Before You Go
- Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
- Check whether a tourist visa is required.
- Keep digital copies of important documents.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance.
Hanoi
Vietnamese Đồng (VND)
Vietnamese
Nov–Apr
ICT (UTC+7)
Welcome to Vietnam, a Southeast Asian country where dramatic limestone bays, ancient towns, and vibrant street life create unforgettable diversity. Halong Bay's thousands of limestone islands rising from emerald waters rank among the most spectacular natural sights in Asia. Hoi An's lantern-lit ancient town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers beautifully preserved architecture and renowned tailoring. Hanoi's Old Quarter buzzes with scooters, street food, and centuries of history around a scenic lake. Vietnam's terraced rice fields in Sapa reveal dramatic mountain scenery and vibrant hill tribe culture. The Mekong Delta offers a fascinating glimpse into floating markets and traditional river life. Vietnamese cuisine, from pho to banh mi, reflects fresh ingredients and centuries of culinary refinement. Vietnam invites travelers to experience a country of extraordinary natural beauty and rich cultural depth.
Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.
Discover some of Vietnam's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.
Phở is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Bánh Mì is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Bún Chả is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Gỏi Cuốn is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Cao Lầu is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Bánh Xèo is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Cơm Tấm is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Bún Bò Huế is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Chè is a well-known part of Vietnam's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Vietnam is home to Sơn Đoòng, the largest known cave passage in the world by volume, discovered relatively recently and found to be so massive that it contains its own localized weather system, complete with clouds forming inside the cave and a dense jungle growing on its floor where sunlight breaks through collapsed sections of the ceiling. The country's Hạ Long Bay features thousands of limestone karst islands and islets rising dramatically out of emerald waters, a landscape shaped over millions of years and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vietnam endured a prolonged and devastating war in the mid-20th century, and the extensive Củ Chi tunnel network near Ho Chi Minh City, stretching over a hundred miles, allowed Viet Cong fighters to move troops, supplies, and even entire field hospitals underground largely undetected. The country has since transformed into one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, and it's now one of the largest exporters of coffee in the world, a legacy tied back to French colonial-era plantation agriculture.
Vietnam's cuisine, particularly dishes like phở and bánh mì, reflects a distinctive blend of indigenous Vietnamese ingredients with French colonial culinary influence, creating a food culture widely celebrated around the world today.
