Super cheap! If you’re traveling on a budget, you can easily get by on €25–35 a day, including tasty street food, local transport, a comfy guesthouse, and even a few treats like a cooking class or boat tour. Even luxury travel is more affordable here.

The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). Cards are accepted in many hotels and cafés, but cash is still king, especially at markets, street stalls, and in smaller towns.

For those on a very tight budget, you might want to explore some of the volunteering opportunities available on Worldpackers. Volunteering through this platform is one of the best ways to travel almost for free, as accommodation and food are usually provided!

The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese. In big cities and touristy spots, you’ll find plenty of people who speak perfect English, especially the younger crowd. But once you head off the beaten path, it helps a lot to know a few basic words in Vietnamese:

• Xin chào – Hello
• Cảm ơn – Thank you
• Vâng – Yes
• Không – No
• Bao nhiêu? – How much?

Most travelers can enter Vietnam visa-free or with an easy e-visa, depending on their nationality and length of stay.

You can issue your e-visa on the official government website.

Since it varies from country to country, we recommend checking Passport Index website, where you can select your passport and see all the countries you can travel to, with or without a visa.

Vietnam is generally very safe! Locals are friendly, and most travelers feel comfortable exploring both cities and rural areas. That said, it’s smart to keep an eye on your belongings in crowded spots like markets or while on motorbikes, especially in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Scams aren’t a huge issue, but things like inflated tourist prices or taxi tricks can happen. Using Grab and agreeing on prices upfront helps a lot.

In any case, we always recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. Better safe than sorry! We use Heymondo and highly recommend it.

The best time to visit Vietnam highly depends on the region. Here’s a quick breakdown for you:

• North Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay):
  • Best time: October to April
  • Avoid: May to September
• Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue, Phong Nha):
  • Best time: February to May
  • Avoid: September to December
• South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc):
  • Best time: December to April
  • Avoid: May to November

Here are some of the must-try dishes you can’t miss when in Vietnam:

• Pho: Vietnam’s most iconic noodle soup, made with a fragrant broth, rice noodles, and either beef or chicken. 
• Bún Cha: A Hanoi specialty – grilled pork served with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and a sweet-savory dipping sauce. 
• Bánh Mì: A French-inspired baguette sandwich stuffed with a mix of meats, pickled veggies, herbs, and chili. Our favorite!
• Cao Lau: Found mainly in Hoi An, this dish features thick noodles, pork, and fresh greens, all soaked in a light broth (our second favorite!)

• Crossing the street is an art form here! Walk slowly and steadily, and the sea of scooters will flow around you (somehow).
• Avoid drinking tap water. Stick to bottled water or bring a reusable bottle with a filter if you want to cut down on plastic.
• Vietnam is relatively conservative, so dress modestly when visiting temples or rural areas. Shoes off when entering someone’s home or  temples!
• Always have local cash with you! We recommend using a travel debit card such as Wise to withdrawal local money straight from ATMs with the lowest fees.