21 Important Things To Know About Vietnam Before Visiting

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Man standing on a stone cliffside overlooking the ocean in Vietnam

Vietnam is a beautiful country offering a multitude of unique tourist opportunities. But visiting this diverse and developing country comes with it’s own distinct set of challenges.

In this guide we share 21 key things you should know about visiting Vietnam. These tips are derived from nothing but our own personal experiences featuring information we wished we knew prior to our trip.

Our Experience

Man posing for a photo in Hue, Vietnam
Mark exploring a garden in Hue

We spent almost 30 days in Vietnam as part of our 18 month honeymoon around the world. At the time, you could only get a E-visa for 30 days and we wanted to see as much as possible while traveling slow. Unfortunately, we decided to leave three days early because we had a few bad experiences including having money stolen from our hotel room in Hoi An. And after traveling to over 40 countries, Vietnam is the only place we’ve ever been robbed to date.

We’re telling you this because it’s very important to manage your expectations before going to Vietnam or you might end up disappointed. While it’s a stunning travel destination, it’s still a developing country, especially when it comes to tourism. Compared to places like Thailand and Cambodia where the people and government know how important tourism is to the economy, we don’t think Vietnam has realized this yet.

We met many lovely people during our time in Vietnam, but it was often overshadowed by unpleasant locals who consistently tried to scam us (and sometimes in an aggressive way). Hopefully things have improved since we visited, but we can only speak from our own experiences. We’ll also share the common scams so you know what to look out for during your trip. Read more about us.

1. Weather Can Be Unpredictable

man and woman at the top of the Mount Fansipan summit
Mark and Kristen on a foggy day at Mt Fansipan

There are 7 separate climatic regions spanning the long narrow country of Vietnam. For this reason, it’s almost impossible to plan one full month of backpacking around perfect weather because it just doesn’t happen.

In general, Vietnam is hot and humid year round with the exception of the far north where winter gets very cold in December and January. The central highlands have a temperate climate which means the region is usually cooler. But May through October is the rainy season often bringing monsoons or typhoons across many parts of the country.

For a short visit, it will be easier to identify a region and plan around weather specifically. Here are the best times to explore popular tourist hot spots in Vietnam:

  • Sapa – September/early October for golden rice terraces and enjoyable trekking temperatures
  • Hanoi – August to October for comfortable conditions once high rainfall and humidity have ended
  • Halong Bay – April/May or November/December for pleasant temperatures, low rain and less humidity
  • Ninh Binh – May/June for golden rice terrace or September/October for green terrace harvest
  • Phong Nha – April to August for drier conditions and low humidity with comfortable temps
  • Hue – February to April has least chance of rain with ideal weather
  • Hoi An – February to April for mild weather with clear skies and low humidity
  • Ho Chi Minh City – December to April during the dry season for cooler weather

Travel Tip: We highly recommend bringing an umbrella and/or a rain poncho with waterproof shoes no matter the time of year you decide to travel.

2. Get A Vietnam E-Visa Before Arriving

An empty airport terminal in a Vietnam
An empty airport terminal in Vietnam

Most foreigners need a visa prior to entering Vietnam. As of August 15th 2023, all countries and territories around the world can apply for an E-visa through an online application process prior to arrival.

E-visa holders may enter and exit Vietnam through the 42 designated international border gates including airports. Click here to see the list of border gates then just follow the steps below:

  • Go to the National Web Portal on Immigration
  • Click the selection: “For Foreigners”
  • Upload passport data page and passport photo (looking straight without glasses/hat)
  • Pay the non-refundable E-visa fee (US $25 for one entry or $50 for multiple entries)
  • Look for an email with a registration code to check the status of your E-visa
  • Your application will be processed in 3-5 working days (sometimes sooner depending on volume)
  • Once approved, print your E-visa and save one copy to your phone

All E-visas are valid for up to 90 days. This is a big improvement from when we visited and we’re happy to see the E-visa process has become incredibly easy for all travelers.

