Visas, borders and practical travel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Countries · Vietnam
Vietnam: a long country, several climates
Vietnam is the easiest of the three to travel independently and the hardest to fit into a short trip. It is long, its weather runs on three different calendars, and the e-visa expects you to know your border gates in advance.
Contents
At a glance
- Capital
- Hanoi
- Nights
- 14–21 for a first route
- Entry
- Exemption or e-visa
- Currency
- Dong
- Main airports
- Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang
- Climate
- Three regions
What Vietnam is like to travel on your own
Independent travel here is straightforward in the mechanics: domestic flights are frequent, sleeper buses and trains run the length of the country, ride-hailing apps work in the cities, and accommodation is plentiful at every level. What makes it harder than it looks is scale. From Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south is the length of the country, and most first-time visitors underestimate the time each leg takes by land.
The country divides into three regions that feel different and have different weather. The north has Hanoi, the karst landscapes of Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, and the mountains around Sapa and Ha Giang. The centre has the old imperial city of Hue, Hoi An's old town and the beaches around Da Nang. The south has Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and the island of Phu Quoc, which is also the jumping-off point for the crossing to Cambodia at Ha Tien.
The most visited places are busy. Hoi An's old town in the evening and the main Ha Long Bay routes see heavy crowds, and that is worth knowing before you build a trip around them. Going early in the day, or choosing a quieter alternative in the same region, changes the experience more than changing the month does.
How many nights
As a planning estimate, fourteen nights is enough for two of the three regions without rushing: north and centre, or centre and south. Twenty-one nights covers all three with a margin for weather. Under ten nights, pick one region and add a single flight at most; a north-to-south trip in a week is mainly transfers.
If Vietnam is one of two or three countries on the trip, think in terms of the region nearest your next border. For Cambodia, that is the south. For Laos, it is the north or the centre, with a flight from Hanoi to Luang Prabang or a long bus from the centre through Lao Bao.
When to go, region by region
In the north, April to June and September to November are the dry, clearer periods; June to August is hot and stormy; December to March is cool to cold and often grey, with lows around 10°C in January. In the centre, the rains come in autumn: Hoi An is wet from September to January and floods most often from September to November, while February to August is dry. In the south, December to April is dry and May to November brings afternoon downpours, at around 30°C all year.
Typhoon season along the coast normally runs from May to November. A trip in October can therefore have clear skies in Hanoi and floods in Hoi An in the same week. The month chart shows the regions side by side.
Sources: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — weather and climate; UK Foreign Office — Vietnam safety and security · last checked .
Getting in
By air, most international flights land in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. By land, the main crossings from Cambodia are Moc Bai on the Ho Chi Minh City road, the Mekong boat at Vinh Xuong, and Ha Tien on the coast; from Laos, Lao Bao on the road from Savannakhet is the main crossing, with Cau Treo, Nam Can, Tay Trang and others in the mountains.
Check your nationality against the visa exemption list first. British nationals, for example, can stay up to 45 days without a visa. Otherwise apply for an e-visa at evisa.gov.vn, and name the entry and exit gates you will actually use: the UK Foreign Office warns that those choices are binding. The full rules are on the Vietnam visa page, and the gate-by-gate tables on the border crossings page.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam entry requirements; Government of Vietnam news portal — Resolution 389/NQ-CP on e-visa ports · last checked .
Fixed costs we can source
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| E-visa, single entry | USD 25 | Government fee; agencies charge more |
| E-visa, multiple entry up to 90 days | USD 50 | Circular 62/2023/TT-BTC |
| Visa exemption | Free | For listed nationalities, up to the permitted stay |
| Cash declaration threshold | Over VND 15 million or USD 5,000 | Declare on arrival |
We do not publish hotel, food or transport prices for Vietnam. They vary widely by city, season and standard, and they change faster than we can check them against a source we would stand behind. Check before you travel.
Sources: Circular 62/2023/TT-BTC on visa charges, LuatVietnam text; Travelfish — Vietnam visas (independent guide); UK Foreign Office — Vietnam entry requirements · last checked .
Pictures
When to leave Vietnam out
- If you have under a week and want three countries: Vietnam alone needs that week.
- If your dates fall in October or November and the trip is built around Hoi An and the central beaches.
- If your nationality needs a visa and you cannot commit to entry and exit gates before you apply.
- If you are unwilling to deal with heavy motorbike traffic in the cities; there is no avoiding it.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Is two weeks enough for Vietnam?
For two regions, yes. For north, centre and south together, three weeks is more comfortable.
Which way should I travel, north to south or south to north?
Let the season decide. In autumn the north is clearer and the centre is wet; in spring the centre and north are both reasonable. Then fit your onward border at the end that is nearer.
Do I need cash in Vietnam?
Yes, for markets, street food and small guesthouses. Cards work in cities and larger hotels.
Can I cross from Vietnam to Cambodia by boat?
Yes, on the Mekong from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh through Vinh Xuong. The Cambodian side issues a visa on arrival there but is reported not to accept the e-visa.
Related
Read next
Visas and entry · Vietnam
Vietnam visa
The Vietnamese e-visa, the visa-exemption list, which gates accept it, and the customs limits.
Getting across
Border crossings
Crossing-by-crossing tables for Vietnam–Cambodia, Vietnam–Laos and Cambodia–Laos, with sources and dates.
Planning
When to go
Month-by-month seasons for north, central and south Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, with the trade-offs.
Countries · Cambodia
Cambodia
Route length, seasons, entry options, the new airports and fixed costs for travelling Cambodia on your own.
Countries · Laos
Laos
Route length, seasons, entry rules, kip-only payments and fixed costs for travelling Laos on your own.
Countries
Countries
Practical overviews of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos for travellers planning their own route.
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