You need a passport to travel to Vietnam! Your passport should be valid until at least October 2019 and it needs to have 2 full empty pages. If you don’t have a passport or you don’t have enough pages, please let me know.
Vietnam – In order to enter Vietnam, every traveler must obtain a tourist e-Visa in advance. When applying for the visa, you must take special care to ensure that the date of entry you list on the application is not later than your actual arrival date or else the immigration officials will deny entry. You should request that your visa begins a few days prior to your actual arrival date.
In order to obtain your Vietnam e-Visa, please follow the instructions on the official Vietnam Immigration website.
**Notes:
Beyond focusing on the unique and fascinating experience that this part of the world can offer travelers, it’s important to keep in mind that Vietnam is indeed a developing country. As a result, much of what you experience might involve things that you have not had to deal with before, especially if you’ve grown up in a more developed country. Some examples include poverty, pollution, chaotic crowds, delays and unexpected obstacles, an absence of traffic rules, etc.
It’s nothing to be alarmed about at all. It’s just good to remember that travel involves jumping out of your comfort zone, and when traveling in the developing world, you might find yourself out of your comfort zone quite quickly. But that’s how travel challenges and teaches us, so in the end, it’s actually something to look forward to!
Besides, Vietnam is an incredible destination and despite the above, you’re going to thoroughly enjoy each city, town, village, activity and meal!
A common question travelers heading to Asia tend to ask is, ‘will I get a stomach illness?’. My answer is… perhaps.
Luckily, it’s not a guarantee, but it does happen to a small number of travelers. The main reason is usually coming into contact with tap water. It’s best to always drink bottled water and to be extra cautious, use bottled water to brush your teeth as well.
Probiotics: One option is to take probiotics starting two weeks prior to the trip. This can greatly reduce the chances of getting an upset stomach.
Again, it’s nothing to worry too much about as things are changing quickly and hygiene standards in Vietnam are vastly improved from just 5 years ago. The chance of illness is low and the chance of having no issues is very high.
*If you have any questions about this, please let me know.
Here are the March/April average temperatures (high/low) of each destination:
Hoi An: 83F / 70F
Hue: 82F / 68F
Dong Hoi: 77F / 68F
Ninh Binh: 73F / 65F
Bai Tu Long: 75F / 62F
Hanoi: 82F / 71F
Taking comfortable, light clothing is the best idea.
Shorts and short-sleeved shirts are definitely acceptable, although it’s best to avoid clothes that are too revealing as that simply isn’t the way local people dress. In order to enter certain temples, pants below the knees and shirts with sleeves beyond the elbows are sometimes required.
**Laundry – It is very easy to have your laundry washed while in Vietnam. Almost every hotel offers this service and if not, there are plenty of places in each town where you can get it all washed. Usually, it costs around $2.00 USD per kilogram (2.2 lbs.).
Pants (3 pairs – comfortable, lightweight)
Shirts (5-6 short-sleeve shirts, 3-4 long-sleeve shirts – loose fitting, comfortable)
Shorts (2 pairs)
Sweater and Jacket
Underwear/Socks
Shoes (sneakers or hiking shoes)
Sandals
Swimsuit
Toiletries
Medicines
Small Daypack
Camera
Gadgets (laptop, Kindle, mobile phone, etc)
Chargers (don’t forget your chargers!)
Plug Adapter
Ear Plugs (if you’re a light sleeper, bring a few pairs)
Sunglasses and Hat
If you have any questions about other items you were thinking about bringing or not bringing, just send me an email and I’ll be happy to let you know if such an item is necessary for a trip to this part of the world.
Feel free to bring whatever gadgets you feel are necessary, however, do keep in mind that the more expensive gadgets you bring, the more you’ll have to watch out for them, not necessarily to protect them from theft, but to protect them from getting banged up along the way. In the end, just bring what you think you’ll need!
Vietnam uses types A, C and D plug outlets, with C being the most popular. You can easily purchase a type C plug adapter online for less than $10 USD. Here is an example of a reliable option: Type C Adapter – Amazon.
