktails, beers, soft drinks, teas, and coffee throughout the trip. You’ll also be treated to a sumptuous afternoon tea experience and an artisanal cheese and charcuterie platter. (A dedicated vegan menu is available, naturally.) You can also pre-order caviar and premium Champagnes ahead of your ride. To top it off, the dedicated spa area offers 15-minute head and shoulder treatments on the go.

For further information, please contact the Vietage by Anantara team by calling +84 256 368 6168 or emailing [email protected].

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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Travel Advisory July 24, 2023

Vietnam - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.                    Exercise normal precautions in Vietnam.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Vietnam.

 If you decide to travel to Vietnam:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.   
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .   
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Vietnam.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .    

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Must have six months’ validity remaining.

One visa page required for entry stamp.

Not required.

None. However, Vietnamese Dong in excess of VND 15,000,000 or foreign currency in excess of 5,000 U.S. dollars or equivalent must be declared.

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Hanoi - Consular Annex 170 Ngoc Khanh Ba Dinh District Hanoi, Vietnam Telephone:   From outside Vietnam: +84-24-3850-5000 From the U.S.: 011-84-24-3850-5000 From landline within Hanoi: 3850-5000 From mobile or landline within Vietnam: 024-3850-5000

Emergency:   From outside Vietnam: +84-24-3850-5000 or +84-24-3850-5105 From the U.S.: 011-84-24-3850-5000 From landline within Hanoi: 3850-5000 or 3850-5105 From mobile or landline within Vietnam: 024-3850-5000 or 024-3850-5105 Fax: (+84-24) 3850-5010 Email:   [email protected] Facebook

U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City 4 Le Duan, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Telephone: From outside Vietnam: +84-28-3520-4200 From the U.S.: 011-84-28-3520-4200 From landline within Ho Chi Minh City: 3520-4200 From mobile or landline within Vietnam: 028-3520-4200

Emergency: From outside Vietnam: +84-28-3520-4200 From the U.S.: 011-84-28-3520-4200 From landline within Ho Chi Minh City: 3520-4200 From mobile or landline within Vietnam: 028-3520-4200 Fax: (+84-8) 3520-4244 Email: Contact Us Here

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS WITHIN VIETNAM

Police: 113 Fire brigade: 114 Ambulance: 115

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Entry Requirements:  You must have a valid passport and a visa (or pre-approval for a visa on arrival) to enter Vietnam. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your planned stay, and you must have at least one blank visa page (not including the endorsement page). Visit  Mission Vietnam’s website  for the most current information. If you arrive in Vietnam without an appropriate visa (which could be an e-visa) or pre-approval for a visa on arrival, you will be denied entry . The U.S. Mission to Vietnam cannot assist U.S. citizens who arrive in Vietnam without required visas. U.S.-Vietnam dual nationals should consult the Department of State’s information page for Travelers with Dual Nationality and the Embassy of Vietnam for travel requirements. You must enter and exit Vietnam on the same passport. If using a Vietnamese passport to enter and exit the country, your passport must have at least six months’ validity from your return date to the United States.

Visas:   The Government of Vietnam requires a “visa sponsor” for all visa categories, except for E-visa. A visa sponsor is a local business or travel agent to apply for a pre-approval letter with a Vietnamese Immigration Office in Vietnam on behalf of the traveler. Only on receipt of the pre-approval letter can a foreigner apply for an appropriate visa at a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate abroad, or for a visa on arrival. For more information about this process, please visit the website of the Vietnamese Embassy here . When you apply for a visa to enter Vietnam, be sure to request the visa category that corresponds to your purpose of travel. Please refer to  Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website  for information detailing visa categories. If you plan to work in Vietnam, you must obtain a work permit  before  applying for your visa. If you change the purpose of your visit after you have received your visa, you must obtain a new visa outside of Vietnam appropriate for your new activities before beginning those activities. Under local immigration law, employment-based visas are based on a petition from a specific employer, and workers may be unable to switch jobs without securing a new visa. In addition, employers may prevent the departure of contracted employees from Vietnam if they violate contract terms. Before accepting employment in Vietnam, make sure you understand the conditions of contracts and employment-based visas.

