At a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Given its historic past, Vietnam is a country that offers a unique perspective for travelers. Blessed with an insanely diverse landscape, you could be sliding down sand dunes in the morning, taking a stroll by the beach by noon and walking around a UNESCO heritage town by afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As my partner and I met in Vietnam, it will always be a memorable country for us. To help you plan and make the most out of your trip to Vietnam, here’s some key information to help you out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vietnam Quick Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Visa:<\/strong> Compared to most countries, the visa regulations in Vietnam keep changing so it is best to double-check with your embassy or on the government website for any changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As of 2019, the following countries can get a free visa for the prescribed number of days. If you wish to stay longer, you will have to apply for a visa beforehand either through an agency or through the newly implemented e-visa program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note that if you get a free visa on arrival, this is non-extendable — meaning you will have to fly out of the country if you wish to stay longer. If you\u2019re planning on staying for 30 days or more, we recommend that you apply for a tourist visa<\/strong><\/a> at least 3 days in advance. However, as visa regulations change all the time, make sure you consult the government’s website to get an accurate idea on the regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Safety:<\/strong> Generally speaking, Vietnam is a pretty safe country to travel to. Although there are a few scams to watch out for, the most common accident that happens is motorbike related. While driving a motorbike in Vietnam is something that we recommend you do, make sure that you have the proper licence from your home country. Most travel insurance policies won\u2019t cover you otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend checking out Safety Wing<\/strong><\/a> who provide monthly plans which is very convenient! They also have very extensive coverage and have been personally using them for months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Language:<\/strong> In larger cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, heaps of people speak a decent level of English making it a relatively easy place to travel. However, as with most places, as soon as you venture towards smaller towns and mountainous regions, the level of English drops. With this in mind, having a good grasp of a few basic Vietnamese words can go a long way. Words like petrol, hotel, and bathroom are definitely high up there on the list of must-know words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out our full Vietnamese for travelers guide<\/strong><\/a> for an overview of basic words and phrases to help you out. In case you’re deciding where to go, check out our comparison article on Thailand vs Vietnam<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Transportation:<\/strong> The transport from one place to the next is fairly easy in Vietnam and is quite efficient. We recommend using Bookaway<\/strong> <\/a>or 12Go website<\/strong><\/a> to view bus, boat, and train schedules ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n Generally speaking, you can go to Vietnam almost all-year round as you are bound to experience sunshine and rain throughout your trip. However, the best time to visit Vietnam is from February to April<\/strong> and August to October<\/strong> as the temperatures are not as intense and the rainfall is milder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Traveling Vietnam can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. A decent budget in Vietnam would be anything from $25-30 a day. If you stick to just street food and hostels, traveling Vietnam is incredibly cheap. While the conversions can get a bit tricky (you\u2019re always a millionaire in Vietnam), you will eventually get used to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listed below are rough prices of basic costs:<\/p>\n\n\n Budget: $5-8 (dorm) $18-25 (private) Street food: $1-2 Open Bus Tickets (stops at all the major tourist destinations with a flexible schedule) $68-70 As we say in all our packing list guides<\/a><\/strong>, do not overpack. Similar to other Southeast Asian countries, you really don\u2019t need to take a lot with you as you will also be able to buy things there. Hoi An in Vietnam is very popular for their abundance of great tailors so if you’re not traveling to other countries, save some space to get a few things done for a fraction of the price while you’re there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever you do, make sure you bring a few quick-dry clothes<\/strong><\/a>, a sturdy rain jacket (look at our recommendations on the best ones<\/strong><\/a>), as well as a good pair of hiking boots<\/strong><\/a> or trainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vietnam is a rough and rugged type of place, with the exception of its busy cities. With that in mind, here\u2019s our complete list of what to pack for Vietnam, including some tips if you\u2019re planning to drive a motorbike in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n Being that Vietnam is such a big and diverse country, there are heaps of incredible things to do, making it a one-stop shop country for both culture and adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you out, here\u2019s a list of things to do in Vietnam<\/strong><\/a> so you don\u2019t miss out on anything epic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next to Thailand, Vietnam has to be one of my favorite places for street food in Southeast Asia. The best thing about it is the street food is dirt cheap, with a piping bowl of authentic pho starting at a mere $1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the complete guidebook which you can find at the bottom of this page, I\u2019ve also listed a few of my personal food stall\/restaurant recommendations in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Hoi An. From where to get my favorite Bun Cha Hanoi to the best soup lady in town, going on a food trip in Vietnam is considered as a cultural highlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insider Tip:<\/strong> If you’re unsure about what to eat while in the country, we highly recommend going on a food tour to get introduced to all the local Vietnamese delicacies. Listed below are a few of our top food tour recommendations in most of the cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When my partner Tom and I first met in Vietnam, one of the first things I did was drag him to a cooking class where we got to make our own spring rolls, pho, and other awesome Vietnamese delicacies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, it was the perfect souvenir and was a fun alternative to the usual sightseeing activities. Take a look at these cooking classes in Vietnam for more details on the various cooking classes available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click the link below to read reviews and to find the perfect class that meets your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"vietnam-temple\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/vietnam-temple.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nVietnam Trip Planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best Time to Go<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rough Budget<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"thailand](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/2-1.png\" "\\"accommodation")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAccommodation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Mid-Range: $30-45
Splurge: $60+<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n![\"food](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/1.png\" "\\"food")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFood (Typical Meal For One)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Restaurant: $3-6
Very nice restaurant:$10++
Beer in a shop: $0.88
Beer in a bar: $1.32-$2.65<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n![\"transport](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/3.png\" "\\"transport")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTransport<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Buying motorcycle $250-300
Flights to domestic destinations (Vietnam airlines or Jetstar) $36-45<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\nWhat to Pack for Traveling Vietnam<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"vietnam](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/vietnam-beach.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBest Things to Do in Vietnam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Go on a Food Trip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Recommended Food Tours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Attend Cooking Classes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n