Safety and cultural advice for solo female travelers to Vietnam

Vietnam’s largest cities are an extremely popular destination for independent travel. But safety is always a concern when traveling solo, especially for women. In this post, we’ve rounded up some actionable safety tips for solo female travelers in Vietnam.

Note that we are not affiliated in any way with the brands we mention in this article.

Is Vietnam a Safe Country for Females?
Theft and Other Crime
Blending in as a Solo Female Traveler
Getting Around Safely in Vietnam’s Cities
Finding Safe Accommodation in Vietnam’s Cities
To Sum Up

There’s a ton for solo female travelers to do in Vietnam’s big cities. Learn to be safe in the process. (Source: Jetstar)

Is Vietnam a Safe Country for Females?

Several Vietnamese women were interviewed for this piece, and they all agreed: Vietnam is not a particularly dangerous country, even for solo female travelers. In fact, most big cities in the world, including those in Western countries, are more dangerous for women than Vietnamese urban centers. Part of this is due to the fact that Vietnamese generally do not have a heavily patriarchal view of society as much of the world unfortunately does.

Many Westerners have a negative perception of how women are treated in Vietnam. They have seen war movies or documentaries about expectant Asian parents praying for male children that might lead them to believe women have it rough in this part of the world. But the reality of women’s status in Vietnam could not be more different. In fact, women are extremely empowered in Vietnam. They are the cornerstones of productivity, and it is just as likely (if not more so) to see a business run by a woman as a man. The bottom line is that women here face little if any discrimination based on their gender, which means solo female travelers are rarely seen as possible targets of crime.

That being said, domestic violence is still quite common here. Angry men tend to throw chairs, bottles, and fists, but rarely at people they are not well acquainted with. Of course, there is the rare exception; some men will take advantage of certain women no matter where you are in the world. The best strategy is to blend in (see the “blending in” section below).

Vietnam is the 15th most populous country in the world, so of course there is some petty crime. (Source: Corporate Travel Safety)

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Theft and Other Crime

Good news: the violent crime rates in Vietnam, whether against men or women, are far lower than in most large cities elsewhere. This can be attributed in part to the fact that guns are illegal (a ban that has, by and large, seemed to work), but also because the Vietnamese are just a non-confrontational people. Unfortunately, the same does not apply to non-violent crimes.

Pickpockets and other thieves are comparatively common, especially in the city’s most touristy areas. Solo female travelers are perhaps the most common victim of crimes such as purse-snatching because they are often the most trusting.

“One way to stay safe in Vietnamese cities is not to trust people too fast,” says Lâm Phạm Trâm Anh, a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman. “Vietnamese people tend to be very friendly towards tourists,” Trâm Anh adds.

“It is easy to be lulled into a sense of security that thieves will take advantage of.”

Trâm Anh also points out that you should avoid wearing gold jewelry on the streets or bringing too much cash around with you. That way, you can minimize the damage if something bad does happen.

This is an example of being a bit too flashy with your dong — the name for the Vietnamese currency. (Source: Jason Billum Travel)

Another interviewee, 27-year-old Trần Thiên Kim, notes that a little vigilance and common sense can go a long way for female travelers. For example, “never use your phone when you’re standing by the street. If you have to, look around first and remember to hold it tightly in your hand.”

22-year old Lê Khánh Vy adds that you should abide by the safety rules solo females stick to in any city. For instance, don’t hang around late at night–Vy cited midnight as a good cutoff point for Vietnam’s big cities. Stay out of dark alleyways, a tip especially pertinent to travelers in Vietnam because the country has a ton of alleys (called ngõ or hẻm in Northern and Southern Vietnam) in its urban areas. Vy advises solo women travelers especially to bring a compact self-defense weapon with them… just in case.

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Blending in as a Solo Female Traveler

Our interviewees agreed the best method of all for solo female travelers to avoid trouble is to blend in. Here are some Vietnam-specific tips for doing just that.

Clothing – Although traveling by yourself is not inherently dangerous, it is common for female travelers to be less covered up, due to the heat. Keep in mind to dress down respectfully, though; low-cut shirts are not a good idea in Vietnam.

Vietnam is by no means a place where women have to be covered from head to toe. In fact, local women can be quite stylish!

However, local residents are usually not skimpily dressed and travelers should follow suit. As we said earlier, aggression or assault from men is not common here and we are not implying that a woman’s clothing choices should provoke any ill behavior. But making smart clothing choices is the easiest way to not attract unwanted attention.

Additionally, women should be particularly respectful with clothing choices when visiting a pagoda or temple. At these places of worship, short shorts, tiny skirts, low cut tops or bare shoulders are not considered appropriate attire.

Light clothes are fine in most places — Vietnam is a tropical country, after all. If a piece of clothing is “sexy,” though, it’s probably a no-go. (Source: Student Exchange Vietnam)

Personal belongings – We have said this before in this blog and here we reiterate. In order to stay safe and avoid scams, please be careful with your purses, phones, and jewelry. Thieves will go to great lengths to snatch purses or other valuable items. We have read all too many stories where thieves on motorcycles have tried to grab a woman’s purse and dragged the poor woman until the purse was freed from her.

If a situation such as this arises and the perpetrator is stronger than you, the last thing you want is to be physically hurt.

PDA (public displays of affection) – Vietnam is a rapidly developing country and western trends are quickly influencing both pop culture and everyday culture. Many couples are seen holding hands and being affectionate. Although holding hands is fine, other public displays of affection are not deemed respectful. It is not advisable to kiss excessively in public.

It’s normal to see couples like this one walking the streets arm-in-arm. Public kissing is definitely a taboo, though. (Source: Icaut.com)

Personal Questions – In Vietnam, it is quite common to ask about the marital status of a woman. There is also a fair chance that some lifestyle choices may not be fully understood or supported. Many women travelers have reported that they wore a wedding band or said that they were married simply to avoid these questions.

The locals’ exposure to tourists has grown substantially over the past few years but it is possible that you will encounter some people who do not agree or understand why a woman is unmarried past a certain age or is in a common law relationship.

Another question you may encounter often is about your age. It is very common to establish your age in comparison to the person asking because it denotes how they address you in the Vietnamese language. For a westerner, this notion can be a bit strange because one never asks a woman’s age unless you’ve reached a certain comfort level! Though these questions may come across as offensive, it is not the intention, notes Vy.

“In Vietnamese culture, expressing interest in details of another’s life is seen as friendly, even if you are not close already. It’s definitely a cultural difference.”

Other common personal questions include:

What is your monthly salary?
How many people live in your family?
How many kids do you have?
Where are you staying?

