Vietnam rewards the curious. Thailand wraps you in warmth and Bali slows you down, but Vietnam keeps surprising you. It doesn't put on a show for tourists. It invites you to keep up.
What should you know before a first trip to Vietnam? Go in March or April for good weather nationwide, get your e-visa on the official .gov.vn site, and plan on ten to twelve days so you can see Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Saigon without rushing. Base yourself in the best hotel in each city and let a local guide handle the street food.
Key facts
- Best months: March and April for the whole country. The north is best October to April, the center February to May, the south December to April.
- Getting there: about 16 hours nonstop from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Airlines, or 20 to 24 hours with a connection from other U.S. cities.
- Entry: U.S. citizens need a visa. The official e-visa is $25 single entry or $50 multiple entry (as of October 2026).
- Where to stay: Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi, Four Seasons The Nam Hai near Hoi An, The Reverie in Saigon.
- Our trip: the eleven-day Vietnam Experience, from Saigon to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Da Nang.
Here's what you need to know, north to south.
When to Visit Vietnam
Photo: Aman Shrivastava / Unsplash
Vietnam is long and thin, so the weather changes a lot by region. Timing matters.
North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay): Best from October to April. Cool and dry, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s°F. December and January can be chilly and overcast. Avoid June to August (hot, humid, typhoon risk).
Central (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang): Best from February to May, the driest and warmest window. September to November brings the most rain. Hoi An's monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival is worth timing your trip around.
South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta): Best from December to April, the dry season, with temperatures in the 80s and 90s°F. The wet season (May to November) brings afternoon downpours but is otherwise manageable.
The sweet spot: March and April are good across the whole country.
Understanding Vietnam's Geography
Hanoi & The North
Vietnam's capital is a city of lakes and tree-lined boulevards, with a 1,000-year history that makes most capitals look young. The Old Quarter is a maze of narrow streets, each traditionally named for a single trade: Silver Street, Paper Street, Silk Street. The French colonial buildings layered on top give Hanoi a look you won't find anywhere else.
Ha Long Bay
Nearly 2,000 limestone karsts rising from emerald water. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it looks even better in person than in photos.
Hue
The former imperial capital, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945. The Imperial City, the royal tombs and the Perfume River give it a faded grandeur that's a little melancholy and very beautiful.
Hoi An
A UNESCO-protected ancient town and, simply, one of the loveliest places in Southeast Asia. Centuries-old merchant houses, a Japanese covered bridge, Chinese assembly halls, and a riverfront that glows with lanterns at dusk.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Vietnam's largest city and its economic engine. Motorbikes flow like rivers, markets are piled high with tropical fruit, and rooftop bars look out over a skyline that keeps growing. The War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels add historical weight.
Where to Stay: Our Recommendations
Hanoi
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. A French colonial landmark open since 1901. The Metropole Wing keeps its original grandeur and the Opera Wing is more contemporary. Afternoon tea here is famous, and the French Quarter location puts you steps from Hoan Kiem Lake.
Ha Long Bay
A luxury Ha Long Bay cruise. Two nights on board, with kayaking, cave visits, and optional sunrise tai chi on deck. On our group trip, that's the Essence Grand superyacht.
Vinh Hy Bay
Amanoi. Pool pavilions in a national park above the sea, south of Nha Trang. It's one of only two hotels in Vietnam with three MICHELIN Keys.
Photo: Courtesy of Aman
Photo: Courtesy of Aman
Hoi An
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai. A beachfront resort just outside Hoi An with one of the prettiest pool-to-ocean views in Vietnam. The villas are spacious, the spa is excellent, and the cooking classes use ingredients from the resort's organic garden.
Ho Chi Minh City
The Reverie Saigon. Opulent Italian-designed interiors, and our home base in Saigon on the Vietnam Experience. The rooftop bar overlooks the city, and you're on Nguyen Hue Walking Street, right in the middle of things.
Unique Things to Do in Vietnam: The Must-Experience Moments
1. Hanoi's Old Quarter on Foot
Leave the car behind and walk. Dodge the odd motorbike, pass women carrying baguettes and fruit on shoulder poles, and slip into hidden courtyards where families have lived for generations. A guided walk with a Hanoian is one of the most personal ways to meet the city.
2. Ha Long Bay by Boat
Two nights on a luxury boat through the limestone karsts. Kayak into hidden lagoons, swim in green water, and watch the sun set behind rock shaped by wind and water over millions of years.
3. Hoi An's Lantern-Lit Evening
On the 14th day of each lunar month, Hoi An dims its electric lights and lets silk lanterns and floating candles light the old town. It feels like stepping back in time.
4. Street Food in Every City
For me, Vietnam's street food is the best in the world. Each city has its specialties, and our food guides know the legendary vendors. I've written about why the food scene is worth the flight alone.
5. The Cu Chi Tunnels
An underground network used by Vietnamese fighters during the war. It's tight, claustrophobic and sobering, and it gives you real historical context. It isn't comfortable, and it isn't meant to be.
What to Know Before You Go
Visa: U.S. citizens need a visa. The official e-visa costs $25 for single entry or $50 for multiple entry and is valid for up to 90 days (as of October 2026). Apply only on the government site ending in .gov.vn, and give it at least a week.
Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). The numbers are big (one U.S. dollar is roughly 25,000 to 26,000 VND as of October 2026), which takes some getting used to. Markets and street stalls prefer cash; hotels and upscale restaurants take cards.
Health: The CDC recommends hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines for most travelers; check with your doctor. Drink bottled water. Busy, high-turnover street vendors are your best bet.
Getting there: Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (about 16 hours). From most other U.S. cities you'll connect via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong or Singapore, for roughly 20 to 24 hours door to door.
What to wear: cover your shoulders and knees at pagodas and temples, and pack for heat, rain and a boat. Here's what to wear in Vietnam in May, with the packing list.
Motorbike traffic: Vietnamese cities run on millions of motorbikes. To cross the street, walk slowly and steadily and the bikes will flow around you. Don't stop and don't run. Your guide will teach you on day one.
Why Travel with Caviar in the Air
Vietnam rewards local knowledge more than almost anywhere we go. Telling a tourist pho shop from the legendary one takes a guide who knows. Our Vietnam Experience gives you eleven days of good hotels, food and culture with local experts, from Saigon to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Da Nang.
Planning your own route? Read my 10-day Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh itinerary or, if you're torn between countries, Vietnam or Thailand.
Claire B. Soares is a 6X Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist and the founder of Caviar in the Air.
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