Note that travelers with a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will still need a valid visa to enter Vietnam.  The United States is a transitional member of APEC and does not reciprocate with other economies regarding full pre-clearance benefits to applicants.  As such, no countries are listed on the back of U.S. APEC Business Travel Cards and card holders are required to present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa (where applicable), required by Vietnam. If a  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card  holder does not conform to Vietnam’s entry requirements, the card holder may be refused entry.

Please consult  Mission Vietnam’s website  for more information.

Please note that Vietnam requires a valid visa, residence card, or approval from the Immigration Department to leave the country. Immigration officials will apply a fee to replace lost/stolen visas or will assess a fine for any visa overstays. The Government of Vietnam has recently increased the penalties for visa overstays, and fines can be substantial. In addition, the processing of exit visas for cases involving visa overstays can take one to two weeks, and longer for more complex cases.

If your U.S. passport is lost or stolen in Vietnam, you will need both a replacement passport and a replacement Vietnamese visa to legally remain in or depart Vietnam. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City can usually issue you a limited validity replacement passport in as little as one business day for emergency purposes; however, the Vietnamese government requires three to five working days to issue a replacement visa. For lost and stolen passports, immigration officials will also request a police report. You must file a report of a lost or stolen passport with the police in the location where the loss or theft of your passport occurred, or authorities may refuse to accept the report. The U.S. Embassy and the Consulate General cannot expedite the replacement of your Vietnamese visa.

If you plan to travel from Vietnam to Laos by land, you should request that an adhesive visa be affixed to your passport instead of a detachable one. Lao immigration officials require proof that travelers have departed Vietnam, something that can only be shown with an adhesive visa. Vietnamese officials remove detachable visas from passports when travelers depart Vietnam, leaving travelers with no proof of their Vietnam departure. This situation can result in Lao officials requiring travelers to return to Vietnam.  

Pre-approval for Visa on Arrival:   The Government of Vietnam has authorized some businesses and travel agencies to arrange for pre-approval for a “visa on arrival” at the airport. On a receipt of a pre-approval letter, travelers may then travel to Vietnam and apply for a visa upon landing to Vietnam. Please be advised that you should not travel to Vietnam without having been issued a pre-approval letter as it may result in a denial of entry by immigration authorities. To avoid having to rearrange your travel date, please do not make travel arrangement before you receive your pre-approval letter.

E-visa:  U.S. citizens can apply online for an E-visa on the  Vietnam Immigration website . The E-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entry, and does not allow for renewal or extension from within the country.   The E-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entry, and does not allow for renewal or extension from within the country. An E-visa is usually processed within three to five working days after the Vietnam Immigration Department receives the completed application and E-visa fee. E-visa holders must present the printed E-visa and valid passport at the port of entry. Prior to your travel with an E-visa to Vietnam, we recommend travelers to carefully check their E-visa to make sure all information is correct, and that you will enter/exit Vietnam through a port of entry that you had selected at the time of application. An error on E-visa, including minor differences between the information on the application and the biographical information on the passport, may result in a denial of entry by immigration authorities. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General are unable to change the information on your E-visa or help expedite the process as Vietnamese E-visa is under the sole jurisdiction of the Vietnamese government. 

Certificate of Visa Exemption:  Vietnamese nationals residing abroad indefinitely, their spouses, and their children may apply for a Certificate of Visa Exemption. The certificate has a maximum validity of five years, during which time the holder can enter Vietnam and stay for up to six months without applying for a visa. More information can be found on the  Vietnam Embassy website .

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Vietnam. 

Immunization information for travelers can be found on the  Centers for Disease and Control’s website .

Information about  dual nationality  or the  prevention of international child abduction  can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our  Customs Information page . 

Safety and Security

The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens overseas always maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness while traveling internationally. Please visit  www.travel.state.gov  for up-to-date information. 

Messages regarding weather-related events are posted  here  and on the Embassy/Consulate General  website . 

While in Vietnam you are subject to Vietnamese laws. U.S. citizenship will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be arrested, expelled, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business.