Don’t let these questions worry you. They are normal things to ask in Vietnamese culture. Answering them in detail is a good way to become friends with locals. Of course, you are free to ignore them or simply make up a fantasy narrative for your own life instead.

The Vietnamese tend to be extremely friendly, and making friends is easy. Know that you may be asked some personal questions, though. (Source: fisher.osu.edu)

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Getting Around Safely in Vietnam’s Cities

Ride-hailing apps have changed taxi services in most places the world over, and Vietnam is no exception. Grab Bike and Grab Car have replaced the motorbike taxis known as “xe om” and traditional cabs as the safest, cheapest, and most reliable ways for tourists to get around. Trần Tiên Kim recommends all tourists, whether solo female travelers or not, to get a 4G-enabled SIM card when they arrive in Vietnam just for this reason. The Grab app is easy to navigate, even for English speakers. There are also several other apps that include reliable car and bike-hailing services, such as Be and GoViet.

If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot use a ride-hailing app, you’ll have to go with one of the old-fashioned options. You can identify xe om drivers because they tend to be parked on corners. Look for the bikes with two helmets, and ask the driver “xe ôm?”

A xe om driver relaxing on his bike. We’d recommend instead calling a Grab Bike if you have mobile internet. (Source: Spiderum.com)

If you’d rather take a taxi, make sure you catch one of the cars from a reliable brand. In Saigon, the safe ones are “Mailinh” and “Vinasun.” In Hanoi, stick to “Mailinh” and “Thanh Cong.”

Traveling alone as a woman in Vietnam is fairly common at all ages so a foreign woman will not raise any eyebrows for simply being a solo female traveler. Some women may have a difficult time getting on a bike with a stranger, but the bike-hailing apps in Vietnam are very safe. Just remember to check the license plate of your driver against the one shown in the app before you get on the bike.

“Xe ôm” translates literally to “hug machine.” Like xe oms themselves, though, hugging your motorbike driver is rarely seen anymore. Although it is acceptable for women to put their hands around their driver’s waist, it is more common for people to hold onto the rail sticking out from behind the seat if they want something to hold onto.

At night, however, we highly advise women to take cars rather than bikes to get around. Even local women take this advice. Bikes are more exposed than cars, and a female on a bike at night is an enticing target for a potential purse-snatching. An added reason is that drinking and driving is becoming an increasing concern in Vietnam, and it is more likely that drivers behind the wheel of a car (which is much more expensive than a motorbike) will drive responsibly.

Calling a Grab Car is the very best option, and cheap compared to Western taxis. (Source: FT.com)

That being said, the transportation provided in organized tours like The Foodie by XO or any of the tours included in our round-up of the best city tours in Vietnam is always 100% safe, no matter what time it is. It is for this reason many solo female travelers opt for tours to explore Vietnam’s big cities by night.

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Finding Safe Accommodation in Vietnam’s Cities

Agoda and Airbnb are the safest and most reliable choices for finding safe accommodation. Agoda is extremely trustworthy and convenient, but its listings are often a bit more sterile and “touristy.” Airbnb provides more authentic, friendly accommodations, but it is a bit more of a gamble in terms of quality than a hotel site like Agoda. Both options are safe and can be extremely affordable.

Vietnamese hostels, homestays, and hotels are available for very good prices on sites like Airbnb and Agoda. (Source: Saigoncantho.com.vn)

Most of the 1-3 star hotels in Vietnam are not listed online and can only be booked in person. Unfortunately, this kind of last-minute booking is not a good idea for tourists, especially solo female travelers. This is because staying somewhere without any online record of checking into that place leaves you vulnerable to theft by the hotel staff. Foreigners, especially those staying alone, are a prime target for this kind of scam. I have lived in Vietnam for five years, in fact, and the only time I have been the victim of a crime was when I had several hundred dollars stolen from the hotel room I had booked on arrival in a new city.

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To Sum Up

Here are a few safety tips for solo female travelers in Vietnam sourced from our lovely interviewees. Some of them are mentioned elsewhere in this post and some are not.

Try to avoid using your phone near the street or in crowded areas. If you must, face away from walkways when you use it and remain wary of your surroundings.
Try to only carry with you the amount of cash you think you’ll need.
Don’t be too trusting. Like in most touristic areas, some people in central Saigon will try and use friendliness to take advantage.
If possible, research a destination before traveling there.
Befriend some English-speaking Vietnamese in case you need their help in an emergency.
Don’t go into dark alleys at night.
Always keep your valuables in your pockets/bag while you are walking.

Vietnamese cities are a fantastic place for solo female travelers to meet locals and delve into the culture. (Source: Tribesandminorities.com)

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Even with this inconvenience, Vietnam is a relatively safe country for solo female travelers. Still, it is important to keep your wits about you, and it would behoove anyone coming to Vietnam to familiarize themselves with the safety protocol beforehand. Check out our posts on avoiding scams in Northern and Southern Vietnam, or peruse our piece on eating and drinking safely.

Mapping Street Food Culture in Saigon

Before delving into Saigon’s rich street food culture, it is helpful to know what it is that makes the cuisine special. Why does it beat local restaurant food 90% of the time? How was street food culture here born? Where should you get certain dishes? And how can you make your Vietnamese street food experience the best it can be?

It’s true that Vietnamese street food is an integral part of Vietnamese culture. Out of 10 million+ people living in Saigon, over 1 million of them sell street food for a living. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain said that he would rather eat at one of Vietnam’s delicious and authentic street food stalls than most 5-star restaurants any day. It has even been said that Vietnam’s street food culture is a microcosm of the country’s culture in general. For visitors, exploring the street food scene is one of the most popular things to try in Vietnam. For locals, it is a way of life.

(Please click on the link below to jump directly to the section you would like to explore)

Vietnamese Street Food: Pros and Cons

It is common knowledge that street food is cheap and convenient. But the fact that it is so popular in cities throughout Vietnam is due to more than just accessibility. In fact, street food provides a tastier and ultimately more satisfying dining experience than a restaurant can most of the time. Why is this?

Firstly, street food tastes better because it is fresher and uses more hearty flavors. It makes excellent use of fats, acids, and crunchy vegetables to achieve its desired flavors and textures. More so than restaurants, street food vendors focus on using only fresh ingredients just bought from the local market that very morning. Successful stands do not have a choice, in fact, because they have massive turnover and sell everything they stock. It is not uncommon for a particularly popular street food location to close up shop a bit early because they run out of ingredients due to demand.

