If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam in 2023, there are certain essential things you’d better know before visiting Vietnam, especially for travelers who plan to visit Vietnam for the first time. Below are our 10 quick Vietnam travel tips to help you plan your perfect trip and travel Vietnam like an expert.
1. Purchase Travel Insurance
No matter your travel style and plans, travel insurance is essential for visiting any countries, and Vietnam is no exception. According to the latest travel requirements to Vietnam, having medical or travel insurance is also a must for international travelers.
Though Vietnam is a relatively safe country to visit, travel insurance helps to ensure an additional layer of protection by covering risks like loss of documents, check-in baggage, sickness during the trip, etc.
Recommended Itinerary: 7 Days Classic South Vietnam Tour with Beach Break
2. Prepare Your Vietnam Visa
Most international travelers need a visa to enter Vietnam, except for people from the Vietnam visa-free countries. Passport holders from some European countries like Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, etc. can travel to Vietnam visa-free for 15 days as long as their passport is valid for at least 6 months and has at least 2 blank pages when arriving in Vietnam.
For travelers from countries not included in the visa exemption, applying for a visa beforehand is recommended. The lucky fact is that citizens from 80 countries now can apply for a Vietnam E-visa online.
Please get to our Vietnam Visa Guide page for more detailed information and requirements, also including how to apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival.
3. Visit Vietnam at the Right Season – March to April, September to Early December
Generally speaking, the best time to visit Vietnam is spring from March to April, and autumn from September to early December when most of the country enjoys pleasant temperatures.
Vietnam has a humid, warm climate due to the tropical monsoon, and frequently experiences unpredictable weather like heavy precipitation, typhoons, and scorching heat.
Moreover, the country is long and narrow, spreading over 1600 km from north to south, which leaves the temperature and climate drastically different from north to south. So, the recommended visiting time also varies based on where you want to visit.
4.Buy a Local SIM Card or Pocket Wifi
For first timers to Vietnam, it’s highly recommended to buy a local SIM card or pocket wifi, so you can link to your familiar travel apps or some useful tools at any time, like Google Translate, Google Maps, and taxi apps, etc. This helps a lot to make your trip in Vietnam less stressful, though most hotels and upscale restaurants in Vietnam offer free wifi.
How to get a Vietnam SIM card? It’s easy, you can get to one of the various vendors to buy one after arrival, or book one online in advance and have it delivered to your hotel.
Recommended Itinerary: 14 Days Vietnam In-depth Tour from North to South
5.Carry Enough Dong (Vietnamese official currency) with You
Cash is still king in Vietnam, and sometimes only cash is accepted when paying at street food vendors, marketplaces, taxis, and some small hotels in countryside areas. Though most hotels and travel services accept credit cards or debit cards, service fees may be charged. US dollars can also be directly used at some hotels and restaurants or for some travel services, but usually will be converted at a lower exchange rate.
Flights, hotels, food, and sightseeing are some of the main expenses in Vietnam. Generally, a week-long excursion in Vietnam costs about $1,000 per person, this may vary according to your itinerary and style.
The most commonly used denominations in Vietnam are VND 1,000, VND 2,000, VND 5,000; VND 10,000, VND 20,000, VND 50,000; VND 100,000, VND 50,000, VND 200,000 and VND 500,000.
Click to see more details on Money and Currency in Vietnam.
Places to exchange money in Vietnam
- Banks – the safest place to exchange money and don’t need to worry about fake money, but usually have a lower exchange rate than in gold shops and currency exchange shops.
- Money exchange shops inside tourist attractions or airports – trusted and legal places, but usually need to wait for a long time since many exchange shops are small.
- Gold shops – exchange rates are relatively high, accept old or damaged notes, and usually need to wait in a long line.
6. How to Get Around Vietnam？
Among the many ways to travel between different cities and attractions in Vietnam include airplane, train, bus, ferry, boat, taxi and motorbike, which are mostly very cheap. For travelers who book a tour package, the land transfers and pick-up/drop-off services will be included.
Motorbike is the easiest and most popular transportation to use in Vietnam. For travelers who are good at motorbike driving, it would be an interesting experience to travel through the streets of Hanoi Old Quarter or Ho Chi Minh City.
If you are traveling with families or friends, Grab Taxi should be a good choice. Grab (the most popular taxi brand in Vietnam) is a similar app to Uber, you can use this app to book a ride and know how long and how much will it cost to get to your destination.
The local bus is also a popular and budget transportation for traveling long distances between different provinces. Though no English-speaking staff, not easy to communicate with, backpackers like this method because it’s cheap and flexible.
7. Tipping in Vietnam is not a Must
In Vietnam, tipping is not compulsory. No matter whether you are dining in some high-end restaurants or sampling food at a street stall, tipping is generally not really a thing.
However, tipping tour guides and drivers are the norm here and very much appreciated. You don’t need to tip much, we recommend 10-20%, depending on how much you are satisfied with their service.
8. What to Pack for Your Vietnam Trip?
- Clothes
You’re recommended to pack lightweight, comfortable and breathable clothes that can withstand the intense humidity and heat in Vietnam are the best choice. Do remember to bring a raincoat and a waterproof jacket.
Summer clothes, shorts, lightweight jackets, jeans, and long-sleeved shirts withstand most weather conditions in Vietnam. Warm clothes are needed only when you visit during winter days from mid-December to March.
Wear below-the-knee skirts or Trousers and avoid revealing clothes when visiting some religious sites.
- Bug Spray, Tiger Balm, or Cortisone Cream
Malaria is rarely found throughout Vietnam, but Dengue fever is not uncommon in some urban areas. Thus, it is wise to protect yourself by carrying a bottle of mosquito repellant, and applying the repellent daily in the morning before you hang out.
If you accidentally get bitten by a mosquito, rub the tiger balm or cortisone cream over to reduce discomfort and avoid getting infected.
- Sun Protection and Hat
Sunscreen is another necessary item to bring when traveling in Vietnam to protect yourself from powerful sun rays.
A wide-brimmed hat is also a good help to reduce sun-stroke.
- Travel Adapter
Sockets in Vietnam fit plug types like A (2 vertical pins), C (2 round pins), and F (Schuko plug), and the standard voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50Hz. If your plug types and device don’t work in Vietnam, or you plan to extend your trip to other countries, we recommend preparing a global adapter in case.
- Portable Phone Charger
A portable phone charger is also essential especially when there is a long bus or train ride during your trip, or you need to use GPS frequently. After all, no one wants to be stranded and cut off from communication in a strange place.
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9. Don’t Drink the Tap Water
The tap water is not safe to drink directly in Vietnam, you are recommended to either buy bottled water or prepare a reusable water bottle to refill drinkable water at your hotel.
10. Learn a Few Basic Vietnam Phrases
Though English is widely spoken in big cities such as Saigon and Hanoi, and many touristy places, learning some basic Vietnam phrases will make it easier to greet and get closer to the locals. Below are some common phrases that are helpful for travelers:
- Xin chào (Sin chow) – Hello
- Cho tôi hỏi (Cho toy hoi) – Excuse me/May I ask
- Dạ/Không (Dza/Kong) – Yes/No
- Cảm ơn (cam on) – Thank you
- Không, cảm ơn (Kong, cam on) – No, thank you!
- Xin Loi – Sorry.
- Bạn khỏe không? (Ban kwae kong) – How are you?
- Tạm biệt (Tam biet) – Goodbye
- Tôi không hiểu (Toy kong hew) – I don’t understand
- Cái này giá bao nhiêu? –How much is it?
- Làm ơn giúp tôi – Please help me
- Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? – Where is the bathroom?
There you have the ultimate Vietnam travel tips! If you have more questions regarding traveling to Vietnam, please feel free to contact our expert travel consultants for advice.
