Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia with some incredible landscapes, from the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay to the braided waterways in the Mekong Delta. Vietnam’s cities are interesting and historic, and the food is some of the best in the region, making this a great destination for travelers interested in exploring Southeast Asia.
Vietnam quick facts
- Population: 95.5 million
- Language: Vietnamese
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)
- Capital city: Hanoi
- Country size: 127,881 square miles
- High season: March to May and September to November
Top 10 things to do in Vietnam
- Take a cruise through Ha Long Bay
- Explore the imperial city of Hue
- Get custom clothing made from a tailor in Hoi An
- Trek through the beautiful rice terraces of Sapa
- Celebrate Tet (Vietnamese New Year)
- Take a boat ride down the Mekong River
- Explore the capital city of Hanoi
- Try Vietnamese cuisine like pho and banh mi
- See the stunning Ban Gioc waterfalls
Getting around
Vietnam is a large country with a length as long as the East Coast of the United States. Traveling from one end of the country to the other (such as from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City) is best accomplished by taking a domestic flight.
For covering shorter distances, taking the train or tourist buses is a cost-effective and relatively efficient way to get around.
Within cities, the cheapest way to get around is by motorbike taxi. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can rent your own motorbike or motorcycle, but it’s not recommended for those who aren’t experienced drivers!
Where to stay in Vietnam
Hanoi
Hue
Ho Chi Minh City
Lived and worked in Saigon, Da Nang, Hoi Anh for six years, helping students, physically disabeled and young tribal minorities. I’m so ‘homesick’ – only good thing is that I brought a little Vietnam back to the US with me, my wife Kimmy and she cooks VN every day for me. We hope to go back as soon as we can to continue helping ( We are not socialists, but we love to be with Vietnamese people ). During the six years I experienced only one confrontation with a drunk. In comparison I’ve been flipped off, called names, and encountered agressive behavior by middle aged drivers many times, while driving in the US the last 3 years. There is no comparison to social interaction between the two people. For example, you hear ” how are you” all the time , in the US, but most persons will not give time to hear ‘how you are doing’. We have no social- visiting- each- other during the day or in the evening in the US, compared to Vietnam. It’s just very different here and there and I love the ‘ different of there ‘.
Thank you for providing such a detailed guide for a trip to Vietnam.
I’m a native Vietnamese. My country has a lot of things to see and do. I’m really happy to know that you love our homeland
[…] issues are not confined to Vietnam — you’ll find scammy drivers, pollution/litter, and unfriendly vendors all across […]
[…] in Vietnam during Tet definitely made my travels in the country more interesting, especially from a cultural […]