Where to visit Vietnam for the first time in 2025 Itinerary - Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Hanoi

What comes to your mind first when you think about Vietnam? Vendors on boats wearing conical hats, rice fields or party streets? We visited Vietnam last week for the first time and it was wonderful, I'd say it's everything you expect and more. That's why we want to share our itinerary and what improvements you could make to yours. Here's all you need to know about where to visit for first time.

Firstly,

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Vietnam?

Yes, most countries including the US need a valid eVisa to enter Vietnam in 2025. The following countries are exempted though. But we advise you to check the new government website which was updated in November 2024 for eVisa details and most accurate up to date information:

• Belarus

• Indonesia

• Philippines

• Brunei

• Italy

• Russia

• Cambodia

• Japan

• Singapore

• South Korea

• Denmark

• Laos

• Spain

• Finland

• Malaysia

• Sweden

• France

• Myanmar

• Thailand

• Germany

• Norway

• United Kingdom

• Kyrgyzstan

• Chile

• Panama

Where to visit Vietnam for first-time Travellers in 2025

Travellers usually compare Bangkok to Vietnam, but what many don't understand is the size of Vietnam. It's huge with a population of 98 million. And the entire country is a strip that runs from Southeast Asia bordering Cambodia to Southern China. There are so many cities to visit and the distance between one major city to another is huge.

This is why it's important to understand its geographical nature first. By doing so, we were able to pinpoint the cities and their most appropriate order of visit. Here are the must-visit places in Vietnam for first-time travellers.

Many first-time travellers make the mistake of visiting just one major city and calling it quits cause the travel time between destinations is awfully long expanding to days.

We were in 2 minds about whether to visit just one city but realised what a crime it would be to not explore more when we totally can. So we visited;

1. Ho Chi Minh City (Previously called Saigon)

2. Danang & Hoi An

3. Hanoi

4. Ha Long Bay

Travel Tip: We recommend first-time travellers start the tour from the South (Ho Chi Minh City) to North (Hanoi) if you want to experience authentic Vietnam. We found the South to be a warm, bustling city, and the North to be more laid back and cooler. A good way to end a trip.

Bui Vien Night Street - Ho Chi Minh City

How many days are enough for Vietnam Trip?

If you are to travel to Vietnam on an average budget, 10-12 days would be enough to cover the above destinations. We had 9 days in total cause my eVisa was expiring on the 10th day. We covered all the important places, but we felt it was rushed. If you want to spend more time exploring and taking breaks here and there, we recommend about 12-14 days.

Which month is best for Vietnam

This is a very tricky question as there's no exact answer. The major part of the country spans a sub-tropical climate while the northern tip embraces 4 seasons. Generally, though, rain is most common, the summer humidity also takes a toll.

• Ho Chi Minh - Rains from May to October

• Danang - Rains from October to December

• Hanoi - Rains from May to October

Where can I get my Currency Exchanged in Vietnam?

As usual, exchanging currency at the airport is not a great idea but we recommend getting an initial 100$ or so exchanged at the airport until you reach your hotel and find a bank or a decent money exchange. Cash is King in Vietnam so you need local currency at hand for quick purchases.

Gold shops offer the highest rates for exchange. In Ho Chi Minh City, Hà Tâm Jewelry at Bên Thành Market is known for offering the best rates, and in Hoi An, Kim Hồng Phúc Jewelry offers an even better rate.

However, we suggest you ask your hotel host for recommendations just to be sure. We exchanged our currency in Ho Chi Minh City, at Tiệm Vàng Kim Mai Jewellery Shop which our hotel host recommended. They had a reasonable rate.

If you're travelling to Hanoi, please get your currency changed in Hoi An, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City! The exchange rates are super high in Hanoi, and we struggled to find a Gold Shop in the Old Quarter. Mainly because it's the Capital city and many tourists start their journey from Hanoi so they don't have much of a choice but to pay a higher price for local currency.

Our 10-Day Travel Itinerary in Vietnam: Stuff to do

If you're wondering where to visit in Vietnam as a first-time traveller, do know that there are many things to do in Vietnam other than eating. Our itinerary summary will give you a better understanding of which route to take when exploring the beautiful country.

Day 1:

• Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City (11 a.m.)

• Visit major sites (War Remnants Museum, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Skydeck)

• Explore nightlife (Bui Vien Street after 7 p.m.)

Day 2:

• Explore the Ho Chi Minh Food Scene & Shopping (Ben Than Market & Saigon Center)

• Visit Nguyen Hue Street (Best to visit in the evening. You'd find the iconic Cafe Apartments here)

• Take the 17Hr Train to Da Nang (8 p.m.)

Itinerary Notes: We wish we allocated about 4 days for Ho Chi Minh City as there's so much more in terms of food and shopping that we couldn't discover fully.

Skip the Jade Emperor Pagoda if you're not devout and you're on a tight schedule. It's a very small temple where the locals come to worship. We spent almost an hour walking there and it was disappointing.

Jade Emperor Pagoda - Shrine Entrance

Add an extra day for the Cu Chi Tunnel and Mekong Delta visit.

The 17-hour train ride is quite enjoyable if you book the night train which starts at 8.35 p.m., and get an entire 4-person cabin for yourself like we did. You'll be asleep most of the time and won't feel the time pass.

Day 3:

• Reach Da Nang (1 p.m.)

• Arrive in Hoi An by Taxi (2 p.m.)

• Visit major Historic sites (Japanese Bridge, Assembly Hall, Tanky House)

• Take a stroll down the Old Town (Past 7 p.m. to see the lantern-lit streets)

Day 4:

• Go on the 'Bana Hills Golden Hand Bridge 1-Day Tour' (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

• Explore the Night Food Scene in Hoi An (Try Bahn Mi)

Day 5:

• Go on Coconut Boat Ride (9.30 a.m. - 20 minutes)

• Head to Da Nang (12 p.m.)

