Everything You Need to Know About Travelling to Vietnam
This guide covers the essential destinations, the best itinerary frameworks for different trip lengths, practical logistics for NZ travellers, and the cultural and travel tips that turn a good Vietnam trip into an exceptional one.
This guide covers the essential destinations, the best itinerary frameworks for different trip lengths, practical logistics for NZ travellers, and the cultural and travel tips that turn a good Vietnam trip into an exceptional one.
By the Flight Centre NZ Editorial Team
Our travel writers work alongside Flight Centre’s destination specialists to bring you practical, honest travel guidance. Vietnam’s visa requirements and entry conditions change periodically — always verify current requirements through the Vietnam Embassy in Wellington or MFAT’s Safetravel NZ before departure.
Last updated: July 2026
Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most rewarding travel destinations — a narrow, thousand-kilometre country that runs from the Chinese border in the north to the Gulf of Thailand in the south, and packs in extraordinary variety across that distance. Ancient capitals, UNESCO World Heritage sites, limestone karst seascapes, silk-lantern cities, imperial tombs, emerald rice paddies, and some of the most complex and delicious food culture in the world. For NZ travellers, it offers genuine depth at a price point that remains well below comparable destinations in Japan or Europe.
Getting to Vietnam from New Zealand
Air New Zealand operates direct flights to Hanoi, with various other flights from Auckland to Vietnam routing through a single hub — Singapore (Singapore Airlines, Scoot), Bangkok (Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways), Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines), or Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) — before connecting to Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Total journey time from Auckland is approximately 11–13 hours. Flying into one city and out of the other (‘open jaw’ routing) is the most efficient approach for a north-to-south itinerary and is usually price-competitive.
Why Vietnam Should Be on Every NZ Traveller’s List
Vietnam has been on the Southeast Asia trail for decades, but it has an ability to surprise that more-visited countries in the region have largely lost. A bowl of bú n bò Huế at a pavement stall in Hue can be transformative. Walking the lantern-lit lanes of Hoi An’s Ancient Town at dusk, with silk shop lights reflecting on the river, is one of the genuinely beautiful experiences available to any traveller anywhere in Asia. And Ha Long Bay at dawn, with limestone karsts emerging through mist in every direction, is still one of the great natural spectacles on the planet.
For NZ travellers, Vietnam sits at a strong crossroads of value, accessibility, and depth. Your NZD goes further here than in Thailand’s peak island season, the food is arguably the most complex and regionally varied in Southeast Asia, and the country’s north-to-south geography creates a natural itinerary structure that works for two weeks, three weeks, or a month. English is spoken in all tourist areas, and the transport infrastructure — domestic flights, overnight trains, tourist buses — makes moving through the country straightforward.
Top Destinations in Vietnam
Hanoi — Culture, Chaos, and the Old Quarter
Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and its most historically textured city — a thousand-year-old metropolis that has accumulated layer upon layer of dynastic, colonial, revolutionary, and contemporary history into an urban environment unlike anything else in Southeast Asia. The Old Quarter, a compressed maze of 36 streets originally organised by craft guild, is the starting point: street food vendors on every corner, motorbike density that seems physically impossible, and a pace of street life that is both exhausting and completely electric.
Beyond the Old Quarter, Hanoi offers the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum complex (closed Mondays and Fridays), the Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s first university, founded 1070 CE), Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple on its island, the French Quarter’s colonial architecture, and one of the best museum collections in the country at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
- Allow 2–3 nights minimum; the Old Quarter rewards multiple days of exploration at different hours
- Street food highlights: bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles), pho cuon (fresh rolled pho), banh my and cha ca (turmeric fish with dill)
- The Train Street neighbourhood (Hang Bong to Phuoc Thanh) is a tourist attraction but genuinely remarkable — a residential alley that a working railway line passes through at close range
Ha Long Bay — Vietnam’s Most Iconic Landscape
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the defining images of Southeast Asian travel — 1,600 limestone karst islands rising from the Gulf of Tonkin’s emerald-green water, many of them hollow with cave systems, all of them creating a seascape of sustained visual drama that photographs perfectly and is even more extraordinary from a boat at dawn or dusk.
The recommended experience is an overnight junk cruise — typically one or two nights departing from Ha Long City or the newer Tuan Chau Marina, with kayaking through cave systems, swimming stops, seafood meals on deck, and a pace that allows the scenery to settle. Day trips from Hanoi are possible but miss the best of what the bay offers. Budget for a mid-range to premium cruise operator — the difference in vessel quality, food, and guide expertise between a USD 30 tour and a USD 150 overnight is significant.
