If you're nervous about your first solo trip, Vietnam is one of the best places to start. The travel community is huge, most locals are incredibly kind, and it's affordable whether you're on a backpacker budget or want a little luxury. I've traveled Vietnam twice: 30 days the first time, then two more weeks because I had to come back for the north (Sapa and Ha Giang).
How long to spend and which route to take
Two weeks covers the highlights; 30 days lets you slow down. Whatever you choose, travel south to north so you save the best for last. Central and northern Vietnam are where I'd spend most of your time.
My full backpacker route: Phu Quoc → Ho Chi Minh City → Dalat → Quy Nhon → Hoi An & Da Nang → Hai Van Pass → Hue → Phong Nha → Ninh Binh → Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Cat Ba → Sapa → Ha Giang. My favorites were Phong Nha, Hoi An and Ha Giang.
Best time to visit Vietnam
Vietnam is long and skinny, so the weather changes by region. If you want one window that works for the whole country, March and April are your best bet: low rain and milder temperatures.
North (Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang): cool and dry November to April, and cold December to February. May to August is hot and humid. I did Ha Giang in October and still wore leggings and a jacket on the bike!
Central (Hoi An, Da Nang): mostly dry from February to August. Typhoon season runs August to November, with September the riskiest.
South (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc): dry December to May, rainy June to November, usually in short bursts.
My first trip was in rainy season and the weather was all over the place. I got stuck on Cat Ba Island during a massive monsoon, then a few days later I was sunbathing on a boat in Ha Long Bay. So take any forecast with a grain of salt.
Vietnam at a glance
Visa: Most travelers, including Americans, need an e-visa before arrival. It allows up to 90 days; single entry is $25 and multiple entry is $50. Apply only on the official site, thithucdientu.gov.vn, and allow 3–5 working days.
Money: Vietnamese dong (VND). About 26,000 VND = $1 (as of August 2026). Grab, cafes and hotels take cards; street food and markets are cash.
Airports: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Da Nang (DAD) and Hanoi (HAN). The cheapest international flights are usually into Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.
Getting around: domestic flights for long hops, Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber) in cities, and night buses or trains on a budget.
Get your visa before you go. On my first trip I crossed the border by bus from Cambodia, and two girls on my bus were turned away because they hadn't applied in advance. One was American like me. They were stuck for two extra days waiting for their visa. Don't make that mistake!
What a trip to Vietnam costs
Vietnam is still one of the best-value countries I've traveled, whether you're on a backpacker budget or want a little luxury. A bowl of pho or a banh mi from a street stall costs a dollar or two, and a three-course dinner at a nice restaurant can be around $15–20. Flights, night buses and Grab rides between and within cities are affordable too.
Safety tips for solo travelers
Use Grab instead of street taxis; metered taxis are where I've been overcharged.
If you ride a motorbike, wear a helmet and long sleeves every time. I've had friends pulled over and asked for "fines" as foreigners.
Watch your phone and bag in busy city streets, like you would anywhere.
My Vietnam city guides
Don't want to plan any of this?
Join my 9-day Vietnam group trip, April 10–18, 2027. We go from Ho Chi Minh City's street food and the Cu Chi Tunnels to lantern-lit Hoi An, the Marble Mountains in Da Nang, a boat ride through Ninh Binh and Hanoi's Old Quarter. Two domestic flights, all hotels, airport transfers and guides are included, and I'm with you the whole way. Want more adventure? Add the 5-day Ha Giang Loop for $875.
The February and March 2027 dates are sold out. Payment plans are available. See the Vietnam trip and save your spot →