Vietnam Tours & Holiday Packages

The best time to visit Vietnam is from March to late April and from October to December. During this time, the whole country has amazingly nice weather which is very cool and has less rain, suitable for enjoying every activity here from sightseeing to adventure.

On the other hand, each part of Vietnam has its own most wonderful time to visit:

• North: There are 4 seasons including spring (Feb – Apr), summer (May – Aug), fall (Sep – Nov), and winter (Dec – Jan). Particularly, it is hot and humid with high rainfall from May to October, while November to April is cooler and dry.
• Central: The typical tropical monsoon climate brings hot temperatures almost over the year in the central region. The hot season occurs from January to August with average temperatures of mid-30s°C. The months from September to November receive the highest rainfall which results in heavy storms and floods.
• South: There are only two seasons including the dry and wet seasons with remaining high temperatures all over the year. The dry season lasts from November to April and the wet season from May to October with the highest precipitation between June and August.

Top 3 must-visit destinations in Vietnam

Hanoi

As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is one of the most ancient cities here, over 1000 years old. For visitors who are passionate about culture and history, Hanoi is the exact place with a huge number of temples & pagodas, relics, museums, and cultural shows:

The Temple of Literature

• Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam St., Van Mieu Wd., Dong Da Dist.
• Opening hours: 08:00 - 17:00
• Ticket price: 30,000 VND/person (~ $1.2)
• Highlight: One of the most well-preserved big relics in Hanoi - the first university in Vietnam where you can get a deeper understanding of the country’s  history

One Pillar Pagoda

• Address: Chua Mot Cot St., Doi Can Wd., Ba Dinh Dist.,
• Opening hours: 07:00 - 18:00
• Ticket price: 25,000 VND/person (~ $1)
• Highlight: A famous symbol of Hanoi featuring unique architecture and structure like an elegant lotus growing in the middle of the little pond

Hoa Lo Prison

• Address: 1 Hoa Lo St., Tran Hung Dao Wd., Hoan Kiem Dist.
• Opening hours: 08:00 - 17:00
• Ticket price: 30,000 VND/person (~ $1.2)
• Highlight: A historical relic for history lovers who want to gain an insight into the turbulent time of Vietnam in the past, through stories about one of the most brutal prisons in the world

Ho Chi Minh City

This is the most crowded and populated area in Vietnam. For anyone who seeks all-night excitement, the unsleeping city is the ideal destination for a Vietnam trip. This city is a mix of traditional culture with fast-paced nightlife where you can visit relics, museums, pagodas, and also get drunk at bars and pubs overnight:

Bui Vien Walking Street

• Address: Bui Vien Street
• Opening hours: 19:00 - 02:00 (Weekend)
• Highlight: A wonderful paradise for night owls who desire a lively and memorable sleepless night with vibrant bars, cheap drinks, and delightful street food.

Thien Hau Temple

• Address: 710 Nguyen Trai St., Dist. 5, HCMC
• Opening hours: 06:30 - 16.30
• Ticket price: Free
• Highlight: The most important pagoda in the spiritual life of the Chinese people in Chinatown area that worships one of the most important gods protecting the lives of all overseas Chinese people in Saigon up until now

Cu Chi Tunnels

• Address: Phu Hiep, Cu Chi, HCMC
• Opening hours: 07:00 - 17:00
• Ticket price: 30,000 VND/person (~ $1.2)
• Highlight: The top-searched relic in Ho Chi Minh City for those who are interested in the history of the Vietnam War and want to explore the complicated man-made tunnels.

Top 5 must-do in Vietnam:

Taste Hanoi Street food

• Average price: Only US $2 for a meal

Do you know that Hanoi is the city that owns most of the Bib Gourmand list with many of them are local street vendors? Good foods can be found everywhere at any time on Hanoi Street at super cheap prices.

Also, the choice is varied with a long list of local dishes different from ingredients to cooking ways, guarantee you can have different meals each day exploring this city.

Stay overnight with Halong Bay Cruise

• Travel duration: 2 days 1 night /3 days 2 nights

Cruising through Halong Bay overnight is worth trying for every type of tourist as there are many routes to choose from whether for leisure or adventure purposes.

Also, the price range for this outstanding service is only from $120 /pax which is not expensive for a 2-day cruise including about 4 meals and many other interesting activities during the trip.

Trek in North Vietnam

• Tour duration: 5 - 9 days
• Price range: US $400 - 1000 per pax

North Vietnam is famous for its special terrain with a complicated system of hills and mountains of different heights, creating many amazing trekking routes from easy to difficult with stunning views covering the mountainous area here.

