Vietnam is a spectacular country that draws millions of visitors for its incredible food, gorgeous landscape and rich history. After an unforgettable 2 month visit, I think I can offer some great Vietnam travel tips! Before rushing to book your plane ticket, it’s helpful to get some insight into unique aspects of a country that may impact your visit. So I hope you’ll enjoy this list of things you need to know before traveling to Vietnam for a safe and smooth visit to this amazing place!

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All of the information I provide is true to the best of my knowledge and experience. I am not responsible for any injury or disappointment due to the heeding of my advice.

Vietnam May Be Larger Than You Expect

This may seem like an odd thing to make note of, but the country of Vietnam is… quite large. Since the Vietnam on a map is a rather long skinny shape, it gave me the impression that it was a manageable size to see many locations in one visit. As Vietnam tourism has surged in popularity recently, there is a lot of travel influencer content out there showing the diverse gorgeous locations of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Sapa, Da Nang and so much more. It can be tempting to just want to “see it all!” on your visit but keep in mind all of those places are many hours away from each other. (A drive from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City would take over 20 hours!) So it may be wise (especially if you only have a week or two to visit) to pick one region of Vietnam to focus on.

Here’s a very brief overview of some popular destinations in Vietnam! Hanoi is a large ancient city in Northern Vietnam with a more traditional and historic vibe than Ho Chi Minh City in the South which is more modern with sleek skyscrapers and a bustling nightlife. Da Nang is a beautiful coastal city in the central region with great beaches and a large expat community. Sapa is a gorgeous mountain village immersed in rural beauty. There are other stunning locations for natural beauty like Ninh Binh and Halong Bay (two of my favorite day trips I took from Hanoi).

Cash is King, Queen, and Emperor

Most of us have heard the phrase “Cash is King” but I don’t think I’ve traveled somewhere where that’s truer than Vietnam! Even large businesses like museums would often request that I pay in cash rather than card. So, just be sure to get out some cash when you arrive at the airport. If using ATMs to get out more cash along your journey, I would advise only using ATM’s inside a secure location with surveillance cameras present (like within a bank rather than an ATM out in the open along the sidewalk). To give you an idea of how crazy affordable Vietnam is, I found for my budget that about 500,000 Dong (just under $20) spending money per day was more than enough! Speaking of which…

Familiarize Yourself With Vietnamese Currency

The Vietnamese currency “Dong” comes in huge denominations. For example, 1,000,000 Dong is only around $40. This can make keeping track of prices a little daunting. One of the most common ways people are scammed in any country is vendors taking advantage of your lack of knowledge of their money. I think a great Vietnam travel tip is making yourself a small chart of currency conversions in your phone or a small notebook that you can easily reference. For example, I wrote out for myself a list of common prices: 10,000 Dong = 40 cents, 25,000 Dong = $1.00, 100,000 Dong = $4.00, 250,000 Dong = $10 and so on. I then had something quick and easy to reference to discern if a price was reasonable or not.

Beware of Slippery Pavement

One of the most unexpected things about Vietnam for me was the slippery ground! Whether it was the smooth tiled floors of the temples or even many older sidewalks and pavements, I’ve rarely encountered so many slippery surfaces! You can imagine this is exacerbated when it rains so just tread carefully and bring shoes with some good traction!

Pack Modest Clothing

Vietnam has a hot and humid climate but that doesn’t mean you should only pack shorts and tank tops. Many sacred sites require modest clothing and won’t hesitate to turn you away at the door if you are dressed inappropriately. So just incorporate some modest things to wear such as long sleeved tops, pants, and/or flowing skirts below the knee in light breathable fabrics. Airy tops like this along with comfy light pants like this were my go to outfit most days!

Crossing the Street in Vietnam is… an Adventure!

Vietnam is somewhat notorious for its hectic traffic! One of the most popular modes of transport is by motorbike. Everywhere from small villages to huge city intersections, you will see dozens to hundreds of motorbikes zooming in multiple directions. I found that even at intersections with traffic lights (many intersections did not have any), the signals were only occasionally obeyed by motorbikes! Most times, you will just have to wait for a decent opening between vehicles to cross the street. Just walk confidently, be observant of oncoming vehicles… and just generally be careful when crossing!

Book Airport Transportation in Advance

I highly advise against just hailing a cab when you arrive at the airport in Vietnam. Regardless of the city, it is a common way people are scammed by being overcharged for their fare. I booked an affordable private car to my accommodation through the service Klook a few days in advance. Simply search for airport transport and your airport of arrival. I found the process very easy and it saved me so much stress when arriving in a new country. Klook was super convenient for booking shuttles for day trips and group tours as well!

Vietnam Entry Requirements

Whenever traveling internationally, make sure you have an up to date passport with at least 6 months before it expires. In addition, most people traveling to Vietnam will need an electronic visa (or e-Visa) to enter the country. Processing time is typically 3 – 5 business days but can take longer if there happens to be a bank holiday or the odd technical error with the website. So I cannot stress enough: do not wait till the last minute to apply for your e-Visa. I recommend applying no later than 2 weeks before your departure. Also be sure to use the official website here as there are some fake websites out there.

Thank you for reading my Vietnam travel tips! I hope you inspired and better prepared to explore this unforgettable destination!