Taipei → Seoul

Autumn, September to November, is the most reliably rewarding stretch. Seoul turns over to foliage season across its hills and palace grounds, the sky clears, temperatures settle at 15–22°C, and the festival calendar fills up. If you have only one trip in you this year, this is the safe bet.

Spring, March to May, is the blossom trip. Cherry blossom usually peaks in early April, the weather is comfortable and Seoul's parks look their absolute best. Bloom timing shifts year to year, so build in a couple of spare days around your target dates rather than betting everything on one weekend.

Winter, December to February, is the biggest departure from what a Taipei winter feels like: temperatures of roughly -5 to 5°C, along with ski season, winter festivals and the cheapest flights of the year. Bring serious layers and the cold becomes part of the appeal rather than an obstacle.

South Korea uses the Korean Won (KRW) and Korean is the language you will see and hear almost everywhere. Seoul runs on UTC+9, a small but real adjustment to make when you land, particularly if you are on a compressed weekend itinerary.

Change one app habit before you go: Google Maps does not work properly in South Korea because of national security restrictions on mapping data. Naver Maps is the local standard and handles subway routing, walking directions and restaurant listings, so install it while you still have familiar wifi.

For transit, buy a T-money card at any convenience store. It works on all buses, the entire subway network and even some taxis, and topping up is a counter transaction. On entry paperwork, Vietnamese passport holders must obtain a K-ETA electronic travel authorisation online at least 72 hours before departure, so check the current requirement for your own passport before finalising plans.

The three obvious bases split by price. Hongdae is the budget and nightlife district, busy with students and live music. Myeongdong is mid-range and shopping-centric, a practical base if you want everything within a short subway ride. Gangnam and Apgujeong sit at the luxury end, with the smartest hotels and the designer streets.

For sights, Gyeongbokgung Palace is the starting point, with Bukchon Hanok Village and its traditional lanes just uphill from it. N Seoul Tower on Namsan is worth an evening for the view over the whole basin. And Korean BBQ in Mapo-gu is the meal to plan around rather than stumble into.

One more thing worth adopting locally: convenience stores such as CU and GS25 sell hot kimbap, ramyeon and rice bowls that count as proper meals, which is handy when you land late or have an early start. Our destination guide at /en/destinations/seoul lays out neighbourhoods, transport and food in much more depth.