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Northern Vietnam

Travel guide · Bays, coffee and floating markets

Travelling to Vietnam

Limestone bays, terraced rice fields, lanterns in Hoi An and the best street food in Asia. We tell you when to go to each region, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: January
  • Where to eat: the phở stall
Photo: Unsplash

Vietnam in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Vietnam are January. If you can, avoid April, August and October, November (intense heat, summer rains and typhoons, torrential rain and typhoons, golden week).
  • Crossing the street: walk steadily and the bikes flow around you.
  • To eat like a local: the phở stall. Don’t leave without trying: Phở, Bánh mì, Bún chả.

Vietnam in November

It's not the best time: torrential rain and typhoons. The months with the fewest warnings are January. At that time of year, the north (Hanoi, Ha Long) or the south (Saigon, the Mekong, Phu Quoc) are better.

  • November

    Torrential rain and typhoons

    From September to December it rains heavily in the centre; in October and November there are floods (Hoi An floods almost every year) and typhoons.

    What to do: At that time of year, the north (Hanoi, Ha Long) or the south (Saigon, the Mekong, Phu Quoc) are better.

More destinations for November

When to travel to Vietnam

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Vietnam are January. If you can, avoid April, August and October, November (intense heat, summer rains and typhoons, torrential rain and typhoons, golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with strong warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with strong warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov with strong warnings
  12. Dec with warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January

  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from March to May

    Intense heat

    From March to May temperatures reach 35–40 °C with high humidity; April is the toughest month.

    What to do: Visit temples at sunrise, rest at midday and drink plenty of water.

    Best time: November to February

  • from June to October

    Rainy season

    It’s usually heavy afternoon downpours, not whole days of rain. Everything is greener and there are fewer tourists.

    What to do: Plan outdoor visits for the morning and save the afternoon for museums, covered markets or a massage.

    Best time: November to February

  • from July to September

    Summer rains and typhoons

    In July, August and September it rains a lot and the odd typhoon forces Ha Long Bay cruises to be cancelled.

    What to do: Book your Ha Long cruise with flexible dates and free cancellation.

    Best time: October to April

  • from September to December

    Torrential rain and typhoons

    From September to December it rains heavily in the centre; in October and November there are floods (Hoi An floods almost every year) and typhoons.

    What to do: At that time of year, the north (Hanoi, Ha Long) or the south (Saigon, the Mekong, Phu Quoc) are better.

    Best time: February to August

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

What to see in Vietnam

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Hanoi
    The north

    Hanoi

    The Old Quarter’s 36 streets, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and the best phở.

    • Hoàn Kiếm Lake
    • Temple of Literature
    • Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long
    • Train Street
    Hanoi guide
  • Ha Long Bay
    The north

    Ha Long Bay

    Thousands of limestone islets rising from the sea: best discovered by boat, ideally sleeping on board.

    • Ha Long Bay
    • Thiên Cung Cave
    • Ti Tốp Island
    • Tuần Châu Harbour
    Ha Long Bay guide
  • Hoi An
    Centre

    Hoi An

    A merchants’ port full of lanterns, tailors and yellow houses by the river.

    • Japanese Covered Bridge
    • Old town by lantern light
    • Central market
    • An Bàng Beach
    Hoi An guide
  • Ho Chi Minh City
    South

    Ho Chi Minh City

    The old Saigon: motorbikes, colonial buildings, the war museum and the gateway to the Mekong Delta.

    • Đồng Khởi Street
    • Bến Thành Market
    • Reunification Palace
    • Củ Chi Tunnels
    Ho Chi Minh City guide
  • Da Nang

    Da Nang

    A city beach, the Marble Mountains and the bridge held up by giant hands, between Hue and Hoi An.

    • Dragon Bridge
    • Marble Mountains
    • Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
    • My Khe Beach
    Da Nang guide
  • Hue

    Hue

    The old imperial capital, with its citadel and the emperors’ tombs along the Perfume River.

    • Imperial City
    • Imperial tombs
    • Thien Mu Pagoda
    • Perfume River
    Hue guide
  • Sapa

    Sapa

    Northern mountains with terraced rice fields and Hmong and Dao villages.

