Vietnam Travel Guide: Everything To Know Before Visiting Vietnam
Planning a trip to Vietnam can feel a little overwhelming at first, especially if it is your first time visiting. From where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City to what food to try, how to cross the road, what apps to download and where to travel afterwards, this guide covers the things we wish every visitor knew before arriving.
Vietnam Travel Guide: Everything To Know Before Visiting Vietnam
Planning a trip to Vietnam can feel a little overwhelming at first, especially if it is your first time visiting. From where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City to what food to try, how to cross the road, what apps to download and where to travel afterwards, this guide covers the things we wish every visitor knew before arriving.
Understanding Ho Chi Minh City’s Districts đ
Ho Chi Minh City is huge, and where you stay can completely change the feel of your trip.
Ho Chi Minh City is made up of lots of different districts and each one has a completely different vibe, so choosing the right area to stay can honestly make a huge difference to your trip. We’ve included the districts we think are worth knowing about.
District 1
The main tourist hub filled with rooftop bars, nightlife, shopping, markets, cafĂ©s and many of the city’s biggest attractions. If it is your first time in Vietnam, this is our number 1 recommendation.
District 2 / Thao Dien
A trendy expat area known for brunch cafés, boutique gyms, western restaurants and a much more relaxed atmosphere. This is where we live and it feels very different to the centre of the city.
District 3
A quieter and more local-feeling district that still sits very close to the city centre and has amazing cafés and food spots.
District 4
A lively local district famous for seafood, street food and nightlife that feels slightly less touristy than District 1.
District 5 / Chinatown
Ho Chi Minh City’s historic Chinatown, also known as Cholon. It is filled with temples, markets, traditional medicine shops and incredible local food.
District 7
A cleaner and more modern district popular with families and expats, known for shopping malls, Korean restaurants and wide streets.
District 10
A busy local district known for amazing food, coffee shops, shopping streets and fewer tourists.
Binh Thanh
A popular area between District 1 and Thao Dien that mixes local life with modern apartments and is home to Landmark 81.
Tan Binh
The district surrounding Tan Son Nhat Airport, mainly known for airport hotels and convenience for short stays.
Thu Duc / Thu Thiem ✨
A rapidly developing modern area with luxury apartments, riverfront views, trendy cafĂ©s and some of the city’s best skyline views.
Hotels We Recommend In HCMC đš
Choosing the right hotel area makes Ho Chi Minh City so much easier, especially if it is your first visit.
Ho Chi Minh City is huge, so where you stay honestly makes a massive difference to your experience. For first-time visitors, we would personally recommend staying somewhere central in District 1 so you can easily walk to cafés, restaurants, bars, markets and tourist attractions.
Vietnam also has accommodation for literally every budget, from backpacker hostels to some of the fanciest hotels we’ve ever seen.
We’ve put together a list of 13 hotels we would personally recommend across a range of budgets and locations, including:
- Luxury stays
- Mid-range hotels
- Budget-friendly options
- Rooftop pool hotels
- Best areas for first-time visitors
You can check out our full hotel recommendations here: Our HCMC Hotel Recommendations
Our biggest tip would simply be to stay somewhere central, especially if it’s your first time visiting Vietnam. District 1 is usually the easiest and most convenient base for tourists.
Vietnamese Phrases To Know đ»đł
You do not need to speak Vietnamese to have a great trip, but a few simple phrases go a long way.
You definitely do not need to speak Vietnamese to travel around Vietnam, especially in tourist areas. However, learning a few basic phrases is always appreciated and usually gets lots of smiles from locals, even if your pronunciation is completely wrong.
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chĂ o | Sin chow |
| Thank you | CáșŁm ÆĄn | Gam un |
| Delicious! | Ngon quĂĄ! | Ngon kwa! |
| How much? | Bao nhiĂȘu? | Bow nyew? |
| No spicy please | KhĂŽng cay | Khom kai |
| Cheers! | Má»t, hai, ba, dĂŽ! | Mot, hi, ba, yo! |
| Bathroom? | NhĂ vá» sinh? | Nya veh sinh? |
A Few Things To Know đ
- “Má»t, hai, ba, dĂŽ!” is basically Vietnam’s version of “cheers!” and you will hear it a lot.
- Vietnamese is a tonal language, so pronunciation can be tricky. Don’t stress too much if you don’t sound perfect. Locals appreciate you trying.
- Even attempting a few words usually makes locals really happy.
And honestly, after a few Vietnamese coffees or Bia Saigons, everyone suddenly becomes fluent anyway.
Food & Drink To Try đ☕
Vietnam is one of those places where some of the best meals come from the most random-looking little spots.
One of the best parts about visiting Vietnam is definitely the food. We genuinely think Vietnam has some of the best food in the world and one of our favourite things to do is wander around and try random local places.
Honestly, some of the best meals we’ve had here have been sitting on tiny plastic stools on the side of the road.
Bun Cha
One of our personal favourites. Bun Cha is grilled pork served with noodles, herbs and a sweet, savoury dipping broth. It’s especially famous in Hanoi and so good.
Pho
Vietnam’s most famous dish. Pho is a noodle soup usually made with beef or chicken and is honestly perfect at any time of day.
Banh Mi
A Vietnamese baguette filled with meats, pùté, herbs, pickled vegetables, chilli and sauces. Cheap, quick and dangerously addictive.
Bun Bo Hue
A spicy noodle soup originally from Hue. It’s richer, spicier and stronger in flavour than pho and absolutely worth trying if you enjoy spicy food.
Fresh Spring Rolls
Fresh rice paper rolls usually filled with prawns, pork, noodles and herbs. Very fresh, light and perfect in the heat.
Egg Coffee
This sounds strange, but trust us. Egg coffee is a Vietnamese coffee topped with a creamy whipped egg mixture that somehow tastes like coffee and dessert combined.
Salt Coffee
Another one that sounds questionable but is weirdly amazing. Salt coffee combines sweet Vietnamese coffee with a slightly salty cream topping and somehow just works.
Coconut Coffee
Usually made with Vietnamese coffee blended with frozen coconut cream and tastes incredible on a hot day.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Strong enough to make you see through time. Vietnamese coffee is very strong and usually served with condensed milk over ice.
Bia Saigon
One of Vietnam’s most popular local beers. Cheap, refreshing and somehow tastes even better sitting on a tiny plastic chair on the street at night.
Our biggest recommendation is honestly just to be adventurous with food while you’re here. Some of the most random-looking restaurants end up serving the best meals.
Bargaining Tips & Tricks đ️
Markets in Vietnam are fun, chaotic and very much part of the experience, but it helps to know how bargaining works.
If you plan on visiting markets in Vietnam, especially places like Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, just know that bargaining is completely normal and expected.
The first price is very rarely the final price.
Ben Thanh Market Tips
Ben Thanh Market is one of the most famous markets in Vietnam and is definitely worth visiting, even just for the experience.
You’ll find:
- Clothes
- Bags
- Souvenirs
- Shoes
- Snacks
- Coffee
That being said, it is very touristy and prices are usually heavily inflated for foreigners.
Start Lower But Stay Friendly
Bargaining in Vietnam is usually done with a smile and a bit of back and forth.
- Expect the first price to be high
- Offer lower than what you actually want to pay
- Meet somewhere in the middle
The key is staying friendly and laughing about it rather than taking it too seriously.
Walking Away Works Surprisingly Well
One of the best bargaining techniques in Vietnam is honestly just politely walking away. Quite often the seller will suddenly offer a much lower price once they realise you might leave.
Cash Usually Gets Better Prices
Cash is king at markets. A lot of vendors prefer cash and sometimes will give slightly better prices if you’re paying upfront in cash instead of card.
Getting Around Vietnam đ
Getting around Vietnam is actually easy once you understand the organised chaos.
Getting around Vietnam is actually very easy once you get used to the chaos. There are plenty of affordable ways to travel between cities and around local areas, although the traffic can definitely be a culture shock at first.
Using Grab Instead Of Taxis
We would highly recommend downloading Grab as soon as you arrive in Vietnam.
Grab is basically Southeast Asia’s version of Uber and is by far the easiest way to get around.
- Cars
- Motorbikes
- Food delivery
- Grocery delivery
The reason we recommend Grab over regular taxis is because:
- Prices are fixed upfront
- You avoid language barriers
- You can track your route
- It’s usually very affordable
Domestic Flights Between Cities
Vietnam is a long country, so domestic flights are often the easiest option if you’re travelling between regions.
- Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi = around 2 hours flying
- Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang = around 1.5 hours
- Hanoi to Phu Quoc = around 2 hours
Sleeper Trains & Buses đ
Vietnam also has sleeper trains and buses running between many cities. We’d probably recommend trains over buses where possible, especially for longer trips.
Crossing The Road In Vietnam
This deserves its own section because honestly, it feels terrifying the first few times.
The biggest thing to know is: DO NOT RUN.
Traffic in Vietnam flows around you. The trick is to walk slowly, predictably and confidently while the scooters move around you.
Traffic Culture / Shock Factor
- Thousands of scooters everywhere
- Entire families somehow fitting onto one bike
- People carrying TVs, plants, ladders and basically anything imaginable on scooters
- Beeping horns constantly
- Sidewalks often being used for scooter parking or driving
ATM’s & Money đž
Vietnamese Dong looks terrifying at first, but you get used to the big numbers quickly.
