All guides
155 in-depth guides covering every aspect of a Vietnam trip.
Accessible Travel in Vietnam: What Is Realistic and What Is Not
Adventure Travel in Vietnam: Caves, Passes and Peaks
Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge from Da Nang: Is It Worth a Day?
Ban Gioc Waterfall Tours: Planning the Trip to Cao Bang's Border Falls
Best Time to Visit Vietnam: One Country, Three Climates
Can Tho Floating Market Tours: How to See Cai Rang at Dawn
Cao Bang Loop Tours: Ban Gioc and the Quiet Border Country
Cham Islands Snorkeling Tours from Hoi An: What to Know Before You Book
Craft Workshops in Ho Chi Minh City: How to Choose One Worth Your Time
Craft Workshops in Hue: How to Choose One Worth Your Time
Cu Chi Tunnels Tours from Ho Chi Minh City: Which Format to Pick
Da Lat City Tours: How to Choose a Guided Visit in the Highlands
Da Lat Easy Rider Tours: Exploring the Highlands as a Passenger
Da Lat Waterfalls and Canyoning: What to Know Before You Book
Da Nang Airport Transfers: Getting to the City, My Khe and Hoi An
Da Nang City Tours: What a Half Day or Full Day Really Covers
Da Nang Cooking Classes: Learn Central Vietnamese Food by the Sea
Da Nang Craft Workshops: What You Make, What You Take Home
Da Nang River Cruises: Han River Evenings, Dinner Boats and Sunset Sails
Da Nang Shore Excursions: What Fits in a Cruise Port Day
Da Nang Spa and Wellness: Massage, Yoga and Recovery by the Sea
Da Nang Street Food Tours: What a Local Guide Adds
Day Trips from Hanoi: What Really Fits in One Day
Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City: What Really Fits in One Day
Day Trips from Hoi An and Da Nang: Which Ones Are Worth Your Day
DMZ Tours from Hue: What the Former Demilitarized Zone Day Trip Really Is
Domestic Flights in Vietnam: When Flying Is the Right Call
eSIM and SIM Cards in Vietnam: Staying Connected
First Time in Vietnam: What to Know Before You Go
Getting Around Vietnam: How to Choose the Right Transport for Every Distance
Grab, Taxis and Xe Om in Vietnam: What to Hail in the City
Group Travel in Vietnam: How to Plan a Trip with Friends
Ha Giang Loop Tours: Easy Rider, Self-Ride or Car?
Ha Long Bay Cruises: How to Choose the Right One
Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay: Which Cruise to Book from Hanoi?
Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise Guide: Is a Night on the Water Worth It?
Hai Van Pass Tours: Riding the Coast Road Between Hue and Da Nang
Hanoi Airport Transfers: Getting from Noi Bai to the Centre and Back
Hanoi City Tours: Choosing Between Walking, Cyclo, Motorbike and Car
Hanoi Cooking Classes: How to Choose One That Teaches Northern Cooking
Hanoi Craft Villages and Workshops: Bat Trang, Van Phuc and Hands-On Days Out
Hanoi Old Quarter Guide: Where to Stay, Eat and Wander
Hanoi Street Food Tours: How to Eat Local Without Getting Lost
Hanoi Temples and Heritage: What to See and in What Order
Hanoi Vespa and Cyclo Tours: Which Ride Suits You
Hanoi War History Tours: Understanding the Conflict from the Capital
Ho Chi Minh City Airport Transfers: From Tan Son Nhat to the Centre
Ho Chi Minh City City Tours: A First Panorama of Saigon in One or Two Days
Ho Chi Minh City Cooking Classes: How to Choose One
Ho Chi Minh City Districts Explained: Where to Stay and What Is Where
Ho Chi Minh City Motorbike Tours: Seeing Saigon as a Pillion Passenger
Ho Chi Minh City Shows and Nightlife: An Evening Guide to District 1
Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tours: Which Format Suits You
Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary: Two UNESCO Sites, One Excursion
Hoi An Basket Boat and River Tours: Which Water Outing Is Worth Your Time
Hoi An City Tours: Walking, Cycling and Evening Visits of the Ancient Town
Hoi An Cooking Classes: How to Choose the Right One
Hoi An Lantern Making and Craft Workshops: A Hands-On Guide
Hoi An or Da Nang: Which Should Be Your Base in Central Vietnam?
Hoi An Shows and Nightlife: An Evening in a UNESCO Old Town
Hoi An Street Food Tours: Cao Lau, Mi Quang and the Stalls Worth Following a Guide To
Hoi An Tailors and Ao Dai Photoshoots: How to Choose What You Really Want
Hoi An Vespa and Cyclo Tours: Which Slow Way to See the Town?