The most popular places for trekking in the North are Mai Chau, Sapa, and Ha Giang where you can choose your suitable trekking route.

Check-in at Golden Bridge

• Location: Ba Na Hills, Da Nang, Central Vietnam
• Cable car ticket price: Around US $47 /pax

The Golden Bridge is absolutely the most trending attraction in Vietnam at present and has been requested by most tourists since its opening in 2018.

People flock here to observe the beauty of this man-made masterpiece awarded by many reputable worldwide architecture contests and have an Insta time inspired by movie scenery.

Experience Mekong floating markets

Visiting floating markets in Mekong is not just a way of experiencing this area's local life but also how you can help preserve a traditional culture that might disappear one day.

In fact, there are not many floating markets still exist in the Mekong Delta, the biggest and most famous one that you can visit at present is Cai Rang - a floating market in Can Tho which is still a place for trading among fruits and vegetable wholesalers.

In general, Vietnamese foods are easy to eat with most tourists and that is the reason why the cuisine here is so famous.

Also, usually, sellers in restaurants and vendors here are friendly enough to help diners customize their dishes by adding or removing ingredients due to orders and abilities.

Top 5 must-try Vietnamese dishes:

Vietnamese Noodles

• Price: From 35,000 VND (~ US $1.4)

Many tourists know about Vietnamese Noodles through “Pho” (with beef or chicken) which is sold in most Vietnamese restaurants all over the world.

However, you will find out that noodles in Vietnam also include Bun Cha (noodles with grilled meat), Bun Bo Hue (noodles soup with beef and pork leg), Banh Canh (noodles with crab meat), etc. all are made with different types of noodles, spices, ingredients, and also the way to cook.

Banh Mi

• Price: From 15,000 VND (~ US $0.6)

This dish is as famous as the word “Banh Mi” is now available in Oxford Dictionary. Since the day “baguette” followed French to Vietnam, the Vietnamese Baguette has been developed for hundreds of years to become the world-known “Banh Mi”.

There are many types of toppings that can be put into this dish in Vietnam such as: pate, cold cuts, char siu pork, French fries, beef jerky, fried egg, etc. combined with traditional fermented vegetables, cucumber, and herbs.

Fried Dishes

• Price: From 10,000 VND (~ US $0.4)

If you come to Vietnam in Winter or rainy season, don’t miss your chance to try fried dishes in this country. They are sold all year round but the taste is better during this time.

As the North is colder, there are more choices for fried foods here from sweet to savory such as Vietnamese donuts, fried buns, Quay (yau ja kwai), Banh Goi (Pillow Cake), etc. And in the South, you shouldn’t miss Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Pancake) and Banh Trang Nuong (Vietnamese Pizza).

Rice Dishes

• Price: From 35,000 VND (~ US $1.4)

Rice is the main ingredient for local meals in Vietnam. Restaurants that serve rice like a local family's daily meals can be found anywhere in Vietnam from budget to luxury options.

One restaurant like that even received 1-star Michelin: Tam Vi - a deluxe traditional-style restaurant located in Hanoi. On the other hand, far in the South, there is a super famous rice dish that is loved by both locals and foreigners - Com Tam (rice with grilled pork rib cutlet) - a dish that can give you a fulfilling meal on 1 plate.

Sweet Soup

• Price: From 15,000 VND (~ US $0.6)

The most popular dessert in Vietnam is absolutely sweet soup - a dish that can be found in every corner of this country.

The ingredients to create this dish are varied and they are different in each region of the country, some most popular ones are all types of beans, sesame, fruits, rice cakes, sweet potatoes, eggs, etc.

Visa Exemption

Vietnam exempt visa for citizens from 25 countries and territories including citizens from 9 countries in Southeast Asia and below:

E-Visa

Tourists who are not citizens from countries in the “Vietnam Visa Exemption” list must apply for a visa to enter this country. There are 80 countries and territories that citizens can apply for E-Visa to Vietnam:

For applying E-Visa, please send the below documents to your travel consultant:

• A photo of your passport, for example:

• Your 4x6 passport photo, for example:

Note: If your citizenship is not on the above list, and also not in the Visa Exemption list below, please contact the Vietnam Embassy /Consulate in your country for detailed directions on applying for a Vietnam Visa.

Is Vietnam safe to travel?

