Vietnam Travel Guide

Tipping in Vietnam: When to Tip, When Not To & How Much

Tipping in Vietnam is optional, not a nationwide requirement. Separate three things before deciding what [...]

Vietnam Visa for Filipinos: 21-Day Visa-Free Entry & eVisa

Filipino ordinary passport holders can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 21 days. See when [...]

Vietnam with Kids from Philippines: Family Routes & Pacing

Vietnam works well for families when the route stays simple. Compare Da Nang–Hoi An, Hanoi–Ninh [...]

Vietnam Cultural Experiences for Australians: Route Choices

For a trip from Australia, do not turn “culture” into another attraction checklist. Choose the [...]

What to Buy in Vietnam: Souvenirs & Shopping for Filipinos

Coffee and phin filters, packaged snacks, crafts, textiles, lanterns and tailored clothing are among the [...]

Vietnam Wellness Travel for Australians: Slow Routes & Retreats

For Australians, wellness and slow travel should change the route before they change the activity [...]

Coffee in Vietnam for Filipino Travelers: Drinks & Café Tips

Start with cà phê sữa đá, black iced coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee or coconut [...]

Vietnam Food Guide for Australians: What to Eat by Region

Let the route decide what to eat. Hanoi, Hue–Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City [...]

Vietnam With Kids From Australia: Family Route & Logistics

For a family trip from Australia, protect the difficult parts of the day before adding [...]

Cooking Classes in Vietnam: Which City & Class Format to Choose

Book a cooking class only when the learning is worth the time it takes from [...]

Vietnam Summer Holidays From Australia: December–January Route Ideas

This page is the December–January route planner for Australians, not another weather or beach guide. [...]

Vietnam Beaches for Australians: Coast, Season & Route

For an Australia–Vietnam trip, choose the beach after you know the travel window and route [...]

Use this Vietnam Travel Guide as a starting point, then move to the specialist guide that matches the decision you are making. Vietnam is long enough that route, weather, entry rules, money and transport are better handled as separate planning questions rather than squeezed into one checklist.

Start with the trip structure

If you are still deciding how many regions fit your time, begin with the Vietnam itinerary guide. It compares realistic route shapes for 7, 10, 14 and 21 days. If the trip stays in the North, use the North Vietnam itinerary; if you plan to arrive in Hanoi and finish in Ho Chi Minh City, use the north-to-south itinerary.

Before you book

Weather and timing

Vietnam does not have one national best month. Compare regional patterns in the best time to visit Vietnam guide and the Vietnam weather by month guide.

Visa and entry rules

Requirements depend on passport and trip details. Use the Vietnam visa guide and recheck current official rules before paying for non-refundable travel.

Money and trip cost

For cash, cards, ATMs and exchange questions, use the Vietnam currency guide. For the bigger cost picture, compare the Vietnam travel budget guide.

Safety and packing

Use the Vietnam safety guide for practical precautions and what to pack for Vietnam for region- and activity-specific packing.

Choose experiences after the route works

Once the overnight bases and transfers make sense, add the experiences that matter most. Use Things to Do in Vietnam to compare culture, food, nature, cities and beaches. For food, continue with the Vietnam street food guide; for coffee, use the Vietnamese coffee culture guide.

Go deeper by region

  • Northern Vietnam: compare the best places to visit in Northern Vietnam, then use the individual Sapa, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh or Ha Long pages when one becomes an overnight stop.
  • Central Vietnam: use the Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An and Phong Nha guides according to the route rather than treating every Central stop as compulsory.
  • Southern Vietnam: start with Ho Chi Minh City, then decide whether the remaining time belongs to the Mekong, a coastal stop or an island.

Use the market-specific guides only when they add a real constraint

Country-specific guides are most useful when entry rules, school holidays, flight gateways, halal food, dietary needs or other market-specific planning changes the trip. They should support the generic Vietnam planning guides above rather than replace them.

If you want a bookable starting structure after the route is clear, compare our Vietnam Tour Packages and adjust the pacing, hotels and inclusions around your actual trip.