3. Getting Around Can Be Difficult

Large yellow sleeper bus in Vietnam
An example of a Vietnam sleeper bus

Vietnam’s unique S shape is a little over 1,000 miles in length as the crow flies and just 31 miles at its narrowest point. But the problem isn’t with the length, it’s with the infrastructure. Think about this:

The driving distance from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is around 1,050 miles and takes about 36 hours by bus. By comparison, San Diego CA to Portland OR is roughly the same distance, but takes less than half the time at approximately 17 hours drive time.

So it’s important to remember it will take a lot longer to travel around in Vietnam and you’ll have to factor this into your itinerary. Think about how much time you have overall and stick to certain regions if you’re limited.

Here are a few itinerary examples to get you started:

If you only have 1 week, visit Hanoi, Sapa and Halong Bay or head to Hoi An, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. But stick to one main region and save the others for next time.

4. Cash Is King

Several notes of Vietnamese Dong laid out on a bed
Several Vietnamese bank notes

The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is one of those currencies that will make you feel like you’re a millionaire. At the time of writing, $US 1.00 = 25,390 VND. You’ll pay in large amounts of Vietnamese Dong and they can be confusing.

But it’s important to know cash is king in Vietnam and you should always have VND on hand. But the trick is not to carry so much it makes you a target. You’ll need cash to purchase almost anything with some exceptions at upscale hotels and restaurants in major cities.

We usually booked hotel rooms in advance with card, but some hotels wanted us to pay with cash after our stay. If you book tours online, you can typically use credit card. The same goes for Grab, you can use a credit card or chose to pay with cash after a ride.

Anywhere we travel, we also carry about US $150 in smaller bills (think $5 and $10). The US Dollar is strong and can often be used in place of other currency in an emergency. After the VND was taken from our hotel room, we luckily had our back up USD in another location so we could pay for our hotel room without having to find another ATM.

You can easily withdraw money at ATM’s all over Vietnam, but many charge a small fee of 20,000 to 60,000 VND. We highly recommend using a card with no foreign transaction fees on withdraws and ATM rebates. This has saved us hundreds of dollars over the years.

Read: How much did we spend for 1 month in Vietnam?

5. Barter For Everything

Woman in Hoi An getting fitted for a romper at a tailor
Kristen getting fitted for a romper in Hoi An

In Vietnam, you have to barter for everything. And we mean everything. Because as a tourist, the first price you’re offered will be inflated and the truth is you’re going to overpay for things at first. Even if you’ve been in Vietnam for a while, you’ll still most likely pay more than the locals. That’s just how it works.

We’ve heard it’s generally recommended to offer about half the initial price (40-50%) and then settle for about 65-75% the asking price. Keep in mind that while they might be dropping tens of thousands of Dong, it may only be a few dollars to you so haggle in fairness. Vendors at large markers also have higher prices compared to small vendors in rural areas.

When you head out to shop, do a little research first to see what others have paid for the same product. Many shops sell similar items so if you can’t get it for the price you want, head to another store. If they won’t go for it, turn around and begin to walk away. It’s likely the shop owner will run out and agree to your price.

The trick is to look interested, but not too interested. We’ve also bartered for everyday items like toothpaste, parking fees and hotel rooms when prices weren’t posted. Truth be told, we were so tired of having to negotiate by the end of our time in Vietnam and couldn’t wait to see price tags again.

6. Traffic Is Absurd

Several motorbikes trying to drive down the road in Hanoi, Vietnam
A typical traffic jam in Hanoi

Traffic in Vietnam can be frustrating and exhausting. There’s no order or designated road lines. Many drivers tend to disregard traffic lights, drive very fast and overload their vehicles with people or goods. We’ve even seen drivers eating banh mi, smoking cigarettes, FaceTiming and speeding down the tiny sidewalks.

Don’t expect to cross the road at a specified crossing with countdown timer because they don’t exist. And driving against the flow of traffic was another common problem so always be extremely careful when crossing the road. We think these problems happen because there’s a massive lack of law enforcement with no real consequences.

So if you choose to drive a motorbike, just be sure to drive confidently but defensively. Always wear a helmet and constantly watch out for others. When renting a bike, check to make sure it’s in good working condition before hitting the road and take photos of the exterior so you have proof of previous scratches.

