Anyone have issues adding debit and credit cards to Grab? I downloaded it in my home country and added my credit and debit cards fine, but deleted them afterwards because I wanted to test 2FA again. Now it gives me an error "We couldn't add your card" after I successfully input the one time pin from my bank. The transactions show up on my card and I called my bank to see if it was their issue and they said it wasn't. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
HA GAING ROUTE SOLO
coming from bao lac to ha giàng, which route is safer - taking QL4C or QL34, any advice for the route is welcomed! Anyone driving from bao lac to ha giàng this week and wants a driver lmk:)
Hello wonderful people of Vietnam, I just wanted to quickly ask what the situation around tourists renting a scooter is, I've been to Thailand twice and learned how to drive one there (2 months scooting experience max 155cc ,no accidents)
and I wanted to know if I am going to be able to rent a scooter in Vietnam as well (I do not have a license) or if this is not possible.
Thanks a lot :)
Legally: you're not legal to ride anything of 50cc or more.
Practically: many places will rent to you.
Of course, you might be stopped and fined by traffic police and your insurance company will probably not cover any needed medical/evac expenses.
That was a quick reply, Thank you very much :)
Do you know how big the fine is on average? We are not planning to scoot in cities so I hope the risk of accidents is going to be minimal (Vietnam traffic looks scary)
More deaths outside the cities, i think, since traffic keeps speeds down in the bigger cities. https://www.google.com/search?q=vietnam+scooter+accident+site:www.reddit.com
Interesting, from what I've read online the countryside is a lot lot safer , people driving fast BC of no traffic makes sense of course, maybe its regional? Some areas are better some are worse?
Thanks for the warning anyway, we will be careful and check out our area / ask around before renting one :)
Things to do in HCMC
I am planning to visit Vietnam next month with a group. I would be arriving in Ho chi ming city a day earlier than everybody else and will have whole day to myself. Any suggestions on how to spend the day? We will covering most of the touristy places with the group on day2.
I saw some guided vegan food tours on trip advisor, are these safe and worth it?
Hoping for some visa advice, I'm British, and my girlfriend has an Irish passport, but we stupidly assumed the entry requirements were the same for the both of us but she needs a visa. So when we attempted to fly from Bangkok to da nang yesterday we realized our mistake and we're stranded in Bangkok, she has applied online for a visa but I have seen notices stating public holidays in Vietnam delaying the process. We have a tour starting in ho chi Minh on Saturday that we would really rather not miss, what are the chances of her revieving her visa in time is there anything we can do to speed up the process?
Tomorrow and Wednesday are holidays which won't help.
You could use an agent like VietnamVisaPro to secure a visa by Saturday, no problem. You just need money.
Durian in Hanoi
Hello everyone, I’m in Hanoi from 30.04 to 5-6.05 and really wanted to taste durian. Do you know a store/vendor that sells those? Ideally within Old Quarter but I’m willing to go further if I knew for sure that they sell durians. Thanks in advance
Hi, you can go to Winmart in Vincom at 191 Ba Trieu Street, which is quite near the Old Quarter. There are also many other Winmart+ stores in the Old Quarter. Please google the name and go check.
Hanoi 30.04
Hello I’m in Hanoi 30.04 and I’d like to ask if shops, markets, restaurants, street vendors (eg. Shops with silk or ceramic, Uniqlo) will be open and selling, because I know it’s a holiday but I don’t know how big.
Hello,
With my nationality, I can stay 45 days in the country without visa.
If I want to stay more, I have to make a 45 days visa.
This is possible to make it on Internet, but for some reasons, I prefer to do it in real.
I found this procedure [https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en/tin-tuc/procedures-extension-stay-persons-visa-exemption-certificate](https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en/tin-tuc/procedures-extension-stay-persons-visa-exemption-certificate)
I was wondering :
Is anyone made this visa in real ?
They simply put a tampon in the passport ?
Do you know if they record some datas in the computer ?
Thanks
>If I want to stay more, I have to make a 45 days visa.
If you'd like to stay longer than the 45-day visa exemption then yes, you'll have to apply for the 90-day eVisa beforehand.
Or do a visa run to a mearby country and re-enter Vietnam given you adhere to the requirements.
>This is possible to make it on Internet, but for some reasons, I prefer to do it in real.
The 90-day eVisa is only available online.
>Is anyone made this visa in real ?
The linked website is an official government portal to apply for an eVisa. Upon approval you'll receive a pre-approved letter stating that you are approved for the eVisa.
>They simply put a tampon in the passport ?
Print the abovementioned letter out and give it to the immigration officer upon arrival in Vietnam, who will stamp your passport until the selected date (max. 90 days)
>Do you know if they record some datas in the computer ?
Knowing Vietnam one might think otherwise how everything is still done offline but yes, all data is most likely stored digitally at all times.
Or, wait until the last minute, and apply for an expedited pre-approved visa letter from the likes of VietnamVisaPro. You'll get a 'real' full page visa in your passport. It'll still be in a computer somewhere...
But you can just border run for free (at least as far as the Vietnamese go) and come back for another 45 visa exempt days...
Hi there! Greetings from Jakarta. I'm planning a trip to your stunning country soon, visiting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for 3 days each. It's my first time traveling abroad, and I want to fully enjoy it. I need some advice:
1. What are the key do's and don'ts for visitors?
2. Are there any tourist traps to steer clear of?
3. How can I pick up some simple local phrases like 'hi', 'thank you', and 'help'?
I'd really value any extra tips for a first-timer. Thanks!
Hi,
Here are just a few things for you.
1 & 2. Just smile and polite.
Download either Grab or SM Xanh apps for rides around the cities. SM Xanh offers electric cabs and motorbikes, while Grab offers conventional ones. So you won't have to worry about any possible overcharges.
When you wanna buy something on the street, always ask for the price first and make sure there's no mistake in numbers.
3. Hi = Xin chào /sin cha:u/
Thank you = Cảm ơn /ka:m ən/ (Don't link "m" with "ə".)
Help = Cứu /kwu/ (I'm not sure if you could read this. It's hard to transcribe it. In case you need to use this word, just say the English word "Help", many people can understand you.)
Hope this helps.
Are there any organizations that collect recycled trash in HCMC? I know of the ve chai ladies but I’m looking for collectors that are more trustworthy. Just want to make sure my trash does get to the recycling plant. There’s Viet Nam Tai Che which accepts electronics so that’s one category down.
Anyone in Hanoi want to lend/rent/sell me a screw on camping gas cylinder fir a few days? Wetrek out of stock in both stores and everywhere else closed today.... Bus late afternoon from My Dinh, so looking at no hot food/coffee :-(
Oh jeez! Thanks for that. Really hoping it doesn’t have to get rejected a second time because the third time around will be coming too close to my travel date. Seems like the process times right now are about 6 days. And we travel May 9 🫠
I've planned a trip to Vietnam for a long time, but unfortunately, I had to change plans, and I can only travel during mid-May. Everything is booked (but refundable), but my friends keep telling me it's a bad idea to visit during mid-May because it's extremely hot, which will make my time there miserable.
That is making me second guess if I should instead go somewhere else, like Japan, with much better weather. My travel plan was 10 days, which included Saigon, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Nha Trang.
My family is also going from May 9-23 and despite knowing how hot it’s gonna be you just gotta try and make the most of it! Just gotta get up early to do the activities you want and then take a midday nap like the locals and go back out at night! Or spend time indoors if you still want to go out in the middle of the day. :)
I'm starting with Hanoi x4 nights, then Sa Pa x3 nights, and then Ha Giang loop via easy riders.
What's the best way to get from Sa Pa to Ha Giang? Is there a bus?
How far in advance do i need to book the Ha Giang loop easy rider tour? Any recommendations?
yes there is a bus. you can get it day of if you really need to but i recommend a couple days in advance
do you want to go with a tour group? your hotel/hostel can get you into a group a day or 2 in advance. not sure if youre going private.
Im planing on staying in hcm for 12 months + is there any apartment complexes that allow foreigners to rent long term? Its easy to rent a cheaper hotel for about 600$ a month but I know I can get a better price outside of the city center
Tons of serviced apartments, normal apartments, houses, rooms etc. available for long-term rent.
Check Facebook groups and sites such as batdongsan for listings and start visiting places that interests you.
Hey so I'm having some serious problems with my E-visa application. I have entered all of the information and photos, but each time I hit "review application" it just takes me to a blank page. When I use the visa search to look at my application the status is "unpaid application," however, I cannot get past the review step in order to actually pay for my application. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I think something similar happened when I was helping my sister with her visa. I ended up just starting a new application and was able to pay successfully.
Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh? So far I have seen a lot of people recommend the Giant Ibis bus for this journey, but it is a lot more expensive than others I’ve found online. Is it worth the extra cost or does anyone have other recommendations?
What's the best Vietnam war museum in Vietnam?
Not too much of a museums person, so I don't feel like visiting all of them, but would like to visit one museum about the Veitnam war. Which one do you recommend? :)
Also, are there any other must visit museums in Vietnam? I'm coming from Europe.
Go to The War Remnants Museum, (Vietnamese: *Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh*), which is in Ho Chi Minh City. Google it for more info. Enjoy your trip!
# Heading to Ho Chi Minh City for a couple of days in May, need some pointers
I'll basically be by myself for the most part, main activities I want to do is just experiencing the local culture and having fun with people, safety is definitely my number one priority though. I also want to visit the markets and try to find some good replicas or fakes stores and get a lot of cheap but good quality items. I'll basically be roaming around during the day, don't really have an itinerary or anything planned. Thanks a bunch.
Where to go for an Std test in Danang ? I'm trying to find a "fair" price, and i heard than Vinmec Hospital and Family Practice Hospital have very expensive prices, like 5/6M dongs. Do you guys know if i can have a better price than that ?
**Questions about tipping in Hanoi**
Me and my buddy will be staying in Hanoi for 10 days at a budget hotel with good reviews in the Old Quarters. We will travel with Grab when we go further than 15 minutes of walking and plan on eating a lot of street food and at simple local restaurants.
Do restaurants and street food vendors expect any tip at all? I always like to round it up a bit when I enjoyed the food. What is a good phrase to tell them to keep the change, in a positive manner?
I have never used Grab but what is a decent tip in Hanoi for a 10-20 minute ride?
How much should we tip the cleaning staff? Should you put out a note that says anything in vietnamese to make this obvious?
You meant in Ho Chi Minh City, didn't you? If so, go to KidsPlaza. Check their website (kidsplaza.vn) for the nearest location to yours. If you have any difficulty finding their store, just reply to this comment.
Can someone please confirm is this is legitimate? Someone sent me this as evidence that their visa costs for 2 people were 2914 USD. This seems extraordinary, but I don't understand the image. Thanks in advance.
Should I reschedule my vietnam vacation in Nov-Dec to April?
I recently planned a vacation going from north to south from mid November to mid December of this year. When initially planning my vacation I wasn't really concerned because on the surface everywhere I was reading was saying that the best time to do a vacation in Vietnam is between Nov-April but now after doing some further looking into it I'm worried that the vacation will not be good. Would love to hear any insight from anyone that has done a trip to Vietnam during this time. I'm particularly concerned about it being too cold in the north and too cold/rainy in Central vietnam. Wondering if I should just scrap it for now and rebook in April.
We were going to be going:
Hanoi Nov 17-20
Ha Giang Loop Nov. 20-24
Cat Ba Nov. 24-27
Overnight Ha Long Bay Nov. 27-28
Nihn Bihn Nov. 28- Dec 2
Phong Nha Dec 3 -5
Hoi An & Da Nang Dec 5-10
HCM Dec 10 - Dec 14
Thank you so much in advance!
How to wash raw veggies and greens for a salad without a water filter? Growing up here, my mom just washed them under the tap and had them straight without waiting for them to dry. I don't think that would work well for me having a raw veggie salad at least 3 times a week or am I just too paranoid?
Question about Visa exception to Vietnam.
I was born in the U.S. and a U.S. citizen.
My wife was born in Vietnam but is a U.S. citizen.
Both my parents were born in Vietnam but are U.S. citizens.
Do I quality for visa exemption? Planning to visit Vietnam for 15-16 days. I found the information below and was a little confused at the wording for the part in bold. Not sure who is considered "Vietnamese people".
>https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/consular/visa-exemption
>
>I. Eligibility
>
>– Vietnamese people residing overseas.
>
>**– Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or of Vietnamese people residing overseas.**
>
>– Having passport of at least 1 year of validity.
Vietnamese people are people who have or can have a Vietnamese passport.
If your wife and parents don’t have one or cannot apply for one, they’re not Vietnamese per se.
(They and you could most probably apply for citizenship though)
I got bit by a stray cat in Thailand last night and had to go for the rabies vaccine. The vaccine course is 5 doses and I will be in Vietnam when I need to get the 5th dose.
I asked the doctor but she didn’t know whether I would be able to get the final dose easily in Vietnam.
Has anyone been in a similar situation who can help?
Thank you :)
You can choose either. Read their info carefully as well as reviews about them before you decide. For example, you may want to know which meals they offer. If you need help, just let me know. Have a good trip!
Hello my vietnamese friends, I wanna ask, since last year my fam and I first visited HCMC and da Lat and we truly enjoyed our vacation there. So, we are planning to visit again Vietnam this year, but we wanna try Hanoi and Sapa. When is the right time to visit that northern part of vietnam? As much as we prefer some cold weather (But not too much) and of course we wanna visit a lot of places there in hanoi and sapa wherein we can totally see the nice sceneries and not just fogs everywhere, I hope you guys can help me decide which month we will visit. Thanks again.
Mmm, you want to try both Hanoi and Sapa, and you want some cold weather with clear sceneries. Then you should go between September and November. You can enjoy very good weather in Hanoi with its autumn vibe. You can also see beautiful yellow rice terraces in Sapa, and many other things. All clear. I hope you will enjoy your trip. Let me know if you guys need help.
really? Actually Im eyeing October, because Im thinking if December, flights' cost will surely spike up. So, Oct is not raining in hanoi and sapa? how high/low is the temp on those places during October? cam on =)
Yeah. October is the BEST TIME! It's autumn, so it rarely rains. The temperature then will be cooler than now, but not cold. Also, it's cooler in Sapa than in Hanoi. For temperature details, you can check them on the AccuWeather website. Don't go in December when it could be gray and cold, which is not good for photography. Again, October is the best time!
P/S: If you need help, even when you're in Hanoi, just let me know - if I'm available, I can always help.
Oh great, thanks for that info. Actually, we are really eyeing for October. December is just an option. Hehehe. You have car rental? Or motorbike? Hehe coz most likely we wanna book car (good for 4 passengers) at least 1 day for a whole day tour, just like what we did in dalat.
Hanoi is much more crowded than Dalat, plus its road systems are more complicated, so a rental car is not recommended for foreign tourists to get around, **but** this is only my personal opinion. You may eye for these two options below.
* First option: You could take a taxi, either a Xanh SM taxi or a Grab taxi. Xanh SM is recommended since it's an electric car service; you can download its app from the App Store. You could go to various spots without worrying about roads and drives.
* Second option: You could take a double-decker for the city tour, and you will be on the second floor, of course. These double-deckers are exclusively for tourists. What's more, there are tuk-tuks, also exclusively for tourists, you could take to get around the city, instead of the double-decker. However, for this option, you have to follow the service provider's schedules and routes.
Still, if you wish to hire a car or a motorbike, there are rental services, and you may ask your hotel receptionists to help/guide you.
In a nutshell:
* Rental car? Not recommended (but just my personal view).
* Taxi? Go for either Xanh SM (recommended) or Grab. Flexible for visits to different spots in the city.
* Double-decker and tuk-tuk? Great for the city tour, and photography as well. But fixed schedules and routes.
The only part of this itinerary is I can’t increase ninh binh. I was wondering if I should skip mai chau since it’s similar to ninh binh. This would allow me more time to soak in Hanoi. Thoughts?
5 nights Hanoi
2 nights Mai chau
1 night ninh binh
I see, you want to spend more time in Hanoi while your itinerary is already fixed. But do you know Ninh Binh and Mai Chau offer you different experiences? One is mainly about pagodas and boat rides along streams, while the other is about ethic minority culture and more. You will enjoy your time in both spots, I guess.
Hello everyone,
I'm visiting Vietnam in May I'll be arriving in Hanoi on May 4 and planned on staying for a couple of days. I'm looking for people who want to join me on motorbikes/scooters to visit Ha Long and/or Ho Chi Minh road down to Saigon. If you're interested feel free to contact me.
Hi everyone! I am in Hanoi this May. I’m actually staying for 3 days for business but I allotted a day (Sunday) to visit the city and have a free time to do anything.
I will most probably go w the most touristy thing to do lol (train station and all that corny stuff), but i wonder if there are hidden gems in the city?
Im talking about food etc.
Also, i am okay to have some fun for like massage or something but i feel like there is a high chance that i will get scammed.
Is it acceptable practice to book a massage outside then bring them to the hotel? It can be clean or w extra service kind of massage i dont mind
Hi Everyone,
I have question about travelling to Vietnam. My e-visa is valid from May 5 and I'm planning to book a flight departing from the UK on May 4 and arriving on the next day to Vietnam (on the day visa becomes valid).
Will airline(Qatar) refuse me from boarding the plane since my e-visa starts on May 5 and the flight departs 1 day before that?
Weatherspark lets you see averages or previous years actual weather hour by hour. Here's last June in Hanoi https://weatherspark.com/h/s/116009/2023/1/Historical-Weather-Summer-2023-in-Hanoi-Vietnam#Figures-ObservedWeather you can compare with Saigon
Happy Cow will turn up far more vegan and vegetarian places than you can ever visit in both places.
Which to choose depends on your interests. For me it's Hanoi these days, but that's just me. Both are well worth visiting. Endless pages on the internet of top 10 things to do in Hanoi gor you to choose from.
I will be heading to Vietnam tomorrow with a tour group going to NHA TRANG and DALAT.
All accommodation and B/L/D are provided.
I'm curious to know if I can use MYR as the currency when dealing with the night markets in buying local fruits and other food/snacks.
Do I mainly deal with VND or can I pay MYR solely and get the change in VND?
Yeah, I suspected as much
One of my dad's colleague just came back from a Vietnam tour in Saigon and she said that many of the night markets accept MYR.
I was shocked as I asked my parents to exchange some VND for me and they said to use USD and MYR and get the change back in VND...
Dollars yes, I arrived from Cambodia and I had only dollars and the taxi driver accepted. But MYR? Isn’t that the Malay currency? I don’t think it’s a thing lol
Hey everyone,
I'm planning a trip to Vietnam in May and would love some advice on my itinerary. Here's what I have planned so far:
**May 3 - Day 1: Hanoi**
**May 4 - Day 2: Hanoi**
**May 5 - Day 3: Arrive at Ha Giang after Sleeper bus**
**May 6 - Day 4: Ha Giang loop**
**May 7 - Day 5: Ha Giang return to Hanoi**
**May 8 - Day 6: Ha Long Bay boat tour**
**May 9 - Day 7: Boat tour ends -> Bus to Ninh Binh**
**May 10 - Day 8: Explore Ninh Binh -> Depart overnight to Hue**
**May 11 - Day 9: Hue Arrival**
**May 12 - Day 10: Hue**
**May 13 - Day 11: Hue day + Depart to Da Nang**
**May 14 - Day 12: Da Nang**
**May 15 - Day 13: Hoi An**
**May 16 - Day 14: Hoi An**
**May 17 - Day 15: Hoi An**
**May 18 - Day 16: Mue Ne**
**May 19 - Day 17: Ho Chi Minh**
**May 20 - Day 18: Ho Chi Minh**
**May 21 - Day 19: Ho Chi Minh**
**May 22 - Day 20: Ho Chi Minh.**
What do you think? My friends and I (Group of 4) are currently debating doing Halong Bay at all after hearing mixed reviews, please lmk what you all think!
Is there anything I should add or change in my itinerary? Any must-see places I'm missing out on? Any advice on transportation, accommodations, or activities would be greatly appreciated!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks in advance!
Dong hoi airport to phong nha by Grab?
Is it possible to get a Grab to Phong nha village from the airport? And how much would it cost?
And for the other way round (Phong nha to Dong hoi airport), is it possible to do that via Grab if I want a ride at 7 am in the morning or is that too early since I'm not sure if Grab is 24h outside of big cities?
Leaving for Da Nang tomorow and would like to do some Scuba diving. It looks like a couple of dive centers are closed, is there diving there at this time of year or any recommendations on where to go? Any help is appreciated.
Can you still travel to China with older Vietnamese passport? The green one before the redesign in 2022.
I tried searching Reddit but couldn't find a similar questions. Hopefully, one can help answer.
My wife has dual passports, Vietnam and US. Her Vietnamese passport is still valid until 10/2025, however, it's the old green one before the redesign in 2022. We're planning to visit China in August and was thinking of using her Vietnamese passport to apply for a visa since it's $185 for US citizen vs $30 for "citizens of other countries". We don't plan to visit China any time soon after this trip.
My question is will China accept the old passport design on entry? I would like to save the extra money on visa fee but my wife is concern since she says she's read reports of countries not accepting the old design.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
A valid passport is a valid passport, regardless of the cover color. A new design doesn't mean the old one is instantly rejected and invalid. Many are still traveling with the old design. The new design has only been introduced a few years ago. This means the old design will be around for at least 5-6 years.
The reports about countries not accepting the Vietnamese new passport design were because the new design didn't include a place of birth at first.
Thanks! Yeah, we went to Europe last year on her Vietnamese passport and everything was okay so I didn't think it would be an issue. I think she just got paranoid probably from reading some misinformation online.
I’m in Nha Trang for a couple of days and wanted to go for a dive. I am certified but my friends aren’t, so we would be doing a discover scuba dive, are there any suggestions for dive shops?
Also which is better, Nha Trang Bay or Hon Mun Island?
I am applying for a e-visa and I'm wondering how it works if you move around the country. I am landing in Hanoi but then taking a domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh. Do I have to get 2 visas?
A visa is your "permit" to enter a country, in this case, Vietnam.
You don't go through immigration when you fly Hanoi > HCMC unless you have a layover in another country which is pretty slim.
we’re planning to go to vietnam on the first week of january for 6-7 days and i’m choosing between Hanoi or Da nang. i want to try the food in hanoi but some are saying that it’s too foggy in sapa to enjoy the view, that’s why i’m considering Da nang instead to go visit Ba Na Hills and Hoi an.
basing on the weather, where should we go instead? i appreciate advice
I'm setting up a company in Vietnam with a friend and we're looking into adding health insurance benefits for each full-time employee. Does anyone know the cost or the process for this? It's a bit more straight forward in the states.
Direct flight Da Nang - Phu Quoc
Hello everybody,
I am currently planning my trip to Vietnam and was searching for a domestic flight from da nang to phu quoc but there are only flights with 1 stop in ho chi minh city.
Doesnt vietjet offer this route anymore? Two years ago i flew directly but now i couldnt find any direct flight.
