Vietnam | ZHO Travel & Tourism

In Vietnam you can spend a night aboard a ship among the islands of Ha Long Bay, and the next morning walk among green rice terraces.

The destination

About Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the most varied destinations in South-East Asia. It combines thousands of years of history, landscapes that stay with you and a cuisine known around the world, and offers a journey through old Asian traditions, wide green terraces and lively cities.

In the north is Hanoi, the capital, with its Old Quarter, lakes and French architecture. Two and a half hours away lies Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Site since 1994, with close to two thousand limestone islands, and in the far north-west rise the Sapa mountains and their rice terraces. In the centre is the coastal city of Da Nang, with the Golden Bridge held up by stone hands in the Ba Na Hills, and nearby the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An. The south belongs to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, the country's business capital.

Vietnam suits honeymooners and nature-loving families: the e-visa is issued online, short domestic flights link north, centre and south, and two historic mosques in Hanoi and Saigon have halal restaurants around them.

We arrange the whole journey for you: the e-visa, hotels and the Ha Long cruise, domestic flights, private cars with drivers, and a local SIM card waiting on arrival.

Best timeMarch to May and September to November for the north; February to August for the centre; December to April for the south

FlightNo direct flights; about 10 to 12 h with one stop via Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Bangkok

Visae-Visa for Saudi citizens, issued online, valid up to 90 days for single or multiple entry

CurrencyVietnamese dong (VND)

LanguageVietnamese; English in hotels and tourist areas

Time4 h ahead of Saudi Arabia

Ideal stay7 to 10 nights

Ideal for

Family travel Honeymoons Travel with friends

Regions

Where to go

01 · City

Hanoi

A maze of old streets, quiet lakes and French architecture at the heart of the capital.

02 · Coast

Ha Long Bay

Thousands of green-clad rock islands above emerald water, best seen from a fine cruise ship.

03 · Highlands

Sapa

A mountain town at about 1,500 m, ringed by rice terraces and Hmong and Dao villages, beneath the highest peak in Indochina.

04 · City

Da Nang

Long clean beaches, the Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills, and Hoi An and Hue close by.

05 · City

Hoi An

A well-preserved old trading port of quiet streets and yellow houses, on the World Heritage list.

The Ho Chi Minh City skyline across the Saigon river at blue hour

06 · City

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Skyscrapers, lively markets and French landmarks, and the gateway to the Mekong Delta.

Experiences

What to do

Cruise ships among the islands of Ha Long Bay, seen from Titop island

A night aboard a ship in Ha Long Bay Ha Long Bay A cruise among the limestone islands, with caves, kayaking and sunset on deck. The finest way to see the bay.Discover

Aerial view of the Golden Bridge and its stone hands, Ba Na Hills

The Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills Da Nang A long cable car to the mountaintop, and a walk on a bridge held up by two giant stone hands above the clouds.Discover

A street of yellow houses and hanging lanterns in Hoi An's old town

A lantern evening in Hoi An Hoi An A walk through the old town at sunset, a small boat on the Thu Bon river, and a candle set afloat on the water.Discover

The Fansipan summit marker at sunset above a sea of clouds

Nature Fansipan summit and the Muong Hoa valley A cable car to Indochina's highest peak (3,143 m), and a walk among rice terraces and mountain villages. Read more

A quiet river between limestone cliffs at Trang An, Ninh Binh

Nature Trang An, Ha Long on land A rowing boat carries you between limestone peaks, caves and rice fields, at a World Heritage Site. Read more

The Meridian Gate of the Imperial City of Hue

Culture and heritage The Imperial City of Hue The citadel and palaces of the Nguyen emperors, over the Hai Van Pass from Da Nang. Read more

The main gate of the Temple of Literature, Hanoi

City and shopping Old Hanoi and the Temple of Literature A walk through the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake, and a visit to Vietnam's first university. Read more

Boats at the floating market in Can Tho, Mekong Delta

Nature The Mekong Delta and its floating markets Canals, orchards and boats piled with produce at the Cai Rang floating market. Read more

Where to stay

Hotels and resorts we recommend

View all 4 stays

The white facade and entrance of the Sofitel Legend Metropole on Ngo Quyen street, Hanoi

Hanoi Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Historic palace Explore

The funicular car above the resort's terraced buildings and private beach on the Son Tra peninsula

Da Nang InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Beachfront Explore

Rice terraces in the valleys around Sa Pa (the hotel's setting)

Sapa Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery, Sa Pa Mountains Explore

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) The Reverie Saigon City Explore

Taste and addresses

Flavours and places to know

Vietnamese food is light and fresh, built on herbs, clear broths, rice and noodles. Its best-known dishes are beef pho, fresh rice-paper rolls and Hanoi's turmeric fish. Halal restaurants cluster around the mosques of Hanoi and Saigon, and the large hotels prepare halal meals on request.

