Vietnam Travel from Canada: The Complete Guide

Vietnam takes a bit of preparation, but nothing complicated. Canadian citizens need an electronic visa before departure, applied for on the official portal evisa.gov.vn (about CAD $35 for single entry, valid for stays of up to 90 days). There are no direct flights from Montreal or Toronto: expect 20 to 24 hours of total travel with one connection, typically through Doha, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul or Taipei. The climate varies sharply from north to south, so the best time to go depends on your itinerary: October to April for Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, February to August for the centre, December to April for the south. On the ground, a mid-range budget runs roughly CAD $110 to $205 per person per day, as a guideline. The time difference with Eastern Canada is 11 hours in summer and 12 in winter.

The essentials at a glance

Why Vietnam

Few countries pack this much variety onto a single travel axis. The classic itinerary runs north to south: Hanoi, a thousand-year-old capital; Ha Long Bay with its one- or two-night cruises on a UNESCO World Heritage site; then Hue and Hoi An in the centre, before finishing in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. Plan on two to three weeks to cover it all without rushing.

The country suits this kind of trip because getting around is simple and affordable: frequent domestic flights with Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, the Reunification trains between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with scenic overnight runs, and budget sleeper buses for the stops in between. Value for money remains among the best in Asia: budget travellers manage on roughly CAD $40 to $70 a day, as a guideline.

Vietnam also pairs naturally with its neighbours. Many of our clients combine Vietnam and Thailand in a single Southeast Asia trip, since regional flights are plentiful and short.

When to go

Vietnam stretches across three climate zones, and there is no single “bad” time for the whole country: the ideal season depends on your route. For a full north-to-south trip, February to April generally offers the best compromise across all three regions.

Getting there from Canada

There are no direct flights from Montreal (YUL) or Toronto (YYZ) to Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). From Montreal, typical connections run through Doha, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul-Incheon, Taipei or Delhi; from Toronto, through Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei or Hong Kong. Total travel time is about 20 to 24 hours either way, with the fastest routing to Hanoi found at around 19 h 45. A planning tip: fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (or the reverse) to avoid backtracking and follow the natural north-south flow. Once in the country, cheap domestic flights take over.

The regions not to miss

Hanoi and the north

Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital, is best explored on foot: the Old Quarter concentrates the shops, markets and street life, though it is also the most expensive part of the city for accommodation. Scooter traffic is dense; cross at a slow, steady pace and riders will flow around you. From Hanoi, Sapa and the northern mountains round out the stay. The reliable window for the whole region runs from October to April, when winters are cool and dry.

Ha Long Bay

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Ha Long Bay is best experienced on a one- or two-night cruise rather than a day trip from Hanoi. Sleeping in the bay means seeing the limestone karsts at sunrise, before the day boats arrive. As with the rest of the north, October to April is the most dependable period.

The centre: Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang

Central Vietnam runs on its own calendar: dry season from February to August, then heavy rains and possible typhoons from September to December. Hue, the former imperial capital, and Hoi An, with its old trading town, connect easily by road via Da Nang, the region's air gateway. On the budget side, Hue and Hoi An (outside the old town) run 25 to 40 percent cheaper than the big cities.

Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta

Ho Chi Minh City sets the pace of the south: District 1, the tourist and business core, is the country's most expensive area along with Hanoi's Old Quarter. A few hours away by road, the Mekong Delta is a complete change of scene, with its canals and markets, at 25 to 40 percent below big-city costs. The dry season, December to April, is the best time; during the monsoon (May to November), showers are generally short and travel remains possible.

Phu Quoc

To end the trip on a beach, the island of Phu Quoc in the far south follows the same climate pattern as Ho Chi Minh City and the delta: dry season from December to April, monsoon from May to November with generally short showers. It makes a logical beach finale after two or three weeks of touring, reached by domestic flight.

The budget, in Canadian dollars

These figures are guidelines only and exclude international flights. The priciest areas are Hanoi's Old Quarter and District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City; Hue, Hoi An (outside the old town) and the Mekong Delta cost 25 to 40 percent less. Outside the major cities, Vietnam still runs largely on cash. Watch the dong's many zeros: mixing up 20,000 and 200,000 VND notes is a classic mistake. Bargaining is common in markets.

Entry requirements and health for Canadian citizens

• Passport: valid at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date from Vietnam.
• Visa: required for Canadians. Apply for the e-visa online on the official portal of Vietnam's Immigration Department (evisa.gov.vn): single entry (about USD $25, roughly CAD $35) or multiple entry (about USD $50, roughly CAD $70), valid for stays of up to 90 days. Processing generally takes 3 to 5 business days, longer in high season. Print your e-visa before departure.
• Beware of unofficial websites that resell the e-visa with inflated fees: use the government portal only.
• Recommended vaccines: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid depending on your traveller profile, and routine vaccines up to date (including measles). Malaria: a risk in some rural areas depending on the season; major cities and the main tourist deltas are generally low-risk. Dengue is present and no vaccine is available in Canada, so mosquito protection is essential. Visit a travel health clinic before departure.
• Customs: mandatory declaration above 15 million VND or USD $5,000 in cash.
• Safety: the Government of Canada advises exercising a high degree of caution in Vietnam due to high rates of petty crime (pickpocketing, bag snatching). Check travel.gc.ca for current advice before you go.
• Travel insurance: comprehensive medical and cancellation coverage is strongly recommended.

One last tip: build your itinerary around the climate rather than the other way around. The same month can be ideal in Hanoi and rainy in Hoi An; the order of your stops makes all the difference.

Ready to travel Vietnam from north to south? An AquaTerra advisor will plan your route around each region's seasons, handle the e-visa and book your flights, Ha Long cruise and hotels. 450-628-6241 | 1-866-628-6241 | info@voyagesaquaterra.com

Voyages AquaTerra holds a Québec travel agency permit.