This list is mostly for first time visitors to Vietnam who could benefit from a few useful tips and tricks to ensure a safe and worry-free travel. But even if youâve visited Vietnam before, it can be good to refresh your memory.
Vietnam is one of the safest countries to travel around in and is a delight to visit. The people are warm and welcoming, the landscape is breathtaking, the food is out of this world and the culture is so vibrant. Thereâs so much to love about Vietnam that itâll be hard to leave the country once itâs time. But Iâm not gonna lie: it can be difficult at times too. No country is perfect and Vietnam is far away from it. The neighboring country Thailand can be easier to travel around in just because of the tourism infrastructure for example. Still, Vietnam is a country that shouldnât be missed. Thatâs why I compiled this list of useful things to know before visiting Vietnam so you can have the most amazing trip in one of Southeast Asiaâs gems!
First of all: Get a Visa!

Sort out your visa first and foremost. Most nationalities need to get a visa in order to enter the country. But if youâre one of the nationalities who are on the visa exempt list and donât wish to stay for longer than your visa-free period, you can skip this part. But if you do need a visa, make sure that you apply for it well in advance. There are three types of visa you can apply for, depending on where youâre from. The first option is the most recommended one. Itâs called âVisa on Arrivalâ (VOA) and is an online visa that you can apply for from wherever you are in the world. Itâs super easy to apply for and you can get the visa within a few days only. If you do need an emergency visa, you can pay an extra fee and get your visa within 48 hours. Thereâs also another online visa called âE-Visaâ which is a 30 day, single entry visa. You canât extend this type of visa so if youâre unsure if you only want to stay for 30 days, apply for the VOA instead. The third and last option is to go via the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate and apply for a visa with them. This option is good if youâre planning on arriving to Vietnam by land, from example the border of Cambodia. There has been instances where foreigners have applied for an online visa and tried to cross the border from Cambodia to Vietnam and has been denied. So just make sure you apply for the right type of visa!
The weather varies a lot

Pack lightly but also pack for all kinds of weather. You will for sure need a rain jacket for example, even if youâre not going during rainy season. It also depends where you are in the country. For example, in the winter months, the north is cold and youâll need warm clothes. But if you head down south, the weather is tropical and all youâll need is shorts and a t-shirt. So just do some research before you go and pack for all kinds of weather.
Brush up those haggle skills
Do you love going to markets? Thatâs great because thereâs plenty of them in Vietnam. The thing with markets is that there are no fixed prices. Youâll need to haggle and youâll need to haggle hard. The locals will, unfortunately, try to rip you off because youâre a tourist. Try to hide all your items that makes you look rich, like your watches, jewelries, etc. If youâre not willing to pay a certain price, just walk away and see if they stop you. If they donât, youâll be sure to find whatever you want to buy in another stall.
Hanoi has a lot of hidden gems

The capital city of Vietnam may be a bit noisy (okey, very), traffic might be crazy and there will be times when all the honking will drive you insane. So when the crowd gets a bit too much for you, head in to one of the smaller streets and find a quiet cafĂ© where you can collect your thoughts, read a book or perhaps sit and work. Thereâs plenty of cute, hipster cafĂ©s in the city which offers a calm oasis. Hanoi is filled with surprises and you can happily wander around for weeks discovering all of these little hidden gems.
The locals are loud, but theyâre not angry
This is probably the biggest misunderstanding about the Vietnamese – theyâre rude. And yes, there are definitely times when youâll encounter really rude locals who are trying to rip you off. But the majority of the locals are very warm people and would gladly invite you to their home for dinner. The younger generation are all very curious about foreigners and want nothing but to brush up their English skills with you. Youâll also discover that the Vietnamese will gladly share a lot with you, even if they donât have much to offer. Theyâre very hospitable people who only wants you to get a good impression of Vietnam. So donât be afraid to strike up a conversation with them, theyâll most likely just be surprised but happy about it.
PDA is still a bit taboo
Public display of affection isnât very popular amongst the older generation in Vietnam, and some may even feel a bit uneasy if youâre walking hand in hand with your loved one for example. The younger generation are definitely more open towards it, but PDA is still a bit taboo in Vietnam. So just be respectful towards the locals and perhaps donât be all over each other in public spaces.
Eat as much food as you can

The food here is cheap, hearty and so, so tasty. The only thing I wish every time I leave Vietnam is that I ate more food. And itâs not because I skipped meals – quite the contrary, I ate a lot. But the food there is so delicious that youâll always wish you had more. It also helps that itâs incredibly affordable. You can get a banh mi ( Vietnamese style baguette) on the street for 1 USD for example, and itâll probably be the best banh mi youâve had. So make sure to indulge, youâll be very regretful otherwise.
Rent a motorbike

This is by far the best way to see the country. But if youâre not comfortable driving a motorbike, you probably shouldnât rent one and drive cross country. However, the roads are quite developed these days and there are certain routes that you can do where the roads are easier to drive on, such as Hue to Hoi An for example. With a motorbike, you can decide wherever and whenever you want to go. Thereâs so many hidden gems around the country thatâs only accessible with a bike too, so youâre likely to discover a lot more this way. Just be very aware of your surroundings, donât take any unnecessary risks, stop when youâre feeling tired and always have a backup plan.
Want to be a digital nomad in Vietnam? You should!

The most important thing for anyone who wants to work from their computer is good WiFi. Luckily, Vietnam has excellent internet and you can find it almost everywhere you go. Thereâs also a big cafĂ© culture here, so you can find cafĂ©s almost everywhere, at least in the bigger cities. Thereâs also cheap SIM cards you can get if you want to stay connected at all times. Besides good WiFi, the cost of living here is very affordable as well and thatâs why many digital nomads flock to Vietnam.
Donât drink the tap water
Bring a reusable water bottle instead and buy a water filter. Donât give in and buy all the plastic water bottles, but be kind to the environment instead and always refill your reusable water bottle.
Transportation works very well here

You might be surprised but transportation works excellent here. Since the distances are long in Vietnam, thereâs overnight buses where you can actually lay down. Well, at least half ways, depending on how tall you are. Still, the transportation works very well here and you can get almost everywhere with buses or trains. Traveling in Vietnam is so easy and itâs also fun, so make sure you spend at least a few weeks here so you can experience everything that Vietnam has to offer!