Vietnamese authorities routinely do not provide timely notification of the arrest of a U.S. citizen to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General or approval for consular officials to visit U.S. citizens. The delays for both – particularly for access – can take several weeks. Note that if you enter Vietnam with a non-U.S. passport, the Government of Vietnam has different notification and access responsibilities for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General. See our  webpage  for further information. 

Small-scale, peaceful protests occasionally occur in Vietnam’s major cities, but large-scale demonstrations are rare. As in any country, you should avoid large protests, as they can become violent with little or no warning. 

The Government of Vietnam may not allow or authorize travel to certain areas of the country that are deemed sensitive. Check with local authorities before visiting border areas to see if you need to obtain a travel permit issued by local authorities. U.S. citizens have been detained after traveling in areas close to the Vietnamese borders with the People’s Republic of China, Cambodia, and Laos. These areas are not always marked, and there are no warnings about prohibited travel.

Safety standards in Vietnam are not at the same level as those in the United States and vary greatly from company to company and province to province. This is especially true for fire safety codes. Travelers should be aware that many buildings, including hotels, shops, and restaurants, have limited or no fire safety equipment or emergency exits. Ground and water transportation also lack safety regulations. 

Travelers to Vietnam should have no expectation of privacy and should safeguard all personal documents and electronic devices. Exercise caution when discussing sensitive or proprietary information.

Crime:  Crime in Vietnam is rated high. Exercise vigilance and the same commonsense security precautions you would in any major metropolitan city in the United States.  

Violent crime against foreigners is rare; however, petty crimes, such as theft, bag grabs, and pickpocketing occur regularly, especially in crowded areas and tourist locations. Typically, there is a rise in petty crime during the Christmas and Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday seasons, including during the day and in well-lit areas. Motorcyclists are known to snatch bags, cameras, cell phones, and other valuables from individuals riding or walking on the street.   If you are targeted by thieves, do not resist, and report the incident immediately to local police and to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Keep a tight hold on bags as you enter and exit vehicles and as you walk around. Hold tightly to cell phones when using them outside and lock and stow phones until you actually need to use them.

Some U.S. citizens have reported threats of death or physical injury connected to business-related disputes. You should report such threats to local authorities and if you feel unsafe, you should depart the country. 

Keep your passport and other important valuables in your hotel in a safe or another secured location at all times and carry both photo and digital copies of your passport. You should immediately report the loss or theft of your U.S. passport to the local police and the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General. See section on “Visas” for information on what to do if your passport/visa are lost or stolen.

Sexual Assault:  Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse. Sexual assault, harassment and rape do occur. To minimize the risk avoid travelling alone, especially at night; remain particularly vigilant in less populous areas; and be careful when dealing with strangers or recent acquaintances. Local authorities may not always respond adequately to reports of sexual violence and harassment. If you are the victim of a sexual assault, you should report it immediately to local authorities and to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General. Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum, or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Male violence against women and sexual harassment is often ignored by the police. In areas foreigners frequent, women have reported harassment and assault such as men exposing themselves, asking for sexual favors, and groping.

Drugs:  Recreational drugs available in Vietnam can be extremely dangerous and can result in death. Drugs sold in Vietnam may be fake, synthetic, or laced with toxic ingredients undetectable to the buyer. This includes nitrous oxide balloons widely available in nightlife establishments. You should also avoid purchasing liquor or cigarettes from street vendors or strangers, as the authenticity of the contents cannot be assured. 

Victims of Crime:   U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General for assistance. Vietnam’s local equivalent of an emergency line is 113. Local police will issue a report of a crime, but generally will only initiate investigations for crimes they determine serious, which do not always equate with U.S. standards. Investigations can take several months or even years to complete.

In the event you are a victim of a crime, local police will issue a crime report in Vietnamese, but generally will only initiate investigations for crimes they determine serious. While the overall situation is improving, some police have asked for bribes, ostensibly to support local police efforts or to facilitate investigation of a crime. If you are involved in a situation where a police officer is soliciting money, contact American Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

We can: 

• Help you find appropriate medical care. 
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police. 
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent. 
• Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion. 
• Provide a list of local attorneys.
• Provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States. 
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited support in cases of destitution.
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home.
• Replace a stolen or lost passport.

