Vietnam Travel Tips

Vietnam should always be the next destination to enjoy every kind of travel. From ecotourism to honeymoon, food, culture, beach holiday, MICE, etc., the gorgeous S-shaped country appears shining and lovely on world’s tourism map all seasons. Thousands of honeymooners make Vietnam a top place on their bucket list. So if you think alike, come prepared to this Indochina country with significant Vietnam Travel Tips which boost your vacation to perfection.

January – March is said to be the best time to visit Vietnam, which marks the period from the end of winter to the start of spring. Also, it’s ideal to visit the country in autumn, from August to October when the weather is dry and comfortable for various outdoor activities. And if you arrive in March or April, know that these two months have the lowest amount of rainfall as well as some benefits of the off-season like low airfares, accommodation prices, and less crowded tourists.

Along the length of 1.000 kilometers, Vietnam’s climate changes, mainly due to the three different regions. While the North is featured with the average 25 Celsius degree, the South tends to be hotter. Besides, there are two separate seasons in the South that everyone can feel: wet time (May – October) and dry time (November – April). One fashion tip is to wear the summer clothes during the day tour and the light jackets during nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon).

Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival): Often fall in the end of January or the beginning of February

Even the days leading to and the days following Tết are included in the Tết time which often lasts seven days. During the festive period, the big cities turn to be differently charming and idyllic because many people return to their hometowns for the family reunion after the hard-working year. Therefore, don’t be surprised when you see Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City quite tranquil, with no traffic jam, during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Besides, just a few shops open during the 3 first days of the event while the majority are closed.

Victory Date or Reunification Day: April 30^th

Marking the end of Vietnam War and the liberation of Southern Vietnam on April 30^th, the Reunification Day is amongst the most important official holidays in Vietnam. The country celebrates this milestone often with firework and city parade. This public holiday grants the big cities, like Ho Chi Minh City, to get adorned with the national flags, electric gates and lights, and flowers.

The Visa Policy of Vietnam states that the passport holders of 23 countries are allowed to visit Vietnam with no entry visa in a certain duration, which varies due to their countries and the majority belong to ASEAN. The overseas travelers should spend time checking out whether or not they are eligible for the Vietnamese Visa Exemption and the free-visa duration or the process to get Vietnamese eVisa. Even when you don’t need a visa for Vietnam, it is required to have the valid passport with 6-month validity at least, counting from the arrival day to Vietnam.

Believe it, in Vietnam, you can be the millionaire just like everybody. The USD to VND exchange rate is quite attractive. See: 1 USD = 22.710 VND. Obviously, with merely USD$100, you are the real millionaire with the equivalent 2.271.000 VND. Cool, right? But note that the street vendors often do not accept the foreign currency. That is why all honeymooners should have some Vietnamese Dongs in the wallet, especially to pay for the inexpensive street food. And when you do shopping in the markets, try bargaining! It’s very easy when you know the exchange rate, and are good at multiplications. Double-check the exchange rate before you pay.

For the best VND exchange rates, you should come to the nearest Banks. Besides, there are some official money exchange booths right in the airports whose services are nice enough. And if you use the Visa or Master Card, it’s convenient because the ATMs in Vietnam do accept the international cards. However, cash is a must in the remote areas.

To save yourself from the multiple transaction fees, the good advice is to withdraw from Citibank. With Citibank service, you can withdraw the maximum of USD$400. And with HSBC ATM, the limit of withdrawing is USD$250 while the other local banks might limit the range to USD$100 per time.

Knowing some basic Vietnamese make your travel full of joy and fun, indeed. Regardless of the imperfect tones and accents, it’s great that you try speaking Vietnamese. But first of all, know the following common phrases listed in the pairs of VN – EN:

• Xin chào: Hello, Hi
• Cảm ơn: Thank you
• Xin lỗi: I am sorry
• Bao nhiêu tiền?: How much?
• Mắc quá: Too Expensive
• Rẻ quá: Too Cheap
• Tính tiền: The Bill Please
• Không Đường: No Sugar (if you want NO sugar in the drinks)
• Tạm biệt: Goodbye

Being relatively safe and peaceful, regardless of the petty thefts, Vietnam has some safety tips to keep in mind.

• Do not wear valuable accessories and belongings in public and crowded areas.
• Do not show off your expensive smartphones in the streets.
• Take care of your backpack and protect it from being cut and stolen.
• Pay attention to your pocket to avoid the pickpockets.
• Keep your camera carefully.
• Keep an eye on the city buses and motorbikes when you cross the road. For safety, move at the steady pace, together with several locals or group of pedestrians. Do not run suddenly.
• Be open-minded to judge the Vietnamese, particularly when you meet somebody that is not as friendly as advertised.

Vietnam has no tipping culture, which means no one forces you to tip when you are not willing to do. You determine whether or not tipping is worth the services. When you eat the Vietnamese street food, all to do are to enjoy the food and pay what you eat, with no tipping.

Due to the charges you pay, the transportation services fits it. If you want the delay-free flights, work with Vietnam Airlines whose airfares are higher than the rest. Here is a spectacle of how to get around Vietnam: taxi is abundant of various brands (Vinasun, Mai Linh, Grab, Uber, etc.); Xe Om (motorbike taxi) is in various corners of streets; the city bus is uncomfortable, but some are improved (select the high-quality and new-looking bus); coach often serves the long drive; train moves quite slowly; motorbike is in anyplace and overwhelms the others.

Some overseas honeymooners fall in love with Vietnam when they eat the local dishes, learn the cuisine, and practice how to cook. The nation’s iconic food is scattered throughout, from the North to the South. Some of the must-to-eat dishes are Hanoi Phở (noodle soup with beef), Hoi An Chicken Rice, Quang Noodle, Southern Pancake, Vietnamese Sandwich, and so on.

Blessed with Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Da Lat, Sapa, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc Island, Mekong Delta, etc., Vietnam welcomes all couples and families. Enjoy the travel to Vietnam to the fullest soon!