Travel guide from India

Vietnam

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are a few hours' flight from India, and the country between them is long enough that the north, the central coast and the south each have their own seasons. A first trip usually runs from Hanoi and the limestone bays and rice terraces of the north, through the old imperial and trading towns around Da Nang, to Saigon, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc's beaches. Indian visitors will find the Hindu temple ruins of the Champa kingdom near Hoi An, and vegetarian 'chay' food is easy to find almost everywhere.

Best time: Apr, Oct
First trip: 11–14 nights
Visa: e-Visa, 90 days
Return flights: from ₹21,965 ●; Hyderabad, checked in the last 48 h

Places to visit in Vietnam

12 places in the order you would meet them on a first trip. Tap one for what to do there.

Hanoi

City

The thousand-year-old capital: Old Quarter street food, lakeside temples and the base for the north.

2–3 nightsabout 1 h from Hanoi airportBest Apr–May, Sep–Nov

Hanoi has been Vietnam's capital, on and off, for more than a thousand years, and its Old Quarter north of Hoan Kiem Lake is a dense grid of narrow trade streets, shophouses and small temples, with French colonial avenues to the south. Decades of conflict kept most of the centre low-rise, and the city is the usual starting point for Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sa Pa.

What to do in Hanoi

Walk and eat in the Old Quarter. Its 36 streets were each named for the trade once carried on there, and the street kitchens serve pho and bun cha; ask for pho chay, the tofu-and-vegetable version, if you do not eat meat.
Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Come early to see locals doing tai chi by the water, then cross the red bridge to the small temple on the lake's island.
Temple of Literature. Founded in 1070 to honour Confucius and home to the country's first university from 1076, with stone tablets on turtles listing the names of old graduates.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda. Long queues form on the mornings the mausoleum opens; the tiny wooden pagoda nearby stands on a single stone pillar in a lotus pond and dates back to 1049.
Water puppet show. A folk art going back to the 11th century, in which puppeteers stand waist-deep in water behind a screen and act out scenes of village life.

Autumn (September to November) is cool, dry and sunny and April to May is warm with clear skies; June to August is hot, humid and rainy, and late December to March is surprisingly cold.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Ha Noi, Vietnam Tourism: 11 must-see attractions in Ha Noi, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Hanoi, Wikivoyage: Vietnam (checked 14 Oct)

Ha Long Bay

Island

Overnight cruise among nearly 2,000 limestone islands, with caves, kayaking and floating villages.

1 nightabout 2 h 30 min from Hanoi airportBest Apr–May, Sep–Nov

Ha Long Bay, about 170 km east of Hanoi, is a UNESCO-listed stretch of the Gulf of Tonkin with nearly 2,000 limestone islands and islets, many of them hollowed out into caves. Most visitors see it from a boat, on a day cruise or, better, a night aboard; neighbouring Lan Ha Bay, reached via Cat Ba Island, and Bai Tu Long Bay to the north-east have the same scenery with fewer boats.

What to do in Ha Long Bay

Overnight cruise. A night on a traditional wooden junk means sunset and sunrise among the karsts, with meals on board and stops for caves and kayaking.
Kayak the lagoons. Late afternoon is the time to paddle out past fishing boats and into quiet lagoons; Luon Cave is one of the usual kayaking stops.
Walk through a cave. Day-cruise routes call at caves such as Sung Sot and Thien Cung, where paths lead through big chambers of rock formations.
Visit a floating village. Fishing families have lived on the water here for generations, and boat tours pass their floating houses and pearl farms.
Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island. For fewer boats, cruise Lan Ha Bay or stay on Cat Ba, where you can hike to the hilltop cannon fort, cycle between villages or try rock climbing.

April-May and September to November give the best chance of clear, pleasant days; June to August is stormy and storms can cancel cruises, and December to March is cool and misty.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Ha Long, Vietnam Tourism: Great ways to see the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Ha Long Bay (checked 14 Oct)

Ninh Binh (Trang An and Tam Coc)

Heritage

Boats through flooded karst valleys and caves, a 10th-century capital and Vietnam's largest Buddhist temple complex.