First of all, congratulations. You are all now millionaires.
The Vietnamese currency is Vietnamese Dong (VND), and the numbers can feel ridiculous at first.
- 100,000 VND = about $6aud or £3
- 1,000,000 VND sounds scary but is very normal to carry around
Cash vs Card
Vietnam is becoming more card-friendly, especially in hotels, shopping centres, restaurants and cafés.
However, cash is still king in many places, especially:
- Markets
- Street food stalls
- Smaller local shops
ATM Withdrawal Fees
Most ATMs in Vietnam charge withdrawal fees for international cards, and your home bank may also charge extra fees on top.
A few tips:
- Use ATMs attached to actual banks where possible
- Avoid random standalone ATMs
- Notify your bank before travelling
- Have a backup card just in case
Before You Arrive ✈️
A few boring but important things are worth sorting before you land in Vietnam.
Visa Information & Entry Requirements
For both Australian and UK passport holders, Vietnam’s visa rules can change regularly, so we strongly recommend checking the latest requirements before booking your flights.
As soon as you book your flights, apply for your e-visa online before arrival.
Make sure:
- Your passport has at least 6 months validity
- You have proof of onward travel
- You double check your visa dates carefully
Travel Insurance Reminder
Please get travel insurance before coming to Vietnam. Vietnam is very safe, but things like delayed flights, lost luggage, food poisoning, scooter accidents or medical emergencies can happen anywhere.
If you plan on doing activities like the Ha Giang Loop, scuba diving or riding scooters, make sure your insurance actually covers those activities.
E-Sim / SIM Card Recommendations
The E-SIM providers we have used and would recommend are SIMIFY or AIRALO.
You can also buy a SIM card upon arrival with Viettel. They have booths at the immigration lines in the airport.
All restaurants and hotels have really good internet as well.
Best Apps To Download In Vietnam
- Grab is Vietnam’s Uber and honestly our best friend. You can order cars, scooters, food delivery and basically anything else.
- Google Translate is really useful. Download Vietnamese offline before arriving.
- WhatsApp is used by tour companies and some hotels.
- GetYourGuide is helpful for tours you book.
- XE Currency is great for converting VND into your home currency.
Weather In July ☀️
July in Vietnam is hot, humid and very sweaty.
You will probably experience a mix of:
- Sunshine
- Sudden heavy downpours
- Humidity that makes you question every life decision
The rain usually doesn’t last all day in southern and central Vietnam, but it’s definitely worth packing:
- Lightweight clothing
- A small umbrella or poncho
- Comfortable shoes or sandals
- A portable fan if you’re dramatic like us
Day Trips From Ho Chi Minh City đŽ
If you have extra time in Ho Chi Minh City, these are two of the easiest day trips to add on.
Mekong Delta
One of the most popular day trips from HCMC, known for peaceful rivers, coconut trees, floating markets and local village life.
Most tours include:
- Boat rides through the canals
- Tropical fruit tasting
- Coconut candy factories
- Traditional Vietnamese music
It’s a great way to experience a slower and more local side of Vietnam outside the busy city.
Cu Chi Tunnels
A huge underground tunnel network used during the Vietnam War.
Visitors can:
- Learn about the history
- See hidden trapdoors and bunkers
- Crawl through sections of the tunnels
- Try traditional wartime food
- Visit the shooting range
It’s one of the most famous historical sites near HCMC and gives a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s past.
Unique Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City ✨
Some of the best things to do in Saigon are not the obvious tourist attractions.
Not everything in Ho Chi Minh City needs to be the typical tourist attraction. Some of our favourite memories have come from hidden cafés, random alleyways, local food spots and activities we found online or by accident.
Honestly, TikTok and Instagram will be your best friend while visiting HCMC. There are so many cool cafés, rooftop bars, restaurants and hidden gems constantly popping up around the city.
Don’t be afraid to explore outside the main tourist areas because that’s where the magic of Saigon really is.
Things We Love Doing With Visitors
- Visit the café apartments filled with tiny cafés and boutiques
- Watch the sunset from rooftop bars in Thao Dien or along the Saigon River
- Go on a late-night street food crawl
- Explore Ho Thi Ky Flower Market at night
- Do a café hopping day in Thao Dien
- Take a dinner cruise along the Saigon River
- Visit Binh Tay Market in Chinatown
- Try a Vietnamese karaoke room with friends
- Get a Vietnamese shampoo and head spa
- Watch live music at a hidden jazz bar
- Visit Tao Dan Park early in the morning
- Do a photography walk around District 3
- Try a local hotpot or BBQ spot
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