19 Things Visitors Should Know Before Travelling to Vietnam

The majority of the Vietnam Travel Advice found online are repetitive or mostly based on common sense. This article provides a list of 19 things that most travelers to Vietnam probably won’t be aware of, and may save you from making some expensive mistakes during your trip!

1. The Weather Can Vary Drastically In North, Central and South Vietnam

The weather will be the most important factor in determining what you pack for your trip. If you’re only staying in South Vietnam, for example, there is no need to bring cold-weather clothing. If you’re traveling in Northern Vietnam between November and March, you should pack some sweaters, thermals, and other warm clothing. And Central Vietnam often floods during the monsoon season which usually occurs between October and December, so you might want to bring a good rain jacket.

>>>>>> You love to know about Best time to visit Vietnam

2. For Most Travelers, TET Is A Terrible Time To Come To Vietnam

Tet (Lunar New Year) is the most important holiday in Vietnam, so it might seem like a nice idea to visit Vietnam during Tet. Unless you are invited by a local family into their home or plan to spend the entire week of TET at the beach however, we would recommend not traveling to Vietnam during this time of year. The larger cities in Vietnam will almost be completely deserted during TET, and most businesses will shut down. Travelling is also much more expensive during this time of year, and will likely cost you 2-3 times the normal price. If you’ve already booked your trip during TET, don’t fret, however. Although most markets and restaurants will shut down for 7 days, the main tourist attractions will still be open, and because there is so much less traffic in the big cities, it’s less dangerous to cross the streets and you will be able to grab some great hotel bargains.

3. Beware: The Wet Bathroom Floors

In Vietnamese bathrooms, there is generally no barrier between the shower area and the toilet area. The good news is, it makes cleaning the bathroom easy. The bad news is the entire bathroom floor will often be wet if anyone has showered recently. Mold and bacteria grow more easily in wet environments so most locals keep separate sandals at the entrance to the bathroom to keep their feet clean. And nobody likes to climb into bed with damp feet. So remember to bring an extra pair of flip-flops or Crocs to use in the restrooms. This won’t be an issue in some of the more modern hotels which will have separators for the shower and bathroom areas.

4. Cheap Laundry Services Are Everywhere So No Need To Overpack

Fluff-and-fold laundry places are everywhere in Vietnam. You should never have to walk more than a block or three in big Vietnamese cities to find one. They do a great job, they’re fairly quick, and they are very cheap; generally around 12,000 vnd ($0.50) per kilogram (1.2 lbs) at a place on the street. Just hand one of these places a bag of clothes, making note if any of them are especially dirty and require extra attention. 24 hours later you’ll get them back washed, softened, sun-dried, and neatly folded.

Because it’s so easy to get laundry done in Vietnam, you don’t need to pack an outfit for every single day you are here. For a three-week trip, for example, you can pack eight outfits and plan a laundry run once a week.

Note: Some hotels in Vietnam offer laundry services for exorbitant prices, like $0.50 per item. If money is an issue, it’s best to make the short walk to a local fluff-and-fold instead.

5. Mattresses In Vietnam Are Rock Hard

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

6. Most Hotels Will Ask To Keep Your Passport (But don’t let them!)

7. AirBnBs Can Save Families A Lot Of Money

Airbnb is extremely popular in Vietnam and accommodations listed on the site are often much cheaper than hotels. Because of this, they’re a great option for families traveling in Vietnam that want to stay together and not have to rent multiple hotel rooms at a much higher cost. For instance, you can rent a nice 3 bedroom apartment with swimming pool on AirBNB for much cheaper than the equivalent space at a hotel. The quality of the places listed on Airbnb varies drastically though, so do we recommend reading reviews thoroughly before booking.

 

Staying at an AirBNB is also a good option to know more about Vietnamese locals & their daily life.

8. Hotels and Tours in Vietnam Are Plagued With Fake Reviews

Lots of the hotel/Airbnb tips above involve reading reviews. Unfortunately, Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality industry are plagued with fake reviews. Yes, we know this is a worldwide issue however this problem seems to be especially egregious in Vietnam. 

Hotel managers and tour operators will often create dozens of fake accounts on booking and travel sites praising their own business while trying to sabotage their competitors. Some businesses even offer discounts in exchange for 5-star reviews from their customers.

 

 

Here are two effective ways to filter out the majority of fake reviews.

• Find reviews on Facebook. It is much more difficult for a single person to make multiple Facebook accounts than on sites like Tripadvisor that only require an email address to create a new account. Also if a Facebook reviewer doesn’t have a profile picture and more than a handful of friends then we can probably assume the account is fake.
• Discount reviews from 1-time reviewers. Although we’re sure there are a small percentage of real reviewers that only write a single review and stop, it is pretty obvious that the reviews of a business is fake if the majority of the reviews are from 1 and done reviewers, which seems is the case with many if not most hospitality businesses in Vietnam.