1–2 nightsabout 2 h from Hanoi airportBest Apr–Jun

South of Hanoi, limestone peaks rise straight out of rice paddies and flooded valleys, which is why Ninh Binh is called the 'Ha Long Bay on land'. The Trang An landscape, with caves people have used for some 30,000 years and the 10th-century capital of Hoa Lu, is a UNESCO site for both nature and culture. Most visitors stay near Tam Coc or Trang An rather than in the city, and many come on a day trip from Hanoi.

What to do in Ninh Binh (Trang An and Tam Coc)

Sampan ride at Trang An or Tam Coc. Rowers steer the sampans with their feet along quiet waterways, past karsts and through low, dripping caves.
Climb Hang Mua. About 500 steps cut into the rock lead to a lookout over the river winding through paddies and karsts; the lotus field at the foot blooms in early summer.
Hoa Lu ancient capital. Vietnam's capital in the 10th and 11th centuries, a small walled city that the surrounding karsts and rivers protected from invasion.
Bai Dinh pagoda. The largest Buddhist complex in the country, mostly built in the 2000s alongside older cave temples; allow half a day because of its size.
Cycle the back roads. Many guesthouses lend bicycles, and the flat lanes between Tam Coc, Trang An and Hoa Lu are the easiest way to see the countryside.

April to June is Vietnam Tourism's pick, with the rice around Tam Coc turning gold in late May; autumn is also cool and clear.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Ninh Binh, Wikivoyage: Ninh Binh (checked 14 Oct)

Hue

Heritage

The Nguyen emperors' walled citadel and royal tombs on the Perfume River, plus a strong vegetarian food tradition.

2 nightsabout 2 h from Da Nang airportBest Mar–Aug

Hue was the seat of the Nguyen emperors from 1802 to 1945, and their walled citadel and Imperial City stand on the north bank of the Perfume River, with the royal tombs scattered through the green hills to the south. Most hotels and restaurants are on the south bank. The city is known for refined royal-era cooking, and its people have a strong vegetarian tradition, so meat-free restaurants are more common here than elsewhere in Vietnam.

What to do in Hue

The Imperial City. Allow about two hours for the courts, halls and temples inside this UNESCO-listed walled complex, and consider hiring a guide at the gate or through your hotel.
Royal tombs. Pick two or three for a half day: Tu Duc's sits among ponds and trees, Minh Mang's is the grandest and Khai Dinh's mixes Vietnamese and European styles on a hillside.
Thien Mu Pagoda at sunset. The seven-tiered tower on the riverbank is the city's official symbol, and late afternoon is quieter, with the sun going down behind the hills.
Eat vegetarian, Hue style. Look for quan chay restaurants, which serve the city's meat-free food; they fill up on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, when many locals eat vegetarian.
Cycle to Thanh Toan Bridge. A countryside ride past vegetable farms and duck ponds to an old tile-roofed footbridge.

March to August is dry, mild in spring and hot by July; September to February is the wet season, with storms and floods most likely from September to November.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Hue, Vietnam Tourism: 3 days in Hue for culture seekers, Vietnam Tourism: An inside guide to the Hue tombs, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Hue (checked 14 Oct)

Hoi An

Heritage

Lantern-lit old trading town with tailors, cycling to the beach and a day trip to My Son's Hindu temples.

2–3 nightsabout 1 h from Da Nang airportBest Feb–Aug

Hoi An was a busy port from the 15th to the 19th century, trading with merchants from China, Japan and Europe, and before that it was a port of the Hindu Champa kingdom. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town of yellow shophouses, Chinese assembly halls and riverside lanes on the Thu Bon River comes alive at night under hundreds of lanterns. It is about 30 km south of Da Nang, with An Bang beach and rice fields a short bike ride away.