7. Know Your Transport Options

Two people on a motorbike driving the famous Hai Van Pass in Vietnam
Mark and Kristen on a motorbike in central Vietnam

Getting around Vietnam is part of the adventure, but it’s also a pain. Poor infrastructure, dicey roads and unsanitary facilities can led to slow, sleepless and dirty travel conditions. But there are numerous ways you can get around based on your time frame and budget.

Flying offers excellent value, easy travel and accessibility, but requires getting from airports to your destination which can be hugely inconvenient. This option is best for those short on time who want to see alot without losing too much time. We recommend Skyscanner to book the best value flights.

Trains are cheap and can be quite comfortable, especially if you book a 1st class sleeper carriage. Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh all have train stations on the main north-south line. You’ll have to organize onward travel to Sapa, Phong Nha and Hoi An. We always recommend 12Go Asia to compare prices.

Buses are an extremely cheap and convenient way to travel in Vietnam. We loved traveling by sleeper bus, but you sometimes sacrifice comfort for getting on, falling asleep and waking up right in town at your next destination.

Here are a few of our popular transport guides:

Travel Tip: We highly recommend you always bring toilet paper, hand sanitizer and wipes for buses and trains.

8. Manage Your Expectations

Waterlogged rice paddies in Sapa during October
Waterlogged rice paddies in Sapa

This is something we had to learn pretty quickly as long term travelers. It’s a good rule to live by in general and not just Vietnam. We think social media has created unreal expectations and often travelers find themselves disillusioned with new destinations. Our goal with this guide is the exact opposite.

We always say hope for the best, but expect the worst. This way you aren’t creating unreal expectations and you can pivot easier when something doesn’t go your way or isn’t what it seems. During our trip, many things didn’t go as planned because most of our buses were late, there were a lot of rainy days, we often felt uncomfortable with over aggressive street vendors and we didn’t make it to Ho Chi Minh City like originally intended.

But by focusing on the positive aspects of the trip, we still had an amazing time. It’s normal to be to disheartened by some travel experiences, especially when you’ve romanticized about them. The truth is there are many difficult obstacles in a developing country and you’ll constantly have to deal with new situations. However, at the end of the day, we learned some days will be better than others so always keep a positive mind set and expect the unexpected.

9. Avoid Illnesses With Simple Steps

Three women setting a fire in the streets of Hanoi
Women starting a fire in the streets

There’s nothing worse than spending days of your itinerary bed bound due to a classic case of traveler’s diarrhea aka Montezuma’s revenge. Unplanned sickness is a holiday makers worst enemy. After our trip to Vietnam, Kristen came down with Dengue fever in northern Thailand and it was one of the worst travel experiences we’ve had. So follow these simple steps to avoid problems during your travels:

  • Don’t drink the tap water – Always opt for bottled water and avoid ice made from tap water too
  • Wear insect repellant – You can also cover your arms and legs with clothing
  • Make sure your vaccines are up to date – Verify with government websites prior to travel
  • Avoid dodgy looking street food – Aka vendors with no people, flies, bad smells and unsanitary conditions
  • Go easy on the happy water – You’ll figure this out on your own
  • Avoid animals – This goes for both domestic and wild animals because rabies is spread by a bite, lick or scratch
  • Wash your hands regularly with soap – We always carry hand sanitizer and wipes too

You can read more on the official CDC website for more tips about safely traveling to Vietnam.

10. Vietnamese People Can Be Lovely

People hiking with a local guide in Sapa, Vietnam
Mark and Kristen hiking with a local guide

Despite the bad experiences, we genuinely met some amazing Vietnamese people throughout our month long trip. In tourist hot spots, we found there to be a degree of disingenuousness from hotel staff or tour operators. But many locals were welcoming and sincere, especially in the rural areas.

We met Mama Sung (pictured above) during our trek in Sapa and she loved to practice her English with us. We booked a Sapa trekking tour with her and she opened up her home to us. Overall, it was a great experience and we recommend it if you have time.