Throughout Saigon, street food favorites like bánh bèo and bánh xèo are prepared with farm-fresh and organically-produced vegetables and meats. (Source: Vogue.com)

The smell of a Vietnamese street food experience is another thing that helps it get the leg up on restaurant eating. The olfactory aspect of the dining experience is often overlooked, but the truth is that the smells hanging around you while you are eating will drastically alter the perceived taste. Street food establishments do not have a separate kitchen to keep the cooking smells away from the diners, and customers can have a more immersive dining experience because of that fact. Vietnamese street food locations tend to be clustered together, too, so customers can take in the aromas of multiple foods being prepared while eating.

Possibly the biggest reason most people love Vietnamese street food, though, is because of the atmosphere. Street food stalls offer a more “authentic” feel, and they are simply more vibrant than indoor dining. You get to see your food made, the cooks are usually “real people” rather than restaurant workers, the storefronts are more often than not local residences… tourists agree that eating on the street is the best way to experience the real Vietnam through food.

Look at that smiling face! Vendors like this give off the air of “real people” you can connect with on a human level, unlike stuffy restauranteurs. (Source: BeyondWords.co.uk)

Last is an aspect of street food culture that is lost to most tourists: the aspect of discovery. There are few things in the world as satisfying as hitting the streets, finding a street food place that looks like it might be promising and having a great meal there. It gives you the feeling of a prospector who just struck gold. Several weeks ago, for example, I was strolling by a local market, taking in the sights and sounds of the metropolis surrounding me. I happened to pass by a stand selling bò lá lốt and decided to give it a try. Thirty minutes and eight delicious beef-and-vegetable wraps later, I sat back in my flimsy red plastic chair, utterly satisfied. The sizzle of beef being prepared for the next customer added to the metropolitan buzz of the Saigon night, as did the aroma of the warm herbs used in the dish.

A street food vendor prepares her wares on a bustling street in District 8, ready to be discovered by another fortunate wanderer. (Source: Vietnam Tourism)

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Vietnamese Street Food: A Brief History

The origins of the Vietnamese street food scene began in the Northern part of Vietnam in the early 1900s. Some entrepreneurial soul in the village of Van Cu, near Hanoi, came up with the bright idea of hauling around barrels of soup balanced over his shoulder on a flexible yoke. The idea soon caught on like wildfire. Surprisingly, phở, possibly the most famous Vietnamese street food, was not actually invented until after those mobile soup vendors became popular.

Over time, vendors began to diversify the foods they sold. They began to include not only phở but also dishes like broken rice (cơm tấm) and cakes (bánh). Travelers and locals appreciated the quick, delicious, freshly prepared meals, and they were extremely inexpensive to maintain for the seller, who didn’t have to pay for much more than ingredients.

The next innovation in Vietnamese street food came when many vendors tired of moving around all day. As Vietnamese urban areas became more densely populated, the sellers realized they did not need to be mobile in order to get customers — the customers would come to them. Staying put also had a host of other benefits. For instance, it was a lot less tiring for the vendors. People always knew just where a specific vendor could be found. It allowed the vendors to put out plastic chairs and tables so people eating the food would have somewhere to sit and relax. And maybe most importantly, it gave the sellers more space to spread out, which meant they could prepare slightly more complex dishes — the meals that are still popular kinds of Vietnamese street food today.

A street food vendor in Saigon with all of her ingredients laid out around her.

A street food vendor with her full spread of ingredients. (Source: Nomadisbeautiful.com)

Still, though, the street food shops were not truly stationary. To avoid the costs associated with officially establishing a business, the owners made sure everything, including the tables, chairs, and food prep stations, could be rolled away or loaded onto a vehicle at the end of business hours. This mobility also came in handy when the police came by, as it was — and technically still is — illegal to set up sidewalk businesses without a license in Vietnamese cities.

But why has the Vietnamese street food culture endured and strengthened, while in most other places restaurants have become the norm? The answer lies in Vietnam’s culture, which is particularly good at preserving its time-honored social activities. Vietnam has withstood a lot in the past century. During most of that time, it has been an impoverished country. Starting a street food stand has always been a popular way to make a bit of extra money since it has such a low overhead cost. The Vietnamese are also resilient people and have always found time to celebrate little things, even when going through hard times. They have a time-honored tradition of going out together every now and then even if they can’t spend too much money, and that has kept the street food culture alive.

Eating and drinking with friends and family has long been a staple of Vietnamese culture. (Source: An Nguyen)

Although nowadays many Vietnamese street food vendors could afford to move into a more permanent establishment if they wanted to, mobile street eats are now such a big part of urban Vietnamese culture that they choose not to. Vietnam’s street food culture may have been born out of necessity, but locals have grown to love it. The most successful of these “new wave” street food sellers are able to make a fantastic living, in fact. Not only do they bypass a lot of red tape by selling on the street, but they are also able to charge just as much as an indoor restaurant if their food is of especially high quality. Multiply the cost by the huge amount of in-and-out customers that street food can attract, and you’re looking at a pretty impressive nightly income.

Locals also have more money, so a sidewalk meal is not just for celebratory occasions anymore. In fact, most Vietnamese people (and most visitors to the country) enjoy street food at least once per day. It’s a part of the country’s cultural fabric and a necessary inclusion on any list of things to try in Vietnam.

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Nhậu: Eating and Drinking for No Particular Reason

One of the things visitors love most about Saigon is the tradition of communal celebration that is woven into the culture. And possibly the best illustration of this behavior is a phenomenon known in Vietnamese as nhậu. On any given night, even if there is no particular occasion to celebrate, a large group of Vietnamese adults may go out together to eat, drink, and be merry. We’re not just talking about any meal, either; nhậu always centers around beer or some other form of light alcohol, whether beer (bia) or liquor (rượu). The actual food portion of the meal is always heavy on protein and light on carbs, so as to make room for more booze. So instead of rice or noodles with sauces and add-ons, you can expect a nhậu meal to consist instead of barbecued meat (thịt nướng) and platters of shellfish (ốc).

Because nhậu food is different than typical street food, there are special establishments dedicated to providing parties with all they need for a perfect sidewalk banquet. These establishments will serve every kind of meat imaginable and, of course, very reasonably-priced beer. Most nhậu eateries are also frequented by on-foot street vendors selling small plastic bags of traditional Vietnamese snacks. Khô bò (spiced beef jerky), đậu phộng muối ớt (chili salt peanuts), and da cá (deep-fried fish skin) are several examples of snacks that Vietnamese love to consume when they nhậu.

Đi nhậu! Punters gather in a popular eatery on plastic chairs and sturdy metal tables for some “eating and drinking for no particular reason.”(Source: Chuanmen.com.vn)

There are several qualities that signify an establishment is a place to đi nhậu. The first is that nhậu places are built on a large, flat area of cement. Dozens of short plastic or aluminum tables and chairs will be laid out on this space. During business hours, the floor of the eating area, especially under the tables, will be littered with empty beer bottles or cans, used napkins, and shellfish husks. The debris may at first seem offputting to someone not used to it, but in Vietnamese culture, the messy aftermath of a nhậu session seems festive and inviting, like the confetti and glimmering beads left strewn on the floor after a great New Year’s Eve party.

