Most tourists land in Vietnam in either Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Danang and then make their way up or down the coast, with the choice of travel method depending both on budgets and the amount of time.

By Air

Vietnam has three international airports at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Most of flights to Vietnam are non-direct and transit via Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Taipei.

Airlines flying to Vietnam includes:

Aeroflot (Hanoi)
Air Asia (Hanoi)
Air China (Ho Chi Minh City)
Air France (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
ANA (Ho Chi Minh City)
Asiana (Ho Chi Minh City)
Bangkok Airways (Ho Chi Minh City)
Cathay Pacific (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
China Airlines (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
China Eastern (Ho Chi Minh City)
China Southern (Hanoi)
Delta Airlines from late 2007 (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
EVA Air (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Hong Kong Airlines (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
JAL (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Jetstar (Ho Chi Minh City)
Korean Air (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Lao Airlines (Hanoi)
Lufthansa (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Malaysia Airlines (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
PB Air (Da Nang)
Philippine Airlines (Ho Chi Minh City)
Qantas (Ho Chi Minh City)
Qatar Airlines (Ho Chi Minh City)
Royal Brunei Airlines (Ho Chi Minh City)
Silk Air (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Singapore Airlines (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
THAI (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Tiger Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Transaero (Ho Chi Minh City)
United (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
Vladivostok Air (Hanoi)

By Train

From Beijing and Kunming, visitors can catch a train to Hanoi crossing the border at Dong Dang. Due to landslides, the train between Kunming - Hanoi has been termintated for safety.

Border crossings from

Cambodia via the following borders

    * Bavet - Moc Bai
    * Kaam Samnor - Vinh Xuong (in some guidebooks as Tonle Mekong. Near Chau Doc in Vietnam)
    * Phnom Den - Tinh Bien
    * Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak, Cambodia (Ha Tien crossing, Cambodian Visas not available) 

China via the following borders

    * Dongxing - Mong Cai (by road; onward travel Mong Cai to Ha Long by sea or by road)
    * Hekou - Lao Cai (by road and/or rail, but no international passenger train services)
    * Youyi Guan - Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Pass - by road and/or rail)

Laos via the following borders

    * Donsavanh - Lao Bao
    * Kaew Neua - Cau Treo (Keo Nua Pass)
    * Nam Can
    * Tay Trang