USEFUL TRAVEL TIPS for Vietnam ☀️

11 min readJan 19, 2019

The tips listed in this article are a selection of the most important in this website. A lot of people don’t want to spend the time reading the whole thing and some just want a shortcut to avoiding problems. That’s why I have put together this summary of tips, warnings and “how to” guides so you can enjoy traveling in Vietnam to the max. I dare say that even so you will almost certainly encounter a surprise or two. Anyone who has spent a bit of time in Asia will surely agree. If you minimize unwanted surprises you can enjoy your time spent in Vietnam in the best way. Have at least some idea what you want to do and have a rough plan.

Northern, central and southern Vietnam are different areas.

Into this list of tips I’ve also added a few recurring questions for those who have asked for more information about northern Vietnam. I answer and write only about what I know, from personal experience or from friends. Northern Vietnam is a huge place and things change rapidly and change will definitely continue. It is also important to know that the northern, central and southern parts of Vietnam are different areas with very different characters.

The most important tips for traveling in Vietnam:

1. How to get a visa for Vietnam?

online visa — it is verified and cheapest way to obtain a original visa
To get him at the airport in Vietnam, make sure you immediately to photocopy
Vietnam anybody leave the passport (recommend to have 2 passports or photocopy)
Some hotels will want after you pass the report to the police — insist on a photocopy
Sometimes require a passport and when renting bikes, sometimes not — if you do insist on a photocopy
Vietnam to launch e-visas in February 1, 2017, foreign tourists of 46 countries to Vietnam could soon have their visas emailed ( more info). In 2020, you can enter Vietnam still through the purchase of the approval letter

2. Where to accommodate in Vietnam?

low cost option of accommodation — look for Nha Nghi (“Guesthouse, Hostel, Homestay”)
prices for accommodation in Nha Nghi (from about 5–10 USD)
there are clean beds, hot water, mostly Wi-fi internet, sometimes TV, often without food
you will find luxury hotels only in big and major tourist spots
I recommend to make a reservation for the first days in Hanoi
book your hotel on Agoda or Airbnb or Homestay
more information about Airbnb in Vietnam

3. Airbnb booking service works well in Vietnam?

yes, very well, as elsewhere in the world
homestay, hotels, apartments, boat trips and other services
Register here and get a free credit worth up to 25 USD for your first accommodation
Read more about Airbnb in Vietnam

4. What to watch out in traffic and transportation?

traffic in Hanoi is terrible chaos
it is dangerous, but drivers in Hanoi drive rather slowly
most bus drivers drive like suicides
traffic regulations are not respected
bus transportation in mountainous areas is very slow
ride on a motorcycle slowly

5. Where to book and buy tickets for the train and bus+flights?

you can buy tickets directly on train and bus stations
I recommend to book and buy train/bus/ferry tickets+flights on or
buy online ticket and keep it in your mobile phone or tablet
if you book tickets online — you will save your time and money
do not buy tickets in the front of train station from the dealers
check Vietnam Train Schedule + Bus Schedule and the most popular routes + Vietnam Railway Map

6. Why I recommend to book tickets for Vietnam online?

you will save your time and money
because sometimes it is not easy to communicate with people in Vietnam, they do not speak English very well
sometimes the buses or trains can be sold out

7. How to call in Vietnam and use the internet?

buy a tourist prepaid SIM card, it’s cheap (you can buy almost everywhere)
Skype and Viber for international phone calls
Internet is almost everywhere, hostel, restaurant, coffee house… (except small street restaurants)
different data packages for mobile Internet in tourist SIM cards
I do not recommend make a payment transaction or money transfer on unsecure Wi-Fi network

8. What kind of weather should I expect?

weather is changeable, especially in mountainous areas
recommended months for traveling in Vietnam — October, November, March, April, May
weather with lower temperatures than in the south is in northern Vietnam
prepare to high humidity

9. It is necessary to vaccinate for Vietnam?

for your vaccination talk to your doctor
my opinion: it is not necessary, but I recommend at least a rabies vaccination (a lot of errant dogs in the villages, you do not know what to expect)
Prevention: antimalarial drugs, probiotics, mosquito repellent (DEET), clothing with long sleeves

