Vibrant Vietnam

Fascinating history, intriguing culture, incredible nature, and fantastic food - what more can you ask for? Vietnam has pretty much everything, and in order to experience the whole of Vietnam, you'll have to spend a decent amount of time. 

Money: 

The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency, but it's always good to bring US dollars or Euros with you! They are accepted at pretty much every exchange office, and for a better rate than Euros, Pounds, etc. Credit Cards are also widely accepted. 
 

Food:

Vietnam is famous for its cuisine, which consists of noodles and vegetables. The most famous dish is probably Pho, noodle soup, and it's super tasty. Check out some of the street kitchens! 

Visa:

Vietnam offers Visa exemptions to passport holders from 24 countries. You can also apply for a Visa on arrival or E-Visa. This cost EUR 21/ DKK 153. 

Weather:

Vietnam is perfect for traveling to year-round due to the geographical location of the country. Since Vietnam is so huge, the climate in Vietnam is diverse and dependant on your destination. Check out the link below for a guide to the weather. 

Transportation:

Vietnam is easy to get around as long as you are traveling up or down the coast. On this route, you've got several opportunities. You can fly, rent a motorcycle, book a taxi, take the train or the bus. It all depends on what kind of adventure you're on. The busses and the train both have sleeper options, and they are so much more comfortable than the busses in the rest of Southeast Asia. 

Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in Vietnam, and has more than 21 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area! It's a busy city, and it can get tricky to even cross the street - why you might ask? There are literally motorbikes everywhere, and it's one of the cities in the world with the most motorbikes. But I guess you'll cross that bridge, when you get there, ay? 
 

How to get to Ho Chi Minh:

Being the largest city in Vietnam means that Ho Chi Minh is easily accessible. Ho Chi Minh serves as the hub for the southern part of Vietnam. If you need advice on how to find the cheapest airfares, you can check out this blog post.

Where to stay and what to do:

Besides being famous for its many motorbikes, Ho Chi Minh is also renowned for its connection to the Vietnam War. There are many remains of the war nearby, but the most famous is the Cu Chi Tunnels. These tunnels were used by the Viet Cong soldiers. 

Nearby Ho Chi Minh is also the Mekong River, and a day trip is well worth it!

You'll have a lot of accommodation to chose from, but I would recommend staying in Pham Ngu Lao. This area is known for its backpacker vibes and mainly caters to western people! 

Even though Ho Chi Minh is huge, I would recommend staying 2 days in Ho Chi Minh. You'll have enough time to explore the city and the activities below, but you'll want to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city quickly! 

Phu Quoc has developed quite fast in recent years - from being a less known laidback island to a big tourist magnet with resorts. However, you can still avoid the crowds, as Phu Quoc is the biggest island in Vietnam. 

How to get to Phu Quoc:

The quickest way to get to Phu Quoc is a one hour flight, but this is also the most expensive route. Otherwise, you can take a bus and a ferry. This will take around 8 hours, but you'll have to get up really early in the morning to catch the last ferry. The last ferry leaves in the early afternoon, and it might be worth it to take an overnight bus. You will save precious time traveling in daylight and money sleeping on the bus! 

Where to stay and what to do:

Long beach is the most famous place to stay on Phu Quoc. It also the longest beach, hence the name. There are plenty of activities here. You can enjoy snorkeling, diving, kayaking, jet ski, sail-trip - yes, pretty much every water activity! Since the beach is so long, you can choose to stay on the beach's northern part. This part of the beach is less crowded and not full of big resorts. Ông Lang Beach is just a bit more north and is a recommendable area as well. If you want off the beaten path, head to the other side of the island, or the northern part. 

Dalat is also known as “Le Petit Paris” due to its french charm - and of course, their replica of the Eiffel tower! This town is situated 1500M above sea level and offers a significantly cooler atmosphere than the previous destination. Dalat is surrounded by hills, forests, lakes, and waterfalls, so this destination is perfect for nature lovers. 
 

How to get to Dalat:

Even though transportation in Vietnam is easy, it's also slow! To get to Dalat, you'll have to make your way back up to Ho Chi Minh. From here, you can opt for a train ride combined with a bus (12 hours) or an express bus ride (7 hours). It's also possible to fly, and both VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines offer affordable tickets. 

Where to stay and what to do:

Dalat is a small town, so you can explore it on foot or rent a (motor)bike. There are plenty of accommodation options, and they are all close to the center. In the center, you can experience the French charm, pagodas, and Crazy House. Take a stroll around the french quarter, and enjoy the heritage buildings. 

Dalat is known for its golf course and breathtaking nature! Spend a couple of days exploring the surroundings. 

