The Best Cities to Visit in Vietnam: Where to Go and Who Each Suits

Vietnam runs for more than 1,600 kilometres from the mountains of the north to the Mekong Delta, and its cities change character all the way down. You can start among lakes and temples in Hanoi, slow down in the old royal capital of Hue and finish among the rooftop bars of Ho Chi Minh City. These seven places make the strongest case for a spot on your itinerary.

Hanoi: history and street life in the capital

Hanoi celebrated its thousandth birthday in 2010, and it wears that history lightly. The Old Quarter's narrow lanes, once grouped by trade, are still packed with workshops, noodle stalls and tiny cafés, while the leafy French Quarter to the south has grand villas and the Opera House.

• Highlights: the Temple of Literature, home to Vietnam's first national university, and the car-free streets around Hoan Kiem Lake on weekend evenings.
• Who it suits: first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone planning side trips to Ha Long Bay or Sapa.

Ninh Binh: karst landscapes near Hanoi

Roughly two hours south of the capital, Ninh Binh swaps traffic for flooded rice fields and steep limestone peaks. Most visitors stay around Tam Coc, where homestays and bungalows sit right among the paddies.

• Highlights: a rowing-boat trip through the caves and river channels of Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the steep steps up to the Hang Mua viewpoint.
• Who it suits: cyclists, photographers and travellers who want dramatic scenery without an overnight cruise.

Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An: the central coast

These three sit close together, so most people treat them as a single stop of four to six days.

Hue

The Nguyen emperors ruled from Hue until 1945, and their walled Imperial City still dominates the north bank of the Perfume River. Ornate royal tombs dot the green hills south of town, and the pace is noticeably calmer than in the big cities. It suits history lovers and slow travellers.

Da Nang

Da Nang is a modern, fast-growing city with a long sandy beach, an international airport and a lively riverfront crossed by the Dragon Bridge. The Marble Mountains and the Son Tra Peninsula make easy half-day trips, and families and beach lovers tend to base themselves here.

Hoi An

Hoi An was once a busy trading port, and its UNESCO-listed Ancient Town of mustard-yellow merchant houses glows under silk lanterns after dark. Spend your days cycling past rice fields to An Bang Beach, ordering tailored clothes or joining a cooking class. Couples and architecture fans will be in their element.

Da Lat: cool air in the Central Highlands

Set at around 1,500 metres, Da Lat stays fresh while the coast swelters. Pine forests, flower farms, coffee plantations and French-era villas give it a mood all of its own, and it is a favourite with Vietnamese honeymooners.

• Highlights: waterfalls and canyoning in the surrounding hills, plus a lively night market.
• Who it suits: couples, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone needing a break from the heat.

Ho Chi Minh City: the restless south

Still widely called Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest and busiest city. Spend a day on the country's twentieth-century history at the War Remnants Museum and the Independence Palace, then explore the street food, markets and rooftop bars around Ben Thanh Market. It is also the natural launch pad for the Mekong Delta, where the city of Can Tho is known for its early-morning floating market.

• Who it suits: city lovers, night owls and anyone heading on to the delta or the island of Phu Quoc.

How the cities link up

The classic route runs north to south, or the reverse, and fits comfortably into two to three weeks.

1. 1Hanoi to Ninh Binh: train, bus or a comfortable minivan transfer, roughly two hours.
2. 2Ninh Binh or Hanoi to Hue: an overnight sleeper train, or a short flight from Hanoi.
3. 3Hue to Da Nang: a scenic coastal train ride or a road trip over the Hai Van Pass.
4. 4Da Nang to Hoi An: around 45 minutes by car.
5. 5Central coast to Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City: domestic flights save a lot of time, while long-distance buses are the slower alternative.

Stay connected in Vietnam

Hopping between cities means booking trains, calling ride-hailing cars and finding a new guesthouse every few days, and all of it runs on mobile data. A HelloSIM eSIM is data-only, so your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts while the eSIM handles maps and messaging. Install it at home before the trip and it connects once you arrive.