Vietnam Travel Guide: Complete 2026 Planning & Preparation
For Vietnam travel in 2026, plan 1 to 3 weeks depending on your itinerary, a budget of €35 to €80 per day depending on comfort level, and prepare entry formalities 2 to 3 weeks before departure. French citizens benefit from a 45-day visa exemption. The best period runs from October to April to avoid the monsoon, but each region has its own climate.
Vietnam stretches 1,650 km from north to south, with different climates across regions. Successful travel requires choosing your period, itinerary and budget based on what you want to see. From Da Nang where I live, I notice many travellers underestimate distances and overestimate what they can do in two weeks. This guide helps you plan a realistic trip.
The country offers rare diversity: northern mountains, Halong Bay, historic cities like Hoi An, central beaches, Mekong Delta in the south. But this richness requires choices. Trying to see everything in 15 days produces an exhausting circuit. Better to focus on one or two regions and take time to discover them.
Entry formalities and visa
French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian citizens benefit from a 45-day visa exemption, valid until at least 15 August 2025 according to evisa.gov.vn consulted on 29 September 2026. This exemption applies to tourist and business stays. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months after the planned entry date.
If you stay longer than 45 days or want multiple entries, apply for a 90-day e-visa ($25, official processing time 3 working days) on the evisa.gov.vn portal. For procedure details, see the complete guide on Vietnam visa for French citizens.
For long visas (6 months, 1 year), a Vietnamese sponsor is required. Digital nomads staying several months generally chain 45-day exemptions with visa runs to Thailand, Cambodia or Laos. See the guide on visa runs for this strategy.
Entry rules depend on your nationality; the official portal is evisa.gov.vn. If you prefer someone to handle the application, visa-vietnam.app can do it. visa-vietnam.app is run by the same publisher as this site.
No vaccine is mandatory to enter Vietnam in 2026. Institut Pasteur recommendations include universal vaccines (tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis B) and, depending on areas visited, hepatitis A, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis for extended rural stays.
When to visit Vietnam
Vietnam has no single season for the whole country. The north (Hanoi, Sapa) experiences a cool winter from November to March, with temperatures of 15 to 20°C, and a hot humid summer from May to September. The centre (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) suffers monsoon from October to December, with violent rains and typhoon risks. The south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta) has two seasons: dry from November to April, wet from May to October.
The October-April period is generally recommended for a complete circuit, but with nuances. If visiting only the centre, avoid October-December. If focusing on the north, March-April and October-November offer pleasant climate. For the south, December-February are the most comfortable months.
High tourist season runs from December to March. Accommodation prices increase 30 to 50% in popular areas (Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc). International flights are also more expensive. If your budget is tight, favour April-May or September-October, accepting some showers.
For a detailed climate overview in Da Nang, see the month-by-month weather. This guide helps you choose according to your priorities.
How long to stay
For a first Vietnam travel, plan 15 to 21 days minimum if you want to see several regions without rushing. A 10-day stay requires choosing a single region (north or centre or south). With 3 weeks, you can combine two regions, for example Hanoi-Halong Bay-Hoi An-Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh-Mekong-Nha Trang.
Distances are long. Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh by train takes 30 hours, by night bus 40 hours. Domestic flights (VietJet, Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines) connect major cities in 1h30 to 2h30, for €30 to €80 depending on period. If you have less than 2 weeks, favour flying between main stops.
A realistic 15-day itinerary could be: Hanoi (3 nights), Halong Bay (1 night cruise), Hoi An (3 nights), Da Nang (2 nights), Hue (2 nights), Ho Chi Minh (3 nights). This leaves little margin. Over 21 days, you can add Sapa in the north, Nha Trang in the centre or the Mekong Delta in the south.
If considering staying several months, digital nomad status changes things. See the complete guide on digital nomad in Vietnam for this approach.
Typical itinerary to visit Vietnam
A classic north-south or south-north circuit covers Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. Here's an 18-day itinerary that balances stops:
North (6 days): Hanoi (3 nights for the old quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, water puppet show), Halong Bay (1 night cruise on a junk, prefer 2-day/1-night tours), Ninh Binh or Sapa (2 nights, depending on whether you prefer karst landscapes or terraced rice fields).
