Vietnam is recognized for a lot of wonderful things, including its breathtaking nature, mesmerizing beaches, affordable accommodation and food, and, of course, the incredibly friendly locals. However, the culture is completely different from what you’re used to back home, and it could be quite chaotic at times, which could cause you to be frustrated, especially if you’re a first-time visitor.
So, if you’re thinking about heading to Vietnam for the first time this summer, you may be wondering what you’ll have to do to ensure that the trip is memorable. Fortunately for all individuals that prefer to ensure the same thing, our article can help! Here is our list of the top 8 tips that’ll make your Vietnam trip memorable and better:
1. Before Anything Else – Learn if You’ll Require a Visa
Before you take a look at the rest of the tips on our list, the very first task that you should do is to learn whether or not you’ll require a visa in order to enter the nation. If you’ll be taking a flight to the nation, you can opt for getting an electronic visa or you could get one at the airport once you get there. But, if you’ll be entering by sea or land, you’ll need to apply for it by contacting the Vietnamese Embassy.
Now, you should know that some individuals that hold passports from specific countries might not need a visa for entering Vietnam, thus, before you apply for one, you might first want to check and see if you could be exempted from obtaining it. Additionally, if you’ll be traveling directly to Phu Quoc Islands, you won’t have to obtain a visa, nevertheless, you’ll only be capable of staying for thirty days, hence, plan accordingly.
2. You May Want to Avoid Packing Too Many Things
One of the things that you should definitely remember is that you should avoid overpacking clothes. Why? Well, for starters, people there don’t really care about fashion, which means that you can simply put on some casual clothes and that’s it! Second, Vietnam is incredibly affordable, which is why you may wish to have enough space in your suitcase for packing clothes that you purchase, as well as souvenirs. Lastly, the only item that you shouldn’t forget is your documents – including your passport, visa, ID, and so on.
3. Choose The Season For Visiting Carefully
As you might have guessed, not every season is suitable for visiting Vietnam, which is why you should choose it carefully. After all, it’s a country that sees a lot of rainfall and if you don’t wish for your trip to be ruined, it’s best to bypass the rainy period. Relying on the destinations you’re planning on visiting, you should do some digging online and see the seasons when it’s best to head there, nevertheless, make sure that you pack some waterproof clothes as well since you never know when it might rain there.
4. Don’t Skip Visiting The Capital – Hanoi
If there is one thing that you must take away from this article, it’s the fact that you shouldn’t skip visiting the capital city, Hanoi. It’s everything that you may imagine it to be – artistic, mesmerizing, orthodox, and creative – and although the city is somewhat modernized, there is still a wide array of customs and traditions to be seen and enjoyed. Because of this, don’t neglect to visit this incredible place while in the country.
It’s worth mentioning that there are a lot of galleries, museums, sightseeing spots, and temples to be visited, hence, you may wish to research the city before heading there, so that you could guarantee that you visit the most interesting things. Additionally, there are various guides that you should check out on the best things to do in Hanoi like the one featured on this website https://goviettrip.com/hanoi/2022-hanoi-all-you-need-to-know-what-to-see-in-hanoi-old-quarter/html.
5. There Are Scams That You Should Be Aware of
Generally speaking, the locals will be incredibly hospital and kind, however, there are still people that will try to scam tourists, which can basically turn your trip into a nightmare. No matter what city you’ll visit, you’ll most likely come across someone that’ll try scamming you. Because of this, there are a few things that you must be careful about. For starters, be careful of individuals that’ll approach you and offer you help to go somewhere.
Second, some taxi drivers will do everything in their power to make you visit a travel agency that they’ve partnered up with, which is why they might give you the wrong directions. Additionally, before you get in a taxi, you should always, I repeat, always look at the meter and once the driver gives you back your change, ensure that you count it. These are some of the most common scams that you can come across, thus, be extra careful.
6. You’ll Need to Cover Up + Behave Respectfully
If you’ll be visiting temples and other religious buildings, the most important thing that you must do is to cover up your shoulders and knees. Now, you could do this in any way that you wish– for instance, you could put on trousers and a hoodie – just ensure that you do it. Also, when in temples, ensure that you behave respectfully, and more importantly, ensure that your smartphone and other devices are on silent when entering so that you don’t disturb any locals that might be there.
7. Never Skip Trying Street Food
This is, perhaps, one of the most important tips that you should remember – never skip trying street food. One of the things that you should do is to head to the vendors that have a lot of local customers and by doing so, you can ensure that the food is safe, more importantly, you can make sure that it’s delicious and that it’ll leave your taste buds craving for more. There is a wide range of traditional meals that you should try, so, don’t miss out on this opportunity.
8. The Beaches Are Pristine And Mesmerizing
Last, but definitely, something that you should remember is that Vietnam has a lot of pristine and mesmerizing beaches. In fact, the country has more than 3.000km of coastline, which is why you must put spending a day at the beach on your to-do list. You must keep in mind that there are some amazing islands as well, hence, do some digging and see which one you should visit before returning home from your dream vacation.
Conclusion
By following the tips we’ve mentioned, you won’t only ensure that you make the most out of your vacation to Vietnam, but you’ll also guarantee that you don’t get scammed or that your trip isn’t ruined by rainfall. Since you now know what you should do, you might not want to lose any more time, instead, start with the first tip we mentioned, which is determining whether or not you’ll need a visa.