Vietnam is generally considered a safe destination for travelers due to its relatively low violent crime rate. However, there are some precautions that you have to know before traveling

• Personal Safety: Be cautious of your belongings, especially in crowded areas, and avoid displaying valuable items that may attract attention.
• Traffic Safety: Vietnamese streets are quite chaotic in major cities, so you need to be cautious when crossing the road and ensure to have a valid license before planning to rent a motorbike
• Scams and Touts: Be cautious of overly friendly strangers offering deals that seem too good to be true, and use trustworthy tour company for a safe and carefree journey.
• Health & Hygiene: Protect yourself by paying attention to food and water hygiene to minimize. It’s highly recommended to drink bottled water and bring insect repellent to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses.

When visiting a foreign country, it’s essential to be aware of the country’s culture and etiquette to ensure a respectful and enjoyable journey. 

Here are some do's and don'ts travelers coming to Vietnam should keep in mind:

Exchange rate 

For reference only, the rate changes every day, please check the daily exchange rate with your travel consultant or bank.

Denominations of money

Tipping

Please note that tipping is not a part of Vietnamese culture; therefore, no one has to tip if they are not totally happy with the service. Just tip when you feel like you want to do, not when someone persuades or asks you for that.

Below are some general amounts for tipping in Vietnam:

• For hotel bellman: $2 or $1/suitcase
• For housekeeper: $1 - $2
• For waiter /waitress: $1 - $3
• For driver: $3 - $5 or just round up the bill
• For tour guide: $7 - $10/day or $3 - $5/person (for a big group)

Learn more about Tipping in Vietnam

Places to exchange money in Vietnam

You can exchange money in Vietnam easily since there are several available options for foreign visitors:

• Banks: Being considered a reliable and secure choice, bank is a popular destination for foreigners to exchange their money when traveling to Vietnam. Bank branches are easy to find in major cities, and remember to bring your passport as it may be required for currency exchange transactions
• International airports: Airport is another good option when you traveling to Vietnam and want to have some cash for small payments. Though exchange counters at the airports may not offer a good rate as gold shops.
• Hotels: Many hotels in Vietnam provide currency exchange services for their guests. It's advisable to inquire about the rates and any applicable fees as the exchange rates may not be as favorable as those at banks.
• Gold shops: You can find good exchange rates when exchanging money at gold shops, however, exercise caution and ensure that the shop you choose is reputable and trustworthy before conducting any transactions.

What should you pack?

• Clothes & accessories: waterproof jacket, sport shoes (better if waterproof), hat, small umbrella
• Cosmetics & cosmeceuticals: sunscreen, personal insect repellent spray
• Medicines: bring along your own ones, especially if there’s any requested prescription sale
• Money: prepare as much cash as you can (to avoid using credit cards with 3-5% fee) and separate into small amounts.
• Travel document: passport, visa, travel insurance and any receipt/booking code of book-in-advance services with photocopy of each above document.

Plugs & Voltages

The standard voltage in Vietnam is 220V at 50 Hz, and Type A, C, and F are the 3 most common plugs types used in the country:

• Type A: Has two flat parallel pins. It is similar to the plugs used in the United States and Japan.
• Type C: Has two round pins. It is the most common plug type in Europe and many other countries.
• Type F: Similar to Type C but includes two additional grounding clips on the sides. It is commonly used in Europe.

You should prepare an adapter to fit the outlets, and a converter or transformer if your devices have a different voltage.

Do you need travel insurance?

It is highly recommended for foreign travelers to purchase travel insurance when visiting Vietnam, as travel insurance provides valuable protection and coverage against unexpected events or emergencies that may occur during your trip:

• Medical Emergencies: Cover medical expenses in case of illness or injury
• Travel Delays: Cover additional expenses such as accommodation, meals, and transportation if your flights are delayed or canceled
• Lost or Delayed Baggage: Offer coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.

The insurance cost may range from US $20 - 50 per pax for a trip from 10 - 15 days.

Internet Access

Internet access in Vietnam has significantly improved in recent years, so travelers can access Internet easily in both urban and rural areas: 

• Mobile Data: Quite popular in Vietnams so you can buy a SIM card at the airport or local shops at a reasonable price from US $8. Major mobile network operators you can opt for are Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone.
• WiFi: Travelers can access the Internet in Vietnam by using free WiFi, which is provided in most hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Money Tips

• Change the money before your trip or at the airport for the best exchange rate and avoid scams
• Bring along as much cash as you can as ATMs are only available widely in big cities and you can be charged 3-5% for using your cash internationally.
• Separate your cash and put it in some hidden places on your clothes and a bag that never leaves you, don’t leave any in the hotel room.
• Asking for tipping money directly is considered rude in Vietnam, just leave or send a claim for that bad behavior.