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the Embassy or Consulate General for assistance .  Note that local authorities take a different attitude towards domestic violence cases and are hesitant to get involved in cases involving foreigners. Vietnam has very limited infrastructure to support victims of domestic violence.

Tourism:   The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more  information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:   You are subject to Vietnamese laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Vietnam are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines, or even the death penalty. Police periodically raid nightlife establishments suspected of engaging in the drug trade and during these raids will subject all patrons present to drug testing at the police station. A positive result, regardless of whether drugs were consumed in Vietnam or before entry, may result in criminal charges.

In Vietnam, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have proper ID, such as a passport or a copy of your visa. Driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in a fatal accident could lead to immediate imprisonment. If you break local laws in Vietnam, your U.S. passport  will not  help you avoid arrest or prosecution. Note that the Vietnamese legal system allows for lengthy criminal investigation periods that can lead to prolonged pre-trial detention; some investigations can last years without any explanation.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. You can be  prosecuted in the United States  for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under the host country’s laws.

Arrest Notification in Vietnam:    If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General immediately. There are often delays in notification by the Vietnamese authorities to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General and officials have been known to delay consular access to prisoners for several weeks. 

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or forfeit them upon return to the United States. See the  U.S. Department of Justice website  for more information.  

Gambling:  Gambling is highly regulated by the government and persons or businesses running games or gambling halls are required to be licensed. The Government of Vietnam pursues cases of running or playing in unlicensed games aggressively. There are currently U.S. citizens serving jail sentences of three to five years because of illegal gambling.

Dual Nationality:  Dual nationality is accepted by the Vietnamese government in some, but not all, circumstances. However, dual nationals should be aware that Vietnam recognizes their Vietnamese citizenship as primary before others. In such cases, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General may be limited in the consular services we are able to provide. U.S. citizens who also hold Vietnamese citizenship and are currently residing in Vietnam may wish to contact local authorities and/or seek competent legal advice on how local laws may affect their status. For detailed information on Vietnamese nationality law and other legal issues visit the  Embassy of Vietnam website . 

Work Authorization:  The Government of Vietnam maintains strict laws with respect to foreign workers. U.S. citizens planning to work in Vietnam should make sure that they are in full compliance with Vietnamese regulations. Penalties can be severe and include deportation, fines, or detention. Vietnam immigration law allows for companies sponsoring foreign employees to exercise control over their employees’ visas, including prohibiting their exit from the country if they have any outstanding debts.

Teaching English:  We advise those considering accepting an English teaching job in Vietnam to carefully review the terms of the contract regarding working and living conditions and to ask for multiple references from persons familiar with the institution, especially former U.S. citizen employees, before committing to contracts. Some U.S. citizens have reported their employers have reneged on contract terms, including offering significantly lower salaries than agreed or seizing their passports, and employers have caused complications with the exit visa process for employees who quit, complicating the exit visas required to depart the country. 

Hotels:  Hotels in Vietnam require you to present your passport (and visas, if issued separately) upon check-in so that your stay can be registered with local police. Every guest in a hotel room or private residence must be registered, regardless of nationality. If you stay at a private residence (i.e., at the residence of family or friends), you must comply with registration requirements by visiting the local police station and registering your stay within 24 hours. Some provinces allow registration online.

Exports:  Vietnamese law prohibits the export of antiques. However, these laws are vague and unevenly enforced. Customs authorities may inspect and seize your antiques without compensating you, and the determination of what is an “antique” can be arbitrary. If you purchase non-antique items of value, you should retain receipts and confirmation from shop owners and/or the Ministry of Culture and the Customs Department to prevent seizure when you leave the country.  

Imports:  Vietnamese authorities have seized documents, audio and video tapes, compact discs, literature, and personal letters they deem to be pornographic or political in nature or intended for religious or political proselytizing. It is illegal to import weapons, ammunition, explosives, military equipment and tools (including uniforms), narcotics, drugs, toxic chemicals, pornographic and subversive materials, firecrackers, or children's toys that have "negative effects on personality development, social order, and security."    For up-to-date information on Vietnam Customs information, please visit the  Vietnam Customs website .