How Many Days Do You Need in Vietnam? Honest Durations by Trip Type
Hue City Tours: How to Choose Between Group, Private, Bicycle and Cyclo Visits
Hue Cooking Classes: Learning Imperial Cuisine in Central Vietnam
Hue Imperial City Tours: A Guided Visit Inside the Citadel
Hue or Hoi An: Which One Deserves Your Time in Central Vietnam?
Hue Street Food Tours: Eating the Imperial Table on the Street
Hue to Hoi An Transfers: Car, Minibus or Train Over the Hai Van Pass
Is Vietnam Safe to Visit? The Real Risks, Ranked Honestly
Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Cruises: A Quieter Alternative to Ha Long Bay
Marble Mountains and Da Nang Nature Tours: Caves, Pagodas and Peaks
Mekong Delta Boat Tours: How to Choose Your River Trip
Mekong Delta Tours from Ho Chi Minh City: Day Trip or Overnight?
Money in Vietnam: Dong, Cash, Cards and ATMs Explained
Mui Ne Sand Dunes Tours: Jeep, Quad and Sunrise Options Compared
Multi-Day Tours from Hanoi: Which Northern Vietnam Trip Suits You
My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An: A Practical Guide to Vietnam's Cham Temple Ruins
Nha Trang City Tours: Po Nagar, Pagodas, Markets and the Seafront
Nha Trang Island Hopping and Snorkeling: How the Boat Day Works
Nha Trang Mud Baths and Spas: A Relaxed Resort Afternoon
Ninh Binh Cooking Classes: Learning Northern Vietnamese Food in the Countryside
Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay: Which Karst Landscape Fits Your Trip?
Ninh Binh Tours: Trang An vs Tam Coc, Hoa Lu and Mua Cave
North or South Vietnam: How to Choose When You Cannot Do Both
Organised Tour or Independent Travel in Vietnam: How to Decide
Perfume River Boat Trips in Hue: Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial Waterfront
Phong Nha Cave Tours: Phong Nha, Paradise Cave or Son Doong?
Phu My Port Shore Excursions: Making Saigon Work on a Cruise Call
Phu Quoc Island Hopping and Snorkeling: A Realistic Guide to Days at Sea
Phu Quoc Island Tours: How to Choose the Right Way to See the Island
Phu Quoc or Con Dao: Which Southern Island Suits You?
Phu Quoc or Nha Trang: Which Vietnamese Beach Should You Choose?
Phu Quoc Shows and Nightlife: Evenings on Vietnam's Largest Island
Phu Quoc Theme Parks and Cable Car: Are They Worth Your Time?
Plugs and Electricity in Vietnam: Sockets, Voltage and Adapters
Renting a Motorbike in Vietnam: Who Should, Who Shouldn't
Saigon River Cruises: Dinner, Sunset and Short Boat Trips from Ho Chi Minh City
Sapa Herbal Baths and Spas: A Warm Soak After the Mountains
Sapa Motorbike Tours: Riding the Mountains Below Fansipan with a Local Driver
Sapa or Ha Giang: Which Northern Vietnam Mountain Trip Suits You?
Sapa Trekking Tours: Day Walks, Homestay Treks and Fansipan
Shopping and Photoshoots in Hanoi: Where to Go and What to Check
Shopping and Photoshoots in Ho Chi Minh City: Where to Buy and Where to Pose
Sleeper Buses and Limousine Minibuses in Vietnam: An Honest Guide
Solo Travel in Vietnam: Is It Safe and Easy on Your Own?
Son Doong Cave Guide: Is the World's Largest Cave for You?
Spa and Wellness in Hoi An: A Slower Day Between the Lanterns
Spas and Wellness in Hanoi: A Traveller's Guide to Massage and Recovery
Temples and Heritage Around Da Nang: What Is Listed and What Is Not
Tet in Vietnam: Dates, Closures and Whether You Should Go
The Best Beaches in Vietnam, Region by Region and Season by Season
Travel Insurance for Vietnam: What to Check Before You Go
Trekking and Hiking Around Da Lat: Independent Walks or a Guided Trek
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam: Which Ones Count and Where They Are
Vespa or Cyclo in Ho Chi Minh City: Which Ride Suits You?
