Best Time to Visit Vietnam and Best Tours [2024]

Can Americans Travel to Vietnam?

Because of history, many Americans question if they can or should travel to Vietnam. No need to worry. Vietnam is a country rich in culture and history, and its cities are full of unique experiences for tourists. The major cities of Saigon, Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hue each have their own personality and charm.

A visit to Vietnam can be apprehensive for Americans. After all, it is a Communist Country, and America did not treat Vietnam kindly during the Vietnam war (1955-1975). After returning from our trip, we watched the entire PBS Ken Burns series on Vietnam. How we wished we had watched this before we went, although it pulled together our own memories of this time as well as what we learned on this trip.

Despite hearing about the war tragedies both in the north and the south, Vietnamese people today welcome Americans wholeheartedly. There is no reason to fear travel to Vietnam. Americans can and should travel to Vietnam.

Why is this? We heard repeatedly that Vietnamese want to put the past in the past. We suspect this is similar to how most Americans feel about the Japanese or how Europeans feel about Germans. But the sense is that, despite the harshness of the Vietnam War, the forgiveness is real here. Perhaps the forgiveness has to do with the fact that they have had such a troubled past, or because of the influence of the Buddhist religion. In any case we felt a warm and welcoming friendship during our entire visit.

Passport and Visa Requirements to Travel to Vietnam

When Robin and I visited Vietnam in the Spring of 2023, they still had a paper based visa process in place. Americans, and travelers from many countries needed to obtain the paper-based visa. You didn’t have to go to their embassy, but the process to obtain the visa was bureaucratic

Starting from August 15, 2023, Vietnam implemented a new e-visa system that is available to all nationalities. The e-visa allows for a maximum validity of 90 days and can be used for multiple entries. This was a big change. Like us, when U.S. citizens or other non-exempted citizens visited, and left Vietnam to go to Cambodia or elsewhere, they were required to obtain a second visa to get back into the country.

If you are visiting from the following countries with a valid passport, you can get a visa exemption for 45 days and do not need to obtain the e-visa: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus. This may change next year now that the EU countries will be requiring an e-visa.

The changing visa requirements in Vietnam and in the European Union in 2025, are a great example of why you should use iVisa to help you keep up to date on visa requirements.

Best Time to Visit and Travel to Vietnam

For those hoping to see Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and everything in between, the perfect time to go is in the dry season. You need to avoid the typhoon season. Vietnam has distinct seasons. February and March are the best months to see the entire country from north to south in relatively dry weather. In general, the best time to visit Vietnam is to seek dry weather and to avoid the monsoon season. The monsoon, or rainy season, is caused by the southwest monsoon which significantly influences Vietnam’s climate. It hits Vietnam at different times depending on the region of the country:

• Northern Vietnam (around Hanoi and Ha Long Bay):
  • The southeast monsoon season starts in May and ends in October.
  • The wettest months are July and August.
• Central Vietnam (including Hoi An, Hue, and Danang):
  • Rainfall increases during the southeast monsoon in October and November.
• Southern Vietnam (around Ho Chi Minh City):
  • The monsoon season runs from May till November.
  • During this time, expect increased rainfall and tropical conditions.

Peak Season by Region

Therefore, the perfect time to visit Vietnam can also vary significantly by different regions in the country. For example, when we were in Vietnam, we noticed very significant travel pattern differences between Northern Vietnam, Southern Vietnam, Central Vietnam, the Mekong River Region and the Mekong Delta.

1. Northern Vietnam:
   • High Season: September to November and March to April.
   • Shoulder Season: December to early February and May to August.
   • Low Season: May to October.
   • Why? The high season offers pleasant weather, while the shoulder season has fewer crowds and better prices. However, be prepared for occasional rain during the low season.

2. Central Vietnam:
   • High Season: April to August.
   • Shoulder Season: September to March.
   • Low Season: September to May.
   • Why? Visit during the high season for sunny weather and beach activities. The shoulder season is less crowded, and the low season has occasional rain.

