Ha Long Bay, the ancient town of Hoi An, amazing street food and lush green rice terraces — Vietnam is one of the cheapest and most beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia. A simple e-Visa and Chabad active in 4 cities. Note: no regular direct flight has been confirmed — most routes connect.
✈️ Note — no confirmed regular direct flight
As of 01.06.2026 no regular direct route from Tel Aviv to Vietnam has been confirmed. EL AL shows results to Hanoi on certain dates, but most flights connect (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Air India). Always check availability and direct routings in real time before booking.
1Why Vietnam
Vietnam (about 331,338 km², over 100 million people) is one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia — spectacular bays, ancient towns, amazing street food and lush green rice terraces. The capital is Hanoi; the largest city is Ho Chi Minh. Official language: Vietnamese. Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND).
Ha Long Bay — one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.
Hoi An — a UNESCO town with lanterns, food and atmosphere.
Mu Cang Chai — rice terraces like nowhere else.
Chabad active in 4 cities.
A cheap and simple e-Visa, and prices lower than most Asian destinations.
2Flights from Israel
TLV↔HAN (Hanoi): prices (Skyscanner, 01.06.2026) from $800–893 round-trip. EL AL shows flights to Hanoi on certain dates from $1,128 — check availability in real time. Most flights connect (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Air India).
TLV↔SGN (Ho Chi Minh): from $923 round-trip (Skyscanner). No regular direct route confirmed — connecting only.
⚠️ Always check availability and direct routings in real time before booking.
📍 Affiliate link: Flights
Search flights to Hanoi (HAN) from Tel Aviv
Real-time price comparison via the Travelpayouts system (marker 701647).
Israelis require a visa for Vietnam. You can apply for an e-Visa on the official site: evisa.gov.vn.
e-Visa prices (01.06.2026):
Single entry: $25
Multiple entry: $50
Validity: up to 90 days. Processing time: 3 working days.
Passport validity: no clear official Vietnamese source was found — it's recommended to confirm with the embassy before your flight.
⚠️ Don't wait until the last minute — submit your e-Visa at least 5 days before your flight.
4When to fly
North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa) — October–April ✅. Avoid: May–September (rains).
Centre (Hoi An, Da Nang) — February–August ✅. Avoid: September–November (storms).
South (Ho Chi Minh, Phu Quoc) — November–April ✅. Avoid: May–October (monsoon).
⚠️ Vietnam is very long — north, centre and south are affected differently by the monsoons. Check by your specific destination. Recommendation for Israelis: November–March — comfortable for most routes.
5Itineraries
7 days — classic north: Hanoi 2 → Ha Long Bay 2 → Ninh Binh / Tam Coc 2 → Hanoi.
10 days — north + centre: Hanoi 2 → Ha Long Bay 2 → Da Nang 1 → Hoi An 3 → back.
14 days — the classic Israeli route: Hanoi 2 → Ha Long Bay 2 → Mu Cang Chai 3 → Da Nang 1 → Hoi An 3 → Ho Chi Minh 2 → Phu Quoc 2.
⚠️ Don't pack the whole of Vietnam into one week — the country is very long.
6Attractions
Hanoi
Old Quarter — narrow historic streets in central Hanoi, each named after the craft once sold there. A hub for street food, markets and walking tours.
Hoan Kiem Lake — the Lake of the Returned Sword — a central lake with the historic Ngoc Son temple, the heart of Hanoi's evening life.
Ha Long Bay & Ninh Binh
Ha Long Bay — a bay with thousands of limestone islets rising from the water, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world and a UNESCO site.
Tam Coc / Ninh Binh — "Ha Long Bay on land": rivers between limestone cliffs, boat trips and ancient monasteries. Close to Hanoi.
Central Vietnam
Hoi An — Ancient Town (UNESCO) — a beautifully preserved port town: colourful lanterns, ancient bridges, excellent food and traditional tailoring.
Da Nang — a central coastal city, a convenient base for Hoi An, Ba Na Hills and the Marble Mountains. My Khe Beach is one of the finest in Vietnam.
Ba Na Hills / Golden Bridge — the "Hands Bridge": a bridge held up by giant hands, with a panoramic view over the mountains.
Southern Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City — the large, dynamic city: War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, night markets.
Cu Chi Tunnels — a huge underground tunnel network from the Vietnam War, about 40 km from Ho Chi Minh.
The Mekong Delta — a network of rivers and canals: boat trips, floating villages, nature. Popular for day/two-day trips from Ho Chi Minh.
Phu Quoc — Vietnam's largest island in the south: tropical beaches, clear water, snorkelling and diving.
Hidden north
Mu Cang Chai — green rice terraces, the iconic landscape of Vietnam. The harvest season (September–October) is the most beautiful.
Sapa — a mountain town in the north near the China border: a base for treks, ethnic villages and rice terraces.
🎟️ Affiliate link: Attractions · Klook
Book tours and tickets in Vietnam on Klook
Ha Long Bay cruises, Cu Chi tours, the Mekong Delta and more — buy ahead on Klook.