A beginner’s guide to

VIE T
N AMNOWw w w.v i e t n a m . t r a v e l

NORTH TO SOUTH

Sapa
Magniﬁcent mountaintrekking, ethnic
homestays andsweeping views

Hanoi
Ancient pagodas, top museums
and amazing street foodPhong Nha
World-class caveadventures, plus
kayaking and jungle
eco-tours

Ha Long Bay
Mythical seascapes and morethan 2,000 breathtaking karsts

Da Nang

Hue

Breezy beaches, golfcourses and spa retreats

Nguyen Dynasty relics
along the peaceful
Perfume River

Nha Trang

Hoi AnSeafood galore,ﬁve-star resorts
and pumping rooftop bars.

Fascinating AncientTown, riverside
life and green ricepaddies

Mekong Delta
Mangrove forests, ethnic
communities and on-thewater villages

Ho Chi Minh City
Buzzing streets, cafe
culture, and colonialarchitecturewww.v i etnam.travel

Welcome to Vietnam
Vietnam is an exhilarating country to travel. Vibrantstreet life, exquisite food and epic landscapes await you
here. A nation on the move, Vietnam balances cool urban
culture with traditional values.

In the cities, ancient pagodas squat just around thecorner from sleek rooftop bars; and in the countryside,
life still follows the rhythms of the rivers and the rice harvest.
This contrast between old and new Vietnam
is a big part of its appeal.
Another great reason to visit Vietnam is its diverse natural
beauty. The capital of Hanoi is your gateway to the treasuresof the north: spectacular mountains and bays studded
with karsts. Smack in the centre, up-and-coming Danang
gives you easy access to photogenic riverside towns,
national parks and long, sandy beaches.
In the south, Ho Chi Minh City will entice you with its
captivating streets (just watch out for those motorcycles.)Nearby, the water world of the Mekong Delta as well as
islands big and small, are just waiting to be explored.

www.v i etnam.trave lVietnamHighlights

Ha. Long Bay

www.v i etnam.trave lFabulous Food
If there is one characteristic that unites Vietnamese food, it’sfreshness.
The Vietnamese love their food, and all across the country, markets arebursting with the abundance of sea and soil. Plucked the same morning,feathery herbs, plump vegetables, colourful fruits, and ﬂapping-fresh proteins
are just waiting for a skillful cook to transform them into something magical. These beautiful ingredients are combined with a symphony of delightful
textures and ﬂavours. Simply put, it’s one of the world’s healthiest and mostmouth-watering cuisines.

www.v i etnam.travel

Hànôi.

Timeless Culture
Vietnam inherited its cultural wealth from thousands of years ofVietnamese have a strong sense of pride in their traditions.
If you’re a culture seeker, the central cities of Hue and Hoi An are treasure
troves, as is Hanoi, the country’s graceful capital. Outside the cities, many
elements of Vietnamese culture trace back to cycles of wet rice cultivation.
Old and new, side-by-side, is what makes Vietnamese culture so compelling.

www.v i etnam.t rave lNha Trang

Blissful Beaches
Sun, sand, and saltwater: Vietnam is home to countless inviting
beaches -- some are well-known, others completely hidden.
The islands of Con Dao and Phu Quoc are famous for inviting water andpristine shores. If you enjoy activity and nightlife mixed into your beachholidays, the coastal towns of Da Nang and Nha Trang will spoil you withremote beach destinations, such as Quy Nhon, Con Dao and Phu Quoc,
where you can have sublime shores all to yourself.

www.v i etnam.travelw w w.v i e t n a m .t rave lStriking Scenery
Vietnam is chock-full of forested peaks, thundering waterfalls, andbreezy coastline, so it’s no wonder the country is luring more andmore nature lovers.
While you’ll ﬁnd plenty of pulse-pounding activities here, including
spelunking, canyoning, and trekking, there’s no shortage of leisurely ways toenjoy Vietnam’s natural wonders. Areas such as Phong Nha and Ha Long Baysettings.

www.v i etnam.trave lHànôi.

