Vietnam
I didn’t expect to fall for Vietnam this fast.
When my partner and I landed, the nonstop scooters and overwhelming traffic looked like pure chaos. Then it clicked. The streets with the cars, like my friend said, flow like schools of fish, and the chaos turns into a rhythm you can’t stop watching.
We started in Da Nang, zipped through Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City on paper, Saigon to the locals), spent two slow days on Con Dao, and looped back to Saigon to see an old college friend of mine.
Frankly, what stayed with me wasn’t just one sight. It was the long, loud meals, the fresh greens with no fast food in sight, and how kind everyone was. The history runs way deeper than I expected, too.
This guide is your starting point: city-by-city guides, honest tips, advice from actual locals, and what I’d pack. I haven’t made it north yet, so Hanoi and Ha Long are still on my list.
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Destination guides
Hover a dot to explore
Weather in Vietnam
Know before you go
Time zone
UTC +7
Indochina Time, with no daylight saving. That's 11 hours ahead of New York in summer and 12 in winter.
Language
Vietnamese
English is common with younger locals, French with the older generation. Learn xin chào (hello), cảm ơn (thank you) and tạm biệt (goodbye).
Currency
Vietnamese Dong
₫ / VND. Tax is already included, so the price on the tag is what you pay at the register.
Tipping
Not mandatory
Appreciated at restaurants, hotels, spas and on tours. 10,000 - 20,000 VND is a polite thank-you, or 5 - 10% if service isn't on the bill.
Visa
Check first
Rules vary by passport. US citizens apply for an eVisa on the official government site (slow and dated, but it works). Apply early, and your passport needs 6+ months of validity.
Driving
Drive on the right
Most visitors skip it and use Grab. Renting a bike or car comes with license rules for foreigners, so check before you book.
Plan your trip
Safety
Safe, with street smarts
- Crossing the street: if the crosswalk never turns green, go slow and steady, make eye contact, and let the motorbikes flow around you.
- Tap water: skip it. Stick to bottled water, or bring a filter bottle.
- Scams + theft: rare for us. Keep your things close like anywhere else. Our worst was a very pricey coconut in Con Dao.
SIM cards + WiFi
Get connected before you land
- eSIM: grab one through Airalo before you fly. It works the moment you land.
- Free WiFi: most cafés and hotels have it, but don't count on it for navigation.
Plugs
Type A, C + F · 220V
Bring a universal adapter. Check that your chargers say 100–240V: phones and laptops do, hair tools often don't.
Apps
Download before you go
- Grab: Vietnam's Uber.
- Google Maps + Translate: your two daily drivers.
- WhatsApp: many tour guides use it to message you beforehand.
Packing list
💡 Tip
Wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane. It's free luggage space.
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