10. Where can I visit ethnic markets in the north of Vietnam?

the most authentic market you will find in the North at the border with China
markets take place in less frequented areas (except Sapy and larger cities)
check out for list of ethnic markets in northern Vietnam

11. What to watch and beware in Vietnam?

mainly on personal things, there are frequent thefts in Hanoi (like everywhere in the world)
the roads are unpredictable and in not very good condition in the mountains Hanoi — copying hotels and shops under the same name on crossing roads and streets in Hanoi
read more in this article — What to watch in Vietnam

12. How to move and transport in Vietnam?

the best way is to use a motorbike, you’ll see a lot more
use mobile application Google Maps or Maps.me
Maps.me — there are not completely processed all cities (but you will find there Nha Nghi hostels)
I recommend to use Google maps on your phone and print also some map of Vietnam
if you use public buses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, you can try BusMap application

13. Go to Sapa or not?

Sapa area is suitable for trying a real homestay
Sapa is a big tourist place in northern Vietnam, you should know it
the highest concentration of Black Hmong and Red Dao ethnic minority
check — Hanoi to Sapa — Bus Schedule and Hanoi to Lao Cai — Train Schedule

14. Where can I try a real homestay in Sapa?

homestay are also in the areas of
in villages that are further away from the city
I can recommend Thanh Kim and Hau Thao
read this > 15 best homestays in Sapa
You have to communicate with the local Hmong resident
Cao Bang, Mai Chau, Ha Giang, Bac Ha — mostly covered cottages for tourists

15. Is there a Wi-fi and hot water in the homestay?

non-touristic homestay has not Wi-fi and hot water
Wi-fi can be in tourist homestay (from agencies)
tourist homestay have a decent restrooms and hot water usually flows

16. How to get from Hanoi to Da Nang (+Hoi An) and Hue?

the best way is to travel by plane, there are direct flights from Hanoi to Da Nang, Hue
you can also travel by train, it is better to avoid traveling by bus
read these articles: How to get from Hanoi to Da Nang + Hoi An? + How to get from Hanoi to Hue?

17. How to get from Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) to Sapa?

from Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi to Sapa you can travel by sleeper bus
bus company: Inter Bus Lines
bus tickets from Noi Bai Airport to Sapa (about 12–14 USD) you can book online on Baolau
check Baolau and find departure from “Hanoi — Noi Bai”

18. Where can I see and visit ethnic minority groups?

throughout the northern provinces near the Chinese border
the largest concentration of ethnic groups is in the provinces of Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang

Close to Meo Vac town in Ha Giang province.

19. What are the least tourist province in the North?

there are more, but we can say it is Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Son La, Lai Chau (except Sapa)
Ha Giang can be considered as the least tourist place— but that does not mean that occasionally you can meet a lost tourist also in Ha Giang
tourists come gradually also to these places

20. What are the most visited places in northern Vietnam?

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay (+Cat Ba Island), Sapa, Ninh Binh
lots of travelers go from the south to the north and finish in Hanoi — it is a biggest mistake
you should definitely visit also another places in northern Vietnam!

21. How to travel by ferry/boat to the islands in Vietnam?

there are lots of beautiful islands in the whole Vietnam
the most favorite islands: Cat Ba, Quan Lan, Phu Quoc, Nam Du, Con Dao…
read this > Ferries, boats, piers + tickets

22. How long to travel in Vietnam?

important to know: Vietnam is a huge country, the North, Center and South are different
transportation in Vietnam is slow and it takes a long time
I recommend at least 1 month for each part of this country

23. How long is the train ride from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh?

train ride from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City has a dureation about 32–36 hours (it depends on the type of train)
there is only one railway route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
see alsoHanoi to Ho Chi Minh — Train Schedule

24. How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc?

from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc you can travel by plane or combination of bus/ferry
read carefully this article: How to get from Ho Chi Minh to Phu Quoc?

