Ten tips before travelling to Vietnam

You’re here, so you probably have a strong desire to travel to Vietnam. As you probably know, Vietnam is one of the most magical regions of Southeast Asia, full of stunning beaches, historic temples, thriving jungles and bustling cities.

Vietnam has iconic cultures, epic history and stunning destinations. There are a lot of choices for your demands. Do you want to join an adventure riding tour? Do you love to taste local cuisine? Or do you just want to relax at a sunny beach? Vietnam has them all. However, like every destination in the world, there are few things you should know before travelling to Vietnam.

1. The process of Visa

The most important thing is to make sure that your visa application is successful. The process of obtaining a Vietnamese visa is generally a straight-forward process. Passport holders of some countries are exempt while all others need to have a Visa or visa on arrival arranged before your travel to Vietnam. If you are looking for some information about the process, you can visit here to read more.

2. People

No matter whether you travel in the city or go to the countryside, Vietnamese people are friendly, kind and laid-back. The delight of  accidentally catching everyday smiles of citizens, students, respectful old people in our country is something that many visitors cherish. They might say “hi” or “hello” to greet you in an interesting Vietnamese accent. Return that with a “xin chao” and the smile will broaden. If you are lost, ask them for directions or tips on where to go, and you’ll be flooded with help.

3. Food

One of the great joys is Vietnamese culture is the street food that you can find every place when you travel in Vietnam. Sit on the tiny toddler chair, try various local dishes with unique flavor in each part of Vietnam. Other than that, street food is shockingly nice and cheap and that will make you feel more Vietnamese culture with lightly cooked and taste with a balance of sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty flavor.

Let’s try a couple of street-side Vietnamese consist of milk coffee and Vietnamese baguette sandwich named “Bánh mì”. It is the true breakfast of champs.

4. Transportation

In general, there are a variety of ways of discovering around in Vietnam in terms of motorbike, train, domestic flights or event boats. For the most part, this is the country where the motorbike is main transport on the streets, you can get around, hop on – off the street in every corner, destinations, markets or even into the jungle to directly see how wonderful daily Vietnamese life are.

5. Time for shopping

There are several local markets and shopping malls in Vietnam. For an overseas tourist, shopping is the happy drug as well as a doping approach straightforward in your brain that we all know though. The pretty good feeling when goes along walking into a store,  making of the decision. Technically, you do not need and spend too much money on an item, so you can buy several things as long as in your shopping budget.

Luckily enough, you can find out you satisfying items in term of fashion if you want to contribute to your self-image, souvenir if you want to share your memory with your friends in hometown and even buy some coffee bean if you prefer the aroma of Vietnamese coffee.

Last but not least, you can full fill your interesting shopping experience by asking the owner how much they can discount for you. It is fine whether you succeed or not, that just somehow you can play a local role in the daily lives of Vietnam.

6. Language

Vietnamese is the official language in Vietnam. Besides, local people can also communicate in English in consideration attraction as well as popular cities. To make sure in case of locals might not understand what you are going to ask them, the common tip we highly recommend is you can write down some basic Vietnamese sentences then show them. If it is possible, you also can ask the Vietnamese young generation for help.

7. Weather

Northern Vietnam has a distinct winter and summer season. During its winter months December to February. It might dip down below 0 degrees occasionally when you travel to Vietnam’s north-west region. Summer lasts from May to October has daytime temperatures over 30 degrees within hot and humid. In Autumn from August-November and spring from March-April are often drizzling rains and more pleasant temperatures.

Central Vietnam has hot and dry weather. The rainy season runs from October to December. Interestingly, Central Vietnam is located between different landscapes which are left-hand side on the map is mountain and the right-hand side is the coastal line so the weather can often differ on any given day.

South Vietnam has the warm temperature remaining year around which is the dry season from November to April and a wet season with rainfall from May to October. You will never need to worry about packing cold-weather gear.

8. Internet

Basically, in the digital revolution ages, the internet has dominated your culture direction for you can connect everything on the earth to seek information, use map, contact people. To stay access internet, you can use data SIM card or mobile hotspot. Technically, after landing at the airport, you will easily see many booths all selling the SIM card in Vietnam then you just let them know that how long will you stay in Vietnam and ask them the price and the unlimited data.

In addition, most hotels and service shopping mall, apartments, coffee shops also have internet access not only on your smartphone, tablet as well as your laptop.

9. Currency

The official currency of Vietnam is Vietnamese dong ( VND ). If you use credit cards to pay a bill or get cash advance in ATMs, it is should be considered the fees and charges in your bank account. Keep in mind that some restaurants, stores and event hotel will not take credits cards. Other tours by locals may only accept cash as well. Hence, it is better to have cash on hand to handle at all time. 
You can currency exchange kiosks and booths located at the airport, banks, some hotels, gold and jewelry shops.

10. Electric and Plugs

Last but not least, there are two important things you also need to pay attention is electricity is 220V with a frequency of 50 Hz and following plus are used plugs type A (two flat vertical pins), type C and type F (two round pins). If your power plugs are not similar to the one used in Vietnam, you need to an adapter or converter.

Now you are ready to enjoy your vacation in Vietnam with a very affordable budget. Sunny beaches, delicious cuisine and friendly locals are waiting for you.