    • Muong Hoa Valley
    • Fansipan
    • Cat Cat and Ta Van
    • Bac Ha Market
    Sapa guide
  • Nha Trang

    Nha Trang

    A long beach, islands for diving and ancient Cham towers in the south-centre.

    • Nha Trang Beach
    • Po Nagar Cham Towers
    • Islands by boat
    • Mud baths
    Nha Trang guide
  • Phu Quoc

    Phu Quoc

    The beach island of the south, home of pepper and fish sauce, with sunsets over the Gulf of Thailand.

    • Bai Sao
    • Hon Thom cable car
    • An Thoi Islands
    • Night market
    Phu Quoc guide
  • Ninh Binh

    Ninh Binh

    “Ha Long Bay on land”: rivers among limestone mountains and rice fields, a couple of hours from Hanoi.

    • Trang An
    • Tam Coc
    • Hang Mua
    • Bai Dinh Pagoda
    Ninh Binh guide
  • Dalat

    Dalat

    The city of eternal spring in the highlands: a cool climate, pine forests, waterfalls, coffee and French colonial buildings.

    • Xuan Huong Lake
    • Crazy House
    • Railway station
    • Datanla Falls
    Dalat guide
  • Mekong Delta

    Mekong Delta

    A maze of canals, orchards and floating markets where the great river meets the sea, south of Ho Chi Minh City.

    • Cai Rang floating market
    • Ben Tre
    • My Tho
    • Mekong islands
    Mekong Delta guide
  • Mui Ne

    Mui Ne

    Red and white dunes by the sea, wind for kitesurfing and a fishing village with round boats.

    • White dunes
    • Red dunes
    • Fairy Stream
    • Fishing harbour
    Mui Ne guide
  • Ha Giang

    Ha Giang

    Vietnam’s far north: mountain roads among karst peaks, terraces and minority villages, best explored by motorbike with a local driver.

    • Ma Pi Leng Pass
    • Dong Van
    • Dong Van Karst Plateau
    • Vuong Palace
    Ha Giang guide
  • Phong Nha

    Phong Nha

    A national park of jungle and limestone mountains with some of the largest caves in the world, underground rivers included.

    • Phong Nha Cave
    • Paradise Cave
    • Dark Cave
    • Son Doong
    Phong Nha guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Hanoi

From Ha Long Bay

From Hoi An

From Ho Chi Minh City

From Da Nang

From Hue

From Sapa

From Nha Trang

From Phu Quoc

From Ninh Binh

From Dalat

From the Mekong Delta

From Mui Ne

From Ha Giang

From Phong Nha

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What to eat in Vietnam

To eat like a local: the phở stall, and order phở for breakfast or bánh mì. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Phở

    Rice noodle soup with beef or chicken and fresh herbs, Hanoi’s breakfast.

  • Bánh mì

    A crusty baguette sandwich with pâté, meat, pickles and coriander.

  • Bún chả

    Chargrilled pork with noodles and a dipping broth, very Hanoi.

  • Cao lầu

    Thick noodles with pork and herbs, Hoi An’s signature dish.

  • Gỏi cuốn

    Fresh rice-paper rolls with prawns and herbs.

  • Bún bò Huế

    A spicy beef noodle soup from the old imperial capital.

The typical dish of Vietnam, at home

Summer rolls (gỏi cuốn)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Summer rolls (gỏi cuốn)

Fresh rice-paper rolls with prawns, pork, noodles and herbs, not fried, dipped in peanut or fish sauce. Light, fresh and eaten all over Vietnam.

  • Serves 4
  • 40 min

Ingredients

  • 12 rice-paper wrappers
  • 12 cooked king prawns, halved lengthways
  • 200 g cooked pork belly, thinly sliced
  • 100 g cooked thin rice noodles
  • Lettuce, mint, coriander and Thai basil
  • For the sauce: 3 tablespoons of peanut butter, 2 of hoisin sauce, warm water and chopped peanuts

How to make it at home

  1. Have all the ingredients cut and ready before you start.
  2. Dip a wrapper in warm water for 2 seconds and lay it on a damp cloth.
  3. On the bottom third, place lettuce, noodles, herbs and pork; above that, uncovered, three prawn halves.
  4. Fold up the bottom, then the sides, and roll tightly: the prawns will show through the paper.
  5. Mix the peanut butter with the hoisin and water until runny, and serve with chopped peanuts.

