If you’re planning on traveling to Vietnam, surely one of these cities are on your agenda. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, while Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s biggest city. Both of these cities have so much to offer and no trip is complete without visiting at least one of these cities. But which one should you go to if you could only choose one?

This all depends on your taste and what is on your agenda, but there are certain things that one city does better than the other. Let’s take a look and see:

1. The Food

Tourists enjoying beer on busy Hanoi street full of bars

This is a very difficult one. Both the north and the south has their specialities, and it’s all up to each and everyone’s taste buds. In the north you have the traditional “banh cuon” and the famous noodle soup “pho”. People say that the best ones are found up north. If you go further south, it gets a bit more foreign and sweeter. “Ca Ri” for example is curry, with a Vietnamese twist to it. Their noodle soup “pho” is also a bit on the sweeter side, while the northern one is more balanced. When it comes to desserts, such as “che”, I did prefer the ones up north because I thought the ones down south were a bit too sweet for me. I love the mix of sour, sweet and spicy – which is something I believe the north is good at. So for me, Hanoi wins. But barely.

Hanoi 1-0 Ho Chi Minh City

2. The People

Beautiful vietnamese woman in Ao Dai

Maybe this has to do something with the fact that Hanoi is more cultural, while Ho Chi Minh City is more foreign friendly, but I did feel like the people down south were a bit friendlier. This is of course, again, a different experience for everyone, but on my trip I found that the people from the south were more willing to talk to you and more curious about who you were and what you were doing in Vietnam. Maybe it has something to do with the tropical weather as well, but I would say when it comes to the people, I have to give credit to the people in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi 1-1- Ho Chi Minh City

3. Sightseeing

Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi city

Both of these cities have an abundance of things to do.  In Hanoi you have the beautiful West Lake, the Old Quarter, traditional restaurants and a close proximity to the famous and beautiful Halong Bay. Hanoi is a sight itself and you can wander around the city for days and still have not discovered anything. The architecture of the city is wonderful too, with a mix of French, Chinese and now modern Hanoi buildings. I was never bored in Hanoi – quite the contrary, I had too many things to do.

Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city in Vietnam, but I couldn’t find as many amazing things to do there. Maybe because it was just that – too big. Everything was quite spread out. But there are many museums to visit, you have an abundance of markets to go to,  and you can always visit the famous party street “Bui Vien” at night if you are in the mood for clubbing or bar hopping. But even so, I did find the sightseeing a bit more interesting in Hanoi and I thought it felt like there were a bit more to do in Hanoi, even if Ho Chi Minh City is the bigger city. So this one I have to give to Hanoi.

Hanoi 2-1 Ho Chi Minh City

4. Prices

Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh City Saigon Vietnam

As both of these two cities are big and well known, I didn’t find a big difference in the prices. I did think that some accommodations in Hanoi could be a bit more expensive than down south, but other than that I didn’t notice anything. I have to say Vietnam is an incredibly affordable country, so the tiny price differences won’t affect your wallet so much. It’s a tie on this one.

Hanoi 3-2 Ho Chi Minh City

*****

Although I thoroughly enjoyed being in both of these cities, I have to say that Hanoi takes this one. I fell in love with the city and I was surprised by how beautiful and mesmerizing it is – and how much I wish I could’ve spent more time there. But I do recommend going to both cities. I assure you, you will never be bored in either one.

Apply for an E-Visa or Visa on Arrival before flying in to Vietnam (if you are planning to stay for more than 15 days). So far, 46 countries throughout the world are eligible to apply for these kinds of Visas. If you are not sure if you are eligible, contact your embassy for more information.