Vietnam Travel FAQs

Do and Do Not:

Vietnamese people are very gracious, polite and generous and will make every effort to make guests feel comfortable. Do not be surprised if somebody you have just met invites you home to meet the family and friends. These are the experiences that will enrich your visit to Vietnam.

General Advice About Travelling in Vietnam :

From the worker’s simple outfits in the rice fields to western style business suits in the city, the Vietnamese are conservative in their dress. Visitors wearing shorts are tolerated, even though you may see many shirtless Vietnamese men in shorts.

Wear conservative clothing if you visit a culturally sensitive area such as a temple or pagoda — the less bare skin the better.

Keep in mind that, although tolerant, people may be judgmental. Unfortunately you cannot expect hospitality at every turn and you may experience problems with petty theft and pick pockets. This is more prevalent in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Nha Trang. In other areas, especially in the north, reports of these activities are extremely minimal. It is not something to be paranoid about but be aware of your surroundings.

Below is a list of do’s and don’ts to help you avoid some of the social taboos during your visit. Take heed of these pointers and you will be rewarded with a culturally and socially enriching experience.

What You Should Do :

Store your cash, credit cards, airline tickets and other valuables in a safe place. Most 4-star hotels have in-room safes, otherwise ask the reception to keep your valuable things in their deposit facility.

Take a hotel business card from the reception desk before venturing out from your hotel. This will make your return to the hotel in a taxi or cyclo much easier.

Carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack on long excursions from your base hotel. You never know when you might need it!

Dress appropriately. Not only for the prevailing weather, but also not to cause offence to the local people. Vietnamese have conservative dress codes, and it is only in larger cities that these codes are a little more relaxed. Do not wear revealing clothing.

Drink plenty of bottled water. During the summer months you should be drinking a minimum of 2 litres per day. If you drink tea, coffee and alcohol you should increase you water intake accordingly as these will help to dehydrate you.

If invited into a Vietnamese home, always remove your shoes at the front door when entering.

Ask for permission when taking a photograph of someone. If they indicate that they do not want you to, then abide by their wishes.

Things Not To Do in Vietnam

Offer money or push the issue.

Never carry more money than you need when walking around the streets.

Do not wear large amounts of jewellery. There are two reasons for not doing this (1) It is considered impolite to flaunt wealth in public; (2) It is more likely that you may become a victim of a pickpocket or drive-by bag snatcher.

Don’t be paranoid about your security, just be aware of your surroundings.

Don’t wear singlets, shorts, dresses or skirts, or tops with low-neck lines and bare shoulders to Temples and Pagodas. To do this is considered extremely rude and offensive.

Avoid giving empty water bottles, sweets and candies or pens to the local people when trekking through ethnic minority villages. You cannot guarantee that the empty bottles will be disposed of in a correct manner, and the people have no access to dental health. If you want to give pens, ask your guide to introduce you to the local teacher and donate them to the whole community.

Never sleep or sit with the soles of your feet pointing towards the family altar when in someone’s house.

Never lose your temper in public or when bargaining for a purchase. This is considered a serious loss of face for both parties. Always maintain a cool and happy demeanour and you will be reciprocated with the same.

Do not try to take photographs of military installations or anything to do with the military. This can be seen as a breach of national security.

Never take video cameras into the ethnic minority villages. They are considered to be too intrusive by the local people.

The above advice is meant to help you have a perfect trip to Vietnam.

Do not be overly paranoid though. Generally, Vietnamese people are very appreciative if they see you trying to abide by their customs, and very forgiving if you get it wrong or forget. If you make the effort, you will be rewarded

Vietnam’s climate is generally hot and humid. In the central and southern. Vietnam, seasonal variations are slight and marked only by a dry and a wet period. the average daily temperatures in Mekong Delta range from 17 – 34ºC. ( 63 to 93 F ) in January and from 22 to 33ºC.( 72 to 91 F) in July.

Along the central coast, temperatures range from18 to 28ºC. ( 64 to 83 F ) in January and from 24 to 37ºC.(76 to 99 F)in July. the northern plains experience greater seasonal variations and generally have cooler night time temperatures. The average daily temperatures at Hanoi, for example, range from 13 to 20ºC.(56 to 68 F) in January and from 25ºC. to 33ºC.(78 to 91 F) in July.

