Vietnam Travel Guide

Before the Covid pandemic, few people in India knew where Vietnam lies on the world map and even fewer people travelled to Vietnam for their holidays. This all changed once the world started to open post nearly two years of travel restrictions. People after being confined to their homes due to lockdown and travel restrictions, wanted to travel to make up for the lost time. This coupled with the long visa processing time for Europe and very enticing social media influencer’s Vietnam posts gave birth to Vietnam as a tourist destination for Indians. 

Vietnam has something for everyone – beautiful beaches, amazing landscapes, medieval ruins, war history, world-class fun attractions and more.

We visited Vietnam for 15 days and travelled from south to north covering five cities – Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Da Nang, Sa Pa, and Hanoi. We had an amazing 15 days experiencing cultural Vietnam, fun Vietnam, and full of natural wonders Vietnam.

If you don’t have the luxury of 15 days to travel Vietnam, then you can follow this Vietnam 7 day itinerary.

To help you plan your travel, here is our ultimate Vietnam travel guide.

Currency

The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). As of 27th July January 2024, 1000 VND is equal to ~INR 3.5. 

Credit Card Acceptance?

Credit card acceptance has improved manifold in the last few years. The pandemic might have played a role in accelerating the adoption of credit cards and contactless payments. 

I expected Vietnam to be a mostly cash-only country like what we experienced in Thailand before the pandemic. And many forums and articles suggested the same. But that is not the case. We used credit cards to pay for most of our meals. Also, there was no surcharge for using cards, unlike in Thailand where it was a 3-5% surcharge.

But you should always keep some cash with you as street food vendors and some smaller restaurants only accept cash.

ATM Cash Withdrawal

ATMs are widely available in Vietnam. There are 25-30 banks in Vietnam but we saw BIDV bank ATMs to have the widest network. 

Most banks charge ATM operator fees for cash withdrawals. This can be either a flat fee or 3-7% of the transaction value. 

We withdrew all our cash from Saigon Commercial Bank ATM which currently does not levy any fee. Only once we used the BIDV bank ATM at Ho Chi Minh City airport on our very first day in Vietnam. It charges VND 60k (~INR 210) or 3% of the transaction value whichever is higher. 

Local bank ATMs generally have low cash withdrawal limits mostly in the range VND 2-3 million (~ INR 7000 – 10500). So, you may have to withdraw cash multiple times throughout your trip.

You may also be charged a forex markup fee (2 – 4%) by your home bank for withdrawing cash in foreign currency. So, it is better to bring a debit card that does not charge any forex markup fee. I have this debit card from IndusInd Bank with a nil forex markup fee.

Currency Exchange

Vietnamese Dong is hard to find in India and even if you find one somewhere, you will get the terrible rate and may lose 20-25% in the exchange rate. It is recommended to carry USD with you to Vietnam and exchange to VND there. You will find the best rates in gold shops. 

Note: Do not exchange currency at the airport as you will get poor exchange rates there. Just exchange the minimal currency to reach the hotel and exchange the currency at a nearby currency exchange or gold shop.

Visa

Vietnam offers 30 days e-Visa and it can be applied by yourself. The whole process takes a couple of minutes and just requires some basic information along with a passport image and applicant photograph. You don’t need to furnish confirmed air tickets or hotel booking vouchers. The visa application process can’t get any simpler than this. 

The visa fee is 25 USD (~INR 2000) and it is generally processed in 3 working days. Use this link to apply for Vietnam e-Visa.

Note: Avoid applying Vietnam e-Visa through a travel agent as they charge a considerable amount as a service fee.

Language

Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. Very less people in Vietnam speak and understand English. Use Google Translate or some other translator app to communicate.

Best Time To Travel

The geography of Vietnam is such that it is a maximum of only 600 kilometres wide but about 2,000 kilometres long. As a result, temperature varies as you go from north to south. While this makes Vietnam a year-round destination, spring (March-April) is the best time to visit the entire country when the days are pleasant with less chance of rain.

How To Reach Vietnam

There were hardly any direct flights between India and Vietnam till a few years ago. But as of today, there are direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Kolkata in India to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines (full-service carrier) operates flights between Delhi/Mumbai – Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh city sectors. Indigo operates flights from Kolkata to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietjet which is Vietnam’s low-cost carrier has the widest network and service routes between multiple cities of both India and Vietnam.

The fare is affordable and if plan early and travel on weekdays, you can get a roundtrip ticket for ~INR 22,000. We paid ~INR 32,000 per person for the return ticket. The ticket prices were on the higher side as we travelled on weekends.

