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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
May 12, 2023
By Jinnie Lee
Planning is an essential part of any trip and just like elsewhere, there are certain things you need before visiting Vietnam - especially if you are first time visitors to the beautiful country. While you won’t have too much to worry about in Vietnam, it’s always best to know what you’re getting yourself into before starting a journey in your Vietnam package tours. There's a lot to love about traveling in Vietnam, which stretches from the soaring mountains and fascinating ethnic groups of the north to the endless rice paddies and vibrant waterways of the Mekong Delta in the south, with more than 3000 km of glorious coastline in between. To help you plan the perfect trip, based on our experience living in Vietnam and traveling the country extensively I will provide you with top 10 essential tips for visitors to Vietnam so that you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying my fascinating country.
It goes without saying your number one priority should be to organize your visa in the list of useful tips for visitors to Vietnam. Vietnam's immigration procedures are quite strict. Besides all Southeast Asia countries and European countries like the UK, Germany, Italy,etc are visa-free, other nationalities require some type of visa or preapproval letter before arriving in Vietnam. However, it is easier for travelers to apply for a visa, as now the eVisa process is in place and the citizens have been given a visa prior to entry.
Be aware when making e-Visa through websites because there are a lot of official-looking websites that aren’t really official due to the proliferation of travel agencies offering the pre-approval service.
NOTE:
Six months is the minimum period that your passport guarantees validity. Also, make sure that the passport has 2 sides of paper to get stamps from other countries. Airport staff will not accept temporary passports.
You can click on the link below to access the only official government website to find out more information as well as the Visa process to Vietnam.
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu
80 countries can apply Evisa to Vietnam
The second one of the list tips for visitors to Vietnam is to get a Vietnamese SIM card. Whether you’re planning a Vietnam tour, getting a local SIM card or pocket wifi is highly encouraged, especially if you are a first-time visitor to Vietnam.
Most of the big restaurants and hotels have a free wife with high internet speed. But wifi will be disabled if you leave those places. Therefore, you will not be able to book a Grab car, look up Google Maps, or use Google Translate on the road.
Buy a network SIM so you don't have to mess around on the road. This is so important! . You can also book one online or head straight to one of the various vendors on site.
Most used telecom operator in Vietnam
Vietnam's territory stretches vertically so there are many types of climates. The South is almost hot and humid all year round. The North in the summer is also hot and rainy, so you should wear thin, cool clothes. Even though there is no snow in the northern winter, it is still very cold, so you should prepare carefully. The next tips for visitors to Vietnam is that you should check the weather carefully and prepare appreciated clothes before arriving in Vietnam.
When traveling to Vietnam, check the weather forecast every day before you leave the hotel and be used to bringing an umbrella. Note that you should not wear short pants or short skirts when entering temples, shrines, or Uncle Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, because that will be considered inappropriate.
Another tips for visitors to Vietnam when coming around is to download Grab or use other motorbike taxi apps. While there are reputable taxi companies such as Mai Linh, Vinasun and Grab are becoming more popular as they can be safer, cheaper and more convenient. By using them you can avoid being scammed, and the motorbike options available on both will help you avoid being stuck in traffic. Grab is a great way for first-timers to get from the airport to the city as card payments avoid the need to exchange cash at the airport for a high rate.
One of the most important travel tips for visitors to Vietnam is to be aware of scams. Scams are plentiful in Vietnam and even more so in touristy spots like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. You can buy souvenirs or street food from vendors. But usually, they will not provide a fixed price, you can expect to pay 5 dollars for an item that locals pay less than 1 dollar. But don't let this fool you into missing out on street goodies.
Moreover, it's very common to hear tourists paying far too much for a short distance, despite the meter working. Another typical scam is shortchanging by saying 'no change' which means, they don't have the exact amount to give you back. It's very common for drivers to say they don't have smaller notes. A dollar is possibly not worth much to you. However, drivers are repeating this to all foreign tourists, so try to carry change with you and pay the right price.
Another crime that is often seen on Vietnam’s streets is pickpocketing. The tips for visitors to Vietnam when you're walking around the city center, especially in the backpacker's area, be aware of the people who start becoming a little too friendly. these guys often use the excuse of selling to approach you and try to put their hands into your pocket without your knowledge that, you've lost your wallet and phone. This is common in Vietnam, and people tend to see westerners as easy targets. Bag snatching is another common crime by opportunistic thieves. Make sure to grip your bag tightly if you're bringing one. Passports and cash should be kept in a money belt.
Those who travel to Vietnam must be terrified of the experience of traveling here. Vietnam's traffic is crazy messy, motorbikes are numerous. Crossing signals and zebra crossings are ignored. In other words, most motorbikes and cars refuse to stop to give way to pedestrians. Here are my tips for visitors to Vietnam to cross the roads. Before crossing, you must keep a strong mindset, do not be afraid or hesitate. DO NOT text or see the map when crossing the street. Gradually merge into the waves of vehicles and make sure your speed is stable. The vehicles will automatically adjust themselves to your move.
Vietnamese is the official language in Vietnam but English is spoken widely because English is taught as a compulsory subject in schools so locals tend to be multilingual. This is true of anyone working in shops, restaurants, hotels or places that tourists frequent. However, if you want to have a more holistic experience and demonstrate your respect for the local culture, it’s nice to know a few basic phrases such as “ Xin chào” means “hello”, “Xin cảm ơn” means “ Thank you”. Even though what you learn is just a few simple sentences, your listeners will be happy and appreciate your efforts to learn Vietnamese. It is one of the tips for visitors to Vietnam to open doors to you that are normally closed to outsiders.
Vietnamese phrases for tourist
Beside learning some Vietnamese phrases, the tips for visitors to Vietnam for the first-time is to learn how to haggle with street vendors, clothes or souvenir shops to avoid buying something with the price 3 times the original price. The prices of goods are extremely cheap, but to buy at that price, you must know how to bargain. You also know that prices for foreign customers are often inflated many times. You can prepare by asking around for regular rates, deciding what you want to pay, and sticking to it.
Coming to Vietnam, you also need to be know abbout the plug issue. Plugs with two flat pins and two round pins will be compatible with many sockets available in Vietnam. If your power plug has 3 pins, you would need an adapter as most electrical outlets here do not include grounding holes. If the plug is not suitable and you insist on plugging it in, it will be very dangerous. So, stop and be patient to find a suitable outlet.
Hopefully, this article gives you useful tips for visitors to Vietnam that you must know to prepare carefully when you are packing for your Vietnam holidays.
