Think you already know everything you need to know for your Vietnam trip? Do not be sure . Before booking anything  check out this list of 30 things  every travelers should know before coming to Vietnam.

1. Visa is easy, but TAKE YOUR VISA SERIOUSLY, VERY SERIOUSLY INDEED

Few years ago Vietnamese government offer an easier and cheaper method  for getting Vietnam tourist visa. Previously, the simplest way to get visa was by on getting a Visa On Arrival (VOA), which involved paying a third - party agent to issue digital invitation and then waiting in line at Vietnamese airport  to get actual Visa.

An E-visa  is 100%  online visa issuing process  and allow you to avoid  Visa On Arrival queues. It is available for citizens of most countries. So whatever kinds of you visa but take your Visa seriously otherwise   I have seen tourists turned away at the airport for visa misinformation or failing to print their visa-on-arrival pre-approval paper. Double, triple check all of your information, have your accommodation address ready to go for the arrival form, be very respectful to the immigration officers, no matter how cold they are. Get stamped and enjoy.I

If you have the Uk or the US passport or you are members of Strengen Agreement  you could travel in Vietnam for the first 15 days for free, post which you’ll have to visit the embassy to get renewed if you think of extending your trip. Similarly, there are no multiple entries allowed and in case you travel to other countries like Cambodia or Thailand and wish to come back, you’ll have to have the visa ready.

I also met many travelers from Europe and the US who had a tough time going back and forth to the embassies to get their visa renewed . So no matter what your nationality is, sort out your visa before you arrive in Vietnam.

4. Weather isn’t the same everywhere

One of the most important things to know before going to Vietnam is to study and understand Vietnam’s weather. With such an elongated country, it’s only natural the weather is significantly different from region to region in Vietnam. This is how extreme the weather can be – It was snowing in Sapa while I couldn’t tolerate the hot sun in Mui Ne when I was traveling in Vietnam!

Categorizing the country into three regions, here’s what to know about Vietnam’s weather.

Northern Vietnam: The winter is very cold, especially in places bordering China, and the temperature drops to single digits and even minus degree Celsius temperatures are common in the north of Vietnam. The summers are hot and it showers sometimes as well during this season. The wet season is often accompanied by typhoons and storms that cause landslides and other natural calamities.

So the ideal time to travel in the north is just after the summer and before the arrival of the monsoons, i.e between March & May. Or right after the monsoon and before the onset of summer between October & November (which can be tricky given the typhoons).

Central Vietnam: The weather in the central is tropical in nature where dry weather lasts between January & August, monsoons arrive in August and last until November, given the window for travelers between October to January.

Southern Vietnam: As you go south in Vietnam, the climate is full-fledged tropical, characterised by two seasons prominently, the wet and the dry, which is more or less same as the above in central Vietnam, making it ideal for travel from December to April.

Typhoons in Vietnam: As I said earlier, Typhoons are a common occurrence in countries like Vietnam or the Philippines. And entering Vietnam without knowing about them is a huge gamble. Although you can’t predict years in advance, usually, the country knows the arrival of typhoons and the people prepare accordingly. So check the weather online for typhoons.

Central and South Vietnam regions are prone to typhoons between August & November, where floods are common, while the typhoons arrive a little early in the north, around late June or July. Overall, October tends to be stormy in the entire country, and the typhoon season typically ends around December every year.

Coats and north face jacket s can be bought cheaply in Viet nam 

but other cold weather gear can be hard to find and is best bought at home

5. The best time to visit Vietnam is subjective

One of the things to know before visiting Vietnam is zeroing on the best time to travel, which is really subjective. As the country has different weather in various regions, it is the first thing among the things to consider. And although Vietnam is suitable for travel throughout the year, the best time really depends on the experiences that you are looking for.

As a rule of thumb, the best time to visit Vietnam is spring, between February to April and autumn, from August to October. This is when the number of travelers is high. And places can be expensive & in demand, tours can get full quickly and bargaining might not be feasible. But if you want to spend a summer in Vietnam, you can choose the summertime from February to June to travel, when the flight tickets, accommodations, and tour packages will be much cheaper.

Region-wise, let’s look at what’s the best time to travel to Vietnam as below:

North (Hanoi, Ninh Binh/Tam Coc, Halong Bay, Sapa, Ha Giang, Cuc Phuong, Mai Chau & Mu Cang Chai)

Overall, the best months to travel in the north & northeast Vietnam is from October to April, although it gets quite cold during December and January. The best for trekking in regions like Sapa and around Mu Cang Chai is from September & November, and from March to May.

Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Nha Trang, Dalat, Phong Nha & Quy Nhon)

The best time to visit these places in central Vietnam is from late November to May when you can completely avoid the rains and typhoons. However, summer would be prevalent during this time. So if you are not a summer-person, you wouldn’t enjoy being here during this time.

South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, Long Hai, The Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Phan Thiet/Mui Ne & Ho Tram)

The ideal time to travel in South Vietnam is the same as that of central regions, i.e from late November to May, with the time between February to May being hotter.

6. For most Travelers, Tet is a terrible time to come to Vietnam

TET (Lunar New Year) is the most important holiday in Viet Nam. So it might seem like a nice ideal to visit Vietnam during Tet. Unless you are invited by a local family into their home or plan to spend entire week of Tet at the beach.  However, would  recommend  not traveling to Vietnam during this time of year. The large cites of Viet nam will almost be completely  deserted during Tet, most of businesses will be shut down. Travelings is  also more expensive  during this time of year, it will likely cost you 2-3 times normal price. If you already booked your trip during Tet, don't frets, however.  Although most of markets and restaurants will be closed for 7 days. The main tourist attractions sill be open and because so much less traffic  in the big city, so it is less dangerous to cross the street and you be able to grab some great hotel bargain.

7. Booking tours through travel agencies isn’t a bad option

In most countries, the package tours, whether private or group are considered expensive, and you pay less than what you pay for the tour if you do them independently. In Vietnam however, this is only partially true. Sometimes, booking tour costs you way less than traveling independently would cost you.

The tours like the 3-day all-inclusive trek to Sapa, local tours in Ho Chi Minh like a few of the day trips and multiple days Halong Bay Cruises are some of the tours that you can still book.

8. Get off the typical tourist places to find your own paradise

The best things to do in Vietnam, the places to explore and experiences to enjoy are not yet touristy or commercialized! So if you wander off the main attractions and create your own offbeat trail, you’ll stumble upon the better places in Vietnam, which are wonderful, cheap and authentic.

If you want to experience the countryside laden with lush fields, terraced paddy farms and wildflowers, head to the north and the north-east of Vietnam. If mountains are your thing, central Vietnam away from the coast would keep you enthralled. Similarly, the places close to popular cities in the south have many things to offer travelers.

9.TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS are the #1 cause of tourist death worldwide; riding  a motorbike in Vietnam  is badass.

I’ve had several little motorbike falls in my life. Nothing worse than some ugly scrapes and a shake-up. However, I’ve seen some tourists have more serious falls and I’ve seen some very-bandaged backpackers limping around Mui Ne and Sapa. Motorbikes are very dangerous.

However, getting out to the countryside on your own two wheels is an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of Vietnam. Rent your own for $5 (manual) or $7 (automatic) throughout Vietnam. Don’t forget to fill it up with gas to avoid stalling in the middle of nowhere. Be sure to have travel health insurance and bring your information card to have ready in the case of an emergency.

If you are apprehensive to drive your own, please don’t. Lack of confidence will make you a worse driver. Pay a little extra to have a local such as the Easy Riders take you on a day trip ($13+/ day).

10. Traffic is hectic and honking is common

If you are not used to heavy traffic, then that’s the first cultural shock that you would encounter in Vietnam. Delays are common, and traffic jams are a regular thing, especially in Ho Chi Minh.

Honking isn’t rude or offense unlike in many parts of the world. It just means that they are in a hurry and they want you to make way for them.

11. Go for registered taxis

Cabs are a convenient way to travel in Vietnam, especially if you are traveling in groups. Over the years, taxis in Vietnam have become safer, less scam-my, and overall, more hassle-free. However, some drivers will still, sometimes aggressively or even violently, scam you. This happens much less-often with Mai Linh or Vinasun taxis, Taxi Group (Hanoi Taxi). Especially, if you’re arriving for the first time at one of the three international airports, try to stick with these two more-reliable companies. But tourists are often asked to pay higher prices since either the meter is faulty or tuned for higher prices or the taxis are fake.

12. The Grab app will help you to avoid the most common Vietnam scam

If there in one phone app no tourist should be without It is Grab. Grab is essentially of the  Uber in South Eat Asia, offer cars or motorbike  rides on demand. The app is easily to use and even allow you to set up digital payment with a credit card  for added convenience . When you need a ride you only need to choose whether you want a car or motorbike, enter pick-up point  and destination, and app will give you the price. Tap confirm and you're done.

Keep in mind however this app will not work or allowed you set up digital payment option before you enter South eat Asia, so just download it. 

There are fake Grab divers at somewhere they tell you that they work for Grab so you will pay inflated rate they charge. Only book Grab thought the app.