Vietnam Backpacking Guide: A North-South Route on a Budget
Vietnam Beach Resorts: Choosing the Right Coast and Season
Vietnam Etiquette and Customs: What Visitors Should Know
Vietnam for Couples: Pacing a Trip for Two, Region by Region
Vietnam for Seniors and Reduced Mobility: A Comfortable, Realistic Guide
Vietnam Health and Vaccinations: How to Prepare Before You Go
Vietnam Homestays: Where Staying With a Family Makes Sense
Vietnam Honeymoon: How to Plan a Slow, Beautiful Trip for Two
Vietnam in April: Weather, Regions and What to Plan
Vietnam in August: Which Part of the Country Is Worth It?
Vietnam in December: Cool and Grey in the North, Dry and Sunny in the South
Vietnam in February: Weather, Tet and What to Expect
Vietnam in January: Weather, Where to Go and What the Tet Season Changes
Vietnam in July: Weather, Where to Go and What to Expect
Vietnam in June: Weather, Where to Go and Who It Suits
Vietnam in March: Weather, Regions and Where to Go
Vietnam in May: Weather, Regions and Where to Go
Vietnam in November: A Country Split in Two
Vietnam in October: Great for the North, Risky for the Centre
Vietnam in September: A Month That Splits the Country in Three
Vietnam Packing List: What to Bring for the North, Centre and South
Vietnam Scams to Avoid: How Overcharging Works and How to Dodge It
Vietnam to Cambodia Overland: Crossing from the Mekong Delta by Bus or Boat
Vietnam Train Travel: The Reunification Express, Explained
Vietnam Travel Budget: How a Trip Is Priced and Where the Money Goes
Vietnam Visa Guide: How Entry Works and How to Check Your Own Rules
Vietnam with Kids: Where to Slow Down and What to Skip
Vietnam's Rainy Season and Typhoons: Three Countries, Three Patterns
Vietnam's Rice Terraces: Where to Go and When to Visit
Vietnamese Coffee Guide: What to Order From Hanoi to Saigon
Vietnamese Food Guide: A Region-by-Region Map of What to Eat
Vietnamese Phrases for Travellers: What to Say and How to Say It
Water Puppet Shows and Nightlife in Hanoi: An Evening Guide
Where to Stay in Da Nang: My Khe, the Centre or Son Tra
Where to Stay in Hanoi: Old Quarter, French Quarter, Ba Dinh or West Lake
Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City: District 1, Cholon or Landmark 81
Where to Stay in Hoi An: Old Town, An Bang Beach or Countryside
Where to Stay in Vietnam: Choosing Your Bases Region by Region
Good to know about guides to Hanoi
The guides on this site are organised around the practical questions that come up when planning a trip to Vietnam rather than around a generic list of attractions. Destination guides cover the character and practicalities of each area, including where it fits for accommodation versus sightseeing. Activity-focused guides go deeper into specific interests: how to choose between a Trang An and a Tam Coc boat ride in Ninh Binh, what a Ha Long Bay day cruise actually includes compared with an overnight cruise, and how a Sapa trek differs depending on the season and the village route chosen.
Transport guides explain the practical mechanics of getting around, from how to reach Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Sapa from Hanoi to the choice between a night train and a road transfer, and how the Ha Giang loop works for both self-driven riders and those travelling with an easy rider. Regional guides address the north, the centre and the south directly, since these areas require different amounts of travel and different seasonal timing. Practical guides deal with the realities of visiting Vietnam as a tourist, including how to time a trip around the wet and dry seasons of each region and the typhoon risk affecting Ha Long Bay, without ever overstating conditions that can vary year to year.
Together, these guides are meant to answer the questions a traveller has before booking anything, rather than simply describing what a destination looks like.
Frequently asked questions about guides to Hanoi
Do the guides cover the whole country or only the north?
Yes, the guides span the three regions, the north, the centre and the south, as well as the excursions around the main destinations.
Is there a guide comparing a Ha Long Bay day cruise and an overnight cruise?
Yes, a dedicated guide sets out what each option typically includes and how the choice affects how much of the bay and Lan Ha Bay you actually get to see.
Do the guides recommend specific prices for tours or transport?
No, prices for cruises, treks and transfers can change, so the guides focus on practical logistics and comparisons rather than fixed figures that would quickly become outdated.
Is there a guide specifically about the Ha Giang loop for beginners?
Yes, a dedicated guide explains the difference between self-driving and travelling with an easy rider, and what the route through the karst plateau and Ma Pi Leng Pass involves.
Are the Sapa trekking guides aimed at complete beginners?
Yes, they're written for visitors with no prior trekking experience, covering how routes are graded and how to choose between a short village walk and a longer multi-day trek.
Cruises and Boat Trips
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