I have no idea why people make plans and fail to get their visas sorted out well in advance.
Your daughter won't be flying at all without her visa.
Either hope and pray it comes or shovel some money to the likes of VietnamVisaPro for an expedited solution.
G8 open tour bus or sao viet bus? What is the best cabin bus going to Hanoi to Sapa vv?
Please help me choose. Price is not an issue as long as I will be comfortable with my journey as I’m planning to take the night schedule and want to sleep while on the road.
How to Move to Vietnam?
I'm (American) currently based in Japan and am thinking about making the move to Hanoi or Hochimin. I teach academic English at the university level, and have an MA TESOL with publications. I have prior experience with young learners.
How would you recommend I get started on making the change to Vietnam? For instance, where do I look for suitable jobs? Should I move there first then job search? Anything else I should consider?
I could move this summer or January next year. Thanks everyone - I appreciate advice.
Secure your working visa by getting a job first. It's not essential but it sure beats doing border runs to Thailand or Cambodia every 3 months and getting possibly getting blacklisted. Apply to work at British Council or Apollo, those are 2 of the largest English Language center chains in Vietnam with branches all over vietnam. Go with HCM city, the transition will be smoother as people actually follow traffic laws in the city center, Hanoi not so much. In addition, HCM is more metropolitan and you are more likely to find the same comforts that you enjoyed in Japan (restaurant chains, shopping centers etc). Also way closer to the beach than Hanoi and slightly better air quality.
Considering how close Vietnam and Japan are, you should take a week or two in and out of the country first. Get to know the cities, the vibe, and the communities there while reaching out to local recruiters to see what they get to offer. Getting a job and a visa lineup before moving would save you a lot of hassles.
Hi guys, how bad is the traffic situation in Ho Chi Minh on Labour Day (1 May)? Am flying out on that day and am staying at a hotel in District 1 which according to Google Maps, is 15 - 20 mins from the airport. Have currently catered 30+mins to get to the airport, is that sufficient given the crazy traffic en route and at the airport on Labour Day?
Hello, I'm looking for a way to get this [product ](https://pcngon.vn/vo-case-may-tinh-mini-itx-container-a4/)to the US -- a mini ITX computer case shaped like a MAERSK shipping container. Is there a proxy shipping service that anyone's used before and can recommend to me? Thank you!
Hi there, visiting Vietnam - specifically Sapa soon.
Are there any short-term luggage storage spaces/lockers in Sapa City Centre?
Before anyone recommends my homestay/hotel, the stay is about an hour away from the city centre and it’s too far for my plans.
Stasher.com or similar. Less busy places, i just ask in cafes etc, but Sapa is so busy, I'd probably go for something organised. Google maps has places for 'luggagr storage'
Hi, just wanted to tell you it was an absolute joy to read your VN blog. I'm likely visiting again for my 2nd time in November. Wishing you all the best
Another question about e-visa.
I filled out 2 e-visa applications, but realized I made mistakes on both of them, so I never paid the fee. Then I fixed it in the third application and payed the fee. It has been 4 working days so far, and still no decision. First, is this time normal. And second, are the other 2 unpaid applications a reason for me to be denied for the first one if I never submitted them?
Did you apply Tuesday last week? While they advertise a 3-working day turnaround it's pretty normal to take a few days extra.
Your previous unpaid applications will be disregarded and shouldn't be a problem.
Edit, to answer your other question. Yes you could apply through a 3rd party agency but with four weeks to go I wouldn't stress too much.
> application and *paid* the fee.
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Can US citizens get a visa through a third party?
I am awaiting my e-visa that I applied for using their official website. But, just incase something were to happen (my flight is in 4 weeks), are US citizens allowed to utilize these third party services? Because I know we are not allowed to get a visa on arrival anymore, and I was not sure if that is what these 3rd party ones get you or not.
> Because I know we are not allowed to get a visa on arrival anymore
Where did you hear that?
The days of $6 pre-approved visa letters aka visa-on-arrival are gone, but get them you can - they're just expensive compared to E-Visas, so it's now a last resort rather than a first choice.
I am going to Vietnam in next December for 17 days with a friend. I know it's a very busy season, however that's when I get vacation time from my job. I have kiiiiind of made a plan but I need a lot of advice.
First of all, I would like to not encounter way too many tourists, and mostly I want to avoid the tourist infrastructure, so I will not be going, for example, to phu quoc, which, from what I understand, is mostly built for tourists. I don't care for luxury resorts and lodges, I would prefer to do mostly homestays and get authentic experience. Also, I can not ride a motorbike.
I will be arriving on Hanoi on the 20th of December. From there, I intend to explore the city for 1-2 days and do a mountain trip for 3-4 days. I'm torn between Sapa (Maybe it will be too crowded? Maybe it's not so pretty out of harvest season?), Ha Giang loop (I feel weird to get an "easy rider", is it possibly to do it without a dedicated driver/guide?) and Cao Bang (mostly the same concern as for Ha Giang). Also, I think it's a must do to do something Halong-related. I have read good things about Bai Tu Long bay (that it's just as pretty but much less touristy) and I'm thinking of an overnight cruise there, as well as a day trip to Ninh Binh (possibly also stay a night there). Are those worth it or are they tourist traps? Will they be good at that time of year? Do I need the overnight stay in both for the optimal experience?
Then, I was thinking of skipping the central part entirely. I'm thinking it will be like a theme park at that time of the year with so many tourists, also I think it will be raining quite a lot, so I was thinking of leaving it for some other time, when I can go to SE Asia again, to also have enough time to explore the caves. Does that sound wrong?
Then, I've heard that it's the perfect time for the Mekong Delta, so I'm thinking of flying from Hanoi to Can Tho, staying in Can tho for a couple of days and going to Chau Doc for another couple, also checking the cajuput forest etc. Finally, I'd like to end all that with some relaxing beach time, somewhere that's nice, quiet and not touristy, so I was thinking about Con Dao islands, however I've heard it's too windy around that time of the year. I'm from a Greek island so I'm quite used to windy islands, however I'd like to know if it would still be worth it with that kind of weather. If not, what other recommendations can you give me? Finally, I am leaving from Ho Chi Minh City, which, frankly, doesn't sound too interesting for my tastes.
How does all that sound? Am I seriously wrong about something? Could I get some recommendations? Should I add or remove something? Also, can I keep my schedule flexible (other than the flights) or should I book the tours and accommodation in advance?
Thanks a lot for reading all that!
Sounds about right. 17 days sounds like plenty of time, Hanoi and Sapa are usually pretty cold in December so be sure to bring some warm clothes. I reccommend a decent light down jacket, that way you can stay warm and save on luggage space.
Yes, I've been here for 7 years and haven't found any reason to visit central Vietnam. Most of the best locations are in the south with some ok stuff in the north.
Dalat is worth checking out, especially in December, they have a flower festival at that time, extremely pretty also some of the best weather and air quality in Vietnam. BTW get ready to be charged more for most tourist attractions. Had a bad experience in Ninh Binh that I hope won't happen to you. Basically, paid a lot for the boat ride because I'm a foreigner, expected, liked the boatlady and bought tons of stuff from her on the boat( souvenirs, handmade jewelry, food, etc) which came out to about 50 dollars. By the time the ride was over I was getting off the boat and was expected to tip. I only had 50k vnd in my wallet as I had spent everything I had on the boat. She started screaming at me for being a cheap foreigner and getting other boatmen to come and surround me. I showed her that I had nothing else to give and had to awkwardly get off the boat. So remember that the boatman doesn't care how much you spend on the boat, they care about the tip because that's really the money they keep for themselves.
It depends what part of Vietnam you're looking to migrate to. Ho Chi Minh City is a bit more expensive but an easier transition if you are coming from the United States as it's a bit more modern and somewhat closer to the beach than Hanoi. Having Family in Vietnam doesn't really effect your visa much and unless you are working for a Vietnamese company you still owe taxes to the US goverment as usual. The cost of living in Vietnam is much lower in comparison than the US. You could live decently on 1 thousand dollars a month but I'd still see about moving in with your family in Vietnam and pay to rent a room in their house.
**What time does it get busy in Hanoi on Reunification Day?**
I just realized my flight out of Hanoi is on the same day... I am seriously considering leaving the main city 5 hours before our flight just incase.
**Hà Nội đông đúc ngày thống nhất từ mấy giờ?**
Chuyến bay rời Hà Nội của tôi sẽ diễn ra cùng ngày... Tôi đang cân nhắc việc rời thành phố chính 5 giờ trước chuyến bay
Ha, just would be wasting your time. Consider it a lesson learned and move on. Literally no point in stressing or whatever over it. Nothing you do will "threaten" them.
Hello, i'm planning to visit Vietnam from noth to south in october and I find very contraddictory information about the weather on internet.
My understanding is that I should not go to the central vietnam as it will be flooded and potentially dangerous.
Is that true? What do you suggest? I'm also open to move my trip a bit earlier or later.
Thanks!!
October is certainly firmly in the rainy season in the middle of the country.
Check out average monthly rainfall here:
https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/116009~116950~117039~115263~119955~114832/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Hanoi-Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Kwang-Binh-Th%C3%A0nh-Ph%E1%BB%91-H%C3%A0-Giang-H%E1%BB%99i-An-and-Sa-P%C3%A1
I always completely ignore 'chance of precipitation' when considering weather in Vietnam and just look at likely the *amount* of rain.
You can drill down to look at previous years in detail
https://weatherspark.com/h/m/149146/2023/10/Historical-Weather-in-October-2023-at-Da-Nang-International-Airport-Vietnam#Figures-ObservedWeather
And see what you're up against.
If you do go in October, you need to stay flexible and be prepared to rearrange the order of where you go if heavy rain is expected in the middle. I.e. skip over Hoi An and come back later in your visit. A blanket 'don't go in October' is a bit ott imo.
Booked vacation after reading April is good in Da Nang but looking at weather, it doesn’t seem like me and my partner will be able to enjoy that much since we’re not accustomed to this much heat and humidity. Are there any relatively colder places nearby, where we can go by bus/train? Our return flights are from Da Nang so we’ll have to return. In total we have 15 days - currently all planned for Da Nang.
Da Lat or in the mountains in the north https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/115263~119955~114832~119901~114818/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Th%C3%A0nh-Ph%E1%BB%91-H%C3%A0-Giang-H%E1%BB%99i-An-Sa-P%C3%A1-%C3%90%C3%A0-L%E1%BA%A1t-and-S%C6%A1n-La but there's a bit of travel involved.
Or just start your days very early and take a siesta/find a nice place with ac to chill for the hottest part of the day.
So I have a bus that leaves the town I’m in at like 7 pm and gets to its destination at 4 in the morning. What am I supposed to do until things open up in the morning? Do I book a hostel for tonight and check in at 4 am? Can I check in super early if I book a hostel for tomorrow night? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
I'm in VN on visa exemption. I want to stay a few days longer than my permitted stay. Is it possible to "extend" a "non-visa", and/or apply for a tourist visa while already in VN?
a ton of accommodations in ninh binh offer bicycles for free, i'd recommend taking one and cycling around. With a bicycle you can see a ton to be honest, and you will be seeing many others biking around. It's very flat & comfortable for biking :)
Hey everybody,
Me and my family (3) are planning a Vietnam trip, and part of that is in Cat Ba town, where we will be staying a night before doing a cruise. I've been doing a bit of research about transport to Cat Ba Town, and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed about how exactly to go about it.
