Vietnam Travel
From limestone-cradled cruises in Halong Bay to the lantern-lit alleys of Hoi An and the buzzing motorbike river of Hanoi's Old Quarter — Vietnam in 7-21 days, designed by a Hanoi-based DMC who's been running this country since 2010.
Vietnam at a glance: 10-14 days covers Hanoi + Halong + Hoi An + HCMC (the classic North-Central-South arc). Best season Oct-Apr (dry, cool north · sunny central). E-visa $25 official + $35 ATL filing concierge, 90-day stay. From $185/day for tailored private tours · 12,000+ US filings since 2018 · 99.4% approval rate. Most-booked: 14-day private classic at $2,650/pax.
Vietnam at a Glance
Geography: 1,650 km north-to-south along the South China Sea coast · 96 million people · capital Hanoi (north) · largest city Ho Chi Minh City (south) · 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites · spans tropical south, temperate north, highland west. Typical route: fly into Hanoi → Halong cruise → train/flight to Da Nang/Hoi An → flight to HCMC → optional Mekong → fly out.
Why book with our DMC: 15+ years operating since 2010 · founder-led (Robert Nguyen built the company after leaving Audley Travel UK as Vietnam specialist) · all guides are W-2 employees on salary (not commission · NEVER kickback-driven shopping stops) · direct contracts with 60+ Vietnam hotels and cruise operators · WhatsApp 24/7 in English/French/Vietnamese.
Vietnam by region
10 cities curated · auto-pulled from our destination city guides · click any card for the full city guide.
Most-booked Vietnam itineraries
5 tours · auto-pulled · filtered by destination=vietnam · sorted by Q4 2025 booking volume.
Top experiences in Vietnam
Activities + Attractions mix · 6 hand-picked highlights.
Time your trip with a festival
3 festival cards · with next-occurrence dates.
When to go
Vietnam has 3 distinct climate zones · cool-dry season Oct-Apr is the universal sweet spot.
Best country-wide window: late October to mid-April · cool dry across all 3 regions. Tết (mid-Jan to mid-Feb) avoid unless seeking festival energy — most family-run hotels close 7-10 days.
Typical Vietnam itineraries
Quick Highlights
Hanoi (2N) → Halong cruise (2N) → fly Hoi An (3N). Short but classic · skip HCMC · best for first-time short-on-time visitors.
Classic North-South
Hanoi (3N) → Halong cruise (2N) → train Hue (1N) → Hoi An (3N) → fly HCMC (2N) → Mekong day (3N). The most-booked Vietnam itinerary.
Deep Vietnam
All 14-day stops + Sapa overnight train + Phu Quoc beach + extra Hoi An tailoring + 8 UNESCO sites covered. For 2nd-time visitors or 3-week leave.
Vietnam + neighbours
Vietnam + Cambodia
Most-popular combo · 18-21 days · adds Angkor Wat + slower Mekong river crossing.
Explore Cambodia →Vietnam + Laos
Less-trodden combo · 21-28 days · adds Laos river towns + Buddhist monasteries.
Coming soonVietnam + Thailand
Mass-market combo · 18-25 days · adds Bangkok + beaches · less culture-deep.
Coming soonPractical essentials
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (₫)
USD widely accepted in tourist areas
Plug
Type A · C · F
220V · 50Hz
Tipping
5-10% restaurants
$5-10/day guide · $3-5/day driver
Robert Nguyen
"I built ATL DMC in 2010 after 5 years at Audley Travel UK as their Vietnam specialist. Every Vietnam itinerary lands in my inbox first · I personally vet routing + guide selection + cruise cabin allocation. WhatsApp me directly · I can quote your Vietnam trip in 1 hour."
Build my Vietnam trip
5 fields · quote in 1 hour · zero obligation.
Vietnam FAQ
Is Vietnam safe for first-time travellers?+
Yes · very safe. Petty theft (bag-snatching motorbikes in HCMC) is the main risk · zero violent crime concerns for tourists. Solo female travel = safe (see /travel-experiences/style/solo for first-person stories). Tap water = NOT drinkable · stick to bottled.
How many days do I need in Vietnam?+
Vietnam minimum 10-14 days for the classic North-Central-South arc. Under 10 days = pick 1 region (North OR Central + South). 21+ days for deep coverage + Sapa + Phu Quoc beach add-on.
What's the visa process for Vietnam?+
E-visa $25 official from evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn · 90 days single-entry · 3-5 working days standard processing. ATL filing concierge $35 includes document review (catches 5 common mistakes that cause rejections). See visa-by-nationality breakdown.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?+
Oct-Apr is the universal sweet spot — cool, dry across all 3 regions. May-Sep brings heat + monsoon south, typhoons central, hot+wet north. Avoid Tết (mid-Jan to mid-Feb) unless seeking festival energy — most family-run hotels close 7-10 days.
Can I drink the tap water in Vietnam?+
No · NEVER drink tap water in Vietnam. Bottled water is universally available ($0.30/bottle). Most hotels provide 2 free bottles/day · cruise ships filter water but stick to bottled for safety. Ice in tourist restaurants is OK (made from filtered water).
How much does a typical Vietnam trip cost?+
From $185/day for tailored private tours with guide+driver+mid-range hotels. Luxury tier $450-650/day (5★ hotels + private cruise cabins). Budget DIY backpacker $40-80/day (hostels + buses). Our most-booked 14-day classic = $2,650/pax all-in.
Should I use cash or card in Vietnam?+
Cards work at hotels + 4★/5★ restaurants + supermarkets. Street food + local markets + taxis = cash only (₫). Carry $200-300 USD cash + use VND for daily spend. ATMs widely available · withdraw VND with home debit card · fees ~$3/transaction.
Do I need vaccinations for Vietnam?+
No mandatory vaccines for entry (unless arriving from Yellow Fever endemic countries). Recommended: Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis (if rural overnight). Malaria risk minimal in tourist zones · zero risk in Hanoi/HCMC/Halong/Hoi An.
Real stories from Vietnam
Verified sources behind our Vietnam guidance
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Vietnam properties (8 sites)verified 2026-05-20
- Vietnam National Administration of Tourism · official statisticsverified 2026-05-20
- Vietnam Immigration Department · official e-visa portalverified 2026-05-20
- CDC Yellow Book · Vietnam health advisoriesverified 2026-05-20
- US State Department · Vietnam travel advisoryverified 2026-05-20
Explore more Vietnam
Everything we cover for Vietnam — destinations, tours, food, stays and festivals, all cross-linked in one place.