10 tips for a trip to Vietnam

Vietnam's hidden charms and its natural beauty have been long-held position as a travel icon. In no other country is the collision of Southeast Asia's past, present and future so stark. At times, this clash can seem so confronting and confusing as to send even experienced travellers fleeing for the nearest luxury hotel. Nevertheless, with a little of well preparation you will be set up for the trip of a lifetime.

1. Crossing the Road

To overcome this difficult challenge during your trip to vietnam, you need to slowly get into the flow of traffic and keep the speed steady but do not hesitate, do not stop, do not text or look at the map on the road. The driverswill make way for you. 

2.  Be careful with dog and cat meat

You’re likely to happen to eat dog or cat meat if you do not pay attention once you visit Vietnam. Thus, learn Vietnamese beforehand for these two words to distinguish them with other food. Although it was not allowed to consume these kinds of food according to a law in 1997, eating dog has been big business in Vietnam. There are also cat and dog meat smuggled from China and Laos to Vietnam and cat meat is also known as "Tiểu hổ (little tiger)" in the menu.

3. Vietnamese currency

Getting your money exchanged to the local currency makes most sense – plus it will enhance your local experience. The USD/ VND exchange rate is around 22,734. Foreigners should notice the figure for accurate tip and key to the solution is to remember the colors of money bills to avoid confusion.

4. Properly pronounce "pho"

This delicious dish is everywhere. You should try to learn the correct pronunciation to avoid misunderstandings when ordering. 

5. Seasonal clothes preparation

During summer, the weather in Vietnam is hot and humid, so you can leave your jeans at home. In winter, the North of Vietnam is very cold, you should wear a thick jacket. Watch weather forecast before you go out, and bring an umbrella in case it rains.

6. Get information about taxi and tour guide rate in advance 

The price for group of several people renting a cab and a tour guide may be equal to or cheaper than that of a package tour. When organizing a private tour, you can decide when to leave the hotel, where to eat, where to go, when to return to the hotel which you can not do when going on a package tour.

7. Avoid being overcharged by taxi drivers

At the airport exist a lot of taxi cheats. Therefore, you should book a taxi at the hotel to avoid being overcharged. You do not have to pay for tolls, so if you are asked to pay for it, just refuse. Additionally, drivers in Vietnam often do not obey traffic laws. Ask them not to talk on the phone while driving as they can drive the wrong way and charge higher than the actual rate, not to mention danger.

8. Passport for at least 6 months

You need to make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after you arrive in Vietnam. A passenger sitting next to me on a flight to Hanoi was denied entry because his passport is limited to more than 5 months. Customs officers in Vietnam are very strict in this.

9. There are many ways to apply for a visa

You can mail your passport to the Vietnamese embassy in Washington, DC, and it takes about a month to get a visa done. You can also apply for a visa on arrival, but you will need a visa approval letter for entry visa services for about $ 50.

10. Purchase a Vietnamese sim card on arrival

You can buy sim card at the airport and the you can buy mobile scratch card at any store. You can also use free applications to make calls, text messages if Wi-Fi is available. However, be sure to turn off roaming before using Wi-Fi.

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