Vietnam Travel Tips 2026: In-Depth Guide + PDF

Soak up some of the rich the Vietnamese culture by getting immersed in this chaotic city full of life. If you feel overwhelmed by the crazy traffic of motorbikes moving around in every direction don’t worry, this city also offers lots of things to do.

Eat with locals. One of the best things to do in Vietnam is eating. Vietnamese people are proud of their exquisite gastronomy based on fresh ingredients. Don’t miss out the opportunity of trying some of the best hot pots in the region (although they taste different in the north)

Learn the history of Vietnam. Visiting the War museum will give you a bit of context of what this country has been through. Even though Vietnamese people seem to be over it, it is important to know the past of this nation.

Explore the underground history. Visit the underground Cu Chi tunnels that Vietnamese people created during the war with America to shelter whole villages. An absolutely masterpiece worth to visit, and the tour includes transport too.

Get a taste of Paris in Vietnam. Did you expect to see a Notre Dame Cathedral in South East Asia? Probably not, but Ho Chi Minh City has one, built by the French in the 1880s. It has been under restoration since 2017 and should reopen fully in 2027; until then you can see the façade from the square, next to the Central Post Office.

But first, coffee. Get your batteries charged with Vietnamese coffee. IF you are a coffee lover like us, we will probably enjoy the taste of this coffee. You can have it black or white, hot or cold. No matter which one you choose, you will be totally satisfied. For us, white coffee was our favorite, as it was made with condensed milk combined with the coffee, it tasted like heaven.

Relax on paradisiac beaches. If you are looking for a place to slow down, Phu Quoc is one of the best beaches in Vietnam. This place is increasing its popularity very quickly and that also explains its rapid development during the past years. Phu Quoc offers a wide range of options in touristic attractions, accommodations, and restaurants. We could say that the island has been adapted to meet the needs of its visitors.

However, all the coins have always two faces. What we found in this touristic island was, shockingly, tons of rubbish on the beaches. Every beach we visited, was covered in plastics, either in the white sand and in the crystal clear water what was not only disappointing but also, a completely worry.

Rent a scooter and explore the Island. Although it is a big island to be explored in a couple of days, renting a scooter is what we found the most convenient way to get to know it. Also, pending on the winds, you will be able to choose one beach or another.

Do not go on a snorkeling trip!. We did not do it, so it is not first-hand information, but we did research a lot while there. We both are advanced divers and love a good dive and snorkel. And even though the small islands at the very south of the islands are said to be incredibly beautiful, there are hundreds of comments everywhere about unhappy people looking to see marine life while snorkeling.

Take a boat to the southern islands for true beauty. Although there are a couple of beautiful beaches in Phu Quoc, looks like the best ones are further south. We looked into this option but it was a bit over our budget, so we did not do it. Again, we did our research and if what you look for is amazingly small and pretty islands with crystal clear waters, looks like your deal!

Make the most of the outdoors activities. Dalat is a beautiful city situated 1500m above the sea level, hidden between valleys and mountains. Due to its advantaged location, Dalat called the city with the eternal spring, as temperatures are more refreshing comparing to hot and humid cities like Saigon. No wonder why it has become the favorite getaway to those seeking a break from the suffocating temperatures and looking forward to enjoying a peaceful stay surrounded by pure nature. As a consequence of this rare climate, Dalat’s main attractions are based on outdoor activities.

Walk around Lam Vien Square. As we mentioned above, Dalat is a great gateway for those who are looking for a peaceful break in a quiet place. One of our favorite things to do in Dalat was walking around Lam Vien Square and towards the market where you can grab some delicious local food.

Visit Pongour Waterfalls. For this one, we’d recommend you to rent a motorbike as it is 50 Km from Dalat town. There are more waterfalls in Dalat that you could visit but for us, this one is the most impressive

Walk around the old town. You will probably be captivated by the charming of this old town when you visit it. As the darkness falls into this town, the city dresses up with colorful lanterns and the magic begins. At the riverside, you can also see some people leaving paper candle lights on the water leaving us with a romantic sparkle scenery of Hoi An.

