Seoul Solo Travel 2026: Visa, Costs for a 5-Day Itinerary

If you’re planning a DIY trip to Seoul, you only need to prepare around 13 – 25 million VND to get started on a fairly complete journey. To make your trip smoother, this article will compile the most important practical tips: from applying for a C-3-9 visa, choosing the right time to go, budgeting costs, exchanging money, planning your itinerary, to how to buy an affordable eSIM when traveling to South Korea.

About the C-3-9 visa: Don’t confuse it with K-ETA

The first thing to remember: Vietnamese citizens are required to apply for a C-3-9 visa before flying to South Korea for tourism. Many people still confuse a Korean visa with K-ETA, but K-ETA only applies to citizens of visa-exempt countries. Vietnam is not on that list. The C-3-9 tourist visa is usually valid for 3 months and allows a maximum stay of 30 days per entry.

What documents do you need to prepare?

The South Korea tourist visa application is not too complicated, but you need to prepare everything fully and clearly from the start. The basic documents include:

Visa fee and waiting time for results

South Korea visa costs usually range around 910.000 – 2.500.000 VND, depending on whether you prepare the application yourself or use a service. If you submit it yourself at KVAC, the fixed fee is about more than 900.000 VND, including the 20 USD consular fee and the center’s service fee.

Usually, processing takes about 7 – 10 working days. However, during peak seasons such as cherry blossom season in 3 – 4 or autumn foliage season in 10 – 11, the number of applications rises sharply, so the waiting time can extend to 18 – 20 days. To be more proactive, you should book an appointment with KVAC in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City about 1 months before your trip.

Don’t forget to fill out the e-Arrival Card

After obtaining your visa, about 72 hours before departure, you should go to e-arrivalcard.go.kr to submit your entry information. This is the free information portal of the South Korean government.

After completing it, the system will issue a QR code. You should take a screenshot or print it out so you can scan it quickly when you arrive at Incheon Airport, saving time and avoiding the queue for paper forms.

When is the best month to go to Seoul?

Seoul has four distinct seasons, and each season has its own appeal. However, the weather differs quite a lot between seasons, so you need to choose the right time based on your preferences and budget.

Spring, from 3 to 5

Spring is a very popular time, especially 4 when cherry blossoms are in full bloom. From late 3 to early 4, places like Yeouido Park or Seokchon Lake are often covered in beautiful pink blossoms. Temperatures in this season are around 5 – 20°C. Daytime is quite pleasant, but early mornings and late evenings are still cold, so you should bring a light jacket.

Summer, from 6 to 8

Summer in Seoul usually has showers, humid weather, and can feel a bit uncomfortable. If you prioritize outdoor photos, this is not the most ideal time. On the plus side, summer is low season, so airfare and hotel prices often drop by around 20 – 30%. If you want to save money, you can still consider traveling during this period.

Autumn, from 9 to 11

Autumn is considered the best time to travel to Seoul. The weather is dry and cool, with temperatures around 15 – 22°C. In 10 and 11, places like Bukhansan Mountain or the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace are filled with yellow and red leaves. However, because this is a peak travel season, you should book your room about 2 months in advance.

Winter, from 12 to 2

Winter in Seoul is very cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping to around -5°C and snow falling. This is a good time if you want to see snow, go skiing at Vivaldi Park, or watch the Christmas lantern festival at Cheonggyecheon Stream. Winter room rates are usually about 30 – 40% cheaper than peak season.

How much does a DIY trip to Seoul for 5 days 4 nights cost?

A DIY Seoul trip for 5 days 4 nights usually ranges from around 13 – 25 million VND per person, depending on your spending style. With a standard budget, around 17 million VND is already quite comfortable.

A real example: a traveler who recently went to Seoul in 4 with total expenses of about 16,7 million VND. Of that, a round-trip Vietjet ticket was 6,5 million VND, an Ibis Myeongdong hotel stay for 4 nights, split per person, was about 3,9 million VND, a Discover Seoul Pass was about 920.000 VND, transportation funds loaded into T-money were about 640.000 VND, food and drinks were about 1,84 million VND, the eSIM cost about 280.000 VND, and the rest was set aside for cosmetics shopping at Olive Young.

Tips to save money on a DIY Seoul trip

To keep the trip lighter on your budget, you can apply a few tips below:

Suggested detailed 5 days 4 nights Seoul itinerary

The itinerary below is arranged by area to minimize unnecessary back-and-forth travel between attractions.

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul and check in to Myeongdong

• Morning or noon: After landing at Incheon Airport, you can take the AREX train directly to Seoul Station. The express train takes about 43 minutes, the regular train takes about 58 minutes, and fares range from 4.250 – 9.500 KRW.
• Afternoon: Go to your hotel in the Myeongdong area to drop off your luggage or check in. After that, you can stop by Myeongdong Kyoja for handmade knife-cut noodles, priced around 11.000 KRW per bowl. After eating, spend some time walking around, shopping, and visiting Olive Young to check out cosmetics.
• Evening: In the evening, you can head to the Itaewon area for a change of pace. If you like Korean BBQ, you can go to Maple Tree House for grilled meat.

