8 Steps to self-plan your awesome trip to Vietnam

Step 1. Clarify with these details first.

Before making the detailed program for your Vietnam Travel itinerary, you must have this clear information in mind : travel lengths you have for this Vietnam trip, the travel experiences you would love to try, whether you travel alone or go with others & your financial plan to go ahead.

a. How many days are you planning for your Vietnam Vacation?

When planning your trip to Vietnam, you must have a clear idea of how many days you will spend here, right?

Whether you have a 10-day or 3-week vacation to explore Vietnam?

Or in your big adventure to Asia, Vietnam is just one of them with a quick stop for a three - day trip

Though the longer, the better, you can still visit Vietnam in Vietnam, then choose either Hanoi city or Ho Chi Minh city?

If a longer time you have for Vietnam vacation, you can explore more & visit more places of your interest in Vietnam.We have listed the most beautiful and worth-visiting places in Vietnam - a good reference to well-plan your coming Vietnam itinerary.

So you will fill the number of day in this sentence : I will do a visit to Vietnam in....................days

b.What travel experiences would you love to take ?

What would you love to experience in Vietnam : leisure bike or adventure trek ? Homestaying in local family or staying in high -ending resort? An escape to recharge your energy & explore untouched naural landscapes? Do you prefer the city or rural areas? Or are you just looking for a relaxing beach vacation? With the list of your loved things to do, you can sort out & easier select your favourite places to visit in Vietnam.

>>>>>You may be interested in :Top 10 untouched places to visit in Vietnam

c. Are you travelling alone or coming along with others

Are you travelling solo to Vietnam? Or do you travel with your family or friends ?

Travelling solo gives you the freedom to go anywhere you want & do your things to do following your wishes but you have to plan it all by yourself.If you love adventure & stay budget, it could be a good option to rent a motorbike to travel around Vietnam.

When traveling with friends or family, you can together plan your Vietnam trip,find the best experiences that fit every members & share every moments with eachother.

d. Are you preparing your travel budget for this Vietnam trip?

How much you will spend in Vietnam largely depend on the way you travel : staying in budget hotels or luxury ones, private - transfered car or SIC buses, street food meals or best dishes in finest local restaurants? Don’t need to worry, no matter who you are, Vietnam is a great country that can happily accommodate and cover all budgets

Here is a brief breakdown of prices in Vietnam ( accommodation, food, drink & travel around) depending on how much you want to spend.

• Backpacker Budget: $40 to $50+ per day
• Mid-range Budget: $80 to $100+ per day
• Luxury Budget: $ 250 to $310+ per day

The biggest splurge on Vietnam trip costs will likely be your plane ticket.

With this information in mind, you can calculate how much much money you need prepare for your coming trip to Vietnam, right?

Step 2. Decide the places to visit in Vietnam

Vietnam is a long- stretched country with famous tourist attractions scattered from the North to the South so the most challenging part in your planning process is to decide where to visit in Vietnam. However, after the first step, you will know where you want to go in Vietnam

Basing on the travel experiences you would love to do or your travel style, you can pick different destinations in Vietnam that suit your needs.

When answering the questions in the Step 1, you will narrow down places to visit on your bucket list & go ahead to plan your day to day Vietnam travel itinerary.

Suggested top places to visit in Vietnam :

Northern Vietnam : Hanoi capital, Ninh Binh, Halong bay (Bai Tu Long bay & Lan Ha bay), Cat Ba island, Perfume pagoda, Ba Vi national park, Sapa, Bac Son valley, Ba Be lake, Ban Gioc waterfall, Ha Giang (Dong Van Geopark & Hoang Su Phi Rice terraces), Mu Cang Chai, Mai Chau valley, Pu Luong nature reserve, Thac Ba lake..

Central & Central Highlands Vietnam : Da Nang, Hoi An, My Son, Hai Van Pass, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hue royal city, Bach Ma national park, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Da Lat...

Southern Vietnam : Ho Chi Minh city, Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc island, Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Con Dao islands...

Step 3. Check ideal time to visit Vietnam (in terms of weather & cost-saving).

