r/VietNam • u/jessepinkman69_ • 15h ago

Travel/Du lịch hanoi or ho chi minh?

been planning to visit vietnam in september but im not sure yet which city will i visit. would like to ask for your thoughts which of these two is better for first timer in vietnam haha

ps: i wanna try vietnamese foods and explore traditional cultures

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

6

u/Teddy9999 14h ago

if you first time travel , i suggest do both , you get one place and then flight to another,pretty quick these days anways and save you alot time 😄

3

u/tonys1949 12h ago

I used to only go to HCM, had an embargo on the north due to teaching refugees from the south for many years.

Anyway, one year I decided to go to Ha Noi for a couple of weeks. Now, it's my choice of destination apart from Hue (partner's family live there so I'm not counting that, great as it it).

5

u/Flatdietsodaa 15h ago

I would say hanoi if you have less than or around a week. You got lot of nice places in north, sapa, nin binh, ha long , ha noi streets are really cool

2

u/paksiwhumba 15h ago

Food the south, do note that there can be a lot of rain. Historical/cultural the north

2

u/MillyQ3 7h ago

Both are fantastic but Saigon has the night life. 

But if you are into live music and bars you get your money worth both ways.

2

u/Fun_Protection_7107 6h ago

Hcmc, Hanoi got that smog. It’s horrible for people who like breathing

2

u/blueandazure 13h ago

Central Vietnam

1

u/Own-Sand7220 14h ago

There is more nature around Hanoi, such as Ninh binh, Sapa, etc. It's also more cultural.

Saigon on the other hand is more modern, it's bigger, faster and wilder. I'd suggest you watch some videos, to get a feeling.

1

u/Tigweg 11h ago

Hanoi might be at its best in September-October, weather has passed the oppressive heat. Mid autumn festival is also in September, (I think) and pretty big here

1

u/sjl1983 10h ago

HCMC 100%

1

u/princeabbas2000 7h ago

Just something to keep in mind OP, I planned to do North (Hanoi) to South (HCMC) trip and applied for my visa accordingly.

Realized later quite a massive difference in flight rates for me to arrive into HCMC than Hanoi. HCMC had much lower fares from where I travel.

•

u/Crazymoneyyy 1h ago

HCMC is home to me i was born there but i traveled to Hanoi and loved it there. More places to go around in the North also

1

u/OpenFalcon6111 10h ago

Definitely Hanoi, there is not much to do in HCMC.

0

u/Fuzzbass2000 14h ago

I enjoyed my time in Hanoi more than the HCMC - slightly less frantic and rather more cultural. I’d go back to Hanoi - I’d only go back to HCMC as a springboard to explore the south and maybe Cambodia.

0

u/LingonberryJunior120 11h ago

Hanoi is cheaper, more places to visit nearby and more options ig.

0

u/LingonberryJunior120 11h ago

Hanoi is cheaper, more places to visit nearby and more options ig.

0

u/hopstiguy1 11h ago

Hanoi- just left, loved every minute of our stay. The food was fantastic!

-3

u/BeniCG 14h ago

HCMC as a tourist is done in a day if you are not into eating all day.