Your Complete Guide to Northern Vietnam

Although Northern Vietnam gets fewer visitors than southern Ho Chi Minh City and the coastal cities in the south, this region of the country not to be missed. Not only is the region home to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, it is also where you’ll find breathtaking bays, stunning rice terraces and unbeatable scenery. Narrowing down the many options to fit your itinerary can be tricky, but this guide can help point you to the region’s top destinations.

Planning your trip to Northern Vietnam

Where is Vietnam: Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia! It borders China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the West, and the Eastern Sea (South China Sea) of the Pacific Ocean to the East.

When to go: For the best weather, I would recommend visiting Northern Vietnam in February-April or September-November. Spring is the best for flower season and Autumn has the best weather.

How long to visit: How long to spend in Northern Vietnam depends on your travel style. Would you rather see 2-3 places leisurely or 4-5 places at a faster pace? I would recommend staying 10-12 days to comfortably visit each area without feeling rushed.

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). We took $300USD which is 7,442,250VND, and came home with $80 left. All of our accommodations and train/bus tickets were already paid online, but we paid for the majority of our meals with cash since a lot of places don't accept cards. Tipping is not expected when eating out, but it is kind to tip your driver or tour guide.

Visa: Vietnam is not currently processing Visas on arrival, you will need to apply for an E-Visa beforehand. It takes about 3-5 days for approval and is good for 30 days. You can apply below.