9. Tripadvisor Is A Terrible Place To Book Tours (And usually more expensive!)

Notwithstanding the issue of fake reviews we mentioned earlier, we think Tripadvisor is a terrible place to book tours. Although Tripadvisor can be a great tool for researching the kind of activities a place offers and getting advice from fellow travelers in the many travel forums, you probably won’t discover some of the best tour operators on Tripadvisor anymore. That’s because Tripadvisor stopped showing the organic rankings of the tour and activity businesses listed on its website since April 2018.  Around that period, they started to only promote the tour and activity businesses that sell their tours directly on Tripadvisor and pay a huge commission for the privilege. For instance, it’s almost impossible for a traveler to discover Golden Holiday Travel Tours on Tripadvisor now (without navigating through a maze of menus) because we refuse to pay Tripadvisor a huge commission to list our tours. So unless you already know about our business, it’s unlikely you will ever accidentally come across Golden Holiday Travel Tours on the site.

 

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that many businesses that sell their tours on Tripadvisor actually raise their prices on Tripadvisor to cover the commission they have to pay to the company, so often times you can book the same tour a lot cheaper if you book directly through the business. It’s a good strategy to find something that looks good on Tripadvisor, cross-reference it with other sources, and then head to the company’s site to book. Even if you find that the price of a tour is the same on a business’s website as on Tripadvisor, at least your money will go towards supporting the local business instead of going into the pocket of a corporate machine.

10. Free Student Tours Are Very Popular And Can Book Out Weeks In Advance

Free student-led tours are not only great for budget travelers, but they are also a great way to meet locals and learn more about life in Vietnam. Some of the more well-known student tour organizations like “Hanoi Kids” and “Saigon Hotpot” have huge demand, so don’t expect to be able to book spots with one of these organizations on just a few days notice. We would recommend booking these tours first once you have a firm itinerary for your Vietnam vacation.

When booking a free tour, please keep in mind that these types of tours are usually led by University students looking for chances to improve their English and not professional licensed tour guides. This often means a less polished experience, but it also means you have more chances to get to know your guide on a personal level and maybe even make a new friend. 

 

11. Your Old Or Torn Bills Won’t Be Accepted in Vietnam

Make sure the cash you are planning on bringing with you to exchange for Vietnamese Dong is in great condition if you want decent currency exchange rates. This means no pen markings, no tears (however small), and no significant creases. It might be a good idea to swing by a bank before you fly out to exchange your bills for crisp new ones. If you don’t, you’ll be charged an additional fee on the dirty notes, and some places might even refuse to exchange them entirely.

Bonus tip: Larger denominations (e.g. $50 & $100 USD bills) will get you better exchange rates than smaller denominations.

12. Some Vaccinations Need To Be Administered Months In Advance

Some vaccinations, like Hepatitis B, Rabies, and Japanese Encephalitis, have to be administered 1-3 months in advance to take effect, so make an appointment with your doctor well in advance of your trip to Vietnam if you need to get them.

 

There is a myth that vaccinations are required to fly to Vietnam, but that’s not true, except for Covid 19 one. No one will turn you away from visiting the country if you do not get them. We’d strongly recommend getting the vaccinations advised to citizens of your country as per the nation-specific guidance in our section on Vietnam travel vaccinations. Without proper immunizations, you have a much higher risk of becoming sick in Vietnam.

 

13.Domestic Flights In Vietnam Are Frequently Delayed, Especially Budget Airlines

Many travelers prefer to book flights with the budget airlines in Vietnam (e.g Jetstar,  Vietjet & Bamboo) because you can often book flights 50-75% cheaper than on Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier. Be aware, however, that there is a significant risk that your flight will be delayed a few hours or even canceled. If that sounds worth the savings, go for it. Also, keep in mind that the low prices on the budget carriers don’t include check-in luggage which can increase the price of each ticket dramatically. 

 

If your schedule isn’t flexible and/or you have a lot of check-in luggage we would recommend going with Vietnam Airlines. Flights are still relatively cheap compared to other countries and it is managed much more professionally than the budget airlines.

