Your complete guide to Vietnam
Verified itineraries, honest advice, and no-fluff tips for the whole country: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa in the north, Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang in the centre, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the south.
Top-rated activities in Vietnam
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Top destinations across Vietnam
From Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in the north to Hue and Hoi An in the centre and Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc in the south.
Hanoi: Vietnam's Capital, Old Quarter and Imperial Citadel
Hanoi is Vietnam's capital, not Saigon. Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long citadel, Temple of Literature, how long to stay and how to arrive.
Ha Long Bay: Limestone Karst by Boat in Northern Vietnam
Ha Long Bay, UNESCO since 1994: how to reach it from Hanoi, day trip or overnight cruise, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long compared, and the typhoon season.
Hoi An: Ancient Town, Lanterns, An Bang and My Son
Hoi An's UNESCO old town, lanterns, tailors, An Bang beach, Cham Islands and My Son: how long to stay, when to go and what to budget.
Sapa: Mountain Town, Terraced Villages and the Road to Fansipan
Sapa sits below Fansipan in northern Vietnam: how to reach it from Hanoi, when the rice terraces turn gold and which villages are worth the walk.
Ha Giang: The Motorbike Loop of Northern Vietnam
Plan the Ha Giang loop: Dong Van karst geopark, Ma Pi Leng Pass, days needed, licence and insurance risks, best season and easy rider options.
Ho Chi Minh City: Saigon's Landmarks, Markets and Metro
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, is Vietnam's biggest city, not its capital. District 1, Cholon, Metro Line 1 and how long to stay.
Things to do in Vietnam
A cruise on Ha Long Bay, an evening in Hoi An, a boat ride through the Mekong Delta, a wander through the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and more — the best activities across Vietnam.
Cruises and Boat Trips
Boat outings on Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, the Perfume River in Hue and the rivers of Ninh Binh, from short trips to longer cruises among limestone scenery.
Street Food Tours
Guided tastings of regional dishes such as bun cha, pho, banh mi and cha ca in Hanoi, plus the local specialities of Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, usually on foot or by cyclo and timed for the busiest street-food hours.
Day Trips
The range of day trips out of Vietnam's main bases, from Ninh Binh's karst rivers and Hanoi's craft villages to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City and the surroundings of Hoi An and Hue.
Motorbike Loops
Self-drive and guided motorbike routes, led by the Ha Giang Loop through the Dong Van karst plateau and Ma Pi Leng Pass, plus shorter loops around Mai Chau and Moc Chau.
Essential travel guides
Our most popular guides to help you prepare.
Ha Long Bay Cruises: How to Choose the Right One
Choosing a Ha Long Bay cruise: Ha Long, Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha, overnight or day trip, when to go and what typhoon season can cancel.
Day Trips from Hanoi: What Really Fits in One Day
Which day trips from Hanoi are realistic: Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Perfume Pagoda, craft villages. And why Sapa and Ha Giang are not.
Ha Giang Loop Tours: Easy Rider, Self-Ride or Car?
How to choose a Ha Giang loop tour: easy rider, riding yourself or a car with driver, the Ma Pi Leng Pass, trip length, best season and the licence risk.
Sapa Trekking Tours: Day Walks, Homestay Treks and Fansipan
How to choose a Sapa trek: day walks through the valleys, homestay treks, Fansipan on foot or by cable car, and the best months for rice terraces.
Mekong Delta Tours from Ho Chi Minh City: Day Trip or Overnight?
Day trip or overnight? Choose a Mekong Delta tour from Ho Chi Minh City: My Tho, Ben Tre, Can Tho, Chau Doc and the dawn Cai Rang market.
How Many Days Do You Need in Vietnam? Honest Durations by Trip Type
How many days Vietnam really needs: one region, two regions or the whole country from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, and what each length sacrifices.
Suggested itineraries
Tested routes to make the most of your time.
Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh in Three Days from Hanoi
Three days from Hanoi, no car needed: a night on Ha Long Bay, a night in Ninh Binh at Trang An and Tam Coc, then back to Hanoi.
Central Vietnam in Five Days: Phong Nha, Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An
A five-day north-to-south itinerary through central Vietnam without a car: Phong Nha caves, Hue's imperial sites, Hai Van by train, Da Nang and Hoi An.
Vietnam in One Week: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An
A week in Vietnam done properly: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and one flight to Hoi An, with the trade-offs and typhoon risks spelled out.
Why trust Vietnam Authentique?
Every Vietnam Authentique guide is written independently from first-hand research, with tours and activities booked through our partners — when you book through our links, you pay the same price and we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.