What to do in Hoi An

The Old Town after dark. Thousands of lanterns light the lanes and reflect on the river at night; holiday and weekend evenings get very crowded.
Japanese Bridge and old houses. The old houses and assembly halls, among them the Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky House and the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, are all within a short walk of each other.
Get clothes tailored. Hoi An is known for its tailors, who make suits, dresses and leather bags to order, and the town's boutiques sell local coffee, ceramics and fashion.
Cycle to the countryside and An Bang. Rent a bike and ride out through the vegetable gardens and rice fields of Tra Que and Cam Thanh to An Bang beach, about 7 km from town.
Day trip to My Son. About 40 km inland, the brick temple towers of the Champa kingdom were built between the 4th and 13th centuries and carved with scenes from Hindu mythology; go at sunrise, and dress modestly.

February to August is dry and sunny, with March at its best before the heat of May to August; tropical storms and floods arrive from September and the rain lasts into January.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: 10 essential things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam Tourism: Explore the values of My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam Tourism: Vietnam's ancient Champa Kingdom, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Hoi An, Wikivoyage: My Son (checked 14 Oct)

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

City

The busy southern hub: colonial landmarks, war history, street food, a Tamil-built Hindu temple and the Cu Chi tunnels.

2 nightsabout 30 min from Ho Chi Minh City airportBest Dec–Apr

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city and its economic engine, a sprawl of motorbike traffic, markets and new towers around a French-era core in District 1. It is the base for the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta, and the airport is only about 7 km from the centre.

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Dong Khoi and Ben Thanh Market. Walk from the twin-spired Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office down Dong Khoi street, then eat banh xeo and banh mi at the food stalls at the back of Ben Thanh Market.
War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace. The museum's photographs of the Vietnam War are hard going but memorable; the palace, once the South Vietnamese president's office, keeps its old war rooms in the basement.
Mariamman Temple. A Hindu temple built by Tamil immigrants in the late 19th century, still in use, in the city centre.
Cho Lon, the Chinese quarter. Explore on foot around the huge Binh Tay wholesale market and the incense-filled Thien Hau pagoda, dedicated to the goddess of the sea.
Cu Chi tunnels. A network of more than 250 km of tunnels used during the war, about an hour and a half by road from the centre, with two visitor sites at Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc; wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.

December to April is dry, with March and April the hottest months; from May to November expect an afternoon downpour on most days.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tourism: 7 must-see attractions in HCMC, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Ho Chi Minh City (checked 14 Oct)

Can Tho and the Mekong Delta

City

Floating markets at dawn, sampan rides through orchards and canals, and coconut country by bicycle.

1 nightabout 3 h 30 min from Ho Chi Minh City airportBest Dec–Apr

South-west of Ho Chi Minh City the Mekong spreads into a flat, green delta of rice paddies, coconut groves, orchards and canals, Vietnam's rice basket. Can Tho, the delta's biggest city, sits on the Hau River about three to four hours by road from Saigon; staying a night there puts you on the water early for the floating markets. Nearer provinces such as Ben Tre, about two hours from the city, also work as a long day trip.

What to do in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta

Cai Rang floating market. The delta's largest wholesale floating market is busiest in the early morning, about half an hour by boat from Can Tho, with sellers hanging samples from poles to show what they sell.
Islets by sampan or bicycle. Community-run tours take you along small canals to rice paper makers and fruit orchards, with lunch at a local family's home.
Binh Thuy ancestral house. A brightly painted merchant family home from 1870 that mixes French and Vietnamese styles.
Ninh Kieu riverfront. Can Tho's riverside park and promenade, busy in the evening, is also where boats for river trips leave.
Coconut country in Ben Tre. Cycle the shaded lanes of the islets, cross the river by small ferry and watch coconut candy being made in one of the many workshops.

The dry season from December to April is best for boat trips and the floating markets; the orchards are at their fullest from May to August, during the rains.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Can Tho, Vietnam Tourism: 4 memorable days in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Can Tho, Wikivoyage: Southern Vietnam (checked 14 Oct)

Da Nang

Beach

A long city beach, Cham Hindu sculpture, cave shrines in the Marble Mountains and the Hai Van Pass.