Centre (7 days): Hue (2 nights for the imperial citadel, royal tombs, boat ride on Perfume River), Hoi An (3 nights for the old town, An Bang beaches, cooking class, bike ride through rice fields), Da Nang (2 nights for Marble Mountains, Son Tra Peninsula, My Khe beaches). For more details on Hoi An, see the complete guide from Da Nang.
South (5 days): Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights for the colonial quarter, Ben Thanh market, War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi tunnels excursion), Mekong Delta (2 nights in Can Tho or Ben Tre for floating markets, orchards, homestay), return to Ho Chi Minh (1 night before flight).
This itinerary assumes domestic flights Hanoi-Hue and possibly Can Tho-Ho Chi Minh to save time. If you have 3 weeks, add Nha Trang (3 nights, diving and beaches) or Phu Quoc (3 nights, beaches and snorkelling) between centre and south.
If you prefer to deepen one region, the centre offers good balance: Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An and the Bach Ma or Phong Nha mountains can occupy 10 to 12 days without boredom. From Da Nang, everything is accessible within a few hours.
Budget for Vietnam travel
Vietnam remains an affordable destination in 2026, but prices rise in tourist areas. Plan between €35 and €80 per day per person depending on comfort level, excluding international flights. This budget covers accommodation, food, local transport and some visits.
Small budget (€35-45/day): hostel dorm (€8-12), simple guesthouses (€15-20 double room), street food or com binh dan meals (€2-4 per meal), local buses and scooter rental (€5-7/day), free or cheap visits (temples, beaches, walks). This budget assumes eating Vietnamese and avoiding Western restaurants.
Medium comfort (€50-65/day): 3-star hotel or Airbnb apartment (€25-40 per night), one meal per day in tourist restaurant (€8-12), others in local eateries, some taxis or Grab, paid site entries (€5-10 per visit). This is the most common budget for a couple travelling improved backpacker style.
Higher comfort (€70-100/day and up): 4-5 star hotel or resort (€60-150 per night), all meals in restaurants, private guides, organised excursions, domestic flights in premium economy. Beach resorts in Nha Trang or Phu Quoc can cost €100-200 per night in high season.
International flights France-Vietnam cost between €450 and €900 return depending on period and airline. Book 2 to 3 months ahead for best rates. See the guide on France-Vietnam plane tickets to optimise this expense.
For a complete price overview, see the cost of living in Vietnam. If considering staying longer, the monthly budget in Da Nang gives an idea of long-term costs.
Money and payments
The Vietnamese currency is the dong (VND). In September 2026, €1 equals approximately 27,000 VND. Notes range from 1,000 to 500,000 VND. Coins barely circulate anymore. Prices are often rounded to the nearest thousand.
Withdraw dongs from ATMs upon arrival at the airport. Local banks (Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank) charge fees of €2 to €4 per withdrawal, with a limit of 3 to 5 million VND (€110-185) per transaction. Use a bank card without foreign fees (Boursorama, Fortuneo, N26, Revolut) to avoid exchange commissions from your French bank.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, tourist restaurants and large stores, but not in street stalls, small shops or local transport. Always keep cash on you. Euros and US dollars can be exchanged in banks and exchange offices, but the rate is worse than withdrawing directly in VND.
For money transfers from France, Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers the best rates. See the guide on France-Vietnam money transfer if you need to send or receive funds.
Bargaining is common in markets and with taxis without meters, but not in fixed-price shops or restaurants. Halve the first price quoted in a market, then negotiate. In taxis, demand the meter (đồng hồ) or use Grab, the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber.
Phone and internet
4G coverage is excellent throughout the country, even in rural areas. Buy a prepaid SIM card upon arrival at the airport or in an operator shop from Viettel, Vinaphone or Mobifone. Expect 100,000 to 200,000 VND (€3.50-7.50) for 30 days with 3 to 5 GB data per day, largely sufficient.
To activate the SIM, present your passport. The operator registers your data under Vietnamese law. The procedure takes 5 minutes. Viettel offers the best coverage in northern mountains. Vinaphone and Mobifone are equivalent in cities.
Wifi is free and fast in almost all hotels, cafés and restaurants. Speeds reach 20 to 50 Mbps in major cities, sufficient for video conferencing. If you're a digital nomad, see the guide on internet and coworking in Da Nang for detailed information.
WhatsApp, Messenger and social networks work without restriction. Vietnam does not block VPNs. If you need to access geoblocked French services, a standard VPN suffices.
