Money and payments
Cards and cash
ATMs are common and can be found in most cities and every tourist destination.
Tipping
Tipping is not practised by the Vietnamese themselves and generally not expected, though tips will not be refused if offered.
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Asia · South-Eastern AsiaUsable guideCountry in Southeast Asia
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Vietnam (Vietnamese: Việt Nam) is a country in Southeast Asia with great food and a wealth of natural and cultural attractions. Despite the turmoil of the Vietnam War (called the American War in Vietnam), Vietnam has emerged from the ashes since the 1990s and is undergoing rapid economic development, driven by its young and industrious population. It remains less developed as a tourist destination than Thailand.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Vietnam.
Cards and cash
ATMs are common and can be found in most cities and every tourist destination.
Tipping
Tipping is not practised by the Vietnamese themselves and generally not expected, though tips will not be refused if offered.
Vietnamese
The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt). Vietnamese is a tonal language that uses a change in pitch to inflect different meanings, and this can make it difficult to master.
Physical SIM cards from all the main providers can be purchased on arrival at the airport, though they are sold at a markup.
Mobile networks
Tap water is not safe to drink.
Tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis are endemic in rural Vietnam.
Covered in the guide
Vietnamese people generally follow East Asian naming traditions, with a family name followed by a given name.
Covered in the guide
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Vietnam's capital, a historic city with a wealth of cultural and historical sites
Vietnam's largest and most cosmopolitan city, formerly known as Saigon (Sài Gòn) when it was the main commercial center of colonial Vietnam and then capital of South Vietnam
The largest city in central Vietnam
A French colonial hill station in the highlands
The "port city", a major port in north Vietnam
A well-preserved ancient port, near the ruins of My Son
The former home of Vietnam's emperors
A burgeoning beach resort
Islands off the Mekong Delta
The site of the Cu Chi Tunnels
Home to some of Asia's rarest wildlife and the Muong hill people
The ruins of old American military bases, spectacular mountain scenery and rugged jungles
Famous for its unearthly scenery
Ha Long Bay-like karst scenery along the river
An island just off the coast of Cambodia, known for its beaches, fish sauce and seafood
A region to meet native indigenous people in the hills by the Chinese border
Places in Vietnam on the World Heritage List.
Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park
Listed 2003
Ha Long Bay
Listed 1994
Mỹ Sơn
Listed 1999
Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty
Listed 2011
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Listed 2010
Tràng An
Listed 2014
Cát Bà Island
Listed 2023
Complex of Huế Monuments
Listed 1993
Hoi An Ancient Town
The Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape
Listed 2025
Khiêm Cung Ký stele
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The cradle of the Vietnamese civilization. Harbors some of the most magnificent views of Vietnam, as well as the capital city, along with the chance to visit indigenous hill peoples.
The ancient city of Hue was the home of the Vietnamese emperors from 1802—1945, and Hoi An is one of the nicest old seacoast towns in Vietnam.
Lush forest-covered hills featuring indigenous peoples and the occasional elephant.
The economic engine of Vietnam, built around Ho Chi Minh City but also covering the lush and little-visited Mekong Delta, the rice basket of Vietnam.
Public transport and paid services in Vietnam.
By bus
Public buses travel between the cities' bus stations. In bigger places, you often have to use local transport to get into the city centre from there.
By boat
You will be missing a big part of Vietnamese life if you do not spend some time on a boat. Do be careful though because many boats, although seaworthy, are not designed to first world standards.
By plane
Flights are the fastest way to traverse this long country. Flights between Hanoi and HCMC last only about 2 hours and start at €30–40.
By motorbike
Some choose to traverse the entire country this way while most are satisfied with a few local day trips — also see below.
By taxi
Nowadays, the taxi and motorbike taxi market is dominated by the ride-hailing service Grab (Android, iOS), which took over Uber's former South-east Asian operations, including that of Vietnam.
By cyclo
Not really an alternative to (motorbike) taxis, but an interesting way to see the city, cyclo pedicabs still roam the streets of Vietnam's cities and towns, especially the ones with many tourists.
By car
The concept of renting a car to drive yourself is almost non-existent, and when Vietnamese speak of renting a car, they always mean hiring a car with a driver.) Vehicles for rent are widely available.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Vietnam.
Finding apps for Vietnam…
Other ways to travel:By bicycleOn foot
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Dong Hoi · Regional · VDH
Loading places around the airport…
Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Hanoi
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 20° | 23° | 27° | 30° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 31° | 30° | 28° | 25° | 21° |
| Avg. low | 11° | 13° | 16° | 20° | 23° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 23° | 20° | 16° | 11° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 32 | 22 | 49 | 78 | 179 | 201 | 300 | 322 | 223 | 124 | 52 | 25 |
| Humidity | 81% | 80% | 80% | 78% | 80% | 84% | 85% | 86% | 85% | 84% | 82% | 80% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$30
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$100
Per person, per day
Luxury
$245
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $15 | $55 | $145 |
| Food and drink | $5 | $20 | $40 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $40 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Vietnam. Vietnam is generally a safe destination for travelers. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings. Landmines and unexploded ordnance exist in Vietnam. Areas of greatest risk are construction sites. Landmine risk is low in urban and populated areas, including tourist destinations. The locations of landmines and unexploded ordnance are often unmarked and difficult to recognize. Do not pick up or approach unknown metal objects in the ground. Review our Travel Guidance for Vietnam to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Tropical storm season The tropical storm season runs from May to November. Tropical storms can cause serious travel disruption. Follow and monitor local and international weather updates from the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and Japan Meteorological Agency and follow the advice of local authorities. See Extreme weather and natural disasters. For more regular updates, English-news versions of local newspapers are available at VNexpress and Vietnam News Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel: check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator review your travel insurance policy for coverage monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts be mindful of your permitted length of stay in Vietnam Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see [general advice for LGBT+ travellers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-foreign-travel-advice) read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel…
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Vietnam.
ItinerariesPlan the ultimate 10-day Vietnam journey from Hanoi street food and Ha Long Bay limestone karsts to Ninh Binh sampans and lantern-lit Hoi An.
7 min read
Travel tipsRealistic cost breakdown for traveling in Vietnam, detailing hotel prices, street food budgets, train sleeper berths, and Grab fares across the country.
6 min read
InspirationCompare Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City across street culture, food scenes, day trips, climate, and nightlife to decide which Vietnamese metropolis to visit.
6 min read
Travel tipsWhat a comfortable day really costs in Vietnam, northern Thailand, Nepal, Colombia and India, with private rooms, good food and local transport.
7 min read
Food & drinkFive cities worth planning a whole trip around for the food, with the dishes to order, what they cost and how to eat like a local.
7 min read
Food & drinkVietnamese cuisine is one of Southeast Asia's great cuisines. Because of the large Vietnamese diaspora, Vietnamese food, in particular from cuisine the South, can be enjoyed around the world.
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