When you have already chosen your favourite places to visit in Vietnam, besides knowing the best time to visit Vietnam in terms of weather & cost savings, it is also really essential to stay updated with the ideal time to visit each place for your best experiences.

Best time to visit Vietnam in term of weather.

If short time you have ( 4-6 days),we suggest you to pay a visit to a certain region : Northern Vietnam, Central Vietnam or Southern Vietnam. Longer time 7-15 days, you can can connect different regions or the whole country.

4 day North Vietnam Itinerary : Hanoi- Halong bay- Hanoi

• Day 1. Hanoi arrival & sightsee Hanoi's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi.
• Day 2. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay cruise.
• Day 3. Halong bay - Hanoi.Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 4. Hanoi sightseeing & departure.

4 day Central Vietnam Itinerary : Danang- Golden Bridge - Marble Mountains - Hoi An - My Son - Danang

• Day 1. Danang arrival & sightsee Da Nang 's highlights.Overnight in Da Nang.
• Day 2. Da Nang - Golden Bridge & Ba Na hill.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 3. Danang visit to My Son sanctuary & Hoi An ancient town.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 4. Danang visit to Marble mountains & departure.

4 day South Vietnam Itinerary : HCMC- Mekong delta - Cu Chi tunnel - HCMC

• Day 1. HCM arrival & sightsee HCMC's highlights.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 2. HCMC - Cu Chi tunnels & Cao Dai temple.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 3. HCMC visit to Mekong delta - HCMC.Overnight in HCMC
• Day 4. Free for shopping & HCMC departure

5 day North Vietnam Itinerary : Hanoi- Halong bay-Ninh Binh- Hanoi

• Day 1. Hanoi arrival & sightsee Hanoi's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi.
• Day 2. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay cruise.
• Day 3. Halong bay - Hanoi.Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 4. Hanoi day trip to Ninh Binh.Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 5. Hanoi sightseeing & departure.

5 day Central Vietnam Itinerary : Danang- Golden Bridge - Marble Mountains - Hoi An - My Son - Danang

• Day 1. Danang arrival & sightsee Da Nang 's highlights.Overnight in Da Nang.
• Day 2. Da Nang - Golden Bridge & Ba Na hill.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 3. Danang visit to My Son sanctuary & Hoi An ancient town.Overnight in Hoi An
• Day 4. Biking to visit Tra Que village & Cam Thanh coconut for bamboo boat ride.Overnight in Hoi An
• Day 5. Hoi An shopping & departure.

5 day South Vietnam Itinerary : HCMC- Mekong delta - Cu Chi tunnel - HCMC

• Day 1. HCM arrival & sightsee HcMC's highlights.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 2. HCMC - Cu Chi tunnels & Cao Dai temple.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 3. HCMC visit to Mekong delta.Overnight in Can Tho
• Day 4. Can Tho visit to Cai Rang market- HCM city.Overnight in HCMC
• Day 5. Free for shopping & HCMC departure

6 day North Vietnam Itinerary : Hanoi- Halong bay-Ninh Binh- Hanoi

• Day 1. Hanoi arrival & sightsee Hanoi's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi.
• Day 2. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay cruise.
• Day 3. Halong bay - Ninh Binh.Overnight in Ninh Binh
• Day 4. Ninh Binh visit to Trang An, Mua cave, Hoa Lu.Overnight in Ninh Binh
• Day 5. Ninh Binh trek to Cuc Phuong national park- Hanoi.Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 6. Hanoi sightseeing & departure.

6 day Central Vietnam Itinerary : Danang- Golden Bridge - Marble Mountains - Hoi An - My Son -Hue - Danang

• Day 1. Danang arrival & sightsee Da Nang 's highlights.Overnight in Da Nang.
• Day 2. Da Nang - Golden Bridge & Ba Na hill.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 3. Danang visit to My Son sanctuary & Hoi An ancient town.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 4. Danang visit to Hue palaces & its monuments. Overnight in Hue
• Day 5. Hue visit to Bach Ma national park - Hai Van Pass.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 6. Danang shopping & departure.