 

Protip: If you’re flying with a budget airline and have a tour booked at your destination for the same day, make sure they have a lenient cancellation/rebooking policy or you might be on the hook for a big cancellation fee if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

 

14. Sleeper Buses Are Really Really Cheap, And A Great Travel Option For Small Budgets

The sleeper buses in Vietnam are actually pretty amazing in their quality, making them great low-budget options. They’re obviously nowhere near as fast as planes, but they are very cheap (generally $6 for a 100-500km trip) and can get you almost anywhere you want to go. They are air-conditioned, clean, and each “seat” is also a bed that allows people 5’6” or smaller to actually stretch out and recline almost fully. If you’re over that height however, you’ll have to scrunch your legs a bit to lie down. The sleeper buses run every half hour until late at night, so buying a ticket at 11pm and getting a good night’s sleep while gliding down the highway isn’t hard to arrange. FUTA is the best company to use, and they have an easy online booking portal. You don’t need to book in advance to get the best fares.

Although a great value, there are 2 big issues you should consider before booking a sleeper bus:

• The bus drivers often drive like maniacs, so it can be nerve-racking and somewhat dangerous to take a sleeper bus if you are unlucky enough to get on one with a bad driver.
• Luggage theft is common on Vietnam buses. The luggage hold is not really secure, and it is easy for the bus staff to get in there to go through the bags. So keep your valuables with you in the cabin is possible. If you travel with lots of suitcases, you probably shouldn’t risk taking the bus.

15. You Won’t Be Allowed To Drive A Rental Car

There are lots of car rental agencies advertised in Vietnam but the person who rents the car won’t be allowed to drive it. International Driver’s licenses are not accepted in Vietnam so car rental businesses always include a driver here, even on long trips. Your driver will take you where you want to go and will usually rent cheap accommodations for him or herself if you need to stay overnight somewhere.

16. The Grab App Will Help You Avoid The Most Common Vietnam Scam

If there is one phone app no tourist should be without in Vietnam, it’s Grab. Grab is essentially the Uber of Southeast Asia, offering car and motorbike rides on demand. The app is easy to use and even allows 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 bike, enter a pick-up point and destination, and the app will give you a price. Tap “confirm” and you’re done.

Keep in mind however that the app will not work or allow you to set up a digital payment option before you enter Southeast Asia, so just download it

 

Of course, you will be able to download the app once you get to Vietnam but it’s easier to have it ready so that once you arrive in Vietnam you can use the app immediately for transportation to your accommodation.

 

17. 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 contrast, food allergies are covered in western media regularly, with news of people getting seriously ill or even dying due to exposure to various types of food ingredients (e.g. peanut allergy). We don’t mean to imply that Vietnamese people are healthier than people in other countries or are more immune to developing food allergies. Our theory is that because food allergies are poorly understood in Vietnam, most of the Vietnamese people that had serious allergies probably died at a young age and didn’t have a chance to pass on their genes to future generations.

 

 

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

 

Even when the locals take precautions for allergies, they only look at the obvious ingredients that you can see and not the ones you don’t like what the cooking oil or fish sauce is made of. When we started Golden Holiday Travel Tours, we made a strong point to train our staff to understand the seriousness of food allergies and to also to have them talk to the restaurants we work with to know exactly what ingredients are used in the food we serve our guests on our tours. We doubt that many other tours in Vietnam that serve food do this.

 

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

18. What Is Legal In Your Country May Be Illegal In Vietnam

Did you know it’s illegal to take photos of any government building in Vietnam or fly drones in Vietnam without a permit? Or that it’s illegal ride on a motorbike with more than two people on it unless the 3rd person is a small child (7 years old or younger). And even if you have a international motorbike license it doesn’t mean you’re legal to drive in Vietnam since most international driver’s licenses are not recognized in Vietnam. Additionally, it’s illegal to join a crowd if the government deems that crowd to be involved in a protest, even if you did not know what the crowd was for when you joined it. These are just a few of the laws that travelers to Vietnam have had trouble with in the past, and they’re not exactly intuitive to westerners. So take some time to look up Vietnamese laws tourists should know; you don’t want to spend your vacation tangled up in Vietnamese legal proceedings with a big fine as a souvenir.

19. The Vietnam E-Visa Is The Best Visa Option For Most Travelers

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

An E-visa is a 100% online visa issuing process that costs less and allows you to avoid Visa On Arrival queues. It’s available for citizens of most countries. Follow these steps to get one:

• Log onto the one and only official Vietnam E-visa site.
• Apply for a visa letter online at least a week before your trip. The processing fee is 25 USD.
• Print out the e-visa once it’s sent to you. It will take 3 to 6 days to arrive. Your e-visa should look similar to the image below.
• Bring the e-visa with you on your flight.
• Present your e-visa to the immigration clerk at the Vietnamese airport.

Any accomplished traveler will tell you one of the first rules of visiting a new country is to always come prepared. This advice is doubly true for Vietnam because the culture and customs are so different than in western countries. Hopefully, this blog post helps you to do just that.