Vietnam travel guide

10 things to know before visiting Vietnam 2022-2023

Don’t miss the Vietnam Travel Tips article if you plan to travel to Vietnam and have never been to Southeast Asia. Here are ten essential things you need to know before you visit. Arrive at the airport with these tips, and you will become the most intelligent traveler to arrive at the airport. ;”)

1. Apply for the visa approval letter before arriving in Vietnam

Different from neighboring Thailand and Cambodia, tourists cannot simply obtain Vietnamese landing visas at Vietnamese airports. Before arriving in Vietnam, tourists must apply for a Visa approval letter online. Only with this approval can we be qualified to board a plane to Vietnam and get a landing visa at the arrival airport.

Apply for a Vietnamese visa online: Apply here.

2. Prepare for airport visa queuing:

Vietnam’s visa application queue is notoriously bad. If you are behind the line, you may wait 2-3 hours after arriving at the airport. It’s terrible.

Travel tips:

  • Make sure your seat is in front of the plane.
  • When you get off the plane, don’t stop to go to the toilet.
  • Go directly to the visa application office and try to be the first to get there.

If you do not want to wait in line for the visa, you can also apply for support services or VIP services at the arrival airport. 

vietnam visa – Travel Insurance

3. Buy your travel insurance before the trip

Because of the impact of COVID-19, the Vietnamese government has informed that travelers must have international medical or travel insurance, including COVID-19 treatment, with a minimum coverage of 10000 dollars. I remember that I bought this travel insurance for about $25.

4. USD vs. VND

Traveling around Vietnam requires dollars and dong.

  • The US dollar: is most often used for any travel item, such as booking travel, booking domestic transportation, or paying for hotels.
  • The Vietnamese dong: is most commonly used in local enterprises, such as restaurants, bars, shops, and market stalls. You can withdraw money from the ATM when you arrive, but please make sure you bring US dollars to pay the visa fee (single entry: US $25; multiple entries: US $50).

5. Travel agency is the good choice

Don’t worry about all aspects of booking your trip before you arrive. Every town worth visiting, such as Hanoi, SAPA, and Hoi An, has a travel agency on every corner. Using these travel agencies is a very convenient way to plan other trip content, whether an internal sleeper bus, a daily tour, or a 4-day, 3-night package.

6. Taxi knowledge

All major cities have official taxi companies, which are very cheap and use a fair taxi system. However, you will notice that many taxi drivers park around tourist attractions and try to give you a ride. Don’t take these taxis. We did this in Hanoi, and the driver manipulated the instrument to make it rise quickly. We wouldn’t have noticed it if we hadn’t taken it several times before. Once we saw it, we jumped out immediately. It’s a little scam, but it’s not worth the risk.

Grab, or Gojek is the best choice because you will know how much to pay first, without any trouble.

10 things to know before visiting Vietnam

7. What to wear?

Vietnam’s general dress code is quite loose. Shorts/skirts, lightweight T-shirts, and tank tops will be your daily staple. You only need to think carefully about what you wear when you visit a temple or mosque (you can’t turn shorts or short skirts). Take a cashmere coat to wrap on your shoulders, and should wear light trousers, which are very useful on air-conditioned buses and planes.

8. Wi-Fi is everywhere

If you want to keep in touch while traveling, don’t be afraid! According to my experience here, the Wi-Fi here is excellent. All cafes, restaurants, guest houses, and hotels provide free Wi-Fi. Even the most economical hotels are available in their rooms.

9. Buy a Vietnam SIM card

You will find that even in remote areas of the country, including SAPA, Vinh Ha Long, or Ninh Binh, Wi-Fi signals are strong. If you want to use 4G, you can pick up a Vietnamese sim card and obtain 60 GB of data at 150000 Vietnamese dongs (about 6.50 dollars). 4G services are very effective everywhere.

Vietnam travel tips

10. Crossing the street is terrible

Vietnam is famous for its crazy traffic. But this is not because of cars, but more because thousands of motorcycles dominate the road and shuttle in the traffic flow. The pedestrian signal light and the white line that usually indicates the “crosswalk” area do not have much weight here. Motorcycles and cars will not stop for pedestrians unless necessary.

Because motorcycle riders do not follow classic traffic rules, such as staying away from the sidewalk, driving correctly along a one-way street, or stopping at a red light, they must be highly vigilant whenever they cross the road.

Generally speaking, when you see traffic interruption, you should start to walk confidently and believe that cars and motorcycles will hover around you. They may not stop, but they will not touch you. In any case, be careful. Don’t expect your normal walking right at home to apply in Vietnam.

PERHAPS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

Friends who have never been to Vietnam and plan to go to Vietnam for vacation should know some information about Vietnam in advance. This article provides helpful information for tourists visiting Vietnam for the first time.

Since March 15, 2022, Vietnam has lifted the travel ban, and business travel and vacation to Vietnam have become possible again. Apply for a visa in a timely manner and read all the regulations on the remaining coronavirus in Vietnam before departure.

From 17 Oct 2022, Vietjet has opened another flight from Mumbai – Da Nang with a frequency of 3 flights/week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Therefore, Indian citizens or foreign citizens living in India can fly directly from Mumbai – Da Nang to travel without having to transit.

From 28 Nov 2022, Vietjet has opened another flight from Bangalore – Da Nang with a frequency of 4 flights/week every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Therefore, Indian citizens or foreign citizens living in India can fly directly from Bangalore – Da Nang to travel without having to transit.

From 18 Oct 2022, Vietjet has opened another flight from New Delhi – Da Nang with a frequency of 4 flights/week every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Therefore, Indian citizens or foreign citizens living in India can fly directly from New Delhi – Da Nang to travel without having to transit.

From 29 Nov 2022, Vietjet has opened another flight from Hyderabad – Da Nang with a frequency of 4 flights/week every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Therefore, Indian citizens or foreign citizens living in India can fly directly from Hyderabad – Da Nang to travel without having to transit.

From 01 Dec 2022, Vietjet has opened another flight from Ahmedabad – Da Nang with a frequency of 4 flights/week every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Therefore, Indian citizens or foreign citizens living in India can fly directly from Ahmedabad – Da Nang to travel without having to transit.