6 day South Vietnam Itinerary : HCMC- Mekong delta - Cu Chi tunnel - Phu Quoc- HCMC

• Day 1. HCM arrival & sightsee HCMC's highlights.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 2. HCMC - Cu Chi tunnels & Cao Dai temple.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 3. HCMC visit to Mekong delta - HCMC.Overnight in HCMC
• Day 4. HCM visit to Phu Quoc island.Overnight in Phu Quoc
• Day 5. Relax in Phu Quoc beaches - flight to HCMC
• Day 6. Free for shopping & HCMC departure

7 day Northern & Central Vietnam Itinerary : Hanoi - Halong bay- Da Nang- Golden Bridge - Marble Mountains - Hoi An - My Son

• Day 1. Hanoi arrival & sightsee Hanoi 's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi.
• Day 2. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay cruise.
• Day 3. Halong bay - Hanoi, flying to Da Nang.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 4. Hanoi - Golden Bridge & Ba Na hill.Overnight in Da Nang
• Day 5. Danang visit to My Son sanctuary & Hoi An ancient town.Overnight in Hoi An
• Day 6. Biking to visit Tra Que village & Cam Thanh coconut for bamboo boat ride.Overnight in Hoi An
• Day 7. Hoi An shopping & departure.

9 day Southern & Northern Vietnam Itinerary : HCMC- Mekong delta - Cu Chi tunnel - Hanoi- Halong bay

• Day 1. HCM arrival & sightsee HcMC's highlights.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 2. HCMC - Cu Chi tunnels & Cao Dai temple.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 3. HCMC visit to Mekong delta- HCM city.Ovenight in HCM city
• Day 4. HCMC flight to Hanoi city & sighsee Hanoi's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 5. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay.Overnight on cruise
• Day 6. Halong bay - Hanoi, night train to Sapa.Overnight in Sapa
• Day 7. Sapa trek to Muong Hoa valley.Homestay in local village.
• Day 8. Sapa visit to Fansipan & Tram Ton heaven gate- night train back to Hanoi
• Day 9. Hanoi free for shopping & departure

10 day Vietnam Itinerary : Hanoi- Ninh Binh- Halong bay - Da Nang -Hue - HCMC

• Day 1. Hanoi arrival & sightsee Hanoi's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi.
• Day 2. Hanoi - Ninh Binh day trip- Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 3. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay cruise.
• Day 4. Halong bay - Hanoi, flight to Da Nang.Overnight in Hoi An
• Day 5. Day trip to visit Hoi An ancient town- My Son Holly Land.Overnight in Hoi An.
• Day 6. Day trip to Golden Bridge & Ba Na hill- transfer to Hue.Overnight in Hue
• Day 7. Day trip visit Hue palace & its monuments.Overnight in Hue
• Day 8. Hue flight to HCMC, sightseeing HCM City.Overnight in HCM
• Day 9. HCM City visit to Cu Chi tunnel & sightsee HCM city.
• Day 10. HCM city departure

13 day Vietnam Itinerary : Hanoi- Ninh Binh- Halong bay - Da Nang -Hue - HCMC

• Day 1. Hanoi arrival & sightsee Hanoi's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi.
• Day 2. Hanoi - Ninh Binh day trip- Hanoi. Overnight on train to Sapa
• Day 3. Sapa trek to Muong Hoa valley.Overnight in Sapa
• Day 4. Sapa visit to Fansipan & Tran Ton heaven gate.Overnight on train to Hanoi.
• Day 5. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay cruise.
• Day 6. Halong bay - Hanoi, flight to Da Nang.Overnight in Hoi An
• Day 7. Day trip to visit Hoi An ancient town- My Son Holly Land.Overnight in Hoi An.
• Day 8. Day trip to Golden Bridge & Ba Na hill- transfer to Hue.Overnight in Hue
• Day 9. Day trip visit Hue palace & its monuments.Overnight in Hue
• Day 10. Hue flight to HCMC, sightseeing HCM City.Overnight in HCM
• Day 11. HCM City visit to Cu Chi tunnel & sightsee HCM city.
• Day 12. HCMC visit to Mong delta.Overnight in HCMC
• Day 10. HCM city departure

