Ho Chi Minh City eats outdoors, all day, on tiny plastic stools. Food here is cheap, fast and seriously good, and much of the best of it never makes it onto a printed menu. These are the dishes we tell every first-time visitor to try, roughly in the order you will bump into them over a day. Breakfast 1. Cơm tấm. Broken rice with a grilled pork chop, often topped with shredded pork skin, a slice of steamed egg meatloaf and a fried egg, all dressed with sweet fish sauce. It is

Vietnam is long and narrow: well over 1,500 km from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. How you move between places shapes your whole trip, from how much you see to how tired you feel. Here is an honest look at the four main ways to get around, and when each one makes sense. Domestic flights: for the long jumps Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways connect the big cities many times a day. Hanoi to Saigon is about two hours in the air versus a day and a

For most travelers, Vietnam starts at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. The good news: it is one of the few major airports in Asia that sits right inside the city. The less good news: the last few kilometers into the center can take anywhere from 25 minutes to well over an hour, depending on when you land. Here is what to expect and how to pick the right ride. Before you land Check your visa. Most visitors use Vietnam's e-visa, applied for online b

Vietnam is a wonderful multi-generation destination: friendly people, food everyone can enjoy, beaches, and history that holds the attention of teenagers and grandparents alike. The trick is pacing. What feels like an adventure for a solo backpacker can be exhausting with a toddler or a parent in their seventies. These are the things that make family days run smoothly. Pick the right season for each region Vietnam's weather varies a lot from north to south. The south has a we