As noted above, much of Vietnam’s recent history is steeped in poverty. It was not until recently that the average family became able to take a night to eat and drink recklessly for no particular reason. Because of this fact, nhậu establishments are a newer addition to the Vietnamese street food scene than the traditional hủ tiếu and gỏi cuốn stands you may pass during your urban adventures. That being said, they are an indispensable part of street culture in Vietnamese cities, especially in the southern part of the country. No street food education is complete without a few chances to đi nhậu.

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Where to Find the Best Street Food in Saigon

Finding good street food to try in Vietnam is not always easy, though, especially for tourists. There are an overwhelming amount of places to sample, some of them delicious and distinct, but many of them duds. You definitely owe it to yourself to do your homework and learn about Vietnam’s street food culture in depth or at least go on your street food adventure with someone who has already done so.

District Specialties

Nowadays, street food is everywhere in Vietnamese cities. Walk down a street in Hanoi, and you’ll find different dishes than in Danang, where you’ll find very different choices than in Saigon. The specialties even vary from district to district within cities.

A map of the urban districts of Saigon. (Source: Codiemaps.wordpress.com)

Ốc, Phá Lấu — District 4

Three of District 4’s most distinguishing features are that:

- It is known for its rich street food culture.
- It has an extremely high population density (almost twice that of District 1).
- It is literally an island, a triangular district connected to surrounding areas only by bridges.

These three factors have come together to produce an incredible shellfish street food scene. Streets like Vinh Khanh are veritable paradises for seafood lovers, with crowded shops lining the street on either side.

Phá lấu is a spicy and creamy dish comparable to red curry, but instead of fish or chicken, it is made with whole pig organs. For a reason lost to the sands of time, the bustling streets of District 4 have become known for producing the best versions of the dish Vietnam has to offer. For fantastic phá lấu and a wide variety of other street eats, walk down Xom Chieu Street and Vinh Khanh Street.

Wontons — District 5

If your travels take you to District 5, you’ll notice red slips of paper adorned with Chinese characters hanging above many doors or behind windows. That’s because District 5 is Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown. Communities of Chinese immigrants have flocked there for decades, and they brought their distinctive recipes with them. That is not to say Chinese dishes are not served elsewhere in the city, but district 5 definitely does them best. Wontons (hoành thánh) are the most popular, although you can also find dim sum (há cảo) and Chinese noodle dishes being peddled at street food stalls wherever you look, and especially on food streets like Nguyen Kim and Nguyen Trai.

The point is, a single Vietnamese city is varied in terms of its street food culture and landscape. Just going to one market with a lot of different street foods is not enough to give you a good sampling of the city’s street food scene. Even exploring an entire district is not enough. The only way to truly get a good taste of what Saigon’s street food vendors have to offer is taking a tour like The XO Foodie Tour that spends a good amount of time darting between districts.

BBQ, hotpot — District 8

District 8 has come to be known as where the locals come to party (see the section above on “nhậu,” the Vietnamese custom of celebratory eating and drinking for no particular reason). You can find large roadside establishments grilling up fresh meats and vegetables here every night until the early hours of the morning. The raw barbecue (thịt nướng) is generally brought to the table along with a portable miniature grill. Customers can then cook their own food just how they like it. Stroll down some heavy traffic streets such as Duong Ba Trac or Pham The Hien to discover these establishments.

The most popular party dish in District 8 has a bit more distinctly Vietnamese flair. “Lẩu” is the Vietnamese word for “hotpot.” Places that serve the dish will carry a bowl of tangy spiced broth to the table and will heat it at the table using a hot plate. Like with Vietnamese barbecue, they will supply a dish of uncooked meats and vegetables, along with some noodles. The customer then creates their own dish by adding the ingredients to the boiling broth in whatever manner they choose and then waiting a few minutes for it to cook to perfection. Experience this dish for yourself at District 8 food hubs like Xom Cui Market.

An authentic Vietnamese street food delicacy -- lẩu.

A bowl of “nước lẩu” with all the fixin’s. (Source: Crossing Travel)

District	Specialties	Notable Food Streets	Distance from Center
4	Pha lấu Ốc	Kinh Khanh Xom Chieu Doan Van Bo	2.5km
5	Wontons Dumplings Fried Noodle Dishes	Nguyen Kim Nguyen Trai Nguyen Thoi Trung	4.5km
8	Barbecue Lẩu hotpot	Pham The Hien Hung Phu Xom Cui Market	7km
10	Sweet soup (chè)	Su Van Hanh Nguyen Tri Phuong To Hien Thanh	4.5km

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The “Sidewalk Revolution”

In early 2017, Ho Chi Minh City officials began a campaign to clean up the sidewalks and return them to their original purpose — pedestrian walkways. This meant, among other things, cracking down on the street food vendors that were crowding many of the sidewalks throughout the city. There was immediate retaliation from locals, who complained that street food was part of Vietnamese culture and could not be taken away. As a compromise, officials designated certain areas as “street food markets” and allowed vendors to set up there without facing any possible repercussions.

One example of this kind of market that many tourists stumble across is the street food emporium adjacent to Ben Thanh market. The covered tent of the evening bazaar houses rows upon rows of food stalls, all of them as neat and clean as the vendors at a mall food court. The food is not as low-priced as one would imagine of Vietnamese street food, although it is, according to reviews, very tasty. After ordering, customers can find a seat at one of the long wooden tables at the front of the tent. They can also wait for their food like at a traditional street food location, but the sellers will be happy to bring it to the tables when it is ready.

The interior of the street food market at Ben Thanh Market.

The Ben Thanh Street Food Market. (Source: Abroadertale.com)

Nowadays, many of the most popular and highest quality street food vendors have moved into designated street food markets similar to the one across from Ben Thanh. The markets are delicious and convenient, but, unfortunately, they lack somewhat in authenticity. Street food was invented with the intended venue being a sidewalk stand surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city. In comparison, eating it at one of the long tables found in a street food market seems a bit dull.

There are still many Ho Chi Minh City street food vendors who have stuck to the sidewalks. However, a portion of those that do still deal in the streets are of low quality. Poor hygiene and “shortcut” cooking methods that sacrifice flavor are common at such places.