Buy a handmade tailored suite. Another reason for visiting Hoi An is, for its great tailoring services with the cheapest prices so if you were considering buying a suit made by a professional tailor, this is probably one of the best places to get one.

Chill by the riverside for a drink. For us, one of our favorite things to do in Hoi An was sitting by the riverside and sip a delicious local coffee watching the people going by.

Rent a motorbike and explore. You can also rent a bike and ride around the beautiful Hoi An to discover every little corner, and don’t forget to go for a walk at night when all the lanterns are lit up in colors.

Visit Phong Nha caves. One of the reasons why people stop by Phon Nha is to visit some of the most spectacular nature creations you could see. One of the best examples is the oldest karst mountains in Asia which were formed more than 400 million years ago. Phon Nha also is also home of some unique caves with underground rivers to explore. Apart from the scenic part, Phon Nha also offers the possibility to discover some history of the Vietnamese War with America.

Explore the wild nature around. As you can imagine in such a nature paradise, the main activity will be outdoors. Companies have realized the potential of this Natural Park and that’s why you will be able to find endless options to get outside and enjoy this place.

Trang An Grottoes. It is a scenic landscape complex surrounded by a buffer zone of 6,268ha, mostly comprising paddy rice fields and villages. Here expect to find a handful of caves and rocks towering out from a large network of canals and lakes. It is with no doubt the main attraction of Trang An and is something with an extraordinary beauty that we strongly recommend.

Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda. From Trang An, you can also rent a motorbike and head to Bai Dinh Pagoda which is Southeast Asia’s largest complex. As we were traveling with our motorbike we drove all the way there at it was absolutely worth it. The complex you walk through was built between 2003 and 2010, so it is not a historic monument. The original Bai Dinh pagoda, from 1121, is about 800 metres away. Even so, the new one is pretty impressive and absolutely worth it the ride. In the complex, you will find different elements, From temples to a Bell Tower, to a massive Buddha, a dormitory area for Buddhist monks, a display of 500 Arahat statues of 2 meters… and so on. This place for us is a masterpiece and we can’t compare it to anything that we have seen before.

Visit Hoa Lu. It was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. The area is composed of ricefields broken by picturesque limestone mountains and is approximately 90 km south of Hanoi. Hoa Lư is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ninh Bình Province

Rent a bike or motorbike and explore by yourself. One of the best things about Trang An is how beautiful and quiet is. It is not big, so really manageable on a bike. Also, the offer of nice restaurants and cheap accommodation will make you want to stay for longer than you though. Don’t you say we did not tell you ?

Visit Halong Bay. You cannot visit Vietnam and miss out one of Seven Natural Wonders, Ha Long Bay. Worldwide famous for its natural beauty, this place attracts millions of people every year who get on board those junk boats and sail the bay for two nights at least most of them. Halong Bay is formed by 1500 islets of karst mountains, hollow jungles, and caves some of them are open to visitors. With your visit, you will have the option to do some extra activities.

Cruise Halong Bay. If you visit Ha Long Bay, the best way of enjoying it is by booking a one-night (or 2) cruise. We booked two days one night cruise in Ha Long Bay with Rosa Boutique Cruise. That included transport from Hanoi, all the meals which were abundant and traditional Vietnamese food. It also includes kayaking for an hour, cooking class where you learn to cook some Vietnamese recipes and a visit to the Pearl Farm where they show you how the get the pearls. Our advice is to check some reviews before booking with the tour operators as there are endless scams with this kind of activities.

Visit and enjoy the French and Old Quarters. What can we say about Hanoi? We totally fell in love with this city since the first moment we stepped in. It is one of the most ancient capitals in the world, with colonial buildings, historic temples, museums, handicrafts, and a unique delightful cuisine all within the city center. There are two main neighborhoods to visit, the French Quarter and the Old Quarter.

