Where is the best place to start in Vietnam?

Where should I start a trip to Vietnam?

Hanoi… Street food smells… Motorbikes everywhere. Remember that one trip in 2023. Rain. So much rain. But the Old Quarter… Felt ancient. Like stepping back. A different world. Hanoi. Yeah… That’s the one. Should start there. Definitely Hanoi first. Ho Chi Minh City… Different. Faster. More modern. But Hanoi… Just felt… more Vietnam somehow.

• Hanoi: Old Quarter. Temple of Literature. Hoan Kiem Lake. The street food. Just… wandering. Getting lost. The people. Friendly. So helpful. Remember that woman selling pho. Early morning. Steam rising. Never tasted anything like it.

• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): War Remnants Museum. Heavy. Cu Chi Tunnels. Intense. Notre Dame Cathedral. Beautiful. But… different. Not the same feeling as Hanoi. More hustle. More… Westernized maybe?

Hanoi is best to start. Get a feel for Vietnam first. Then go south.

Is it better to start in north or south Vietnam?

Okay, so, Vietnam… North or South first, huh? Listen, I totally get why you’re asking.

I went there, uh, summer of 2023? Started in Hanoi, Northern Vietnam. Should’ve gone South, honestly.

Hanoi, man, it’s… intense. So much history, but the traffic is crazy. Felt like frogger, crossing the street. The Old Quarter’s a labyrinth.

• Motorbikes! Zipping EVERYWHERE.
• Weather was humid. Super, super humid.
• Food was good, pho was everywhere!

Saigon, aka Ho Chi Minh City, I saw later. HUGE difference. Way more modern. More… “chill,” maybe? The South felt, well, I don’t know… more me.

• More relaxed vibe overall.
• Still humid! But maybe I was just used to it.
• So many cafes. Ice coffee! I like iced coffee.

I think, knowing what I know now, Southern Vietnam is a better intro. You adjust, you know? Then, you can brace yourself for the NORTH. Boom.

If you’re into chaos right off the bat, NORTH is the way to go. Just… be ready. Be VERY ready! I wasn’t and regretted it. D’oh! But hey, maybe that’s just me.

Where should I go in Vietnam for the first time?

Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, and Phu Quoc in South Vietnam, duh! Go October to April.

Why then? The Mekong Delta’s, like, waterways are overflowing after the monsoon. Smooth sailing, baby! Think of it as Venice, but with more mud and fewer gondolas. Actually, way more mud. And definitely no gondolas.

• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): A concrete jungle where scooters reign supreme. Crossing the street is an extreme sport. Get pho, okay? Lots of pho. My grandma’s secret pho spot? Nope, not sharing.
• Mekong Delta: Floating markets are wild! Boats piled high with fruits, veggies, and, yep, more pho. It’s like Amazon, but the deliveries are on water and smell better. Watch out for snakes! JK. Maybe.
• Phu Quoc: Beaches, beaches, beaches! White sand, turquoise water, and enough sunshine to turn you into a lobster. Drink all the bia hoi you can handle. I heard the night market sells some crazy stuff.

Consider it a choose your own adventure, Vietnam style. Just avoid the tourist traps – unless you like overpriced souvenirs and selfie sticks, that is.

Which city to visit first in Vietnam?

Ho Chi Minh City.

It has to be.

Ho Chi Minh City… feels right.

The streets are always alive.

I remember those motorbike swarms, that’s something.

So chaotic, but beautiful, somehow.

District 1 is the place, right?

Remember trying pho for the first time there? So good.

I think I actually cried. Happy tears.

That city, it changes you, you know.

It’s got history too. Reunification Palace, I stood there.

Felt the weight of it all. War. Loss.

Weird to think it’s also a place of growth.

The economy is booming, you can feel it.

Everything’s new, everything is so, so new.

Maybe that’s why it feels right. New beginnings.

• Transportation: Motorbikes everywhere. Grab is useful.
• Food: Pho, banh mi, spring rolls—eat everything. Ben Thanh Street Food Market.
• History: War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels.
• Culture: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saigon Opera House.
• Vibe: Energetic, chaotic, hopeful.

Where should I go first in Vietnam?

Halong Bay, definitely. Its surreal seascape is almost mandatory viewing.

• Think towering limestone karsts.
• Emerald waters create an unforgettable vista.

Hanoi, a very old city, should be next. The organized chaos is quite charming.

• Old Quarter’s street food is legendary for good reason.
• Consider a water puppet show – so odd, but I find them compelling.

Then it should be Hoi An. Tailors, lanterns, and history!

• Ancient Town, a UNESCO site, is simply gorgeous.
• Getting clothes custom-made is almost a must.

Mui Ne for beach vibes. Sand dunes and surfing, why not?

• The Red Sand Dunes feel like a slice of the Sahara.
• Fishing Village is a great place to get dinner.

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon; whatever. Bustling city, interesting past, and modern edge.

• War Remnants Museum is a must-see. Brutal, mind you, but important.
• Rooftop bars have nice views of the developing metro.