- Ha Long Bay is approximately 3.5–4 hours from Hanoi by road; many operators include transport in the package
- Bai Tu Long Bay (adjacent to Ha Long, less visited) and Lan Ha Bay (near Cat Ba Island) offer comparable scenery with fewer cruise vessels
- Best time: October to April for clearest visibility and calmest conditions
Hoi An - Lanterns, History, and Tailors
Hoi An is the most beautiful small city in Vietnam — a UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town of 15th to 19th century merchant architecture on the Thu Bon River, where Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and European trading cultures converged for centuries and left their architectural signatures in extraordinary concentration. The Ancient Town’s streets are closed to vehicles during the day; you walk between silk lantern-hung merchant houses, Japanese-style wooden facades, and French colonial buildings in a state of preservation that feels almost theatrical.
Beyond the architecture, Hoi An is famous for two things: its custom tailoring industry (hundreds of tailors can produce high-quality clothing from fabric samples in 24–48 hours at prices that justify the purchase even accounting for quality variation) and its food, which is the most distinctive regional cuisine in Vietnam. Cao lau (thick wheat noodles in a pork and herb broth that cannot be authentically made outside Hoi An, allegedly due to the specific water used) and white rose dumplings are the two dishes you must eat here.
- Allow 2–3 nights; one day for the Ancient Town, one for An Bang Beach, one for a cooking class or day trip to My Son Sanctuary
- Tailoring advice: allow at least one full fitting and one alteration session; budget NZD 80–300 per garment depending on complexity and fabric
Ho Chi Minh City — Energy, History, and Street Food
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the opposite of Hoi An in almost every respect: enormous, fast-moving, modernising at visible speed, and powered by an energy that is more Manila than Hoi An. It is also Vietnam’s most historically significant city for international visitors — the War Remnants Museum provides the most unflinching account of the American War available anywhere in the country, and the Cu Chi Tunnels (70 kilometres northwest of the city) are an extraordinary testament to the ingenuity and endurance of the Vietnamese resistance.
Beyond the history, Saigon’s food scene is the best in Vietnam by sheer density and variety. District 1’s Ben Thanh Market area is the tourist hub; Binh Tay Market in Cholon (the Chinese district) is where the city’s wholesale food trade operates; and the street food lanes off Bui Vien and around Nguyen Trai are where the best casual eating happens.
- Cu Chi Tunnels: Half-day tour from the city, approximately NZD 25–45 per person. The A and B tunnel systems are equally historical; Ben Dinh (more tourist-facing) and Ben Duoc (more remote, quieter) are the two sites
- Ho Chi Minh City is the natural southern endpoint for a north-to-south itinerary departing from Hanoi
Da Nang & My Son Sanctuary — Beach Meets Culture
Da Nang is Vietnam’s central coast city — the country’s third-largest urban area and increasingly a destination in its own right rather than just a gateway to Hoi An. My Khe Beach is one of the best urban beaches in Southeast Asia: a wide, clean, consistent shore with good swimming conditions from April to September. The Marble Mountains — five limestone hills rising from the coastal plain, each containing Buddhist shrines, pagodas, and cave temples — are a 30-minute drive south and worth a half-day.
My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage complex of Cham Hindu temples built between the 4th and 14th centuries, sits 70 km southwest of Da Nang in a forested valley. The temples are remarkable for their brick construction technique — still not fully understood by modern archaeologists — and the setting is one of the most atmospheric historical sites in Southeast Asia.
Hue — Imperial Palaces and Royal Tombs
Hue was the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945 and contains the most significant collection of Vietnamese imperial architecture in the country. The Imperial Citadel (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the seven royal mausoleums strung along the Perfume River, and the Thien Mu Pagoda are the headline attractions. Hue is also the origin point of Vietnam’s most complex and refined court cuisine — a cooking tradition developed to impress emperors, now accessible at small family restaurants throughout the city.
- Best visited as a 1–2 night stop between Hanoi and Hoi An on a north-to-south itinerary
- Hire a motorbike driver for a half-day mausoleum tour — the river views and rural roads between the tombs are excellent
Phu Quoc — Vietnam’s Premier Island Escape
Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, located in the Gulf of Thailand off the southern coast. It has developed rapidly from a backpacker destination into a legitimate resort island over the past decade, with a strong concentration of mid-range and luxury beachfront accommodation along Long Beach and Ong Lang Beach. The island’s fish sauce production and pepper plantations are worth a visit for food enthusiasts, and the uninhabited southern An Thoi archipelago offers excellent snorkelling by boat tour.
- Best combined with a Ho Chi Minh City visit for a southern Vietnam finale
- Best time: November to April; the southwest monsoon makes the island less appealing May to October
Sapa — Terraced Rice Fields and Trekking Trails
Sapa, in the Hoang Lien Son mountains near the Chinese border, is one of the most visually dramatic destinations in northern Vietnam — a highland town surrounded by terraced rice fields that cascade down the Muong Hoa Valley in a landscape of extraordinary scale and colour. The region is home to several ethnic minority groups — Hmong, Dao, Tay — whose weaving, agriculture, and village culture are the context for the hiking routes that make Sapa popular with active travellers.