The key to a successful Ho Chi Minh City street food excursion is to find the best of both worlds. You don’t want to eat somewhere serving low-quality food, although that place may provide an authentic street food atmosphere. But you also don’t want to eat somewhere that feels artificial, even if the food there tastes great. What you really want is somewhere that both feels authentic and tastes excellent. Somewhere where you can smell, hear, and see the pulse of the city around you, and at the same time give your taste buds a reminder of why people love Saigon’s street food.

This is why many tourists in pursuit of a delicious, authentic street food experience turn to the pros. As stated previously, Saigonese locals love street food, and they are eager to share the best of their city’s street food culture with visitors. By joining a tour like The XO Foodie run by XO Tours, you can be let in on a bit of Saigon’s diverse street food magic.

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Is it safe to eat street food in Vietnam?

Yes, it is generally safe. It’s a good idea to stick to more reputable street food vendors who have a reputation to uphold. However, even lesser street food is much more hygienic than most tourists have been led to believe. For a much more detailed guide on how to identify unsafe street food and what types of street foods are particularly unsafe, head over to our popular blog post on food safety in Vietnam.

The Best City Tours In Vietnam

As Vietnam’s tourism industry skyrockets, many tour operators offer travel experiences that vary drastically in quality. There’s a huge number of tours and activities offered in Vietnam. This makes it almost impossible for travelers to find the hidden tour gems that really stand out.

To that end, we have handpicked 12 tours from 12 different cities that we believe represent the best city tours in Vietnam; tours that reveal the uniqueness of each city in the country.

With the exception of our own “Sights of Saigon Tour”, we have no vested interest in any of the Vietnam tour companies listed below and did not consult them when writing this blog post.

Our picks for the best city tours in Vietnam

(Please click on one of the links below to jump to the city you would like to explore)

Sapa Tour
Ninh Binh City Tour
Hanoi City Tour
Hue City Tour
Danang Area Tour
Hoi An Tour
Nha Trang Beach Tour
Mui Ne Tour
Saigon City Tour
Dalat City Tour
Can Tho City Tour
Phu Quoc Island Tour

Sapa Tour

The hilly city of Sapa is built among the mountains, so the city itself is characterized by trellises, terraced gardens, and a rolling fog that is a result of its high altitude. Its rich Hmong culture, its stunning alpine beauty, and the many options for trekking tours in Sapa have been enchanting tourists for years. Sapa’s secluded location makes it feel like a sanctuary.

Fun fact: Sapa is the only city in Vietnam where you can see snow during the coldest parts of the year.

Tour: 1 Day Trek by Sapa Sisters

Price (1 day): $41/person, assuming one person. The per person price lowers the more people are in the tour group

Private tour? Yes

Who better to bring out the natural beauty of Sapa and reveal its ethnic minority culture than a tour guide who is of the Hmong ethnic minority herself? Sapa Sisters is among the best North Vietnam tours out there because it is highly professional while maintaining a local down-home feel, and because it offers treks with flexible scheduling. In other words, the company does not adhere to fixed itineraries and will not take each of their tour groups to the same places. The guides are extremely accommodating to customer requests and are comfortable with changing direction depending on what’s going on around them. This makes for an unscripted, deeply authentic experience.

Ethnic tour guides in Sapa

Highlights

All tour guides are Hmong women. This adds a layer of local authenticity.
Exceedingly flexible trekking itineraries.
Reviews consistently praise kind, passionate, knowledgeable guides who usually take customers to the guide’s house for a home-cooked lunch.
Tours that go overnight include a homestay at a local house.
Although the terrain is not too treacherous, the guides will really take you out into the rough, past gushing streams and rustic knolls. You’ll experience the full natural beauty of Sapa.

Protip: The area around Sapa has a number of incredible natural swimming holes to which the guides will take you if you ask, so it’s a good idea to bring a bathing suit if you’re visiting in the Summer.

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Ninh Binh City Tour

Ninh Binh is another city that is made incredible by the surrounding natural beauty. In fact, the lush and majestic Trang An River Complex that runs through Ninh Binh was recently adopted as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been referred to as “Halong Bay on Land.” The city itself is also pleasingly quaint, and the locals have done an inspiring job of merging the area’s striking greenery with their urban planning. Even though it feels completely isolated, though, Ninh Binh’s geographical location means it is not too out-of-the-way; it is one of the locations featured on our list of Best Day Trips from Hanoi.

Tour: Pu Luong Private Tours by Toan Duong

Price (1 day): $48/person

Private tour? Yes

This tour makes the most of the sheer variety of things to see in Ninh Binh. The Trang An River Complex may be the main attraction, but there are also fascinating cave systems, national parks, rolling hills, iconic geological formations known as karst towers, pagodas, waterfalls, rice paddies, and much more. It is impossible to pack everything in one day, but Toan Duong does a good job of fitting in as much awesome sight-seeing as possible while still providing thorough and insightful commentary.

Highlights:

Ninh Binh is not as well known as the other cities on this list (although it probably will be in 10 years), so you are more likely to have a truly authentic-feeling adventure where you don’t run into other tourists.
Flexible itinerary planning makes any time framework out.
This tour is suitable for almost every traveler, regardless of the age or fitness level, since the terrain is very flat. Keep in mind that much of the tour takes place aboard a boat or a motorbike however.
Reviews usually mention the delicious meals provided on the tour, especially the home-cooked dinners on the overnight homestays.

Enjoy the spectacular and authentic landscapes in Ninh Binh

Beautiful landscapes of Ninh Binh

Protip: As their site states, the best weather for trekking with Pu Luong comes in the Winter.

We would recommend booking a 3-day tour if you want to see everything Ninh Binh has to offer.

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Hanoi City Tour

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and it is brimming with enough history to satiate even the most hardcore culture buffs out there. From communist propaganda to street vendors carrying their wares on their shoulders and wearing conical bamboo hats, all the things the movies tend to associate with Vietnamese culture originated in Hanoi. It’s both the cultural and political capital of Vietnam, and one could say spending time there provides the quintessential Vietnamese experience.

Tour: Old Quarter Street Food Tour by Vietnam Awesome Travel (aka Vietnam Travel Company)

Price: From $30/person

Private Tour? Yes

Vietnam Awesome Travel is a great company that has been providing authentic tours around Hanoi since 2008. The owner of the company, Mr. Anh, works hard to please every guest and can customize each tour to specific requests. The tour guides are all locals who know the area intimately and have good relationships with all the restaurants and street vendors that make up the stops on this fantastic tour.

Eating on small plastic tables and stools in the capital city is a must try experience

Vietnam Awesome Travel offers many tours however we would recommend this Old Quarter Street Food Tour as not only a great way to learn about the history of the area, but also to discover the best local restaurants in Hanoi. If you’re not a tour person and would rather set your own itinerary, we would recommend following the suggestions in our How to Spend Two Days in Hanoi blog post as a jumping-off point.

