Vietnam travel: the 2026 guide

15 days (fast): Hanoi 2d, Halong Bay 2d (junk cruise), Ninh Binh 1d, flight to Hue 2d, Hoi An 3d, Nha Trang 1d, Ho Chi Minh 2d, Mekong Delta 2d.

21 days (ideal): add Sapa (homestay trek, 3d) up north, Dalat (cool climate, waterfalls, 2d) centre, Phu Quoc island (beaches, 3d) south.

30 days (immersive): add Ha Giang (scooter loop, 4d), Cat Ba archipelago (Halong alternative), Con Dao.

Direction: classic North-to-South (milder climate as you descend in winter) or South-to-North (in summer, avoid southern heat).

Climate varies sharply North vs South:

- North (Hanoi, Halong, Sapa): dry from October to April (ideal). Cold Dec-Feb (10-18C, Halong mists). Very wet summers (Jun-Aug). - Centre (Hue, Hoi An, Danang): dry from February to August. Possible typhoons Sept-Nov. - South (Ho Chi Minh, Mekong, Phu Quoc): dry from December to April. Rainy season May-November (short late-afternoon showers).

Best overall window: March-April and October-November. In March-April, the whole country is pleasant simultaneously.

Backpacker: EUR 25-40/d (dorms EUR 5-10, EUR 1-3 pho, local buses and night trains).

Comfort: EUR 45-70/d (boutique 3* hotels EUR 25-45, restaurants EUR 5-12/main, occasional private transfers, cooking classes).

Premium: EUR 120-200/d (4-5* charm hotels, premium Halong junk cruise EUR 250-400/pers, private driver).

Paris-Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh return: from EUR 599 with Vietnam Airlines (non-stop 12h) or EUR 549 with Turkish/China Southern via connection.

Domestic flights: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways. Hanoi-Hue EUR 30-50, Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh EUR 45-90, Ho Chi Minh-Phu Quoc EUR 25-60.

Money: currency is the dong (VND). EUR 1 ≈ 27,000 VND (2026). ATMs everywhere but 3M VND cap per withdrawal (EUR 110). Bank fees 1-2%. Cash is king outside hotels.

E-visa: mandatory for EU citizens since August 2023. Apply on evisa.gov.vn (official site, beware of copies). Cost: USD 25 (single entry) or USD 50 (multi). Valid 90 days, issued in 3-5 working days. Print 2 copies.

Passport valid 6 months after return + 1 blank page.

Vaccines: none required. Recommended: DTP, hepatitis A, typhoid. Antimalarials useless outside remote border zones (Cambodia, Laos).

Health: no tap water, drink sealed bottled water only. Watch ice in street stalls (mostly industrial in Hanoi/HCM, less elsewhere).

Safety: very safe for tourists. Beware of scooter bag-snatching in Ho Chi Minh - wear bags cross-body on the pavement side.

Trains (Reunification Express): legendary Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh line (34h sleeper). Useful Hanoi-Hue (14h night, EUR 25-45) and Danang-Nha Trang.

'Sleeping' buses (Futa, Sinh Tourist): reclining berths, very comfortable, EUR 10-25 for long distances. Watch out for driving standards.

Domestic flights: save 8-15h of travel. Book 2-4 weeks ahead.

Grab: taxi/moto app in all major cities, cheaper than official taxis. Grab Bike = EUR 1-3 for 5 km.

Scooter rental: EUR 5-8/day. Helmet mandatory. International licence increasingly required in 2025. Extreme caution in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh - dense traffic.