Welcome to our Vietnam page! Here are some of the places we visited and the guidelines we followed during our trip to Vietnam. Of course, this list is far from comprehensive, and we always recommend you do your own research before traveling.
*P.S. this post contains some affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase.
OUR BLOG POSTS
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What to Do and See During a Quick Trip to Hanoi
After an absolutely amazing time in Chiang Mai, we headed to the airport for our short flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. And right away, things got pretty interesting! *P.S. this post contains some affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase. The airport was a…
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An Amazing Overnight Cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay
One of the excursions we were most looking forward to on our Southeast Asia trip was our cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay, which funny enough, had actually been inspired by a post we saw on Instagram. While researching, we learned the beaches are popular tourist spots, and we wanted a more relaxing experience; that’s…
BEFORE YOU GO
Check out the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs website for any travel advisories, cautions, vaccinations, visa/document requirements, etc. prior to traveling to Vietnam.
A Vietnamese visa is required to enter the country. We purchased our e-Visas through the Vietnam Immigration Department and the process was 100% online. Give yourself a few weeks to allow for processing time, and don’t forget to print it out after you are approved. Visa on arrival is available for air travel only, but we recommend handling this before your trip if possible.
This international travel adapter works in many countries, including Vietnam, and has room for multiple USBs and a plug.
Pack your own medicine and feminine products, as there may not be ones that you are accustomed to readily available.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE
Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). We got local currency out from ATMs using our debit cards once we arrived.
Don’t drink the water! Or brush your teeth with it. You will need to purchase water bottles throughout your trip.
Vietnam’s culture is conservative, so you shouldn’t wear short shorts or low-cut or revealing tops or dresses. It’s also very hot and humid, so light, quick drying clothing is recommended.
We recommend bringing water, snacks, bug repellent, tip money, a rain jacket, tissues, sandwich baggies, hand sanitizer, lip balm, sunblock, a scarf, a cross-body or secure purse/wallet, and sunglasses on any of your excursions.
Here are our favorite travel-sized bug spray, lotion and anti-itch cream:
If you’d feel more comfortable having a money belt or wallet to wear under your clothes, we have also used and can recommend these:
We recommend these waterproof hiking sandals for your hiking excursions in Vietnam:
We had to leave our roller bags behind for some excursions, and we would recommend these TSA-approved luggage locks for such occasions:
Tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but it’s appreciated, since many workers don’t earn much money. We tipped with these guidelines in mind:
- Driver used for an entire day or excursion: 100,000 VND (~$5 USD) per day
- Guide used for an entire day or excursion: 250,000-500,000 VND (~$10-20 USD per day) depending on the quality of the service
- Restaurants: a 5-10% tip on the bill
We would love to hear your tips for Vietnam. Feel free to leave your ideas for us in a comment below, and don’t forget to pin it!
XOXO Travel A-Broads