1–2 nightsabout 30 min from Da Nang airportBest Mar–May

Da Nang is central Vietnam's biggest city and the airport for Hue and Hoi An, set between the mountains and a sandy beach that runs almost 40 km south towards Hoi An. The land around it was the heart of the Hindu Champa kingdom, and the city's museum holds the largest collection of Cham art in the world. The airport is only about 3 km from the centre.

What to do in Da Nang

My Khe Beach. A broad sandy beach across the Han River where locals swim and exercise at sunrise and again in the late afternoon.
Museum of Cham Sculpture. Sandstone carvings of Shiva, Garuda, nagas and lingam altars taken from Cham temples such as My Son; about an hour is enough.
Marble Mountains. Five limestone and marble hills south of the centre, with Buddhist and Hindu shrines in their caves; go early, before the crowds, and wear good shoes.
Son Tra Peninsula. A coastal road through forest to Linh Ung pagoda and its 67 m statue of the Lady Buddha facing the sea, with rare red-shanked douc langurs in the trees.
Drive the Hai Van Pass. A 21 km mountain road with sea views that climbs to about 500 m on the way to Hue, best done by car or motorbike with a stop at the old fort at the top.

March to May brings warm, sunny beach days; November to February is the rainy season.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Da Nang, Vietnam Tourism: Must-do Da Nang, an insider list, Vietnam Tourism: 3 perfect days in Da Nang, Vietnam Tourism: Vietnam's ancient Champa Kingdom, Wikivoyage: Da Nang, Wikivoyage: Vietnam (checked 14 Oct)

Ba Na Hills

Hill countryDay trip

A cable car up to a cool hilltop resort with the Golden Bridge held up by two giant sculpted hands.

about 1 h from Da Nang airport

Ba Na is a mountaintop about 25 km south-west of Da Nang at roughly 1,487 m, where the French built a hill resort in the 1920s. Today it is a theme resort run by Sun World, reached by a long cable car, with the Golden Bridge, a mock French village, gardens and an indoor amusement park on top. It is much cooler than the coast, and most people come up for the day from Da Nang or Hoi An.

What to do in Ba Na Hills

Ride the cable car. The ride up takes 15 to 20 minutes over forest and the Toc Tien waterfall.
Walk the Golden Bridge. A 150 m walkway about 1,400 m up, opened in 2018 and held up by a pair of huge hands that seem to rise out of the mountain.
French Village and the gardens. A mock European village with cobbled streets and domed buildings, next to themed flower gardens.
Linh Ung Pagoda. A hilltop pagoda at about 1,500 m with a 27 m statue of the Buddha.
Fantasy Park. A large indoor amusement park with more than 100 games and rides, useful with children or on a misty day.

Sources: Danang Fantasticity (Da Nang tourism portal): Sun World Ba Na Hills, Danang Fantasticity (Da Nang tourism portal): Golden Bridge, Vietnam Tourism: 3 perfect days in Da Nang, Wikivoyage: Da Nang (checked 14 Oct)

Phu Quoc

Island

White-sand beaches, snorkelling in the southern islets, a long sea cable car and calm seas from November to April.

3–4 nightsabout 30 min from Phu Quoc airportBest Nov–Apr

Phu Quoc is Vietnam's largest island, mountainous and partly forested, lying in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Cambodia. It is known in Vietnam for its fish sauce and black pepper, and for beaches on every side, from Ong Lang on the west coast, good for sunsets, to Sao Beach in the south-east. Big resorts and theme parks have spread fast, but national park forest still covers the north, and the international airport is just south of the main town, Duong Dong.

What to do in Phu Quoc

Sao Beach. The island's best-loved beach, with white sand and calm turquoise water near An Thoi in the south; come early on a weekday.
Cable car to Hon Thom. An 8 km cable car, among the longest built over the sea, crosses fishing boats and islets to Hon Thom island, with its beach and water park.
Snorkel the An Thoi islands. Boat trips from the south of the island visit the small islands and reefs of the An Thoi archipelago.
Night market in Duong Dong. Stalls of grilled seafood, fruit and snacks; pick your seafood and have it cooked on the spot.
Fish sauce and pepper farms. Several pepper farms and fish-sauce barrel houses let visitors see how the island's two best-known products are made, with tastings.