In general, rainfall is plentiful throughout the country, although most precipitation in southern and central Vietnam occurs during the summer months when monsoon winds sweep in from the sea. the Mekong delta has the longest rainy season, typicallasting from May to October. central Vietnam receives heavy precipitation from Sep to Dec. the average annual rainfall is about 1680 mm(66in) in the red river delta , 1650mm (65in) along the central coast and 1980mm (78in) in Mekong delta. Typhoon periodically strike the central coast, and in recent years one have caused considerable loss of life and destructionof cropland

When is the best time to Visit Vietnam?

Winter season lasts from November to April in the North with temperatures averaging 16 degree centigrade. The rest of the year is considered summer time with heavy rainfalls and occasional storms.

The rainy season lasts from May to October in the south. However, it only rarely rains the whole day. It gets dry after rainfall as quickly as it comes. The dry season is generally from November to April.

The central parts of Vietnam are affected by the South West monsoon season coming from Laos during May.

June experiences a muggy heat and sometimes produces typhoons and tropical storms.

During November and December there is sometimes long lasting rains. Despite of this fact, the months of November and December are constantly considered the peak period for incoming tourists.

January and February are still occasionally cloudy and rainy.

The best time for a long tour from North to South Vietnam would be from January till April. For those who wish beach holidays can come to enjoy warm water and sunshine in the central coast during summer time, from May to October.

Need a visa to enter Vietnam?

Yes, except citizens of a few countries is with visa exemption: most Asian countries, Korea, Japan & Scandinavians (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland).
All other citizens are required to have a Vietnamese visa before departure or a pre-approved entry visa supplied before arrival in Vietnam by your Vietnam Immigration Office

Tourist visas:

You are highly recomended to apply tourist visa to vietnam in your home country. it’s very easy and simple. You just ask any travel agent in your home country to arrange a tourist visa for you and buy a tourist backage to vietnam or go directly to the consulate/Embassy to apply tourist visa.

Business visas:

There are advantages to having a business visa: it’s usually valid for three or six months, it can be issued for multiple entries and you are permitted to work.
getting business visa has now become fairly easy. some travel agencies that organize tourist visa and also orgainize business visa. the main draw back is the cost, a business visa cost about 4 times what you’d pay for a tourist visa. trying to optain the visa yourself through a vietnamese embassy will probly be more trouble than it’s worth-it’s better to let a travel agent handle it

Re-entry visas:

It’s theoretically possible to enter combodia,Laos or any other country from vietnam and then re-enter without having toapply for another visa. However, you must apply for a re-entry visa before you leave vietnam.you’ll be given a receipt and confirmation number to pick up the visa in the country you areheaded to. if you do not have a re-entry visa you’ll have to go through the whole expensivea and time-consuming procedure of applying for a new Vietnamese visa

Student visas:

A student visa is something you usually arrange after your arrival. it’s acceptable to enter vietnam on a tourist visa. enrol in a Vietnamese language course and then apply at the immigration police for a change in status. of course, students do have to pay tuition and are expected to attend classes for a mininum of 10 hours per week to qualify for student status. A student visa holder can offically only work up to 10 hours per week

Visa extension:

This service is available at all travel agencies In theory, you should be able to exlend your visa in any provincial capital. In practice, it goes smothlest in major cities. Such as HCM city, Hanoi, Danang and Hue, which caterto mass tourism

Is it a good idea to take gifts?

Giving small gifts to those who have performed a special service or with whom you have a working relationship is greatly appreciated. Anything from your local area, such as cakes, sweets, chinaware or photo books or calendars, is a good idea. Otherwise, inexpensive make-up, perfume, jewellery and pretty toiletries go down well with women, while men will prefer pens, cigarette lighters, imported cigarettes, whisky or other spirits and car / biking magazines. For children, obviously small toys such as inflatable playground balls and skipping ropes are popular and easy to transport. Or how about drawing books / pads of paper and pencils or crayons, erasers, model cars, small-size T-shirts and other clothes.

When presenting gifts, don’t expect effusive thanks as this isn’t Vietnamese style. Whatever their reaction, you can be sure that the gift was appreciated.

Should I bargain for everything?

Almost everything is negotiable in Vietnam (with the notable exception of meals) and bargaining is very much part of the Vietnamese way of life. All tourists are regarded as wealthy – which we are compared to most locals – but that doesn’t mean you’ll always be quoted an outrageous price; small shopkeepers and restaurateurs will often charge you the local rate.

When bargaining it helps if you know some Vietnamese numbers and have a general idea of the going rate for the item. Otherwise, the trick is to remain friendly, be realistic and make the process fun. If you manage to reduce the price by 40%, you’re doing well. In most cases it’ll be more like 10-20%.
A common ploy is to start moving away if you’re on the verge of agreement. But don’t bargain just for the sake of it. If your price is agreed, then you are honour bound to purchase. And always keep a sense of perspective: don’t waste time and energy haggling over what only amounts to a few cents.

