From crowded cities, beautiful beaches along the coastline, and the green mountainous regions in the north, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Vietnam. Traveling in Vietnam was a special time for me. It was everything I expected it to be and a lot more. The people are warm and welcoming and the food is delicious. But, I think what surprised me the most was the beautiful architecture and detailed structures. The many places that made me feel at peace and relaxed were a bonus. However, there were a few things I wish I had known or been better prepared for. Here are a few travel tips you should know before your trip.
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Food Culture Rules
Travel Tip 1: Eat Yummy Street Food
If you are traveling in Vietnam, you cannot pass up eating street food. It is not uncommon for you to turn a corner in the major cities and see from anything from just a few people to large crowds of people sitting on plastic chairs at short, small tables at restaurants or enjoying street food. Interesting note is that it is illegal for restaurants to have tables and chairs on the pavement. So, tables are low to the ground and the chairs are short to make it easy for store owners to quickly remove them if the authorities arrive.
Street food is made fresh, is inexpensive, and usually eaten quickly before people carry on with their days. Common dishes are a variety of noodle soups, a Vietnamese pancake, dried beef or papaya salad, and coconut ice cream. I recommend that you do a street food tour to get a good sense of the food culture and to have be able to taste a variety of dishes at one time. The same dish can be served differently based on the region. So, do not hesitate to take multiple food tours during your travels.
Travel Tip 2: Enjoy a Beverage
Big Coffee Culture
I was shocked to learn that Vietnam has a huge coffee culture. I guess I should not have been so surprised since the French were in Vietnam for more than 100 years. And with the French, came its cafe culture. Cafes are sprinkled throughout Vietnamese cities and they a variety of unique coffee drinks. Traditional Vietnamese coffee is very strong and served with condensed milk. Iced coffee with condensed milk is also available, and became one of my favorites during my travels. A signature Vietnamese coffee is egg coffee, which is easiest to find in Hanoi.
Tea is a thing too!
If you prefer tea over coffee, do not worry. Tea is also a huge part of Vietnamese culture. Tea draws people together throughout the day and at social events. Open air tea houses are abundant and easily noticeable in smaller towns like Hoi An. I find Vietnamese tea to be slightly bitter but has a great after taste. My favorite tea house was in Hoi An called The Teahouse. The Teahouse is associated with Reaching Out, whic is run by hearing and speech impaired individuals, who provide a peaceful and beautiful environment.
Things to ignore...
Travel Tip 3: Handsy with silverware
One thing I just had to let go of while traveling in Vietnam, is the fact that Vietnamese restaurant staff touch everything that you will probably put in your mouth. While this may go on in restaurants across the US, it is generally not acceptable and most consider it to be unclean. Most restaurants tables will have a silverware holder with spoons, forks, and chopsticks. For some reason, Vietnamese put all of the chopsticks and silverware with the side you put in your mouth facing up. So, when people grab for either of them, people tend to put their hands all over everything.
Travel Tip 4: Doing the dishes
It is not uncommon to see ladies behind restaurants cleaning the dishes in a big bowl on the street. This did not really bother me because I have seem a lot more interesting things during my years of travel, but it might be weird and seem unclean to some people. However, I would prefer to think of it as part of the culture.
Getting Around
Travel Tip 5: Ride a motorbike
Throughout Vietnam, but especially in the big cities, the motorbike is the easiest form of transportation. My fear of taking a motor taxi quickly disappeared after I hopped on the back of a motorbike my first day in Vietnam. Zipping in and out of traffic along with hundreds of other motorbikes was exciting. I must warn that motorcyclist break the driving rules all of the time. Such as, driving the wrong way down a one way street or driving on the sidewalk to avoid having to circle the block. The motor taxi is a fantastic and cheap way to get around cities with ease and some excitement. My only recommendation is that you use apps like Grab to book a taxi. They will always quote you a price ahead of time, they are generally safe, and you are unlikely to be scammed. Avoid taking any form of motor taxis at night.
Travel Tip 6: A Bike is okay too…
I am not sure I would recommend riding a bike in the bigger cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. But, it is a great way to get around the smaller cities. Bike rental shops are abundant, and most Airbnb provide them free of charge.
Take a Breath and Relax
Travel Tip 7: Get a massage
If you are someone who likes to get a massage but it is too expensive in your home country, then Vietnam will be a treat. There are very affordable spa salons throughout the country. Many of them offer spa packages but they will also allow you to change it up and customize your experience. My favorite spa experience was in Hanoi at the Orient.
After walking all day, you should stop by one of the several massage shops that line the streets in all of the major cities to get a foot massage. You can get a one hour foot massage for about $8-10 and they are decent quality. Because there are so many of them, I advise you to shop around. Take a peek into the shop before you go in to see if it meets your standards. Even though the massages are extremely affordable, you still deserve to enjoy the experience.
Travel Tip 8: Make time for the beach
If you have time to explore several parts of Vietnam, I highly recommend building in some beach time. This is especially true if you will be spending any significant amount of time in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, both of which can overload the senses. I stayed at the beach in Hue. To hear the crashing waves at night and to see the sunrise over the beach was amazing.
Travel Tip 9: Be spontaneous
I am definitely a planner, which means that I tend to plan out the majority of my trip ahead of time. However, I think that Vietnam is one place where you should build in some time for spontaneity. There are a lot of things that will draw you in, such as tea and coffee shops, beautifully handmade jewelry, or a temple tucked into the middle of a busy city street. You do not want to miss out on the country’s hidden treasures.
Travel Tip 10: Relax and people watch
Take time to sit at one of the many coffee or tea cafes in Vietnam to relax. Most cafes have outdoor seating or windowless shops, so it is easy to grab a chair and watch the different types of people and tourist wander by.
Is Vietnam Safe?
Yes, Vietnam is safe. There was not a single time during my trip when I felt unsafe. However, I did receive some tips from locals on how to stay safe.
•Do not carry your cell phone in your hand, otherwise you will be an easy target to be robbed. I wanted to be able to take photos on the street and on the back of motor taxis. So, I bought a lanyard case for my iPhone. It served as a deterrent to theft and allowed me to take photos.
•Leave your passport at your accommodations and do not carry around large sums of cash.
•Be careful crossing the street in large cities. I think it is much safer to cross the street in Ho Chi Minh City, were people generally follow the driving rules and street signs. However, Hanoi is a different story. The general rule is to just cross the street without looking drivers in the eye. If they do not think you noticed them, then they are more likely to slow down and let you cross. If they think you see them, they will continue full speed ahead.
Things to keep in mind
Travel Tip 11: Do not be a target
As a tourist you will easily stand out as a possible target for the locals to take advantage of. I think many of the things you may deal with in Vietnam is fairly normal in most developing nations.
Travel Tip 12: Transportation
Always get a quote before you get into a taxi or motor taxi if the person does not have a meter. The best thing to do is to order a taxi through one of the several apps related to transit in Vietnam, such as Grab. Be aware that some taxi drivers will drive you around in circles and then try to charge you extra money.
Travel Tip 13: Do not be afraid to haggle
Unless you shop only at shops that have fixed price, you will need to haggle to get a “fair” price. Best practice is to start negotiating about half or a third lower than what vendors quote you. You can usually find what you want in multiple stores. So, you should be prepared to walk away if you do not hear a price you are willing to pay.
Travel Tip 14: Be patient
People will ask you to buy what they are selling all day long. It can be annoying after you said no three or four times and people continue to be persistent. I recommend that you take a break and remember that people are trying to make a living. Politely say no thank you.
Want more tips on travel to Vietnam? Check out Travel to Vietnam.
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