Vietnam is a bucket list destination for many travelers because it is affordable, safe, and beautiful, and the food is delicious! When we were planning our trip to Thailand, we really wanted to try and knock out Vietnam while we were there. It was really hard to narrow places down. Ho Chi Minh is a place we really wanted to visit, but it takes a lot longer to get there from Northern Vietnam than I expected. We really wanted to visit the mountains and see rice fields, so that is how we narrowed our time in Vietnam down to Hanoi and Sa Pa. I will say even with those narrowed down, there is still so much we could have done. Below are tips from my research on the places we were looking and things we learned while we were in Vietnam. Want the full itinerary? Check it out here!
Where to Go
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the second most populated city. It's known for it's old architecture and the bustling Old Quarter where streets are organized by trade. There is a beer street, a shoe street, anything you can think of you will find it there!
Ha Long Bay is probably why most people want to visit Vietnam and Thailand. The sea cliffs are absolutely beautiful and this area is a 2 hour drive from Hanoi. You can book luxury yaht cruises for a few nights, or you can visit as a day trip.
Ninh Binh is a small city in the Red River Delta and is the best of both worlds, mountain cliffs and rice fields along the river. It is an absolutely beautiful place and has a national park you can explore.
Sa Pa is a mountain town at the very tip of Vietnam with terraced rice fields. It's a popular destination to trek through all of the different villages and relax after the energy of visiting large cities like Hanoi.
If we were to have more time in Vietnam, we would have hit all of these destinations. Unfortunately, we only had a week and had to narrow it down to 2 places to make it work with the logistics of flying back to the US. I chose Hanoi and Sa Pa with the hope we could make a day trip to Ha Long Bay work, but the weather was against us.
You can learn more about our time in Hanoi here and our time in Sa Pa here.
Tips While in Vietnam
There is a big difference from Hanoi to Sa Pa, they have very different paces and ways of living. But most of these tips will help you in both places and across Vietnam.
Cash is everything. It was very rare that we were able to use our credit cards. I was devastated there go all of the miles on my Delta card. There are ATMs around town and in the airport. It is not difficult to pull out more if you need it. One of the reasons people love Vietnam is how inexpensive it is for basics like food and transportation, embrace learning how to operate in a new currency!
Do not flush toilet paper. Vietnam does not have a plumbing system that supports flushing toilet paper. It might be TMI, but I would have loved to have this information before traveling there. You are provided with a bidet or sprayer to clean yourself after you do your business and you use the toilet paper to wipe up the water and than disposed into the trash. It was a little difficult at first, but after a few times I got it down and felt squeaky clean. ;)
Motorbikes will not stop for you. If you make the move to cross the street, keep moving! They are able to maneuver quickly and will see you and make a move to avoid you if you stop you'll ruin the efficiency of the traffic chaos. There are a lot of motorbikes, own your space and stay confident!
Northern Vietnam is cold in the winter months. I saw 60s and thought we'd be fine with a light jacket. I was so wrong. I wish I would have brought a rain jacket and nano puffy for Sa Pa. It's a great time to visit because it isn't packed with tourists, but it is not the best time to visit. If you are looking for a warmer time, September is the best month to visit Sa Pa.
We went from Thailand straight over to Vietnam. In Thailand, you bow when saying thank you. It's amazing how quickly you pick up new habits when traveling, in Vietnam, that was not the case. I would give a nod but that was never reciprocated. After experiencing this, I am going to do a bit more research to be more prepared. One of my favorite reasons to travel, you learn so much!
We had a great time in Vietnam and loved experiencing the vast differences between Hanoi and Sa Pa. It's a beautiful country and I know we will be back to explore the southern cities Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An, as well as Nha Trang for some beach time! Want the full travel guide and itinerary? Get it here!
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