How To Get Around in Vietnam

Inter-City Travel

Flying

Flying is the best way to travel from one city to another. Vietnam has a very good domestic network served by mainly three major airlines – Vietjet, Vietnam Airlines, and Bamboo Airways. Flying between the two cities is both fast and affordable. The flying time is at most 2 hours between any two cities, and it costs an average of INR 3500.

Bus

Buses are a very popular means of transport for short-distance travel. They are clean, affordable and sometimes even luxurious. Some of the routes like Hanoi – Sa Pa can only be covered by bus. Avoid taking a bus for more than 400 kilometres journey as buses are generally slow and cover only about 50 kilometres per hour.

For a more comfortable journey, you can travel in a limousine van that can carry anywhere from 9 to 18 people. But there could be some restrictions in their luggage policy.

Within City Travel

Taxis

Grab (like Uber) operates in almost all the cities and towns in Vietnam. They are convenient, affordable and the best way to travel within the city. The fare is comparable to that of Uber rides in India. There are one or two offers available for ride-booking most of the time. And the more you book, the more offers get unlocked. We got about a 15-25% discount on 90% of our rides. 

Private Car Charter

Booking a private car charter for a day is the best for travelling outside the city where transport is not easily available. It will be a bit cheaper than Grab.

If only need pick-up and drop service, book a private car charter through Klook. It is much cheaper than booking a car for the whole day as it is only a hotel pick-up and drop-off service. We had booked car transfers from Da Nang to Ba Na Hills and Hoi An for INR 1800 – 2000. 

Day Tour Package

Many of Vietnam’s famous attractions are way outside of the city and will cost you lots of money to reach there by taxi. Taking a day group tour is not only stress-free but also very affordable.

Renting a scooter

Renting a scooter is the cheapest way to travel around the cities. You can also ride the scooter to places outside of the city like Ba Na Hills and Hoi An which are about 30-40 kms from Da Nang. We have heard that daily rental is as low as VND 100k – 150k (INR 350 – 500).

Public Transport

Metro does not exist in Vietnam and buses are slow and infrequent, and best be avoided.

Food in Vietnam

Food is very cheap in Vietnam if you are eating out in local Vietnamese restaurants. A meal for two can cost you less than INR 500. 

Bahn Mi is one very popular local food that is not only readily available but also very light on the pocket. It is like a sub available at Subway and mostly costs less than INR 100 at street vendors.

Western and Indian meals are expensive and may cost you upward of INR 500.

Vegetarian Food

Vegetarian food is very limited in Vietnam. Your best bet for finding a vegetarian dish is in Indian restaurants. You will not have any problem finding an Indian restaurant in tourist hot spots like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. But outside of these cities, their numbers are limited. 

We did not find any Indian restaurants in Dalat and found only one in Sa Pa. Indian meals are also expensive and will cost you ~INR 1000 for 2 people.

You can expect at least one vegetarian pizza option at any pizza restaurant. Do not expect any vegetarian options in a burger joint. You can also ask a Vietnamese restaurant to prepare you a vegetarian meal. Bahn Mi, noodles, and fried rice can be prepared as vegetarian meals on request.

A meal is included in all the tour packages, and they have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

We survived 15 days in Vietnam mostly on Indian food and Pizza. The most difficulty we faced in finding a vegetarian meal was in Da Lat and Sa Pa due to the lack of Indian restaurants.

Stay In Vietnam

Accommodation is very cheap in Vietnam. You can get a room in a good 3-star hotel for INR 2000 – 2500. The room price generally includes the buffet breakfast. Hotels in hill stations like Da Lat and Sa Pa are a bit expensive but you can still get a room at that price if booked early.

Hotels are cheaper in Da Nang and rooms are available for even less than 2000 INR. We stayed at Halina Hotel and Apartments in Da Nang for 5 nights for ~INR 9000 (INR 1800/night). The price included a daily buffet breakfast and unlimited free access to the sauna.

For an even cheaper stay, you can book a private room in a hostel for less than INR 1000.

Top Things To Do In Vietnam

Ba Na Hills (Da Nang)

Visiting Ba Na Hills is one of the most popular and top things to do in Vietnam. Ba Na Hills is a theme park located about 30 kilometres away from Da Nang. It is like Disneyland with a princess castle but without any theme rides. It houses a small indoor amusement park though. French village inside Ba Na Hills houses many gardens and restaurants built in European architecture and roaming around it will feel as if you are in Europe. You can also drive an Alpine Coaster to get the thrill of a roller coaster. You can book Ba Na Hills tickets from here.