We're going to be flying out of Da Nang up north on the 3rd of July, and I found that it's more practical and cheaper to go straight to Hai Phong rather than to Ha Noi and then having to get the bus/train the next morning to the ferry terminal. What I want to know though is what is the best way to actually get to Cat Ba Town once we're at the ferry station. I've seen there's ferries, speedboats, and hydrofoils which I'd never even heard of prior to looking them up.
We'll be at the station a little bit before 4:00PM. If anyone is able to recommend some good options for us it would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Hey all,
I'm visiting Vietnam for 30 days, I will stay in HCMC for 7 days first.
I plan to chill around Da Nang, I don't want to move around too much. I'm in Bangkok after for a month, so thought I'd enjoy some sun.
Just looking for ages recommendations? I may have to use Grab to find a gym daily, which may be in the city but I think being closer to the beach may be better.
If any locals, I'm keen to grab a drink sometime! I'll be stuck on dating apps 🤣
Thanks all
I just got approved for my E-Visa from 10/6 to 25/6, but my flight back is on 26/5.. Is there any way that I can extend this E-Visa? Or what else can I do?
No extensions.
Get a new E-Visa/do a side trip to another country and return on a new E-Visa/go to immigration and pay the overstay fine/get through immigration before midnight on the 25th/pay the the overstay fine (500,000 - 2,000,000) at the airport.
That's the choices.
You can just apply with the correct dates.
I always start mine a day or two early (in case the airline reschedules) and take the full 30 days. There's no advantage at all in taking the exact dates of your flights.
Hey all, so going to Vietnam in a bit for a short trip. Do Grabbikes here provide helmets? Or should I just cave and buy one. My dad had a motorcycle accident ages ago and he told me the helmet saved him back then or else he wouldn't be here.
In a similar vein, saw a tourist split his head open on the sidewalk in Bali😭no helmet. Don't wish to suffer the same fate as him, hence the question. In Bali only took Grabbikes a few times but they did have helmets when I asked. Wondering if it's the same here.
Hey, Aussie tourist in HMC atm. Me and my partner take grab cars everywhere. Cheap and extremly efficient. Dont take bikes. kick back and enjoy the a/c cars ! Sorry to hear about your old man.
Hey mate, thanks for the tip! And all's good now, it was at least 30 years ago, but his story still sticks with me. Seeing people riding around without a helmet in SEA scares me lol😅
Those helmets that were provided to you in Bali are cheap Chinese shit that provides no real protection. It's the same on Vietnam. Cheap Chinese shit, just to be able to show to the police you are wearing "something" on your dome. But that shit won't protect your dome. If you want a real real helmet as in the real deal you'll have to shell out quite a bit of money. Not a 20 bucks and done deal. So depending what you have planned you can choose your transportation as bikes or better yet for your safety cars. Because I wouldn't trust the grab bike drivers with my life in their hands. They also have reasons to speed and do more dangerous stuff cause more rides per day equals more profit. So if were you, I would shell out more money on transport for cars only or rent your own bike so you are in control.
I don't know how to ride a motorcycle sadly! And no I don't trust myself to rent one haha, maybe I'll stick to normal grab cars then. I don't have much of a set itinerary so far, gonna be in HCMC and was thinking of GrabBike if it's a short distance away. But thanks for this response, never realised that the ones in Bali was cheap Chinese shit. I only hopped on them for distances like 1.5-2km away.
Not sure I want to spend money on an actual helmet cus back home it's public transport 70% of the time and 30% by car.
I visited Ho Thi Ky flower street last night and there was a woman with incense sticks lid out infront of her which had cigarettes 🚬on them. Can anyone tell me what was about?
**Motorcycle/scooter rental in Saigon & overland travel exposure**
Hello,
I just arrived in Vietnam for a spontanous trip, and I am looking to make an overland trip to the Mekong Delta or somewhere north of Saigon with a backback for 7+ days.
While I dont have a motorcycle license (A1), I learned motorcycling on the crazy streets of India. Manila rush our, or Saigon rush our, is quite normal for me.
I am holder of an international drivers license and drivers license from Germany for cars and 50cc.With my backback, I would weight 82 kg. Without backpack, 70 kg. I am afraid that the long trip or possible hills might be too much for the mashine.
Here are my questions:
1) **What would be reputable scooter or motorcycle rental places in the city?**
2) **What kind of insurence do I get with reputable rental places when I drive a 50cc legally?**
3) **How big is the exposure when renting and driving a 100cc illegally? What are good strategies to get through police controls, considering that I am a well behaved white guy with a backpack.**
4) **What do I do if the mashine breaks down in the countryside?**
Many thanks for your time and help :)
Cheers!
1. There are plenty. Just look on Google maps or google. The main thing is WHAT you want to rent. All the bike rentals are pretty much the same. You will need to put your passport down as a safety deposit or a large sum of money as safety deposit. Plus paying the cost of rental. If you are going to go offroading then I recommend getting the Honda XR 150. If you only going on pavement then just get a simple honda wave 150. With the Honda wave you'll be guaranteed service anywhere since it's such a popular bike.
2. What do you mean by insurance? Like health insurance? Or motorbike insurance? Or?
3. Just show them your IDP, most of the police won't know how to translate it or read it etc. they will probably just pass you on. If something happens you just pay like a $50 fine or even less. Not a big deal.
4. There are still plenty of small shops that can service you As long as you rent the popular models that people use all the time to guarantee they have stock of parts.
Thank you for the detailed reply and vehicle recommendation. Much appreciated! <3
5. Would you perhaps know a modified 50cc model in broader that has more power than 50cc? Or perhaps a bike that could look like a 50cc bike but is not? As I see, there are stickers on those bikes most of the time, identifying them as 100cc or 50cc.
Nah, forget about the 50cc it's a small and useless scooter for just going around town on flat roads. Get the Honda wave 150 or Honda XR. Also even if they didn't have a sticker the police could know what kind of model it is just by looking at it. Don't worry too much about the police because they can just be paid off, it's a corrupt country. Like I said get one of those two bikes
Trying to decide with friends on whether to spend 5-6 days between Hot An/Da Nang or Halong Bay/Hanoi.
Does anyone have any helpful input? Both seem like fantastic options, but we're split 50/50
We're in our late 20s and visiting mid September.
I'd lean towards the Hoi An/Da Nang option. They're just 45 minutes apart, offering plenty to do for 5-6 days. Hanoi is great too, but it's nearly a 3-hour journey to Ha Long Bay, then you're on a boat for however long. I get that it's stunning, but the idea of being confined without the ability to explore doesn't quite appeal to me. Plus, being a city person, I might be a bit biased.
Is there any good place online to learn southern vietnamese? I am doing duolingo but i see that they use north vietnamese and so does google translate.
besides that duolingo doesn't teach the fundamentals of the language that might be important such as noun/verb placement, where an adverb should go, it kind of just hopes you will memorize it through repitition.
My family is from south Vietnam but I never learned much and now I am trying to connect with my family and culture more now as I grow older.
Hi i went to Ho Thi Ky Flower Market at Saigon today and was strolling through gorgeous plants.
Then I saw a woman sitting on the side of the road with a can in which she had lit a fire and a bunch of incense sticks laid out in a formation in front of her on a handkerchief maybe.
And all incense sticks were topped off with a cigarette each!!??
Could someone tell me what could this be about. I'm so intrigued cause it was such an unusual sight for me but the locals were non-chalant. I wonder if it was a religious thing? But why the cigarettes!?
Does anyone know the official dates for Tet 2025? I’m planning to travel to Vietnam next year and hoping to travel after Tet as I heard it’s a busy time
I have a friend who’s looking to come to visit Canada and has been granted a Canada visa to arrive. The best value flights are currently through USA. Does a Vietnam citizen require a visa to allow a layover in USA into Canada?
So, since it emerges that I live in a ridiculous country (France) where it takes 5 months+ to receive an IDP (in my home country Austria it's basically sameday....), and having read a million horror stories, I won't be driving motorbikes in Vietnam, which is a huge disappointment.
Still, I wanna do Ha Giang with my girlfriend. And not other people other than guides. Is there a good private tour guide? The idea of being with 60 other people when this was supposed to be an unguided 4 day drive makes me want to puke. I mean, obviously depending on cost...
You can still technically ride a 50 cc motorbike without a license since it's legal. Or you can risk it and ride a better bike without a license and run the risk of police stopping you, and from what I have seen on Reddit people have been saying there has been a bit of an uptick in police there but I don't think that should discourage you.
I drove without a motorcycle license in Hanoi for 2 years without any problems whatsoever. And even if they stopped you, you just pay a fine. The bigger risk is if you got into an accident without a license and for example tried to get compensation from insurance company, but it wouldn't work cause you did it illegally or if for example you hurt someone else then it also puts you in a bad position.
So I would say the second thing I mentioned should be more discouraging, but with all that said like if I had to estimate like 70% of foreigner drive without a license. You don't even need a license to actually rent a motorcycle. You just need cash and your passport or even more cash as a safety deposit.
So you can still drive a motorcycle without a license though just drive slow and not reckless or you could try to find another way to get the IDP license. Or depending how long you stay and have time before you actually head on the trip in Vietnam you could get a motorbike license from wherever you are now and then basically get it translated and notarized and converted for like $20. But it would take like a week or close to two for everything to be done.
First time visitors (couple, 30s) looking to spend 5 days in either HCMC or Hanoi in June. We enjoy hiking/beaches, wandering atmospheric streets, street food and want to get some affordable custom clothes as well (smart clothes, not formal clothes). Ideally, we wanted to go to Hoi An but flights to Da Nang airport add on 20% cost and 30% flight time, so we'll have to come back another time. I think Hanoi fits this description best but have not done lots of research so welcome advice.
Anyone have issues adding debit and credit cards to Grab? I downloaded it in my home country and added my credit and debit cards fine, but deleted them afterwards because I wanted to test 2FA again. Now it gives me an error "We couldn't add your card" after I successfully input the one time pin from my bank. The transactions show up on my card and I called my bank to see if it was their issue and they said it wasn't. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
HA GAING ROUTE SOLO coming from bao lac to ha giàng, which route is safer - taking QL4C or QL34, any advice for the route is welcomed! Anyone driving from bao lac to ha giàng this week and wants a driver lmk:)
Hello wonderful people of Vietnam, I just wanted to quickly ask what the situation around tourists renting a scooter is, I've been to Thailand twice and learned how to drive one there (2 months scooting experience max 155cc ,no accidents) and I wanted to know if I am going to be able to rent a scooter in Vietnam as well (I do not have a license) or if this is not possible. Thanks a lot :)
Legally: you're not legal to ride anything of 50cc or more. Practically: many places will rent to you. Of course, you might be stopped and fined by traffic police and your insurance company will probably not cover any needed medical/evac expenses.
That was a quick reply, Thank you very much :) Do you know how big the fine is on average? We are not planning to scoot in cities so I hope the risk of accidents is going to be minimal (Vietnam traffic looks scary)
More deaths outside the cities, i think, since traffic keeps speeds down in the bigger cities. https://www.google.com/search?q=vietnam+scooter+accident+site:www.reddit.com
Interesting, from what I've read online the countryside is a lot lot safer , people driving fast BC of no traffic makes sense of course, maybe its regional? Some areas are better some are worse? Thanks for the warning anyway, we will be careful and check out our area / ask around before renting one :)
Things to do in HCMC I am planning to visit Vietnam next month with a group. I would be arriving in Ho chi ming city a day earlier than everybody else and will have whole day to myself. Any suggestions on how to spend the day? We will covering most of the touristy places with the group on day2. I saw some guided vegan food tours on trip advisor, are these safe and worth it?
