Introduction
Vietnam is one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Southeast Asia, and for Singaporeans, it is also one of the most accessible — direct flights from Changi to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City run daily, with fares that make a long weekend entirely feasible. But Vietnam rewards longer stays. The country stretches over 1,600 kilometers from north to south, packing in highland mountain towns, UNESCO World Heritage cities, dramatic coastline, ancient temples, and some of the best street food on the planet.
Knowing the best things to do in Vietnam before you arrive makes an enormous difference. The country is easy to travel, but it is also easy to miss the highlights if you do not plan the sequence well. This guide covers Vietnam from north to south — the regions, the must-see experiences, the practical logistics, and the insider details that make each destination worth your time.
Whether you have five days or three weeks, this Vietnam travel guide will help you build a trip that goes beyond the standard checklist and into the experiences that actually stay with you.
For travelers who prefer a structured approach, FindTourGo’s Vietnam tour packages cover the key regions with local guides, vetted accommodation, and hassle-free logistics — a strong option for first-timers or anyone short on planning time.
Northern Vietnam: Mountains, Markets, and UNESCO Heritage
Trekking Sapa’s Rice Terraces
Sapa sits at 1,500 meters in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range near the Chinese border, and it is unlike anywhere else in Vietnam. The terraced rice paddies carved into the hillsides by Hmong, Red Dao, and Tay ethnic minority communities have been cultivated for centuries — the landscape is genuinely spectacular, particularly during harvest season in September and October when the paddies turn gold.
The best way to experience Sapa is on foot. Multi-day treks with local minority guides take you through villages that do not appear on tourist maps, with homestay nights in traditional stilt houses. The conversations over a shared meal with a Hmong family who has lived on this mountain for generations are among the most memorable things to do in Vietnam for travelers who want depth over surface.
Best time to visit: March to May (spring blooms) and September to November (harvest gold). Avoid January — the mountain fog can reduce visibility to near zero.
Hanoi: History, Street Food, and Controlled Chaos
Hanoi is the kind of city that disorients you on day one and captures you completely by day two. The Old Quarter’s 36 guild streets — each historically dedicated to a specific trade — now mix traditional craftspeople with coffee shops, silk shops, and some of the best street food in Vietnam.
Key things to do in Hanoi include the Hoan Kiem Lake morning circuit (locals do tai chi at dawn along the lake edge), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum complex, the Temple of Literature, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The train street — a narrow residential lane where a live train passes twice daily — is worth seeing, though increasingly touristy.
Hanoi’s food scene alone justifies the trip. Bún chả (grilled pork with rice noodles), cháo quẩy (rice porridge with fried dough), and egg coffee are Hanoi originals that do not travel well. Eat them here.
Halong Bay: Vietnam’s Most Iconic Seascape
Halong Bay is on every Vietnam travel guide list for good reason. Over 1,600 limestone karsts rising from emerald water create a seascape that genuinely looks like a painting. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, it draws over three million visitors annually — which means how you visit matters enormously.
How to Do Halong Bay Right
A one-day cruise is not enough. Book a two or three-night cruise to reach the less-crowded outer bay areas and Lan Ha Bay, which shares the same geological drama with a fraction of the boats. Kayaking through hidden lagoons, exploring Sung Sot Cave’s cathedral-sized chambers, and watching sunrise over the karsts from your boat deck are experiences that take time.
Choose operators certified by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and read recent reviews carefully. The difference between a well-run cruise and a budget boat doing the same route is significant. FindTourGo’s Halong Bay cruise packages include pre-vetted operators with transparent pricing.
Best time: October to April, with February to April offering the clearest skies.
Central Vietnam: Heritage Cities and the Country’s Best Food
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An is arguably the most photogenic town in Southeast Asia. The Ancient Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — preserves 15th to 19th-century merchant architecture in extraordinary condition: Japanese covered bridges, Chinese assembly halls, Vietnamese tube houses, and French colonial facades within a few blocks of each other.
The town transforms at dusk. Hundreds of silk lanterns illuminate the waterfront and narrow streets, and the monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival draws the entire community into the streets for music, games, and floating candles on the Thu Bon River. If your dates align, plan around it.
Practical things to do in Hoi An: take a cooking class (Hoi An is famous for Cao Lầu and Bánh Xèo), have clothes custom-made by one of the town’s 450+ tailors (give 48 hours minimum and bring reference photos), and hire a bicycle to reach the An Bang Beach, 4km away.
Hue: Imperial Capital and Culinary Capital
Hue was Vietnam’s imperial capital for 143 years under the Nguyen Dynasty, and the remnants of that era — the Citadel, the Imperial City, royal tombs scattered across the countryside — make it one of the most historically dense destinations in Vietnam. Less visited than Hoi An but arguably more rewarding for travelers interested in Vietnamese history.
Hue’s cuisine is also a highlight in its own right. The royal court tradition of elaborate, beautifully presented dishes is reflected in modern Hue food — Bún bò Huế (spicy beef noodle soup), bánh khoái (crispy rice pancakes), and the intricate small-dish tradition called Ẩm thực cung đình Huế are worth seeking out.