Freedom of Expression:   The Government of Vietnam maintains strict control over all forms of political speech, particularly dissent or speech it deems as critical of the government and/or party. U.S. citizens have been detained, tried, and convicted for political activities (including criticizing the government or its domestic/foreign policies or advocating alternatives to Communist Party rule), possession of political material, and non-sanctioned religious activities (including proselytizing). Authorities have also detained U.S. citizens for posting messages on blogs or online chatrooms that are perceived to be political or critical of the government. U.S. citizens of Vietnamese descent should be especially careful with their online postings. Review the latest version of the  Vietnam Human Rights Report  for the latest information on Freedom of Expression in Vietnam.

Association with Groups:   Persons whom the Government of Vietnam perceives to be associated with dissident or political groups may be denied entry to Vietnam, prevented from departing, detained, interrogated, placed under surveillance, or even tried and convicted. Note that if arrested, you could be subject to lengthy detention without access to an attorney or family members. U.S. citizens of Vietnamese descent should be especially careful about associating with dissident groups. U.S. citizen travelers have been summoned by immigration or local security officials for reasons that are unclear or not explicitly related to any suspected or alleged violation of law. We recommend that U.S. citizens finding themselves in this situation contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General immediately for further information and/or assistance.

Photography: Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in questioning by authorities, fines, or delayed travel. You should be cautious when traveling near military bases and avoid photography in these areas.     Disputes: The Vietnamese government has occasionally seized the passports and blocked the departure of foreigners involved in commercial disputes. U.S. citizens whose passports have been seized by Vietnamese authorities should contact the Embassy or Consulate General for assistance . 

Civil Procedures:  Civil procedures in Vietnam, such as marriage, divorce, documenting the birth of a child, and issuance of death certificates, are highly bureaucratic and can be slow. Local authorities may refuse a request to include a non-Vietnamese name on a birth certificate. In addition, for those wishing to get married in Vietnam, you will need a notarized affidavit of single status. Please contact the  Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, D.C. , or the  Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco  or  Houston  concerning documentary requirements for these services. Enforcement of civil orders is frequently difficult or non-existent. 

Women Travelers:   See our travel tips for  Women Travelers . 

LGBTQI+ Rights:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or in attending LGBTIQ+ events in Vietnam. See   our  LGBTQI+ Travel Information  page and section 6 of our  Human Rights report   for further details.

Accessibility: Most public places and public transportation are  not  accessible to persons with disabilities. Sidewalks, curb ramps, restrooms, road crossings, and tourist areas are not equipped to assist such individuals. New, modern buildings and facilities in larger urban cities are regularly built with ramps and accessible entryways. 

Students: See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Medical facilities in Vietnam, including emergency response services, frequently do not meet international standards and may lack medicine and supplies. We strongly recommend travelers purchase medical evacuation insurance before visiting Vietnam.

• Medical personnel generally speak little or no English. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services. You may obtain lists of local English-speaking physicians from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City from our  website . 
• International health clinics in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can treat minor illnesses and injuries, but more serious problems often require medical evacuation to other cities in the region. 
• Although you can purchase many prescription and non-prescription medications at pharmacies, some common U.S. medications may not be available. You should bring adequate supplies of medications for the duration of your stay in Vietnam and ensure with the Ministry of Health that the medicine you need is allowed to enter Vietnam. You should carry a copy of your prescription if carrying medicine in a travel case or container.
• We strongly recommend travelers purchase medical evacuation insurance before visiting Vietnam. 
• Travelers to Vietnam are at risk of the following diseases: Tuberculosis, Dengue Fever, Zika, Avian Influenza (H5N1), and HIV. You can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the  CDC website .  

We do not pay medical bills. The U.S. government cannot pay medical bills and does not provide medical assistance. Also, be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept upfront payments. See our webpage for more  information on insurance providers for overseas coverage . Visit the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas. If covered by TriCare, check the TriCare website ( https://www.tricare.mil/ ) for additional information about overseas coverage. 

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation as it can cost many thousands of dollars. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. 

