Vietnam is a country that attracts more tourists every day with its amazing landscapes declared a World Heritage Site, an interesting history and finger-licking cuisine.
This country that has been open to tourism for a relatively short time has everything for you to have an exotic and at the same time cheap vacation.
Below you will find all the articles I have written to date that will serve as your guide to Vietnam on your own and as always, if you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I will help you in any way I can. 😉
Get Ready for Your Trip to Vietnam
If you are organizing your first trip to Vietnam, below you have a couple of articles that will help you, especially Tips for traveling to Vietnam.
In that article you will find everything you need to know, such as visas, vaccines, security, scams, currency exchange and payments, plugs, SIM cards and lots of practical information.
The other will help you prepare your suitcase.
How many days to spend in Vietnam?
To tour Vietnam and see all the essentials you will need to dedicate at least 13 days, to distribute as follows:
- 6 days in the north
- 3 days in the center
- 4 days in the south
Vietnam Essentials
Vietnam is a narrow and long country, when it comes to its essentials, the country can be divided into three zones: north, center and south.
These are some of the most interesting places in Vietnam:
- North: Hanoi its capital; Ha Long Bay; Tam Coc and Hoa Lu; Sapa.
- Center: imperial city of Hue; Hoi An; My Son Sanctuary
- South: Ho Chi Minh City; the underground tunnels of Cu Chi; the Mekong Delta; Phu Quoc Island.
Below you have several articles from the central and northern areas of Vietnam.
Accommodation
In Vietnam you will find very diverse and generally very cheap accommodation, but the quality usually has standards far below European accommodation.
👍 Friend's tip: if you are going to look for very cheap accommodation, pay special attention to the comments of other travelers, because in Vietnam some hostels or cheap hotels have hygiene or even mold problems.
If you use a search engine like Booking you can filter by the accommodations that have the best scores, this is ideal to do on any trip, but even more so in Vietnam.
In these links you can see the offers for the best hotels in hanoi and here those of Ho Chi Minh, all have good opinions from travelers.
How to get around Vietnam?
One of the advantages of traveling to Vietnam is the ease you will find to move around freely and for specific places you can alternate it with day trips to save time, see more places and sometimes save money.
And if English is not your strong point, you will find many excursions with guide in Spanish in Vietnam, like the ones in the link, you just have to select the destination and then the filter “only activities in Spanish”.
Driving
Vietnam is a very dangerous country to drive in, so I'm not going to go into this topic too much and I'm telling you this having lived in Thailand for 3 years, but in Vietnam, I didn't dare to drive. 🙈
There are places where it may be worth renting a motorcycle, especially in small, quiet cities, such as Hue.
For the rest of the places, my recommendation is that you get around by public transportation or with excursions and avoid driving.
Public Transportation
Public transport in Vietnam works very well and is cheap, depending on the destination you can opt for trains, buses, planes and boats.
Below you have a detailed guide on all public transport, if not I recommend using this web page that shows you all the transportation options for the destination you choose, with their schedules and prices.
In addition, you can book tickets right there without having to go to the stations.
Outdoor Adventures for Active Travelers
These are some of the best adventurous activities in Vietnam, to get off the classic tourist routes and at the same time have more authentic experiences:
Hiking, trekking
In this guide to Vietnam I couldn't fail to mention the mountain routes.
Vietnam is a country with many beautiful hiking and trekking routes, routes that are beginning to be known for their breathtaking landscapes.
Some of the most interesting areas are in the north, such as Sapa, where you can go on your own and there join a group to tour the area like this one in the link or take an excursion from Hanoi.
If you prefer something more demanding, I recommend this one. 5 day trekking by Sapa with a guide to learn about the local culture, its gastronomy while enjoying beautiful natural landscapes.
If not, you can go hiking or trekking on your own using All TrailsFor example, in Sapa there are 16 hiking trails, most of them at a moderate level.
Cycling
Vietnam is also excellent for cycling routes that are becoming more popular every day, you can do routes with a guide and explore the entire country from south to north like the one in the link.
Another of the best areas for cycling routes in Vietnam is from Ho Chi Minh throughout the Mekong Delta area, such as this from the 4 day link with a guide. A very good experience.
bikers
If you're into adrenaline, some of the best motorcycle routes are in Sapa, there are even groups with guide like this one in the link which is a 5 day route.
Then, another of the most popular routes is the one that goes from Hoi An towards Hue through the area of the famous Hai Van Pass, also known as the Oceanic Cloud Pass, this is a 1 day route with guide.
Surf
Although it may surprise you, you can surf in Vietnam, especially in the central area of the country.
Specifically, the city of Da Nang has good waves from July to March and the first months (July to September) the waves are bigger.
In the article below you can read more about where to rent a board, prices, classes and a lot of information so you can surf in Da Nang.
Yoga
If you want to take advantage of your trip to Vietnam to take a few days of relaxation, I recommend doing a yoga retreat.
In the article below you have several withdrawals that are very good and cheap.
Fun Facts about Vietnam
If you want to know a little more about the country before traveling, be sure to read the article below, with very varied curiosities about Vietnam that will surprise you.
Recommended Vietnam Guides
In case you want to buy a Vietnam travel guide, I recommend this one Lonely Planet of the link that includes the best of the country.
Another good alternative is this one by Alberto Barambio Canet, is a more concrete guide, with a lot of practical information and itineraries.
Final Thoughts
I hope this travel guide to Vietnam helps you organize yourself to visit this unforgettable country that is enjoyed with all the senses.
Keep this guide handy; it'll be a valuable resource throughout your journey, providing access to all my articles. If you found it helpful, don't hesitate to share it with fellow travelers. Have a wonderful trip! 💚
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Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.