Nha Trang is a coastal town known for its pristine beaches! I promise you, they are pretty amazing, so amazing that they are often referred to as the Riviera of the South China Sea. Besides an amazing beach, you can also encounter marine life and small islets! Also, Nha Trang is famous for its hot springs - where you can also take a bath in the mud!

How to get to Nha Trang:

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Nha Trang from Dalat is to take the bus. It takes around 4 hours, but you'll go through beautiful scenery. You can also rent your own motorbike, or hire a chauffeur - it's all up to you!

Where to stay and what to do:

Nha Trang is a small town as well, and you can easily get around. So wherever you end up staying, you'll be close to the beach anyway. Nha Trang has loads of bars, cafes, and restaurants by the beach, so you can enjoy a nice drink watching the sunset over the sea. 

The perfect activity to do in Nha Trang is relaxing on the beach. Or going on a boat trip to one of the many islets - you can also combine this one with snorkeling. Or better yet, scuba diving - there's a good opportunity to get a glimpse of a lot of different fish hiding in the reef. 

You'll definitely have to visit one of the hot springs and get all soaked up in their mud bath. It's a fun thing to try out. 

Hoi An - known as the city of tailors, and you'll be able to find them pretty much on every corner. It's cheap as well, so if you're in need of a new suit or dress, this is the perfect place to do it. 

Hoi An is a small town as well, and getting around is easy. This town is also pretty famous for its well-preserved architecture and the canals running through the town. At night lots of lanterns light up - and kinda make this city amiable and romantic. 
 

How to get to Hoi An:

Again, traveling the coast is relatively easy, and both busses and trains operate on this route. The train takes around 11 hours and the bus for 13 hours. Though bear in mind that both options include the possibility of an overnight train/bus with sleeper arrangements. 

Where to stay and what to do:

Not many accommodation options are available in the ancient town. Still, you’ll find heaps of homestays, hotels, and resorts in a wide price range just around the center. 

Hoi An is a charming town with a cozy atmosphere, so you can easily spend a couple of days here. Along the canals, you can find cafes, restaurants, and bars. And if you venture into the ancient streets, you’ll load of small shops, tailors, and markets. Hoi An also has a pretty nice beach!

In the hills near Hoi An - okay, it's close, but it’s a 2-hour ride because of the roads - you will find the fantastic and new architecture of “The golden bridge”. You’ll definitely have to check that out - and while you’re in the area, you can also visit the nearby theme park Sun World Ba Na Hills. 

Hué is known as the ancient capital of Vietnam due to its historical monuments. Because of its historical places, Hué has been one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. So this is the place of history-lovers! 

How to get to Hué:

The easiest option for this route is to just take the bus. It will take around 4 hours. Another good solution could also be to go by shuttle or private car and explore the sights and surroundings between Hoi An and Hué, like The Golden Bridge. 
 

Where to stay and what to do:

Hué is a small coastal town, with the Perfume River running through it, and kinda divides the city. Most of the accommodation is situated on the south side of the river. And the Imperial Citadel is located on the right side. Still, it's just a short walk away, so you'll definitely have to head over to the other side!

You can see the Forbidden Purple City and the royal tombs on the south side of the Perfume River. 

Besides all of the historical monuments you can experience, there's also a beach to chill at. Or you can explore the countryside!

We’ve made it! The last destination, but definitely not the least. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a buzzing city with a vibrant nightlife. Hanoi is known to be a quite diverse city, and is often referred to as the “Cultural Capital”. With influences such as French, Russian, and Chinese, Hanoi is a great place to explore ancient and colonial buildings in the French Quarter and the Old Quarter. And this is also the place to encounter the famous “Train Street.”
 

How to get to Hanoi:

The easiest and quickest way to get to Hanoi from Hué would be to fly. It will take under 3 hours, and you can often find really affordable tickets. You can also take the scenic train ride, but this takes around 14 hours and will most likely cost as much as the flight ticket. The cheapest option would be the overnight bus. It takes 13 hours, but don't worry, you'll get a berth on the bus, so sleeping is definitely possible. 

Where to stay and what to do:

Hanoi, and its surroundings, have a lot to offer, so you can easily spend a couple of days or an entire week here. You will probably need to either rent a motorbike and hire a cab to get around. 

If you stay near the Old Quater, you can enjoy the lovely atmosphere and the walking distance to nearby sights. You can also hire a Cyclo to get around - and enjoy a local means of transportation. 

There's so much to do and see in Hanoi - and the region. Start out by sightseeing in the capital. Wander the streets of the Old Quarter, visit The Night Weekend Market, watch a Water Puppet Show or explore Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. When you're done seeing all the sights in Hanoi, take a tour of Halong Bay. This is a must-do when going to Hanoi! 

Other good day trips from Hanoi are a tour to Sapa, a beautiful village in the mountains overlooking the rice fields, or a visit to Ninh Binh (Also known as the Halong bay - but on land).