- Accessible by overnight train from Hanoi (8–9 hours, a worthwhile experience in itself) or by direct bus
- Allow 2–3 nights for at least one full-day trek with a local guide
- Best time: September to November for the rice harvest and clearest mountain views; March to May for mild temperatures
Vietnam Itinerary Ideas
1 Week in Vietnam — North or South?
One week is enough for either the north (Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Sapa) or the south and centre (Ho Chi Minh City – Hoi An – Hue). Attempting to cover the full country in a week results in excessive transit and insufficient time in any one place. Choose the region that interests you most and commit to it.
| 1-WEEK NORTH ⬆️ | 1-WEEK CENTRE/SOUTH ⬇️ |
|---|---|
| Day 1–2: Hanoi Old Quarter, street food, temples | Day 1–2: Ho Chi Minh City, War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi |
| Day 3–4: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise (1 night minimum) | Day 3: Fly to Da Nang; afternoon at My Khe Beach |
| Day 5–6: Sapa (overnight train from Hanoi Day 4) | Day 4–5: Hoi An Ancient Town, tailor, cooking class |
| Day 7: Return Hanoi; fly home | Day 6–7: Hue Imperial Citadel, Royal Tombs; fly home |
2 Weeks in Vietnam — The Classic North to South Route
Two weeks is the ideal minimum for a north-to-south Vietnam trip. Fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (open-jaw routing), and work southward with a combination of domestic flights and overnight trains:
- Days 1–3: Hanoi
- Days 4–5: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
- Day 6: Fly Hanoi to Hue
- Days 7–8: Hue
- Days 9–11: Hoi An (train from Hue or bus via Da Nang)
- Day 12: Fly Hoi An area (Da Nang airport) to Ho Chi Minh City
- Days 13–14: Ho Chi Minh City; fly home
3 Weeks in Vietnam — The Full Experience
Three weeks allows a full north-to-south journey with time for Sapa in the north, a proper Ha Long Bay cruise, a Mekong Delta day trip from Ho Chi Minh City, and an island finale in Phu Quoc. The routing: Hanoi (3 nights) → Sapa (2 nights, overnight train each way) → Ha Long Bay (2 nights) → Hue (2 nights) → Hoi An (3 nights) → Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights) → Mekong Delta (1 night) → Phu Quoc (3 nights) → fly home from Phu Quoc.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam from New Zealand
Vietnam’s Climate Zones Explained
Vietnam’s elongated geography means the north, centre, and south have distinct climate patterns that behave quite differently. Understanding this is one of the most important pieces of trip planning for Vietnam:
| REGION 🗺️ | CLIMATE NOTES ⛅ |
|---|---|
| North (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long) | Four distinct seasons. Best: Oct–Apr (cool and dry). Avoid June–August (hot and humid). January can be cool and misty — pack layers. |
| Central (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang) | Wet season September–November (can be heavy). Best: February–August. Note: Hoi An floods in October–November. |
| South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong, Phu Quoc) | Two seasons: dry (Nov–Apr) and wet (May–Oct). The wet season is manageable — rain is typically heavy but brief in the afternoon. |
The practical implication for NZ travellers: there is no single ‘best time’ for Vietnam as a whole. A north-to-south trip from October to April covers the optimal window for all three zones simultaneously. If visiting only the south and centre, November to April is the clearest window. If primarily north-focused (Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa), October to March is best.
Essential Vietnam Travel Tips
Vietnam Visa Requirements for NZ Travellers
NZ passport holders currently benefit from Vietnam’s 45-day visa exemption policy for single-entry stays. An e-Visa (available at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) is available for 90-day single or multiple-entry stays and is the recommended option for most trips — it costs USD 25, takes 3 business days to process, and removes the need to queue at on-arrival visa counters.
Verify current visa policy and the e-Visa portal status through the Vietnam Embassy in Wellington or the official Vietnam Immigration Department website before booking — visa conditions change periodically and have been updated multiple times in recent years.
Currency, Tipping, and Money Tips for Vietnam
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). As of April 2026, NZD 1 ≈ VND 14,000–15,000. A street meal costs approximately NZD 1.50–3. A mid-range restaurant meal with drinks: NZD 8–15. A night in a good mid-range hotel: NZD 30–80 depending on city and season.
- Cash: Vietnam remains substantially cash-dependent outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City’s central areas. ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist towns; withdraw enough cash when you have access in reliable locations.
- Tipping: Not expected or culturally embedded in Vietnam. At restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving small change is appreciated. Guided tour tips: NZD 5–10 per person per day for a full-day guide is appropriate.
