Before you go on any adventure you need to do your research. This is to keep you safe and also to make sure that you don’t miss out on anything that you could be doing on your trip. There is nothing worse than coming home from halfway around the world to then find out about some wonderful temple or experience that you were staying just around the corner from while you were travelling. If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, you need to be as prepared as possible, to help you with that, we’ve got a great list of tips and tricks to help you out.
1. Get your visa
As with any travel preparations you need to make sure that your visa is in order to travel to Vietnam. Depending on the country that you hold a passport, you may need to arrange a visa in advance, or be able to secure one by simply filling out some paperwork at the airport upon arrival. Whatever you need to do, make sure that you are 100% sure that you are prepared in advance. You do not want to be denied entry because you were not fully prepared.
2. Know that Vietnam is a large country
Vietnam is a huge country so you will need to be realistic with your itinerary. You can easily spend over 30 hours on a train journey between cities. This can be a lot of fun if you’re into the adventuring lifestyle, but it is wise that you prepare for such journeys in advance. You will need to allocate days to travelling overland if you are planning to do this so make sure you give yourself enough time to get from point a to point b.
3. Be ready for less than ideal weather
The weather in Vietnam can be very changeable so you need to be prepared for whatever comes. It is generally very humid and hot. Probably hotter than you have ever experienced. Parts of the country can also get very cold so you will need to make sure that you familiarise yourself with the weather and the temperatures that you can expect as you travel through the country.
4. Haggling
This is something that some people love and others hate. If you’re buying something in Vietnam you should be ready to haggle over the price. The prices can be very cheap if you are confident enough to haggle with the vendors. There are no fixed prices and you should know that the first price that they give you will probably be inflated as they know that you are a tourist. When haggling it is important that you remain calm and be prepared to walk away if the price is now what you are willing to pay.
5. Get ready to eat very well
Food is really cheap in Vietnam and the cuisine is to die for. You will be able to enjoy some of their great dishes and find something that you will enjoy eating for the rest of your life. Pho is one of the more popular exports to the rest of the world, but there are many more gems ready for you to discover.
6. Have a device that can access the wifi
There will be wifi accessible throughout your trip, so you will need to remember to bring your smartphone even though you don’t want to use it to make calls or use your data. You can turn these off in your settings so that you don’t get any charges. The wifi in restaurants and hotels can be a great way to stay in touch with friends and family and of course, share photos of your travels.
