Best places to visit in Vietnam: Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City

The first couple of days I was in Hanoi, I couldn’t work out why people weren’t yelling out to me to come into their shops, the way they do in Bangkok or Bali. When I asked one of the women who worked at our hotel about this, she told me the locals here wouldn’t do any of those things because they wouldn’t want to disrupt anyone on their holiday. That moment was the first of many that made me fall in love with Vietnam.

Each part of Vietnam is different, but one thing stays the same: the people are welcoming, peaceful and polite. If you’ve been to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or Bali, you’ll notice a distinct difference. There’s still the roar of a thousand scooters and the smell of street food everywhere, but the sounds of touts calling out to you are missing.

I spent just over a week working my way from north to south, and planning it was tricky. What’s worth visiting and what’s worth skipping can be hard to work out before you go. My advice? Spend more time in coastal towns like Hoi An and Nha Trang and go easier on the big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

Planning your trip?
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Hotels, I use Agoda
Insurance: Cover-More
Rentals: Discover Cars
RVs: Motorhome Republic
Transfers: Welcome Pickups
Travel eSIM: Simify

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Quick practicalities for Vietnam in 2026

Vietnam now has excellent eSIM coverage, so grab a data plan before you land. Grab is the main ride-hailing app, and it works across the country. Most places take card payments now, but cash is still king at street food stalls and markets. The dong is the local currency, and ATMs are everywhere.

Visa requirements have changed, too. Many nationalities can now get a 45-day visa exemption or apply for an e-visa online before arrival. Check the current requirements for your passport before you book.

1. Hanoi

Hanoi is a beautiful, intricate maze of streets that trickle into tiny lanes and alleyways. Women set up their kitchens in doorways, preparing food to sell while talking and laughing with their friends. Men congregate at local coffee shops or watch each other work at their roadside stall or shop. It’s a social way of living, where everything is played out on the street and everything is shared. Hanoi is worth visiting because the people, the buildings and the food are all beautiful. Two to three days is a good amount of time to stay in Hanoi.

What to do in Hanoi

Strap on some comfortable shoes and just start walking. Wander through the old French Quarter, get lost in the maze of little streets and soak up the city. There are so many shops to visit and they tend to be grouped by trade, meaning you can find entire streets dedicated to one thing. Find a cafe or restaurant that’s a few floors above street level, settle in with a Vietnamese coffee and watch the buzz of life on the street below. For me, Hanoi was more about experiencing the city than ticking off landmarks.

Where to eat in Hanoi

The Gourmet Corner Restaurant – Delicious Vietnamese food with a fantastic view. The restaurant is perched on top of a hotel in the Old Quarter and has excellent views of Hanoi. The menu includes some non-Vietnamese items, but I definitely recommend trying the local dishes as they are fantastic. The service here is excellent and, best of all, it’s very affordable.

Quan An Ngon – With a beautiful outdoor setting, it’s hard to go past the hustle and bustle of Quan An Ngon. This place has a street food market feel to it and serves a wide selection of traditional Vietnamese foods and drinks. Any cab driver or Grab will know the place by name and it’s easy to get to. It’s not as cosy and personal as Gourmet Corner, but it’s still a fantastic food experience.

Where to stay in Hanoi

For budget and mid-range travellers, the Old Quarter has dozens of excellent boutique hotels with rooftop bars and great service. The area can be noisy, so if you’re a light sleeper, look for something a few streets back from the main drag. If you’re after luxury, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is hard to beat for old-world French colonial charm, though you’ll pay for it.

La Storis Ruby Hotel  – I cannot recommend this sweet little hotel enough. It is one of the best and most affordable hotel experiences I’ve ever had! The rooms are small but very comfortable and cosy, they’re clean and well looked after and have everything you could need for your stay. Most importantly, the staff who work here provide exceptional customer service and make you feel so happy and comfortable while you’re there.

2. Hoi An

Hoi An is an elegant fairytale town straight out of your dreams. The fusion of French architecture with the simple, resourceful lifestyle of the Vietnamese people makes for beautiful streets lined with bright lights, pretty trinkets and inviting cafes and restaurants. It’s a slower pace of life, compared to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh but in no way is it less communal. Hoi An is worth visiting because the streets are beautiful and unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere and because it shows a slower, relaxed side to Vietnam. Three to four days is a good amount of time to stay in Hoi An.

What to do in Hoi An

Hoi An is a playground for anyone with a camera, so make sure you pack your best gear and go exploring. You can hire a bicycle and cruise around the town, wander through the local markets or take a boat ride on the river. Book yourself into a cooking class, float a lantern down the water at night and, of course, have something custom-made by one of the skilled local tailors. The town is compact enough to walk everywhere, which is part of its charm.

Where to eat in Hoi An

The Cargo Club – The perfect place to watch the world go by and eat great food. The menu here includes local and western favourites, so it’s perfect for those moments when your tummy feels a little crazy and you need some familiar food. Cargo Club also has an amazing selection of delicious cakes and treats, loads of comfortable seating and offers great service.

Reaching Out TeaHouse – Established to empower people with disabilities, Reaching Out is a unique tea house well worth visiting. The tea house is a haven of peace and silence as it is run by the hearing impaired. Servers communicate using big smiles and instructional cards, creating a warm, welcoming and soulful space perfect for relaxing and stilling yourself over a cup of tea and sweet treats.

Where to stay in Hoi An

The area between the Old Town and An Bang Beach has some excellent mid-range hotels with pools, many within walking or cycling distance of both. If you want to be right in the action, stay in the Old Town itself, though it gets busy during the day. For something more peaceful, An Bang Beach has a growing selection of boutique hotels and homestays. The trade-off is you’ll need to cycle or grab a taxi into town, but it’s only a few kilometres.

3. Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh is a city with a pulse, constantly buzzing and moving. It’s noise and life, community and history all mixed together to create a place of movement and soul. It has that big city feel to it, but the locals retain the same friendly, welcoming nature of the small towns. Ho Chi Minh is worth visiting because it’s noisy, busy, rich in history and is a mix of old and new that will boggle your mind. Two days is a good amount of time to spend in Ho Chi Minh.

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City

The best way to see Ho Chi Minh in a short time is on the back of a scooter with a local guide. There are several tour companies (I loved XO Tours) running motorbike experiences now, and they’re brilliant for getting under the skin of the city and trying street food you’d never find on your own. The guides are fun, knowledgeable and will show you things you’d walk straight past otherwise. Take some time to consider whether you want to visit the War Remnants Museum. It’s confronting and heavy, and definitely not suitable for kids or anyone who finds war imagery distressing.

Where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City

The street food scene here is incredible, and the best way to experience it is with a local guide on a food tour. Several companies run evening tours that take you to half a dozen spots across the city, serving everything from banh mi to fresh spring rolls to Vietnamese coffee. Don’t eat beforehand or you’ll be watching everyone else enjoy the food while you sit there stuffed.

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

District 1 is where most travellers base themselves, and for good reason. You’re close to everything, from the backpacker area around Bui Vien Street to the upmarket bars and restaurants near Dong Khoi. There’s accommodation for every budget here, from hostels to five-star hotels. If you’re after something luxurious, the Park Hyatt Saigon, Hotel Nikko Saigon and the Reverie Saigon are all beautiful, though you’ll pay top dollar. For mid-range comfort with great service, there are dozens of boutique hotels scattered through the district.

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