Vietnam travel tips
Vietnam is among the most popular travel destinations for Australians, and it’s not just about the soup.
A mix of stunning landscapes, gorgeous beaches, friendly locals and excellent value for money, ensure this Southeast Asian gem remains popular with Aussies.
We’ve put together a few travel tips to help you prepare for your Vietnam adventure.
Money talks
Vietnamese bank notes come in what seem to be whopping denominations – up to 500,000 VND (Vietnamese Dong). However, that five-hundred grand note in your pocket is only worth about AU$29 at the time of writing.
When dealing in unfamiliar currencies, it’s always wise to check your change, and the locals won’t mind at all. Unlike Oz, where handling money is a covert operation, the Vietnamese will quite openly handle and count huge wads of cash.
While a credit card will get you hotel rooms, meals, attractions tickets and fancy trinkets in major tourist centres, cash is still king throughout much of the country. Street vendors, smaller restaurants and cafes will almost certainly prefer cash.
When paying by card, you may be given the choice of being charged in your home currency or VND. It’s generally accepted that paying in VND will be cheaper. ATMs are easy to find throughout the country, but be aware that cash withdrawal charges vary between banks, and you’ll likely be hit with charges from your bank at home as well.
Some Australian and international banks offer more attractive debit and credit card charges and exchange rates, so do your research before leaving home. If you choose to convert AUD to VND at local banks or money changers, be sure your Aussie notes are in tip-top condition. Damaged money either won’t be accepted or may attract a lesser exchange rate.
Let me drive
Vietnamese traffic must be seen to be believed. Although it seems mayhem rules – and to some extent it does – there’s some order to the chaos. First up, big vehicles win. Buses, trucks, vans and cars barrel down the middle of rural roads, leaving motorcyclists to head for the verge.
Tailgating is just a driving technique, and vehicles will overtake in situations where we foreigners might suggest the road ahead isn’t clear. But the locals know how it all works, and again, big wins. City traffic – particularly during peak hour – is mesmerising. A seething mass of motorcycles and assorted vehicles somehow get where they’re going, simply by nudging their way through the throng.
Foreigners considering having a crack at this motoring melee please take note. To drive a car or ride a motorcycle over 50cc, you must hold a Vietnamese driver’s licence. International Driving Permits (IDP) issued in Australia aren’t valid in Vietnam.
While we’re party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, Vietnam follows the 1968 Convention, which involves a different IDP. If you hit the road without the proper licence, your travel insurance is unlikely to cover you if you crash.
If you’re planning to ride a motorcycle with a tour company, make sure you’re covered by their policy.
Grab me an Uber
The most common Vietnamese rideshare companies are Grab, with its green livery, and the (usually) blue EVs of Xanh SM. Both have apps that can be used to order a variety of car sizes, or a motorcycle pillion service.
Hi mum, it’s me
International roaming using your Australian phone sim card could cost you the deposit on a mid-sized home. Instead, buy a prepaid sim before leaving home or get a local sim.
Buying a Vietnamese sim is easy and relatively cheap, and you’ll find a variety of sim plans on offer at international airports and local telcos. It pays to compare deals because costs and data allowances vary.
You’ll see enthusiastic sim sellers near immigration at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport and again as you leave the terminal. The ones near the exit are usually cheaper.
The bill
Most restaurants (nhà hàng) and cafés (quán) are old school when it comes to the bill. Paying after the meal is standard while paying when you order is rare, and usually only occurs in fast-food places and shopping centre eateries.
After you’ve slurped through a steaming bowl of phở and chugged down an avocado smoothie, the universal finger-squiggle on your palm will usually do the trick. Or, in tourist areas, “The bill, please.” Tipping isn’t expected in Vietnam but the locals won’t be disappointed if you do.
Greetings
Getting even a loose handle on Vietnamese greetings and kinship terms would take at least a three-minute video – and here it is. The Vietnamese rarely use a first name without combining it with an appropriate kinship term.
The standard greeting is Chào, followed by a first name, kinship term, or a combination of both. In a quirky twist, the English greeting ‘hello’ is understood throughout the country because it’s how locals answer the phone.
In an even more freakish twist, the word “ơi,” as hollered at the end of the chant, “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”, is the Vietnamese word for ‘hey!’