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Vietnam Travel Thread

RoomService

RoomService

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Planning a trip to Vietnam or looking for on-the-ground advice?

Use this thread to ask anything about traveling across Vietnam—including costs, transit, safety tips, and itinerary recommendations. Fellow travelers and locals are also welcome to drop their latest advice and updates below.


Getting Around

  • Local rides: Download Grab (the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber) for hassle-free car and motorbike rides with upfront pricing.
  • Long distances: Domestic flights save massive amounts of time when traveling between the North, Central, and South regions. Choose Vietnam Airlines over ultra-budget carriers like Vietjet if you want to avoid frequent flight delays.
Money & Payments

  • Cash is king: Always carry Vietnamese Dong (VND) for street food, markets, and small family-run shops.
  • Exchange rates: Authorized jewelry and gold shops (especially around major markets) often offer significantly better exchange rates than airport kiosks or banks.
  • Card safety: Stick to official bank ATMs or pay through secure apps like Grab to minimize card skimming risks.
Food & Safety

  • Street food: Eat where you see high local turnover. Busy stalls mean fresh ingredients and high-heat cooking.
  • Street smarts: Violent crime is rare, but drive-by phone snatching and petty pickpocketing happen in busy nightlife spots and tourist hubs (especially in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi). Keep your phone secure when near the curb.
Core Route Ideas

  • Classic North-to-South (or reverse): Hanoi & Ha Long Bay/Ninh Binh \rightarrow Hue, Da Nang & Hoi An \rightarrow Ho Chi Minh City & the Mekong Delta.

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You need an evisa takes 3-5 days​

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Vietnam E-Visa 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (Avoid Costly Mistakes)​



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3 Most Important Tips When traveling To Vietnam.​





GetYourGuide is a German online marketplace for tour guides, excursions, travel-related activities, and tickets to tourist attractions. It offers more than 150,000 'experiences' from more than 20,000 supply partners worldwide, some of which use the GetYourGuide branding.

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RoomService said:
I’m returning to Vietnam in November, but this will be my first trip to Da Nang. I'm looking to stay 3 weeks
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Da Nang is a dope place. You’re going to love it there. Plenty to do. Also, when you get a chance, check out Hue which is just north of Da Nang. I haven’t had a chance to go there, but I heard it really nice with great food.

I’m going to Ha Long Bay for my next visit. :yes:
 
4 Dimensional said:
Da Nang is a dope place. You’re going to love it there. Plenty to do. Also, when you get a chance, check out Hue which is just north of Da Nang. I haven’t had a chance to go there, but I heard it really nice with great food.

I’m going to Ha Long Bay for my next visit. :yes:
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Is it safe to ride scooters there, like in Ko Samui? That’s one of the things I love about that place—I can hop on a scooter and explore the entire island.

I visited Hanoi last November, and there’s no way I would hop on a scooter and ride there.
 
RoomService said:
Is it safe to ride scooters there, like in Ko Samui? That’s one of the things I love about that place—I can hop on a scooter and explore the entire island.

I visited Hanoi last November, and there’s no way I would hop on a scooter and ride there.
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It’s not as populated as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. But it has it areas where its dense. I haven’t rode any scooters in Vietnam though.

I was I Hanoi last November around the 3rd and 4th. But I left for HCMC and Phu Quoc after that.

I use Grab to get around. It made cheap and the drivers are usually on point and friendly.
 

Should you rent a Scooter in Da Nang?: If you’re an American, the answer is probably no.​




"An American International Driver’s License is not valid Driver’s License in Vietnam."

Driving without a valid license in Vietnam can result in hefty fines, vehicle impoundment, and invalidated travel or health insurance. Official rules stipulate how you can—and cannot—drive in the country:
  • What doesn't work: Neither U.S. issued 1949 IDPs nor private documents like AAA or IAA permits allow you to legally drive a car or motorbike.
  • The legal requirements: To drive legally, you must possess a valid Vietnamese driver's license or a 1968 Vienna Convention IDP used in conjunction with a home-country license bearing the same vehicle class. Because the U.S. only issues 1949 IDPs, Americans cannot technically use the IDP loophole.
  • The exception (Under 50cc): You do not need a license to ride a moped or scooter that is 50cc or under, making this the most accessible option for visiting tourists.
 
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Best Beachfront Resorts in Da Nang (Top Luxury Stays 2026)​

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INTERCONTINENTAL DANANG 2025: Full Tour of one of the Best Luxury Resorts in Vietnam​





The Quiet Area of Da Nang | Marriott Beach Resort & Spa Review​




Fusion Resort & Villas Danang | A Hidden Gem on Vietnam's Coast​




TIA WELLNESS RESORT DA NANG | Inside The Most Relaxed Resort of Danang, Vietnam​


 
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4 Dimensional said:
I’m going back in 2 weeks. Back to Hanoi, then I’m going about in March.
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What airline are you flying with? Capital One has a transfer bonus with Eva Airlines this month, and a business class upgrade costs only 35,000 points each way. I was considering an economy flight round-trip, which would cost around $1,100 plus the 70k upgrade to business class.

 
RoomService said:
What airline are you flying with? Capital One has a transfer bonus with Eva Airlines this month, and a business class upgrade costs only 35,000 points each way. I was considering an economy flight round-trip, which would cost around $1,100 plus the 70k upgrade to business class.

Click to expand...

I fly United mostly. Coming from NC, I usually leave out of Greensboro or Raleigh. I have a UA credit card. So I get a lot of benefits, including miles. I usually connect with ANA leaving from the US and flying in Hanoi.

Flights usually cost me $1200 to $3000 depending on when I book.
 
4 Dimensional said:
Dawg, I’m in Phnom Penh, Cambodia right now.

Put it on your list. It’s dope asf here. It’s entirely different than Vietnam, but similar (if that makes any sense).

If you’re going to have a long stay in Vietnam, then take a week out here. So much to do and see. And the people are cool.
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Do you need a visa to visit, and if so, how much did the flights cost from Vietnam? Do you have any hotel recommendation?
 
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