15 day Vietnam Itinerary : HCMC- Mekong delta - Cu Chi tunnel - Hanoi- Halong bay- Ninh Binh- Sapa - Ha Giang - Cao Bang - Bac Kan

• Day 1. HCM arrival & sightsee HcMC's highlights.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 2. HCMC - Cu Chi tunnels & Cao Dai temple.Overnight in HCMC.
• Day 3. HCMC visit to Mekong delta- HCM city.Ovenight in HCM city
• Day 4. HCMC flight to Hanoi city & sighsee Hanoi's highlights.Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 5. Hanoi - Halong bay.Overnight in Halong bay.Overnight on cruise
• Day 6. Halong bay - Hanoi, night train to Sapa.Overnight in Sapa
• Day 7. Sapa trek to Muong Hoa valley.Homestay in local village.
• Day 8. Sapa visit to Fansipan & Tram Ton heaven gate- night train back to Hanoi
• Day 9. Hanoi - Thac ba lake.Overnight in Thac Ba lake.
• Day 10. Thac Ba lake - Ha Giang - Dong Van Geopark.Overnight in Yen Minh
• Day 11. Dong Van Geopark Exploration - Overnight in Meo Vac.
• Day 12. Meo Vac - Cao Bang - Ban Gioc waterfall.Overnight in Ban Gioc
• Day 13. Ban Gioc - Ba Be lake.Overnight in Ba Be lake
• Day 14. Ba Be lake visit - Hanoi.Overnight in Hanoi
• Day 15. Hanoi departure

Step 5. Fix your travel itinerary & process the service booking.

You have already planned your ideal itinerary with the places to visit & loved activities to take part in, right? Now, it is the time to process the service booking ( hotels, transfers, day tours, cruises, flights). Before you buy that flight or book that hotel,check for the deals you might have missed.

Book your international flights

To get into Vietnam from your country, you can easily find direct cheap flights or transit flights from the online website of the airport companies. The reliable and reputable Vietnam National Airlines and its international partners offer both of direct and transit flights with good schedule (overnight flights, early morning arrival in Hanoi and Saigon).

Other airlines such as Tiger Airway, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, Thai International, Singapore Airlines (non-exhaustive list) also offer flights with good services. The price of these airlines may be more economical at certain time, but it is necessary to check well the duration of stopover and total flight time.

If these flights land in Cambodia (often in Siem Riep), Laos (often in Vientian / Luang Prabang), Thailand (often in Bangkok), Korea (often in Seoul), Singapore, or Malaysia (Kula Lumper) … they are entirely possible to integrate with Vietnam Airlines for your connected flights to three major international airports in Vietnam such as Hanoi airport, Danang airport and Ho Chi Minh airport.

The airport you choose to arrive in Vietnam will depend on the route you choose, the travel itinerary you have just planned.

• If you plan to travel to the North of Vietnam first – Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba and Sa Pa, then you will fly into Hanoi Airport.
• If you plan to start the trip from the Central Vietnam first - Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Quang Binh, then you will fly into Da Nang airport.
• If you plan to travel the South of Vietnam first  - The Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc & Con Dao you will fly into Ho Chi Minh Airport.

>>>>>>Suggested sites for finding cheap fares :  Momondo , Skyscanner, Airtreks

Booking your domestic flights

When travel between Vietnam's regions, the most convenient way is travelling by air, then save your valuable time for sightseeing your favourite places.

There are four leading flight companies in Vietnam – Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airlines, Vietjet, and Jetstar.

While most people prefer Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airlines for excellent service they provide. There is not much canceling, delaying, and you may have food onboard as well. The seats are also more comfortable.

Vietjet Air and Jetstar are budget airlines in Vietnam, constant with their promotional programs, and the price is lower compared to Vietnam Airlines. However, the lugguage is limited to 7kg hand bag, you need to pay extra for overweight ones as well as for the meals served on the flight.It’s also quite common that your flights may get delayed around 30 mins or more when choosing these airlines.

