Weekend night markets
Hanoi's Old Quarter closes to traffic on weekend evenings. Walking streets fill with food stalls, performers, and families. Ho Chi Minh City's Bui Vien street is backpacker-central but lively.
☀️ Weekend culture in Vietnam
Weekends in Vietnam have their own rhythm. Markets, day trips, sport, religion or rest — what people in Vietnam actually do on their days off says a lot about the culture.
In Vietnam, weekend culture comes down to a few things: weekend night markets, café culture, and day trips.
Café culture
Vietnamese café culture is elaborate — hidden garden cafés, rooftop cafés, cafés in old French villas. Spending hours at a café with iced coffee and wifi is a valid weekend plan.
Day trips
Ninh Binh (Halong Bay on land) from Hanoi, Củ Chi Tunnels from HCMC, Hội An from Da Nang. Weekend trips are easy because distances between highlights are short.