Asia
Below is a summary of how I entered, whether through a visa or another permitted route.
Prepare these before applying
At the time of my visit, it was not possible to apply for a Vietnam visa online. The embassy was in Delhi, and while I could send documents by email, they required cash to be deposited in person — which was not feasible from Nepal. I reached out to a travel agency in Kathmandu, who arranged a package with 2 nights hotel in Danang and the visa for Vietnam. For the travel agency, only a passport was needed as documentation. I still had to pay 25 USD at the airport upon arrival. Nowadays, Nepalese passport holders can apply for an e-visa online through the official Vietnam e-visa portal at <a href='https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn' target='_blank'>evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn</a>.
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| S.No | Details | Date | Amount | Currency | Amount (NPR) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | — | — | 25 | Visa & Documents |
| 2 | ~300k/night | — | — | — | 900,000 | Accommodation |
| 3 | ~250k/day | — | — | — | 750,000 | Food & Dining |
| 4 | Free | — | — | — | — | Activities |
| 5 | Free | — | — | — | — | Activities |
| 6 | Free | — | — | — | — | Activities |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | 30,000 | Activities |
| 8 | ~50k each | — | — | — | 150,000 | Food & Dining |
| 9 | ~30k each | — | — | — | 90,000 | Food & Dining |
| 10 | — | — | — | — | 200,000 | Transport |
| 11 | — | — | — | — | 2,000,000 | Transport |
| 12 | ~250k/night | — | — | — | 750,000 | Accommodation |
| 13 | ~200k/day | — | — | — | 600,000 | Food & Dining |
| 14 | — | — | — | — | 40,000 | Activities |
| 15 | Includes transport | — | — | — | 300,000 | Activities |
| 16 | Free entry | — | — | — | — | Activities |
| 17 | — | — | — | — | 200,000 | Transport |
| 18 | — | — | — | — | 150,000 | Connectivity |
| 19 | — | — | — | — | 30 | Insurance |
| 20 | — | — | — | — | 300,000 | Miscellaneous |
| 21 | — | — | — | — | 100,000 | Miscellaneous |
| 22 | — | — | — | — | 200,000 | Transport |
| 23 | — | — | — | — | — | USD 55 + VND 6,760,000 |
| Total | 0.00 | 6,760,055 |
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Vietnam offers e-visas valid for up to 90 days for citizens of all countries. Apply online before travel; approval typically takes a few days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay.
The currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). Cash is king for street food, taxis, and markets. Carry small denominations (10,000-50,000 VND). Always pay in VND to avoid unfavorable dynamic currency conversion rates. Use ATMs at major banks or malls.
Petty theft like pickpocketing and bag snatching is common in tourist areas. Thieves on motorcycles target phones and purses. Keep bags cross-body, do not hold your phone near the roadside, and avoid displaying valuables.
Use Grab (ride-hailing app) for safe, metered rides. Avoid motorcycle taxis unless experienced. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Bamboo Airways offer affordable domestic flights. Trains are a scenic and safe option for intercity travel.
Vietnam has some of the best street food in the world. Look for stalls with high local turnover for freshness and quality. A bowl of pho or banh mi typically costs 20,000-40,000 VND (under $2 USD). Eat where the locals eat.
Vietnam uses Type A, C, and F plugs with a standard voltage of 220V at 50Hz. Travelers from the US should bring a universal adapter. Most hotels provide adapters on request.
Vietnam spans multiple climate zones. The north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay) is best from October to April. Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Hue) is driest from February to August. The south (Ho Chi Minh City) is warm year-round with a dry season from December to April.
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📍 Hanoi
Start your journey in Hanoi by wandering through the bustling Old Quarter with its 36 ancient streets. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest university, and Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening, enjoy egg coffee at Cafe Giang and sample street food on Ta Hien Street.
📍 Ha Long Bay
Take a day cruise through the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, weaving between thousands of limestone karsts and islands. Kayak through hidden caves and grottoes like Sung Sot Cave, swim in emerald waters, and enjoy fresh seafood lunch on board. Watch the sunset paint the bay in golden hues from the deck.
📍 Hoi An
Fly from Hanoi to Da Nang and transfer to the charming ancient town of Hoi An. Stroll through the UNESCO-listed old town with its Japanese Covered Bridge, Fujian Assembly Hall, and colorful lantern-lined streets. Take a cooking class using fresh ingredients from the Central Market.
📍 Hoi An
Rent a bicycle and ride through the rice paddies to Tra Que Vegetable Village to learn traditional farming. Spend the afternoon relaxing at An Bang Beach and get custom clothing fitted at one of Hoi An's famous tailors. Return to the old town in the evening to see the magical lantern-lit streets.
📍 Ho Chi Minh City
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and dive into the city's history at the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace. Visit the stunning Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel. Explore the vibrant Ben Thanh Market and enjoy pho at a local street stall.
📍 Cu Chi and Mekong Delta
Take a morning trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels to crawl through the incredible underground network used during the Vietnam War. In the afternoon, head to the Mekong Delta to cruise along narrow canals, visit floating markets, and taste tropical fruits straight from the orchards. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for a farewell dinner on Bui Vien Walking Street.
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Aromatic rice noodle soup with beef or chicken, fresh herbs, and rich bone broth.
Crispy baguette sandwich filled with pâté, pickled vegetables, herbs, and grilled meat.
Grilled pork patties and rice noodles served with a dipping broth of fish sauce, herbs, and pickles.
Fresh spring rolls with shrimp, pork, herbs, and rice noodles wrapped in translucent rice paper.
Hoi An specialty noodles with pork, greens, and crispy croutons in a small amount of rich broth.
Whipped egg yolk with sweetened condensed milk poured over strong Vietnamese coffee.
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site with nearly 2,000 towering limestone karsts and islands rising from emerald waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. Cruise overnight on a traditional junk boat through the bay, kayak into hidden caves and grottoes, and watch the sunrise as mist drifts between the dramatic rock formations. Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave and Ti Top Island viewpoint are highlights not to miss.
📍 Open in Google Maps →A perfectly preserved 15th-century trading port and UNESCO World Heritage Site where Japanese, Chinese, and European architectural influences blend along the Thu Bon River. By night, hundreds of colorful silk lanterns illuminate the narrow streets, creating one of Vietnam's most magical scenes. Visit the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, get custom clothing tailored overnight, and try cao lau noodles — a dish found only in Hoi An.
📍 Open in Google Maps →An incredible 250-kilometer network of underground tunnels used by Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War, featuring hidden trapdoors, living quarters, kitchens, and weapon factories all built beneath the jungle floor. Crawl through widened sections of the original tunnels to experience the claustrophobic conditions soldiers endured. The guided tour provides powerful historical context about the war and Vietnamese resilience.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Dramatic cascading rice terraces carved into the mountainsides of northern Vietnam by Hmong, Dao, and other ethnic minority communities over centuries. Trek through the emerald-green paddies (most stunning September to October during harvest), visit hill tribe villages, and cross swaying suspension bridges over misty valleys. The area around Muong Hoa Valley offers the most spectacular terraced landscapes.
📍 Open in Google Maps →The former capital of Vietnam's Nguyen Dynasty, featuring a vast walled citadel modeled after Beijing's Forbidden City. Inside the moat-surrounded complex, explore the ornate Throne Palace, royal theaters, and temple ruins — many still showing scars from the 1968 Tet Offensive. Cruise the Perfume River to visit the elaborate royal tombs of emperors set in lush gardens outside the city.
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