planning a trip to
Vietnam
Here is what you need to know: Vietnam travel guide
Vietnam is one of the best destinations in Asia for all type of traveller. We spent 3-week there in 2023 and we had an amazing time.
Weather in unpredictable and there is a kind of general mist over all country yet it is really warm. Also, Vietnam is super long, so the country has 3 different climates.
We visited the north and the center of Vietnam, and we experienced cities, rice fields, ruins… Vietnam had it all. From bustling city to quiet hike passing by historical place and even beaches.
About
Vietnam commonly abbreviated VN is officially known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV). With an area of 331,212 square kilometres and population of 99 million, it is the world’s fifteenth-most populous country.
Vietnam went through prolonged warfare in the 20th century. After World War II, France returned to reclaim colonial power in the First Indochina War, from which Vietnam emerged victorious in 1954. As a result of the treaties signed between the Viet Minh and France, Vietnam was also separated into two parts. The Vietnam War began shortly after, between the communist North, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and the anti-communist South, supported by the United States.
Vietnam was part of Indochina, a French colony made of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Vietnam flag colors include red and yellow with special meanings. According to the designer Nguyen Huu Tien, the red background represents blood – a symbol of bloodshed, struggle and the success of revolution, while the yellow foreground represents “the color of our race’s skin”. The five points of the central star stands for the five principal classes composing the political front – businessmen, farmers, workers, intellectuals and military
If you are a coffee lover, you may be surprised to discover that Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world today, after Brazil. Coffee was first introduced to Vietnam by the French and planted in highland areas in the 1800s with annual production capacity reaching at that time only about 80 tones. Coffer production has continued to increase after the Vietnam War. In recent years, Vietnam has produced more than 1 million tonnes per year.
On your first arrival in mega cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, the first amazing fact you’ll most likely notice is that motorbikes are everywhere. We really mean it. While the population of Vietnam is about 92 million people, it is estimated that there were about 45 million registered motorbikes in 2016. This means there is a motorbike for every other person. Vietnam remains one of the world’s largest motorbike markets. On the other hand, roughly 2 million cars are used in the country. The car is considered a luxury property of wealthy people because car tax in Vietnam is about 200-300%
Vietnamese cuisine is characterized by endless variety and extraordinary flavours. Banh mi and pho are two Vietnamese words that go directly into Oxford Dictionary instead of being translated into English. The former is the signature sandwich that is getting more and more popular with people around the world
What to expect?
Language: The official language is Vietnamese. And though English will get you around travelling, one of the struggles in Vietnam is to have a conversation with someone. Their English is enough to get you around but not to have a real discussion.
Food: Vietnamese food is just amazing, and you can easily find vegetarian and vegan option everywhere. Though, lots of food is deep-fried making it not the healthiest one. In Vietnam, the best is to eat out as prices are quite low.
Transportation: The best way to move from one part to another is to fly. Main cities are all connected with direct flight. To move within a region, there are always options for van, buses or even train. Most train and buses having sleeper option.
Money: The currency in Vietnam is the Dong. Rates changes, but at the time we were there 1€ was worth 23 500 to 25 000 Dong. Most places accept credit card and many ATM can be found around, unfortunately there is a fee on them. The best ATM are Agribank where you can get 3 000 000 Dong for a fee of 22 000. Also, if you pay by credit card, there will be a fee of 2 to 4% (government law).
Plugs: The plugs in Vietnam are type A, C, D. The standard voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50hz.Same as Europe.
Safety: Vietnam is a pretty safe country for all type of travelers. You may want to be careful about pickpocket in big cities but even that is lower than most other countries.
Vietnam travel guide
