Vietnam Travel Guide 2026: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 5–7 Days, E-Visa, Metro and Must-Try Food
This Vietnam travel guide pairs Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 5–7 days: spend the first 2–3 days in Hanoi around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, then take a roughly 2-hour domestic flight south. Unless your passport is visa-exempt (Taiwan's is not), apply online for Vietnam's e-visa: stays of up to 90 days, US$25 single entry or US$50 multiple entry. Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 opened on 22 December 2024, running 19.7 km from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien.
Key takeaways
- Since 15 August 2023 Vietnam's e-visa has been open to all countries and territories, allowing stays of up to 90 days for US$25 (single entry) or US$50 (multiple entry).
- Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 opened on 22 December 2024, with 14 stations from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien and single fares of VND 7,000–20,000.
- Hanoi Metro runs Line 2A and the elevated section of Line 3; no line reaches Noi Bai Airport yet.
- The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is free and closed on Mondays and Fridays; it opens 7:30–10:30 from April to October and 8:00–11:00 from November to March (30 minutes longer at weekends and on holidays).
- Vietnam abolished district-level administration in July 2025, so addresses in the former District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City now use ward names.
Do you need a visa for Vietnam? How to get the 2026 e-visa
If your passport isn't on Vietnam's visa-exempt list (Taiwan's isn't), apply for an e-visa in advance on the Vietnam Immigration Department's official site; it allows stays of up to 90 days.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Length of stay | Up to 90 days |
| Entries | Single or multiple |
| Fee | US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple entry |
| How to apply | Online on the immigration department's site, paid online |
| Who can apply | All countries and territories since 15 August 2023 |
- Go to the Vietnam e-visa official site and upload your passport data page and a photo.
- Enter your arrival date, port of entry (e.g. Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat airport) and accommodation address.
- Pay online and keep your application code; once approved, download and print or save the e-visa to show on arrival.
Use only the official site; many look-alike agencies charge large fees. Apply at least a week before you travel, and make sure the port of entry is the airport you will actually arrive at.
How many days in Vietnam? A 5–7 day Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City itinerary
Allow 5–7 days for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; flying into one city and out of the other saves a return leg.
| Day | City | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Hanoi | Arrive, Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter, egg coffee |
| Day 2 | Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square in the morning, Temple of Literature and the Train Street area in the afternoon |
| Day 3 | Hanoi | Ha Long Bay day trip, or another day in the city |
| Day 4 | Ho Chi Minh City | Fly south (about 2 hours), Central Post Office, cathedral exterior |
| Day 5 | Ho Chi Minh City | Ben Thanh Market, War Remnants Museum |
| Day 6 | Ho Chi Minh City | Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong Delta day trip |
| Day 7 | Ho Chi Minh City | Ride the metro or shop, then head to the airport |
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are more than 1,100 km apart: about 2 hours by domestic flight or over 30 hours by train, so most travellers fly.
What are the best things to do in Hanoi?
Hanoi's must-sees are Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, all central and easy to link on foot or by a short ride.
| Sight | Highlights | Cost | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoan Kiem Lake | Turtle Tower, weekend pedestrian zone | Free | 1–2 hours |
| Hanoi Old Quarter | Old streets, crafts, street food | Free | Half a day |
| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum | Resting place of Vietnam's founding leader | Free | 1–2 hours (including the queue) |
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake sits in the centre of Hanoi; the Turtle Tower in the middle and the legend of the "returned sword" are symbols of the city, and the streets around the lake become a pedestrian zone on weekend evenings. Just north is the Old Quarter, traditionally known for "one street, one trade", packed with craft shops, cafés and food stalls to graze your way through.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: opening hours and rules
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is free, opens in the mornings only and is closed on Mondays and Fridays: 7:30–10:30 from 1 April to 31 October and 8:00–11:00 from 1 November to 31 March, with 30 minutes more on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. It also closes for a maintenance period each year, so check the mausoleum's official site before you go.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dress modestly: no shorts, short skirts or sleeveless tops.
- Photography and filming are banned inside, phones must be switched off, food and drinks are not allowed, and visitors must stay silent.
What to eat in Hanoi
Hanoi's must-try foods are pho, fried spring rolls and egg coffee.
Pho (phở)
Hanoi is one of the birthplaces of pho. The northern style has a clear beef-bone broth and simple toppings, usually just spring onion and herbs, with lime and chilli on the table to add yourself.
Beef pho (phở bò) in Hanoi. Photo: Codename5281 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Fried spring rolls and egg coffee
Northern fried spring rolls (nem rán) are crisp and often eaten with rice vermicelli and a sweet-sour fish sauce dip. Egg coffee (cà phê trứng) is a Hanoi original: espresso topped with whipped egg-yolk cream, rich and silky, served in the Old Quarter's long-running cafés.
What are the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City's must-sees are the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market and the War Remnants Museum, all in the former Districts 1 and 3.
| Sight | Highlights | Good to know | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saigon Central Post Office | French colonial building, still a working post office | Free | 30 min–1 hour |
| Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon | Red-brick twin-towered cathedral | Under restoration since 2017; check whether it is open | 30 min |
| Ben Thanh Market | Traditional market, souvenirs, snacks | Bargain when shopping | 1–2 hours |
| War Remnants Museum | Vietnam War photos and artefacts | Some exhibits are graphic | 1.5–2 hours |
Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Saigon Central Post Office dates from the French colonial era; its vaulted hall and old wall maps are the photo highlights, and you can still send postcards. Notre-Dame Cathedral opposite has been under restoration since 2017, its exterior is often under scaffolding, and whether you can go inside depends on notices on site.
Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh is Ho Chi Minh City's best-known market, and its clock-tower entrance is a city landmark; inside you'll find coffee, dried goods, crafts and clothes, plus a food section. Prices for tourists tend to start high, so bargain.
Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum, at 28 Vo Van Tan Street, displays photographs, weapons and documents from the Vietnam War and is the most direct introduction to the country's modern history. Some galleries are very graphic, so think twice with children; see the museum's official site for hours and tickets.
What to eat in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City's must-try foods are banh mi, southern-style pho and fresh spring rolls.
| Dish | What it is | How it differs from Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Banh mi (bánh mì) | Crisp baguette with meats, pâté, pickles and herbs | Southern versions are more loaded |
| Southern pho | Sweeter broth, served with plenty of fresh herbs and bean sprouts | The northern broth is lighter with fewer toppings |
| Fresh spring rolls (gỏi cuốn) | Rice paper wrapped around shrimp, pork, noodles and greens | Dipped in peanut sauce or fish sauce |
Getting around Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City: airports and metro
In both cities you get around mainly by ride-hailing apps, taxis and the metro; neither airport has a rail link to the centre.
How to ride Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1
Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 opened on 22 December 2024, running 19.7 km from Ben Thanh in the centre to Suoi Tien in the east, with 14 stations (3 underground, 11 elevated) and service from about 5:00 to 22:00. Single fares are VND 7,000–20,000 and a day pass is VND 40,000, and contactless bank cards are accepted. Line 2 is under construction and expected to open in 2030.
A Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 train. Photo: Kateru Zakuro / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
Which Hanoi Metro lines are running?
Hanoi Metro currently runs Line 2A (Cat Linh–Yen Nghia, 13.1 km) and the elevated section of Line 3 (Nhon–Cau Giay, 8.5 km), with single fares of VND 9,000–19,000 and a VND 40,000 day pass. Line 3's underground section to Hanoi Station is still under construction with a 2027 target, and no line reaches Noi Bai Airport.
How to get from the airport to the city
| Airport | To the centre | How |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) | About 35 km | Bus 86 to the Old Quarter (VND 45,000), taxi, ride-hailing app |
| Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) | On the city's northern edge | Taxi, ride-hailing app, airport bus; domestic flights use Terminal 3, opened in 2025 |
At Noi Bai, Terminal 1 is domestic and Terminal 2 international; at Tan Son Nhat, international flights use T2 and domestic flights T3, so allow time to change terminals.
Flying from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: what to do with your luggage
Travel day is the hardest part of a two-city trip: Hanoi hotels usually check you out before noon, but domestic flights often leave in the afternoon or evening, and dragging a suitcase around the Old Quarter is no fun. In Ho Chi Minh City the pavements are often taken over by parked motorbikes, which makes rolling a case hard work, and on arrival you may have to leave bags at the hotel before check-in anyway.
LuggAgent delivers luggage in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City: we collect bags from the airport or your hotel and deliver them the same day or the next day to your hotel or the airport, so you can start exploring as soon as you land. See Hanoi luggage delivery and Ho Chi Minh City luggage delivery for coverage and prices.
When you land at Noi Bai, hand your bags straight to us and we'll take them to your Hanoi hotel; on the day you leave Hanoi we can also take them from your hotel to the airport:
After flying south, do the same at Tan Son Nhat and we'll deliver your bags to your hotel in the city:
FAQ
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your passport. Taiwan passports, for example, are not visa-exempt, so travellers apply online for an e-visa at evisa.gov.vn: stays of up to 90 days, US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry.
How long does a Vietnam e-visa take?
Vietnam e-visas are usually issued within a few working days, but holidays and peak periods can take longer, so apply at least a week before you travel. Use only the official site, evisa.gov.vn, and avoid agencies that charge large fees.
How do you get between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?
Most people fly: the flight takes about 2 hours, with frequent services from Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and others. The North–South Reunification railway takes over 30 hours, so it only makes sense if you want slow travel.
Does the Ho Chi Minh City metro go to the airport?
No. Metro Line 1 runs east from Ben Thanh in the centre to Suoi Tien and doesn't pass Tan Son Nhat Airport; use a taxi, ride-hailing app or airport bus between the airport and the city.
What time does the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum open, and is it free?
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is free and closed on Mondays and Fridays. It opens 7:30–10:30 from April to October and 8:00–11:00 from November to March, 30 minutes longer at weekends and on holidays; it also closes for annual maintenance, so check the official site before you go.
How many days should I spend in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?
Plan 2–3 days in Hanoi and 2–3 days in Ho Chi Minh City, plus a travel day, for 5–7 days in total. Add a day each for Ha Long Bay or the Mekong Delta.
Cover photo: Radek Kucharski / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
This article offers general travel tips for reference only. For actual services and conditions, please rely on the booking page and the latest official announcements.
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