3. Southern Regions:
   • High Season: October to April.
   • Shoulder Season: September to December.
   • Low Season: May to September.
   • Why? The high season offers dry weather and pleasant temperatures. The shoulder season is less crowded, and the low season has some rain but also lower prices.

Best Tour We Booked in Vietnam

In the Spring of 2023, Robin and Cos spent two weeks traveling around Vietnam another week in Cambodia. In Vietnam, we visited Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), The Mekong Delta, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An. We booked ourselves on a private tour managed by Odynovo Tours. They are a Chinese based travel company that does a great job of arranging tours in Asia and other parts of the world. We like to use a tour company when we go into a country for the first time, particularly when we don’t speak the native language.

You have little choice if you want to visit all these places but to fly. You can drive between Saigon and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta and also between Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An, but you better have a driver because the rules of driving in Vietnam are weird.

Driving in Vietnam

The roads are crowded and there are motorbikes everywhere. Traffic lanes don’t seem to matter. You will probably spend more time in the lane of on-coming traffic. The weird part is that while driving is on the right, like the U.S. and Europe, when you are on a four-lane road, drivers tend to stay in the left lane. So, most passing occurs not on the left, but in the right lane which is normally where you find the motorbikes. Why there aren’t more accidents is hard to fathom.

In addition, if you wish to make a left turn you just go. The on-coming traffic is expected to slow down or stop. Finally, there are no rules for roundabouts, although the centers are usually marked with impressive statues, like the one below. You just go, sometimes cutting across the incoming traffic to make a left turn. Lastly, traffic lights seem to be a suggestion as many vehicles, particularly motorbikes, tend to ignore red signals.

Differences in Vietnam Between North & South

The differences between the north and south of Vietnam are significant. The south has a more developed economy, with a focus on commerce and trade, while the north is more traditional and agricultural. The south has a warmer climate and is more influenced by Western culture, while the north is cooler and more influenced by Chinese culture.

Many of the differences relate to climate and weather patterns. For example, with the south being a good bit warmer and not having significant seasonal changes, days start much earlier to perform most chores before the heat sets in. However, there are also differences in accent & language, culture, food, wealth/spending and saving, with the south being much more consumer conscious. In the past these differences caused divisions and even conflict. However, today any differences are treated more like friendly banter.

While there are no open hostilities, we sensed that many, if not most, people in the South still resent the Communist North takeover. They still call Ho Chi Minh City “Saigon” as an example of the passive resistance. The Government has made concessions to address this as many hard rules, such as birth control limits, that were originally put in place no longer exist. Nevertheless, we sensed more propaganda and evidence of Communist rule in the South to make sure everyone knows who is in charge. If you wish to read more on this subject we suggest you read “23 Differences from South to North Vietnam”.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam – Religion and Temples

Best Time to Visit the Cities of Vietnam

Like the regions of Vietnam. visiting different cities in Vietnam can be best managed if done in a logical way. We visited Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in March and Hanoi in April. That worked well since it gets warmer in Hanoi later in the year than in Saigon. We had clear skies and little rain in either city.

Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, is a bustling metropolis in Southern Vietnam. It is a city that never sleeps, with its streets always alive with activity. Saigon is home to many famous landmarks, such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum, which showcase the country’s history and its struggles during the Vietnam War.

Today, Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by most residents, is a modern city. There are many tall, modern buildings and high fashion stores are present. There are still expensive homes from the past, but today they are government buildings. The Opera House hosts a wide range of events including The Bamboo Circus, that we actually saw in Hoi An.

Street Scenes in Saigon

Streets in Saigon are much more crowded than anywhere else in the country. This is because it is the biggest city by population with 12 million inhabitants, and everyone owns at least one motor bike. The traffic jams make Los Ángeles and New York City look peaceful. Crossing a street as a pedestrian is a life challenging adventure as motorbikes actively ignore crosswalks. Motorbikes carry heavy loads of assorted goods, teenagers engage in street games, soon-to-be married couples take wedding pictures to be shown later on the big day and the young toddlers hang onto each other to avoid getting lost.