Airport transfers to your hotel

If you are landing at night ( no bus schedules operated any more), the first time to a new country, you would love to be sure the first steps going smoothly, you can pre-arrange a private airport pick-up with a driver to get you from the airport to your hotel.

In need of Hanoi airport pick-up, feel free to contact us for a private car with driver

Or you can get the apps (Grab) to order a taxi to reach your hotel or travel around ( the good way to avoid proper scams which may happen when you catch a traditional taxi).There are also buses outside the airports in Vietnam you can order if you love to travel budget ways but longer time to wait & many stops between the journey to the city center.

Check your passport & process your visa to enter Vietnam

Check your passport & make sure its validilty for at least 6 months following your arrival date to Vietnam and have at least 2 blank pages for immigration stamps. A temporary passport maybe not accepted.

Before traveling to Vietnam, you’ll have to check if you need to apply for a visa.Citizens who are not on the visa exemption list can apply for an E-visa, VOA (Visa on Arrival) or a regular visa at a Vietnamese embassy.Each way has its own requirements and procedures.

E-visa:

Eligible for citizens of 80 countries in the list (Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and Macau passports), Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Salomon Islands, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Western Samoa)

• Available for Air/Land/Water entry
• Validity: 1-month single entry
• Cost: US$25, non-refundable in case your visa application is refused
• Travellers can apply directly for e-Visas here: Vietnam e-Visa Official Website.
• Processing: 3 business days
• Entry gate: 28 (8 international airports, 13 international border gates, and 7 seaports across Vietnam)

VOA (Visa on Arrival):

• Eligible for air travelers
• Validity: 1-month single/multiple entry; 3-month single/multiple entry; 6-month multiple entry; 1-year multiple entry
• You’ll have to apply for an invitation letter before you can get the real visa stamp on your passport when landed in a Vietnam airport
• Processing: 2 business days or less (urgent service is available)
• You can mostly get a refund if your application is turned down.Please, get your visa on arrival consulted with this website  : Vietnam -Visa

Visa at Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate.

If you are near a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, you can submit your photo, application form, passport, and visa fee in person.After 3 working days, you will recieved application result.This website will guide you through the process.

Buy international travel insurances.

• The traffic is very dense (most are two wheels, but there are also cars and trucks). So, it is necessary to be careful when walking in town or moving by scooter on the roads.
• To pay attention to your belongings, especially in such a major city as Hanoi,HCMC, Da Nang where pickpockets are sometimes reported.

Travel insurance is a necessity. we recommend World Nomads.

Check the accommodation you plan to stay in each places & book them online

Book transfers between the places ( bus, train, private car or domestic flights)

When travelling across Vietnam, transport options include flights, bus rides, trains and motorbikes.if you are skilful at driving a motorbike & love adventure, you can rent a motorbike to travel around.Otherwise, you can book domestic flights, train or tourist buses to travel between the places.

Book the certain tours in advance

Step 6. Take vaccinations before travelling to Vietnam

Technically, vaccines are not required to visit Vietnam ( except for Covid 19 one, which will be a must for any travellers doing the trip to Vietnam)

But for your enjoyable travelling, these vaccines are highly recommended by most disease bureaus for any travellers doing trips to Vietnam

• Tetanus - the air in Vietnam is filled with dust particles that can effect an open wound
• Typhoid - Mosquitoes with typhoid have been eradicated in Vietnam's cities, but when you travel to remote mountainous areas & countrysides, mosquitoes with typhoid are still reported there.It is no fun being trapped in one location during a vacation so we'd recommend to get it regardness of your plans.
• Measles - Measles is highly contagious & urban Vietnam is very densely populated with possible host.
• Heptatitis A - Spread through unhyginic food prep.Hep A is extremely common in Vietnam
• Heptatistic B - Essentially a rarer & more serious form of Hep A

Optional ones

• Rabies - Important if you want to see Vietnamese wildlife or explore the country's forest.
• Cholera - Spread through unclean food.It is rare in Vietnam but better safe than sorry
• Meningococcal Meningitis - It is very rare but it is highly contagious.

The above recommendations are most commonly prescribed vaccinations, but specific countries may have their own recommended vaccines not presented on this list.Before visiting Vietnam, you should check with your doctor or a qualified medical professional for relevant travel-related medical advice.