• Explore Shopping in Da Nang (Go Supermarket, Cho Con Local Market)

• Take Flight to Hanoi

Itinerary Notes: Most tours in Hoi An can be booked through your hotel. We stayed at a lovely inn called Hoianese Old Town Boutique Hotel which we booked through Booking.com The hosts were very accommodating and polite. They helped us book the Bana Hills tour just a day prior.

Skip the Coconut Boat ride (Basket Boat). It's a rip-off as they push you to purchase expensive physical photographs and the ride lasts about 15 minutes.

Cam Than Basket Boat Ride - Hoi An

2 Full days are enough for Hoi An. Make sure you spend the third day in Da Nang. It's full of life and activities including theme parks and local hotspots. If you're in Da Nang only for a couple of hours like we did, you don't have to book a hotel. You can leave your luggage at the GO Da Nang Supermarket (Can be kept up to 3 days) and explore the city.

Keep in mind that Hoi An and Da Nang experience rains during the good months of the rest of Vietnam (October to November). Make sure you bring slippers, an umbrella and a waterproof jacket.

Day 6:

• Arrive in Hanoi Old Quarter (11 p.m.)

• Visit Historic Locations (Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.)

• Visit St. Joseph's Cathedral

• Take a double-decker bus tour around the Old Quarter

Day 7:

• Take Ha Long Bay Day Trip (7.45 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.)

Day 8:

• Visit Dong Xuan Market (10 a.m.)

• Visit Trang Tiem Luxury Mall by Hoan Kiem Lake

• Visit the Lotte Mall in West Lake (about 30 minutes away from the city centre)

Day 9:

• Explore Hanoi at Leisure.

Day 10:

• Leave for departure. (7 a.m.)

Itinerary Notes: We have mixed opinions about the 7$ One-Round city tour bus. While the audio guide gave us an insight into the locations we were passing, we couldn't get off to visit them. If you want to visit all the destinations, we recommend getting the 4-hour ticket to hop off at any sight and hop on the next tour bus.

Hanoi City Sightseeing Double Decker Bus Schedule 2025

The Ha Long Bay Day tour felt rushed, and it wasn't the 'Luxury' we paid for. We believe the 2-day cruise would've been better.

Due to our Visa issue, we had to cut a whole day off our itinerary. Sadly, we couldn't visit the malls. But we did visit Dong Xuan market, and it has everything you need from clothes to bags and fabrics. If you're good at bargaining, you can bag some good deals on various products.

How much money do I need for Vietnam Trip?

A coffee in Vietnam costs about 20,000 - 40,000 Dong (1-2$). A regular drink would cost about 15,000 Dong (less than 1$). A decent meal would cost from 70,000 to 200,000 Dong (3-8$) depending on the restaurant where you're eating. We had a delicious Pho from Pho Viet Nam in Ho Chi Minh City for 100,000 Dong (4$), and in Pho Duc Hanoi Old Quarter for 50,000 Dong (3$). Bahn Mi would cost about 20,000 - 35,000 Dong (1-2$).

In 2025, you'd need about 600,000 Dong (25$) per person per day to eat 3 good meals, drinks, and snacks on the way.

Is there 7/11 in Vietnam?

Yes, there are many 7/11s and GS25s in Ho Chi Minh City, but there are none in other places. But you'd find similar convenience stores like Family C Mart in Hanoi. However, as per the locals, 7/11 prices are generally higher compared to regular stores and supermarkets like WinMart+.

Unique things to buy in Vietnam

If you're looking to take home some valuable and unique souvenirs apart from the generic magnets and conical hats, you can buy;

• Vietnamese Coffee (Regular and Coconut Coffee)

• Vietnamese Chocolate

• Pho Soup Cubes & Sauces

• Vietnamese Rice Wine

• Lanterns & Well-wishing Scrolls

• Bamboo Products and Pottery Crafts

• Local Fabrics and Ao Dai (For females)

• Local Spices and Herbs

Traditional Lantern Shop in Hoi An

Which is better Sri Lanka or Vietnam for first-time travellers?

Both Vietnam and Sri Lanka have a tropical climate and similar weather conditions, but when it comes to travel ease and diverse experiences, Sri Lanka tops the list for first-time travellers.

After all, it's a small island, and the farthest distance between two destinations would take 9 hours. And you get different tourist attractions, beaches, and hills, accessible within just hours. Vietnam is so huge that first-time travellers need a bit of experience figuring out itinerary planning and time management.

And to answer a widely pondered question;

Which City in Vietnam has the Best Nightlife for Singles?

Ho Chi Minh City is the best place to have entertainment for singles, more particularly - Bui Vien. It's commonly known as the red light district of Saigon. It's super loud and bright, with many bars, clubs, cafes and karoke pubs, but it's not the type of red light district you'd find in Pattaya.

For our surprise, we saw many children and families passing through the street cause it's situated right in the middle of a local neighbourhood.

But do note that most things which are legal in Thailand are illegal here in Vietnam. So as a single, make sure you adhere to the laws of the country while enjoying your stay.

Conclusion

If you're travelling to Vietnam for the first-time, you'd love everything that awaits. From food to people and experiences, we had zero bad experiences apart from a few regrets here and there. Make sure you bring your travel gear and essentials with you as shopping here is not as cheap as in Thailand. But overall, Vietnam was a wonder!

Are you planning your itinerary to Vietnam? Have any questions? Drop them on the comments below!