Old Saigon Post Office

One place in Saigon that lets the people of Saigon enjoy the good old days, is the Old Saigon Post office. Here you can send mail, packages, telegrams (does anyone send telegrams anymore?), get a document translated or buy many different items. It is a beautiful old building among a lot of new construction.

Reunification Palace

The Reunification Palace was the first place that Cos and Robin visited in Vietnam on their 2023 two-week trip to the country. The palace is where South Vietnam was governed and is where the President lived, like the White House in Washington, DC. The best way to describe the building is that it is simply elegant. However, when contrasted to how Ho Chi Minh lived in Hanoi (see Hanoi below for details), it is an incredibly outlandish palace. It is also a wonderfully preserved building having not been occupied since 1975. We wonder why the Communist Government continues to preserve the building exactly as it was 50+ years ago. Perhaps they are sending a message to those in the South: “Despite your money and guns we beat you”.

We further solidified our propaganda belief when we saw the young children taking a photo in front of one of the countries victorious tanks.

War Remnants Museum

If you don’t get enough propaganda at the Unification Palace, then you certainly will get it at the War Remnants Museum. The captured American planes and tanks were the start. However, what was really tough, and to be fair not propaganda, was the Agent Orange Exhibit and the Photo Exhibit of Journalists killed in the war. We were so moved by the Agent Orange Exhibit that we made contributions to organizations for people we met who were affected by it. For more information about the effects of War, please see our War Impacts Post.

Saigon Opera House

Saigon Opera House is one of the finest examples of 19th-century French colonial architecture in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built to stage plays and operas for the entertainment of French troops stationed in the city. It hosts the Bamboo Theatre which can also be seen in Hoi An. See our Famous Theaters Post for more information about the Bamboo Circus and other shows in Vietnam.

Cu Chi Tunnels

About an hour north of Saigon is the Cu Chi Village where friends of the Viet Cong hid out in a maze of tunnels. The area was heavily booby trapped with devices that normally would be used to capture animals.

Despite the fact that they were on the wrong side of the war, Robin was so impressed by these indigenous people, that she desired a picture with them.

Temples & Churches Around Saigon

Vietnam like the rest of Indochina, is a predominantly Buddhist Country. However, most of Indochina is also influenced by Indian Hindu culture. However, there is less Hindu influence in the Saigon area temples than in other parts of Indochina. In fact, there is a fair amount of Christian influence as the French left their mark, with the second famous Notre Dame Cathedral.

Best Time to Visit the Thien-Hue Hau Chinese Temple, Vietnam

In the heart of Chinatown in Saigon is a wonderful Chinese Temple. Here we were able to see and smell the incense spiral rings that the members light for their deceased relatives. The spiral rings burn for a week or a month depending on the size of the spiral.

Best Time to Visit the Cao Dai Great Temple in Vietnam

Cao Dai is a new religious movement that emerged in Vietnam in 1926. It combines Buddhist beliefs with elements of Taoism and other worldly religions. It claims over 2 million followers, however our Vietnamese guides outside of Saigon, had no knowledge of the movement. The Great Temple is home to their Holy See, similar to the Roman Catholic religion. Sun Yat Sen, Víctor Hugo and Nguyen Binh Khiem (a Vietnamese poet) are the three people signing the document in the center of the photos below, symbolizing the unification of the religion.

Best Time to Visit the Vin Trang Temple Near My Tho in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The Vin Trang Temple is located in the Front area of the Mekong Delta near My Tho. (see definition of Front and Back areas of the Delta below). It is a large temple complex consisting of 4.9 acres of land.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon, Vietnam built by the French, is a smaller replica of the famous Paris Cathedral. Unfortunately, while we were in Saigon it was under reconstruction, (it has been that way for 5 years, longer than it will take to restore the Paris Cathedral), but at least we got some good pictures of the Virgin Mary Statue.

Best Time to Visit the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The Mekong Delta region in Vietnam is beautiful, as are the women of the area who are said by our guide to be the most beautiful in Vietnam. He said he married one, so we assume he is biased.

