Packing for your trip to Vietnam is a time-consuming task, that's why we write this article to assist you in preparing for your trip to this beautiful country.

1. How many days do you need in Vietnam?

If you only visit Vietnam, we recommend staying for at least 15 days. During this time, you can travel from North to South Vietnam and explore all the must-see destinations of this country. Shorter stays may be advisable if you visit other countries in the region such as Cambodia or Laos. For example, you could just visit Northern Vietnam for  8 to 10 days and then continue to Luang Prabang.

We usually recommend a three-week trip: 2 weeks traveling across Vietnam from North to South and 1 week in Cambodia to explore the Angkor Temples and the Khmer countryside.

2. Best places to visit in Vietnam

2.1. Northern Vietnam

Hanoi - the thousand-year-old capital: Hanoi is definitely the first destination that you cannot ignore when traveling to North Vietnam. As the place to keep thousands of years of national quintessence, Hanoi is not only famous for its many historical sites, beautiful landscapes, and unique cuisine but also impresses visitors with its elegance of the capital. 

Co To Island - Quang Ninh: Co To is considered the most beautiful island in the North with pristine beaches, long white sand, and clear blue water. Therefore, Co To is not only an attractive destination for domestic tourists but also for foreign tourists. Visitors coming here can swim in the sea as well as participate in many interesting activities such as squid fishing at night, and climbing up the lighthouse to admire the surrounding clouds.

Sapa : Located in the northwest of Vietnam, Sapa is famous as a tourist destination in the beautiful North with year-round mists, fresh air, green terraced hills, and the poetic beauty of the highland market. You can do a lot of things in Sapa, please refer to our article about the top 10 best things to do and see in Sapa.

Ha Long - Quang Ninh : With a poetic and fanciful natural space like a fairyland in the world, Ha Long Bay is a northern tourist destination that has never stopped spreading its attraction to domestic and foreign tourists. Visitors will be able to admire the natural islands floating on the water, and mysterious caves, immerse themselves in romantic beaches or have exciting experiences when visiting local fishing villages. 

Central Vietnam

Da Nang: Da Nang is always one of the familiar destinations in the Central region. The peace of the city and the countless strange scenes here is a "paradise" for all visitors from old to young to explore and enjoy their journey. Therefore, we have created an article with the title "7 things build crazy love for Da Nang" to express our love for this beautiful coastal city. The dynamic city of Da Nang is famous for its tourist attractions such as:

• Ba Na Mountain

• My Khe Beach

• Linh Ung Pagoda

• Ly Son Island

• Collection of 3 typical bridges: Han River Bridge, Quay Bridge, Dragon Bridge

Hue: Located on both sides of the Perfume River, Hue ancient capital is considered a world cultural heritage land. This place owns many scenic spots with both ancient and poetic beauty, captivating people's hearts such as:

• Complex of relics of the ancient capital

• Truong Tien Bridge

• Ngu Binh Mountain

• Dong Ba Market

• Lang Co Bay

• Lap An lagoon

• Tam Giang Lagoon

• The system of many ancient tombs and temples...

Hoi An: Hoi An city is located in Quang Nam province, on the banks of the Thu Bon river, and is famous for its ancient town architecture & culture that has been preserved from the 80s until now. Hoi An Ancient Town is also the intersection of many different cultures such as Vietnam, China, Japan, and Europe in the landscape and the lives of local people.

Nha Trang: Nha Trang is recognized as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and also a resort paradise in the central strip of Vietnam. It owns an innumerable collection of scenic spots that visitors should not miss:

• VinWonders Nha Trang

• Aquarium Institute

• Dam Market

• Ponagar tower

• Nha Trang beaches stretch along the city

• The complex of beautiful islands such as Binh Ba Island, Hon Tre, Hon Tam, Diep Son, Hon Mun, Hon Ong ...

Southern Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City : Ho Chi Minh City is the most crowded city in the South in particular and the whole country in general. Ho Chi Minh City is located in the center of the Southeast, where many unique architectural works, amusement parks, and busy shopping centers are kept. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City is always the first choice of tourists to visit. You can visit famous places such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace, and Opera House, …

Ba Ria Vung Tau: Ba Ria - Vung Tau is famous for its beautiful beaches, and high mountains. In addition, this place also attracts visitors with delicious food. You can come here to visit places such as Pig Hill, the Statue of Christ the King, the Lighthouse,...

Can Tho city: Coming to Can Tho, you will be attracted by friendly and hospitable people. The city also won the hearts of visitors for its peacefulness and modernity, along with a number of long-standing cultural sites here. If you have the opportunity to come here, you should experience Cai Rang Floating Market, Ninh Kieu Wharf, Binh Thuy ancient house, Lu Gia Xeo Nhum ecological garden, Can Tho love bridge.

Kien Giang: Kien Giang is famous for the beautiful Phu Quoc island, poetic Ha Tien beach, and many places such as Sao beach, Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc, Thom island, and U Minh Thuong national park. Not only that, but Kien Giang also has rich cuisine and diverse festivals.