Southern Vietnam: History, Delta Life, and Urban Energy
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s commercial engine — loud, fast, and endlessly energetic. The War Remnants Museum is sobering and essential. The Reunification Palace is a remarkable Cold War time capsule. Ben Thanh Market and the surrounding streets offer everything from Vietnamese lacquerware to tailor-made clothing.
The real HCMC experience is in the neighborhoods: Nguyen Hue Walking Street on weekend evenings, the craft beer bars and boutique restaurants of District 1, the Buddhist pagodas of District 5’s Chinatown, and the emerging arts scene in District 4 and Binh Thanh.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Located 70km northwest of HCMC, the Cu Chi tunnel network stretches over 250km beneath the earth — a subterranean city built by the Viet Cong with living quarters, field hospitals, weapons workshops, and command centers. The scale of human ingenuity and endurance it represents is genuinely staggering.
Visit the Ben Duoc section rather than Ben Dinh for a more authentic, less commercialized experience. Crawling through the original tunnel sections (widened slightly for tourists but still genuinely claustrophobic) is one of the most memorable things to do in Vietnam for history-focused travelers.
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta — the network of river channels, mangroves, and floating markets west of HCMC — is where the majority of Vietnam’s rice, fish, and fruit is produced. A day trip or overnight from HCMC to Can Tho’s Cai Rang floating market (best visited at 5–7am before the day-trippers arrive) gives you a window into a way of life that is disappearing as road infrastructure replaces river trade.
Vietnam Nationwide: Food, Culture, and Practical Travel
Vietnamese Cuisine as a Travel Experience
Food is genuinely one of the best things about traveling in Vietnam. The cuisine varies dramatically by region: northern pho broth is clear and subtle; southern versions are richer with bean sprouts and herbs. Central Vietnam is the spiciest and most complex region. Bánh mì is everywhere but best in Hoi An and HCMC. Street food tours run nightly in every major city and are worth every dollar.
Cultural Context Worth Understanding
Vietnamese society places high value on respect for elders, family cohesion, and communal harmony. Buddhism and Confucianism shape daily life. Water puppetry — a 1,000-year-old art form performed on water stages — is unique to Vietnam and worth seeing in Hanoi or HCMC. The Áo Dài national dress, still worn daily by many Vietnamese women, is a living symbol of cultural continuity.
Basic Vietnamese phrases go a long way: Xin chào (hello), Cảm ơn (thank you), Bao nhiêu tiền? (how much?). Attempting them earns genuine warmth.
Practical Vietnam Travel Information
When to visit: February to April (post-Tet, pre-monsoon) is the most reliable nationwide. October to November suits central and southern Vietnam. Avoid August in central Vietnam (typhoon season).
Getting around: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Bamboo Airways connect major cities cheaply. The Reunification Express train is scenic and comfortable for Hanoi–Da Nang–HCMC. Grab works in all major cities.
Daily budget: USD 40–60 covers mid-range accommodation, local transport, and three good meals from Singapore. Five-star hotels and fine dining push this to USD 150–200.
Visa: Singapore passport holders receive 45-day visa-free entry as of 2023. Check current policy before departure.
FAQ
How many days do I need in Vietnam?
Ten to fourteen days is the sweet spot for a north-to-south trip covering Hanoi, Sapa or Halong Bay, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City. Five to seven days works well for a single region — either north (Hanoi + Halong Bay) or south (HCMC + Mekong Delta + Cu Chi). A long weekend from Singapore suits Da Nang and Hoi An perfectly.
What are the best things to do in Vietnam for first-time visitors?
Halong Bay cruise (minimum 2 nights), Hoi An Ancient Town at sunset, street food tour in Hanoi or HCMC, and Cu Chi Tunnels are the four experiences that consistently exceed expectations. Sapa trekking is worth adding if you have the time and physical condition for it.
Is Vietnam safe for solo travelers from Singapore?
Yes. Vietnam has a low violent crime rate and is well-practiced at handling international tourism. The main risks are traffic (motorbike density is extreme in major cities — use pedestrian crossings slowly and steadily), petty theft in crowded tourist areas, and scams around motorbike taxis and tour operators. Stick to Grab for transport and book tours through verified operators.
What is the best time to visit Vietnam from Singapore?
February to April offers the best nationwide weather — warm and dry across most regions. October to December is excellent for southern Vietnam. Avoid May to September in central Vietnam (monsoon and typhoon risk). Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually late January to mid-February) is spectacular culturally but chaotic for logistics — book everything months in advance.
How do I get from Singapore to Vietnam?
Direct flights from Changi to Hanoi (SGN) take about 3 hours; to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), about 2 hours; to Da Nang (DAD), about 2.5 hours. Scoot, VietJet, Vietnam Airlines, and Singapore Airlines all operate these routes. Budget fares start around SGD 80–120 return if booked in advance.
Ready to Explore the Best of Vietnam?
Vietnam is a destination that rewards both careful planning and spontaneous discovery. The best things to do in Vietnam stretch from mountain treks to river deltas to centuries-old trading towns — a range that few countries can match at this price point from Singapore.
Browse FindTourGo’s Vietnam tour packages to find curated itineraries covering the country’s highlights with local guides and verified logistics. Whether you are planning a first trip or returning for a deeper look, we have options to match your pace and budget.