Vietnam has had 34 provincial-level units since the 2025 merger, and 9 of them are now centrally governed cities, with Ho Chi Minh City the largest at about 14 million people and Hanoi the capital. For Indian travellers, the 10 best cities to visit are Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Can Tho and Hai Phong, each suited to a different kind of trip, from first-time culture to beach holidays and honeymoons.
This guide lists Vietnam cities by administrative status and region, then compares the 10 best cities to visit by season, days needed and what matters to Indian travellers, with suggested routes to combine them. The key facts come first:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provincial-level units | 34 since the 2025 merger (25 provinces + 9 centrally governed cities) |
| Capital | Hanoi |
| Largest city | Ho Chi Minh City, approx. 14 million people |
| Newest centrally governed cities | Dong Nai (30 April 2026), Quang Ninh (1 September 2026), Bac Ninh (20 September 2026) |
| Cities with direct flights from India | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City; Phu Quoc from Ahmedabad from December 2026 |
| UNESCO-listed cities | Hue (1993), Hoi An (1999) |
| Best cities for first-timers | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang with Hoi An |
Each Vietnam city in the table is explained below, from its administrative status to the days it needs.
How Many Cities Are in Vietnam?
Vietnam has 9 centrally governed cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hue, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh.
The number of cities in Vietnam changed twice recently. On 1 July 2025, Vietnam merged 63 provinces and cities into 34 and abolished the district level, so former provincial cities such as Nha Trang, Da Lat and Hoi An became wards. In 2026, 3 provinces were upgraded to centrally governed cities: Dong Nai on 30 April, Quang Ninh on 1 September and Bac Ninh on 20 September. The 9 cities differ widely in size and in how much they matter to a visitor, as the table shows:
| City | Region | Population (approx.) | Airport | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | North | 8.9 million | Noi Bai (HAN), international | Capital, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake |
| Ho Chi Minh City | South | 14 million | Tan Son Nhat (SGN), international | Largest city and economic hub; now includes Vung Tau and Binh Duong |
| Hai Phong | North | 4.7 million | Cat Bi (HPH), international | Port city, gateway to Cat Ba Island |
| Da Nang | Central | 3.1 million | Da Nang (DAD), international | Beaches, Ba Na Hills; now includes Hoi An and Quang Nam |
| Hue | Central | 1.2 million | Phu Bai (HUI), international | Imperial citadel, UNESCO 1993 |
| Can Tho | South | 4.2 million | Can Tho (VCA), international | Mekong Delta floating markets |
| Dong Nai | South | 4.5 million | Long Thanh (LTA), opening | Industrial hub east of Ho Chi Minh City, Cat Tien National Park |
| Quang Ninh | North | 1.5 million | Van Don (VDO), international | Ha Long Bay |
| Bac Ninh | North | 4.0 million | Gia Binh, under construction | Kinh Bac heritage, Quan Ho folk singing |
Dong Nai is now the largest by area, at about 12,737 km², ahead of Da Nang at about 11,860 km² after it absorbed Quang Nam Province, while Hue is the smallest by population.
For Indian travellers, only 3 of the 9 are major tourist bases: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Hue and Can Tho are worth 1–2 days each, Hai Phong is mainly a transit point for Cat Ba, and of the 3 newest cities, only Quang Ninh draws visitors, for Ha Long Bay rather than the city itself.
Vietnam City Names by Region
The best-known city names in Vietnam are Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ha Long and Sapa in the north; Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Da Lat in the centre; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Can Tho and Phu Quoc in the south. Many of these names now refer to wards inside a larger province or city, which explains why hotel bookings and Google Maps sometimes show an unfamiliar address.
