Private Vietnam tours from the USA for 2027: the San Francisco nonstop and best one-stop routes, e-visa rules, when to go around US holidays, pay in USD at home, US phone number.
Flights: Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (about 15 h 40 m, 4 times a week); from other US cities you fly one stop via Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul or Hong Kong (checked 4 November 2026).
Visa: US citizens need a visa – apply for the official e-visa at evisa.gov.vn (up to 90 days; US$25 single or US$50 multiple entry).
Price: our 12-day Vietnam in depth private tour starts from US$2,344 per person, 2 sharing in 4★ hotels; pay in US dollars by domestic transfer to our US account.
Vietnam is a long way from the US, so most of our American guests make it count: 12 to 16 days, comfortable 4–5★ hotels, a private guide who can tell the story of the country from both sides, and often a few days in Cambodia or a beach at the end. This page puts the US-specific details in one place – flights from your city, the e-visa, timing around Thanksgiving, spring break and summer, and paying in dollars at home.
Metta Voyage is a licensed international tour operator (licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT) and an Asia DMC with its operations team in Hanoi. Every journey is private, with your own guide and driver and one travel designer from first message to flight home.
FlightsNonstop San Francisco–Ho Chi Minh City; one stop from other cities
Flight timeAbout 15 h 40 m nonstop; 18–24 h with one stop
VisaE-visa before you fly: up to 90 days, US$25 / US$50
Time differenceVietnam is 12 h ahead of New York and 15 h ahead of Los Angeles in winter (11 h / 14 h in summer)
PayIn USD by domestic transfer (ACH / wire) to our US account – no fee from us
PlugsYour Type A plugs fit; Vietnam is 220 V – check chargers say 100–240 V
Checked 4 November 2026. Sources are listed under each section below.
Getting there
Flights from the USA to Vietnam
There is one nonstop between the US and Vietnam: Vietnam Airlines from San Francisco (SFO) to Ho Chi Minh City, launched in 2021. Everywhere else you fly one stop through an Asian hub – often the more comfortable choice for East Coast travellers anyway.
From
How you fly (as of 4 November 2026)
Typical time
San Francisco (SFO)
Vietnam Airlines nonstop to Ho Chi Minh City, 4 times a week
about 15 h 40 m
Los Angeles (LAX)
One stop via Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul or Hong Kong (no nonstop announced)
about 18–21 h in total
Seattle (SEA), New York (JFK)
China Airlines via Taipei, with Vietnam Airlines codeshare to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; or via Tokyo or Seoul
about 19–24 h in total
Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Washington, Boston
One stop via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei or Hong Kong; from the East Coast also via Doha or Istanbul
about 20–26 h in total
Our tip: fly into Hanoi and home from Ho Chi Minh City (or the reverse) so you never backtrack, and allow a gentle first day for jet lag – Vietnam is half a day ahead of you. Ho Chi Minh City’s new Long Thanh airport is due to open on 24 December 2026; no US flight has been announced there.
Cruise boats among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay at dawn · Photo: lumoplank / Wikimedia Commons, CC0Hoi An Ancient Town · Photo: Steffen Schmitz (more photos), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsMetta Voyage guests at the Saigon Opera House · Photo: Metta Voyage guests
Visa
Vietnam visa for US citizens
The US is not on Vietnam’s visa-exemption list, so arrange the e-visa before you fly. Our e-visa service can apply for you.
What applies to you
Visa type
Official e-visa, applied for online only at evisa.gov.vn (look-alike sites charge extra)
Length of stay
Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry
Government fee
US$25 single entry · US$50 multiple entry (Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, from 1 April 2026)
Adding Cambodia or Laos
Choose multiple entry if you leave Vietnam and come back in
Passport
Valid at least 6 months after arrival, with 2 blank pages
Phu Quoc only
Flying straight to Phu Quoc island: 30 days visa-free (mainland not included)
US travel advisory
Vietnam is Level 1, “Exercise normal precautions” (travel.state.gov)
Hanoi Old Quarter · Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vietnam’s north, centre and south have different weather in the same month, so we match the route to your dates (see our month-by-month guide). School breaks vary by district; the dates below are federal holidays.
Rowing boats at the Trang An Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh, Vietnam · Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
When
Dates
Where Vietnam is at its best
Thanksgiving week
Thu 26 Nov 2026 · Thu 25 Nov 2027
Dry season starts in the south and Phu Quoc; the north is cool and clear. The central coast can still be rainy.
Christmas & New Year
late December – early January
The south, the Mekong Delta and the islands are warm and dry; Hanoi is cool. Busiest season – book early.
Presidents’ Day & spring break
Mon 15 Feb 2027; spring break March–April
One of the best windows for a full north-to-south trip, including Ha Long Bay and Hoi An. Tet (Lunar New Year) falls on 6 February 2027 – lively but some places close.