What sort of souvenirs are available to bring home?

Vietnam has a good variety of lightweight, transportable souvenirs. You’ll find them on sale in all the main tourist areas, though Hanoi and HCMC probably offer the greatest variety.

Silk is probably high on most people’s list, either tailored or as uncut cloth. Hoi An, in central Vietnam, has become the place to get clothes made, but you’ll also find good tailors in Hanoi along Hang Gai and in HCMC. Beautifully embroidered cottons are another popular choice, as are printed T-shirts in a whole range of designs.

Traditional craft items include lacquerware, items decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, conical hats, carvings made of cinnamon and camphor wood, bronze Buddhist bells and musical instruments. A water puppet also makes a nice memento. Fabrics from the various ethnic minorities are either sold in lengths or made into bags, purses or skull-caps. Minority groups in the south produce wonderful basketry and bamboo pipes.

Vietnam has a thriving fine arts scene, with some artists commanding substantial sums, though you need to be wary of fakes. Galleries in Hanoi, HCMC, Hue and Hoi An also show works by lesser-known artists at more affordable prices. Look out also for lovely, hand-painted greetings cards.

Note that export restrictions apply to all items deemed to be of “cultural or historical significance”, including works of art and anything over 50 years old. To take any such item out of the country you’ll need an export license. Even if it’s a modern reproduction it might be worth getting clearance anyway, since customs officials aren’t necessarily very discriminating.

Transportation in Vietnam

What means of transportation is available for traveling Vietnam?

Travel in Vietnam is easier than it used to be. Means of transportation are usually very comfortable. Routine travel in Vietnam between major cities and tour destinations is generally comfortable and hassle free as well. Independent travelers will sometimes be required local knowledge for a decent level of comfort.

By air: You can get almost anywhere while visiting Vietnam, but scheduled flights to some Vietnam travel destinations are few and late changes in aircraft type can impact travel plans.

By train: Rail is still slow. The rail network is limited. Lines run between Hanoi – Saigon, Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hekou (China) – Kunming (China), Hanoi – Langson – Beijing (China). The train to China departs from Hanoi train station. You can join the train to Kunming at the Lao Cai station, but you can only join the train to Beijing from Hanoi. The train stations for some Vietnam travel destinations can be literally in the middle of nowhere. The rolling-stock is generally serviceable, but old and spartan by western standards.

By local bus: Bus travel used to be available only packed sardine-style into hot and stuffy, smoke belching reject Russian 40-seaters with bicycles, motorbikes and maybe the odd pig strapped to the roof. For the true adventurer only! These buses are still around and popular with the locals (tickets are dirt cheap).
However, there is now a system of privately owned buses, open-tour buses, minivans (usually 12, 15 or 16-seaters) connecting most sizeable population centers with neighboring towns and cities. Ask your travel consultants at Origin how to get to your next travel destination by minivan.
In most of the cities you can find cyclo or xe om for transferring around, negotiation for prices before you jump on is a must in Vietnamese Dong.

Bicycle or motorbike rentals can be found in major cities of interest, like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh or Hue, Hoi An, but make sure that you understand the traffic rules before riding.
On Foot: You may need to learn how to cross city streets, especially in Saigon and Hanoi. City traffic in Vietnam is like “water on wheels”, It is constantly moving on and flowing around everything in its path. The daytime traffic never stops. People are always on the move.

How is train travel in Vietnam?

Traveling by train is a good option to see the whole of Vietnam. There is a direct rail from North (Hanoi) to South (HCM). We can not compare trains here in Vietnam with trains in Europe, but the trains are good condition, with the newer trains equipped with modern air-conditioned coaches and sleeper seats for the popular overnight routes. Running not faster than bus but much safer, Origin suggests, whenever there are options with train, taking it for your travel in Vietnam.
The major routes are the North – South train that links Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, serving most popular destinations along the way, and trains North from Hanoi to t(Sapa) and beyond to Beijing and China. The Northwest and Northeast, including Lao Cai

Travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and vise-versa

Vietnam ’s Reunification Express (Thong Nhat) is the main train line running between North and South, connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and stopping at many destinations along the coast, including Hue, Danang, and Nha Trang. The train trip from Hanoi to HCMC is 1,726 km (1,070 miles), taking more than 30 hours, although few people do it in one long journey without stops along the way.
The two major types of trains are the: SE (SE1-SE6) and TN (TN3-TN10). In general, the SE trains are the better trains with modern air-conditioned coaches and larger windows, as well as a restaurant car.

Travel between Hanoi and Lao Cai (Sapa)

From Hanoi, there are also trains that run northwest or northeast with border crossings into China (please click here for more information on trains to and from China).
A popular route is between Hanoi and Lao Cai, which is the closest train station to the tourist destination of Sapa. The trip from Hanoi to Lao Cai takes about 10 hours, with most choosing to do an overnight trip. There is a number of tourist trains that run daily from Hanoi to Lao Cai and back, including Viet Royal, Tulico, Ratraco, all with air-conditioned soft sleeper cabins which are comfortable, although not luxurious. For a luxury option, the Victoria Sapa has its own luxury cabins on the train for those that will stay at their hotel.

Which are the international airports in Vietnam? Airport taxes in Vietnam?

Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi (in the North), Vietnam
Location: The airport is situated 28 miles (45km) north of Hanoi.
Time: GMT +7.
Transfer to the city: Airport minibuses and metered taxis are available outside arrivals for transport to the city centre. Make sure the taxi driver is wearing an official name badge and that the meter is on. Cost of a taxi is about $10 USD.
Departure tax: US$14 for foreign adults, $7 for foreign children under 12, payable in dollars or dong.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon (in the South), Vietnam
Location: The airport is situated four miles (7km) from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Time: GMT +7.
Transfer to the city: Minibuses and metered taxis are available for transport to the city centre. Make sure the driver is wearing an official name badge and that the metre is on. Most hotels can arrange transport for arriving passengers, but visitors should organize this in advance. Cost is usually about $10 USD.
Departure tax: US$14 for foreign adults, $7 for foreign children under 12, payable in dollars or dong.

Danang > Danang (Center)

Cat Bi > Hai Phong (North, near Halong Bay)

Can we travel by local bus?

If you plan to get more of a local experience then you can travel by local bus. There are public bus stations in all Vietnam cities and towns, but we do not recommend traveling on these buses.
There are many reasons for this. The safety is not to a standard that we feel is sufficient for our guests, and the standard of the bus alone is one that is dire need of attention. Finally, the safe driving sense is one that is not practiced by the drivers of these buses.

How about the Open bus?

Same as the train from North to South and vise versa, the open bus is often a good choice for budget travelers. The open-tour buses cover most of the popular destinations between the North and South, and travelers can stop whenever they want for as long as they want in each destination along the way.

How many domestic airports are there in Vietnam?

Here are the list of all the domestic airports in Vietnam:

When are the public holidays in Vietnam?

January 1: New Year’s Day
January / February: Tet or Vietnamese New Year. The actual dates vary from year to year according to the lunar calendar. Officially 4 days holiday but many businesses close down for a full week. This is the busiest time of the year for traveling in Vietnam and hotels, flights and trains are often full.

April 30: Liberation of Saigon Day
May 1: International Labour Day
September 2: National Day

Day 10 of the 3rd lunar month: Traditional holiday commemorating the mythical Hùng Kings
Note: As in most other nations, if a holiday falls during the weekend, it is observed on the following Monday.On those days, Originvietnam will close for our holidays too, please contact us if you need more information

What Should Bring to Vietnam

It is best to travel light in Vietnam. One medium sized bag and a day pack will provide more than enough room to carry everything you’ll need, and enough space for the things you’ll buy in Vietnam.
There are lots of consumer goods in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, so do not worry about running out of something and if you do forget something you can find it here. Before you leave home complete the following checklist:
Lightweight and quick dry clothing is most appropriate for the summer months and warmer clothing for the winter months, sun hat, swim suit, ultra lightweight rain jacket.

Travel Documents:

Passport, Visa, Travel Insurance, Air Tickets (you should scan them and email them to yourself incase you loose them)

Health requirements, medications, and travel insurance arranged.

Flashlight, alarm clock, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, small personal first aid kit, personal toiletries

Money: US dollars or travelers cheques and/or credit card.

Raincoat or umbrella, good hiking shoes for Origin Vietnam trekking trips

Cable locks or padlock for luggage

Camera with charge

How far is that from Hanoi to Halong Bay?

HaLong Bay is located 170 km away from Hanoi, this would take you about 3 – 3.5 hours on bus transfer to Halong city, bus trip normally leaves Hanoi by 8.30 am.
We will be hitting the road for Halong Bay through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

What do we have to bring with us to the boat?