13. Sleeper bus are really cheep, a great travel option for small budgets

The sleeper buses in Vietnam are pretty amazing in their qualities, make them great low budget option. They are obviously nowhere near as fast as plane, they are very cheap  and can get you at almost  anywhere you want to go. They are air - conditioned, clean, and each seat is also a bed that allow people 5'6" or small to actually stretch out and recline almost fully. If you are over that height however, you'll have to scrunch your leg a bit to lie down, 

Although a great value, there are two bid issues you should consider before you book a sleeper bus.

1. The bus driver often drive like a maniac, It can be never -racking  and somewhat dangerous to take a sleeper bus if you are unlucky enough to get in one with a bad driver.

2. Luggage theft is quite common on Vietnam bus. Luggage hold is not really secure. It is easy for the bus staff  to go through the bags.  So keep your valuables  with you in the cabin is possible. If you travel with a lot suitcase, you probably shouldn't risk taking the bus. 

Personally, I’ve had an amazing and much missed hat stolen on the bus. Always take your belongings with you at rest areas and meals. Assume that if it’s hanging out, or left alone, it can be taken.

13. Vietnam isn’t a beach destination

Vietnam is a very beautiful country hand down, but let’s be honest, beaches aren’t Vietnam’s forte. If you’re coming from The Philippines or Thailand, Vietnam’s beaches may be a bit underwhelming. The Pacific coastline is rocky and rough in the winter. Phu Quoc  , Mui Ne  may have expansive white sand, but it still can’t compete with Boracay. Vietnam is more of an urban / cultural destination. There are some nice beach towns like Da Nang, Quy Nhon Nha Trang, but the beaches are not the highlights of Vietnam. If you haven’t been to any southeast Asian countries, then this wouldn’t be a big deal and probably, you would careless, but there are countries just for beaches in SE Asia and that’s definitely not Vietnam.

14. If food is your first love, Vietnam will be your favourite!

I should have talked about food first but saved it for later. Vietnam’s is a foodie’s paradise – that’s how Vietnam’s food can be described at best. You are in for a treat while in Vietnam if food is a major thing in your travels.

Whether you are dining at an exquisite restaurant in Hanoi or going on a quest for the seafood in local eateries in Mui Ne, you can never resist falling in love with Vietnamese food.

Whether you just want a simple noodle soup or a signature seafood delicacy, Vietnamese are adept at making the perfect food consisting of the flavours done skilfully. I had the most simple yet the most delicious noodle soup of my life in Saigon, and it cost me less than 2 USD.

There is more to Vietnamese food than Banh Mi – the Baguette sandwich and the quintessential Pho served in various versions (which tastes unique in every city!). I tried a lot of Vietnamese dishes, but it’s a shame that I can’t recollect their names at all!

15. Don’t underestimate Vietnam’s street food

Vietnam’s street food is something that you shouldn’t miss at all. It doesn’t matter where you travel, but make it a point to explore the local markets where you find the street food. You’ll find nothing fancy, but you can find small tables laid out on the footpath or in front of the shop, which consists of a small kitchen. You’ll find a lot of locals dining. These are the signs of finding excellent street food in the towns of Vietnam.

Once I figured the mouth-watering taste of street food, I switched to it full-time during my Vietnam trip. And boy, it was super fun, delicious and damn cheap!

There are many exclusive food tours that you can join as well as some cooking classes if you want to learn the secret Vietnamese recipes.

16. Vietnamese People Probably Won't Take Your Food Allergies Seriously. 

Food allergies are not something that is mentioned much in Vietnam. In fact, we can't ever recall meeting a fellow Vietnamese person that has mentioned having a serious allergic reaction to any type of food. In contract, food allergies are covered western media regularly, with new of people getting seriously ill or even dying due to exposure various types of food ingredients ( e.g. peanut allergy). We don't mean to imply that  Vietnamese people are healthier than people of other countries or are more immune to developing food allergies. Our theory is that because food allergies are poorly understood in Vietnam , most of people had serious food allergies probably died at young age and didn't have a chances to pass those gens to future generations.

When we first stared running a  food tours and mentioned one of our guests had serious food allergy to a certain ingredient , the cooks at almost restaurants just laugh it of and said  that they would pick out the offending ingredients from the dish.  We had to emphasize to the restaurant that our guests could die from even a slightest  exposure to said ingredients before they took the situation more seriously.

Even when the local people take precautions for allergies, they only look at  the obvious ingredients that you can see not the one you don't like what the cooking oil or fish source is made of. When we start Friend Travel Vietnam, we made a strong point to train our staffs to understand the seriousness of food allergies and to also let them talk to restaurants we work with to know exactly what ingredients are used in the food which we serve our guests on our tours. 