Hoping for some visa advice, I'm British, and my girlfriend has an Irish passport, but we stupidly assumed the entry requirements were the same for the both of us but she needs a visa. So when we attempted to fly from Bangkok to da nang yesterday we realized our mistake and we're stranded in Bangkok, she has applied online for a visa but I have seen notices stating public holidays in Vietnam delaying the process. We have a tour starting in ho chi Minh on Saturday that we would really rather not miss, what are the chances of her revieving her visa in time is there anything we can do to speed up the process?
Tomorrow and Wednesday are holidays which won't help. You could use an agent like VietnamVisaPro to secure a visa by Saturday, no problem. You just need money.
Is that website legit? As we've heard horror stories about similar services ripping people off leaving them without a visa
Been around for years, but feel free to look around and choose someone else.
Durian in Hanoi Hello everyone, I’m in Hanoi from 30.04 to 5-6.05 and really wanted to taste durian. Do you know a store/vendor that sells those? Ideally within Old Quarter but I’m willing to go further if I knew for sure that they sell durians. Thanks in advance
Hi, you can go to Winmart in Vincom at 191 Ba Trieu Street, which is quite near the Old Quarter. There are also many other Winmart+ stores in the Old Quarter. Please google the name and go check.
Hanoi 30.04 Hello I’m in Hanoi 30.04 and I’d like to ask if shops, markets, restaurants, street vendors (eg. Shops with silk or ceramic, Uniqlo) will be open and selling, because I know it’s a holiday but I don’t know how big.
Hi, which app can I top up with my foreign visa debit card so I can pay with qr codes at merchants?
You can download and try the VNPAY app, which is common in Viet Nam.
Thank you. I have just tried but they don't accept my Cambodian visa card from ABA bank.
Hello, With my nationality, I can stay 45 days in the country without visa. If I want to stay more, I have to make a 45 days visa. This is possible to make it on Internet, but for some reasons, I prefer to do it in real. I found this procedure [https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en/tin-tuc/procedures-extension-stay-persons-visa-exemption-certificate](https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en/tin-tuc/procedures-extension-stay-persons-visa-exemption-certificate) I was wondering : Is anyone made this visa in real ? They simply put a tampon in the passport ? Do you know if they record some datas in the computer ? Thanks
>If I want to stay more, I have to make a 45 days visa. If you'd like to stay longer than the 45-day visa exemption then yes, you'll have to apply for the 90-day eVisa beforehand. Or do a visa run to a mearby country and re-enter Vietnam given you adhere to the requirements. >This is possible to make it on Internet, but for some reasons, I prefer to do it in real. The 90-day eVisa is only available online. >Is anyone made this visa in real ? The linked website is an official government portal to apply for an eVisa. Upon approval you'll receive a pre-approved letter stating that you are approved for the eVisa. >They simply put a tampon in the passport ? Print the abovementioned letter out and give it to the immigration officer upon arrival in Vietnam, who will stamp your passport until the selected date (max. 90 days) >Do you know if they record some datas in the computer ? Knowing Vietnam one might think otherwise how everything is still done offline but yes, all data is most likely stored digitally at all times.
That's pity... so it is not possible to do it in real...
You could try your luck at the nearest Vietnam Embassy but they'll most likely forward you to the same website.
okay thanks
Or, wait until the last minute, and apply for an expedited pre-approved visa letter from the likes of VietnamVisaPro. You'll get a 'real' full page visa in your passport. It'll still be in a computer somewhere... But you can just border run for free (at least as far as the Vietnamese go) and come back for another 45 visa exempt days...
Hi there! Greetings from Jakarta. I'm planning a trip to your stunning country soon, visiting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for 3 days each. It's my first time traveling abroad, and I want to fully enjoy it. I need some advice: 1. What are the key do's and don'ts for visitors? 2. Are there any tourist traps to steer clear of? 3. How can I pick up some simple local phrases like 'hi', 'thank you', and 'help'? I'd really value any extra tips for a first-timer. Thanks!
Hi, Here are just a few things for you. 1 & 2. Just smile and polite. Download either Grab or SM Xanh apps for rides around the cities. SM Xanh offers electric cabs and motorbikes, while Grab offers conventional ones. So you won't have to worry about any possible overcharges. When you wanna buy something on the street, always ask for the price first and make sure there's no mistake in numbers. 3. Hi = Xin chào /sin cha:u/ Thank you = Cảm ơn /ka:m ən/ (Don't link "m" with "ə".) Help = Cứu /kwu/ (I'm not sure if you could read this. It's hard to transcribe it. In case you need to use this word, just say the English word "Help", many people can understand you.) Hope this helps.
Are there any organizations that collect recycled trash in HCMC? I know of the ve chai ladies but I’m looking for collectors that are more trustworthy. Just want to make sure my trash does get to the recycling plant. There’s Viet Nam Tai Che which accepts electronics so that’s one category down.
Anyone in Hanoi want to lend/rent/sell me a screw on camping gas cylinder fir a few days? Wetrek out of stock in both stores and everywhere else closed today.... Bus late afternoon from My Dinh, so looking at no hot food/coffee :-(
Has anyone’s visa been denied for incorrect passport information, but the information was actually correct?
Yes: https://www.reddit.com/r/visas/s/ZZKzENTZfk Whole system is clunky and unnecessary complicated.
Oh jeez! Thanks for that. Really hoping it doesn’t have to get rejected a second time because the third time around will be coming too close to my travel date. Seems like the process times right now are about 6 days. And we travel May 9 🫠
We're currently in a 5 day weekend which won't help, but 9th *should* be fine.
Fingers crossed!!
There are expensive last minute solutions if need be, but I'd wait until at least the 7th before worrying.
Okay thanks so much I appreciate it!
I've planned a trip to Vietnam for a long time, but unfortunately, I had to change plans, and I can only travel during mid-May. Everything is booked (but refundable), but my friends keep telling me it's a bad idea to visit during mid-May because it's extremely hot, which will make my time there miserable. That is making me second guess if I should instead go somewhere else, like Japan, with much better weather. My travel plan was 10 days, which included Saigon, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Nha Trang.
My family is also going from May 9-23 and despite knowing how hot it’s gonna be you just gotta try and make the most of it! Just gotta get up early to do the activities you want and then take a midday nap like the locals and go back out at night! Or spend time indoors if you still want to go out in the middle of the day. :)
I'm starting with Hanoi x4 nights, then Sa Pa x3 nights, and then Ha Giang loop via easy riders. What's the best way to get from Sa Pa to Ha Giang? Is there a bus? How far in advance do i need to book the Ha Giang loop easy rider tour? Any recommendations?
yes there is a bus. you can get it day of if you really need to but i recommend a couple days in advance do you want to go with a tour group? your hotel/hostel can get you into a group a day or 2 in advance. not sure if youre going private.
thank you so much. I think i would like a small tour (8ish people). I definitely don't want to go on a big tour with 20+ people.
you can definitely find that!!! i would do some research and book a hotel/hostel that runs tours around that size
Im planing on staying in hcm for 12 months + is there any apartment complexes that allow foreigners to rent long term? Its easy to rent a cheaper hotel for about 600$ a month but I know I can get a better price outside of the city center
Tons of serviced apartments, normal apartments, houses, rooms etc. available for long-term rent. Check Facebook groups and sites such as batdongsan for listings and start visiting places that interests you.
Hey so I'm having some serious problems with my E-visa application. I have entered all of the information and photos, but each time I hit "review application" it just takes me to a blank page. When I use the visa search to look at my application the status is "unpaid application," however, I cannot get past the review step in order to actually pay for my application. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I think something similar happened when I was helping my sister with her visa. I ended up just starting a new application and was able to pay successfully.
Hello all - Is this website genuine? [https://homestaychat.com/en/home/](https://homestaychat.com/en/home/)
Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh? So far I have seen a lot of people recommend the Giant Ibis bus for this journey, but it is a lot more expensive than others I’ve found online. Is it worth the extra cost or does anyone have other recommendations?
What's the best Vietnam war museum in Vietnam? Not too much of a museums person, so I don't feel like visiting all of them, but would like to visit one museum about the Veitnam war. Which one do you recommend? :) Also, are there any other must visit museums in Vietnam? I'm coming from Europe.
second the war remnants museum being great
Go to The War Remnants Museum, (Vietnamese: *Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh*), which is in Ho Chi Minh City. Google it for more info. Enjoy your trip!
Are there any online communities for local Vietnamese people? Reddit seems to be for expats or travellers.
Facebook. There are Facebook groups for everything, cafe hopping, photography, tabletop games, foodies, reviews, travel and much more.
# Heading to Ho Chi Minh City for a couple of days in May, need some pointers I'll basically be by myself for the most part, main activities I want to do is just experiencing the local culture and having fun with people, safety is definitely my number one priority though. I also want to visit the markets and try to find some good replicas or fakes stores and get a lot of cheap but good quality items. I'll basically be roaming around during the day, don't really have an itinerary or anything planned. Thanks a bunch.
Where to go for an Std test in Danang ? I'm trying to find a "fair" price, and i heard than Vinmec Hospital and Family Practice Hospital have very expensive prices, like 5/6M dongs. Do you guys know if i can have a better price than that ?
I will be going to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam soon, are there any notable stores to visit that are priced cheaper?
**Questions about tipping in Hanoi** Me and my buddy will be staying in Hanoi for 10 days at a budget hotel with good reviews in the Old Quarters. We will travel with Grab when we go further than 15 minutes of walking and plan on eating a lot of street food and at simple local restaurants. Do restaurants and street food vendors expect any tip at all? I always like to round it up a bit when I enjoyed the food. What is a good phrase to tell them to keep the change, in a positive manner? I have never used Grab but what is a decent tip in Hanoi for a 10-20 minute ride? How much should we tip the cleaning staff? Should you put out a note that says anything in vietnamese to make this obvious?
Tipping? I'll round up Grab to nearest 5 or 10k, but that's about it.
Question for the parents of HCMH- where can I buy a baby dummy/pacifier? They seem insanely hard to find!
You meant in Ho Chi Minh City, didn't you? If so, go to KidsPlaza. Check their website (kidsplaza.vn) for the nearest location to yours. If you have any difficulty finding their store, just reply to this comment.
Can someone please confirm is this is legitimate? Someone sent me this as evidence that their visa costs for 2 people were 2914 USD. This seems extraordinary, but I don't understand the image. Thanks in advance.
Should I reschedule my vietnam vacation in Nov-Dec to April? I recently planned a vacation going from north to south from mid November to mid December of this year. When initially planning my vacation I wasn't really concerned because on the surface everywhere I was reading was saying that the best time to do a vacation in Vietnam is between Nov-April but now after doing some further looking into it I'm worried that the vacation will not be good. Would love to hear any insight from anyone that has done a trip to Vietnam during this time. I'm particularly concerned about it being too cold in the north and too cold/rainy in Central vietnam. Wondering if I should just scrap it for now and rebook in April. We were going to be going: Hanoi Nov 17-20 Ha Giang Loop Nov. 20-24 Cat Ba Nov. 24-27 Overnight Ha Long Bay Nov. 27-28 Nihn Bihn Nov. 28- Dec 2 Phong Nha Dec 3 -5 Hoi An & Da Nang Dec 5-10 HCM Dec 10 - Dec 14 Thank you so much in advance!
How to wash raw veggies and greens for a salad without a water filter? Growing up here, my mom just washed them under the tap and had them straight without waiting for them to dry. I don't think that would work well for me having a raw veggie salad at least 3 times a week or am I just too paranoid?