The Vietnam city name list below covers 20 major names with their administrative status today and the reason travellers go:
| Region | City / town | Administrative status | Why travellers go |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Hanoi | Centrally governed city | Capital, culture, food |
| North | Hai Phong | Centrally governed city | Port, Cat Ba Island |
| North | Ha Long | Wards of Quang Ninh City | Ha Long Bay cruises |
| North | Sapa | Ward of Lao Cai Province | Rice terraces, Fansipan |
| North | Ninh Binh | Wards of Ninh Binh Province | Trang An, Tam Coc |
| North | Bac Ninh | Centrally governed city | Quan Ho singing, pagodas |
| Central | Hue | Centrally governed city | Imperial city |
| Central | Da Nang | Centrally governed city | Beaches, Ba Na Hills |
| Central | Hoi An | Wards of Da Nang City | UNESCO ancient town |
| Central | Quy Nhon | Wards of Gia Lai Province | Quiet beaches |
| Central | Nha Trang | Wards of Khanh Hoa Province | Beach resorts, islands |
| Central | Da Lat | Wards of Lam Dong Province | Cool highlands |
| Central | Phan Thiet (Mui Ne) | Wards of Lam Dong Province | Sand dunes, resorts |
| Central | Vinh | Wards of Nghe An Province | Transit, Cua Lo beach |
| South | Ho Chi Minh City | Centrally governed city | Largest city, nightlife |
| South | Vung Tau | Wards of Ho Chi Minh City | Weekend beach from Saigon |
| South | Bien Hoa | Wards of Dong Nai City | Industrial city |
| South | Can Tho | Centrally governed city | Floating markets |
| South | My Tho | Wards of Dong Thap Province | Mekong day trips |
| South | Phu Quoc | Special zone of An Giang Province | Island beaches |
Hotel addresses and Google Maps now show the new ward and province names, but tourism names such as Hoi An, Nha Trang and Da Lat remain in everyday use, and this guide uses them.
10 Best Cities to Visit in Vietnam for Indian Travellers
The 10 best cities to visit in Vietnam are Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Can Tho and Hai Phong, listed here from north to south, with Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Phan Thiet counted as cities in the travel sense.
Hanoi: Best for Culture and First-Time Visitors
Hanoi is the best city in Vietnam for first-time visitors who want culture, street food and an easy start to the north Vietnam route. The key facts are:
- Best months: October–April
- Days needed: 2–3
- For Indian travellers: direct flights from 6 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad; plenty of Indian and vegetarian restaurants
The Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and the Temple of Literature give a first visit its shape in 2 days, and the capital is also the gateway to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa, so most northern routes start and end here. Travellers starting in the north can plan the capital with a guide to Hanoi, from the Old Quarter to day trips.
Ho Chi Minh City: Best for Food, Nightlife and Shopping
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city and the best base for food, nightlife, shopping and Mekong Delta day trips. The key facts are:
- Best months: December–April
- Days needed: 2–3
- For Indian travellers: direct flights from 5 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad; Indian restaurants concentrated in the central District 1 area
Ben Thanh Market, the War Remnants Museum and the Bui Vien nightlife street fill the city days, while the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta both work as day trips. The pace is faster and louder than Hanoi, which suits travellers who enjoy a big-city energy.
Travellers landing in the south can read the Ho Chi Minh City guide for districts, markets and day trips, and those still deciding where to land can compare Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh as the first stop.
Da Nang: Best for Beaches and Family Holidays
Da Nang is the best city in Vietnam for a beach-and-family holiday, with My Khe Beach, Ba Na Hills and Hoi An all within an hour. The key facts are:
- Best months: February–August
- Days needed: 3–4, including Hoi An
- For Indian travellers: usually reached by connecting via Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City; several Indian restaurants near My Khe Beach
Da Nang city is clean, safe and easy to get around, with a long sandy beach on one side and mountains on the other. Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge sit about 25 km west, and Hoi An is 30 km south, so a single hotel base covers 3 very different days. Choosing between My Khe and the quieter beaches, timing Ba Na Hills and picking a family-friendly hotel area are easier with the Da Nang beach holiday guide, and the Dragon Bridge and Golden Bridge feature in the guide to Vietnam bridges.
Hoi An: Best for Couples and Photography
Hoi An is the best city in Vietnam for couples and photography, a UNESCO-listed ancient town of lantern-lit streets 30 km south of Da Nang. The key facts are:
- Best months: February–August
- Days needed: 2
- For Indian travellers: a favourite for honeymoons; Indian restaurants inside the ancient town
The ancient town, the Japanese Covered Bridge and the tailors who make an ao dai or a suit overnight are the reasons most couples stay 2 nights. Since July 2025, Hoi An has been 3 wards of Da Nang City, but the town itself, its lanterns and its riverside evenings are unchanged. Lantern nights, tailor fittings and the quietest hours to walk the old streets are covered in more depth in the Hoi An ancient town guide.
Hue: Best for History
Hue is the best city in Vietnam for history, home to the Imperial Citadel and royal tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty, UNESCO-listed since 1993. The key facts are:
- Best months: January–April
- Days needed: 1–2
- For Indian travellers: reachable as a day trip from Da Nang over the Hai Van Pass; few Indian restaurants, but vegetarian kitchens near the pagodas
Hue was Vietnam’s last imperial capital, and the citadel, the royal tombs along the Perfume River and the Thien Mu Pagoda make it the country’s most complete historic city. A night in Hue gives time for the tombs, which a day trip from Da Nang usually rushes. Travellers adding the imperial city can plan a day or 2 with the guide to Hue.