* Passport
* Sun cream, insect repellent
* Small changes for buying drinks on boat
* Swim-suit and changes
* Your own towels (though we have towels available)
* Good camera with lots of films or memory space
* A sense of adventures

When is the best time to visit Halong?

Summer is a good time to cruise on Halong Bay but the best time of year is during the spring or fall. Because the bay is situated in the northern part of the country, it can get colder in the fall and winter, and though you won’t see extremes such as blizzards, it’s still a lousy place to be when it gets cold.

Tip: You should bring a swim suit with you, night’s swim in the phosphorescent water is also very nice (must be before your drinks)

How if the weather turns very bad?

Origin Travel often see the weather forecast, if the weather turns bad, we have to call our clients to inform the situation whether it’s safe to go. Same with Halong Bay, we work closely with our captains and will inform you before you leave Hanoi to Halong Bay so that you do not waste the day traveling on road.
If the weather turns bad while you are cruising, we could anchor our junk at the hidden places, this is normally safe and Origin has not witnessed any bad weather that we have to hide in a cave.

Is one day trip to Halong Bay worth to visit?

Halong Bay is so beautiful that one could not miss; though 3 hours drive each way is a bit long for somebody. You will get about 4 hours on Original cruise, which is just enough for you to get an overview of what is Halong. We suggest that you drive to Halong city and sleep in the hotel the night before, so you would have a longer time on the Bay, more cruise, more caves, and more swimming.

Tip: To see Halong and its all, you should plan a 2 days trip with Origin Vietnam. Please contact Origin Vietnam travel consultants to know more about this.

Can we travel from Hai Phong to Halong?

Yes, you can! If you are already there in Hai Phong, you can call Origin Travel to have a car and guide pick you up from there and drive to , which should be less than 1,5 hours.
Or you can plan a trip with Origin from Hanoi to Hai Phong city, do the sightseeing, spend the night there then move onto Halong on the next morning.

Tip: There is a good road linking Hai Phong and Cat Ba island (South of Halong Bay), you could also travel with Original Vietnam via this way, then have our junk welcome you on Cat Ba port to visit Lan Ha bay and Halong Bay.

Do you have life jackets on boat?

Yes, that is one requirement for any boat/junk in Halong Bay.

Tip: If you do not see this when boarding the junk, please ask for the instruction from the crew member or our captain.

What do we have to bring with us to the boat?

Yes you do have to bring it with you on boat and please provide us your full names, gender, passport number, visa expire date before your departure to Halong Bay.

Tip: Each boat/junk has it own safety box, please do leave your valuable belongings in this safety box so that you can have more fun visiting cave, swimming…

What kind of boat do you use?

There are many types of boats/junks in Halong Bay, we often use the small Chinese wooden junks for your private tours that combine classic beauty with modern comfort. These junks for overnight trip is often with very fine cabins, one restaurant and a very spacious top deck area with reclining chairs for you to enjoy Halong and the sound of silence.

What kind of food on boat in Halong Bay?

Most of the meals offered with seafood as Halong Bay specialty is seafood; there is lots of sea dishes combined with traditional Vietnamese food, I’m sure you will like the food on boat, if you are allergic with seafood, please inform your meal preference to our tour operator before your departure to Halong Bay.

How about seasick on boat?

If you look on Vietnam map, you will see Halong lies on the Tonkin Gulf with lots of island that made up Halong Bay. With its calm water, Halong Bay really acts as a shield that stops all the violent wave, so it’s hard to get sea sick in Halong Bay.
Only some of the routes that the junks cruise can be close to open sea that the junk was swinging up and down. But once the junk was surrounded by Halong Bay unique limestone islands, it became stable again.

Tip: When the junk gets swinging, do not walk around on boat to avoid seasick.

Where does the boat anchor at night time?

Afternoon cruise to see the hidden wonders of Halong Bay, Origin ’s captain will find a suitable place (within the allowance areas) to anchor for the night, this place is normally inside the very calm bay surrounded by the islands.

Tip: Before we drop the anchor for the night, you will probably see the sunset so get your camera ready to take these wonderful moments.

Can we sleep outside on the top deck of the boat?

Yes, it is very nice to sleep outside there on the top-deck but please check this with our tour guide or the junk’s captain if the weather is fine to sleep outside. To note that we have very fine cabins designed with comforts of everything needed for a good sleep: natural rubber mattress, blanket, feather pillows and mosquito net and we can not bring this outside for you.

Tip: That night we all stayed up drinking talking about home and watching the shooting stars from the top deck. It was a wonderful time!

if you have any further question please mail us, We will answer to you by email then we’ll up date for the other travellers