Highlights:

Energetic and passionate guides with native speaker-level English skills.
The $30 USD price of this walking food tour includes all food, drinks + a private tour guide. If you prefer to join other guests on a group tour, the price is only $20 USD per person. To include seafood dishes there is a $15 USD/person surcharge.
This company is extremely well organized and responsive, and it makes booking easy.
Vietnam Awesome travel have pre-planned itineraries, which is convenient for some. If you have some of your own ideas in mind, however, the guides are extremely flexible and accept requests.

Protip: For those who have already explored most of the Old Quarter themselves this tour may tread a lot of familiar ground. To explore a much wider area, you may want to try Vietnam Awesome Travel’s scooter street food tour instead.

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Hue City Tour

Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty, which lasted from 1805 to 1945. During that time, it developed a rich culture tinged heavily with war generals and royal ancestry. Perhaps the best embodiment of Hue’s historically fascinating “golden age” is the Imperial City built inside the Royal Citadel at the city center, and the entire city is a tribute to Imperial Vietnamese culture. History connoisseurs will be as happy as children in a candy shop when in Hue.

Tour: Mr. Hoa’s Hue City Tour

Price: $39/person
Private Tour? No

Hue is a bit of a sleepy city compared to the others on this list, so it can be hard to find many interesting things to do if you are on your own. Mr. Hoa changes all that, though, as his full day tour will no doubt tire you out as a result of doing so much. He will take you to see the Citadel, the Perfume River, the tallest pagoda in Vietnam, and several famous tombs of royalty. When he drops you off at your hotel at the end of the day, you will be tired but will have good memories of the city that you would be hard-pressed to gain wandering the streets unguided.

Hue - The fomer royal capital of Vietnam

Hue – The former royal capital of Vietnam

Highlights:

A great value for money. The tour is 8 hours long and only costs around $40.
Reviewers agree almost unanimously that the lunch, which is at a local restaurant called Spice Viet, is extremely good.
Hoa’s tour company is an old and well-known establishment in Hue, and many of the reviews mention that the guides are able to slip to the front of certain crowded lines for attractions.

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Danang Area Tour

Danang is not an old city rich with history, unlike most on the list. Rather, it is a new metropolis that is just emerging as an A-list Vietnamese city and that will more than likely be among the country’s top tourist destinations within the next decade or two. One can tell from traveling around the area that it is more modern than most cities in Vietnam; it is built on the ocean and its city planners did a great job of merging city with sand with seaside. While surrounding Danang there’s a youthful but booming nightlife, it also has a laid-back, beach town-esque vibe that makes spending time there a blast.

Tour: Xuan Tu Private Tour

Price: Around $80/person

Private Tour? Yes

Xuan Tu Tours take place in many Vietnamese cities, but Danang is Xuan’s hometown so she gives the city’s tours extra care. This is another tour with flexible itinerary planning that takes into account the interests of its guests, but many of the most popular destinations offered by the tour are so fascinating that you may just want to go with their suggested schedule. Assuming you do, you will be taken to some absolutely amazing caves, mountains, bridges, markets, and pagodas, as well as a beach that is rated among the top 10 in the world by Forbes.

Happy tour group at a Chinese style temple in Danang

Highlights:

Most of the reviews mention how incredibly accommodating this tour is. One review, for instance, mentions how the tour guide brought one of his guests to a local supermarket because the guest had mentioned how he wanted to find some snacks to bring home as gifts.
Guests will get a good feel of Danang, from the surrounding countryside to the beaches that make Danang so unique as a big city, all from the comfort of an air-conditioned car.

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Hoi An Tour

Hoi An is more of a town than a city, really, as you definitely won’t be finding any skyscrapers or Mcdonalds here. However, the area’s truly remarkable natural beauty, its distinct culture, its great weather, and the reputation. The town itself is like nowhere else in Vietnam, what with its cobbled streets, picturesque ponds, quaint shops, and weekend night lantern festivals. The surrounding area is packed with landmarks, too.

Floating candles in Hoi An Ancient Town

Tour: Tommy Dao Tours

Price: $65/person, assuming one person. The per person price lowers the more people are in the tour group

Private tour? Yes

Tommy’s crew are really professional — they would not be one of the most critically acclaimed tour companies in such a hot tourist destination unless they were really good at what they do. They are well-organized, professional, personable, and familiar with the area.

Note that this isn’t the best day tour to get a good look at the actual city of Hoi An, but rather the area surrounding it. You’ll get a chance to meet some people of the local Cham ethnic minority, and reviewers are consistently floored by the amazing excursions (including My Son Holy Land, Ba Na Hills, and Marble Mountains) that they are taken on.

Highlights:

These guys are extremely professional and easy to communicate with. Setting up a tour time and organizing exactly the kind of tour you want on Facebook messenger (or a similar platform) is easy.
Reviewers note that one of Tommy’s main Hoi An tour guides, Ken, used to be a professional photographer and will take some beautiful picture for his guests. Request him if you want some free souvenirs.
Tommy’s does airport pickups from the Danang International Airport.
Tommy’s tour guides give a lot of very detailed information — prepare yourself for a factoid overload!

Protip 1: Because of the two cities’ proximity to each other, the Hoi An and Danang tours on this list will likely have some overlap in terms of destinations. You may not want to book both tours.

Protip 2: In order to remain impartial, we have made a point not to include XO’s Hoi An tours on this list, however popular they may be (the one exception is the Saigon city tour profiled below). We would like to add here, though, that we do offer two very well-received Hoi an tours.

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Nha Trang Beach Tour

There are several amazing beach towns in Vietnam that you may be tempted to visit, but Nha Trang offers the best luxury Vietnam tours of the lot. The small city is delightfully laid-back, like any self-respecting beach town should be. At the same time, though, it has so much to see: amusement parks, a world-class aquarium, a system of cable cars, huge pagodas… the list goes on. And that is not to mention the main attraction: the beaches. the sand is white, the water is warm, and there are so many water-related activities that you won’t have a dull moment on the ocean.

Tour: Vietnam Active Snorkeling

Price: $25/person

Private Tour? No

Ask any Vietnamese where the clearest water in Vietnam and the best underwater sightseeing are, and they will almost invariably tell you Nha Trang. The snorkeling tour from the tour company Vietnam Active will take you to colorful coral reefs around Hon Mun island (an island off the coast of Nha Trang with even clearer water) where you will be able to observe exotic fish. You’ll be perfectly comfortable doing this without any wet-suit or outer equipment because the water in Nha Trang is famously warm.