If you have serious food allergies and worry about eating food in Vietnam, we would highly recommend that you  bring  a translated  note/card that you show each restaurant you visit they can understand the seriousness of your food allergies.

17. Mattresses in Vietnam are hard rock

Many mattresses hotel in Vietnam are firm or even straight - up rock hard because of an old but untrue Vietnamese belief  that sleeping on soft surface will warp your spine. If sleeping on hard mattress is an issue for you be sure to look for the reviews mentioning a beds at the hotel before you book. Large chain hotel maybe able to supply you with air mattress if you ask. At small hotels or homestay you are probably out of luck if the beds are too hard.

18. Most hotel will ask to keep your passport  (But don't let them)

Many hotel will ask to keep your passport during your stay. Allowing someone else to keep  your passport is risky. However they are not the one who will be inconvenience if your passport is lost or stolen. 

Since your hotel only need your passport info ( to register your stay to local police) and not the physical passport itself, most will accept a photocopy of your passport page.  We recommend to leave your passport at safe box in the hotel or in secured luggages.

If you forget to  made a some photocopies  of  your passports before coming to Vietnam, rest  assures  that photocopy shops are cheep and plentiful in many big cities in Vietnam. Still it is good ideal to make some copies of your passport before leaving home so  you can avoid headache.

19. Have a packing list for Vietnam Trip

Believe me, you should really make a packing list for the Vietnam trip. Irrespective of the time you are traveling and the places that you want to visit in Vietnam, always pack the summer clothes, at least one solid winter jacket, rain gears, shoe ideal for treks & hikes, flip-flops and enough clothes to suit for the hot, wet and the winter season.

I know it sounds crazy but believes me, it comes from my experience. I spent my days in Hanoi shivering when the temperature dropped to single digits in November because all I had was summer clothes!

20. Bring some cashes along your trip & know how to differentiate the notes

Although bank transactions or online payment are growing in Vietnam, the use of cash still dominates the market.Moreover, many small local shops or street vendors do not offer the bank card payment, thus you should always bring with yourselves some cash.The Vietnamese money is quite easy to get confused so you should get used to different note values and differentiate them since some of the notes are of the same color but with a large difference in value.This is one of important things you should know before traveling to Vietnam

 You should understand  a little bit of the currency Vietnamese. The Vietnamese currency is called Dong, abbreviated as VND. The denominations are really small, with the least value being 1000 VND, which almost has no value. So it takes a while to understand the many notes with the different number of zeroes on it. And if you don’t pay enough attention while transacting, it is quite possible to lose money. Everything is in multiples of thousands, and some notes look similar.

The US dollars are freely accepted almost everywhere, or other currency you you can  be easily to exchange, but keep an eye on the currency exchange rates if you wish to exchange. There are scores of shops offering currency exchange. But it’s better to inquire in multiple shops before finalizing as the rates differ. Avoid the exchange at the airports.

21. ATM’s aren’t there in EVERY town in Vietnam

Although cash is the king of Vietnam, ATM’s aren’t in every corner in all the cities. Of course, the bigger towns are an exception to this but in towns like Phong Nha or Tam Coc, there is just a handful of them even in 2018. So make sure to stock enough cash when you are in bigger cities to cover up for off the beat/smaller towns.

Also, make sure you have some dollars that you can get converted to VND to begin your trip. If you could get Dong before arriving it’s the best, but since they aren’t available easily, get some currency in cash, preferably USD. Euros or pounds also could be exchanged although USD is the most widely accepted currency after Dong in Vietnam.

22. Booking hotels or Hostels online will not save you money

In Thailand, booking through sites like Agoda generally will save you a few dollars. There, I often walk into a hotel, check out the room, then book it online right in front of them because the online price is $10 cheaper than the walk-in rate.

For whatever reason, the price in Vietnam is always cheaper when you show up in person. Plus, you can check out the room and bargain it down a bit, generally. Can’t do that online.

23. Vietnamese people outside of the tourist industry are amazingly hospitable and sweet

Time and time again, I hear travelers complain that they were treated like “walking ATM machines” throughout Vietnam. Generally, these travelers largely stuck to the aforementioned “backpacker trail” and didn’t study-up on prices before going in.

I’ve had nothing but extreme hospitality and kindness outside of the tourist areas. Happy school children waving “hello”, invitations to karaoke and beer in the evening, free snacks on the “hard seat” trains…the list goes on. Just like everywhere else, people are great in Vietnam. Don’t let the touts and scammers sour your opinion.

