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Budget Travel Guides to Cities in Vietnam

Can Tho Budget Travel Guide
Can Tho Budget Travel Guide
Dalat Budget Travel Guide
Dalat Budget Travel Guide
Danang Budget Travel Guide
Danang Budget Travel Guide
Hanoi Budget Travel Guide
Hanoi Budget Travel Guide
Ho Chi Minh City Budget Travel Guide
Ho Chi Minh City Budget Travel Guide
Hue Budget Travel Guide
Hue Budget Travel Guide

Vietnam, the Ascending Dragon

Vietnam Budget Travel Guide is created to help budget travelers get the most from their trip there. Vietnam is one of the most intriguing travel destinations in Asia. The long period of warfare has very much shielded Vietnam from the rest of the world, and it is only in the last ten years that visitors are trickling back into the country. What is awaiting their discovery is a country that has been left behind by the rest of Asia, but is now economically propelling itself forward, oft times leapfrogging its slower neighbours.

The country of Vietnam is 331,690 square kilometers in size. It forms a long strip on the eastern coast of Indo-China, sharing border with China to the north, Laos to the northwest, and Cambodia to the southwest. The land has been inhabited for thousands of years, with evidence of human habitation going back to Paleolithic times. It has suffered successive invasion and occupation by foreign powers, chief among them China in the ancient times and France in more recent history.

The capital of Vietnam today is the city of Hanoi, also spelled Ha Noi. It is the second largest city in the country, and as with all major cities of Vietnam, is rapidly growing and developing.

Visitors to Vietnam focus on the major attractions around Hanoi, such as Halong Bay, Sapa, Perfume Pagoda and Tam Coc. Some venture further south, to explore ancient cities such as Hue, Hoi An, Dalat, as well as Ho Chi Minh City, the biggest city in Vietnam formerly known as Saigon.

In Vietnam Travel Guide, I want to provide you an overview of this remarkable country, and take you through to all the major cities as well as the lesser-known ones. I hope that this website will provide you with the necessary information to explore and enjoy Vietnam.

Vietnam Travel Information

Time Zone: 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Currency: dong
Language: Vietnamese. English gaining popularity as a language for tourism and commerce.
International Dialing Code: 84
Population: 84 million
Religion: Mahayana Buddhism (similar to China, but different from the Thailand, Laos and Cambodia), Catholic, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam.
Electricity: 220V 50 Hz
Electrical Outlet: two round pins, some times three round pins. If you bring a laptop, get a surge suppressor to guard against current fluctuations. (See details here: http://www.kropla.com/electric.htm)
Driving: On the right side of the road.


Sungsot Cave, Vietnam
Sungsot Cave, Vietnam (31 August, 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Vietnam Public Holidays

The following are public holidays observed in Vietnam:

  • New Year Day: 1 January
  • Tet (Lunar New Year): January/February, similar to Chinese New Year celebrated elsewhere.
  • Founding Day of the Coomunist Party of Vietnam: 3 February
  • Women's Day: 8 March
  • Youth Day: 28 March
  • Liberation of Saigon Day: 30 April
  • International Labour Day: 1 May
  • Victory Day: 7 May, commemorating the victory over France
  • Ho Chi Minh's Birthday: 19 May
  • Children's Day: 1 June
  • Memorial Day: 27 July
  • August 1945 Revolution Day: 19 August
  • National Day: 2 September
  • Teacher's Day: 20 November
  • Army Day: 22 December

    Vietnam Hotels

    It pays dividends to do a bit of homework before you book your accommodation in Vietnam. You will find that different Hotel Booking websites actually offer the same hotel room at different prices. Use this free Vietnam Hotel Search Engine to view prices of hotel rooms offered by different booking sites. It allows you to make an informed decision that ultimately saves you a lot of money.

    If you are backpacking to Vietnam, you can view a big list of hostels in Vietnam with online booking facility.

    Useful Links

  • Hanoi Vacation Rentals: With reviews and photos, find the best rental on TripAdvisor.


