Places to visit in Vietnam, north to south
By Ganesh ·
The best places to visit in Vietnam. Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, with a 10-day route, costs from India, the e-visa and the best time by region.
The short answer: the best places to visit in Vietnam are Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ha Long Bay (or quieter Lan Ha Bay), Ninh Binh's karst valleys, Sapa's rice terraces in the north, Hue's imperial citadel and Hoi An's lantern-lit old town in the centre, the beaches of Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels in the south. Ten to twelve days lets you travel north to south with an internal flight or two; with a week, pick two regions.
Prices and rules below are approximate. Check before you go.
Vietnam at a glance
Vietnam is long and thin (about 1,650 km from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City) so think of it as three regions: the north (Hanoi, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Sapa), the centre (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang) and the south (Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc). Cheap domestic flights link them in 1–2 hours.
Top places to visit in Vietnam
1. Hanoi
The capital's Old Quarter is a maze of streets named after the goods once sold there. See Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the Train Street, and eat your way through the street food (vegetarians: look for chay restaurants).
2. Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay
Thousands of limestone islands rise out of emerald water. An overnight cruise is the classic way to see them; Lan Ha Bay, reached from Cat Ba, is similar and less crowded. Day trips from Hanoi are possible but long (about 2.5 hours each way).
3. Ninh Binh
Often called "Ha Long Bay on land": rowing-boat trips through caves at Trang An or Tam Coc, the viewpoint at Hang Mua (around 500 steps), and the old capital of Hoa Lu. Spend a night here rather than rushing it as a day trip.
4. Sapa
Rice terraces and ethnic-minority villages in the far north-west, best for trekking. Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak, has a cable car. Overnight sleeper trains or buses run from Hanoi.
5. Hue
The former imperial capital: the walled Citadel, royal tombs along the Perfume River and Thien Mu Pagoda. The drive or train south over the Hai Van Pass to Da Nang is one of the country's most scenic.
6. Hoi An
A UNESCO-listed trading port with yellow shophouses, the Japanese Covered Bridge and lanterns on the river at night. It is also the place to get clothes tailored in a day or two. An Bang beach is a short cycle away.
7. Da Nang
A modern beach city with My Khe beach, the Marble Mountains and the Ba Na Hills with its Golden Bridge held up by giant stone hands.
8. Ho Chi Minh City
Busy and energetic: the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh market and rooftop bars. A half-day trip covers the Cu Chi Tunnels.
9. The Mekong Delta
Floating markets, orchards and canals. A day trip from Ho Chi Minh City gives a taste; a night in Can Tho lets you see the Cai Rang floating market at dawn.
10. Phu Quoc
An island in the far south with resorts and beaches, a good way to end the trip.
A sample 10-day route
- Days 1–2: Hanoi.
- Day 3: Ninh Binh (stay overnight).
- Days 4–5: Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise; back to Hanoi and fly to Da Nang.
- Days 6–8: Hoi An as a base; a day for Hue via the Hai Van Pass, or Ba Na Hills.
- Days 9–10: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City; Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta.
What it costs (approximate, per person)
| Item | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights from India (direct flights from some Indian cities) | ₹20,000–30,000 | ₹30,000–45,000 |
| Stay per night (twin share) | ₹1,000–2,000 | ₹3,000–6,000 |
| Food per day | ₹800–1,200 | ₹1,500–3,000 |
| Ha Long / Lan Ha overnight cruise | ₹8,000–12,000 | ₹15,000–25,000 |
| Domestic flights (each) | ₹3,000–6,000 | |
| E-visa | about US$25 for a single entry | |
A 10-day trip typically works out to roughly ₹60,000–90,000 per person on a budget and ₹1–1.5 lakh mid-range, including flights.
Best time to visit Vietnam
Weather differs by region. The north is best from October to April (cool, sometimes chilly in December–January); the centre from February to August (avoid the September–November storm season); the south is warm all year, driest from December to April. Spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November) work for a north-to-south trip. Indian searches for Vietnam trips peak in December and January.
Visa for Indians
Indians apply for an e-visa online before travelling; it allows stays of up to 90 days. Use only the official portal, evisa.gov.vn by many look-alike sites charge extra. Processing usually takes a few working days.
Practical tips
- Get a local SIM or eSIM on arrival; Grab works for taxis and bikes in big cities.
- Carry some cash in dong; small eateries don't take cards.
- Vegetarian? Learn the word chay (vegetarian) and look for Buddhist vegetarian restaurants; Indian restaurants exist in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City.
- Cross streets slowly and steadily, motorbikes flow around you.
- Plan the route day by day in Sancharees so flights, cruises and hotels sit on one timeline you can share.
FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Vietnam?
For two regions, yes, for example Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long, or Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. For north to south, plan 10–14 days.
Ha Long Bay day trip or overnight?
Overnight if you can; a day trip spends most of the time on the road.
Is Vietnam cheap for Indians?
Yes, it is one of the better-value international trips from India, especially for food and stays.
Hoi An or Da Nang?
Stay in Hoi An for atmosphere; Da Nang is 45 minutes away for beaches and the airport.
Photo: View of sea from Titov Island, Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, 20240128 1337 3732 by Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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