Health and safety
Vietnam is a safe country for travellers. Violent theft is rare. Classic scams exist (taxis without meters, fake notes, overcharging in markets), but usual caution suffices. Keep your passport and bank cards in a safe place, don't leave your phone on the table at terraces, and negotiate prices before getting into a taxi or cyclo.
Traffic is dense and chaotic in major cities. Crossing the street requires practice: advance at constant speed, scooters will avoid you. If renting a scooter, wear a helmet (mandatory, 200,000 VND or €7.50 fine) and ride carefully. Scooter accidents are the leading cause of injury among tourists. Check that your travel insurance covers this risk.
Tap water is not drinkable. Drink bottled water (5,000-10,000 VND per litre, or €0.20-0.40) or filter water with a filter bottle. Ice in tourist restaurants is generally made with purified water, but avoid it in street stalls if you have a sensitive stomach.
Mosquitoes transmit dengue throughout the country, especially during rainy season. Use DEET-based repellent (50% minimum) and wear long clothing in the evening. There is no dengue vaccine for travellers. Malaria is present only in remote rural areas of the centre and highlands; classic tourist circuits are not affected.
Take out travel insurance covering medical expenses, repatriation and scooter accidents. International hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Family Medical Practice, Vinmec) offer Western-quality care, but cost €50 to €150 per consultation. For a cost overview, see the guide on health costs in Vietnam.
Accommodation
Vietnam offers all types of accommodation, from hostel dorms to 5-star resorts. Prices vary greatly by season and destination. Book on Booking.com, Agoda or Airbnb to compare and read reviews. In high season (December-March), book at least 2 weeks ahead in popular areas (Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc).
Hostels: 6-12 bed dorm at €5-10 per night, private room €15-25. Backpacker atmosphere, wifi, shared kitchen. Concentrated in tourist quarters of Hanoi (old quarter), Hoi An (old town) and Ho Chi Minh (district 1).
Guesthouses and local hotels: double room with private bathroom, AC and breakfast at €15-30 per night. Variable cleanliness, but often well-kept. Ideal for medium budget. Present everywhere, even in small towns.
3-4 star hotels: double room at €30-60 per night, pool, buffet breakfast, English-speaking staff. Western comfort. International chains (Novotel, Hilton, Hyatt) cost €60-120 per night.
Resorts and boutique hotels: €80-200 per night and up, especially beachfront. Luxury, spa, private beach. Concentrated in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Da Nang and Mui Ne.
Airbnb offers whole apartments from €20-30 per night for 2 people, interesting if staying a week in the same place. Residential areas of Da Nang offer good value. See the guide to finding an apartment in Da Nang if considering a long stay.
Food and restaurants
Vietnamese cuisine is one of Asia's best: fresh, varied, fragrant. Emblematic dishes are pho (beef or chicken noodle soup), banh mi (baguette sandwich), bun cha (cold noodles with grilled pork), cao lau (Hoi An speciality), spring rolls (goi cuon) and iced coffee (ca phe sua da).
Street stalls (quan an via he) serve dishes at 30,000-60,000 VND (€1-2.50). Sit on a plastic stool, order by pointing, and eat like locals. This is where you'll find the best flavours. Tourist restaurants charge 80,000-200,000 VND (€3-7.50) per dish, with English menu and more comfortable setting.
Western restaurants (pizza, burgers, pasta) exist in all tourist cities, at 150,000-300,000 VND (€5.50-11) per dish. If you're homesick for France, you'll find French bakeries (Maison Marou, Tous les Jours) in major cities, with croissants at 30,000-50,000 VND (€1-2).
Vietnamese coffee is excellent and cheap: 15,000-30,000 VND (€0.50-1) in a street stall, 40,000-80,000 VND (€1.50-3) in a modern café. Vietnamese drink iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk (ca phe sua da), very strong and very sweet. If you prefer without sugar, ask for ca phe den da (black iced coffee).
To discover the best places to eat in Da Nang, see the guide to restaurants and cafés. The city offers an excellent overview of central cuisine.
Local transport
Domestic flights connect all major cities. VietJet (low-cost) and Bamboo Airways (mid-range) offer fares from €25 to €80 depending on period and advance booking. Vietnam Airlines costs 20-30% more but offers more flexibility. Book directly on airline websites or via Skyscanner.