November to April brings calm seas and clear skies; the rainy season runs roughly May to October and is stormiest from July to September, when boat trips and ferries can be rough.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Phu Quoc, Vietnam Tourism: Beachy, beautiful Phu Quoc, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Phu Quoc (checked 14 Oct)

Sa Pa

Hill country

Rice terraces and Hmong and Dao villages to trek between, and a cable car up Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak.

2 nightsabout 5 h from Hanoi airportBest Apr–May, Sep–Nov

Sa Pa is a mountain town at about 1,650 m near the Chinese border, above a steep valley terraced for rice, which Hmong and Dao families still farm. The town itself is now full of large hotels, so the reason to come is the walking in the valleys around it. It is cool all year and can be cold, wet and foggy in winter, and it sits off the main north-south route, about five hours by expressway from Hanoi.

What to do in Sa Pa

Trek to the villages. Cat Cat and Ta Phin can be visited without a guide, while the popular walk through Lao Chai to Ta Van ends in a village where you can stay overnight in a homestay.
Fansipan by cable car. The cable car rises to near the 3,143 m summit, the highest point in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, but cloud often hides the view.
Bac Ha Sunday market. Traders from several ethnic groups come down in traditional dress every Sunday; Bac Ha is closer to Lao Cai than to Sa Pa, so plan it for your arrival or departure day.
Stay in a mountain lodge. Lodges and homestays out among the terraces are quieter than town and put you among farming families.

Late April has clear skies and flowers, and September to November brings clear weather with the terraces turning gold before the harvest in early October; December to March is cold and misty, with occasional January snow.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Sa Pa, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Sa Pa (checked 14 Oct)

Da Lat

Hill country

A cool French-era hill town of pine forests, lakes, coffee farms and waterfalls in the Central Highlands.

2 nightsabout 2 h by flight from Ho Chi Minh City airportBest Dec–Mar

Da Lat was built by the French as a highland retreat at about 1,500 m, and its pine-covered hills, lakes and old villas still feel far from the hot coast; Wikivoyage likens its tea and coffee hills to the colonial hill stations of north India. The farms around it grow vegetables, flowers and coffee for the whole country. It is off the main route: a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Lien Khuong airport, about 30 km from town, or around seven hours by bus.

What to do in Da Lat

Xuan Huong Lake and the central market. Walk the lake in the middle of town, then browse the market for flowers, fresh produce, candied fruit and artichoke tea.
Truc Lam Zen monastery. A Zen Buddhist monastery on a hill above Tuyen Lam Lake, with flower gardens and pine-shaded views over the water.
Waterfalls and canyoning. Datanla falls, near town, is the base for canyoning trips that mix abseiling, swimming and sliding down the rocks.
Train to Linh Phuoc Pagoda. Da Lat's line no longer joins the main railway, but a short scenic train still runs from the old station to Trai Mat and its mosaic-covered pagoda.
Visit a coffee farm. Some of Vietnam's best coffee grows on the slopes around town, and a farm run by K'Ho farmers shows how its Arabica is grown and roasted.

December to March is dry, cool and sunny; the rainy season runs from about May to October, and nights are chilly all year.

Sources: Vietnam Tourism: Da Lat, Vietnam Tourism: 8 ways to appreciate Da Lat, Vietnam Tourism: Weather and climate in Vietnam, Wikivoyage: Da Lat (checked 14 Oct)

Fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (or the reverse): after Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, fly to Da Nang for Hue and Hoi An, then fly south for Saigon and the Mekong, adding Phu Quoc at the end for beach days from November to April. Vietnam Tourism calls March to May the best time countrywide, and April suits every stop on this loop; from September to December, when storms and floods hit the central coast, keep Hue and Hoi An short and give the extra days to the north (or to Phu Quoc from November).

Getting around

Distances are long, so most visitors fly between regions: the train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes 30 hours or more, while daily domestic flights link the main cities in one to two hours. The Reunification Express railway still suits shorter hops along the coast through Hue and Da Nang, and open-tour sleeper buses run between the main tourist towns. For day trips such as Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh or My Son, most visitors book a car with a driver through a hotel or agent rather than drive themselves; in Hoi An and Hue a bicycle gets you most places.

