Flights to Vietnam

More about Vietnam

The weather can vary greatly dependent on geographic location and altitude, as the country has both plains and mountainous regions, in addition to jungles and beaches. During the summer months, temperatures hover in the mid-20s to mid-30s, and the country can be subject to occasional rainstorms called monsoons. Over the winter, Vietnam experiences moderate temperatures (about 15 to 25C) and much less rainfall.

Vietnam's culture includes many vibrant festivals and celebrations, mostly based on the lunar calendar. Vietnamese New Year is a time for special holiday foods and gift giving, and celebrations can last up to a week and take the form of parades with drums, gongs, and participants in traditional masks. The musical tradition in Vietnam varies, with influence from the Chinese in the north and Cambodia in the central region.

Local cuisine ranks among the healthiest in the world, thanks to its abundance of plant ingredients and sparing use of oils. Rice dishes and fragrant soups such as Lau or Canh chua typify Vietnamese food, though the country has also become known for delicious dumplings and sandwiches bearing a French influence as well. Sandwiches feature as a popular street food offering in Vietnam, and curries dominate cuisine in the south.

More about Vietnam destination guide

Those who like to stick closer to big cities will have their choice of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, in the south and Hanoi in the north. Ho Chi Minh City still features much French Colonial architecture, including the Municipal Theatre and Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica Cathedral. The city also has the Museum of Vietnamese History and War Remnant Museum, which show different aspects of the Vietnam War.

Hanoi, which served as the capital of French Indochina, also preserves much of its colonial history through architecture, including the Presidential Palace and the Hotel Metropole, which hosts foreign dignitaries to this day. The city also celebrates its history and culture in many museums, including the National Museum of Vietnamese History and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Hanoi is home to the National Museum of Fine Arts, plus a Contemporary Arts Centre as well.

With around 3,444 kilometres of coastal land, Vietnam has also become a favoured destination of beachgoers from around the world. Beaches abound near Danang, Nha Trang and Hoi An. However, the northern outpost of Doc Let offers some relief from the crowds of sunbathers, as do the beaches of the Con Dao Islands.