At a Glance
10 destinations, 3 regions, 5 international airports. Each entry below includes the correct eVisa entry port, best months, and what makes it worth the trip.
Visa: US, CA, AU, IN need eVisa (from USD 90). UK, FR, DE, KR, JP: 45-day exemption. ASEAN: 30-day exemption.
Entry port rule: Use the Vietnamese airport code where your plane lands — never SIN, ICN, or NRT.
| # | Destination | Region | Entry port | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ha Long Bay | North | HAN | Oct – Apr |
| 2 | Hanoi | North | HAN | Oct – Apr |
| 3 | Hoi An | Central | DAD | Feb – Aug |
| 4 | Ho Chi Minh City | South | SGN | Nov – Apr |
| 5 | Da Nang | Central | DAD | Mar – Aug |
| 6 | Hue | Central | DAD / HAN | Feb – Aug |
| 7 | Sapa | North | HAN | Mar – May, Sep – Nov |
| 8 | Ninh Binh | North | HAN | Oct – Apr |
| 9 | Nha Trang | South-Central | CXR | Jan – Aug |
| 10 | Phu Quoc | South | PQC | Nov – Apr |
1. Ha Long Bay — UNESCO World Heritage, Limestone Karsts
Entry port: HAN • Best: Oct–Apr • 4 hours from Hanoi by road
Ha Long Bay's 1,600 limestone islands rising from green water is the image most travelers associate with Vietnam. The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most photographed places in Southeast Asia. Most visitors arrive via Hanoi (HAN) and travel by road or bus to Ha Long City, then board a cruise.
Practical notes: Book a 2-night cruise to reach quieter areas beyond the day-trip zone. Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island are the most-visited stops. Avoid May–September when typhoon season and haze reduce visibility. Avoid Chinese New Year when domestic tourism peaks sharply.
eVisa entry port: HAN (Noi Bai, Hanoi). US/CA/AU/IN travelers need eVisa. UK/FR/DE/KR/JP: 45-day exemption.
2. Hanoi — Old Quarter, Street Food, French Colonial Architecture
Entry port: HAN • Best: Oct–Apr • Direct flights from most major hubs
Vietnam's capital is compact enough to explore on foot but layered enough to fill several days. The 36-street Old Quarter dates to the 13th century. Hoan Kiem Lake anchors the city center. The French Quarter has wide boulevards and colonial buildings converted into cafes and galleries.
Practical notes: Pho, bun cha, and egg coffee are the three dishes to try. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday mornings. Book Ha Long Bay cruises from Hanoi rather than at the bay itself for better prices. October is ideal — post-summer, pre-cold.
eVisa entry port: HAN. Most international flights land here directly: Korean Air from ICN (enter HAN not ICN), Singapore Airlines from SIN (enter HAN not SIN).
3. Hoi An — Lantern-Lit Ancient Town, Tailors, Beaches
Entry port: DAD • Best: Feb–Aug • 30 min from Da Nang airport
Hoi An's UNESCO-listed Ancient Town is the most intact trading port in Southeast Asia. Yellow-walled merchants' houses, Japanese covered bridges, and tailor shops line narrow streets. The town is small enough to cover in a day but most visitors stay 2–3 nights for the Full Moon Lantern Festival and An Bang Beach.
Practical notes: The Ancient Town charges VND 120,000 (about USD 5) entry for non-residents during peak hours. Custom tailoring takes 24–48 hours — order on day one, collect before leaving. Avoid October–November when flooding regularly closes the center. Da Nang airport (DAD) is the practical entry point.
eVisa entry port: DAD (Da Nang). Fly SIN→DAD or KUL→DAD — enter DAD, not SIN or KUL.
4. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) — Motorbikes, History, Street Food
Entry port: SGN • Best: Nov–Apr • Most direct international routes
Vietnam's largest city never slows down. District 1 has the skyscrapers, rooftop bars, and war museums. The Mekong Delta day trips leave from here. Ben Thanh Market is the tourist center; Cho Lon (Chinatown) is more authentic. The War Remnants Museum is genuinely affecting and should not be rushed.
