[1] A key point in the East–West economic corridor linking Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, the city is situated in the Southeast of the province, alongside the Lam River and is located on the main North–South transportation route of Vietnam, making it accessible by highway, railroad, boat and air.

The Vinh International Airport is served daily by four carriers: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways and Jetstar Pacific.

The total area of Vinh city is 166 square kilometres (64 sq mi), divided administratively into 16 wards and 9 communes.

The Vietnamese nation began in the north, and only gradually expanded to cover its current territories – as such, Vinh was sometimes seen as a "gateway to the south".

The service sector comprises the largest part of Vinh's economy, with around 55% of the working population being employed in this area.

Vinh is an important transportation hub, having a key position on the route between the northern and southern parts of the country, and is also a notable port.

Vinh and Nghe An province are rapidly growing tourist destinations on the north central coast of Vietnam, and are home to various attractions.

The city features several unique sites including Song Lam (Light Blue River), Ho Chi Minh Square, Phuong Hoang Trung Do (Phoenix Capital with Quang Trung King Temple), Dung Quyet Mountain with picturesque and breathtaking scenery of the Lam River, Hong Linh Mountain Rank and the South China Sea.

President Ho Chi Minh's hometown, Kim Lien, is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of Vinh in Nam Dan district.

A local tour company offers guided tours of Pu Mat in English or Vietnamese, with the chance to explore Khe Kem Waterfall, Giang River boat trip, Pha Lai Dam, and “Sang Le” Forest.

Quyet Mountain, on the edge of Vinh, is used as a peaceful retreat from the city, with visitors climbing four hundred steps to the summit.

[citation needed] Characteristics: Museum displaying relics and documents during the Xo Viet Nghe Tinh highs 1930–1931.

This is a unique cultural works preserve over 5,000 original artefacts and documents express the spirit of the unyielding revolution of Nghe Tinh people in the Soviet highs 1930–1931.

In front of the Museum, there is a vestiges where President Ho Chi Minh talked with officials and people of Nghe An when he visited the country in 1957 and the Vinh City Stadium.

There are some unique dishes originating in Vinh and the surrounding areas in Nghe An and Ha Tinh, including cháo lươn (spicy eel soup), bánh mướt (steamed rice rolls), kẹo Cu Đơ (peanut rice paper candy), Vinh orange.