While travelling in Vietnam, you may face very different climates. It is therefore necessary to pack appropriate clothing to adapt to the different temperatures that you can encounter on your holiday to Vietnam.
We recommend to pack:
While there is no compulsory vaccine for Vietnam, you are advised to check the validity or carry out preventative vaccinations against tetanus, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria and polio before your holiday to Vietnam. To protect yourself from the risk of mosquito-borne transmission, consider the typhoid vaccine, and for extended stays in rural areas, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine and the rabies vaccine.
In the Mekong Delta as the sun sets, malaria can pose a threat; treatment with Malarone is then the most appropriate way to avoid any risk. Be sure to take enough mosquito repellent with you, and wear long protective clothing in mosquito-prone areas. Don’t forget to bring along your personal medical kit with any medicine you usually take.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of medicine to carry in your personal medical kit:
In Vietnam, the electricity supply voltage is 220 V. Plugs that have two round pins or two flat vertical pins will fit into most electrical outlets in Vietnam. However, some outlets only have one type of socket, therefore to avoid unpleasant surprises with electrical outlets during your holiday to Vietnam, we recommend to travel with a travel adapter which can be bought in most airports.
As is the case all over the world, internet access methods are constantly evolving in Vietnam and the possibilities for connection are becoming more and more widespread and easy to access throughout the country. Here are several ways to get connected on your holiday to Vietnam:
The most practical way to make local telephone calls while on holiday to Vietnam is to buy a local SIM card as soon as you arrive in the country. These are available in many stores and cost the equivalent of $ 2. The main operators are Viettel, Mobifone and Vinafone (Viettel has the best network). Note that your phone must be unlocked beforehand. *For international calls we recommend free internet-based calls such as Whatsapp or Skype.
If you don't have an unlocked phone, you can buy a phone that already has a SIM card inside, or buy an unlocked phone and a card separately. Expect to pay around 400,000 dong for a rather basic phone and 1,000,000 dong for a phone with more features like Wi-Fi and a camera. You can recharge your phone credit by buying refills which are sold almost everywhere (50,000 dong minimum, although 100,000 dong is usually enough for a month).
The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong. You can find denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 dongs.
The US dollar can be exchanged for Vietnamese dongs but is also accepted in big cities like Hanoi, Hue, Nha Trang or Ho Chi Minh City. When you change your dollars, denominations of 100 dollars in good condition get a better rate. Remember to only change your money at official exchange offices or banks.
The euro is not as widely accepted as the US dollar, however, it can be used in some hotels, restaurants and upscale shops in major cities.
VISA and MASTERCARD international bank cards are accepted in all ATMs and stores that accept payment by card. Withdrawals must be made in Vietnamese dongs. A percentage of the amount withdrawn is usually retained by the local bank. Don’t forget to check with your bank before your holiday to Vietnam what fees are charged for international transactions/withdrawals.
Traveler's checks are not widely accepted, only a limited number of banks in major cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City) still accept them. We also recommend keeping small change on you especially when travelling in rural areas.
UTC / GMT: + 07h00
Time zone: Indochina Time Asia / Ho Chi Minh City
*Please note that Vietnam does not apply daylight savings time.
Before your trip to Vietnam, check that your passport remains valid for 6 months after the date of your arrival in Vietnam..
We recommend you visit the official Vietnamese visa website to check the visa requirements (if any) for your nationality:
https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/vietnam-visa/how-to-apply/
Although shopping centres are developing in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you will more likely find your happiness by chance throughout your holiday in Vietnam. Indeed, everything (or almost everything) can be found in the markets and the numerous stalls that you will find on your way. Whether you are looking for new technology items, traditional clothes, souvenirs or cooking ingredients to take home, you are likely to find what you need. So a word of advice: set aside some extra space or bring an extra bag because the options for shopping will be tempting! In Vietnam, negotiating is part of everyday life, so do not hesitate to haggle, even if it means dividing the price by 2 (or more). Nevertheless, pay attention to always be friendly and respectful and to adapt to the place you are - stores with fixed prices are not places open to negotiation, for example.
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