Getting Around Vietnam (Train, Bus, Flights & Motorbike)
- Domestic flights: Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Vietjet operate a dense domestic network connecting all major cities. Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City takes 2 hours by air.
- Overnight trains: Vietnam Railways operates overnight sleepers between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (the ‘Reunification Express’, approximately 30 hours total). Hanoi to Hue (14–16 hours) is a particularly scenic overnight option. Soft-sleeper four-berth cabins are comfortable and recommended; book through baolau.com or 12go.asia.
- Tourist buses: Open-tour bus tickets allow flexible travel at fixed prices between tourist stops on the central coast. Budget option that works well for Hue–Hoi An–Da Nang connections.
- Motorbike hire: Standard in most tourist towns; hire rates from approximately NZD 6–12 per day. International driving licence required; confirm your travel insurance covers motorbike hire before committing.
Vietnam Food Guide — What to Eat and Where
| DISH | WHERE IT'S FROM AND WHAT IT IS 📌 |
|---|---|
| Phở | Hanoi and nationwide: Slow-cooked beef bone broth with flat rice noodles. The northern Hanoi version is cleaner and less garnished than the southern Ho Chi Minh City style. |
| Bún chả | Hanoi: Grilled pork with rice vermicelli, broth, and herbs. The definitive Hanoi lunch. |
| Cáo lầu | Hoi An only: Thick wheat noodles with pork and herbs in a broth made with local water. Genuinely inimitable outside the city. |
| Bánh mì | Nationwide (Hoi An is the most celebrated): Vietnamese baguette with pork, pate, pickled vegetables, and chili. Breakfast or snack. |
| Com tam | Ho Chi Minh City: Broken rice with grilled pork, fried egg, and pickled vegetables. The southern street-food staple. |
| Bun bo Hue | Hue: Spicy lemongrass and shrimp-paste beef noodle soup. Significantly more complex and pungent than pho; one of Vietnam’s great dishes. |
Cultural Etiquette Tips for Vietnam
- Remove shoes before entering temples, pagodas, and many private homes. Signs at the entrance usually indicate this requirement.
- Dress modestly at religious sites — shoulders and knees covered. Light layers work well.
- Bargaining is expected at markets and from street vendors; fixed prices apply at most restaurants and official shops. Negotiate respectfully and with good humour.
- Pointing at people with your finger is considered rude; use an open hand gesture to indicate direction instead.
- The “v” for victory hand sign is offensive in some contexts; avoid it.
- Paying the bill: unlike in some countries, there is no expectation that someone at the table will pick up the full check. Splitting is entirely normal.
Health, Safety, and Travel Insurance for Vietnam
- Travel insurance is strongly recommended — ensure your policy covers motorbike hire if you plan to ride, and has adequate medical evacuation coverage.
- Food safety: Eat from busy stalls where turnover is high. Avoid raw vegetables unless at a reputable restaurant. Bottled water only — the tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Vietnam.
- Traffic: Crossing busy streets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is a learned skill. Walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes will navigate around you. Don’t stop suddenly or change direction unexpectedly.
- Check MFAT’s Safetravel NZ (safetravel.govt.nz) for current travel advisories before departure.
Ready to book your Vietnam holiday with our Travel Experts?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vietnam good for first-time travellers?
Very much so. Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most accessible first-time destinations: English is widely spoken in tourist areas, the transport infrastructure is well-developed, accommodation across all budgets is generally good quality, and the food is safe to eat at reputable street stalls. The cultural differences from New Zealand are significant but navigable with reasonable preparation. The country’s north-to-south structure also provides a natural itinerary framework that makes planning straightforward.
How many days do you need in Vietnam?
One week is sufficient for either a northern or southern/central focus. Two weeks allows the classic north-to-south route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City via Ha Long Bay, Hue, and Hoi An. Three weeks adds Sapa, a Mekong Delta day trip, and a beach finale at Phu Quoc. A month allows genuine depth in each region. For a first trip, two weeks is the most satisfying time investment.
What is the best time to visit Vietnam?
There is no single best time that covers all of Vietnam simultaneously, given the country’s distinct regional climate zones. October to April is the best window for a full north-to-south itinerary. November to April is clearest for the south and centre. October to March suits the north (Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa). For NZ travellers, the NZ summer (December to February) aligns with the dry season in the south and centre — a workable and popular window.
Do New Zealanders need a visa for Vietnam?
NZ passport holders currently benefit from Vietnam’s 45-day visa-free exemption for single-entry stays. For longer or multiple-entry stays, an e-Visa is available online for USD 25 and allows 90-day single or multiple-entry visits. Visa policies change periodically — verify current requirements through the Vietnam Embassy in Wellington or MFAT Safetravel NZ before booking.