Day 2: Explore palaces and traditional villages

• Morning: Around 9 a.m., you should be at Gyeongbokgung Palace for sightseeing, photos, and the royal guard-changing ceremony at 10 a.m. Admission is 3.000 KRW. If you rent a hanbok, you can enter the palace for free.
• At lunchtime, you can stop by nearby Tosokchon for ginseng chicken soup.
• Afternoon: From the palace, you can walk to Bukchon Hanok Village. Important note: this area currently limits visiting hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you stay past the allowed time or make noise, visitors may be fined 100.000 KRW.
• Evening: In the evening, you can visit cafes in the Ikseon-dong area, then go for a walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream and admire the LED lights around 19 p.m.

Day 3: See Seoul from above and go shopping

• Morning: Start your day at the Seoul Sky observatory in Lotte World Tower, from floor 117 to floor 123. The highlight is the Sky Deck glass floor at a height of 478 m, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Ticket prices are about 31.000 KRW.
• Afternoon: Head to COEX Mall in Gangnam to check in at Starfield Library, the famous giant library that is free to visit. In the late afternoon, you can go up N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain to watch the sunset.
• Evening: At night, you can go for a night stroll or return to the hotel to rest, depending on how you feel.

Day 4: Take a longer trip to Nami Island and the French village

• Morning: Leave from Yongsan Station and take the ITX train around 8 a.m. to Gapyeong. Travel time is about 1 hours, and a one-way ticket is about 6.900 KRW. From Gapyeong, continue by ferry to Nami Island. The package ticket including round-trip ferry is about 19.000 KRW. Nami Island is famous for its straight tree-lined paths, romantic scenery, and is very suitable for photography.
• Afternoon: After visiting Nami Island, you can stop by Petite France, a French-style village along the same route. By around 7 p.m., heading back to Seoul is just right.

Day 5: Buy souvenirs and head to the airport

• Morning: Visit Dongdaemun Market to buy souvenirs or clothes. This area has both wholesale and retail, and prices are usually about 30 – 40% cheaper than Myeongdong.
• Noon: Return to the hotel to pack and check out. Before heading to the airport, you can stop by Gwangjang Market for a casual bibimbap priced around 5.000 KRW.
• Afternoon: From Seoul Station, take the AREX train to Incheon Airport and complete your flight back to Vietnam in the evening.

Should you visit Seoul or Busan first?

If you like a lively atmosphere, shopping, historic palaces, and K-pop vibes, you should choose Seoul first. This city is suitable for first-time visitors to South Korea because it has many famous attractions, convenient transportation, and plenty of dining and shopping options.

If you prefer the sea, fresh seafood, and a more relaxed pace, Busan will be the right choice. If you have about 7 – 10 days, you can combine both Seoul and Busan by KTX train. Travel time is over 2 hours, and the ticket price is about 59.800 KRW.

How do you get around Seoul conveniently?

Public transportation in Seoul is very developed, clean, and easy to use. First-time visitors can still get around quite easily if they prepare the necessary apps and payment card in advance.

Subway

The subway is the most convenient way to get around Seoul. Fares are usually about 1.400 – 1.500 KRW per ride, depending on distance. If you transfer or switch to a bus within 30 minutes, the system will automatically apply a discount.

Taxi

Taxis in Seoul have a base fare of about 4.800 KRW for the first 2 km. You should install the Kakao T app in advance to call a car, see the fare beforehand, and reduce the risk of unclear charges.

T-money card

As soon as you arrive at the airport, you can buy a T-money card at convenience stores like CU or GS25. The card cost is about 2.500 – 4.000 KRW. For a trip of a few days, you can top up around 20.000 – 25.000 KRW in advance for the subway and buses.

One small note: in South Korea, Google Maps does not show walking directions as accurately as in many other countries because of local map policies. You should download Naver Map for directions and Papago to translate Korean into Vietnamese or English.

Delicious foods to try in Seoul

Food is a very worthwhile part of the Seoul travel experience. Below are some signature dishes you should try.

Choose accommodation that suits your style

Choosing the right area to stay will save you a lot of travel time each day. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can consider the following areas:

Choose an eSIM to stay continuously connected 4G

When traveling to Seoul independently, the internet is almost indispensable. You need data to navigate, call a car, translate Korean, message family, or find places to eat. Instead of removing and inserting a physical SIM or lining up to buy one at the airport, you can buy an eSIM before you go.

Currently, Korean travel eSIM such as SIMPM using KT’s major network in South Korea is quite reasonably priced. For example, the 5GB plan for 5 days costs around 280.000 VND, which is just enough for a short Seoul trip.

After purchase, you will receive a QR code by email. Just scan it, install it in advance, and turn on the eSIM when the plane lands, and you can use data right away to call Kakao T, check Naver Map, or contact family and friends.

Important notes to avoid extra costs

Avoid major Korean holidays

Before booking, you should check South Korea’s holiday calendar, especially Chuseok around late 9 and Seollal around 2. During these periods, Koreans usually return to their hometowns, many stores and traditional markets are closed, taxis are harder to get, and room rates can rise sharply.

Do not visit Bukchon traditional village past the regulated hours

Since after 11/2024, Bukchon traditional village has tightened visiting regulations in the special management area. Visitors may be fined 100.000 KRW if they remain after 5 p.m. or make noise. Therefore, you should not try to linger for sunset photos in this area to avoid unnecessary fines.

DIY travel to Seoul is not too difficult if you prepare carefully in advance. Apply for your visa about 2 months ahead, plan a reasonable itinerary, exchange money in Vietnam first, buy your eSIM in advance, and book your hotel early if you’re traveling during peak season. As long as you prepare these important parts well, you can relax and enjoy a fun, budget-friendly Seoul trip with fewer risks.