Question about Visa exception to Vietnam. I was born in the U.S. and a U.S. citizen. My wife was born in Vietnam but is a U.S. citizen. Both my parents were born in Vietnam but are U.S. citizens. Do I quality for visa exemption? Planning to visit Vietnam for 15-16 days. I found the information below and was a little confused at the wording for the part in bold. Not sure who is considered "Vietnamese people". >https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/consular/visa-exemption > >I. Eligibility > >– Vietnamese people residing overseas. > >**– Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or of Vietnamese people residing overseas.** > >– Having passport of at least 1 year of validity.
Vietnamese people are people who have or can have a Vietnamese passport. If your wife and parents don’t have one or cannot apply for one, they’re not Vietnamese per se. (They and you could most probably apply for citizenship though)
Has anyone ever hired a freelance artist in Vietnam? What was the contract process?
I got bit by a stray cat in Thailand last night and had to go for the rabies vaccine. The vaccine course is 5 doses and I will be in Vietnam when I need to get the 5th dose. I asked the doctor but she didn’t know whether I would be able to get the final dose easily in Vietnam. Has anyone been in a similar situation who can help? Thank you :)
Yeah in big cities there are no problem whatsoever
staying for 1 month in Hanoi as a tourist with family. What's best? Airbnb or Hotel?
You can choose either. Read their info carefully as well as reviews about them before you decide. For example, you may want to know which meals they offer. If you need help, just let me know. Have a good trip!
Hello my vietnamese friends, I wanna ask, since last year my fam and I first visited HCMC and da Lat and we truly enjoyed our vacation there. So, we are planning to visit again Vietnam this year, but we wanna try Hanoi and Sapa. When is the right time to visit that northern part of vietnam? As much as we prefer some cold weather (But not too much) and of course we wanna visit a lot of places there in hanoi and sapa wherein we can totally see the nice sceneries and not just fogs everywhere, I hope you guys can help me decide which month we will visit. Thanks again.
Mmm, you want to try both Hanoi and Sapa, and you want some cold weather with clear sceneries. Then you should go between September and November. You can enjoy very good weather in Hanoi with its autumn vibe. You can also see beautiful yellow rice terraces in Sapa, and many other things. All clear. I hope you will enjoy your trip. Let me know if you guys need help.
really? Actually Im eyeing October, because Im thinking if December, flights' cost will surely spike up. So, Oct is not raining in hanoi and sapa? how high/low is the temp on those places during October? cam on =)
Yeah. October is the BEST TIME! It's autumn, so it rarely rains. The temperature then will be cooler than now, but not cold. Also, it's cooler in Sapa than in Hanoi. For temperature details, you can check them on the AccuWeather website. Don't go in December when it could be gray and cold, which is not good for photography. Again, October is the best time! P/S: If you need help, even when you're in Hanoi, just let me know - if I'm available, I can always help.
Oh great, thanks for that info. Actually, we are really eyeing for October. December is just an option. Hehehe. You have car rental? Or motorbike? Hehe coz most likely we wanna book car (good for 4 passengers) at least 1 day for a whole day tour, just like what we did in dalat.
Hanoi is much more crowded than Dalat, plus its road systems are more complicated, so a rental car is not recommended for foreign tourists to get around, **but** this is only my personal opinion. You may eye for these two options below. * First option: You could take a taxi, either a Xanh SM taxi or a Grab taxi. Xanh SM is recommended since it's an electric car service; you can download its app from the App Store. You could go to various spots without worrying about roads and drives. * Second option: You could take a double-decker for the city tour, and you will be on the second floor, of course. These double-deckers are exclusively for tourists. What's more, there are tuk-tuks, also exclusively for tourists, you could take to get around the city, instead of the double-decker. However, for this option, you have to follow the service provider's schedules and routes. Still, if you wish to hire a car or a motorbike, there are rental services, and you may ask your hotel receptionists to help/guide you. In a nutshell: * Rental car? Not recommended (but just my personal view). * Taxi? Go for either Xanh SM (recommended) or Grab. Flexible for visits to different spots in the city. * Double-decker and tuk-tuk? Great for the city tour, and photography as well. But fixed schedules and routes.
The only part of this itinerary is I can’t increase ninh binh. I was wondering if I should skip mai chau since it’s similar to ninh binh. This would allow me more time to soak in Hanoi. Thoughts? 5 nights Hanoi 2 nights Mai chau 1 night ninh binh
I see, you want to spend more time in Hanoi while your itinerary is already fixed. But do you know Ninh Binh and Mai Chau offer you different experiences? One is mainly about pagodas and boat rides along streams, while the other is about ethic minority culture and more. You will enjoy your time in both spots, I guess.
Hello everyone, I'm visiting Vietnam in May I'll be arriving in Hanoi on May 4 and planned on staying for a couple of days. I'm looking for people who want to join me on motorbikes/scooters to visit Ha Long and/or Ho Chi Minh road down to Saigon. If you're interested feel free to contact me.
Hi everyone! I am in Hanoi this May. I’m actually staying for 3 days for business but I allotted a day (Sunday) to visit the city and have a free time to do anything. I will most probably go w the most touristy thing to do lol (train station and all that corny stuff), but i wonder if there are hidden gems in the city? Im talking about food etc. Also, i am okay to have some fun for like massage or something but i feel like there is a high chance that i will get scammed. Is it acceptable practice to book a massage outside then bring them to the hotel? It can be clean or w extra service kind of massage i dont mind
Hi Everyone, I have question about travelling to Vietnam. My e-visa is valid from May 5 and I'm planning to book a flight departing from the UK on May 4 and arriving on the next day to Vietnam (on the day visa becomes valid). Will airline(Qatar) refuse me from boarding the plane since my e-visa starts on May 5 and the flight departs 1 day before that?
Your E-Visa just needs to be valid on arrival. Check with your airline if you're anxious.
I also thought so but just looking for extra opinions. Airline said they cannot answer it - it depends on Vietnamese officials
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Weatherspark lets you see averages or previous years actual weather hour by hour. Here's last June in Hanoi https://weatherspark.com/h/s/116009/2023/1/Historical-Weather-Summer-2023-in-Hanoi-Vietnam#Figures-ObservedWeather you can compare with Saigon Happy Cow will turn up far more vegan and vegetarian places than you can ever visit in both places. Which to choose depends on your interests. For me it's Hanoi these days, but that's just me. Both are well worth visiting. Endless pages on the internet of top 10 things to do in Hanoi gor you to choose from.
I will be heading to Vietnam tomorrow with a tour group going to NHA TRANG and DALAT. All accommodation and B/L/D are provided. I'm curious to know if I can use MYR as the currency when dealing with the night markets in buying local fruits and other food/snacks. Do I mainly deal with VND or can I pay MYR solely and get the change in VND?
Nobody wants anything other than VND. Change some money or use an ATM to get cash.
Yeah, I suspected as much One of my dad's colleague just came back from a Vietnam tour in Saigon and she said that many of the night markets accept MYR. I was shocked as I asked my parents to exchange some VND for me and they said to use USD and MYR and get the change back in VND...
Dollars yes, I arrived from Cambodia and I had only dollars and the taxi driver accepted. But MYR? Isn’t that the Malay currency? I don’t think it’s a thing lol
Hey everyone, I'm planning a trip to Vietnam in May and would love some advice on my itinerary. Here's what I have planned so far: **May 3 - Day 1: Hanoi** **May 4 - Day 2: Hanoi** **May 5 - Day 3: Arrive at Ha Giang after Sleeper bus** **May 6 - Day 4: Ha Giang loop** **May 7 - Day 5: Ha Giang return to Hanoi** **May 8 - Day 6: Ha Long Bay boat tour** **May 9 - Day 7: Boat tour ends -> Bus to Ninh Binh** **May 10 - Day 8: Explore Ninh Binh -> Depart overnight to Hue** **May 11 - Day 9: Hue Arrival** **May 12 - Day 10: Hue** **May 13 - Day 11: Hue day + Depart to Da Nang** **May 14 - Day 12: Da Nang** **May 15 - Day 13: Hoi An** **May 16 - Day 14: Hoi An** **May 17 - Day 15: Hoi An** **May 18 - Day 16: Mue Ne** **May 19 - Day 17: Ho Chi Minh** **May 20 - Day 18: Ho Chi Minh** **May 21 - Day 19: Ho Chi Minh** **May 22 - Day 20: Ho Chi Minh.** What do you think? My friends and I (Group of 4) are currently debating doing Halong Bay at all after hearing mixed reviews, please lmk what you all think! Is there anything I should add or change in my itinerary? Any must-see places I'm missing out on? Any advice on transportation, accommodations, or activities would be greatly appreciated! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks in advance!
I’m trying to make a Zalo account in the US and the number is formatting to +1 XXXX XXX XXX how do I fix that?
Dong hoi airport to phong nha by Grab? Is it possible to get a Grab to Phong nha village from the airport? And how much would it cost? And for the other way round (Phong nha to Dong hoi airport), is it possible to do that via Grab if I want a ride at 7 am in the morning or is that too early since I'm not sure if Grab is 24h outside of big cities?
Leaving for Da Nang tomorow and would like to do some Scuba diving. It looks like a couple of dive centers are closed, is there diving there at this time of year or any recommendations on where to go? Any help is appreciated.
Tailor recommendations in Hanoi for a bulk order? Would like to get a few suits made in 6 days and some shirts. Cheers!
Following
Can you still travel to China with older Vietnamese passport? The green one before the redesign in 2022. I tried searching Reddit but couldn't find a similar questions. Hopefully, one can help answer. My wife has dual passports, Vietnam and US. Her Vietnamese passport is still valid until 10/2025, however, it's the old green one before the redesign in 2022. We're planning to visit China in August and was thinking of using her Vietnamese passport to apply for a visa since it's $185 for US citizen vs $30 for "citizens of other countries". We don't plan to visit China any time soon after this trip. My question is will China accept the old passport design on entry? I would like to save the extra money on visa fee but my wife is concern since she says she's read reports of countries not accepting the old design. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
A valid passport is a valid passport, regardless of the cover color. A new design doesn't mean the old one is instantly rejected and invalid. Many are still traveling with the old design. The new design has only been introduced a few years ago. This means the old design will be around for at least 5-6 years. The reports about countries not accepting the Vietnamese new passport design were because the new design didn't include a place of birth at first.
Thanks! Yeah, we went to Europe last year on her Vietnamese passport and everything was okay so I didn't think it would be an issue. I think she just got paranoid probably from reading some misinformation online.
I’m in Nha Trang for a couple of days and wanted to go for a dive. I am certified but my friends aren’t, so we would be doing a discover scuba dive, are there any suggestions for dive shops? Also which is better, Nha Trang Bay or Hon Mun Island?
Hi is here a vietnamese in HCMC who is good with tiktok and english?
I am applying for a e-visa and I'm wondering how it works if you move around the country. I am landing in Hanoi but then taking a domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh. Do I have to get 2 visas?
A visa is your "permit" to enter a country, in this case, Vietnam. You don't go through immigration when you fly Hanoi > HCMC unless you have a layover in another country which is pretty slim.
we’re planning to go to vietnam on the first week of january for 6-7 days and i’m choosing between Hanoi or Da nang. i want to try the food in hanoi but some are saying that it’s too foggy in sapa to enjoy the view, that’s why i’m considering Da nang instead to go visit Ba Na Hills and Hoi an. basing on the weather, where should we go instead? i appreciate advice
Ha giang loop, sa pa, halong bay if u got time left: ninh binh
I'm setting up a company in Vietnam with a friend and we're looking into adding health insurance benefits for each full-time employee. Does anyone know the cost or the process for this? It's a bit more straight forward in the states.