Practical notes: Use Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber) for all transport — street-hail motorbike taxis quote inflated prices. Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta tours are the two most popular day trips. Dry season November–April means clear skies and no flooding.
eVisa entry port: SGN (Tan Son Nhat). Most US, AU, and EU flights to southern Vietnam land here via ICN or SIN — always enter SGN, not the transit hub.
5. Da Nang — Beaches, Dragon Bridge, Day Trip Hub
Entry port: DAD • Best: Mar–Aug • Central Vietnam gateway
Da Nang is the most practical base in central Vietnam. My Khe Beach is a long, clean city beach. The Marble Mountains are a 20-minute drive south. Hoi An is 30 minutes. Ba Na Hills with the Golden Bridge is a full-day cable car trip. The city itself is modern and well-organized compared to Hanoi or Hue.
Practical notes: The Dragon Bridge breathes fire and water Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 — free to watch from the riverbank. Book Ba Na Hills tickets online in advance: the cable car queues are long on weekends. October–November is typhoon and flood season — avoid for beach travel.
eVisa entry port: DAD. Direct flights from SIN (Scoot, Vietjet), KUL (AirAsia), ICN (Korean Air) — always enter DAD on the eVisa form.
6. Hue — Imperial Citadel, Royal Tombs, Perfume River
Entry port: DAD (or HAN) • Best: Feb–Aug • 2.5 hours from Da Nang
Hue was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945 and remains Vietnam's most historically dense city. The Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City are inside the walled complex on the north bank of the Perfume River. Six royal tombs are spread across the hills south of the city, each with distinct architecture and gardens.
Practical notes: Allow at least 2 days. A boat ride on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda is the classic evening activity. Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) is the local dish — distinct from Hanoi pho. Most travelers combine Hue with Da Nang and Hoi An in a central Vietnam loop. No direct international flights to Hue — fly into Da Nang (DAD) and travel by road.
eVisa entry port: DAD if flying into Da Nang. HAN if arriving from Hanoi by train or road.
7. Sapa — Fansipan, Terraced Rice Fields, Ethnic Villages
Entry port: HAN • Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov • 5–8 hours from Hanoi
Sapa sits at 1,500m in the Hoang Lien Son mountains near the Chinese border. The terraced rice fields of Muong Hoa Valley are among the most photographed landscapes in Vietnam. Fansipan, at 3,143m, is the highest peak in Indochina — reachable by cable car in 15 minutes or on foot in 2 days. The area is home to Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Giay communities.
Practical notes: Take the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (8 hours) then bus to Sapa, or use the direct bus (5 hours). Book a local ethnic minority guide for village treks — independent routes can be confusing. June–August is monsoon season: paths are muddy and visibility low. Rice fields are most photogenic in September at harvest time.
eVisa entry port: HAN. No direct international flights to Sapa — all travelers arrive via Hanoi.
8. Ninh Binh — Karst Landscape, Boat Caves, Cycling
Entry port: HAN • Best: Oct–Apr • 2 hours from Hanoi by road
Ninh Binh is sometimes called Halong Bay on Land — limestone karsts rising from rice paddies and flooded rivers rather than open sea. Trang An is a UNESCO-listed boat journey through caves and grottoes. Tam Coc is busier and more commercialized. Bai Dinh Pagoda is the largest Buddhist complex in Vietnam. The ancient capital Hoa Lu has two 10th-century temples.
Practical notes: Rent a bicycle from Tam Coc village and cycle through the rice fields — the flat terrain makes it easy. Trang An is more scenic and less crowded than Tam Coc but takes 2–3 hours by boat. Ninh Binh works as a day trip from Hanoi but a 1–2 night stay allows early morning light on the fields.
eVisa entry port: HAN. All international travelers arrive via Hanoi then travel south by road or train.
