VIETNAM
Vietnam was the first country I ever visited solo and I could not have made a better choice! First of all, it is beautiful beyond belief. Its landscapes, islands, and cities are truly jaw-dropping! It is also home to delicious cuisine, rich tradition, and the friendliest of people. Being from the United States, I always equated Vietnam with the Vietnam War. One walk through the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City made me realize, yet again, that there is more than one side to every story. Spending three weeks in Vietnam holds a very special place in my heart. It very well may be my favorite country in the world!
Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:
Currency:
The official currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND)
$1 USD = 23,100 VND
Pricing for Leisure Travelers:
Average Hotel Expenses = 805,000-1,150,000 VND/Night ($35-$50 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = 345,000-690,000 VND/Day ($15-$30 USD/Day)
Pricing for Backpackers:
Average Hostel Expenses = 160,000-390,000 VND/Night ($7-$17 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = 115,000-345,000 VND/Day ($5-$15 USD/Day)
Communication:
Naturally, Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam although French and English are widely spoken throughout the country as well. You shouldn’t have any issues communicating with folks!
Transportation:
Bus: Traveling by bus through Vietnam is easy when using Bookaway or booking through your hostel. Buses come in and out of the main cities multiple times per day. Vietnam’s shape is deceivingly long so be prepared for some lengthy bus rides and lots of honking!
Night transportation is your friend and is the way to get around Vietnam. Most bus rides are lengthy so rather than spending money on a hostel and burning time, take the night bus and sleep on it! They’re quite the experience and very safe. That said, I do recommend sleeping with a bag of your essentials (passport, wallet, money, etc.) in case something happens to your luggage. Luggage getting lost is unlikely but I always carry a bag of my essentials to give me peace of mind.
Many of the longer bus rides through Vietnam are on sleeper buses. The seats recline and as long as you’re shorter than me (5’10” or 1,78 m), you should be able to sleep quite comfortably!
Airplane: Similar to the rest of Asia, flight prices in Vietnam are reasonable and affordable. Obviously, booking in advance will lead to cheaper fares but it’s not always necessary. Sometimes you can wait and get a great deal days before your flight!
Taxi/Uber: You can easily find these anywhere in Vietnam - they are inexpensive and safe! Sometimes Ubers are motorbikes instead of cars!
Miscellaneous:
You are not required to be vaccinated before visiting any countries in Southeast Asia but I was recommended by a travel doctor to get the following shots and prescriptions:
Hepatitis A (shot)
Hepatitis B (shot)
Malaria (prescription for Mefloquine pills)
Traveler’s Diarrhea (Imodium pills to use just in case)
Typhoid (shot)
The traffic is absolutely ridiculous. Motorbikes everywhere. When crossing the street, don’t hesitate or slow down. It may look like the motorbikes will hit you but they won’t; they’ll go around you. Once you make the decision to walk, make sure to commit!
Coconuts: You can get a coconut full of coconut water for about $1-2 almost anywhere in Southern Vietnam. Be sure to slurp those down and ask them to chop it open once you’re done so you can scrape out the fat! Perfect, refreshing, and healthy snack!
Water: Do not drink out of the tap anywhere. Be sure to use a filtered, reusable water bottle (or buy bottled water) because it gets hot out there! A big water bottle shouldn’t run you more than a $1-$1.50 USD. Some hostels will let you refill your water bottle for pennies on the dollar, too.
Pho, pho, pho! I ate my body weight in this while in Vietnam! Bubble tea is also very popular.
If you only have time to visit one city in Vietnam, go to Ho Chi Minh City. Its combination of food, architecture, history, attractions, and nightlife give HCMC a unique energy/vibe unlike any other Asian city I have visited!
Vietnam has a reputation for ripping off travelers but the most you can do is be aware and try to avoid it as much as possible. However, do not let this dissuade you from traveling to Vietnam; getting scammed is liable to happen anywhere in the world! Vietnam is undeniably gorgeous and 100% safe to travel around!
