Vietnam

No, for stays of up to 45 days. French nationals have been visa-free since 2023. For a stay between 45 and 90 days, an e-visa is required (approximately 25 USD, processing in 3 working days on the official portal). Since April 2026, online pre-registration 72 hours before arrival is required for Ho Chi Minh City airport. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned date of departure. Strict compliance with the deadline for stay is imperative: any overstay is punished by a fine and may block your departure.

Vietnam covers 1,650 km from north to south, and the seasons vary greatly depending on the region. The north (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa) is ideal from October to April: dry weather, mild temperatures (20-25°C). The center (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang) is at its best between January and August, before the autumn typhoons. The south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta) is pleasant from October to May. For a complete north-south tour, November-March is the best window. The golden rice paddy season in Sapa (mid-September to mid-October) is a rare sight, despite some residual rainfall.

Vietnam is one of the most affordable destinations in Southeast Asia. A street meal (pho, bun bo, banh mi) costs 1 to 3 EUR. A comfortable hotel in the city centre costs between 20 and 60 EUR per night. An organised 14-day tour in boutique accommodation starts at around 900 EUR per person (excluding flights). A flight from Paris to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (often with a stopover in Doha, Dubai or Singapore) ranges from 550 EUR in the low season to 1,100 EUR in the high season. Expect to pay 40 to 90 EUR per day for an average traveller.

Vietnam is classified as on normal vigilance by the Quai d'Orsay, one of the most reassuring levels for Southeast Asia. The risk of terrorism is almost non-existent. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The usual precautions are necessary: beware of taxis without meters, frequent snatching of bags on motorcycles in large cities (carry the bags on the wall side), scams by unofficial money changers. Chaotic road traffic represents the main risk: pedestrians, do not cross without adapting your pace to the flow of scooters.

No vaccination is required to enter Vietnam. The recommended vaccines are: up-to-date DTP, hepatitis A, typhoid (especially if you eat locally). Hepatitis B is recommended for repeated or long stays. Japanese encephalitis is recommended for stays of more than one month in rural areas. In 2026, a resurgence of measles is reported in Southeast Asia: check your vaccination status. Malaria exists in some remote rural areas (Mekong, borders), but not in the usual tourist circuits. Dengue fever is present all year round: protection against mosquitoes is essential.

There are no regular direct commercial flights between Paris and Vietnam. The flight Paris - Hanoi (HAN) or Paris - Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) takes between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm, with a stopover of 1 to 3 hours (Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bangkok depending on the company). The main airlines operating the route are Qatar Airways, Emirates, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines. Ho Chi Minh City is slightly closer in flight time from Paris.

The ideal duration for a complete north-south tour (Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City) is 14 to 17 days. 10 days allow you to do either the North (Hanoi, Sapa, Halong) or the Centre-South (Hoi An, Hue, HCMC, Delta). 3 weeks offer the freedom to add Ninh Binh, Sapa and an extension to Cambodia or Laos. Vietnam can be travelled from north to south by domestic plane (1 hour, less than 50 EUR), which avoids long bus journeys.

The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). 1 EUR was worth around 30,500 VND in August 2026. Banknotes range from 1,000 to 500,000 VND: large denominations can be confusing, beware of counterfeit notes. ATMs are numerous in tourist cities. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted in mid- and upper-category hotels and restaurants. Cash is essential for markets, local transport and small businesses. The US dollar (USD) is unofficially accepted in tourist areas.

Yes, almost all the Vietnam tours offered by the French TOs (Kuoni, TerDav, Evaneos, Nomade Aventure, Atalante) include at least one 1-night cruise on Halong Bay. A 2-night cruise is recommended to get away from the tourist junks of the port and reach less frequented areas. Lan Ha Bay (extension from Halong to Cat Ba) is a less popular touristy alternative to high-end tours. For the environment, prefer operators with the Responsible Tourism label.

Yes, Vietnam is suitable for families with children from 6-7 years old. The tours are not very physical and children generally love cruising on Halong Bay, kayaking in the caves, the lanterns of Hoi An and visiting the floating markets. Hoi An with its nearby beaches is particularly family-friendly. Bring mosquito protection suitable for children, bottled water at all times and antiparasitics. The heat of the South (35°C in the dry season) can tire young children: avoid activities between 12 noon and 3 pm.