With beaches, temples, amazing food, and more, Vietnam is a fascinating place to travel to. Vietnam is located in southeast Asia and the capital is Hanoi. Many travelers who have gone there have posted on Reddit about walking around a lot, eating as many different kinds of local dishes as possible, and bringing a backpack.

There's a lot that goes into planning a vacation, from fun activities to tipping expectations to, of course, what food to try. Keep reading to find some recommendations on everything you need to know about going to Vietnam.

Here is a travel guide to Vietnam: 11 things to know while planning your trip.

My Son Sanctuary And Hoi An Ancient Town Are Must Visits

According to Vietnam Guide, you'll want to go to My Son Sanctuary. The publication explains, "The impressive Hindu-themed ruins feature many beautiful stone sculptures, temples and towers in tropical jungle surroundings." You can also go on a tour and see it that way.

The website also recommends Hoi An Ancient Town, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999, and describes it as "a living museum that houses old-town architecture." This used to be a 16th and 17th-century trading area and you can see canals, a bridge, temples, and homes. There are a lot of things to do, from trying some food to buying souvenirs, so it would be easy to spend quite a lot of time here.

March, April, And May Are Perfect Months To Travel To Vietnam

Travelstart.co.za recommends planning what time of year to go to Vietnam based on which area you're going to. For example, if Hanoi is calling your name, then go in March, April, or May since those months are during springtime.

The summer can be incredibly hot so it would make a lot of sense to travel there a few months before. If your kids are on March break, for example, then that would be a good month to go, or you can choose April or May.

With a spa, breakfast that is free, and a mix of Vietnamese and American food, O'Gallery Classy Hotel & Spa is a good hotel to stay at during your vacation in Vietnam. It's located in the Hoan Kiem neighborhood of Hanoi. It's very walkable so you can go out the front door and find tourist attractions and restaurants. According to a Trip Advisor review, the dining room overlooks the lake.

Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi is another hotel to choose. It's in the same location and has two restaurants: Satine, which serves Vietnamese food and Cafe Lautrec, which serves Mediterranean food. It looks very peaceful.

Stay In Hanoi (Specifically, The Hoan Kiem Area)

What area of Vietnam should you stay in? Since Hanoi is the capital city, it makes sense to stay there, and The Broke Backpacker suggests finding a hotel in Hoan Kiem if you don't want to spend a lot of money.

This is also a good area since it's downtown so you'll be near temples, coffee shops, and more. This will be an incredible location to feel really immersed in Hanoi life.

Pho Bo Mau Dich And Essence Restaurants Are Two Great Places To Eat

Pho Bo Mau Dich is the place to go for pho. You can find meat-free options on the menu, along with affordable drinks and people on Trip Advisor praised the owner and servers, too, for being really friendly.

Essence Restaurant would be another amazing restaurant in Vietnam. The menu features many different kinds of spring rolls, Green Papaya Salad with Beef, Grilled Snapper Fish with Banana Leaves, Fried Noodle with Seafood, and more.

Find A Driver Or 'Open Tour Bus'

Smarter Travel says that if you can find an "open bus" in Vietnam, like ones part of the company Sinh Cafe, then that's a great way to travel around. These are going to follow a schedule and also have A/C, two things that travelers will definitely appreciate.

While car rentals are popular in many places, tourists aren't actually going to be able to drive around in Vietnam. The website says that you can use a driver if you want to get from your hotel to another destination.

Check Out the Temple Of Literature & National University

An important Vietnam landmark is the Temple of Literature & National University. According to Vietnam Guide, this temple, which was dedicated to Confucius, has been around since 1070.

Back in the day, this was a place for royals, and no one else was allowed to get an education here. That has changed, and it's a fascinating piece of history to come here. There are places to walk around, along with Tran and Ly dynasty architecture.

The Vietnamese Dong Is The Currency And Tipping A Little Is Considered Nice

According to Trip Savvy, the currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, and some people suggest using ATMs to convert some money regularly throughout the trip rather than having a massive sum of cash at once. This feels safer to do.

When you get your check at a restaurant, you'll see a service charge of 5 percent, and there isn't really a tipping culture here. But Trip Savvy says tipping a little (a tour guide, someone driving you around, or a server, for instance) would be nice.

Related: A Travel Guide To Iceland: 10 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip

Fly To Vietnam In March For A Good Flight Deal

Cheap Flights says that the least expensive month to go to Vietnam is March. That lines up nicely with the recommendation for the best time of year to go there, so that's great news. It's usually priciest to go somewhere in December and that is true of flying to Vietnam as well. Find a Wednesday afternoon plane ticket and you should find some savings, too

Related: Cambodia Vs Vietnam: 20 Reasons To Visit One Over The Other

Hon Chong Beach And Long Beach Are Some Of Vietnam's Best Beaches

There are so many beaches to choose from in Vietnam, but let's focus on two that look absolutely incredible.

Hon Chong Beach, according to Rough Guides, is located near Nha Trang and has an area with many rocks, which is beautiful. The website also notes that there are many places to grab some super affordable fish dishes here, which would make this a great tourist destination. The second great beach is Long Beach (Bai Trong), which is on Phu Quoc Island. People like to swim here and lie on the beach, and it spans 20 km.

Some Advice For Travelers

Before heading to Vietnam, there are some helpful things to learn. According to City Pass Guide, it's a smart idea to not walk across each street too fast as there are going to be a lot of motorbikes. It might feel tricky since people will cross even when the light isn't green but you will definitely get the hang of it.

Some other pieces of advice: pay with cash, only buy street food if you're on an official tour or there are a lot of people eating at the same stall, and only use a cab if the meter is on because otherwise, that's not legit.

Next: A Travel Guide To Hong Kong: 11 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip