vietnamskyline-1.png

Vietnam is an incredibly interesting and beautiful country. There is so much to see and do, I swear I didn’t sleep the entire month I was there. I have spent time in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Sa Pa but would also recommend Ho Chi Minh and Hôi An. Click on the photos below for more in-depth recommendations on each.

hanoi

HANOI

VIETNAM

halongbay

HALONG BAY

VIETNAM

sapa

SA PA

VIETNAM

icons8-paper-money-100.png

MONEY

  • The currency here is the Vietnamese Dong (VND).

  • In the bigger cities you can use credit cards at restaurants, but overall it is a very cash-based country.

  • ATMs are everywhere, but most ATMs have a limit from 1.5 to 5 million VND.

  • The approximate currency exchange is 1 USD = 23,000 VND (it isn’t hard to be a millionaire here!)

  • In markets, expect to haggle. I usually offer half the price and settle somewhere in the middle.

icons8-wi-fi-100.png

CONNECTIVITY

  • In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, most cafes and restaurants have free wifi, and co-working spaces are easy to find. Don’t expect it in the more remote towns and areas.

  • If you plan to get a local SIM card, I recommend using Mobifone. You should be able to find these at the airport or around town.

icons8-language-100.png

LANGUAGE

  • Vietnamese

    • Hello = Xin chào

    • Thank you = Cam on (sounds like come on)

    • Goodbye = Tam biêt

    • Yes = Vâng

    • No = Không

icons8-water-100.png

DRINKING WATER

  • Stick to filtered water, it isn’t safe to drink from the tap.

icons8-restaurant-100.png

CUISINE

  • Pho - Noodle soup usually with beef or chicken.

  • Bún Cha - Noodle soup with pork, a must-try in Hanoi.

  • Bún Dau - Rice noodles with deep fried tofu.

  • Bánh Mì - Sandwich on a baguette.

  • Bánh Cuon - Rolled rice pastry with mushroom or pork.