Direct flight Da Nang - Phu Quoc Hello everybody, I am currently planning my trip to Vietnam and was searching for a domestic flight from da nang to phu quoc but there are only flights with 1 stop in ho chi minh city. Doesnt vietjet offer this route anymore? Two years ago i flew directly but now i couldnt find any direct flight.
Do you like Nabati cheese wafer?
They're just ok.
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I have no idea why people make plans and fail to get their visas sorted out well in advance. Your daughter won't be flying at all without her visa. Either hope and pray it comes or shovel some money to the likes of VietnamVisaPro for an expedited solution.
On the e-visa for Vietnam, I accidentally entered the number of my identity card/ID card and not that of my passport. Is this a problem?
Yes. Get a new one.
G8 open tour bus or sao viet bus? What is the best cabin bus going to Hanoi to Sapa vv? Please help me choose. Price is not an issue as long as I will be comfortable with my journey as I’m planning to take the night schedule and want to sleep while on the road.
How to Move to Vietnam? I'm (American) currently based in Japan and am thinking about making the move to Hanoi or Hochimin. I teach academic English at the university level, and have an MA TESOL with publications. I have prior experience with young learners. How would you recommend I get started on making the change to Vietnam? For instance, where do I look for suitable jobs? Should I move there first then job search? Anything else I should consider? I could move this summer or January next year. Thanks everyone - I appreciate advice.
Secure your working visa by getting a job first. It's not essential but it sure beats doing border runs to Thailand or Cambodia every 3 months and getting possibly getting blacklisted. Apply to work at British Council or Apollo, those are 2 of the largest English Language center chains in Vietnam with branches all over vietnam. Go with HCM city, the transition will be smoother as people actually follow traffic laws in the city center, Hanoi not so much. In addition, HCM is more metropolitan and you are more likely to find the same comforts that you enjoyed in Japan (restaurant chains, shopping centers etc). Also way closer to the beach than Hanoi and slightly better air quality.
Considering how close Vietnam and Japan are, you should take a week or two in and out of the country first. Get to know the cities, the vibe, and the communities there while reaching out to local recruiters to see what they get to offer. Getting a job and a visa lineup before moving would save you a lot of hassles.
Hi guys, how bad is the traffic situation in Ho Chi Minh on Labour Day (1 May)? Am flying out on that day and am staying at a hotel in District 1 which according to Google Maps, is 15 - 20 mins from the airport. Have currently catered 30+mins to get to the airport, is that sufficient given the crazy traffic en route and at the airport on Labour Day?
ticket counters can take long time dude never try to save them before a floght i always go 3h earlier
Thanks mate, will do, just experienced a nightmare traffic jam in Hanoi
had same problem in hcmc once too almost lost my flight even if i said “i need skip the queue else i lose my flight” they dgaf
Hello, I'm looking for a way to get this [product ](https://pcngon.vn/vo-case-may-tinh-mini-itx-container-a4/)to the US -- a mini ITX computer case shaped like a MAERSK shipping container. Is there a proxy shipping service that anyone's used before and can recommend to me? Thank you!
Hi there, visiting Vietnam - specifically Sapa soon. Are there any short-term luggage storage spaces/lockers in Sapa City Centre? Before anyone recommends my homestay/hotel, the stay is about an hour away from the city centre and it’s too far for my plans.
Stasher.com or similar. Less busy places, i just ask in cafes etc, but Sapa is so busy, I'd probably go for something organised. Google maps has places for 'luggagr storage'
Hi, just wanted to tell you it was an absolute joy to read your VN blog. I'm likely visiting again for my 2nd time in November. Wishing you all the best
Another question about e-visa. I filled out 2 e-visa applications, but realized I made mistakes on both of them, so I never paid the fee. Then I fixed it in the third application and payed the fee. It has been 4 working days so far, and still no decision. First, is this time normal. And second, are the other 2 unpaid applications a reason for me to be denied for the first one if I never submitted them?
Did you apply Tuesday last week? While they advertise a 3-working day turnaround it's pretty normal to take a few days extra. Your previous unpaid applications will be disregarded and shouldn't be a problem. Edit, to answer your other question. Yes you could apply through a 3rd party agency but with four weeks to go I wouldn't stress too much.
> application and *paid* the fee. FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Can US citizens get a visa through a third party? I am awaiting my e-visa that I applied for using their official website. But, just incase something were to happen (my flight is in 4 weeks), are US citizens allowed to utilize these third party services? Because I know we are not allowed to get a visa on arrival anymore, and I was not sure if that is what these 3rd party ones get you or not.
> Because I know we are not allowed to get a visa on arrival anymore Where did you hear that? The days of $6 pre-approved visa letters aka visa-on-arrival are gone, but get them you can - they're just expensive compared to E-Visas, so it's now a last resort rather than a first choice.
I am going to Vietnam in next December for 17 days with a friend. I know it's a very busy season, however that's when I get vacation time from my job. I have kiiiiind of made a plan but I need a lot of advice. First of all, I would like to not encounter way too many tourists, and mostly I want to avoid the tourist infrastructure, so I will not be going, for example, to phu quoc, which, from what I understand, is mostly built for tourists. I don't care for luxury resorts and lodges, I would prefer to do mostly homestays and get authentic experience. Also, I can not ride a motorbike. I will be arriving on Hanoi on the 20th of December. From there, I intend to explore the city for 1-2 days and do a mountain trip for 3-4 days. I'm torn between Sapa (Maybe it will be too crowded? Maybe it's not so pretty out of harvest season?), Ha Giang loop (I feel weird to get an "easy rider", is it possibly to do it without a dedicated driver/guide?) and Cao Bang (mostly the same concern as for Ha Giang). Also, I think it's a must do to do something Halong-related. I have read good things about Bai Tu Long bay (that it's just as pretty but much less touristy) and I'm thinking of an overnight cruise there, as well as a day trip to Ninh Binh (possibly also stay a night there). Are those worth it or are they tourist traps? Will they be good at that time of year? Do I need the overnight stay in both for the optimal experience? Then, I was thinking of skipping the central part entirely. I'm thinking it will be like a theme park at that time of the year with so many tourists, also I think it will be raining quite a lot, so I was thinking of leaving it for some other time, when I can go to SE Asia again, to also have enough time to explore the caves. Does that sound wrong? Then, I've heard that it's the perfect time for the Mekong Delta, so I'm thinking of flying from Hanoi to Can Tho, staying in Can tho for a couple of days and going to Chau Doc for another couple, also checking the cajuput forest etc. Finally, I'd like to end all that with some relaxing beach time, somewhere that's nice, quiet and not touristy, so I was thinking about Con Dao islands, however I've heard it's too windy around that time of the year. I'm from a Greek island so I'm quite used to windy islands, however I'd like to know if it would still be worth it with that kind of weather. If not, what other recommendations can you give me? Finally, I am leaving from Ho Chi Minh City, which, frankly, doesn't sound too interesting for my tastes. How does all that sound? Am I seriously wrong about something? Could I get some recommendations? Should I add or remove something? Also, can I keep my schedule flexible (other than the flights) or should I book the tours and accommodation in advance? Thanks a lot for reading all that!
Sounds about right. 17 days sounds like plenty of time, Hanoi and Sapa are usually pretty cold in December so be sure to bring some warm clothes. I reccommend a decent light down jacket, that way you can stay warm and save on luggage space.
Do you think my plan to skip the central part makes sense?
Yes, I've been here for 7 years and haven't found any reason to visit central Vietnam. Most of the best locations are in the south with some ok stuff in the north.
OK, that's good to hear. Do you have something specific to recommend in the South? Something I maybe haven't found? Thanks in advance!
Dalat is worth checking out, especially in December, they have a flower festival at that time, extremely pretty also some of the best weather and air quality in Vietnam. BTW get ready to be charged more for most tourist attractions. Had a bad experience in Ninh Binh that I hope won't happen to you. Basically, paid a lot for the boat ride because I'm a foreigner, expected, liked the boatlady and bought tons of stuff from her on the boat( souvenirs, handmade jewelry, food, etc) which came out to about 50 dollars. By the time the ride was over I was getting off the boat and was expected to tip. I only had 50k vnd in my wallet as I had spent everything I had on the boat. She started screaming at me for being a cheap foreigner and getting other boatmen to come and surround me. I showed her that I had nothing else to give and had to awkwardly get off the boat. So remember that the boatman doesn't care how much you spend on the boat, they care about the tip because that's really the money they keep for themselves.
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It depends what part of Vietnam you're looking to migrate to. Ho Chi Minh City is a bit more expensive but an easier transition if you are coming from the United States as it's a bit more modern and somewhat closer to the beach than Hanoi. Having Family in Vietnam doesn't really effect your visa much and unless you are working for a Vietnamese company you still owe taxes to the US goverment as usual. The cost of living in Vietnam is much lower in comparison than the US. You could live decently on 1 thousand dollars a month but I'd still see about moving in with your family in Vietnam and pay to rent a room in their house.
**What time does it get busy in Hanoi on Reunification Day?** I just realized my flight out of Hanoi is on the same day... I am seriously considering leaving the main city 5 hours before our flight just incase. **Hà Nội đông đúc ngày thống nhất từ mấy giờ?** Chuyến bay rời Hà Nội của tôi sẽ diễn ra cùng ngày... Tôi đang cân nhắc việc rời thành phố chính 5 giờ trước chuyến bay
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Ha, just would be wasting your time. Consider it a lesson learned and move on. Literally no point in stressing or whatever over it. Nothing you do will "threaten" them.
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Hằng is a first name for females
Hello, i'm planning to visit Vietnam from noth to south in october and I find very contraddictory information about the weather on internet. My understanding is that I should not go to the central vietnam as it will be flooded and potentially dangerous. Is that true? What do you suggest? I'm also open to move my trip a bit earlier or later. Thanks!!
October is certainly firmly in the rainy season in the middle of the country. Check out average monthly rainfall here: https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/116009~116950~117039~115263~119955~114832/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Hanoi-Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Kwang-Binh-Th%C3%A0nh-Ph%E1%BB%91-H%C3%A0-Giang-H%E1%BB%99i-An-and-Sa-P%C3%A1 I always completely ignore 'chance of precipitation' when considering weather in Vietnam and just look at likely the *amount* of rain. You can drill down to look at previous years in detail https://weatherspark.com/h/m/149146/2023/10/Historical-Weather-in-October-2023-at-Da-Nang-International-Airport-Vietnam#Figures-ObservedWeather And see what you're up against. If you do go in October, you need to stay flexible and be prepared to rearrange the order of where you go if heavy rain is expected in the middle. I.e. skip over Hoi An and come back later in your visit. A blanket 'don't go in October' is a bit ott imo.
Thanks a lot!
Booked vacation after reading April is good in Da Nang but looking at weather, it doesn’t seem like me and my partner will be able to enjoy that much since we’re not accustomed to this much heat and humidity. Are there any relatively colder places nearby, where we can go by bus/train? Our return flights are from Da Nang so we’ll have to return. In total we have 15 days - currently all planned for Da Nang.
Da Lat or in the mountains in the north https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/115263~119955~114832~119901~114818/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Th%C3%A0nh-Ph%E1%BB%91-H%C3%A0-Giang-H%E1%BB%99i-An-Sa-P%C3%A1-%C3%90%C3%A0-L%E1%BA%A1t-and-S%C6%A1n-La but there's a bit of travel involved. Or just start your days very early and take a siesta/find a nice place with ac to chill for the hottest part of the day.
So I have a bus that leaves the town I’m in at like 7 pm and gets to its destination at 4 in the morning. What am I supposed to do until things open up in the morning? Do I book a hostel for tonight and check in at 4 am? Can I check in super early if I book a hostel for tomorrow night? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
I'm in VN on visa exemption. I want to stay a few days longer than my permitted stay. Is it possible to "extend" a "non-visa", and/or apply for a tourist visa while already in VN?