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Mon 31 May – Mon 6 Sep 2027
The central coast (Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue) is at its sunniest; the north is hot and green; the south has short tropical showers.
Private Vietnam tours that suit American travellers
Prices are the “from” prices on each tour page, in US dollars per person for the whole tour, 2 travellers sharing. Every tour is private and can be changed to fit you.
Sunset over Long Beach, Phu Quoc · Photo: Alexey Komarov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Money
Vietnam uses the dong (VND). US dollars are easy to exchange, but prices are in dong; cards work in 4–5★ hotels and better restaurants, and ATMs are everywhere in the cities. Tell your bank you are travelling.
Plugs and power
Sockets take Types A and C. Your flat-pin Type A plugs usually fit, but Vietnam runs at 220 V: phones and laptops (100–240 V) are fine; a 120 V-only hair dryer needs a converter.
Phone and data
Our Vietnam eSIM or a local SIM costs far less than US roaming; your guide and travel designer are on WhatsApp throughout.
Travel insurance
The State Department advises checking that your insurance covers you overseas, including medical evacuation – US health plans often do not.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but not expected the US way. Our tipping guide gives realistic amounts for guides, drivers and boat crews.
Jet lag
Vietnam is 11–15 hours ahead. We plan a light first day and keep long transfers out of the first 48 hours.
Plug standards: IEC World Plugs. Travel advice: travel.state.gov.
Talk to us
Talk to us on a US number
Our travel designers work from Hanoi, 08:30–18:00 Vietnam time Monday to Saturday – that is the evening and night before on the East Coast – so a message sent after dinner is usually answered by the time you wake up. Once you are travelling, our on-tour line answers 24/7.
Flights from Vancouver and Toronto, and paying in Canadian dollars.
Pay at home
Pay in US dollars, to an account in the US
Metta Voyage holds a company account in the United States, so you can pay your deposit and balance by domestic ACH or wire in USD – no international wire and no fee from our side. The account details are printed on your invoice; we never change them by email alone, so if in doubt call us before you pay.
30% deposit
Confirms your trip once you accept the written quote. Nothing to pay before that.
Balance 45 days before arrival
Booking closer than 45 days? The full amount is due when you confirm.
Card option
You can also pay online by card; a 3.5% card fee applies and is shown before you pay. A bank transfer avoids it.
We only quote reviews you can check at the source.
Metta Voyage is rated 4.9/5 on Tripadvisor (Travelers’ Choice 2024 and 2025), with 2,000+ international bookings for 10,100+ travelers. Read our guests’ own words, each with its source: guest reviews · awards and licence.
Metta Voyage guests at Angkor Wat · Photo: Metta Voyage guests
The Meridian Gate (Ngo Mon) of the Imperial City in Hue, Vietnam · Photo: Chainwit. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0Metta Voyage guests at a Vietnamese cooking class · Photo: Metta Voyage guestsLimestone islands in Lan Ha Bay, next to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam · Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions
Vietnam from the USA: your questions
Is there a direct flight from the US to Vietnam?
Yes, one: Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City, about 15 h 40 m, four times a week (as of 4 November 2026). From other US cities you fly one stop via an Asian hub.
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Apply for the official e-visa at evisa.gov.vn before you fly: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, government fee US$25 or US$50.
Can I pay without an international wire?
Yes. You can pay in US dollars by domestic ACH or wire to our company account in the US, with no fee from our side; the details are on your invoice. Card payment is also possible with a 3.5% fee.
Do you have a US phone number?
Yes – call or WhatsApp +1 929 491 2828, or email [email protected]. Our 24/7 team in Vietnam is on +84 812 247 572.
What is the time difference between the US and Vietnam?
Vietnam (UTC+7, no daylight saving) is 12 hours ahead of New York and 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles in winter, and 11 and 14 hours ahead during US daylight saving.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam from the US?
Spring break (March–April) suits a full north-to-south trip; Christmas and Thanksgiving are good for the south and the islands; summer is best for the central coast.
How many days do I need in Vietnam?
Plan 12–15 days to see Vietnam from north to south, or 16–21 days to add Cambodia or a beach stay. With the long flights, under 10 days feels rushed.
What is included in a private tour?
Your private car and driver, a private English-speaking guide, hotels with breakfast, the meals, cruises and entrance fees listed in the itinerary, and 24/7 support. International flights and travel insurance are not included.
Updated 4 November 2026 by the Metta Voyage team in Hanoi (licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT). Flights, visa rules and holiday dates checked 4 November 2026 – confirm before booking. Other markets: Vietnam tours from your country.
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Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A travel designer replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and one price for the whole trip.
No payment before a written quote
30% deposit to confirm, balance 45 days before arrival
Private guide in your language (outside Vietnam subject to availability)
Metta Voyage holds company bank accounts in 13 currencies. Pay your deposit by local bank transfer with no fee from us; the account details come with your invoice.
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