25. I’m going to province of Ha Giang, need something?

in the province of Ha Giang permission is required for entry to remote places
you can buy permit in the Immigration office of Ha Giang (296 Trần Phú)
it is forbidden to enter the Chinese border closer than three kilometers in some places
rent a motorbike in this province

26. It is possible to rent a motorbike in Ha Giang?

yes, as elsewhere in every major city and town
there are more rental bikes and scooters in Ha Giang town
in Ha Giang + Cao Bang you can try this very good rental — QT Motorbike+Tours
you can search and book your motorbike online >BIKESBOOKING
check and try a motorbike before you go

27. Should I have an international driver’s license when I rent a motorbike?

from 2015 applies international driver’s license in Vietnam
if you do not have international driver’s license and travel insurance you pay all costs for an accident
some people rent a motorbike without driver’s license
I recommend to have international driver’s license to avoid the problems

28. Where are the biggest and most beautiful rice terraces and fields?

a lot of people agree that it is in Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai province
then also in Sapa or Ha Giang province (eg. Hoang Su Phi)
huge rice fields you can find also in Mai Chau

29. Where to go when I want to swim or kayaking?

go to the island of Cat Ba or Quan Lan / Co To, and the smaller islands in Ha Long Bay
northern Vietnam is not the top destination for swimming in the sea

30. How to get by bus from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?

easily, there are various buses, vans, minibuses or minivans from Hanoi to Ha Long
travel by bus/van from Hanoi to Ha Long takes about 3–4.5 hours
check this > Bus Schedule — Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

31. How to get easily from Sapa to Fansipan mountain?

you can travel by mountain train + cable car from Sapa town to Fansipan
train from Sapa town departs from Sunplaza to Fansipan Legend (cable car)
it is about 2 km by mountain train to Fansipan Legend
join ticket (train + cable car to Fansipan) costs about 600 000 viet.dongs (about 30 Usd, can change)
Sunplaza in Sapa — a big shopping complex in the center of the town of Sapa

32. How to get to Cat Ba Island?

read this > How to travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba?
from the island of Tuan Chau — ferry sails to the northern part of the island of Cat Ba
from the city of Hai Phong (Ben Binh harbor) — ferry boats to the southern part of the island of Cat Ba
see on a map in an article about Ha Long Bay

33. Is northern Vietnam suitable for traveling with small children?

if you want to see the most interesting places, you would have to travel on a motorbike or have a private car
I think it is not suitable if you want to visit remote areas in northern Vietnam

34. How to get from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi city center?

I recommend — use a bus of number 86 from Noi Bai Airport
you can buy bus ticket in the bus (about 1.50 Usd)
bus station is about 50m left from the exit from Noi Bai Airport
bus no.86 is going to the Hanoi Railway Station (about 10 stops on the route, Au Co, Long Bien, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi Opera House, Melia Hotel…)

35. How to get to Quan Lan Island?

read this > How to get from Ha Long/Cai Rong to Quan Lan?
the shortest route from the port of Cai Rong
the longer route, but scenic cruise — from Hon Gai Port (Ha Long city)
read also — Quan Lan Island — Travel Tips

36. When not to travel to Vietnam?

TET holiday it is not recommended
some services do not work, people have a holiday, overcrowded transportation…
TET = is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture ( calendar)
if you will bee here, however, it may be for you a nice experience

37. I´am traveling to the neighbouring countries of Vietnam, how to get there?

read this: Vietnam to Laos, Vietnam to Cambodia, Vietnam to China
you can travel by bus, plane, motorbike but also by train to China

38. What are the best beaches in northern Vietnam?

the best beaches you will find mainly in Quảng Ninh, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh provinces
read this article and see map > Beaches in northern Vietnam

39. I have 30-days single entry e-visa, where I can enter and exit?

read this article and see map > Border crossings in Vietnam (only with 30-days single entry e-visa)

40. How to get from Hanoi to other places in Vietnam?

> How to get from Hanoi to Saigon
> How to get from Hanoi to Ha Long
> How to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba
> How to get from Hanoi to Sapa
> How to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
> How to get from Hanoi to Trang An Complex
> How to travel from Hanoi to Dong Hoi (Phong Nha)
> How to get from Hanoi to Tam Coc
> How to get from Hanoi to Hue
> How to get from Hanoi to Da Nang and Hoi An
> How to get from Hanoi to Nha Trang