Vietnam Travel Tips

Health and security matters are obviously high on the agenda for safe holidays. Neither is a major issue on a Vietnam holiday, but some basic commonsense strategies can prevent problems.

Within tourist areas, a wide range of food acceptable to the international palate is freely available, restaurant is usually clean and menus often have English translations. Elsewhere, the variety is far less, dishes and menus are often unrecognizable and preparation and eating areas are a long way from international standard of hygiene. Having said that, few visitors seem suffer food-related illness during their stay.

Vietnamese food is mostly nutritious and healthy. Cooking methods are confined to grilling, frying, boiling and steaming, as oven is not used. The staple is rice, either as grain or flour. Vietnam has wide variety of soft drinks, ranging from ‘Coke’ and ‘Pepsi’ produced here under licensed to locally produced fizzy drinks and ‘energy-boosting’ concoctions.

It is best to assume that tap water is risky throughout Vietnam. Bottled water, soft drinks and beer are freely available and cheap. Ice is generally made from boiled water, and should be OK, but it might be wise to avoid it if you have a sensitive stomach. It isn’t a major inconvience – large refrigerators are commonplace, so chilled drinks are easily obtained.

Gestures need to particular attention. In the West, it is commonplace for people to cross their fingers to invoke good luck. In Vietnam, this gesture represents the female genitalia and is the ultimate obscene gesture. Its inadvertent use, however well intentioned, will provoke considerable offence.

Vietnamese traffic drives on the right (mostly) and has a somewhat cavalier regard for road safety. Pedestrian crossings, where they exist, are almost invariably ignored, so visitors need to exercise care. The best technique is to wait for a lull in the traffic, and then walk steadily and purposefully across the road – on coming bicycles and vehicles will move to one side to avoid a pedestrian. Hopping about trying to avoid the traffic makes an accident more likely.

The Vietnamese currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). It is non-convertible, and is currently trading at approximately 16,000 VND to US$1.00. The largest denomination of notes in general circulation is 500,000 VND. The rate of inflation against the dollar is low. Currently, S$1.00 is equivalent to 10,000 VND

Exchange rates are more or less the same in banks and currency exchange points, and slightly higher in licensed gold shops.

In the cities and tourist centers, US dollars are usually acceptable in shops, restaurants and hotels, but not by street traders, ‘cycles drivers’ and so on. You should make sure that you are familiar with the exchange rate and know in advance how much money you need to pay and how much change to expect.

The main trap for tourist is paying inflated prices when unfamiliar with the system and the currency. It’s probably easier to change your money into local currency and concentrate on getting used to it. Trying to pay in US dollars gets complicated – with such large numbers, the conversion is tricky unless you’re a whiz with a calculator.

ATMs are now commonplace in the cities, and nearly all accept the main credit cards.

In the streets and pavements are problematic too. Most are use to motorbikes parking or trading and they are often in poor state of repairs, so it’s easier to walk in the road. It isn’t as dangerous as it sounds because the Vietnamese are used to avoiding pedestrians, but you need to keep an eye on the traffic.

In the cities, petty crime can sometimes be a problem. To avoid unpleasant experiences, don’t:

• Leave personal belongings unattended – put somewhere safe or keep them with you
• Carry a shoulder strap handbag or camera bag – a bag with a handgrip with deter motorbike bag snatchers
• Carry large amount of cash or vital documents – nearly all hotels have secure storage
• Count money while standing at ATM – put it in a safe place immediately and check it elsewhere

Most crime in Vietnam is low-level and opportunistic, and is uncommon in comparison with major cities elsewhere

There is no restriction on movement apart from more remote areas where permits are required. However, the Police monitor all hotel registration: both Vietnamese and visitors abroad must hand in their passports or identity cards at hotels. This is a standard procedure – they will always be returned safely upon checkout on the next morning or after a day or two during a longer stay.

Most large hotels have safe deposit boxes, and smaller ones will look after valuables for you. Even budget hotels are guarded at night, so hotel thefts are rare.

• Valid International Passport / Air Tickets
• Sun or spare glasses / sun burn lotion/ lip gloss / Repellent / Hats
• Light clothing / Wind breaker
• Flat rubber / orthopedic shoes
• Toiletries bag / ample wet tissues
• Digital cameras, batteries (conventional films are out of reach)
• Warm clothing – wet weather (Oct-Dec), please check daily weather forecast
• Lots of Smiles

In Vietnam, the dress code is casual. Unless you want to dress for dinners in the top end hotels and up market restaurants, there is no need to bring smart outfits and accessories. However, in pagodas and most houses, I’ts normal to wear appropriately.

It is also unwise to touch a child on the head, and particularly on the back of the head. By trying to suppress your instinct to ruffle a child’s hair as an expression of friendliness – you’ll get the opposite reaction.

Hand Shaking by men, often with both hands, is normal, but NOT for women.