The trick: Cover them with a damp cloth if you’re not eating them straight away, so they don’t dry out.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Vietnam

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • Motorbikes rule: to cross the street, walk slowly at a steady pace and they’ll steer around you.
  • It’s one of the world’s biggest coffee producers; coffee is drunk with condensed milk or, in Hanoi, with whipped egg.
  • Tết, the lunar new year, is the most important holiday: many businesses close for several days.
  • Hang Son Doong, in Phong Nha, is the largest known cave.
  • Vietnamese is written in Latin letters with lots of accents, which mark the tones.
  • The country is more than 1,600 kilometres long from north to south, with very different climates at the same time.

Traditions of Vietnam

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • January or February Tết

    The lunar new year: peach blossoms, family visits and red envelopes.

  • Every month Full moon night in Hoi An

    The old town switches off its electric lights and is lit by lanterns.

  • September or October Mid-Autumn Festival

    Children with lanterns, lion dances and mooncakes.

  • Ancestral altar

    In homes and businesses you’ll see offerings of fruit, incense and paper money.

What not to do in Vietnam

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t touch anyone’s head, not even a child’s.
  • Don’t leave your chopsticks standing upright in the bowl.
  • Don’t lose your temper or raise your voice: arguing in public is very frowned upon.
  • Don’t get into a taxi or onto a motorbike without agreeing the price or using an app.
  • Don’t drink tap water.
  • Don’t enter pagodas with bare shoulders or knees.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

  • Entering the country

    Visas, electronic authorisations and health requirements for Vietnam depend on your nationality. Check your government’s official travel advice and the embassy before you book.

    UK: foreign travel advice (GOV.UK) US: travel advisories (travel.state.gov)
  • Traveller tips

    Crossing the street: walk steadily and the bikes flow around you.

    A cheap Vietnamese SIM at the airport or official shops.

    Ha Long: go early, or take a 2-day tour if you can.

Frequently asked questions about Vietnam

What people search for most before travelling to Vietnam.

What’s the best time to travel to Vietnam?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Vietnam are January. If you can, avoid April, August and October, November (intense heat, summer rains and typhoons, torrential rain and typhoons, golden week).

What to see in Vietnam in a week?

The essentials of Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Vietnam?

Phở, Bánh mì, Bún chả, Cao lầu, Gỏi cuốn, Bún bò Huế. To eat like a local: the phở stall.

What is the typical dish of Vietnam?

Summer rolls (gỏi cuốn). Fresh rice-paper rolls with prawns, pork, noodles and herbs, not fried, dipped in peanut or fish sauce. Light, fresh and eaten all over Vietnam.

What should you not do in Vietnam?

Don’t touch anyone’s head, not even a child’s. Don’t leave your chopsticks standing upright in the bowl. Don’t lose your temper or raise your voice: arguing in public is very frowned upon.

North, centre or south of Vietnam: when to go to each region?

The north (Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa) is cool and dry from October to April; the centre (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang) has heavy rain from September to December; and the south (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc) is dry from December to April. That’s why the direction of your trip changes with the season.

Is it worth travelling to Vietnam in November?

It's not the best time: torrential rain and typhoons. The months with the fewest warnings are January. At that time of year, the north (Hanoi, Ha Long) or the south (Saigon, the Mekong, Phu Quoc) are better.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Unsplash. Hanoi, Jorge Láscar from Australia (CC BY 2.0). Ha Long Bay, Dratharr (CC BY-SA 4.0). Hoi An, Photo by Pham Quoc Hung. (Public domain). Ho Chi Minh City, Tran Van Ngoc (CC0). Da Nang, Person-with-No Name (CC BY 2.0). Hue, Lê Huy Hoàng Hải (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sapa, Jakub Hałun (CC BY 4.0). Nha Trang, calflier001 (CC BY-SA 2.0). Phu Quoc, ntt (CC BY-SA 3.0). Ninh Binh, Jakub Hałun (CC BY 4.0). Dalat, P. Hughes (CC BY 4.0). Mekong Delta, Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Mui Ne, Chris Blackhead (CC BY-SA 3.0). Ha Giang, Khánh Hmoong (CC BY 2.0). Phong Nha, [Tycho] talk , http://shansov.net (CC BY-SA 3.0).