Country guide · Vietnam
Best places to visit in Vietnam
4 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quangnlnhe182394, CC0
Quick answer
For a first trip to Vietnam, start with Hanoi: Guild streets, lakeside temples and street food on plastic stools. For beaches, look at Da Nang and Hoi An. Hanoi is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 4
- Best months overall
- February–May and December
- Start with
- Hanoi
- Least expensive here
- Hanoi
4 places to visit in Vietnam
Best: March–April and October–December · 4 days
Hanoi
Guild streets, lakeside temples and street food on plastic stools
Best: December–March · 4 days
Ho Chi Minh City
Colonial landmarks, war history and late-night street food on the Saigon River
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Best: February–May · 4 days
Da Nang
City beaches, river bridges and mountains on Vietnam's central coast
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Best: February–May · 4 days
Hoi An
Lantern-lit merchant streets, tailors and rice-field cycling near the coast
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Old Quarter and Hoàn Kiếm Lake | March–April and October–December | 4 days | $60–$120 |
| Ho Chi Minh City | War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace | December–March | 4 days | $60–$130 |
| Da Nang | My Khe Beach and Dragon Bridge | February–May | 4 days | $60–$130 |
| Hoi An | Lanterns and Japanese Covered Bridge | February–May | 4 days | $60–$130 |
When to visit Vietnam
Across these destinations the most reliable months are February–May and December. Timing still varies by place: Hanoi is best in March–April and October–December; Ho Chi Minh City is best in December–March; Da Nang is best in February–May.
Signature dishes across Vietnam
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Beef phở | Bún chả and Chả cá Lã Vọng |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Broken rice | Bánh mì and Southern phở |
| Da Nang | Quang-style noodles | Pork in rice paper with fermented anchovy sauce and Fish-cake noodle soup |
| Hoi An | Cao lầu | Hoi An bánh mì and Hoi An chicken rice |
Events through the year in Vietnam
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Hanoi: Tết (Lunar New Year) — flower markets before the holiday, then many shops close for several days (late January or February); Ho Chi Minh City: Tết (Lunar New Year) — Nguyễn Huệ Flower Street displays, then many businesses close for several days (late January or February) |
| February | Hanoi: Perfume Pagoda pilgrimage festival (usually from after Tết until about April); Da Nang: Tết (Lunar New Year) in some years |
| March | Da Nang: Quan The Am Festival — religious processions at the Marble Mountains (usually March or April); Hoi An: Full-moon lantern night (monthly) |
| April | Hanoi: Reunification Day and Labour Day holidays — domestic travel peaks (30 April and 1 May); Ho Chi Minh City: Reunification Day and Labour Day holidays — busy domestic travel (30 April and 1 May) |
| June | Da Nang: Da Nang International Fireworks Festival — competing teams over the Han River on several nights (usually June–July) |
| July | Da Nang: Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (usually continues into July) |
| September | Hanoi: National Day — flags and celebrations around Ba Đình Square (2 September); Ho Chi Minh City: National Day (2 September) |
| October | Hanoi: Liberation of the Capital Day (10 October) |
| December | Hanoi: Christmas Eve crowds and decorations around St Joseph's Cathedral (24 December); Ho Chi Minh City: Christmas Eve crowds around the cathedral and along Đồng Khởi (24 December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | 1,144 km |
| Hanoi | Da Nang | 606 km |
| Hanoi | Hoi An | 630 km |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang | 609 km |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Hoi An | 594 km |
| Da Nang | Hoi An | 24 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Vietnam?
Hanoi: Hanoi has been Vietnam's capital, on and off, for about a thousand years, and it shows: a dense Old Quarter of guild streets and narrow tube houses, French colonial boulevards around the 1911 Opera House, and the…
+When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
Generally February–May and December, though it varies by region.