Forget the map and get lost. We really enjoyed getting lost in the streets of Hanoi, walking through the Hoan Kiem Lake, watching people dancing, playing a massive Jenga game and all kind of performances…

Try the egg coffee. Something that you cannot miss in Hanoi is trying the famous distinguished egg coffee in one first places where egg coffee was made. The name of this place is Giang Caffee and you can get through a small alley which doesn’t look very appealing and it can also be difficult to find. This place is nothing luxury but you can see years and years of familiar tradition. It has now become the meeting point for young people to have a chat and a delicious and different coffee. For a less traditional but still a charming peaceful café is the Note Coffee. There you will be able to try the famous egg coffee and other types surrounded by walls covered in layers of post-its with messages. Don´t forget to leave yours.

Walk the path which connects Cat Ba beaches. There is a beautiful and peaceful path which connects Cat Ba beaches. It is a pleasant stroll with incredible views. You can also opt to stay in one of them if you are up to a swim

Hike to the top of Cat Ba National Park. It is a relaxed walk which should not take more than a full hour to go to the top, through a dense wood but with a well-marked path. Views from the top are quite impressive and most likely, there won’t be many people with you.

Visit Halong Bay. Cat Ba is also the door to the bay. With less tourist on this side, you can still do the Halong Bay tour from here and will be easier and less crowded. Price wise it might be the same, but it worth to check it just in case

Den Long. This is by far our recommendation in terms of where to eat in Ho Chi Minh. Den Long serves authentic Vietnamese homemade food. Not only food is exceptional but also the staff will run you through the dishes on the menu and they will give you some recommendations. They are so attentive and welcoming that you will feel at home.

Winston’s burgers. Nice burgers, probably not the best you’ve ever had (unless you haven’t eaten as many burgers), but it definitely makes the trick if you are having one of those burger cravings.

Ganesh. This is a chain of Indian restaurants that you can find all around Vietnam. We really wanted to have Indian food in Phu Quoc so we gave it a go and it was really tasty.

So True Restaurant.The best food in Phu Quoc for us. Food is deliciously tasty and the staff is great too. You shouldn’t leave this island without having tried this hidden gem.

No Name Bbq . This restaurant serves traditional Vietnamese food at a cheap price. They also have a barbeque at night with the catch of the day and some fresh vegetables too.

Hanoi Social Club. Fancy a delicious breakfast in a cozy and vibrant space? If so, head to Hanoi Social Club. They also serve delicious lunch and on Tuesdays, they have live music. We visited Hanoi Social Club for breakfast and we loved it. They have got plenty of option in the menu, which they call Food for Soul and we can confirm that.

Bún Bò Nam Bộ. One of the best dishes we’ve ever tried so far. BunBoo Nam Bo is a stirred beef vermicelli with fried onion, fresh vegetables, chopped peanuts… it is heaven in a bowl.

Pizza 4P’s. A chain of pizza restaurants run by a Japanese chef that will make your mouth water with just the smell of the delicious pizzas. Their specialty is their wide variety of pizza flavors, all very original and their own house-made cheese. We ordered pizza, half parma burrata, and half house-made cheese… it was one of the best pizzas we’ve had. We also ordered salmon pasta which was very tasty too but we preferred the pizza.

Pho 10. Another thing that you should add to your to-do list is having this traditional dish. Pho is a beef soup with noodles and some vegetables which is really rich in flavor. The best way to find the best Pho in town is by going where locals go. So forget about doing any research, walk around the city and wherever you see they are serving Pho and is full of local people, don’t hesitate, that will be the places. If you didn’t have enough time and you want to go straight away to a good one, we loved Pho 10 so you should give it a go

Restaurant & Cafe Tuan. A highly rated restaurant which serves tasty and diverse food. Recommended when visiting Hoi An.

Banh Mi Phuong. Delicious and cheap Vietnamese traditional sandwiches that you should try when you visit Vietnam.

Cafe Bambu. Perfect place to have some great food and relax in Phon Nha.

Primavera Restaurant. Delicious Italian woodfired pizzas and pasta in Dalat. They also have live music on Saturday nights.

Dalat Market Visit Dalat market to mingle with locals and grab some local food.

Trung Tuyet Restaurant if you want to eat good portions of traditional Vietnamese food at a cheap price, then this is the place in Trang An.