9. Nha Trang — Clear Water, Island Hopping, Mud Baths
Entry port: CXR • Best: Jan–Aug • Direct flights from major hubs
Nha Trang has the clearest water on the Vietnamese mainland, a long city beach, and a cluster of offshore islands accessible by boat. Hon Mun island has the best snorkeling in Vietnam. Vinpearl Land is a large theme park on a separate island connected by cable car. Po Nagar Cham Towers on the north bank of the Cai River are 8th–12th century Hindu temples worth a morning visit.
Practical notes: The 4-island boat tour (about USD 15) includes snorkeling, seafood lunch, and floating bar — book through your hotel for the best price. Mud baths at Thap Ba or 100 Egg Mud Bath are popular half-day activities. Avoid October–December: Nha Trang's rainy season brings strong swells and poor visibility.
eVisa entry port: CXR (Cam Ranh International Airport, Nha Trang). Direct flights from SIN, KUL, ICN, and several Chinese cities — enter CXR, not the transit hub.
10. Phu Quoc — White Sand Beaches, Coral Reefs, Pepper Farms
Entry port: PQC • Best: Nov–Apr • Direct international flights available
Vietnam's largest island lies in the Gulf of Thailand, 45 minutes by air from Ho Chi Minh City. Long Beach on the west coast has the best sunset views and most hotels. Sao Beach on the southeast is consistently rated one of the best beaches in Southeast Asia — white powder sand, calm clear water. The island also produces Vietnam's most prized fish sauce and black pepper.
Practical notes: Phu Quoc has a special visa-exemption zone for 30 days regardless of nationality — but this only applies if you fly directly into PQC and do not enter mainland Vietnam. If visiting as part of a Vietnam trip, your Vietnam eVisa covers Phu Quoc with PQC as entry port. Rent a scooter to explore beyond the resort strip. May–October is monsoon season with rough seas.
eVisa entry port: PQC. Direct flights from SIN (Vietjet, Scoot) — enter PQC on eVisa form, not SIN. Special 30-day exemption applies only for direct PQC entry without mainland travel.
Visa Requirements by Nationality
| Passport | Visa needed? | Option |
|---|---|---|
| UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy | No — 45 days | Visa-exempt. No eVisa needed. |
| South Korea, Japan | No — 45 days | Visa-exempt. No eVisa needed. |
| ASEAN (SG, MY, TH, ID, PH...) | No — 30 days | Visa-exempt. No eVisa needed. |
| USA, Canada, Australia | Yes | eVisa required. Apply from USD 90 |
| India, most South Asia | Yes | eVisa required. Apply from USD 90 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
US, CA, AU, IN and most non-ASEAN/EU nationals need an eVisa from USD 90 all-in. UK, FR, DE, KR, JP: visa-exempt 45 days. ASEAN: 30 days. Apply at VietnamVisaEasy.com from USD 90 including government fee.
What is the best time to visit Vietnam?
February–April is best across all regions. North (Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa): Oct–Apr. Central (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue): Feb–Aug. South (HCMC, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang): Nov–Apr.
What entry port should I put on my Vietnam eVisa?
The Vietnamese airport where your plane lands: HAN (Hanoi/North), SGN (Ho Chi Minh City/South), DAD (Da Nang/Central), CXR (Nha Trang), PQC (Phu Quoc). Never SIN, ICN, NRT, or other transit hubs.
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US/CA/AU/IN: eVisa required • UK/FR/DE/KR/JP: 45-day exempt • ASEAN: 30-day exempt Entry port: HAN (North) • SGN (South) • DAD (Central) • CXR (Nha Trang) • PQC (Phu Quoc) • Never SIN/ICN/NRT Apply eVisa — from USD 90 → WhatsApp 24/7 → |
VietnamVisaEasy.com is a private travel agency, not affiliated with the Vietnamese government. We charge a service fee to assist with visa applications. If you do not need assistance, apply directly at evisa.gov.vn. Updated August 26, 2026.