It is extremely important  that travelers have sufficient funds and/or insurance to cover any potential medical costs.  Frequently hospitals will hold onto a patient’s passport as collateral for payment, and patients may have difficulty getting their passport back without paying their medical bills in full.  Patients who do not pay their medical bills in full also run the risk of being barred from departing the country.  

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Air quality: Air pollution is a significant problem in Vietnam’s major cities, and you should consult your doctor prior to travel and consider the impact that seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on you. To obtain information on the air quality in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, please follow the link to the Environmental Protection Agency’s  AirNow website . Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City’s Air Quality Index (AQI) can be observed either by clicking on the Vietnam location on the map, or by selecting Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City in the “Select a City” option on the upper right part of the page. The page provides AQI over the last 24-hour period as well as pollutant concentration and a downloadable historical document. 

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety: Traffic in Vietnam is dangerous, chaotic, and undisciplined. Road conditions are poor; traffic accidents are the leading cause of death, severe injury, and emergency evacuation of foreigners in Vietnam. Long-distance buses and trains do not meet U.S. safety standards. Buses and trucks are often overloaded and travel at high speeds with little regard to other modes of road transportation.  

Traffic Laws:  Driving in Vietnam is not comparable to driving in other countries. Vietnamese drivers routinely ignore traffic laws, causing traffic fatalities on a daily basis. We strongly discourage you from operating a motorcycle or scooter in Vietnam. Vietnamese drivers and pedestrians may not behave in a manner to which Americans are accustomed. If you do choose to operate a motorcycle or scooter in Vietnam, wear a helmet and  always  yield to larger vehicles. Motor bike fatalities are a leading cause of death or serious injury among foreign nationals visiting or living in Vietnam, with several fatalities having occurred on major roads and rural routes within the past year. If you are the victim of a serious motor bike accident in Vietnam, the prognosis for full recovery and survival is low due to Vietnam’s poor medical infrastructure. A motorbike license is required to operate a motorcycle or scooter in Vietnam. Motor scooter drivers without a license can be held criminally liable for injuries to or death of a victim in an accident, and you may be held in custody for an extended period of time without the ability to speak to family or a lawyer during the investigation. 

Pedestrians should always look carefully  in both directions  before crossing streets, even when using a marked crosswalk with a green “walk” light illuminated or when crossing what is believed to be a one-way street. When walking on sidewalks, be mindful of scooters that may be behind you. Vietnamese commonly drive their scooters against traffic and on sidewalks. 

Because the United States is not a party to the Convention on Road Traffic, international driving permits and U.S. drivers’ licenses are  not valid  in Vietnam. Foreigners renting vehicles risk fines, prosecution, and/or imprisonment for driving without a Vietnamese license endorsed for the appropriate vehicle. If you wish to drive in Vietnam, contact the Provincial Public Transportation Service of the Vietnamese Department of Communications and Transport to obtain a Vietnamese driver’s license. Note that you may be required to take a medical examination as part of the driver license application process. 

For more information, please refer to Vietnam’s national tourism office website.

Public Transportation:

Bus System:  While Vietnam does have an extensive bus system, buses can be overcrowded and are often driven with little or no regard for passenger safety. 

For-hire vehicles:   Major taxi companies tend to be reliable. Occasionally boutique taxi companies have rigged meters, particularly on routes to and from the international airports. Exercise caution in choosing ground transportation upon arrival at the airport in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Some travelers have reported being robbed by drivers who greeted them upon arrival with a placard showing the traveler's name. If you are expecting to be picked up, ask the company for the driver’s name, phone number, and license plate number before you travel. Areas outside of large cities typically have only rudimentary public transportation and often do not have metered taxis. Travelers are advised to use caution in these situations. 

We strongly discourage the use of motorcycle taxis (known as “xe om”). Motorcycle taxis are unregulated and unsafe, and the helmets provided to riders offer little to no protection against injury in the case of an accident. 

Smartphone-based for-hire vehicle services:  GrabTaxi and local taxi companies are readily available, accessible via Smartphone apps, and routinely utilized by foreigners and locals. 

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Vietnam’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Vietnam should also check for  U.S. maritime advisories and alerts . Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport website , and the  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) broadcast warnings website  portal.

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Vietnam . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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