Step 7.Check again all your travel document & flights

Great, you have done the first 6 steps & are eager your Vietnam trip? Before the departure time, you should recheck all your travel documents: passport, visa, insurance, and other required travel documents such as booking confirmation.

We recommend printing them out or storing those documents to your email so you can easily get access to them.

Also, you should recheck your flight schedule to make sure if it departs on time.Checking online will save you lots of time and avoiding a long queue at the airport, so you should do it when the online check-in service is opened.

Step 8.Pack your stuff & enjoy Vietnam trip

What to pack for Vietnam?

Reading about the weather in Vietnam & your travel styles, you have known what clothes, shoes & sandals to bring, right? You should bring light clothes or buy new clothes in Vietnam as they are cheap.

Bring your special own prescribed medicines since you may encounter difficulties in finding it in a strange country. As you are likely to run into many health problems ranging from headaches to allergies when traveling to a different country, a pack of regular medication must be extremely helpful in such cases.Painkillers such as aspirin and paracetamol, therefore, should be brought along when you come to Vietnam, making it possible for you to enjoy your trip thoroughly.

Power adapters should always be included in your packaging checklist because plug shapes may vary in different countries.

The sunlight in Vietnam may become quite harsh sometimes between 11 AM and 2 AM, hats, sunglasses & sun scream could help in protecting your eyes & skin from UV radiation.

Shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste in Vietnam can easily be bought at the convenience stores, so you don’t need to pack them with you.

You may need earplugs and sleep masks to accompany your travel pillow and have a good sleep If you plan to travel to several places in Vietnam by night trains or buses.

Before travelling to Vietnam, you should always ensure that your debit or credit cards will work in Vietnam before your arrival.In some cases, it is advisable to notify your bank the date you will arrive in Vietnam.In addition, make sure to bring some money in cash because you are most likely to buy foods, drinks and other things in small shops where they cannot charge your card

Then, pack up your prepared things & be ready for your flight departure to Vietnam

Useful travel tips to know when travelling to Vietnam

1.Currency Exchange.

The unit of currency in Vietnam is Vietnamese Dong (VND).If you need some local money to pay for taxi fare, you can exchange some amount in Hanoi airport though the exchange rate is not very good in comparison with the ones in the city.
In the city like Hanoi, you can change in Vietcombank or go directly to Gold & Jewlery Shop such as Quoc Trinh, you can fast exchange USD to VND with good exchange rate.

Tips : Vietnamese banknotes are issued in 1,000 VND, 2,000 VND, 5,000 VND, 10,000 VND, 20,000 VND, 50,000 VND, 100,000 VND & 500,000 VND.Be careful not to mistake the banknotes : 20,000 VND & 500,000 VND because they look quite similar.

2.Mobile Data Plan

Though you can get free wifi in some public places such as shopping malls, restaurants, airports.... but will be more convenient to get a local Vietnamese 4G SIM card when travelling to Vietnam.You can easily search for google map to find the place you want, stay connected with your beloved ones or communicate with locals by using google translate in case of misunderstanding........Viettel & Vinaphone SIM cards are two reliable brands with extensive network coverage & sufficient data plan, of which you can easily find in the arrival hall of any international airports in Vietnam

The sim card kiosk at Noi Bai airport

Since 2016, to purchase a SIM card, you have to show your ID or passport.The staff at the kiosks will assist you the registration and SIM activation process with less than 10 minutes.

3. Lean some typical Vietnamese 

You don’t have to be fluent in Vietnamese to have a great time when you travel to Vietnam. But it does help to know a few key phrases.This will not only assist you in your travels but it will also show respect to the local Vietnamese people that you are doing your best to assimilate into their culture.

