Why Vietnam works as a first trip
Vietnam packs more variety per dollar than almost any country on earth. In two weeks you can see French-colonial Hanoi, the karst seascape of Halong Bay, ancient port-town lantern light in Hoi An, and the buzzing motorbike chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. Daily budget for comfortable travel is $40–60 — half of Thailand, a third of Japan.
It's slightly harder than Thailand for first-timers (less English in the north, more aggressive traffic, more scam risk) but rewards travellers willing to do basic homework. The food alone justifies the trip.
Visa and entry rules (2026)
Most Western nationalities need an eVisa for stays up to 90 days. Apply directly at the official Vietnam Immigration eVisa portal — never through third-party 'agency' sites that charge 5x. Approval takes 3–5 working days; print the PDF and bring two copies.
Citizens of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and a handful of others still get 45 days visa-free. Always check your specific passport on the official Vietnam Immigration site within 30 days of departure.
Don't enter Vietnam on a one-way ticket without a visa or onward proof — airline check-in staff can deny boarding.
Where to start: Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?
Most first-timers fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City — moving north to south follows weather and tourist flow. Hanoi is harder to navigate (older, more chaotic) but smaller and more atmospheric. Saigon (HCMC) is bigger, more modern and easier to land in if you want a gentle start.
Either way, compare flights into both cities — Hanoi and Saigon flights from Europe can vary by 30%, and an open-jaw ticket is usually only marginally more expensive than return.
Best 10–14 day Vietnam route
Days 1–3 Hanoi. Old Quarter, water-puppet show, Train Street, day trip to Ninh Binh.
Days 4–5 Halong Bay overnight cruise. Pick a mid-range cruise — the bottom-tier options have ongoing safety and cleanliness issues.
Days 6–8 Hoi An. Fly Hanoi → Danang (1h, $40), 30-min taxi to Hoi An. Old town, beach, food tour, tailor.
Days 9–11 Ho Chi Minh City. Fly Danang → Saigon (1h, $35). War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, street food.
Days 12–14 Mekong Delta or beach (Phu Quoc). Mekong for culture, Phu Quoc for end-of-trip beach.
Tighter on time? See our Vietnam 7-day itinerary for a compressed version.
Getting around Vietnam
Internal flights are cheap ($25–60) and save days. VietJet, Bamboo and Vietnam Airlines all fly the Hanoi–Danang–Saigon corridor. Book 3–6 weeks ahead.
Trains are atmospheric and scenic — the Reunification Express runs the entire north–south spine. Hanoi–Danang sleeper berth: $35–55, 17 hours.
In cities, use the Grab app for cars and motorbikes — fixed prices, no haggling. Avoid metered taxis at the airport (well-documented scams). Pre-book an airport transfer for your arrival.
Food essentials
Pho (beef or chicken noodle soup) at breakfast — a bowl costs $2–3 at a street-side stool. Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) for lunch — $1.50 at a good cart. Bun cha in Hanoi, cao lau in Hoi An, com tam (broken rice) in Saigon. Food tours on night one (book through Vietnam tour platforms) shortcut weeks of trial and error.
Common scams and how to avoid them
- Airport taxis with rigged meters → use the Grab app
- "Free" cyclo / xich lo tours that become $50 at the end → agree price in writing first
- Coconut-hat photo with vendor → $5+ demanded after — ask price before taking
- Friendly "student" inviting you to a karaoke / massage → walk away
- Custom tailor "package" deals in Hoi An → buy garments individually with quoted price
Budget and tipping
Daily budget: $30–50 backpacker, $60–100 mid-range, $150+ comfortable. Tipping is not customary but appreciated in tourist restaurants (5–10%) and for guides ($3–5/day). Bring USD for any difficult ATM situation; major cities have plenty of working ATMs (look for Citibank or HSBC, lower fees).
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?+
Most passports need an eVisa (up to 90 days) applied online through the official Vietnam Immigration portal. UK, French, German, Italian and Spanish citizens get 45 days visa-free as of 2026 — always check your specific passport rules before booking.
Is Vietnam safe for first-time travellers?+
Yes — Vietnam is safe for solo travellers and families. The main risks are road accidents (motorbike traffic is intense), petty theft in tourist areas, and a handful of well-documented airport-taxi and tailor scams which are easy to avoid.
Where should I fly into Vietnam first?+
Most first-timers fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (open-jaw ticket), travelling north to south. This avoids backtracking and follows the weather better.
How many days do I need in Vietnam?+
A first-time trip works best in 10–14 days: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. Seven days is possible but very rushed; three weeks lets you add Sapa, the Mekong Delta or Phu Quoc.
Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand?+
Yes — Vietnam runs about 25–35% cheaper than Thailand across food, transport and budget hotels. Mid-range and luxury hotels are roughly similar.
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