Vietnam travel was one of my favorite countries Ashlee and I experienced on our trip to southeast Asia. Not only did we enjoy our Vietnam travel to Ho Chi Minh, but we also spent quality time in Siem Reap Cambodia, Bangkok Thailand, Phuket Thailand, and Singapore.
Out of all of these southeast Asian countries, Vietnam, and in particular, Ho Chi Minh is at the top of my list. There’s just something about the warmth of the Vietnamese people. On top of that, the food is out of this world delicious. I still think about the Phở and Bún chả cá we had from a street vendor while washing that meal down with a cold Tiger Beer.
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Best Credit Cards to Use in Ho Chi Minh
It’s highly likely food is going to be your biggest expense during your Vietnam travel. Wherever you turn, you’ll want to taste what Ho Chi Minh has to offer. With that said, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, AmEx Gold, and Citi Premier are ideal cards to bring with you. These cards have the combo of high earn rates on restaurants and no foreign transaction fees.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points at restaurants and on travel. You earn 4x points at restaurants with the AmEx Gold. Citi Premier cardmembers earn 3x points on 3x points at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, on airfare, and hotels.
How to Fly to Ho Chi Minh
There are currently no direct flights between the US and Vietnam. Although, it’s been rumored that Vietnam Airlines may fly to the US from Ho Chi Minh in the near future.
Until then, you’re likely going to route through Asia or Europe to fly to Vietnam. Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN) and Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) are the two hubs for Vietnam Airlines, the major airline of Vietnam.
Where to Stay When Visiting Ho Chi Minh
The Top 5 Best Ho Chi Minh City Hotels to Book With Points is my guide to using your hotel points to book a hotel stay. Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott have a number of properties to choose from in Ho Chi Minh. During our last visit, we stayed at this fantastic Airbnb.
When we embark on Vietnam travel in the future, I’m booking the Park Hyatt Saigon. From what I can tell, this hotel checks all of the boxes for me. Reasonable award prices, good award availability, and plenty of amenities.
Where to Eat and Drink During Your Vietnam Travel
Ashlee covered where we ate and drank in her guide. i.d Cafe, Une Journée à Paris, and Pasteur Street Brewing are all places that we enjoyed. i.d is a coffee shop with tasty snacks and drinks, Une Journee is a traditional French cafe with croissants, lattes, and macaroons, and Pasteur Street Brewing a craft brewery owned by guys from Tennessee that serves delicious beer.
When we embark on Vietnam travel again, this guide and this guide are ones I’ll reference. I also like to use google maps where I can filter by ratings as shown in this Ho Chi Minh Vietnam travel map restaurant filter.
Things to Do on Your Vietnam Travel
Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, and Saigon Central Post Office are the sites that we checked out. The War Remnants Museum was my favorite, however, it was tough to see images from the Vietnam war.
Ben Thanh Market and Cu Chi Tunnel are two of the more popular sites we plan to check out next time. In addition, I’d like to spend time in Hanoi, Hội An, Nha Trang, Phú Quốc, and Da Nang. For additional ideas, check out this post and this post.
Common Vietnam Travel Questions
Is Vietnam safe for tourists?
Vietnam is currently under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel status from the State Department. As is the case when visiting other countries, stick to populated areas of the city, keep your alcohol intake low, and do not stay out late. Determining whether is it safe to travel to Vietnam now during the coronavirus depends on your personal risk tolerance.
Is Vietnam cheap to travel?
As Ashlee noted in her post, Ho Chi Minh City is inexpensive. We spent $25 max for two people (including alcohol) and our Airbnb was $50/night. The current exchange rate is 23,225 Vietnamese dong to 1 USD.
What should I avoid in Vietnam?
I do not see any reasons not to go to Vietnam. It’s a country that’s worth exploring. It’s a country that I felt completely out of place, in a good way. As noted earlier, stick to populated areas and do not stay out late and you’ll be fine. Check out my A Tool to Plan Travel During COVID-19 post to see the latest Vietnam travel advisory and Vietnam travel restrictions.
Is it worth to visit Vietnam?
Yes! It’s my favorite country in Southeast Asia that I visited. The people are friendly, it’s insanely cheap, the food is delicious, and you’ll be completely out of your element, in a good way.
Conclusion of this Vietnam Travel Guide
Writing this Vietnam travel guide makes me want to hop on a plane tomorrow to fly to Vietnam. Not only do I want to spend time in Ho Chi Minh City, but I want to explore Hanoi, Hội An, Nha Trang, Phú Quốc, and Da Nang.
What do you think of this Vietnam travel guide? What other cities in Vietnam do you recommend visiting? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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