Country guide
Vietnam covers 331,344.82 km² and its 2025 population estimate is 102,300,000, held mostly in two river deltas at opposite ends of a long, narrow country: the R...
Photograph · Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Vietnam covers 331,344.82 km² and its 2025 population estimate is 102,300,000, held mostly in two river deltas at opposite ends of a long, narrow country: the Red River in the north around Hanoi, the Mekong in the south below Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is the capital and Ho Chi Minh City the largest city, and the ground between the two is the trip — a coast measured in days rather than hours, usually broken into three or four stops instead of run in one go. Which end a traveller starts from decides the order of everything after it.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Clay Gilliland · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photograph · NKSTTSSHNVN · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · Cuong Tran · Public domain
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
7 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Nguyen Van Binh Book Street is a pedestrian thoroughfare in Ho Chi Minh City dedicated to books and reading culture. It stretches beside Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon in District 1.
Phung Hung Mural Street is a public art installation along Phung Hung Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural is a monumental public artwork in Vietnam's capital. Commissioned in 2007 for the Millennial Anniversary of Hanoi, it holds recognition as one of the world's largest ceramic mosaics.
Nhà hát Lớn
The Hanoi Opera House is a performing arts venue in central Hanoi, constructed during the French colonial period. The building exemplifies French neoclassical architecture with Italianate influences, featuring a grand facade, columns, and ornate interior details.
Nhà hát Thành phố
The Saigon Opera House, known locally as Nhà hát Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, stands as a prominent performing arts venue in central Ho Chi Minh City.
Hanoi Creative City is a mixed-use creative complex in Hanoi, Vietnam. The development functions as a cultural and commercial hub that brings together creative industries, retail spaces, and community-oriented facilities.
Nhà hát Múa rối nước Thăng Long
The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, known locally as Nhà hát Múa rối Thăng Long, is a performing arts venue in Hanoi dedicated to the traditional Vietnamese art of water puppetry.
A north-to-south first trip needs about two weeks; with ten days, choose two regions such as Hanoi and the centre or Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight trains and domestic flights shorten distance but still consume transfer time.
Apply through Vietnam’s official electronic-visa portal if the passport and trip qualify. Confirm the approved entry point, validity dates and permitted stay before finalising the route, because an authorisation tied to one crossing should not be assumed valid for another.
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are the key gateways for common itineraries. Domestic flights, the north-south railway and coaches connect regions; local systems vary, so use licensed taxis or recognised booking channels and verify the correct station or terminal.
Vietnam’s north, central coast and south have different wet and dry periods. Choose travel dates around the most weather-sensitive region: central beach conditions, northern mountain visibility and southern rainfall cannot be summarised by one nationwide “best month.”
The Vietnamese đồng is the recorded currency, and the high denomination numbers deserve a deliberate check before payment. Cash remains useful for small vendors and local transport; use reputable ATMs or banks and verify each zero on quoted VND prices.
Police, fire and ambulance are recorded as 113, 114 and 115; common power is Type A and C at 220 V. Tap-water advice is Not recorded here, so ask locally and keep transport-provider details available for long rail or coach journeys.
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