Nha Trang: Best for Beach Resorts and Water Sports
Nha Trang is the best city in Vietnam for resort stays, island boat trips and water sports on a 6 km city beach. The key facts are:
- Best months: January–August
- Days needed: 2–3
- For Indian travellers: family-friendly resorts; usually reached by connecting via Ho Chi Minh City
VinWonders Nha Trang on Hon Tre Island, snorkelling around Hon Mun and the Po Nagar Cham towers give a beach stay some variety. The long city beach makes it easy to combine resort time with restaurants and evening walks. Travellers choosing a resort stay can compare beaches and islands in the guide to Nha Trang.
Da Lat: Best for Cool Weather and Honeymoons
Da Lat is the best city in Vietnam for cool weather, a highland town at about 1,500 m with pine forests, flower gardens and lakes. The key facts are:
- Best months: November–March
- Days needed: 2
- For Indian travellers: a honeymoon favourite and an escape from the heat; 50 minutes by air from Ho Chi Minh City
The night market, the flower gardens and the strawberry farms on the edge of town give Da Lat a slower rhythm than the coast. Coffee from the surrounding hills is served in almost every café, and evenings are cool enough for a jacket. Lakes, flower gardens and the coolest months of the year are covered in the travel guide to Da Lat, which suits couples planning a slower few days.
Phan Thiet and Mui Ne: Best for Sand Dunes and Resorts
Phan Thiet, with the Mui Ne resort strip, is the best city in Vietnam for sand dunes, kite-surfing and a quiet beach stay about 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The key facts are:
- Best months: November–April
- Days needed: 2
- For Indian travellers: beachfront resorts that suit a rest after Ho Chi Minh City
The red and white sand dunes are the main draw at sunrise, and the Po Sah Inu Cham towers sit on a hill above the town. Mui Ne’s steady winds make it Vietnam’s kite-surfing centre from November to April, while the resort strip stays quiet in the evenings.
Can Tho: Best for Floating Markets and the Mekong
Can Tho is the best city in Vietnam for the Mekong Delta, with Cai Rang floating market, orchards and canal boat trips. The key facts are:
- Best months: December–April
- Days needed: 1–2
- For Indian travellers: an easy overnight trip from Ho Chi Minh City; few Indian restaurants, so vegetarian meals are best requested in advance
Cai Rang floating market is busiest at dawn, when boats sell fruit and vegetables straight from their decks. Afternoons suit orchard visits and small boats through the canals, which show daily life on the river.
Travellers heading to the river can plan boat trips with the Mekong Delta guide.
Hai Phong: Best as a Gateway to Cat Ba and Ha Long
Hai Phong is Vietnam’s main northern port city and the gateway to Cat Ba Island, part of the Ha Long Bay–Cat Ba UNESCO site. The key facts are:
- Best months: October–April for cruising, May–September for beaches
- Days needed: 1, as a transit stop
- For Indian travellers: mainly a route to the bay; few Indian services
Old French streets and banh da cua, the city’s crab noodle soup, are worth a short stop on the way through. The Hanoi–Hai Phong expressway takes about 2 hours, and ferries and a cable car link the mainland to Cat Ba.
Travellers passing through Hai Phong can plan the cruise with the guide to Ha Long Bay.
Not Cities, but Worth the Trip
Sapa, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Phu Quoc are not cities, but they appear on most Indian itineraries alongside the cities above. They are:
- Sapa: rice terraces and Fansipan, Indochina’s highest peak, 5–6 hours from Hanoi. Travellers wanting rice terraces can read the guide to Sapa.
- Ninh Binh: Trang An and Tam Coc boat trips through limestone karsts, about 2 hours from Hanoi. Travellers wanting limestone karsts near Hanoi can read the guide to Ninh Binh.
- Ha Long Bay: limestone islands and overnight cruises, reached from Hanoi or via Hai Phong.
- Phu Quoc: Vietnam’s largest island, with its first direct flight route from India, between Ahmedabad and Phu Quoc, starting in December 2026; travellers can compare Phu Quoc island packages for a beach finish.
Travellers planning beyond the cities can see the full list of places to visit in Vietnam, covering bays, islands and the northern mountains, and the reasons travellers keep coming back are set out in the guide on why Vietnam is famous.
Which City Should Indian Travellers Choose?
First-time visitors should start with Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City plus Da Nang and Hoi An, while beach holidays suit Nha Trang or Da Nang and honeymoons suit Hoi An and Da Lat.