Address – An Son Village, Hoa Ninh Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City, Vietnam
Phone –  + 84 (0) 905 766 777
Official website – https://banahills.sunworld.vn/en/
Opening Hours – 8 AM to 10 PM. 
Suggested Duration – Full day
Ticket Cost – ~INR 3100 (Adult), ~INR 2600 (Child) 

Halong Bay

One of the most famous attractions of Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay can be best visited by a cruise. All the cruise operators follow a similar itinerary – an island visit, guided limestone cave tour, and kayaking or boat ride.

Limestone caves are huge and exquisite. Kayaking or boat riding in the waters of Halong Bay will give you ample time to soak in the beautiful surroundings.

Halong Bay is about 180 kilometres from Hanoi. Most of the tourists visit Halong Bay as a day tour from Hanoi. The day tour includes a round-trip transfer in a bus coach or limousine, a cruise in Halong Bay, and lunch. Multi-day cruise tours to Halong Bay are also available. The day tour from Hanoi starts from INR 4000.

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Hoi An

Hoi An is an old town about 40 kilometres from Da Nang. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Many tourists prefer to visit Hoi An in the evening when the sun sets down and the town is transformed into a magical place with sights of colourful lanterns all around the Thu Bon River. 

The most popular activity in Hoi An is to take a short boat ride in the Hoai River and release a glowing paper lantern. The best way to visit Hoi An is by booking a private vehicle for a day.

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Da Lat

Da Lat is a hill station in South Vietnam, about 300 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City. Da Lat has attractions that are not only unique but also instagrammable. 

One can visit 100 Roof Bar and Crazy House to get awestruck by the weird architecture. Visit Datanla Waterfall to not only be amazed by the waterfall but also drive an alpine coaster to get a feel of a roller-coaster. Visit Lumiere Da Lat Night Garden where you can have your photos with different backgrounds created using a combination of natural light and special effects.

Other attractions are Linh Phuoc Pagoda which is one of the most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam, and Love Valley which spreads over 242 hectares of land and includes many beautiful gardens, a boat ride, a VR game, a wax museum, a miniature monument park and many more. 

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Fansipan (Sa Pa)

Fansipan is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula with a height of 3,147 metres. It is located in Sa Pa, a hill station in North Vietnam about 300 kilometres from Hanoi.

One can easily reach the summit of Fansipan with minimal walking or hiking by taking a monorail from Sa Pa station followed by a 20-minute cable car journey followed by a short funicular ride. 

The views from Fansipan Peak are incredible. Believe me, you will not stop taking photographs as in whatever direction you go, you will see one amazing view after another. There are many pagodas and Buddha statues that you can also visit. 

You can book Fansipan ticket from here.

Travel Tip: Do not forget to carry a jacket as it gets very chilly at the top.

Official website – https://fansipanlegend.sunworld.vn/en
Opening Hours – 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM. 
Suggested Duration – 4 to 5 hours
Ticket Cost – Entry is free. Monorail + Cable Car + 1-way Furnicular : ~INR 3800 (Adult), ~INR 2900 (Child) 

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is about 100 kilometres from Hanoi and is a popular day trip from Hanoi. It is another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vietnam.

The day trip includes round-trip transfer by bus or limousine, lunch, and three attractions. The attractions include a paddleboat ride in Trang An or Tam Coc, hiking to the top of Hang Mua mountain, and a visit to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital or Bai Dinh Pagoda.

A 2-hour paddleboat ride in Trang An or Tam Coc gives you access to the best scenery of Ninh Binh. The ride also covers a passage through many beautiful water caves. 

The tour generally reserves one hour for hiking to the top of Hang Mua and back to the base. There is a stone-carved dragon at the top from where you can get 360-degree views of Ninh Binh.

The Ninh Binh day tour from Hanoi starts from INR 3000.

Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta

Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta are two different attractions and easily reachable from Ho Chi Minh City via tour package. They are generally sold as separate tours but we opted for a full-day combo tour. Read our honest review of the tour here.

Cu Chi Tunnels holds a significant place in the history of the Vietnam War. The guided tour is very informative and explains how North Vietnam soldiers backed by Russia used tunnels in the war against South Vietnam backed by the USA.

This part of the tour includes many boat and cruise rides along the Mekong Delta. Best of all the ride is a 10-15 minute ride on a wooden boat in marshy land. The other stops in this tour include Coconut Candy Farm, Bee Farm, and evening fruits with live traditional music.

The combo tour also includes a round-trip bus or limousine transfer from Ho Chi Minh City and lunch.

The full-day Mekong Delta tour starts from INR 2000 whereas the half-day Cu Chi Tunnel tour starts from INR 1500. The combo tour costs ~INR 5000.

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