Travelling to Vietnam from Algeria: when to go, where to go

Hanoi, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Sapa, Hoi An: these names come up more and more in searches made from Algeria, in French and in Arabic. Vietnam appeals for its landscapes, its food and its beaches, but it is a very long country from north to south, and the climate changes from one region to the next. Here is how to choose the season, the stops and the length of your trip.

Vietnam at a glance: three regions, three climates

The country stretches along the sea across three main regions. The North, with Hanoi, the capital, Ha Long Bay and the mountains of Sapa. The Centre, with Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An. The South, with Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon and the country's largest city, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc island. The currency is the Vietnamese dong.

When to go?

There is no perfect month for the whole country: start with the region you want to visit.

• The North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa). Winter is cool, roughly from December to February, and it can be cold in the mountains around Sapa. Summer is hot and humid, with heavy rain in July and August. Autumn, from September to November, is the most pleasant season; spring is also a good time.
• The Centre (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An). The dry season roughly runs from early in the year to the summer. Most rain falls from September to December, with a risk of typhoons in the autumn.
• The South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc). It is hot all year round. The dry season runs roughly from December to April; May to October is the rainy season, with showers that are often short. For Phu Quoc, the best time is November to March.

For a north-to-south trip, March and April are often a good compromise. For a beach stay in Phu Quoc, aim for winter; for Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, autumn.

Where to go? The most searched stops

• Hanoi. The capital is best explored on foot from the Old Quarter, around Hoan Kiem Lake: shopping streets, temples, street food. It is the ideal base for the North.
• Ha Long Bay. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, it lies in the Gulf of Tonkin: hundreds of limestone pillars rising from the sea. Visit it on a day cruise or with a night on board, from Hanoi. Pick the dry season: in bad weather, boat trips can be cancelled.
• Sapa. In the northern mountains, for hiking and scenery; bring warm clothes in winter.
• Hoi An and Da Nang. Hoi An's old town, a former trading port on the Thu Bon River, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Da Nang, its larger neighbour, has beaches and an international airport. Many travellers sleep in Hoi An for the old town, or in Da Nang for the beach.
• Ho Chi Minh City. A city of business and trade, and the gateway to the Mekong Delta.
• Phu Quoc. An island in the Gulf of Thailand, in the south-west, to end the trip on the beach. Nha Trang, on the coast, is another well-known seaside resort.

A sample two-week itinerary

1. Hanoi (3 nights), with a day or a night in Ha Long Bay.
2. Hoi An or Da Nang (3 to 4 nights), with a visit to Hue if you have time.
3. Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights), with a trip into the Mekong Delta.
4. Phu Quoc (3 to 4 nights) for the beach.

Distances are long: between the North, the Centre and the South, people usually take a domestic flight or the train. With only one week, focus on one or two regions.

As a couple, a family or on honeymoon

Hoi An, with its lanterns and old town, and Phu Quoc, for its beaches, are popular honeymoon choices. With children, keep a slow pace and pick hotels with a pool in the Centre or the South. If you eat halal, read our article halal Vietnam before choosing where to stay.

Budget and formalities

We do not quote prices here: they vary a lot with the season, the city and the type of accommodation, from guesthouses to large resorts. As for formalities, Vietnam in principle issues an e-visa to citizens of all countries; everything is explained, with sources, in our article Vietnam visa for Algerians. Check the current conditions with the embassy or the official portal before you travel.

Vietnam with Nreservi

Vietnam is not yet one of the destinations you can book online on our website. If you are planning this trip, write to us from our contact page: we will tell you whether we can book the hotel you have in mind. For our online destinations, from Algeria you pay in dinars, without a bank card: BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our Telemly agency. Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment. How it works is explained in our article booking a hotel without a bank card.

Torn between Vietnam and Thailand? Our hotels in Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Pattaya can already be booked online. And if you are looking at other Asian destinations, our comparison Bali or Malaysia can help.

See our hotels in Thailand

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.