As for electricity, while Vietnam also uses different voltage, most mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other devices can handle all types of voltage these days when charging. Check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 220V or 110 – 240V. If either of those ranges are listed on the charger, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.
Internet is widespread in Vietnam, although the speeds and connection consistency can vary widely from place to place. Most hotels/guesthouses will have good Wi-fi and there are always cafes/restaurants/bars that offer free Wi-fi as well. You’ll be able to make phone calls home via Skype/WhatsApp as a result, from just about every destination you visit. Just keep in mind that in the developing world, internet can go down from time to time and you probably won’t be connected 100% of the trip.
Vietnam is a very safe destination and in the end, keeping yourself and your belongings protected really comes down to using common sense. It really is that simple. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do at home that might put you at risk – walking down dark alleys, following strangers who offer a suspicious invitation, leaving your phone on the table while you use the restroom, etc. – and the chances of anything happening will be very small.
With that said, as is the case with any trip, you may want to look into purchasing insurance for your possessions/gadgets in addition to the required travel/health insurance. Clements.com offers this type of insurance so that you’ll be protected if any of your belongings get lost.
Some hotels/guesthouses in Vietnam have safes for you to use, but not all of them. However, keeping your valuables in your room each day is a safe option.
In terms of spending money, you should estimate around $20 – $50 USD per day for all of your needs. This would include meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, bottled water, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own. Some days you might spend more, other days less.
As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are everywhere in Vietnam. Using this method, you won’t have to carry around large amounts of cash and you’ll receive the best exchange rate possible. However, please check with your bank at home as many banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money from an ATM overseas.
If using an ATM machine is not an option for you, the second best method is to simply bring USD in cash to exchange at money exchange booths/banks located all over Vietnam. Keep in mind that you will get a better exchange rate for larger bills ($50 and $100 notes). All bills should be in excellent condition or they might not be accepted.
*Avoid bringing traveler’s checks as it is very difficult these days to cash them.
Remember that haggling in some countries, including Vietnam, is a part of life and is completely expected.
Here’s some guidelines for negotiating in Vietnam:
Do you have to negotiate? – Technically no, but in reality, yes. You should bargain for almost everything at markets or in shops that sell souvenirs or local products. By not doing so, you’re bound to pay much higher prices than you should be paying.
Exceptions – Some shops will display a “Fixed Price” sign or will already have price tags on the items for sale. In these cases, you won’t be able to negotiate.
Getting ripped off – It’s impossible not to get ripped off a little during your stay but it’s usually just a small amount and nothing to get too upset about! It happens to everyone!
Souvenirs and gifts – Always shop around and never buy on your first visit to a shop! It’s always best to compare several shops as they often will sell the same or similar items.
While not something that is as expected as in the USA, most people do tip in Vietnam. Here are some general guidelines:
Drivers – 50,000 VND per person for a half day, 80,000 VND per person for a full day.
Guides – 100,000 VND per person for a full day.
Restaurants – 10% is an average tip in a restaurant or bar with table service. This rule does not include street food or vendors, where no tip is required. Before you automatically add in a 10% gratuity, check a restaurant or bar bill to ensure tax and service charge are not already included.
Taxis – In most places in Vietnam, taxis are excellent and the meter often struggles to reach 4 USD for a 20 minute trip. The rule of thumb in a taxi is to round up. For a 25,000 VND taxi, you would hand over 30,000 VND. For a 32,000 VND taxi…35,000 VND works.
Porters – Anywhere between 15,000 VND – 25,000 VND for a hotel staff member that assists you with your luggage.
As noted in the waiver form, all participants on this tour are required to show proof of travel and health insurance in order to join the program. This protects you in the event of any unforeseen medical issues as well as in the event that you cannot make the tour or the tour is cancelled for any reason beyond anyone’s control, among other things. Once you have secured your travel and health insurance, please forward a copy of the policy to earl@wanderingearl.com.
