Vietnam

You can fly into Vietnam from many cities around the world. We use kayak.com to find the flight that best suits our requirements and then either book direct or go through a travel agent. Our Travel 101 resource explains why we generally use an agent for flights rather than direct.

When it comes to Vietnam, the weather is as diverse as the country's geography, with temperatures and rainfall varying significantly from north to south. No matter when you travel you’ll be hot, wet, or cool at some stage (well not always cool, it is the tropics).

We find Vietnam the one country where it’s really hard to suggest a best month to visit. So instead we’ve written a story all about the weather in Vietnam.

Story: When Should I Travel to Vietnam

One other time to be aware of is the annual Tet Festival (Lunar New Year). At this time half the country is on the move, government, banks and some businesses close, and trains and planes are booked out early.

Most nationalities need a visa to enter Vietnam, however, some nationalities can enter visa-free:

• Passport holders from Chile and Panama are allowed 90 days visa free.

• Citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Northern Ireland, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus are allowed 45 days visa free entry.

• South East Asian nation citizens are allowed visa free entry for stays of 30 days, except Philippines (21 days) and Brunei (14 days).

For stays up to 90 days a multiple entry e-visa can be obtained online for 80 nationalities. These e-visas are available for the visa-free nationalities mentioned above as well as Australian, Canadian, Indian, Irish, New Zealand, and US citizens, plus many more.

This is the official website for obtaining an e-visa. While the page looks a bit dodgy, it is the official government site. It also provides a list of nationalities that can enter visa free and on the 90 day e-visa.

The Immigration Department states that the processing of e-visas takes 3 working days. While most people will receive their visas in that time, many do not. So please, DO NOT leave applying for your e-visa until the last minute!

You won’t be allowed to board your flight without a valid visa so once you have your e-visa, please double, and then triple check, that all details are correct. Passport numbers, passport expiry date, dates of birth, date of entry, name spelling, gender, correct port of entry, all need to be accurate.

We talk more about our recommendations for carrying cards and cash in our Travel 101 resource.

Currency

The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). You'll find it in colorful bills of various denominations up to the highest denomination, the 500,000 note, which might make you feel like a millionaire!

US$1 = approx 23,000 VND

Check xe.com for the latest rates.

In some major stores and hotels you might be able to use USD cash but generally local currency is required.

ATMS

ATMs are scattered throughout the country, so getting your hands on some dong is a breeze in most areas. Just remember, if you're planning on wandering off the beaten path to explore the countryside, some smaller villages and rural areas may not have an ATM in sight. So, before you go full-on wanderlust, make sure you've got enough cash to keep you going.

Note: different banks have different limits on ATM withdrawals with the local banks having a lower limit than the international banks (the highest limits are at Citibank & ANZ).

Credit Cards

When you're hitting up big businesses like fancy hotels and restaurants in Vietnam, your trusty credit card should do the trick. But, if you're planning on checking out some of the local street markets or hole-in-the-wall diners, don't forget to bring some cash. Plus, if you're planning to wander around remote towns or rural areas, plastic probably won't be an option at all. So, stash some bills in your wallet, and you'll be all set to explore Vietnam's hidden gems.

Example Costs

Local-style coffee at a cafe = 15,000 VND

Bowl of pho from street stall = 20,000-35,000 VND

Dinner at a simple restaurant = 70,000-100,000 VND

Dinner at an up-market restaurant = 200,000+ VND

There’s a few important things you should know for your travels in Vietnam. We have written a few stories to help prepare you (links take you to a more in depth story about specific topics):

How to cross the road - no jokes, at first the roads seem impossible to cross so you need to learn the correct technique.

Don’t expect to walk on the footpath. You will find yourself walking on the streets as the footpath is basically for motorbike parking and other general use. If travelling with kids keep them on the footpath side of the street so they are kept safe from traffic.

Always ask permission before taking a photo of someone.

When bargaining keep it light and friendly.

Be prepared to cover up in temples and certain important buildings.

More details on cultural tips can be found in the Travel 101 resource.

110-220V 50 Hertz

Type A - North American/Japanese 2-pin flat

Type C - European 2-pin round

If the label on your device states 'INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz' it can be used in all countries in the world. This is common for chargers of tablets/laptops, mobile phone, toothbrushes, etc.

Mobile coverage is very good in Vietnam. We highly advise buying a local SIM from Viettel at the airport when you first arrive in Vietnam. A local SIM is a very cheap and easy way to make sure you have internet coverage when you need it.

While many shops sell SIM cards, you should go to an official store as SIM cards must be registered with a passport. From just 100,000 VND, you can purchase a SIM card with a 5 GB/30-day package. Other plans are available to suit your needs.

When in Vietnam, tipping may not be mandatory, but it's always a kind gesture. If you're feeling grateful for the amazing service from waiters, drivers, guides or other service staff, a little tip can go a long way in showing your appreciation. Not only that, it encourages top-notch service in the future and is a staple of the tourism industry. There is no need to tips at small street stall-style food outlets.

To make things easier, be sure to bring along some local currency in small denominations. Oh, and make sure your bills aren't dirty or ripped, as that could be a bit of a tipping taboo.

How to choose what to do? It can be hard when you are trying to fit in as much as you can but have a whole country to explore.

In general our itineraries will suit most people so simply pick the itinerary that fits closely to the number of days you have.

If you have a particular destination or activity you want to focus on take this into account but from our experience it really comes down to how many days you have.