Changing Cities
international restaurants alongside cheap-as-chips street food, anshopping malls around the corner from wet markets.
Hanoi is a city of lakes, brimming with historical and cultural treasures. Da
Nang is a coastal metropolis on a fast track to becoming a hub fortechnology and tourism. Ho Chi Minh City is home to uber-cool rooftop bars,
trendy co-working spaces, and colonial-chic cafes. Don’t forget to hop on ascooter at least once to truly feel the pulse of urban Vietnam.

www.v i etnam.t rave lAward-winningExperiences
From beautiful golf courses toamazing wellness retreats,
Vietnam’s tourism products arecontinually lauded among theworld’s best. It’s easier than everto plan an indulgent holiday in
Vietnam around these awardwinning experiences.
Vietnam’s long coastline is home tocountless stunning beach resorts, aswell as top-tier golf courses that makethe most of the country’s diverse
natural beauty. All-new wellness
resorts are springing up in the highlands and while Vietnam’s adventure
destinations continue to win rave
reviews from travellers. Come and see
for yourself.

www.v i etnam.trave lMercure Danang French Village Bana Hills
World's Best Luxury Mountain Resort 2020
World Luxury Hotel Awards
Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh
World's Best Luxury Beach Resort 2020
World Luxury Hotel Awards
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort 2020
World Travel Awards
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay
Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort + Spa 2020
World Travel Awards
Banyan Tree Lang Co
Asia's Best Luxury Golf Resort 2020
World Luxury Hotel Awardswww.vietnam.travel

Plumeria Spa, Premier Village Phu Quoc
World's Best Luxury Island Resort Spa 2020
World Luxury Spa Awards
HARNN Heritage Spa,
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
World's Best Resort Spa 2020
World Spa Awards
Explore Spa, Le Méridien Saigon
Asia's Best Luxury Hotel Spa 2020
World Luxury Spa Awards
The Spa, Chicland Hotel Da Nang
Asia's Best Luxury Eco Spa 2020
World Luxury Spa Awards
Chanterelle Spa,JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay
Asia's Best Theme Design Spa
World Luxury Spa Awards

www.vietnam.travel

Hang Son DoongWorld Largest Cave
Ha Long Bay
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ban Gioc Waterfall
World’s 4th Largest Waterfall on a Border
Hang En
World’s 3rd Largest Cave
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
UNESCO World Heritage Sitewww.vietnam.travel

Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge
World's Greatest Places 2018
Guiness World Records
Sun World Halong Complex
World’s Tallest Cable Car Tower
Guiness World Records
Vinpearl Land Nha Trang
World’s Largest Floating Bay
Guiness World Records
Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park
World’s Longest Three-rope Cable Car
Guiness World Records
Sun World Ba Na Hills
World’s Longest Single-track Cable Car
Guiness World Records

www.vietnam.travel

Ba Na Hills Golf ClubAsia’s Best Golf Course 2020
World Golf Awards
The Grand Ho Tram Strip
Asia’s Best Golf Hotel 2020
World Golf Awards
Hoiana Shores Golf ClubWorld’s Best New Golf Course 2020
World Golf Awards
Laguna Lang Co Golf ClubBest Golf Resorts in Asia 2018
Golf Digest
KN Golf Links
Best New Course in Asia Pacific 2018
Asian Golf Awards

www.vietnam.travel

SUSTAINABLE
HOTSPOTS

Ba Be
The largest natural lake
in Vietnam, perfect foranimal lovers

Cao Bang
A mountain town thatonce served as Ho Chi
Minh’s hide out

Ninh Binh
Limestone karsts, ancientpagodas, and cave town
by paddle boat

Pu Luong
Cascading riceterraces and ethenic
minority villages

Phong Nha
Caves, caves andmore caves inPhong Nha - Ke
Bang National Park

Dak Lak
Home of Vietnamese
coﬀe, water fall andYok Don national park

Quy Nhon
A ﬁshing town withbeautiful beaches
and laid back vibes.

Cai BeA colourful river town
where local life still
plays out on the river

Con Dao
An archipelago of 15
islets with beautiful
reefs and parks

www.v i etnam.trave l5 ideas forsustainable holidays
Create a positive impact in the places you goby following these tips.

12
3
45

Support ethical tours - All acrossVietnam you’ll ﬁnd responsible tour
providers who oﬀer interesting
experiences for travellers. Many
also give back to the community
by creating income for locals.
Book a homestay - Homestays
provide close-up encounters withlocal culture. Vietnamese homestay
hosts are incredibly generous andwill happily organise unforgettable
tours and workshops for you.

15

Buy sustainable souvenirs Vietnam will give you many
chances to buy beautiful goods
that also support local artisans andcraftsmen. Lacquerware, ceramics,
and textiles are excellent
take-home mementos.

3

Help preserve culture - Did you
know Vietnam has hundreds ofcraft villages? Touring these
traditional craft villages is a great
way to see Vietnam’s countrysideand contribute to the preservationof culture.
Visit lesser-known locations Vietnam has many islands, frontier
towns and nature reserves that are
relatively unknown but worth
seeing. Going to new destinations
reduces pressure on high-proﬁleattractions.