Discover the fascinating undersea life in Nha Trang

Reviews comment appreciatively that it was nice being able to run free during the tour. Vietnam Active are not too restrictive of what tour groups get up to during their snorkeling sessions, and you can do things, like diving straight off the boat, that might be frowned upon in a more uptight setting. That is not to say that the tour slacks on safety precautions, however. Reviews also note that safety was taken very seriously on the tour, and people of all ages or skill levels are encouraged to join.

Highlights:

Tour groups are small, so there is enough time for individualized instruction.
Many reviews mention the cold lunch of sandwich and salad as being very tasty.
The tour takes you to two different snorkeling sites.

Protip 1: Be sure to check out a few options of where to purchase the tour, as several reviews mentioned the price fluctuating greatly depending on where they paid for it. It should be around $25.

Protip 2: Make sure to apply a lot of waterproof sunscreens. Many people get badly burned on this tour because they skimped on the SPF.

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Mui Ne Tour

Mui Ne, is another coastal town with some beautiful beaches. Its main attractions, though, are the fields of brightly colored sand dunes and the other natural wonders surrounding the town. It’s almost surreal to see several large deserts so close to the coast; it is a natural phenomenon that occurs at few places in the world, and it takes the phrase “sand meets sea” to a whole new level. There are very few man-made things to do in the area, and you will likely spend most of your time during your visit either at one of the town’s many large resorts or out and about visiting the natural landmarks.

Tour: Mui Ne Happy Tour

Price: $19/person

Private Tour? Yes

This tour is not exactly innovative, as it will take you to the same locations most people see on a trip to Mui Ne. They were the first company giving the now-standard Mui Ne tours, though, and they have by this point become a well-oiled machine. Even after all this time, though, they have managed to keep their prices down.

Rolling through many beautiful sand dunes in Mui Ne

The tour will take you to the red sand dunes, the white sand dunes, the fishing village (which is essentially just a part of Mui Ne where a lot of fisherman live), and the fairy stream. They will transport you between these locations in a well-maintained Jeep. No tour guide accompanies you in the jeep to provide commentary, so be sure to read up on the area beforehand.

Highlights:

Though there is no tour guide accompanying you at the destinations (except for the Fishing Village), none is needed. The natural beauty of the dunes and the fairy stream really does speak for itself, and the landmarks are very easy to navigate anyway.
All-terrain vehicles are available for rent at the white sand dunes for an additional fee. You can either drive yourself or have an employee drive for you.
This may be among the best value Vietnam tours out there — the amount of transportation provided and the variety of experiences more than justify the $19 price.

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Saigon City Tour

Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. It is the de facto economic and commercial hub of the country. It is also the 15th most visited city in the world by tourists (right behind Hanoi, which is 14th), and for good reasons: it is one of the best street food cities in the world, the nightlife scene in Saigon is off the hook, and it has a sprawling metropolitan cityscape that puts any other location in Southeast Asia to shame.

Unlike Hanoi, in which the main historical attractions are concentrated into a dense area (the Old Quarter) and can be covered on a walking tour, many of the well-known historical landmarks in Saigon are spread far apart. This is where a company like XO Tours excels as they provide scooter tours led by Vietnamese women, that can quickly zip their guests from location to location, while a professional, license tour leader regales guests with fascinating stories of each attraction.

Tour: Sights of Saigon Tour by XO tours

Price: $48/person

Private Tour? No, but available for an additional fee

We’ve attempted to keep this post unbiased by not including any of our own tours on the list, but we simply had to make an exception here because we are so proud of this one.

Scooting around Saigon with the XO Girls

Like many of the sightseeing motorbike tours in Saigon, The Sights will take you around the city to see many of the places which make Saigon special. However, it is unlike other similar tours in one important aspect: it will not take you to the same played-out locations tourists are accustomed to seeing in Saigon. Although the usuals, like the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, will be included, the tour will also take guests to lesser-known locations like the secret CIA building and Ho Thi Ky Flower Market. The top-tier tour guides provide excellent commentary on each of the locations visited, and the pace is both quick enough to see a good amount of sites in just a few hours time and leisurely enough to get in some great photo opportunities.

Highlights:

Reviewers comment that the traditionally dressed women who take the tour group around the city on motorbikes during the tour are both excellent conversationalists and very safe drivers. People reportedly feel very safe on the bikes, even in the center of the seemingly hectic Saigon traffic.
Unlike most other scooter tour operators, the staff at XO Tours are professional/licensed tour guides not students, so their knowledge of the city and history is much more in depth.
You’ll feel like you’ve earned an A+ in urban tourism by visiting so many off-the-beaten-path sites.

Protip 1: The tour is three and a half hours long, and much of it consists of riding through the heavily industrialized city on the back of a motorbike. Unless you have sinuses of steel, you may want to bring along a facemask. We’d recommend a filtered face mask, as they offer more protection.

Protip 2: If you’d rather explore the city yourself, we highly recommend our “How to Spend One Day in Ho Chi Minh City” guide.

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Dalat City Tour

Dalat is a haven of elegant Western-style architecture, European-influenced shops, and perfect weather, dropped into the middle of Vietnam. It’s in the midst of the mountainous Vietnamese region known as the Central Highlands, so there are plenty of nature activities like biking, canyoning, and whitewater rafting to engage in. The city itself is amazing, too; it strikes just the right balance between developed urban area and sleepy town. It is a mecca for Central Highlands culture, and it is surrounded by such beautiful nature that basically everywhere you go is “the scenic part of town.” Because the geological makeup of the surrounding area is quite different from most of Vietnam, Dalat is also the only major city in the country where you can get certain goods straight from the source, from berries to coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of a weasel.

Tour: Amazing Dalat

Price: $37/person, assuming one person. The per person price lowers the more people are in the tour group

Private tour? Yes

This is another one of those city tours that is guaranteed to tire you out by the end of the day, because they just pack in so much stuff. You’ll head out for a breathtakingly panoramic cable car ride over a lake at 8:30 am, and over the next eight and a half hours you will be taken to a Zen Monastery, a clay sculpture garden, a rustic waterfall and swimming hole, the town’s French Quarter and Central Market, a weasel coffee farm, a colonial rail station, and a Buddhist pagoda made from recycled glass. They’re not exactly off-the-beaten-track destinations, but they’re definitely worth seeing. Plus, the itinerary is broken up by lunch at a local restaurant chosen according to tour group requests, although the lunch costs extra.

Clay town in Da Lat

Vietaction, the company that runs this tour, specializes in extreme nature tours in the area. So even though this tour is one of the city, the tour guides know how to incorporate fascinating tidbits about the nature surrounding Dalat.

Highlights:

Guests have a choice between car transport and motorbike transport, so they can choose whatever type of transport that makes them feel more comfortable.
This tour will take you all around the city of Dalat rather than staying near the city center, which is more than can be said for most city tours.