Then in Hoi An, we met an amazing Vietnam War veteran who again opened up his home and his daughter cooked us a delicious homemade meal. We learned more from him in those few hours than an entire month traveling through Vietnam. You can read about our experience here.

11. Be Respectful

Close up view of a beautiful white flower
Beautiful white flower in a garden

This next point is an obvious one and goes for all countries. But there are certain Vietnamese traditions you should respect when visiting:

  • Remove your shoes and wear appropriate clothing in temples. Be sure to cover your shoulders and wear bottoms that come to at least the knee.
  • It’s rude to point your finger in Vietnam so don’t be that person. Use your whole hand if you need to point.
  • Bargain with others, but know when to accept the lowest price.
  • Don’t point your feet at any sacred object.
  • Ask permission before taking a photo of anyone.
  • Smile as much as possible. This is the universal symbol of happiness after all.
  • Be aware of what your arms and hands are doing. Don’t put your hands on your hips, don’t cross your arms over your chest and don’t pass anything over someone else’s head.

12. Try Egg Coffee

An egg coffee with small candle lit underneath
An egg coffee with a small candle warming it up

Did you know Vietnam is the second highest coffee producer in the world after Brazil (see the stats here). In fact, Vietnam grows the Robusta bean and accounts for 40% of the worlds robusta production.

Coffee shops are very popular in Vietnam, particularly where the French had the most influence around Hanoi and Hoi An. So drinking coffee is a very Parisian thing to do in the “Paris of the East.” Don’t miss the egg coffee prepared with egg yolks, condensed milk, robusta beans and sugar (pictured above).

13. Tours Can Offer Great Value

Several people standing on the stairs waiting to go into the Dark Cave
Our Dark Cave tour group

Tours can offer great value for money in Vietnam as long as you do your research. In addition to having transportation included, we found tours often helped minimize the chance for us to get scammed.

We booked tours both online and with tour agencies during our time in Vietnam. But every time we booked online, it was always a much better experience because we knew the tour itinerary and we could read previous traveler reviews. When you book with a tour agency, the prices always vary and you never know what you’re going to get.

Here are some of the most popular tours in Vietnam:

14. Bring Extra Passport Copies

Man and woman holding their passports on a plane
Mark and Kristen with their passports on a flight

Anytime we travel, we always bring extra copies of our passports. Because you never know when you’re going to need them and they always come in handy.

Most accommodation in Vietnam will need your original passport to register you as a guest. But we had a few hotel owners request that we leave our passports with them. This is never a good idea. So we offered copies and it was enough as long as we paid for our room upfront.

Another useful occasion to have passport copies is when you hire a motorbike or bicycle. Do not leave your physical passport as collateral. They should accept photocopies.

15. WiFi Is Decent

Man typing on a computer in a cafe in Hue
Mark working on his laptop on Hue

Nowadays many travelers use a SIM card to stay connected to the internet when they travel. But the good news is you can easily find a good WiFi connection in most cafes, restaurants and hotels throughout all major cities. In fact, the coffee shops had ample speed for us to work on this website.

We highly recommend using a VPN if you’re connected to local internet for an added layer of protection. A VPN will also allow you to watch your favorite shows back home too. We like Nord and you can sign up here.

If you need to purchase a SIM, you can get one below:

>> BUY: SGN Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) | DAD Airport (Da Nang) | HAN Airport (Hanoi)

16. Riptides Are Very Dangerous

Large bamboo basket boats on a beach in Vietnam
Large bamboo boat baskets on a beach

There are many beaches you can visit in Vietnam. But there is an unseen danger many tourists don’t know about which includes rip tides. These are very serious and you can drown if you don’t know how to deal with them. We say this not to scare you but to prepare you because we had a scary encounter where a tourist almost died.

A riptide is a very powerful current moving away from shore and even the best of swimmers will get swept out into sea. So what you need to do is swim parallel with the beach because you’ll eventually swim out of it and make it back to shore. Before entering the water at any beach, you need to look for signs and flags about current water conditions. Never enter the water if you see a black or red flag.