Ca Mau: Ca Mau is the province at the bottom of the map of Vietnam. Arriving in Ca Mau, you will be able to check in at Ca Mau cape, which marks the southernmost position of the country. In addition, Ca Mau also has many other attractive places such as Da Bac Island, Thi Tuong Lagoon, Dat Mui National landmark, Khai Long tourist area, and Ca Mau forest park, ...

3. The best time to travel to Vietnam

The ideal months to visit Vietnam are April and May because of the pleasant, dry weather that makes for easy travel throughout these two months.

The ideal months to visit Northern Vietnam are October and November because of the lovely weather, but this is after the harvest.

The months of January through April are ideal for travel to central Vietnam. The temperature is cool in the spring during this time, with minimal rain and gentle sunshine.

Between December and the middle of February is the ideal time to travel to the South of Vietnam. The reason is that during this particular period, there are numerous fascinating events and festivals.

4. Vietnam Visa

From March 15, 2022, until now, Vietnam's visa policy has been in the direction of opening up, administrative procedures have been reformed and renewed, and the number of foreigners entering and leaving after the Covid-19 pandemic has not stopped increasing, the e-visa policy is operating stably and achieving good results. In addition, the implementation of a system to receive and handle dossiers of applications for human resource approval for foreigners via electronic transactions has also been promoted.

Visa procedures are increasingly simple, fast, open, and transparent in many forms, along with the unilateral policy of visa exemption for citizens of 13 countries (regardless of entry purposes), which creates conditions for foreigners to enter Vietnam for tourism, investment, business, and labor. The condition is that the stay is not more than 15 days.

For citizens of countries that are exempt from visas for 15 days but want to stay longer in the territory of Vietnam, a 1-month visa is required. Of course, visas are also required for citizens of all countries that are not on the list of exempt countries. In 2022, the visa has changed: there is only one possibility to get a visa: online registration on the official government portal. The price is $25 per person.

5. Prices in Vietnam

The flight to Vietnam will be your biggest expense. The cost of traveling here is not expensive but extremely reasonable. Keep these exchange rates in mind:

• 1 dollar = 23,575 Vietnam Dong (December 2022)

• 1 euro = 24,851 Vietnam Dong (December 2022)

Here are some travel expenses in Vietnam :

Cost of accommodation: Wide price range. You can sleep for $5 in hostels in big cities or book luxury hotels for more than $150 a night. You can have excellent quality hotels for 30-35 dollars per night.

Food costs: Street eateries are everywhere in Vietnam and you can eat there for 2 or 3 dollars. Prices at restaurants start around $5.

Traveling by taxi: Taxis and apps (Grab Taxi, Go Viet, Be Taxi) abound. You can cross the city of Hanoi for less than $4 (VND 100,000).

Cost for domestic flights: if you stay up to 15 days, you may have to take one or more domestic flights in Vietnam. You can pay less than $100 with low-cost carriers like Vietjet Air. Prices range from $100 to $150 for a flight with full-service carriers such as Vietnam Airlines. You should know that the flights of low-cost airlines are often delayed. Better to pay a little more and arrive on time!

6. What to bring when coming to Vietnam ?

First of all, we recommend packing for your trip with light luggage! You can find everything in Vietnam and if you don't bring something, it won't take long to buy it! Here are some items we recommend you bring when traveling to Vietnam:

Wallets and bank cards

When traveling, you certainly cannot lack a wallet but do not forget to change money before traveling abroad, you should go to a domestic bank to change money instead of paying high fees at money changers in the airport. Besides using cash, you can keep a backup in your bank card to prevent possible risks.

Passport and identity documents

You need a passport and identity card to prove your identity and nationality. If you do not have a passport, you can register online. It will take you 2-3 weeks to get your passport, so prepare as soon as possible, to avoid any trouble.

Some tech gadgets

• Mobile phones: the main use is to communicate, to help you take photos, keep beautiful photos, note sightseeing addresses, find directions, etc. However, the phone will not work when you go abroad. Therefore, you need to contact your service provider to register for international roaming as well as find out about the rates when using it to communicate.

• Camera, flycam: if you have these items, don't forget to bring them, every great moment will be preserved.

• Camera & phone charger cables, power bank: make sure your electronic devices do not suddenly power off.

Clothes

You should research the weather situation at the destination to easily prepare all necessary clothes & items, and calculate to bring enough clothes for a long travel journey. It is better to choose clothes that can be combined many times to help make your luggage more compact.

Personal belongings

The hotels where you stay provide a full range of personal items that you can use. However, most of these items are of poor quality and do not guarantee hygiene and safety. So you should prepare some necessary personal items for a long trip:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste, comb.

• Face wash, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash.

• Towels

• Cosmetics, makeup remover for women

• Men's shaving cream and razor.

In conclusion, to plan for a trip to Vietnam, you need to know the above information. If you need help, Vietnam Original Travel is ready to accompany you on your journey to discover Vietnam. You can explore our tours to know more about Vietnam.

To prepare better your trip to Vietnam, pls read : 

=> 2 week itinerary in Vietnam 

=> How to prepare your trip to Vietnam?