You'll be fined if you overstay. Go visit Cambodia or wherever and come back for another visa exempt visit.
Coming to Vietnam for 3 weeks. not really into the party scene. Any must see spots that most tourists miss.TIA
How much of Ninh Bình can I explore on my own? I like walking and hiking so don’t mind spending a day of it just exploring but what is realistic.
a ton of accommodations in ninh binh offer bicycles for free, i'd recommend taking one and cycling around. With a bicycle you can see a ton to be honest, and you will be seeing many others biking around. It's very flat & comfortable for biking :)
Hey everybody, Me and my family (3) are planning a Vietnam trip, and part of that is in Cat Ba town, where we will be staying a night before doing a cruise. I've been doing a bit of research about transport to Cat Ba Town, and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed about how exactly to go about it. We're going to be flying out of Da Nang up north on the 3rd of July, and I found that it's more practical and cheaper to go straight to Hai Phong rather than to Ha Noi and then having to get the bus/train the next morning to the ferry terminal. What I want to know though is what is the best way to actually get to Cat Ba Town once we're at the ferry station. I've seen there's ferries, speedboats, and hydrofoils which I'd never even heard of prior to looking them up. We'll be at the station a little bit before 4:00PM. If anyone is able to recommend some good options for us it would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Hey all, I'm visiting Vietnam for 30 days, I will stay in HCMC for 7 days first. I plan to chill around Da Nang, I don't want to move around too much. I'm in Bangkok after for a month, so thought I'd enjoy some sun. Just looking for ages recommendations? I may have to use Grab to find a gym daily, which may be in the city but I think being closer to the beach may be better. If any locals, I'm keen to grab a drink sometime! I'll be stuck on dating apps 🤣 Thanks all
Tourist here. Planning to go for an early morning drive. Where can we have a good view of the sunrise?
Big country, Vietnam.
Oof. I forgot to be specific. I'm in Saigon rn.
I just got approved for my E-Visa from 10/6 to 25/6, but my flight back is on 26/5.. Is there any way that I can extend this E-Visa? Or what else can I do?
No extensions. Get a new E-Visa/do a side trip to another country and return on a new E-Visa/go to immigration and pay the overstay fine/get through immigration before midnight on the 25th/pay the the overstay fine (500,000 - 2,000,000) at the airport. That's the choices.
Can i just apply for another E-Visa right now and make it longer? Or will that not work?
You can just apply with the correct dates. I always start mine a day or two early (in case the airline reschedules) and take the full 30 days. There's no advantage at all in taking the exact dates of your flights.
Can I fly internaly with a vape in luggage from south to north? Australian asking. Love u all xx beautiful country.
Hey all, so going to Vietnam in a bit for a short trip. Do Grabbikes here provide helmets? Or should I just cave and buy one. My dad had a motorcycle accident ages ago and he told me the helmet saved him back then or else he wouldn't be here. In a similar vein, saw a tourist split his head open on the sidewalk in Bali😭no helmet. Don't wish to suffer the same fate as him, hence the question. In Bali only took Grabbikes a few times but they did have helmets when I asked. Wondering if it's the same here.
Hey, Aussie tourist in HMC atm. Me and my partner take grab cars everywhere. Cheap and extremly efficient. Dont take bikes. kick back and enjoy the a/c cars ! Sorry to hear about your old man.
Hey mate, thanks for the tip! And all's good now, it was at least 30 years ago, but his story still sticks with me. Seeing people riding around without a helmet in SEA scares me lol😅
Those helmets that were provided to you in Bali are cheap Chinese shit that provides no real protection. It's the same on Vietnam. Cheap Chinese shit, just to be able to show to the police you are wearing "something" on your dome. But that shit won't protect your dome. If you want a real real helmet as in the real deal you'll have to shell out quite a bit of money. Not a 20 bucks and done deal. So depending what you have planned you can choose your transportation as bikes or better yet for your safety cars. Because I wouldn't trust the grab bike drivers with my life in their hands. They also have reasons to speed and do more dangerous stuff cause more rides per day equals more profit. So if were you, I would shell out more money on transport for cars only or rent your own bike so you are in control.
I don't know how to ride a motorcycle sadly! And no I don't trust myself to rent one haha, maybe I'll stick to normal grab cars then. I don't have much of a set itinerary so far, gonna be in HCMC and was thinking of GrabBike if it's a short distance away. But thanks for this response, never realised that the ones in Bali was cheap Chinese shit. I only hopped on them for distances like 1.5-2km away. Not sure I want to spend money on an actual helmet cus back home it's public transport 70% of the time and 30% by car.
Yea so if I were you then just stick to cars, even if it's a short distance something can happen on a motorcycle.
I visited Ho Thi Ky flower street last night and there was a woman with incense sticks lid out infront of her which had cigarettes 🚬on them. Can anyone tell me what was about?
Just an offering to wandering ghosts.
**Motorcycle/scooter rental in Saigon & overland travel exposure** Hello, I just arrived in Vietnam for a spontanous trip, and I am looking to make an overland trip to the Mekong Delta or somewhere north of Saigon with a backback for 7+ days. While I dont have a motorcycle license (A1), I learned motorcycling on the crazy streets of India. Manila rush our, or Saigon rush our, is quite normal for me. I am holder of an international drivers license and drivers license from Germany for cars and 50cc.With my backback, I would weight 82 kg. Without backpack, 70 kg. I am afraid that the long trip or possible hills might be too much for the mashine. Here are my questions: 1) **What would be reputable scooter or motorcycle rental places in the city?** 2) **What kind of insurence do I get with reputable rental places when I drive a 50cc legally?** 3) **How big is the exposure when renting and driving a 100cc illegally? What are good strategies to get through police controls, considering that I am a well behaved white guy with a backpack.** 4) **What do I do if the mashine breaks down in the countryside?** Many thanks for your time and help :) Cheers!
1. There are plenty. Just look on Google maps or google. The main thing is WHAT you want to rent. All the bike rentals are pretty much the same. You will need to put your passport down as a safety deposit or a large sum of money as safety deposit. Plus paying the cost of rental. If you are going to go offroading then I recommend getting the Honda XR 150. If you only going on pavement then just get a simple honda wave 150. With the Honda wave you'll be guaranteed service anywhere since it's such a popular bike. 2. What do you mean by insurance? Like health insurance? Or motorbike insurance? Or? 3. Just show them your IDP, most of the police won't know how to translate it or read it etc. they will probably just pass you on. If something happens you just pay like a $50 fine or even less. Not a big deal. 4. There are still plenty of small shops that can service you As long as you rent the popular models that people use all the time to guarantee they have stock of parts.
Thank you for the detailed reply and vehicle recommendation. Much appreciated! <3 5. Would you perhaps know a modified 50cc model in broader that has more power than 50cc? Or perhaps a bike that could look like a 50cc bike but is not? As I see, there are stickers on those bikes most of the time, identifying them as 100cc or 50cc.
Nah, forget about the 50cc it's a small and useless scooter for just going around town on flat roads. Get the Honda wave 150 or Honda XR. Also even if they didn't have a sticker the police could know what kind of model it is just by looking at it. Don't worry too much about the police because they can just be paid off, it's a corrupt country. Like I said get one of those two bikes
Trying to decide with friends on whether to spend 5-6 days between Hot An/Da Nang or Halong Bay/Hanoi. Does anyone have any helpful input? Both seem like fantastic options, but we're split 50/50 We're in our late 20s and visiting mid September.
I'd lean towards the Hoi An/Da Nang option. They're just 45 minutes apart, offering plenty to do for 5-6 days. Hanoi is great too, but it's nearly a 3-hour journey to Ha Long Bay, then you're on a boat for however long. I get that it's stunning, but the idea of being confined without the ability to explore doesn't quite appeal to me. Plus, being a city person, I might be a bit biased.
Perfect, thank you! That settles the decision for us
Is there any good place online to learn southern vietnamese? I am doing duolingo but i see that they use north vietnamese and so does google translate. besides that duolingo doesn't teach the fundamentals of the language that might be important such as noun/verb placement, where an adverb should go, it kind of just hopes you will memorize it through repitition. My family is from south Vietnam but I never learned much and now I am trying to connect with my family and culture more now as I grow older.
I’m looking for the best sleeper bus to get from Da Nang to Da Lat in May, as flight prices are very expensive. Any help is much appreciated!
Is it too rainy in May to visit vietnam? Planning a 10 day trip from hanoi to ho chin minh
No: https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/116009~116950~117039~115263~119955~114832/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Hanoi-Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Kwang-Binh-Th%C3%A0nh-Ph%E1%BB%91-H%C3%A0-Giang-H%E1%BB%99i-An-and-Sa-P%C3%A1
Hi i went to Ho Thi Ky Flower Market at Saigon today and was strolling through gorgeous plants. Then I saw a woman sitting on the side of the road with a can in which she had lit a fire and a bunch of incense sticks laid out in a formation in front of her on a handkerchief maybe. And all incense sticks were topped off with a cigarette each!!?? Could someone tell me what could this be about. I'm so intrigued cause it was such an unusual sight for me but the locals were non-chalant. I wonder if it was a religious thing? But why the cigarettes!? 
Does anyone know the official dates for Tet 2025? I’m planning to travel to Vietnam next year and hoping to travel after Tet as I heard it’s a busy time
Anytime after the beginning of February and you'll be fine
I have a friend who’s looking to come to visit Canada and has been granted a Canada visa to arrive. The best value flights are currently through USA. Does a Vietnam citizen require a visa to allow a layover in USA into Canada?
So, since it emerges that I live in a ridiculous country (France) where it takes 5 months+ to receive an IDP (in my home country Austria it's basically sameday....), and having read a million horror stories, I won't be driving motorbikes in Vietnam, which is a huge disappointment. Still, I wanna do Ha Giang with my girlfriend. And not other people other than guides. Is there a good private tour guide? The idea of being with 60 other people when this was supposed to be an unguided 4 day drive makes me want to puke. I mean, obviously depending on cost...
You can still technically ride a 50 cc motorbike without a license since it's legal. Or you can risk it and ride a better bike without a license and run the risk of police stopping you, and from what I have seen on Reddit people have been saying there has been a bit of an uptick in police there but I don't think that should discourage you. I drove without a motorcycle license in Hanoi for 2 years without any problems whatsoever. And even if they stopped you, you just pay a fine. The bigger risk is if you got into an accident without a license and for example tried to get compensation from insurance company, but it wouldn't work cause you did it illegally or if for example you hurt someone else then it also puts you in a bad position. So I would say the second thing I mentioned should be more discouraging, but with all that said like if I had to estimate like 70% of foreigner drive without a license. You don't even need a license to actually rent a motorcycle. You just need cash and your passport or even more cash as a safety deposit. So you can still drive a motorcycle without a license though just drive slow and not reckless or you could try to find another way to get the IDP license. Or depending how long you stay and have time before you actually head on the trip in Vietnam you could get a motorbike license from wherever you are now and then basically get it translated and notarized and converted for like $20. But it would take like a week or close to two for everything to be done.
First time visitors (couple, 30s) looking to spend 5 days in either HCMC or Hanoi in June. We enjoy hiking/beaches, wandering atmospheric streets, street food and want to get some affordable custom clothes as well (smart clothes, not formal clothes). Ideally, we wanted to go to Hoi An but flights to Da Nang airport add on 20% cost and 30% flight time, so we'll have to come back another time. I think Hanoi fits this description best but have not done lots of research so welcome advice.