Vietnam isn't the first country that comes to mind for LGBTQIA+ travel in Asia, but a growing Pride scene, shifting laws and a fast-changing social mood are quietly making it one worth adding to the list. A recent conversation with two openly queer tour leaders working for Intrepid in Vietnam offers a candid snapshot of what life is actually like on the ground — and what visitors can expect.

Anh Vuong and Phuong Le, both 35, have guided travellers for years, and their stories bookend the Vietnamese experience. Phuong grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, which she calls one of the country's most open-minded cities, though she still learned early to keep her head down. Anh grew up in Thai Nguyen, a northern province of mountains and tea plantations near Hanoi, where she was shouted at in the street and faced rejection at home. Their takeaway for travellers: big cities are used to queer visitors, but rural areas can still be curious — couples, gay or straight, are better off being discreet in the countryside.

Legally, things are inching forward. Same-sex marriage was decriminalised in 2015, though it remains unrecognised. In 2022, Vietnam's Health Ministry stated that same-sex attraction and being transgender are not mental-health conditions, aligning policy with global health standards. Neither is full equality, but both matter in a region where several neighbours remain openly hostile.

The community's cultural footprint is easier to feel than its legal one. Lo To shows — high-energy, all-singing, all-dancing performances staged entirely by LGBTQIA+ performers — grew out of a time when queer people were mocked on TV and shut out of mainstream jobs, and they've become a beloved institution worth seeking out. Pride season now stretches from June through September, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City hosting the centrepiece marches that wind past street-food markets, lamplit cafes and riverfront promenades. Anh recalls that at Hanoi Pride even straight locals turned up smiling.

For Phuong, the mood among younger Vietnamese is the real story: stereotypes are fading, and in her experience nobody shows open hostility to queer travellers. For Anh, workplace acceptance was the turning point — she was the first person in Intrepid's Vietnam team to come out officially, and the support she found there gave her the confidence to be open with travellers too.

Why does this matter if you're planning a trip? Because Vietnam is genuinely welcoming to LGBTQIA+ visitors in a low-key way: you'll find gay clubs and queer-owned bars in the major cities, a lively Pride calendar, and local guides increasingly comfortable being themselves. It's a good fit for travellers who want street food, scooters and stunning coastline without hiding who they are — just with a little extra discretion outside the cities.

Credit: Intrepid Travel Blog