To tastePho bo (beef noodle soup)Phở bò

Cha ca, turmeric fish with dill, cooking at the table in Hanoi

To tasteCha ca (Hanoi turmeric fish)Chả cá

To tasteGoi cuon (fresh spring rolls)Gỏi cuốn

To tasteMi QuangMì Quảng

To tasteEgg coffeeCà phê trứng

Saigon Central Mosque on Dong Du street, Ho Chi Minh City

Landmark · Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Saigon Central Mosque A white and green mosque on Dong Du street in District 1, built in 1935. Read more

Ben Thanh Market and its clock tower, Ho Chi Minh City

Shopping · Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Ben Thanh Market Saigon's best-known market, in a building from 1914. Read more

The Huc bridge leading to Ngoc Son temple on Hoan Kiem Lake

Landmark · Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple The heart of Hanoi, with a red wooden bridge to a temple on a small island. Read more

Landmark · Da Nang The Marble Mountains Five marble and limestone hills between Da Nang and Hoi An, with caves and shrines. Read more

The Dragon Bridge over the Han river, Da Nang

Landmark · Da Nang The Dragon Bridge A bridge over the Han river shaped like a dragon that breathes fire and water on weekend evenings. Read more

Journeys

Ways to see it

Itineraries drawn up by our consultants, to adapt to you day by day.

Vietnam · 9 days

Vietnam: Hanoi, Sapa and Da Nang in 8 nights

Ideal for a honeymoon, with the visa and domestic flight included

Eight nights between Hanoi, the mountains and terraces of Sapa, and the Da Nang coast with its Golden Bridge, in 4-star hotels with breakfast and tours by private car.

From SAR 3,900 per person in a double room, international flights not included View the package

Vietnam · 8 days

Hanoi: 8 days and 7 nights

A hotel, a cruise and a lodge, with tours in and around Hanoi

Discover Hanoi in 8 days and 7 nights: a hotel, a night aboard a ship in Ha Long Bay and a lodge among the Ninh Binh mountains, with daily breakfast and tours …

From SAR 2,250 per person (SAR 4,500 for two), international flights not included View the package

Questions

Before you go

Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. Saudi citizens need an e-visa from the official portal, valid up to 90 days for single or multiple entry, usually issued in about 3 working days. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months and a photo. We submit the application for you; the decision rests with the Vietnamese immigration authorities.

When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

The weather differs between north, centre and south. For a journey through Hanoi, Ha Long and Da Nang we recommend March and April or September and October. The north is cool from December to February, the centre is rainy from September to December, and the south is driest from December to April.

Is halal food available?

Yes, in the large cities, especially around Al-Noor Mosque in Hanoi and the Central Mosque in Saigon, and Da Nang has halal restaurants for visitors. Large hotels and the Ha Long ships prepare halal meals on advance request, and seafood is everywhere. We arrange this before you travel.

Where can we pray?

In Hanoi, Al-Noor Mosque on Hang Luoc street; in Saigon, the Central Mosque on Dong Du street and other mosques of the Cham Muslim community. In hotels we ask for a prayer mat and the qibla direction.

How do we travel within Vietnam?

Vietnam is long, so we fly between north, centre and south: about 1 h 20 min from Hanoi or Saigon to Da Nang, and two hours between Hanoi and Saigon. Within each region you travel by private car with driver, including to Ha Long and Sapa.

What is the currency and how do we pay?

The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and malls; carry cash for markets and small shops. US dollars are easy to exchange.

Is Vietnam safe, and what should we wear?

Vietnam is generally safe for families; take the usual care with pickpockets in crowds and when crossing streets full of motorbikes. Light cotton clothing suits most of the year, with a jacket for Sapa and the north in winter, and shoulders and knees covered in temples.

Vietnam, from Ha Long Bay to the lanterns of Hoi An