Vietnam · Cities
Which Vietnam city fits your trip?
From Hanoi's Old Quarter to Hoi An's lantern nights — pick a base and build around it.
Compare them
Filter by how many days you have and what you like — then open the guides that exist today.
| Best for | Best months | Fly in? | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ha Long Bay Overnight junk cruise — not a day trip from Hanoi. | 2–3 days | €50 | Karst bay, overnight cruises | Oct–Apr | Via Hanoi |
| Hue Imperial citadel and royal tombs — pair with Hoi An. | 2–3 days | €42 | Imperial history, tombs | Feb–May | Via Hanoi |
| Da Nang Fly-in for central Vietnam — My Khe beach and easy Hoi An transfer. | 2–3 days | €46 | Beach, airport hub, day trips | Feb–May | Yes |
| Sapa Highland terraces and Fansipan — overnight from Hanoi, not a day trip. | 2–3 days | €44 | Rice terraces, trekking, ethnic markets | Sep–Nov, Mar–May | Via Hanoi |
| Dalat Cool pine highlands — waterfalls and coffee farms via DLI airport. | 2–3 days | €44 | Highlands, waterfalls, coffee | Nov–Mar | Yes |
| Hanoi The main northern hub — Old Quarter, lakes, and gateway to Ha Long. | 3–4 days | €45 | First trips, food, Old Quarter | Oct–Apr | Yes |
| Hoi An Pedestrian old town and An Bang beach — best central base. | 3–4 days | €48 | UNESCO old town, tailors, lanterns | Feb–May | Via Hanoi |
| Ho Chi Minh City The southern fly-in — District 1, Cu Chi day trip, Mekong access. | 3–4 days | €48 | Southern hub, food, history | Nov–Apr | Yes |
| Nha Trang Long sandy strip and island hops — dry season Nov–Apr. | 3–4 days | €44 | Beach resort, diving, island trips | Nov–Apr | Yes |
| Phu Quoc Island resort escape with PQC airport — dry season Nov–Apr. | 3–4 days | €46 | Island beaches, snorkel, night market | Nov–Apr | Yes |
Showing 10 of 10. Daily figures are per person at mid tier, excluding flights.
Pairings that work — and ones that don't
Choosing cities is really choosing combinations, because the flight map between them is not what the road map suggests.
- 4 days
Hanoi
A first taste, a long weekend, or a stopover you want to use properly.
- 7 days
Hanoi + Ha Long Bay
The classic north introduction without flying south.
- 10 days
Hanoi + Ha Long Bay + Hoi An
Culture, bay, and UNESCO old town without the south.
- varies
Ha Long Bay + Ho Chi Minh Cityawkward
no sensible direct link — backtrack to Hanoi or fly via Da Nang, eating a full travel day
- varies
Hanoi + Nha Trangawkward
full country span — fly direct (~2h) but do not try to bus it in one go
- varies
Hue + Ha Long Bayawkward
opposite ends of the map — route through Hanoi with two long legs
- varies
Sapa + Phu Quocawkward
north highlands vs south island — fly via Hanoi or HCMC, eating two travel days minimum
- varies
Sapa + Hoi Anawkward
mountain trek plus central coast — route through Hanoi and Da Nang, not a direct link
Guides still being written
Honest about coverage: each city below still gets the two or three facts that help you decide whether to wait for the full guide.
Common questions
How many days do you need in Vietnam?+
Ten to fourteen days covers north, central, and south without rushing. Seven days works for two regions — Hanoi and Ha Long, or Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. The limit is transfer time, not distance.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?+
Many nationalities apply online for an e-Visa at evisa.gov.vn. Rules change by passport — check the official portal; we do not give visa advice.
Is Vietnam expensive?+
On the ground it is inexpensive by western European standards — roughly €35 to €55 per person per day at mid-range, excluding flights. Ha Long cruises and Tet peak are the main exceptions.
What is the best month to visit?+
There is no single month for the whole country. October to April suits Hanoi and the south; February to May suits Hue, Hoi An, and Da Nang. Avoid central coast typhoon season Sep–Nov if you can.
Is it better to fly or take trains between cities?+
Fly legs over about six hours by road — Hanoi to Da Nang, Da Nang to SGN. Overnight trains are worth one scenic booking, not every hop.
Costs are research-based estimates, not live prices — verify before booking.