There are direct flights, Danes can stay for 45 days without a visa, and the gastronomy alone is reason enough to travel.
For many years, a trip from Denmark to Vietnam has meant changing planes somewhere in the Gulf or Asia and waiting for a layover. From December 2025, you can board a plane in Copenhagen and disembark in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines operates this route with three weekly departures. With a Danish passport, you do not need a visa for the first 45 days, and according to the Embassy of Vietnam in Copenhagen, this visa exemption policy is valid until March 14, 2028.
So, what is there to see?
From North to South
Vietnam has over 3,000 km of coastline. In the northernmost region, limestone mountains and rice terraces around Hà Giang lead up to the Lũng Cú flag tower, the country’s northernmost point. On the northeastern coast, rocky islands rise from the water in Hạ Long Bay. Further south, the cave system in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, from 2025, together with Hin Nam No on the Laotian side of the border, forms a World Heritage site. At the end of the S-shape, the Mekong Delta is a labyrinth of waterways, fruit orchards, and floating markets. Off the southwestern coast lies Phú Quốc island, which was ranked as the third most beautiful island in the world in 2025 by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler.
Cities with a Past
Vietnam has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the latest of which is the Yên Tử complex, inscribed in July 2025. Among the others are the ancient imperial city of Huế, the Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary, the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi, and the ancient trading port of Hội An, which now belongs to the city of Đà Nẵng. These are not frozen museum pieces. In Hội An and Hanoi’s Old Quarter, people still live and work along the streets frequented by tourists.
Dining First
Many journeys begin with a bowl of phở at a street stall. At the other end of the spectrum, the Michelin Guide Vietnam 2025 presents 181 establishments in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Đà Nẵng. Nine establishments have stars, 63 have Bib Gourmand, Michelin’s designation for good food at reasonable prices. Add Vietnamese coffee and cuisine that varies from region to region, and you can plan your entire vacation around meals.
A Country in Transformation
Travel writers have taken notice. In 2024, readers of Condé Nast Traveler ranked Vietnam among the top 20 countries in the world. Lonely Planet included the coastal city of Quy Nhơn on its list of 25 Best in Travel destinations for 2026. In 2025, Vietnam received a record-high 21.2 million international visitors, including 2.8 million from Europe.
Many Danes know Vietnam from news reports about a war that ended in 1975. The country travelers encounter today is a different place. The average per capita income has risen from under 500 USD in 1986 to approximately 5,000 USD in 2025, and according to the World Bank, the proportion of people living on less than 4.20 USD per day has fallen from 14% in 2010 to under 4% in 2025. Young people are learning foreign languages and technical skills, and the country has become a major production hub for electronics. Increasing productivity and skills is the next item on the country’s own agenda.
A Danish Connection
The two countries share a connection at the highest level. Prince Henrik, the late consort of Queen Margrethe, spent part of his childhood in Hanoi, which was then part of French Indochina. From October 19 to 21, King Frederik and Queen Mary will receive a state visit from President Tô Lâm to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam.
Before You Travel
Flights: Vietnam Airlines, Copenhagen – Ho Chi Minh City, three weekly departures.
Visa: Not required for stays up to 45 days. Passports must be valid for at least six months, and you may be asked to show a return ticket out of Vietnam within 45 days. For longer stays, you must apply for an e-visa, maximum 90 days.
Time: Two weeks are sufficient for either North or South Vietnam. Three weeks allow for visiting both.
Information on flight times and entry requirements may change. Please check with the airline and relevant authorities before your trip. The image shown is an AI-generated illustration.