🇻🇳 Vietnam travel essentials
Everything you need to plan a trip to Vietnam — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.
Top cities in Vietnam
Local style + dress code
Saigon is hot, humid, motorcycle-chaotic. Light breathable fabrics; closed-toe shoes for traffic-dodging.
Dress code: very casual
Public holidays in Vietnam
Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.
Money & currency
The Vietnamese Dong (VND, symbol ₫) is the official currency. Live exchange rates are updated daily.
Cost of living & travel — Hanoi
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $15 | $60 | $195 |
| Food | $8 | $22 | $80 |
| Transit | $3 | $6 | $22 |
| Activities | $10 | $22 | $60 |
| Daily total | $36 | $110 | $357 |
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.
Visas & entry rules
Top-passport entry rules for Vietnam — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:
| Passport | Rule | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | E-visa online ($25) — 90-day single or multi-entry. |
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | Visa-free | up to 45 days | — |
| 🇪🇺 EU passport | Visa-free | up to 45 days | Free for select EU passports; others use e-visa. |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇦🇺 Australian passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | — |
Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.
Plan a trip to Vietnam
Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:
What to pack
Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and Vietnam's dress code.