Few celebrations reveal the spirit of Laos as vividly as Boun Awk Phansa in Luang Prabang. Each October, the old royal capital glows with candlelit temples, colorful lanterns and magnificent fire boats parading through its historic streets before reaching the Mekong. For a few special days, local families, monks and communities come together, offering travelers a memorable glimpse into the city’s riverside atmosphere and deeply rooted spiritual traditions.

Booking a flight to Vietnam may seem straightforward at first. In practice, the choice involves much more than comparing two prices on a screen. A nonstop flight is usually the easiest option, but it may not be available from your nearest airport. A connecting itinerary can cost less or offer better departure times, although a long layover, limited baggage allowance or separate tickets can quickly reduce that advantage. The international flights also shape the rest of your journey. Arriving in Hanoi and leaving from Ho Chi Minh City, for example, can save you from crossing the country twice. Choosing the wrong gateway may mean adding another domestic flight, an airport transfer and part of an extra travel day. Our Vietnam airport guide explains which gateway best suits each region. This guide brings together the routes, airlines, journey times and fares we most often discuss with travelers planning a trip to Vietnam in 2026.

Independence Palace is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most important historical landmarks. Also widely known as Reunification Palace, it is closely associated with the final events of the Vietnam War in April 1975. But the palace is more than a stop for history enthusiasts. Its remarkably preserved reception rooms, presidential offices, private quarters, underground command bunker and distinctive 1960s architecture make it one of the few places in the city where visitors can step directly into the political world of South Vietnam before 1975. Is Independence Palace worth visiting? Yes, especially if you are interested in modern Vietnamese history, architecture or the story behind present-day Ho Chi Minh City. Allow roughly 1.5 to 2 hours for a comfortable visit.

Hanoi in March looks easy on paper: mild temperatures and none of the exhausting summer heat. But the forecast does not tell the whole story. Humidity, fine drizzle, and the occasional spell of nồm can make the city feel very different from what the temperature suggests. So, is March actually a good time to visit Hanoi, and what should you expect once you arrive?

December works for Ninh Binh, but not for the reason most photos suggest. The rice paddies that make Tam Coc famous are already harvested by this point, replaced by muted stubble fields and soft grey light. What you get instead is the driest, calmest weather of the year: cool mornings, sunny afternoons, and boat tours that run without the disruptions summer rain can bring. If you are weighing December against spring or early summer, it comes down to a trade-off between color and comfort, and this guide gives you the real numbers to decide.

April is one of Ninh Binh's best months, and this time you don't have to trade one thing for another to get it. The rice fields run a deep, uninterrupted green, the grey drizzle that lingers over the region in late winter clears out, and the boats run without disruption. The one thing worth planning around isn't the weather, it's the calendar. Reunification Day (April 30) and Labor Day (May 1) turn the back half of the month into Vietnam's biggest domestic travel week, and if your dates land inside it, the quiet spring trip the rest of this guide describes gets a lot less quiet.