  • Find a hotel

    More Photos of Vietnam

    Halong Bay, Vietnam
    Halong Bay, Vietnam (31 August, 2006)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo

    History Museum of Vietnam
    History Museum of Vietnam (2 September, 2006)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo

    Top Tourist Destinations

    1. Co Loa
    2. Cu Chi Tunnels
    3. Cuc Phuong National Park
    4. Ha Long Bay
    5. Ha Tien
    6. Hanoi
    7. Ho Chi Minh City
    8. Hoa Lu
    9. Hoi An
    10. Hue
    11. My Son
    12. Perfume Pagoda
    13. Sa Pa
    14. Tam Coc

    Cities of Vietnam

    Listed here are the cities in Vietnam arranged by population.
    1. Ho Chi Minh City (7,123,000)
    2. Hanoi (6,449,000)
    3. Hai Phong (1,837,000)
    4. Can Tho (1,187,000)
    5. Da Nang (887,000)
    6. Bien Hoa (541,000)
    7. Nha Trang (361,000)
    8. Buon Ma Thuot (340,000)
    9. Hue (334,000)
    10. Quy Nhon (284,000)
    11. Vinh (282,000)
    12. Da Lat (256,000)
    13. Thai Nguyen (256,000)
    14. Vung Tau (240,000)
    15. Rach Gia (228,000)
    16. Long Xuyen (227,000)
    17. My Tho (215,000)
    18. Phan Thiet (205,000)
    19. Ca Mau (204,895)
    20. Thanh Hoa (198,000)
    21. Nam Dinh (192,000)
    22. Hai Duong (187,000)
    23. Pleiku (187,000)
    24. Thai Binh (186,000)
    25. Ha Long (185,000)
    26. Viet Tri (176,000)
    27. Soc Trang (174,000)
    28. Tuy Hoa (167,000)
    29. Tan An (166,000)
    30. Bac Ninh (153,000)
    31. Lang Son (148,000)
    32. Vinh Long (147,000)
    33. Bien Tre (143,000)
    34. Kon Tum (137,000)
    35. Quang Ngai (134,000)
    36. Ninh Binh (131,000
    37. Bac Giang (127,000)
    38. Vinh Yen (123,000)
    39. Hoa An (121,000)
    40. Phu Ly (121,000)
    41. Hung Yen (121,000)
    42. Tam Ky (120,000)
    43. Ha Tinh (118,000)
    44. Mong Cai (108,000)
    45. Son La (107,000)
    46. Dong Hoi (104,000)
    47. Phan Rang-Thap Cham (102,000)
    48. Yen Bai (96,000)
    49. Dong Ha (94,000)
    50. Lao Cai (94,000)
    51. Hoa Binh (93,000)
    52. Dien Bien Phu (71,000)

    UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam

    1. Complex of Hué Monuments
    2. Ha Long Bay
    3. Hoi An Ancient Town
    4. My Son Sanctuary
    5. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

    National Parks of Vietnam

    1. Bach Ma National Park
    2. Ba Be National Park
    3. Ba Vi National Park
    4. Bai Tu Long National Park
    5. Ben En National Park
    6. Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
    7. Bu Gia Map National Park
    8. Cat Ba National Park
    9. Cat Tien National Park
    10. Chu Mom Ray National Park
    11. Chu Yang Sin National Park
    12. Con Dao National Park
    13. Cuc Phuong National Park
    14. Hoang Lien National Park
    15. Kon Ka Kinh National Park
    16. Lo Go Xa Mat National Park
    17. Mui Ca Mau National Park
    18. Nui Chua National Park
    19. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
    20. Phu Quoc National Park
    21. Phuoc Binh National Park
    22. Pu Mat National Park
    23. Tam Dao National Park
    24. Tram Chim National Park
    25. Vu Quang National Park
    26. U Minh Ha National Park
    27. U Minh Thuong National Park
    28. Xuan Son National Park
    29. Xuan Thuy National Park
    30. Yok Don National Park

    Hotel Room Price Checker

    Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?

    The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!



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    AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. Reasonable care is taken to check and verify the accuracy of the content. AsiaExplorers disclaims responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the tips and advice provided directly or indirectly by this website. All pages may be printed out for your own personal, non-commercial use. You may use the information on this website on your blog or website so long as you place a dofollow link back to the page in AsiaExplorers where it appears. Photographs not credited to a third party belong to Timothy Tye and may not be reused in any form unless you are first given permission. Write in to inquire if interested. Third party photographs are governed by their respective licenses. To contact Tim, write to the following email address: