9 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT VIETNAM
Vietnam, a country in rapid economic development, is a unique blend of modern life and tradition. It has recently embraced tourism, trade, and global significance while holding onto its rich historical past.
Vietnam is a country that can capture your heart. But, before you visit, here are some things to know.
1. VIETNAM VISAS
Visitors of most nationalities, including the United States, will need a visa to visit Vietnam. You can get a Visa online using the official Vietnamese government website.
The application process is all online and referred to as an e-visa. You must upload a passport-type photo and a copy of your passport personal information page. There is a one-time charge for the visa application.
YOU WILL NEED TO PRINT OUT A HARD COPY OF YOUR VISA AND BRING IT TO VIETNAM.
Vietnam tourist visas for Americans are good for up to 30 days. Check your country’s visa requirements; some countries can extend them to 90 days.
Once you complete your application, you will be given two confirmation codes once you submit your online visa application. Save these codes—one to look up your application's status and the other to edit your application. The immigration department will email you when your visa is approved. The Vietnam Immigration website claims the application process will take three days.
In the United States, you will show the hard copy of your Vietnam visa at check-in for your international flight. Also, have it ready to show the passport checkers when you arrive at your transit and/or final destination in Vietnam.
From experience, I learned that Vietnam has stringent visa regulations, and fees/penalties apply for not following immigration rules. Be sure to exit the country before your visa expires.
Also, note that you will need the visa printout when you leave Vietnam.
Vietnam no longer requires a health declaration form or COVID-19 vaccine documentation. I am unaware of any business or site in Vietnam that requires it, not in 2024. It never hurts when traveling internationally to have your shot record tucked away in your “important travel documents” should the need arise.
2. MONEY AND USING CREDIT CARDS
You will need money in Vietnam, and transactions are almost exclusively cash. The currency is Vietnamese Dong (VND), and the exchange rates hover around 20K-25K VND per USD 1.
It is best to memorize these bills:
20K Note =around $.80
50K Note = around $2
100K Note = around $4
500K Note = around $20
USD used to be accepted in Vietnam, but today, it is only used for big purchases like buying a house or business.
HOW TO GET CASH
One way to get local currency in Vietnam is by ATM or at a regional Vietnamese bank. If you bring foreign currency to Vietnam, you can exchange it when you get there.
Currency exchanges are everywhere in Vietnamese cities, and the rates are reasonable.
USD is most easily exchanged, with almost no markup on the exchange rates. Currency exchanges are available at airports, both the international and domestic terminals. They are typically after baggage claim and customs.
If you are changing only a few hundred dollars upon arrival, change it at the airport and then ask your hotel personnel where best to exchange more in the next few days or find an ATM.
NOTE: Your foreign currency must be reasonably clean to be exchanged for Vietnamese Dong. No rips, tears, or aged bills. Some exchanges won’t even take folded bills.
A good place to exchange currency is “gold and diamond shops.” If you see gold prices posted on the door, that is also a currency exchange. Banks and official exchange points will often ask for your passport and other documents, and the wait can be longer.
USING YOUR ATM CARD
We typically use our ATM card to get VND. Visa debit cards and Mastercard debit are universally accepted in Vietnam. Discover and JCB are much less likely to be accepted.
BEWARE! Many ATMs in Vietnam are dodgy. They can malfunction, eat your card, or even debit your account without giving you cash. Knowing Vietnamese helps resolve an ATM issue at the bank.
Our solution is to use HSBC ATMs. HSBC is the primary international bank still operating in Vietnam. It typically has ATMs at the international terminals in the major cities. If you can, use an ATM attached to a bank branch instead of a standalone.
If you have VND left over after your time in Vietnam, convert it back to your home country at the airport before you exit.
USING CREDIT CARDS
Most small establishments do not accept credit cards and are not widely accepted in Vietnam. Of course, most resorts, large restaurants, and larger hotels will take your cards, but cash is king here. Rates can even be negotiable when using cash. Be aware that a fee can also be added to your bill using a credit card.
3. HOW TO GET AROUND IN VIETNAM
Some cities in Vietnam are easier to get around than others. Hanoi is very walkable, while Ho Chi Minh City is much larger and requires transportation to most places. Getting to and from smaller cities requires some planning and typically a private driver, a short flight, or public transportation.
There are a few options for getting around the cities in Vietnam.
GRAB (Vietnam’s ride-share app): Download the app on your Android or Apple device. It is used the same way as UBER or Lyft in America. Be aware of GRAB scammers – dressed in a GRAB jacket with a sticker on their car or bike. Only use the driver assigned to your GRAB app reservation. There is also the GrabBike, which provides motorbike or scooter service.
TAXI: It is best to be aware of taxi scams in Vietnam. If you are set on using a taxi service in Vietnam, ask your hotel for assistance. Always ask for the price before you take the taxi ride. We have taken many taxi rides and only once dealt with a scam. But it is prevalent, especially for tourists.
CYCLOS: Avoid Cyclo (bicycle rickshaw), guys. They can scam tourists into paying $50 for a ride that might only cost $2 in a Grab Car.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Is there public transportation? Yes. I recommend buses for long destinations but use GRAB when going shorter distances.
PRIVATE CAR/TOUR COMPANIES: If you have extra money in your Vietnam travel budget and want to hire a private driver, many options are available. We have used the Private Car Vietnam service for longer destinations between cities. It’s a great option and an excellent way to see the country by road.
SMALL CITY ELECTRIC TAXIS: It is becoming more popular to see electric vehicle taxis (like an extended golf cart) in some smaller cities.
AIRLINES: Flights are available daily to and from major cities in Vietnam.
4. LEARN SOME VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE
Knowing the essential Vietnamese travel phrases will significantly help you while visiting Vietnam. Here are the typical phrases to know:
Thank You - Cảm ơn ("cam-ooooon")
Hello - Xin chào ("zin-chow")
Excuse Me - xin lỗi ("zin-loy")
How Much - bao nhiêu
Please - Xin vui lòng ("zin-voy-long")
WC (Bathroom) - WC 😉
A few Vietnamese sentences and words will win you many hearts and minds. The Vietnamese people would be very appreciative if they saw you make an effort.
Another great option is to use the Google Translate App on your smartphone. That has also helped us communicate over time and made our visit more enjoyable.
5. HEALTH, VACCINES & DRINKING WATER
Don’t drink the tap water.
You can bring a water bottle with a filter, like LifeStraw, but do so at your own risk. Most health issues while traveling in Southeast Asia stem from drinking water.
We also don’t typically eat fresh produce from markets that have been cut. It is best to choose fruits with thick skin, like watermelon, mangos, or longan fruit. An excellent option for daily fresh fruit and vegetables is breakfast at your hotel or a reputable restaurant.
While traveling through Southeast Asia, we typically avoid salads or uncooked vegetables. Avoid ice in drinks in pavement restaurants.
Vaccines are a personal preference, but the CDC recommendations include DTP, Flu, MMR, Polio, COVID-19, Hep A and B, Typhoid, and Malaria meds, depending on where you travel in Vietnam.
I have not used Malaria medications in Vietnam, but I have used plenty of repellants in rural areas. It is best practice to use mosquito repellant around sunset, sunrise, or whenever mosquitoes are present. Dengue fever can be an issue in parts of Vietnam. If your hotel room has a mosquito netting around the bed, use it.
Carrying a small medical bag with all the essential medicines you may need is good practice. This includes antibiotics, cold and flu medicines, over-the-counter pain meds, diarrhea and constipation meds, antiseptic creams, antihistamines, and other medications that may be challenging to find on your travels through Vietnam.
Travelers can use public medical centers and hospitals at a cost.
I highly recommend travel insurance while visiting Vietnam.
6. A FEW VIETNAMESE CULTURAL DO’S AND DONT'S
Here is a quick list of some cultural things to know on your visit to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese dress modestly, and this is especially true when visiting temples and pagodas. Cover your arms and legs and hide as much bare skin as possible.
As a tourist, talking politics with a local Vietnamese is uncomfortable. Issues like communism, the Vietnam/American War, democracy, and human rights are topics best left unspoken.
When buying something, offer half the price and barter from there. Another option is to make the lowest possible offer and walk away to another shop until an owner calls you back.
Store your cash, credit cards, and any valuables in a safe place. Most 3-star or higher hotels have in-room safes.
Before leaving your hotel, take a hotel business card from the reception desk. It will make the return trip easier.
Carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack.
Violent crimes are highly unusual in Vietnam. Pickpocket and petty theft do happen, so stay alert.
Ask for permission when photographing or filming someone, especially in rural (minority) villages.
7. THERE ARE 54 RECOGNIZED ETHNIC GROUPS IN VIETNAM
Vietnam is a multi-national country with 54 ethnic groups. Its current population is over 99 million.
The Viet Kinh (Vietnamese) comprise 86% of the population. They are the only ethnic group among the 54 groups of Vietnam that reside in communities across all provinces, terrains, and areas throughout the country (including delta, midlands, mountainous regions, highlands, coastal areas, and islands).
The other 53 ethnic minority groups, totaling over 8 million people, are scattered over mountain areas (covering two-thirds of the country's territory), spreading from the North to the South.
Among ethnic minorities, the largest are Tay, Thai, Muong, Hoa, Khmer, and Nung, with a population of around 1 million each. At the same time, the smallest are Brau, Roman, and Odu, with several hundred people each.
8. TO TIP OR NOT TO TIP IN VIETNAM
Tipping isn't mandatory in Vietnam and is not expected in cafes and restaurants. However, it is always appreciated. It is not common practice in Vietnamese culture.
If you are happy with the service you receive from drivers, waiters, and other service workers, leaving a small tip (5-10%) can go a long way. However, many establishments include a gratuity in the final bill.
If you do choose to tip, the best way to ensure the tip reaches the person who has offered their services is to hand it directly to them in cash.
9. BE OPEN, KIND, AND HUMBLE
Today, Vietnam is open to the world for trade and tourism and a beautiful country to visit. It is also one of the fastest-growing developing countries economically and is becoming a significant player in the international scene as a member of APEC.
Issues like climate change, trash, clean water and air, and social equality are all challenges facing Vietnam. (As are many countries around the world).
Despite these challenges, the Vietnamese are kind, humble, and open to tourism. It is always best practice to return the kindness by being a responsible and thoughtful traveler. We are visitors to their home.
Wherever the roads may lead for you, I wish you happy travels!
Marla