THINGS YOU GET TO KNOW BEFORE ARRIVING IN VIETNAM

Why don’t we go to Vietnam?

Vietnam is progressively popping up on many travel lists these days. It has become one of the most famous destinations to visit in Asia, putting forward a wonderful mixture of modern beauty and authentic culture. We are here to deliver essential tips to make sure that you have the most satisfying and fulfilling trip to Vietnam.

1. Some practical information that should be kept in mind:

• Population: 101 million (According to the data of January 7th, 2025)
• Geographical location: Located on the Indochina peninsula, Southeast Asia, along the Pacific coast.
• Capital city: Hà Nội
• Municipal city: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can Tho
• Time zone: GMT/UTC +7 Indochina Time
• Language: Vietnamese (minority languages include Tay, Muong, Cham, Khmer)
• Currency: Vietnam’s official currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND or ₫). ATMs that accept most debit and credit cards are available throughout the country. In addition, there are several places where USD can be exchanged, including banks, gold shops, and money exchange stalls
• Visa: Most foreign visitors to Vietnam need to obtain a tourist visa, which can be a 30-day single entry or a 90-day multiple entry visa, except for certain nationalities allowed to stay up to 15 days without a visa.

2. National festivals and events:

• Tet: Vietnamese Lunar New Year is the country’s most important celebration. During the weeklong holiday – that usually takes place between January and February – Vietnamese people pay respect to their ancestors, clean and decorate their houses and welcome the new year together with their family over big meals. Note that during this time many tourist sites and businesses will be closed.

• National Day: September 2nd marks the day when former president Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square, officially claiming the independence and sovereignty of Vietnam from France and Japan in 1945

• Reunification Day: On the 30th April, Vietnam commemorates the fall of Saigon and the end of the war in 1975.

3. Weather:

Vietnam embraces a tropical climate zone and a temperate zone. It also has a variety of temperatures and seasonal rain patterns.

• Southern Vietnam: Temperatures in Southern Vietnam are fairly constant all year round, with May to October usually being much wetter than the rest of the year.

• Northern Vietnam: Although the rain arrives at a similar time in the north, winter in Hanoi is much cooler, with temperatures dropping significantly in the far north from December to February.

• Central Vietnam: Central Vietnam experiences hot and dry weather in the first half of the year, with higher rainfall and tropical storms arriving in September. 

In general, there is no wrong time to visit this Southeast Asian country, but it’s worth retaining these weather variations, especially if planning outdoor activities such as trekking. Travellers who look to explore the entire country in one trip are recommended to have a best bet in Spring or Autumn.

4. Transport:

No matter how long you’re planning to stay, you would be wise to plan how you’ll get around Vietnam. Luckily, the country’s public transport network is quite comprehensive and eminently affordable.

Vietnam transportation has many different ways to go around and visit attractions. You can ride a motorbike yourself, which is a highly recommended thing to do when coming to Vietnam. Moreover, flying straight from one point to another or taking the train or bus to admire the sights along the way are also good ideas.

• By motorbike: It is a solid option for adventurous people who enjoy long-distance biking and breathtaking scenes. New bikers should be careful on the streets and observe the local driving style, which may be strange sometimes.

• By car: Car rental is a new trend for travel enthusiasts. This means of transport is interested by many people because of its convenience and pleasure; you can even go wherever you want without any circumscription. You can also change your paths on the spot to suit the weather conditions or your wishes.

• By bus: The bus is becoming more and more popular in Vietnam, both in rural areas and big cities. Tourists can have a lot of options to enjoy their schedule. Another advantage is that public bus tickets are very cheap, just only VND 7,000 (About $0.3) for a ride in the inner city.

• By cyclo: First appearing in 1939, the cyclo was more popular in Vietnam in the old era. Unlike motorbikes or taxis, cyclos are much slower. The passengers will feel like they are repeatedly swaying left and right while being driven and watching the streets. Many international tourists fall in love with this unarmed vehicle because it brings a feeling of relaxation and peace.

5. Vietnamese street food is sublime

Vietnam isn’t short of high-end restaurants but it would be a mistake if you don’t try its street food culture, which is absolutely appetizingly tasty and also affordable.

As for what to try, never forget to try “Bánh mì”, one of Vietnamese most popular street foods for a very good reason. As a symbol of  street food, “Bánh mì” is easily seen all over the country in the shape of an S. It is a simple yet exquisite food, usually eaten for breakfast or lunch or even an entire day.

An incomparably famous culinary symbol is “Phở”. The unique flavor of Hanoi phở is not simply a dish, but also an indispensable part of the Vietnamese culture. Being well-known since the 1940s, “phở” has become a specialty that attracts tourists at all times of the day.

The famous “Cà Phê Trứng” is a sweet and creamy concoction of Vietnamese robusta coffee, condensed milk, sugar and egg yolks. The ingredients are whipped into a frothy egg cream and layered onto freshly brewed coffee. A delicious and indulging afternoon pick-me-up!

Feeling inspired yet? Speed up and take a trip to Vietnam for a marvelous and valuable journey. The sentiment of immersing into the flow of modern life merged with the beauty of traditional culture will surely make you love and have a flawless voyage.