A sense of Vietnam

 

Vietnam is a very long narrow country bounded on the east by the sea, China to the north,  with Laos and Cambodia to the west. It is 1800km approximately from North to South, do not under-estimate journey distances. When visiting therefore it is best to have a rough itinerary in mind to keep you on track, so as to hit the tourist hotspots on offer. With such an elongated country, it’s only natural that the weather is significantly different from region to region in Vietnam.

Northern Vietnam (Hanoi & Halong Bay): The winter is very cold, especially in places bordering China, and the temperature drops to single digits and even minus degree Celsius temperatures are common in the north of Vietnam. The summers are hot, sometimes with heavy showers. The wet season is often accompanied by typhoons and storms which can cause landslides and other natural calamities.

 

Central Vietnam (Hoi An & DaNang): The weather in the central region is tropical in nature where dry weather lasts between January and August, monsoons arrive in August and last until November, so the best window for travellers is between October to January.

 

Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh & The Mekong Delta): As you go south in Vietnam, the climate is full-fledged tropical, characterised by two seasons prominently, the wet and the dry, which is more or less same as the above in central Vietnam, making it ideal for travel from December to April.

 

Vietnam is a very beautiful country hands down, but let’s be honest, beaches aren’t Vietnam’s forte. You will find the beaches in Danang, Mui Ne or Phu Quoc to be clean and nice, but that’s all that you find – meaning that Vietnam isn’t the country for an exclusive beach holiday.

Vietnam is a foodies paradise. Whether you are dining at an exquisite restaurant in Hanoi or going on a quest for the seafood in local eateries, you can never resist falling in love with Vietnamese food.

Vietnamese street food is a delight you should not miss. Places where you find a lot of locals dining are a good sign for finding excellent street food in the towns of Vietnam.

 

The Vietnamese currency is called Dong. Although cash is the king of Vietnam, ATM’s aren’t on every street corner in all the cities. Of course, the bigger towns are an exception to this but in small town there is just a handful of them. So make sure to stock up with enough cash when you are in the bigger cities to prepare for off the beat/smaller towns.

In Vietnam, locals expect to haggle in business and transactions. They often quote almost double or a few times even triple the money that an article actually costs. So it’s up to the traveller to make a bargain.

Make the most of your adventure by rising early while in Vietnam. Vietnamese are early risers too. Maybe because of the geography or the weather, whatever the reasons are, it means that if you are a morning person, you will get to see and experience more of the local cultures and ways of living. 

Carry photocopies of your passport. These will be accepted by hotels etc along with your original passport.

 

 

 

Our observations and tips for a trip to Vietnam.

• The bad things about Vietnam that we list below may sound cynical, but don’t let them stop you from visiting, or returning to the country. Just plan to avoid them.

• Be warned that tap water isn’t suitable for drinking. Bottled water is very cheap and most hotels, hostels etc provide purified water. So go for these and avoid drinking water directly from the tap at any cost. What you have to remember though is to wash your hands regularly and wash the fruit you eat.

• If you are a digital nomad or you work while travelling, then Vietnam isn’t a bad place at all. The Wifi is decent in every town, throughout Vietnam.

• Renting bicycles or motorbikes and exploring places is a popular thing to do in SE Asia. Vietnam is a motor biker’s destination in itself. Buying or renting a motorbike and traveling through the length of the country is quite popular among the backpackers and adventure seekers.

• Being the capital and very urbanised, Hanoi is bustling and happening, but it is far quieter and devoid of glamour than HCMC is. Whereas, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in the south is the nightlife capital and a vibrant city that always looks busy.

• If you are not used to heavy traffic, then that’s the first cultural shock that you would encounter in Vietnam. Delays are common, and traffic jams are a regular thing, especially in Ho Chi Minh. Honking isn’t rude or offensive unlike in many parts of the world. It just means that  you are in a hurry and you want them to make way for you.

• Don’t be afraid to face lots of motorcycles, buses, cars, etc. when you cross the street. First, you should wait a bit and continue, and wait and continue, and keep doing that while watching all the vehicles. You need to keep your eyes on vehicles from both directions because some people violate the rules and go in the wrong direction against the traffic. Be confident, and you can do it!

• If you travel to the interior of Vietnam, not everyone will understand English, and it will be difficult to get around. Even in the big cities, although most hotel owners, people in cafes and tourist centres speak English, in most cases they aren’t fluent and it is just basic English.

• Visas are required for many nationalities when visiting Vietnam. if you have the UK or the US passport, you can travel in Vietnam for the first 15 days, visa free. 