When to go

Da Nang month by month: weather and fares →Hanoi month by month: weather and fares →Ho Chi Minh City month by month: weather and fares →Phu Quoc month by month: weather and fares →

Peak Shoulder Off-season

Vietnam's national tourism site rates April to June and September to October as Hanoi's inviting months. Cross-checked against rainfall, June to August are the wettest and hottest and sit as off-season here, May and September are kept as shoulder because they already carry heavy rain, and December to February are cool and dry.

Flights to Vietnam from India

Visa for Indian passports

Indian passport holders need an e-visa for Vietnam, applied for online before travel (allow about 5 days). Phu Quoc island only: visa-free for 30 days if your international flight lands at Phu Quoc (a stop in Singapore, KL or Bangkok is fine). Connecting via Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang? Get the e-visa. Official e-visa at evisa.gov.vn, usually about 3 working days.

Before you book, check the Ministry of External Affairs travel advisories for the latest guidance.

Vietnam: questions

What are the best places to visit in Vietnam?

Hanoi: The thousand-year-old capital: Old Quarter street food, lakeside temples and the base for the north. Ha Long Bay: Overnight cruise among nearly 2,000 limestone islands, with caves, kayaking and floating villages. Ninh Binh (Trang An and Tam Coc): Boats through flooded karst valleys and caves, a 10th-century capital and Vietnam's largest Buddhist temple complex. Hue: The Nguyen emperors' walled citadel and royal tombs on the Perfume River, plus a strong vegetarian food tradition. Hoi An: Lantern-lit old trading town with tailors, cycling to the beach and a day trip to My Son's Hindu temples. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): The busy southern hub: colonial landmarks, war history, street food, a Tamil-built Hindu temple and the Cu Chi tunnels. Can Tho and the Mekong Delta: Floating markets at dawn, sampan rides through orchards and canals, and coconut country by bicycle. Da Nang: A long city beach, Cham Hindu sculpture, cave shrines in the Marble Mountains and the Hai Van Pass. Ba Na Hills: A cable car up to a cool hilltop resort with the Golden Bridge held up by two giant sculpted hands. Phu Quoc: White-sand beaches, snorkelling in the southern islets, a long sea cable car and calm seas from November to April. Sa Pa: Rice terraces and Hmong and Dao villages to trek between, and a cable car up Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak. Da Lat: A cool French-era hill town of pine forests, lakes, coffee farms and waterfalls in the Central Highlands.

How many days do you need for Vietnam?

A first trip takes about 11–14 nights: Hanoi (2–3 nights), Ha Long Bay (1 night), Ninh Binh (Trang An and Tam Coc) (1–2 nights), Hue (2 nights), Hoi An (2–3 nights), Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (2 nights), Can Tho and the Mekong Delta (1 night). Fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (or the reverse): after Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, fly to Da Nang for Hue and Hoi An, then fly south for Saigon and the Mekong, adding Phu Quoc at the end for beach days from November to April. Vietnam Tourism calls March to May the best time countrywide, and April suits every stop on this loop; from September to December, when storms and floods hit the central coast, keep Hue and Hoi An short and give the extra days to the north (or to Phu Quoc from November).

What is the best time to visit Vietnam?

Peak season is Apr, Oct. Vietnam's national tourism site rates April to June and September to October as Hanoi's inviting months. Cross-checked against rainfall, June to August are the wettest and hottest and sit as off-season here, May and September are kept as shoulder because they already carry heavy rain, and December to February are cool and dry.

Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?

How much is a flight to Vietnam from India?

The lowest return fare FlyBun has seen in the last 14 days is ₹21,662, Ahmedabad to Hanoi, for October 2026 departures. Fares change daily.

Places and things to do are written by FlyBun from official tourism, heritage and park sources, linked under each place, last checked 14 Oct. We leave out entry fees and opening hours because they change; check them before you go.

Watch a route and FlyBun alerts you free when its fare drops.