24

www.v i etnam.t rave lTẾTLUNARNEW YEARHÙNGKINGFESTIVAL

Nationwide

Phú ThọFebuary

April

Celebrate With Us

HUẾ FESTIVAL/CRAFT FESTIVALREUNIFICATION
DAYHuế

Nationwide

April

April 30

www.vietnam.travelBÀ CHÚA XỨ
FESTIVALDA NANG
INTERNATIONAL
FIREWORKFESTIVAL

Châu ĐốcĐà NẵngMay

June - July

Celebrate With Us
MID-AUTUMNFESTIVALNATIONALDAY

Nationwide

Nationwide

September

September 2

www.vietnam.travel

Hôi. Anwww.v i etnam.travel

Must-doExperiences
experiences.

1

Sip cà phê sua dá on the side
walk - Vietnam’s traditional12¯ if you like¯
a cà phê dendaa motorcycle ride - This2 Take
is a must-do all over Vietnam
but especially in Ho Chi Minh
City, with its endless energy
and beautiful city lights.

3

3

Watch a cultural show - Don’t
miss Hanoi’s famous water puppets or the bamboo
contemporary circus by Lune
Productions.

4a pagoda - Vietnam has
4 Visita fascinating spiritual history
told through a vast range oftemples, pagodas, churches
and spiritual places.

5

Try the local street food Vietnam is alive with some of
the most famously delicious,
fragrant food in Southeast
Asia. Dig in and enjoy!

5www.v i etnam.trave lGetting Around
Have a smooth trip around Vietnam with theseeasy transport options.

TRAINS

MOTORBIKE

Vietnam’s Reunification Express takes around 36 hours
from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh
City, stopping at main cities
along the way.

Motorbike tours are a great
way to see Vietnam andget up close with local lifein the cities. Always wear
your helmet.

FLIGHTSTAXIThe easiest way to seelots of Vietnam, domestic ﬂights are reasonably
priced. Check Vietnam
Airlines and Vietjet Air.

Reputable taxi companies
operate widely in mostVietnamese cities, andmany ride-sharing apps
work here too.

BUSES

BICYCLEYou’ll ﬁnd reliable opentour buses travelling thelength of the country. Manyof these have overnight
options for nighttime travel.

In small towns such as Mai
Chau, Hoi An and Hue, you
can get everywhere youwant to go by pedal
power. Cycle away!

www.v i etnam.trave lHue

www.v i etnam.t rave lBánh căn, Nha Trang

www.v i etnam.t rave lStreet Food Tips
Get ready to enjoy Vietnam’s amazing street food during
your stay.

1

Eat on local time
The best stalls only open afew hours each day: 6am to8am, 11:30am to 1pm, and5:30pm to 7pm.

3The enjoyment of the mealis very important in Vietnam.
You can always ﬁnish eating
before paying the bill.

2

4

Season to taste
Vietnamese use chili,kumquats, vinegar, and ﬁshsauce to adjust the taste ofeach dish to their liking. Try it!

Learn to share
Meals in Vietnam are often
served family-style, withdishes for everyone to share.
Help yourself!

www.v i etnam.travel

Culture & Etiquette
Blend in and follow the local customs by learning theseeveryday tips.

TIPPINGYou are under no obligation to tip in Vietnam,
especially not at street-side eateries and small restaurants.
DRESS CODE
Most Vietnamese are modest dressers, even on the beach.
Always cover up when visiting religious sites.
SAVING FACE
As a general rule, keep your cool, and avoid loudEASY PHRASES‘Xin chào’ is the Vietnamese salutation used for both,‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’. Thank you is ‘cam on’.
?

TAKING PHOTOS
Many Vietnamese like to have their picture taken, butalways ask ﬁrst.

www.v i etnam.trave l’

www.v i etnam.trave lWeatherVietnam is home to several distinct climate patterns from north tosouth. From December to March, North Vietnam has cool weather.
April brings sunny skies until the monsoon rains arrive in June. Central
Vietnam has lots of sunshine most of the year, but November and December can be wet and overcast. Southern Vietnam is always warm,and temperatures soar mid-year. You can expect daily downpoursfrom June to August.

NORTH
The northern region
has cool and misty
winters, with coldnights in thehighlands.

CENTRAL
March andApril are greatmonths to see
Central Vietnam
before thesummer heat.

SOUTH
SouthernVietnam has a
wet monsoon
but the weather
remains warm
year-round.

www.v i etnam.trave lPhú Quôc

www.v i etnam.travel

Share your story
Follow us on social media and share your best
#VietnamNOW moments.
@vietnamtourismboard

Find out more
See Vietnam’s oﬃcial tourism website
and subscribe to our newsletter.
www.vietnam.travel

Say hello
Visit our #VietnamNOW pavilions atinternational trade shows and events.
WTM London & ITB Berlin

#VIETNAMNOWw w w.v i e t n a m .t rave l