• Please / Làm Æ¡n 
• Excuse me / Xin lá»—i 
• Yes / Dạ 
• Thank you / Cảm Æ n 
• I’m sorry / xin lá»—i
• No / Không
• Hello / Xin Chào
• Too expensive / Mac Qua 
• My name is __ / Ten toi la ___
• Goodbye/ Chào
• Where is _____ ? / ___ ở Ä‘âu? 
• How much / Bao nhiêu?
• Good morning / Chào buổi sáng
• I would like __ / cho toi cai nay
• Cheers! : Chuc mung
• Good afternoon / Chào buổi tối
• Beer / Bia 
• Where is the toilet? / Nhà vệ sinh ở Ä‘âu?
• Good evening / Chúc Ngủ Ngon
• Can you speak English? / Ban noi tieng anh duoc khong?
• I don’t understand / Tôi không hiểu.
• How do you say __ / Bạn nói __ thế nào trong tiếng Việt?
• I’d like to eat __ / Toi muon an
• I’d like to drink __ / Toi muon uong 

4. Try top Vietnamese dishes in Vietnam

The Vietnamese love their food and cooks make the most of each region's abundance produce and special ingredients to make their meals. Northern food is known for its simplicity; the dishes of central Vietnam are generous in spice and quantity; Southerners like to add sugar. Wherever you travel across the country, you're sure to eat well. Your trip to Vietnam, make sure to taste some of the following top dishes in Vietnam

• Phở ( rice noodle with beef or chicken) is the quintessential Vietnamese dish & best to try in Hanoi capital.Places to try : Pho Thin (13 Lo Duc - Hanoi), Pho Ly Quoc Su (10 Ly Quoc Su - Hanoi)
• Banh Mi (bagguettes )  - the best place to try it in Hoi An at Banh My Phuong- 2B Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An
• Com Tam ( broken rice ) - You can try it in A family-operated stall on 260 Vo Van Tan, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Bun Bo Hue ( rice noodle with beef) - You can try the best of this in Hue city at Quan Bun Bo Hue,19 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hue
• Cao Lau, a dish unique to Hoi An, cao lầu is beyond compare.When travelling to Hoi An, let's try it in Thanh Cao Lau - 24 Thai Phien St, Hoi An
• My Quang ( part soup & part salad). Travel to Da Nang, you can try it at Quan Mi Quang Ba Mua, 95 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Da Nang
• Banh Xeo - Best to try it at Banh Xeo 46A, 46A D Dinh Cong Trang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Com Ga ( rice with chicken) in Hoi An. Don't forget to try it at Com Ga Hien, 539 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoi An
• Bun Cha ( BBQ Pork with rice noodle) & Vietnamese spring rolls.Let try it in Bun Cha Huong Lien (also known as Bun Cha Obama), 24 Le Van Huu- Hanoi city
• Xoi ( Vietnamese sticky rice). Best place for it is Xoi Yen restaurant in 35 Nguyen Huu Huan - Hanoi city
• Cha Ca ( grilled fish). Let's have its best taste at Cha ca Thang Long - 31 Duong Thanh - Hanoi city
• Banh Cuon ( rice rolled cake ) : Recommended place to taste in Banh Cuon Thanh Van - 14 Hang Ga, Hanoi city
• Bun Bo Nam Bo (beef noodles in the south) : Let's taste thi in Bun Bo Nam Bo Bach Phuong - 67 Hang Dieu - Hanoi
• Banh Tom (Shrimp Cake).When travel to Hanoi, let 's try it at Banh Tom Ho Tay - 1 Thanh Nien, Hanoi city
• Ca Phe Trung ( Egg Coffee) - Let's dink this special dish at  39 Nguyen Huu Huan - Hanoi city

5. Recognize scams to avoid when travelling to Vietnam

Common scams to recognize in Vietnam are fake taxi, hawkers, shoes shiners, lighters & T-shirt vendors.... Please, read our detailed blog shared about this problem in this writting : BE ALERT with tourist scams when travelling in Vietnam

Explore Vietnam with Golden Holiday Travel.

Above are our share of 8 steps to plan your awesome trip to Vietnam, together with useful tips for your travelling to Vietnam, it can do great help to simplify your trip planning your trips to Vietnam. In need of more travel consultancy & local travel support to plan your trip to Vietnam, feel free to drop us an email to goldenholidaytravel.vn@gmail.com , we are pleased to support you !