Vietnam Travel Advice

Passport & Visas

Travelers from all countries including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US are required to obtain a visa to enter Vietnam. But, 24 nationalities can visit Vietnam without a visa for touristic stays shorter than 15 days. We recommend acquiring a tourist e-visa based on your nationality before arriving in Vietnam.

Travelers to Vietnam must have a passport or travel document valid for at least 6 months from their arrival date in Vietnam. You should carry your passport or travel document with you at all times.

Check with your embassy or your official government website for regulations. Bear in mind that our Vietnam travel advice is for guidance only. You are advised to check the details as it is your responsibility to have all the official documents ready before traveling.

You can consult the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. We recommend all travelers to check their Government National Travel Advisory prior to their departure: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA

Travel Insurance 

You need to have valid and adequate travel insurance before your tour with Travel Talk begins. It is your responsibility to have your insurance ready, but we are more than happy to provide you with guidance in the process. You can visit our travel insurance page for more details. For now, here is some Vietnam travel advice that you need to keep in mind when choosing the right plan.

When to Go

The best time to visit Vietnam is late autumn and spring when the weather is comfortable across the diverse regions for sightseeing. In November and December, the high season of Vietnam brings flocks of tourists until Christmas. The temperature varies between 20-30°C across the country, but come prepared for rain showers on the central coast.

Winter months are dry and sunny as well, making walking tours in Vietnam’s imperial cities joyful. But if you wish for the best of all three main touristic regions, March and April are ideal months to visit Vietnam. Temperatures are above 25°C and nights are comfortably warm. Also, Halong Bay becomes perfectly visible once again as the mists lift.

Vietnam enters the monsoon season in May, with most parts of the country except the central coast under the influence of heavy rainfall. Although it is not the best time to visit Vietnam, cultural tours are enjoyable due to the lack of crowds. Packing the right gear for rainfall is essential if you are planning your trip for summer. Hiking in Sapa valley becomes demanding since the ground is muddy and unstable. The best places to visit in Vietnam see some quiet time during these months.