Vietnam has quietly become one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers, and for good reason. A country of extraordinary contrasts — from the chaotic energy of Ho Chi Minh City to the ethereal beauty of Ha Long Bay, from ancient Hoi An lantern streets to the terraced rice fields of Sapa — Vietnam delivers experiences that stay with you for years at a fraction of what you'd spend in Australia or Europe.

Do Australians Need a Visa for Vietnam?

As of 2023, Australian passport holders receive a 45-day e-visa for Vietnam, extendable once for another 45 days. The e-visa costs USD $25 (approximately AUD $38) and is applied for entirely online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Processing takes 3 business days. This replaced the previous visa-on-arrival system and is significantly easier.

For longer stays, a 3-month single entry or multiple entry visa is available for USD $50. If you plan to exit and re-enter (common if combining with Laos or Cambodia), the multiple entry visa is worth the extra cost.

Getting to Vietnam from Australia

Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar and Bamboo Airways fly direct from Sydney and Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Journey time is approximately 9–10 hours. Return fares typically range from AUD $600–1,100 in economy. Vietnam Airlines often has competitive business class fares at AUD $2,500–3,500 return — reasonable for a lie-flat seat on a 9-hour flight.

Qantas Frequent Flyer points can be used on Vietnam Airlines flights via their SkyTeam partnership. Check availability through Qantas.com rather than Vietnam Airlines directly.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam from Australia

Vietnam stretches 1,650 kilometres from north to south, and the weather varies dramatically by region. There is no single "best time" for the whole country:

Ho Chi Minh City and the south: Dry season November to April. The south is warm and humid year-round (29–35°C) — the dry season simply means less rain.

Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue): Dry and best February to August. October and November bring heavy rains and occasional flooding.

Hanoi and the north: Best October to April. Comfortable 15–25°C with low humidity. Summer (May–September) is hot, humid and rainy.

For Australians on a north-to-south or south-to-north itinerary: November to March is the sweet spot — good conditions across most of the country.

Vietnam Itinerary for Australians — 2 Weeks

Days 1–3 — Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): War Remnants Museum (sobering and essential), Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, the underground Cu Chi Tunnels day trip, evening street food crawl in District 1. The city's energy is extraordinary — chaotic, loud and completely alive.

Days 4–5 — Mekong Delta day trip or overnight: Floating markets, river boat through narrow waterways, local homestay. Only 2 hours from Saigon but feels like a completely different country.

Day 6 — Fly to Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An: Hoi An is one of the world's best-preserved ancient trading ports. The lantern-lit Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tailor a suit or dress overnight for AUD $80–200.

Days 7–8 — Hoi An: Morning cooking class, afternoon cycling through rice paddies, evening at the Japanese Covered Bridge at lantern time. Day trip to My Son Cham temple ruins.

Day 9 — Hue: Vietnam's former imperial capital. The Imperial Citadel, royal tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda. Excellent bun bo Hue (the city's signature spicy beef noodle soup).

Day 10 — Fly to Hanoi: Old Quarter exploration, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature. Hanoi's street food scene is arguably the best in Vietnam — bun cha, pho, banh mi and egg coffee.

Days 11–13 — Ha Long Bay cruise: The limestone karst islands rising from emerald water are genuinely as spectacular as the photos. A 2-night cruise on a quality junk boat (AUD $200–400 all-inclusive) beats a day trip comprehensively.

Day 14 — Hanoi, fly home: Last morning at the Temple of Literature or the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology before the evening flight.

Vietnam Costs for Australians

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's best value destinations. A comfortable mid-range trip costs AUD $80–150 per person per day including accommodation, food, transport and activities. Budget travellers can do it for AUD $40–60. Luxury travellers at premium resorts (Anantara Hoi An, Six Senses Con Dao) spend AUD $400–800+/night.

Specific costs: pho from a street stall AUD $2–4, banh mi AUD $1–2, beer at a local bar AUD $1–2, mid-range restaurant meal AUD $8–15, decent hotel room AUD $30–70/night, overnight train Hanoi to Saigon AUD $25–50.

Getting Around Vietnam

Vietnam's length makes internal flights essential for most Australian itineraries — flying saves 30–40 hours of bus or train time. VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways have extensive domestic networks with fares from AUD $30–80. Book in advance as popular routes (Hanoi–Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh–Hanoi) sell out during Vietnamese public holidays.

The overnight train from Hanoi to Da Nang or Hue is a genuine experience — book a 4-berth soft sleeper cabin for comfort. Grab and Gojek work in all major cities for affordable in-city transport.

Vietnam Food Guide

Vietnamese cuisine is one of the world's great food cultures — fresh, herbaceous, complex and extraordinarily varied by region. Must-eat dishes: pho bo (Hanoi-style beef noodle soup), bun cha (grilled pork with noodles — Hanoi specialty), banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich), com tam (broken rice with grilled pork — Ho Chi Minh City staple), cao lau (Hoi An-specific noodle dish only authentic in Hoi An), fresh spring rolls, egg coffee (ca phe trung) in Hanoi.

Book accommodation through Booking.com for the widest Vietnam selection — independent hotels and guesthouses in Vietnam are excellent value and rarely appear on other platforms.

Money, Payments and Getting the Best Rates

Vietnam is a primarily cash economy, particularly outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City's tourist districts. ATMs are available in all cities and towns but charge flat fees of AUD $4-8 per withdrawal -- withdraw larger amounts less frequently. The best exchange rates in Vietnam come from reputable gold and jewellery shops (the 'Vietcombank rates' posted outside are genuine reference points) rather than hotel exchanges or airport counters. Do not exchange money at the airport -- rates are 8-12% worse than in the city.

The Vietnamese Dong (VND) operates in large numbers -- 500,000 VND is approximately AUD $30 -- which confuses many first-time visitors. Double-check amounts before paying, particularly in tourist areas where pricing confusion can work against you. A Wise multi-currency card reduces ATM and transaction fees significantly for Australian travellers and shows live VND exchange rates -- worth having loaded before departure. For the Vietnam e-Visa (required for Australians, AUD $25, 3 business days processing at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn), apply at least a week before departure to avoid the paid express processing fee.