People from Saigon refer to the Mekong Delta in two parts: the front and the back depending on the closeness to Saigon and if rivers need to be crossed. It is best to visit the region early in the year before the warmer weather, higher temperatures and high humidity become more prevalent.

Anyway, while there we took a wonderful ride through the water coconut trees and were entertained by some of the beautiful women. This is near My Tho on the front part of the Delta.

Best Time to Visit Can Tho, Vietnam

Can Tho was one of our favorite places we visited while we were in Vietnam. It is on the back part of the Delta. The city literally lights up at night and is a magical place. Robin even got to play Cinderella.

Best Time to Visit Cai Rang Floating Market in Vietnam

Two of the more interesting open-air markets that we visited on our tour of Vietnam were the Cai Rang Floating Market and the local market near there. The floating market has hundreds of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables and fish jostling for trade at wholesale prices.

Local Market

The local market was very crowded, and the customers arrive on their scooters and get drive-up service.

A Place We Didn’t Visit: Mui Ne

One of the best places to visit in Vietnam, that we did not visit is Mui Ne. Mui Ne is a fishing village in the Mekong Delta. Our friends, the Howards, who wrote the National Geographic Book “Ultimate journey for Two: Extraordinary Destinations on Every Continent” highly recommend it. To see more of their recommendations please go to our post 100+ Must Visit Destinations for Couples.

Best time to Travel to Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam, located in the north. It has a more traditional and slower pace of life than Saigon, with its old town and the Hoan Kiem Lake as must-see tourist attractions. Hanoi is also known for its delicious street food, such as pho and bun cha. The best time to visit Hanoi in Northern Vietnam is September to November and March to April.

Hanoi’s Old Town

Ho Chi Minh’s Complex

In Hanoi a large area in the center of the city is dedicated to the founder of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh. The complex includes a Mausoleum, with his embalmed body, a museum of his artifacts (which we did not see), a beautiful garden with his modest home, and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum

This is a very popular place to visit. Vietnamese are expected to visit at least one time in their life to show respect to the country’s founder. Tourists will wait in a long line while lines of school children pass you buy for your one minute view of the embalmed Chairman. The Vietnamese learned the embalming technique from the Russians after visiting Lenin’s tomb in St. Petersburg. The mausoleum is located in Ba Dinh Square, which is where Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945.

Best time to Visit Hanoi, Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh’s Home

Ho Chi Minh desired to live a modest life as a way to separate himself from the all the emperors and kings before him. As such he lived in a very modest home in a beautiful garden. By living this way he clearly demonstrated that he was one of the people.

One Pillar Pagoda

Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature in Hanoi is also over one thousand years old. The temple is dedicated to Confucius and is also home to the Imperial Academy which is Vietnam’s first national university.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi is dedicated to the 54 different ethnic groups that make up the country. There is a clear message that despite years of fighting among the different groups, today within the country everyone is accepted and respected. The museum hosts pictures of the people and replicas of the different types of homes that the people live in. Most of these minority groups live in the mountains.

Water Puppets Theater

The Water Puppets Theater in Hanoi represents an old art form that was created in the wet rice fields of Vietnam. Because the peasants so enjoyed seeing local people do puppet acts in the water, that this became an historic art form. The theater in Hanoi and this performance group are working hard to preserve the art. For more information about Theaters in Vietnam and elsewhere, please see our Famous Theaters Post.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam- Hanoi Hilton Prison

The Ho Loa Prison built by the French has become better known as the Hanoi Hilton when it was used by the Viet Cong to hold captured Americans during the Vietnam War. The prison itself was demolished in the 1990s. Today there is a museum focused primarily on how poorly the Vietnamese were treated by the French.
The museum speaks kindly of how the Viet Cong treated the Americans. Clearly, another example of Vietnamese’s Government propaganda. In any case there is an exhibit, showing a number of American Veterans, particularly John McCain returning to Hanoi. He is making friends with people he met during his time in Hanoi.