• There are many different visas you can choose from, depending on how long you want to stay in Vietnam, what is the purpose of your visit and whether you want to have a single entry or multiple entry visa. The usual and most popular choice is 1-month single-entry visa, which costs $10 for the online application and $25 upon entering Vietnam for the stamping fee. If you would like to explore Vietnam for a longer period, there are plenty of visa choices including 1, 3, 6 and 12-month multiple entry visas.

• Using public transportation can terrify foreigners, but it feels much safer on buses. The bigger the vehicle is, the more reliable and safer it is. Think positively, the big box protects you. You can use a Grab car which is more convenient and cheaper than the traditional taxi. (Uber is unavailable in Vietnam)

• Taxi scams are common in Vietnam, and they happen to everyone. The taxi driver will try to drive you around and around to charge more money.

• Robbery can happen anywhere in Vietnam, and the most common cases are robbing your phone or bag. Imagine that you are riding your bike/ motorcycle or walking on the street with your phone or bag, and in one second, it’s gone. You only see two guys on a motorbike going fast, and you don’t see their faces. All you can do then is to say goodbye to your things. There is no comeback even if the police are involved. Best not to use your phone when you are on the street and always wear your bag in front of you in crowded areas.

• Vietnamese food is amazing! There are so many types of food for you to choose from, but food safety is a big problem in Vietnam. Street food is delicious, but sometimes it may not be up to western health and safety standards. 

• Hygiene and food safety has become an issue in Vietnam especially in catering for foreign tourists, and the Vietnamese government is trying to improve it. Eat in restaurants that looks clean and have many visitors. Don’t eat in ones where there’s no one inside.

• Many people complain about the lousy service in Vietnamese restaurants. Not many Vietnamese can speak English, so it may be challenging to communicate.

• Overcharging is quite common for travellers. You visit a different country, you look different, and you are charged more than the locals.

• You need to ask clearly about the price before you order anything. It’s the same with eating street food, remember to ask the price before buying it. If you feel that you are paying higher than locals, leave that place and go to another location.

• Some people are shocked when some places in Vietnam return candies (sweets) instead of cash. They feel cheated and scammed. It is an increasingly common practice, even with locals. If the amount is too large, you should ask again if there’s a mistake.

• Don’t be surprised and shocked to find that your checked-in luggage at airports has been tampered with - it is not uncommon in Vietnamese airports. Just put your valuables into your handbag, and you will have a great trip to Vietnam.

• There are lots of fake tour companies operating in Vietnam with lots of fake websites. Book tours with trusted sites only.

 

 

 

It is Vietnamese culture for its people to be welcoming, helpful and friendly, although the youngsters these days might have money on their mind when it comes to tourists. A few times money may be the motive for the locals to befriend tourists but that’s not always the case.

On our travels there, we found the locals to be genuinely warm and helpful. The more you travel in Vietnam and meet their people (not in the tourist business), you get to see that the actual locals are kind and welcoming.

Vietnam is as safe to travel to as other countries that receives the same phenomenal amount of tourists each year. However, it is known for its notorious scams targeted at tourists. On our travels there we did not have any bad experiences, but fore-warned is fore-armed.

 

 

Hanoi

Now the Capital city of Vietnam, the two main tourist attractions are the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and the Temple of Literature.

The Hanoi Old Quarter is the best location to soak up the beauty of the city. From here, head to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and Mausoleum, which is closed from 11.30 - 2.30pm. Treat yourself at Bahn Mi for lunch. After an unforgettable baguette experience, head to the Temple of Literature and enjoy the nearby park.

If you have enough time left, go and explore the Hanoi Chinese Quarter. In the evening  head out to explore the Old Town streets and sample the Bia Hoi beer. Bia Hoi is brewed fresh to serve every night and delivered to bars every morning. And the best part, it costs only $0.20 per glass, so it might be the first time drinking does not break the bank. Sit on the plastic chairs on the sidewalk and enjoy Bia Hoi watching the world pass by.

 

 

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. Junk boat tours ply the waters in between.

Ha Long Bay translates as  Descending Dragons. It has become one of the best known tourist destinations in Vietnam. Be sure to take a cruise through its 1600 Islands. Ha Long Bay is situated on the coast, 153km from the capital Hanoi.

Though Ha Long Bay isn’t that far from Hanoi, a combination of traffic, road conditions and speed limits means that it can take close to four hours to get there, if you are travelling from Hanoi.  The landscape is very flat and wet with rice fields filling the gaps between the residential areas.  It’s easy to identify which are official government buildings, their style distinct, well-kept and adorned with flags. Generally, the other buildings have a neglected appearance, likely more so from a lack of resources to maintain them then the lack of will of the occupants. 

The myth about the islands in Ha Long Bay is that they were created by dragons sent to help the Vietnamese against invaders.  The dragons spat out jewels of jade into the bay which turned into the islands creating a barrier to protect the Vietnamese against invaders.

Hang Sung Sot cave (the cave of surprises), this was the biggest and by far the most interesting cave we visited.  A congregation of other boats had arrived at the same time meaning there was a 20 minute queue at the entrance, well managed though, they gave each group enough time to see the cave without packing it full.

 

 

Da Nang

Take a day tour of Da Nang city. Da Nang is a city with a beautiful beach, fewer tourists, and the most important attraction – Marble Mountains. Stunning caves and Buddhist temples, as well as beautiful panoramic views, can all be found when visiting the Marble Mountains.

 

 

Hoi An

Hoi An is  a 2000 year old city and an UNESCO World Heritage city. The city is very romantic, the old town especially, is a joy to walk around. You will be greeted by lanterns, narrow streets and a river winding through the city. If you happen to visit Hoi An on one of the days locals are lighting and flying lanterns you will fall in love with the place, no doubt. Flying lanterns is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hoi An.

Also, Hoi An is famous for its tailor-made clothes at very cheap prices. If you are up for a new dress or a suit, go to a tailor right away and the next day you can adjust (if needed) and pick up your order. While in Hoi An you can take a cooking class. For about $25 you will be able to learn some Vietnamese cooking secrets and perfect your knowledge of Vietnamese food traditions and cuisine.

Alternately, just spend a day peacefully, enjoying the romantic and un-rushed atmosphere of the city. Stroll around the tiny cobblestone streets and walk into cafes that speak to you. If you love museums, go and see some of Vietnam’s best design and art museums in Hoi An.

If you want you can go and have a beach day at An Bang beach. It is located 4km away from Hoi An and you can reach it by bike, motorbike or taxi. If you are up for an adventure rent a motorbike or a bike and head to explore the countryside of the city and end your day with a cool swim in the ocean. The local villages around Hoi An give you a great insight into how the locals live and you can trace the origin of the food you eat at the restaurants. If you do not want to explore the villages on your own there is always a local willing to take you up for a tour. Locals usually conduct these tours in a very personal way, bringing you into their homes, cooking for you and their family and sharing with you their fishing skills. Amazing experience. 

 

 

 

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (Originally named Saigon) is a magnificent, enormous metropolis, which never sleeps and life never stops. District 1 is the main centre of the city boasting endless choice of bars, eateries, luxury restaurants, markets, and tourist offices to fulfil all your needs.

One of the most popular attractions in Ho Chi Minh City is Thien Hau temple. From the outside, this temple might not seem impressive, but the inside is pure artwork. Ho Chi Minh City is very popular because of its huge markets. You can visit various size markets in almost every corner of the city. The biggest and most remarkable markets are Ben Thanh and Binh Tay. Both markets offer anything you could think of, including food, souvenirs, clothes, furniture and animals. Note that these markets are open until 7:00 pm, compared to other late night markets around Asia.

You can have a choice between two very different tours. You can visit either Mekong River Delta or Cu Chi Tunnels. Both day tours cost roughly $10 (EUR 8), however, you have to choose your tour in line with what you really want to see. If you are a history geek and are really interested in the Vietnam war and learning about how the Vietnamese ambush tactics worked, you have to go to the Cu Chi Tunnels. If you want to see the Mekong River Delta, ride along the Mekong River and visit coconut candy factory in the middle of the jungle – this tour is for you.

Both tours are very interesting and if you have an opportunity to stay in Vietnam for a bit longer, go on both tours. Each tour is one day long.

 

 

Vietnam has a well developed public and private transport system. Either you can choose to travel by public transport or drive a motorbike through Vietnam individually, either way,  you will be perfectly fine. We would highly recommend traveling through Vietnam individually, it is an amazing experience and teaches you so much about the country that you would not learn any other way.

However, keep in mind that English is not frequently spoken around Vietnam and even less so in rural places. Thus, prepare to use sign language and download an offline dictionary. It will be fun, we promise.

Also, there are several routes to choose, when planning a trip to Vietnam. The most popular is to head from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Be careful wherever you go, and do not forget about good travel insurance to cover you, if anything happens.