24.  Haggling is a norm, so better learn it!

In Vietnam, locals expect to haggle in businesses and transaction. They often quote almost double or a few times even triple the money that a thing actually costs. Vietnamese also love to do business and hate to see a customer walk away. So name your price. Stick to the price you want and just politely walk away if they don’t go for it. They will call you back if it’s a fair deal, or offer you their lowest price while you’re still within earshot. If they refuse rarely for the price that you are quoting, it only means that you have asked for a very low price!

Don’t let them squeeze any higher amount out of you. The Vietnamese respect a tough customer, even if you feel you’ve wasted their time and want to ‘give in’, don’t. So it’s up to the travelers to make a bargain. A friendly bargain is always encouraged, where they write or show the price on a calculator if their English isn’t great.

25.Tips for the good service delivered.

Tipping is one of the things you should know when traveling to Vietnam.Depending on the situation & the services, giving a tip will be flexibly applied.If you have a rice noodle in a local restaurant, giving tips is not compulsory, you just need to pay what you order. However, if you are really satisfied with their service, you can tip about 10% of the receipt.We would like to say that “whether you tip or the amount of tips greatly depends on the service that you are delivered”.In the case of staff in the tourism & hospitality industry ( driver, guide, porter, waiter…..), tips are highly appreciated because much of their income depends on your tips.

26. Emergency care in Vietnam is pretty  terrible, so don't skimp on travel insurance.

This is more common sense than anything else on this list, but we can not stress enough  the importance of  dependable travel insurance. Healthcare in Vietnam isn't great in general, especially in smaller cities.  So if you need emergency care you may have to be transported to Ho Chi Minh city, Ha Noi, or Da Nang, even back to your own country which will certainly incur in hight cost. So having travel insurance is highly recommended for your Vietnam trip, which might save you a lot of money in case of any emergency.

27 . Morning people are at an advantage

Vietnam sleeps early and begins the day quite early. Irrespective of the region, Vietnamese are early risers. Maybe because of the geography or the weather, whatever the reasons are, it means that if you are a morning person, you have more advantage as a traveler.

The tours start early, the attractions open as early as 7 AM in many towns. And it is way less crowded along with pleasant weather during the mornings. And except a few places in Ho Chi Minh, Danang or Hanoi, most cities wind up early in the night. Shops begin to close around 9 PM and by 11 PM, it would get deserted. So make the most of it rising early while in Vietnam!

28. Hanoi for tradition and "attractions"; Ho Chi Minh city for style and modern culture.

The eternal Hanoi vs. Ho Chi Minh City debate is pointless. These two great cities are both worth visiting, but for different reasons.

Hanoi is very much the governmental capital, and you can feel it immediately. The body of Ho Chi Minh is preserved here. The ancient pagodas still point out from the willowy lakesides, the French quarter is better preserved and more quaint. It is the quintessential capital city- straight, low-key and traditional.

For vibrancy, culture and nightlife, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is the place to be. Sexy neon lights, rooftop bars, sophisticated cafes, a burgeoning art and music scene, Saigon is the city most foreign expats prefer, and for good reason. The ‘attractions’ here are not the draw; it’s the culture and people.

29. Not everyone speaks or understands English

If you travel to the interior of Vietnam, not everyone would understand English, and it would be difficult to get around. Even in the big cities, although most hotel owners, people in cafes and tourist central  speak English, in most cases they aren’t fluent and it is just basic English. So keep that in mind and learning a few Vietnamese phrases would help!

30. Buying a SIM card in Vietnam

When arrive in Vietnam and land at Tan Son Nhat at Ho Chi Minh City or Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will see many options for buying a SIM card. if you miss buying at the airport, you will be happy to know that the SIM cards are sold in many stores in Vietnam for around 100,000 Dong. Many hotel or travel agents also supply  those kinds of services. Look for Viettel,  Mobifone or Vina phone service providers.

31. But beware of scams & watch your belongings

Although the people of Vietnam are really nice, the country is known for its notorious scams targeted at tourists. I didn’t come across any but for many, this is one of the main reason that stops them visiting the country again. From fake tours to horrible rooms to over-charged bike rents to taxi meters, you might be scammed if you don’t keep your eyes and ears open.

Is Vietnam safe for tourists? It is one of the safest destinations in the world. Bur for your own safety  don’t leave your belongings unattended in any cafes or restaurants. Keep the cash hidden and don’t flaunt in public places to avoid unnecessary attention which might lead you to trouble.

That’s it, folks! So these are the things to know before going to Vietnam. Have you been to Vietnam? How was your experience? If I have missed anything, let me know!