Best Time to Visit Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

There is possibly no place in the world more beautiful than Ha Long Bay. It is located a few hours southeast of Hanoi. During Cos and Robin’s 90-day trip through Asia-Pacific, they had visited a number of bays and sounds that were impressive (Milford Sound and Bay of Islands in New Zealand, James Bond in Phuket). But nothing was as incredible as Ha Long Bay. The bay contains two-thousand of these islets made of limestone that have gained their shapes over 500 million years. The pictures tell the story.

Best Time to Visit Hue (pronounced “way”), Vietnam.

Hue, located in central Vietnam, was the former imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. It is home to many historical sites, such as the Imperial Citadel and the Thien Mu Pagoda. Hue is also famous for its cuisine, which is considered the most sophisticated in Vietnam.

Imperial Citadel

NGO Mon Gate

One of the most impressive features of the Imperial Citadel is the Ngo Mon Gate. This gate was the main entrance to the citadel and was used by the emperor and his officials. The gate is decorated with intricate carvings and is flanked by two towering pillars.

Thai Hoa Palace

Another notable feature of the citadel is the Thai Hoa Palace. This palace was the main audience hall of the Nguyen dynasty and was used for important ceremonies and events. The palace is adorned with beautiful carvings and is supported by 80 pillars.

Overall, the Imperial Citadel in Hue, Vietnam is a remarkable structure that is steeped in history and culture. Its impressive architecture and stunning beauty make it a must-see destination for anyone visiting Hue.

Best Time to Visit Hue, Vietnam – Thien Mu Pagoda

Tomb of King Ming Mang

The City of Hue contains many Tombs of the Emperors who lived in the Imperial Citadel. However, the most spectacular is the Mausoleum of King Ming Mang. It is about thirty minutes outside the city. The area surrounding the sepulcher includes beautiful lakes and gardens. It is a wonderful place to enjoy nature and is free to the local people to totally enjoy a restful day.

Best Time to Visit da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang is a coastal city in central Vietnam, known for its beautiful beaches and the Marble Mountains. It is also called “The City of Bridges”. It is home to the famous Dragon Bridge (see below) and the Golden Bridge, a unique pedestrian bridge that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. While da Nang is on the Central coast it is not far from the mountainous area in the central region.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam – Museum of Cham Sculpture

Da Nang hosts the Museum of Cham Sculpture, which has an incredible collection of Hindu Sculptures taken from the Cham Temples. The Cham people, one of Vietnams different ethnic groups, had lived and dominated this region of Vietnam for many years. They were forced by the Vietnamese and Chinese to move further south. Today, they are a small minority living in the Mekong region.

Vietnam’s Mountain Temples (Marble Mountain)

Just south of Da Nang are a series of mountains. One mountain in particular, known for its marble quarry, has an incredible temple built into the mountain. A quick elevator ride is the easiest way to visit the temple.

Best Time to Visit Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is a charming ancient town located in central Vietnam. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its well-preserved architecture, lantern-lit streets, and beautiful beaches nearby. Hoi An is also famous for its tailoring, where visitors can have custom-made clothing created within a day. To celebrate their anniversary, when Cos and Robin visited in the spring of 2023, Robin had a new dress custom made, and Cos got a new shirt and pair of shorts. High quality materials, total cost, less than $100.

The Old City, a Shopper’s Paradise

Hoi An’s old city is a shopper’s paradise. In fact, Robin said it is her favorite place in all of Vietnam. However, it is even better remembered for its incredible lantern display. The use of lanterns on the river is particularly impressive.

Pottery Village

Japanese Bridge

The Japanese Bridge in Hoi An was built in the 16th century to connect the Japanese and Chinese communities within the city. The bridge, built by the Japanese, contains a Chinese temple as part of the bridge.

Chinese Temple

Within the Old City of Hoi An there are a number of Chinese temples. Like Chinese Temples across Vietnam, these temples bring forth many Chinese traditions.

Hoi An Traditional Art Performance Theater

The Traditional Art Performance Theater is a small theatre in the old city of Hoi An that hosts daily performances for tourists. The performances are sung in Vietnamese but offer interesting dance and musical shows. For more information about Theaters in Vietnam and elsewhere, please see our Famous Theaters Post.