Night buses (sleeping buses) connect main cities for €10 to €20 per trip. Berths are narrow but acceptable for one night. Recommended companies are Phuong Trang (Futa Bus Lines) and Hanh Cafe. Book online or through your hotel. Note that schedules are not always respected.
The train (Reunification Express) connects Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in 30 hours, with stops at Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang. Comfortable but slow. Expect €30-60 for a soft sleeper in 2nd class, €80-120 in 1st class. Book on dsvn.vn (official Vietnam Railways site, in Vietnamese and English) or via baolau.com (in French, €1-2 commission).
In cities, Grab (ride-hailing app, like Uber) is the simplest and safest way. Download the app, enter your destination, the price is fixed in advance. Expect 30,000-80,000 VND (€1-3) for a city ride. Official taxis (Vinasun, Mai Linh) with meter are also reliable, but demand the meter from the start.
Scooter rental costs 100,000-150,000 VND per day (€3.50-5.50). You must present your passport and leave a deposit or your driving licence. Legally, an international motorcycle licence is mandatory, but rarely requested. In case of accident, you're at fault without valid licence. Always wear a helmet.
For getting around Da Nang, see the complete transport guide. The city is representative of the central country.
What to pack
The tropical climate requires light, breathable clothing. Plan:
- Clothing: t-shirts, shorts, light trousers, a dress or shirt for temples and restaurants, a jumper or light jacket for AC (very cold in buses and shopping centres), a rain jacket or waterproof jacket for monsoon.
- Shoes: sandals or flip-flops for everyday, trainers or walking shoes for hikes, shower flip-flops for hostels.
- Accessories: hat or cap, sunglasses, SPF 50+ sunscreen (expensive in Vietnam), DEET 50% mosquito repellent, filter bottle or water purification tablets.
- Health: first aid kit (plasters, disinfectant, anti-diarrhoeal, paracetamol), personal medicines with prescription, condoms (variable quality in Vietnam).
- Electronics: universal adapter (type A, C and G plugs in Vietnam, 220V), power bank for phone, headphones, e-reader for long journeys.
- Documents: passport (6 months minimum validity), passport and plane ticket photocopies, travel insurance certificate, vaccination record, backup bank card.
Clothing and most products are cheap in Vietnam. If you forget something, you'll find it easily. Major cities have well-stocked pharmacies and shopping centres with all international brands.
Must-see attractions
Vietnam has dozens of remarkable sites. Here's a selection of must-sees by region, based on thousands of travellers' experience:
North: Hanoi (old quarter, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake), Halong Bay (junk cruise, caves, kayaking), Sapa (terraced rice fields, ethnic villages, trekking), Ninh Binh (terrestrial Halong Bay, Tam Coc caves, Bai Dinh Pagoda).
Centre: Hue (imperial citadel, royal tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda, Perfume River), Hoi An (UNESCO-listed old town, covered bridges, lanterns, An Bang and Cua Dai beaches, cooking classes), Da Nang (Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha, Son Tra Peninsula, My Khe beaches), Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (giant caves, including Son Doong, the world's largest cave).
South: Ho Chi Minh City (colonial quarter, Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral, War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi tunnels, Ben Thanh market), Mekong Delta (Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets, orchards, sampan rides), Phu Quoc (beaches, snorkelling, night markets), Mui Ne (red and white sand dunes, fishing village).
Each region deserves 5 to 7 days to be visited without rushing. If you must choose, the centre (Hue-Hoi An-Da Nang) offers the best balance between culture, beaches and landscapes over a reasonable distance.
Next steps
Once formalities are settled and itinerary defined, book your international flights 2 to 3 months ahead for best rates. See the guide on France-Vietnam plane tickets to optimise this step.
If your trip is a first approach before a longer stay, explore the complete guide on expatriation to Vietnam. Many travellers return to settle after a first stay.
To refine your budget, use the budget calculator which compares costs by city and lifestyle. This tool helps estimate your monthly expenses if considering staying several months.
Vietnam is best discovered by taking your time. A well-prepared 3-week stay leaves more memories than a 10-day marathon circuit. Favour quality over quantity, and keep time for encounters and unexpected moments.
Frequently asked questions
Jérémie Chiari
Author, based in Da Nang
A French entrepreneur living in Da Nang, Jérémie writes these guides from first-hand experience and official sources, cited and dated.
About the author