VIETNAM TRAVEL FAQ's
Below you will find travel, and of course eating advice based off of our local experiences & observations.
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A. POSSIBLY - Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to visit Vietnam. Please refer to this page for more information - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Vietnam
There are several different kinds of visa's for different lengths of stays and at different costs.
There are also several different ways to get a visa online with some offering expedited services, even overnight.
VN LIFE HACK: You can continually apply for visa's if you want to spend more time in Vietnam than 3 months. All you need to do is keep reapplying and jumping out of the country when needed. There is not a way to extend or get a NEW VISA when you are in the country. You MUST LEAVE VIETNAM and come back in on a NEW VISA.
If your visa runs out, you will need to cross the border and re-apply to come back into Vietnam. The is a variety of border crossings that will allow you to cross over into Laos, and Cambodia on foot. But, the easiest way to renew your visa may be to fly to Bangkok and return on the same day.
Do not overstay your visa, the local government doesn't mess around with this stuff.
Keep in mind that all of this advice is from personal experience. Visa requirements and regulations often change. Please refer to the official government website for the most updated Visa information.
A. You do NOT need travel insurance to visit Vietnam. That being said, it is never a bad idea to purchase coverage in case something unexpectedly happens.
There are all kinds of travel insurance, everything from trip insurance in case your plans are interrupted, to healthcare coverage, to emergency private air recovery to get back to your home country.
A. NO, you no longer need to present any vaccination documentation of any kind to get on the plane, or enter the country.
A. As far as I understand, Vietnam does not recognize International Driving Permits. That being said, having one is probably better than not having one if you are planning on riding or driving in Vietnam. If you are traveling the countryside, or to Ha Giang Loop, I would highly suggest getting an International Drivers Permit to help improve your chance of getting out of a ticket.
A. That is a difficult question to answer. From my personal experience with T-Mobile International Plan - I paid $65/month for a plan that did NOT allow me to access the internet at all, even though 3G appeared to be on and 'working'. Others may have different experiences with different providers such as Verizon.
PHONE SERVICES/DATA TIPS:
1. **MAKE SURE TO TURN OFF DATA ROMING WHEN YOU LAND IN VIETNAM**
2. Various phone providers like Viettel can fix you up with a local SIM card for use while you are traveling Vietnam. It's VERY inexpensive to get a Data plan in Vietnam. Viettel can be found in every city in Vietnam.
3. You may also purchase SIM cards at convenience stores and also online with an E-SIM.
A. The wifi is GREAT in Vietnam. You can duck into any coffee shop in the country to pick up wifi if you get stuck somewhere. Just make sure to order a drink to support the shop owner.
Various phone providers like Viettel can fix you up with a local SIM card for use while you are traveling Vietnam. It's VERY inexpensive to get a Data plan in Vietnam. Viettel can be found in every city in Vietna.
You may also purchase SIM cards at convenience stores and also online with an E-SIM.
A. YES, Vietnam is extremely safe. We have a very low rate of physical assaults. There is some petty theft in Saigon, but that is mostly contained to that area of the country. It is very safe place to visit, even for solo women travelers.
That being said, it's always a great idea to be cautious with your belongings. There are often lock-boxes in hotel rooms to secure your valuable items. And you will want to keep your purse zipped up when out seeing the sites.
Finally, phone theft seems to be a concern in Saigon. So keep that in mind if you are going south.
A. All hotels, hostels, homestays, and AirBNB's will ask for your passport when you check in. Instead of letting them keep your passport, simply offer them the opportunity to take a picture or photocopy of your passport instead.