The right combination depends more on the type of trip than on the cities themselves, and the table matches 7 common trip types with the cities and days that suit them:
| Trip type | Cities | Days |
|---|---|---|
| First trip, culture + beach | Hanoi · Da Nang · Hoi An | 6–7 |
| Family with children | Da Nang · Hoi An · Nha Trang | 6–7 |
| Honeymoon | Hoi An · Da Lat · Da Nang | 6–7 |
| Food, nightlife, shopping | Ho Chi Minh City · Hanoi | 5–6 |
| History and heritage | Hanoi · Hue · Hoi An | 6–7 |
| Cool weather | Da Lat · Sapa (not a city) | 5–6 |
| Mekong and river life | Ho Chi Minh City · Can Tho | 4–5 |
Travellers planning flights, visas and budget before choosing cities can start with the guide to Vietnam from India, and the budget per city and per day is set out in the guide on how much money need for Vietnam trip from India.
How to Combine Cities in One Trip
Most Indian travellers combine 3 to 4 cities in 6 to 10 days, flying into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and using domestic flights between regions. The 3 most common routes are:
- North, 6 days: Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Ninh Binh (or Sapa) → Hanoi.
- Central, 5 days: Da Nang → Hoi An → Hue → Da Nang.
- North to south, 9–10 days: Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Da Nang → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta.
Domestic flights between Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City take about 1–2 hours, which keeps a north-to-south route realistic in under 2 weeks, while the overnight train from Hanoi to Da Nang is the scenic alternative for travellers with an extra day.
Travellers who want these routes day by day can use the Vietnam itinerary guide, with 5- to 14-day versions. The same routes come as ready-made packages by length: Vietnam 6 days tour packages for a single region, a 7 days Vietnam tour package for 2 regions, the Vietnam 8 days trip cost for 3 cities, 10 days Vietnam tour packages from India for a north-to-south route, and 11 day Vietnam tour packages that add the Mekong Delta or a beach.
FAQs About Cities in Vietnam
Indian travellers asking about Vietnam’s cities most often want to know how many there are, which is largest, which have direct flights and which to visit first.
How Many Cities Are in Vietnam?
Vietnam has 9 centrally governed cities, within the 34 provincial-level units created by the 2025 merger. Smaller urban centres such as Nha Trang and Da Lat are now wards, though travellers still call them cities.
What Is the Largest City in Vietnam?
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest, with about 14 million people after merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau in 2025. Hanoi is second with about 8.9 million.
Is Hoi An Still a City?
No, not administratively: Hoi An became 3 wards of Da Nang City on 1 July 2025, but as a destination it is unchanged. The UNESCO ancient town, the lantern streets and the tailors are all still there.
Which Vietnamese Cities Have Direct Flights from India?
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and Hanoi also from Kolkata. Phu Quoc’s first direct route from India, with Ahmedabad, starts on 2 December 2026, with the first departure from Ahmedabad on 3 December, while Da Nang is usually reached via Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Travellers from the south can compare Chennai to Vietnam tour packages and Vietnam packages from Kerala, as Kochi has a direct flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Which City in Vietnam Is Best for Indian Food?
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang have the most Indian restaurants, including vegetarian and Jain-friendly kitchens. Smaller cities such as Hue and Can Tho have fewer, so travellers should plan meals ahead.
Which City Should Travellers Visit First?
Travellers with 6–7 days should land in Hanoi, fly to Da Nang for Hoi An, and leave from Ho Chi Minh City, or reverse the order. Travellers with less time can pick 1 region.
Plan Visiting Beautiful Cities of Vietnam
Vietnam’s cities range from a 14-million-person metropolis to a lantern-lit ancient town, and most Indian travellers see 3 to 4 of them in a week, starting in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and linking the regions by short domestic flights.
The part that takes work is the sequence: which city to land in, how many nights each one needs, and which domestic flights connect them without losing a day. Vietnamtour.in, part of Seni World Travel, has arranged that for more than 428,000 travellers from India since 2015, with local experts in Vietnam and a team in Delhi, and is often named the best travel agency in Vietnam for Indian travellers. Its best Vietnam tour packages from India combine 3 to 4 cities with private cars and Indian or Jain meals on request, and the Vietnam classic tour packages follow the north-to-south route through the main cities.
- Hanoi HQ: Floor 4, Bao Anh Building, 62 Tran Thai Tong, Cau Giay, Hanoi
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To plan your trip, share the travel dates, group size and departure city in the form below, and a Vietnamtour.in expert will suggest the best cities of Vietnam for your days and travel style.
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