Protip: Bring a sun hat and shoes you do not mind getting a bit dirty. The tour includes some of the natural beauty that makes Dalat a magical place, and that means rough terrain.

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Can Tho City Tour

The Mekong Delta region in the south of Vietnam is one of the lushest, greenest, most fertile areas you will ever come across. Can Tho is tucked in the midst of that region, and, although it is one of the largest cities in Vietnam, it gives off a fun and fresh vibe consistent with the natural beauty surrounding it. It has a very young population, as it is home to several of the most famous universities in the country, and the city is spread out so that the population density is not too high. Whereas you might feel unsafe crossing the street in a metropolis like Saigon or Hanoi, the traffic in Can Tho is totally bearable. Simply walking the streets is more enjoyable than in most city in Vietnam, even the ones on this list.

Tour: Spirit of Can Tho by Can Tho River Tour

Price: $29

Private Tour? No, although inexpensive upgrades are available

Can Tho’s most famous activity takes place before most people are even awake. The Cai Rang Floating Market gets started very early, and that is why it is a good idea to book the 5:00 trip for this tour. A tour guide will meet you bright and early and take you out on the Mekong in a traditional Vietnamese model of the motorboat. The boat will weave in between the locals peddling fruits, kitchenwares, breakfast foods, and household items; you will not find any of the touristy trinkets of Saigon’s Ben Thanh Market.

Amazing Phong Dien Floating market near Can Tho

After getting your fill of the floating market, the car will take you by boat to visit a local rice noodle factory. You will get to meet the family who runs the business and sample the rice noodles you see made in front of you. You will then go to a cocoa Farm where they make chocolate from the beans on the trees. The tour also visits a fruit farm and a botanical garden, both of them are representative of the area’s brilliant flora.

Highlights:

The tour will surround you with locals and give you an intimate view of the agricultural Mekong lifestyle.
While going to a rice noodle factory is a staple of tourism in the area, the one this tour takes you to is not the usual tourist shtick. Reviews comment that it’s more interesting and more authentic.
The Mekong Delta is home to some truly awesome wildlife, such as herons and Kingfishers. You will get to see some on this tour.

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Phu Quoc Island Tour

Phu Quoc Is a beach town on an island off the southern tip of Vietnam, so it’s very isolated. There is still an actual town with hotels, breakfast joints, and plenty of shops on one side of the island, but the less developed side of the island with its deep green jungles and its shockingly blue waters is the main attraction.

Tour: Green Hat Holiday Kayaking

Price: $95/person, assuming two people. The per person price lowers the more people are in the tour group

Private tour? Yes

What better way to see an island famous for its beaches then to view the island from the water itself? This tour will take you around the north side of the island, allowing you to explore the lush green coastlines from your own kayak. You will visit an eco-friendly bee farm and a farm that grows the famous Phu Quoc Peppers. The lunch menu is just as much a part of the tour as an eating location, too — seafood will be served at a floating village restaurant.

See beaches like this on the Phu Quoc Island tour

Highlights:

The tour is private, so the tour guides know how to tailor the experience precisely to the group.
This tour is rather physically demanding and takes place only during the day, and for these two reasons, it pairs very well with the same company’s excellent “Street Food By Night” tour.

Protip: Land transportation during the tour is available in a car or, on request, in an open-air Jeep. We would recommend the latter, as it makes you feel closer to the surrounding nature.

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This list will undoubtedly connect you with some of Vietnam’s best tours. If you are the type who would rather try your luck without a professional guide, or if you’d simply like to read a bit more about most of these locations, head over to XO’s article on “How Long to Travel in Vietnam: The Perfect Itineraries.” Or, to browse more of our well-researched picks of the best Vietnam tours, look at our list of the 11 best tours in Vietnam, complete with pros and cons.

The Complete Guide to Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge

Ba Na Hills has been in the news a lot recently due to images of their latest attraction “The Golden Bridge” going viral. In this article, we’re going to provide you all the information you need in order to get the most out of all the things to do at Ba Na Hills.

The complete guide to Bana Hills and the Golden Bridge

Ba Na Hills Guide: Common Questions

(Please click on the links below to jump directly to the information you want to explore)

When to go
How to get there
What time should I arrive at the park
Buying tickets
Ba Na Hills Cable Car Entrance
What to eat
Where to stay
What are the top attractions in Ba Na Hills
THE GOLDEN BRIDGE

If you prefer watching to reading, play the video below to learn everything you need to know about Ba Na Hills!

What time to go?

The peak tourist season is the summer so the park will be very crowded between April and August. If you don’t like crowds, we would recommend visiting during the low season between January and March, or during the winter months, from October to December. During the low season, we recommend you check the local Danang weather as it can get very blustery and might affect your photos.

Safety and cultural advice for solo female travelers to Vietnam

Is Vietnam a Safe Country for Females?

Theft and Other Crime

Blending in as a Solo Female Traveler

Getting Around Safely in Vietnam’s Cities

Finding Safe Accommodation in Vietnam’s Cities

To Sum Up

Mapping Street Food Culture in Saigon

Vietnamese Street Food: Pros and Cons

Vietnamese Street Food: A Brief History

Nhậu: Eating and Drinking for No Particular Reason

Where to Find the Best Street Food in Saigon

District Specialties

The “Sidewalk Revolution”

Is it safe to eat street food in Vietnam?

The Best City Tours In Vietnam

Our picks for the best city tours in Vietnam

Sapa Tour

Ninh Binh City Tour

Hanoi City Tour

Hue City Tour

Danang Area Tour

Hoi An Tour

Nha Trang Beach Tour

Mui Ne Tour

Saigon City Tour

Dalat City Tour

Can Tho City Tour

Phu Quoc Island Tour

The Complete Guide to Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge

Ba Na Hills Guide: Common Questions

What time to go?

Coming from Hoi An?

1. By Bus

2. Private car/taxi /Grabcar

What time should I arrive at the Park?

Buying Tickets for Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills Cable Car Entrance

Things to eat at Ba Na Hills?

Where to stay?

What is there to do in Ba Na Hills?

THE GOLDEN BRIDGE!

Important Tips on Ba Na Hills

The 11 Best Tours in Vietnam: Pros and Cons

Vietnam’s Top Walking Food Tour

Best Vietnam Cooking Class

Best Vietnam Bicycle Tour

Best Vietnam Photography Tour

Best Vietnam Free Tour

Best Vietnam Art Tour

Best Vietnam Halong Bay Tour

Best Vietnam Mekong Delta Tour

Best Vietnam Adventure Tour

Best Vietnam Street Food Tour

Vietnam’s Top Cu Chi Tunnels Tour