17. Halong Bay Is A Bit Overrated

A white junk boat with orange sails floating in Halong Bay
An example of a junk boat in Halong Bay

Halong Bay is a bucket destination for many travelers. It’s an official UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best way to see it is by spending a night or two on a junk boat cruising around the stunning limestone rocks. The scenery if undoubtably beautiful, but we think it’s extremely touristy. You’ll share the waters with hundreds of other tourists which kind of ruins the serene setting.

That being said, we did enjoy our Halong Bay cruise because we had an amazing group onboard and made the best of the situation. We highly recommend you read our guide so you know what to expect during a cruise. You can also book this popular cruise originating from Cat Ba Island for a quieter experience.

18. Splurge In Phong Nha

Inside view of Paradise Cave in Phong Nha
Impressive formations inside Paradise Cave

One of our biggest regrets was not giving ourselves enough time in Phong Nha. It’s an adventure lovers paradise and home to the world’s largest cave, Son Doong. A tour of this cave will set you back a few thousand, but you can explore many of the smaller cave systems for an affordable price.

Here are a few of our guides:

Phong Nha was one of our favorite destinations in Vietnam. The town is small, quaint and rural. Surrounding the town is the stunning emerald green Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. It’s the perfect place to rent a motorbike and drive around the empty roads taking in the gorgeous scenery.

19. Don’t Miss Ninh Binh

Stunning view from the summit of Mua Cave in tam Coc
Stunning views from the top of Mua Cave Viewpoint

Another destination we really enjoyed was the Ninh Binh Province, especially Tam Coc. It’s about 100km (about 62 miles) south of Hanoi. You could visit on a day trip, but we’d recommend you spend a minimum of 2 days in Tam Coc.

Here are some of the major attractions in town:

The rural area has a pretty laid back atmosphere, the locals are super friendly and the facilities have greatly improved over the last few years thanks to the tourism boom. Just a few years ago, Tam Coc was regarded as Vietnam’s hidden gem, but the secret is out and it’s one place you need to see.

READ: How to spend a few days in Ninh Binh

20. Drive The Hai Van Pass

Woman buckling her motorcycle helmet to drive the Hai Van Pass
Kristen about to drive the Hai Van Pass on a motorbike

One of our favorite experiences from Vietnam was driving the Hai Van Pass. It’s a very scenic mountain pass made famous by Top Gear in 2009 covering a 160km (about 100 miles) stretch of road as you travel from Hue to Hoi An. The actual pass is only 21km (about 13 miles), but the entire journey is amazing.

We decided to hire a guide who led the way as we both drove motorbikes from Hue to Hoi An. We’ll admit we were a bit nervous at first, but we felt so much better having someone show us the most beautiful stops along the way. Here’s our guide on driving the Hai Van Pass.

21. Scams Are Very Common

Man standing with his car in the road after a motorbike hit it
One of the many crashes we saw in Vietnam

As we mentioned at the beginning, you may encounter many scams in Vietnam so here are a few things to watch out for:

  • Replacing a 500,000 VND note with a 20,000 VND note because they’re both blue and look similar
  • Always verify the change given back to you (the wrong amount was given back to us many times)
  • Over charging the route in a taxi (always use Grab because you’ll know the amount before you ride)
  • Pretending to be a police officer and demanding you pay an extortionate amount for parking at certain attractions
  • Have a plan B if your motorbike/bicycle tires get slashed because you won’t pay the huge parking fee (we saw it happen twice)
  • Don’t eat or drink anything without asking for prices first
  • Always barter because prices are heavily increased for tourists
  • Trying to polish your shoes for a fee (especially in HCMC)
  • Book tours online with reputable sites like Get Your Guide, Klook and Viator for the best experience and price
  • Fruit basket and coconut sellers will want money for taking a photo with them

The moral of the story is to trust your gut and the longer you spend in Vietnam, the more you’ll get to recognize these common scams. Be smart and keep your valuables out of sight. Try to blend in because the more you look and act like a tourist, the more you’ll be targeted.

More From Vietnam

Want more Vietnam content? Head over to our Vietnam Travel Guides to see example itineraries, tips and popular city guides.


We hope our list of things to know before traveling through Vietnam helps you prepare for your trip!

Please let us know if you have any questions about Vietnam in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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