Here are some tips on what to do during your trip to Vietnam:
1. Basic costs
Okay, let’s start by tackling a topic that terrifies most budget travelers like me. The good news is that Vietnam can be very economical if you know how to calculate your expenses well, but, like many Asian countries, everything seems to be so cheap that without realizing it we spend it and at the end of the day there is that regret for having spent on the that we didn’t need. Here are some tips for saving:
- Currency: The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong and I recommend making your purchases with cash. ATMs charge a percentage of the withdrawal amount, in addition to your bank’s costs, so I recommend withdrawing half of the stipulated amount for the trip and the other half later. At least it helped me control spending.
- Accommodation: it is possible to find hostels and resorts for very low prices, ranging from one to five dollars, depending a lot on the city and region where you are. Pay attention to the location of your hostel, sometimes staying in a cheaper establishment, but totally out of the way, ends up being more expensive if you count on the cost of locomotion. Which brings us to the next tip.
- Grab: service equivalent to Uber, but with the option to request a grab bike. Riding a scooter in Vietnam is a wonderful experience, but if you don’t have much experience, especially in places with more chaotic traffic, go with a grab bike, which is much cheaper than the conventional car.
- Locomotion: the most economical, practical and common way to travelwithin Vietnam is by bus. The famous overnight sleeper buses with small berths allow you to travel at night, saving you time and money. And if you, like me, have the ability to sleep anywhere, opt for this option. Many travelers question the issue of safety and the occurrence of various accidents on the road, but in my experience, I have felt extremely safe on all my trips. If you are still afraid, take the train. Many travel by scooter, which is even more dangerous, but the scenery along the coast is breathtaking! Personally, as I am a cycling lover, if I had more time, I would definitely make the trip by bike. For the bus it is not necessary to buy the ticket in advance, this will allow you incredible flexibility to explore the country.
- Language: the official language is Vietnamese and rarely Mandarin, but don’t worry! Like most places, they are used to tourists and even if they don’t speak fluent English, a little mime and translation apps are enough. I stayed at a B&B in Halong Bay and the owner of the establishment didn’t speak a word of English and very little Mandarin, but we spent a few days chatting through the help of translation apps amid the wonderful dinners she served.
- Food: Food in Vietnam is extremely affordable and delicious. If you have the opportunity to travel from north to south, you will notice the difference between the flavors and even more if you make friends and can enjoy homemade food. Escape the restaurants and try the most diverse typical dishes sitting in the chairs that look like a child on the street.
2. What to eat?
Following are the 5 most popular Vietnamese dishes:
- Banh Mi: sandwich consisting of baguette stuffed with some protein option, it can be chicken, beef or pork, with pickled vegetables, sweet and sour sauces with the option of being spicy or not, cilantro and other fresh herbs. The filling and flavor varies from region to region, but the best I’ve tried have been in northern Vietnam.
- Pho: One of the most famous dishes without a doubt, Pho is a rice noodle dish with beef or chicken soup. The soup has deep, complex flavors and is light at the same time, great both in the cold and under the scorching humid summer. Served with mint leaves, lemon and bean sprouts.
- Goi Cuon: Pork or shrimp roll with herbs and vegetables wrapped in a rice leaf, accompanied by a delicious peanut sauce. Perfect to face the Vietnamese heat.
- Banh Cuon: pancakes made of rice flour stuffed with ground pork and mushrooms, accompanied by a fish sauce.
- Bun Cha: Pho is definitely the most popular dish in Vietnam, but Bun Cha is the preferred choice for lunch. The dish basically consists of grilled pork served with a fish stew, herbs, fresh vegetables and rice noodles.
3. Hanoi
Contrary to popular belief, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, not Saigon. Strongly influenced by Chinese and French culture, visible in architecture, Hanoi is famous mainly for gastronomy.
As it is considered the second-largest Vietnamese city, I recommend spending more time in Hanoi to get used to the chaotic traffic, learn to cross the street without waiting for cars and motorcycles to stop, because they never stop and, believe me, if you ride with Caution, the chance of an accident occurring is minimal.
4. Halong Bay
Anyone who knows me knows what I think about typically touristy places. Halong Bay is beautiful, yes, but I expected much more from it as they talk about the place so much, not to mention the higher cost of tour packages. Besides the port and the typical boat trip, there is not much else to explore in the city. If you want to stay longer to experience the gastronomy and nightlife, one night is enough.
Many take a day trip from Hanoi, but I recommend heading to Cat Ba from Halong.
5. Cat Ba
If you’re a nature lover and find Hanoi a little too chaotic, Cat Ba will let you breathe a sigh of relief again.
The island has everything to offer, from beaches, caves and forests to explore. Vietnam has grown a lot in recent years touristy and several places are still untouched, which is the case of this island. Much less bombarded by tourists, here you will be able to get in touch with nature, practice water sports, hiking and relax.
6. Ninh Binh
Still far from the chaos and in contact with nature, Ninh Binh is a mandatory stop if you are looking for breathtaking landscapes.
The boat tour to see the mountain scenery in Tam Coc is definitely the main tourist spot, but try staying in Trang An, especially if you are looking for more affordable prices and away from tourist areas.
Trang An is just a few minutes from Tam Coc and the city is an option to put your scooter aside and explore the region by bike. The landscape is breathtaking! No movie or stories about the country will prepare you to see such natural beauty.
7. Phong Nha
Visit the caves at Phong Nha, even if you’re not a nature fan. The “center” of the city is basically just a main street with all the main accommodations, bus stop, restaurants, markets and ATM.
The main program is to visit the caves and grottos , and to visit all of them, at least four days are required. If you don’t have that much time, I recommend Paradise Cave. Avoid the package tours, rent a scooter and go early in the morning, avoiding the tourist groups. On the way back, it’s worth a stop at Phong Nha Cave, accessible only by boat.
8. Hue
Most travelers skip this small town because it’s not that famous, but Hue was a pleasant surprise. The town is small, with all the sights that can be reached on foot, or better yet, by bike. Visit the imperial city by day and be dazzled by its history, visit it again at night and see it lit up in shades of green, blue, pink, purple, yellow and orange.
Let yourself be carried away and transported by the buildings, so well preserved that they seem to have stopped in time, but go by bike or on foot. During the weekend the city center closes to pedestrian traffic, full of street performers, music and food.
9. Hai Van Pass
The famous road that connects the city of Hue to Da Nang, the place is famous for the Hai Van Tunnel and for offering a majestic view of the lush mountains, a blue sky and the bay of Da Nang. The tour takes around three to five hours by scooter, depending on whether you stop to enjoy the seafood restaurants and typical Vietnamese coffee along the coast. Despite the breathtaking view, many travelers choose not to do the stretch because of the high accident rate, but go carefully and you won’t regret the experience.
10. Da Nang
This city promises to offer you a little bit of everything. Less touristy, with great growth potential, Da Nang is among one of many cities with strong investments in expansion. It has great diversity and gastronomic authenticity through its streets in the center, the famous Golden Bridge and a beach, all less than 30 minutes away by scooter.
The beach is full of restaurants, typical Vietnamese food stalls that come to life at night, super affordable accommodation and, best of all, it is not very frequented during the day, great for diving, a beautiful sunset and perfect for a night out. moonlight.
