East Asia · Taiwan

Taipei Travel Guide

Flights, places to stay, and the best things to do in Taipei for travelers flying from Vietnam.

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Taipei Travel Guide
Currency
Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Language
Mandarin
Timezone
UTC+8
Flight Time
3.5 hours from HCM

Overview

Taipei is Asia's most overlooked city for food lovers. Night markets serve some of the best street food on the planet — beef noodle soup, xiao long bao, bubble tea (invented here). The city is clean, safe, and incredibly easy to navigate by MRT. Japanese colonial architecture, Chinese temples, and modern skyscrapers create a unique cityscape.

Flights from Vietnam

SGN → TPE
Ho Chi Minh City → Taipei
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HAN → TPE
Hanoi → Taipei
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Where to stay

Budget$20–45/night

Ximending

Young, vibrant pedestrian shopping district. Hostels and budget hotels.

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Mid-range$50–100/night

Zhongshan

Design district with boutique hotels, cafes, and underground book streets.

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Luxury$100–300/night

Xinyi (Taipei 101)

Business district. Taipei 101 observation deck. High-end malls.

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Things to do

Shilin Night Market

Taipei's largest and most famous night market. Stinky tofu, pepper buns, XXL chicken cutlet.

Taipei 101

Once the world's tallest building. Fast elevator to 89th floor. Best at sunset.

Jiufen Old Street

Spirited Away village on a hillside. Tea houses with ocean views. 1-hour bus from Taipei.

Hot Springs (Beitou)

Free public hot springs in northern Taipei. Take the MRT. Budget 2-3 hours.

Best time to visit

October – December

Cool, dry weather. Perfect for walking.

Travel tips

  • 1

    EasyCard for MRT and buses.

  • 2

    YouBike public bikes are everywhere — $0.15 per 30 minutes.

  • 3

    Night markets peak 6-10pm.

Practical FAQ

Q:When is the best time to visit Taipei?

A:October to December is the best time to visit Taipei. The weather turns cool and dry in those months, which is ideal for walking the city, wandering night markets and taking day trips out of Taipei without fighting heat or heavy rain. If your dates are flexible, aim for this autumn-to-early-winter window.

Q:How long is the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Taipei?

A:The flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Taipei takes about 3.5 hours. That is a short-haul trip by Vietnamese standards — comfortable enough for a four- or five-day holiday in Taipei, and with only a one-hour time difference from Vietnam you will not lose time adjusting after landing.

Q:What currency and time zone does Taipei use?

A:Taipei uses the Taiwan Dollar (TWD) and sits in UTC+8, one hour ahead of Vietnam — 12pm in Ho Chi Minh City is 1pm in Taipei. The main language is Mandarin. For getting around Taipei, an EasyCard covers the MRT and buses, so load one on arrival and skip queuing for tickets.

Q:Which area of Taipei should I stay in?

A:In Taipei, Ximending is the budget base at roughly $20–45 per night, lively and full of street food. Zhongshan is the mid-range choice at about $50–100 per night. For a luxury stay, the Xinyi district around Taipei 101 runs around $100–300 per night. All three sit on Taipei's MRT network.

Q:What should I do and know before visiting Taipei?

A:In Taipei, the must-dos are Shilin Night Market, Taipei 101, a trip to Jiufen Old Street and the hot springs at Beitou. Night markets in Taipei peak between 6pm and 10pm, so plan dinner around that. YouBike public bicycles are everywhere at about $0.15 per 30 minutes, and an EasyCard covers the MRT and buses.
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