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ESSENTIAL TIPSFOR YOUR FIRST TRIP

TO VIETNAM

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1. Where to exchange money

Exchanging money is one of the most confusing things for every tourist.

In Vietnam, banks are the best places to exchange money. There are banks such as BIDV, Incombank, Techcombank, Sacombank, and Vietcombank. Vietcombank charges no extra fee for the exchange.

You can always check the USD/VND rate online. As of June, 2016, one US dollar equals 22,280 Vietnamese Dong (VND).

Keep in mind that banks and exchange offices will not ac-

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cept any notes which are torn, excessively crumpled or have writing on them, so always check the notes you are given when exchanging money or buying something.

VND is not accepted outside Vietnam except for Laos, Cam-bodia and Thailand. Before leaving the country, you can exchange VND at the airport. Some booths charge an ex-tra 2%, some don’t, so make sure you check.

2. Taxi Companies

- Take a photo of your taxi to make sure you will re-member which taxi brands you have used in case of los-ing something or being overcharged. Because in Vietnam there’s no general call centre for all taxi companies. That’s

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why it’s better to know which taxi brands you have gone with in case of claiming. One of our customers was over-charged by a taxi but he didn’t remember which company he used, so he couldn’t report it effectively to the police. He just remembered the vehicle was white, but in Vietnam almost all taxi companies use white vehicles. Another one from France left her iPhone in a taxi. She also didn’t know which company it was, she just remembered it was a white car, too. So there is no way to check which taxi it was as there are hundreds of white taxis in Hanoi.

Taxi scams are every tourist’s nightmare. We recommend you only use taxi companies that have a clear logo, phone number and meter. Below is a list of reliable taxi compa-nies we recommend:

• Mai Linh: green/white-green carsPhone: 0438 616161 (in Hanoi), Phone: 08 38 38 38 38 (in Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon)

• Vinasun: white carsPhone: 08 38 272727 (Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon)Phone: 0511. 3 68 68 68 (Da Nang)

• Taxi Group: white-red lined carsPhone number 04 38 535353 (in Hanoi)

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3. Safety guides

Crime levels in Vietnam are low compared to western countries, but you should still be careful, especially when you’re traveling to big cities and tourist sites (Hoi An and Nha Trang). Here are some things to look out for:

Thieves/Pickpockets:

• Beware of your surroundings, especially in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon.

• Keep your bags and camera in front of you.

• Do not wear eye-catching jewelry and flashy watches

• Keep your belongings close and tucked away when on

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public transport train, bus, boat.

• Avoid taking motorbike taxis in late hours.

• Women should be careful if going out alone too late.

Vendors, Hassle and Scams

• Do not touch and show interest in things the vendors sell if you aren’t planning on buying because the ven-dors can be very persistent.

• Always know your address when taking a taxi and in-sist the driver takes you to the right address. Some drivers are paid a commission by new hotels to bring guests to them. Do not get out until you know that you have arrived at the right place.

• Do not book cheap tours, especially for Ha Long bay.

Always use reliable travel agents’ tours and know where you can file a complaint if you are not satisfied with the service.

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4. How to avoid queues for Visa on Arrival (VOA)

On holidays or weekends, the queues for VOA stamps can be very long and take up a lot of your time. To avoid the inconvenience of queuing, there are a few things to keep in mind.

The visa desks are always before the Immigration Control, so make sure you look out for them after you land. There are two areas to look out for: one for Visa on Arrival ap-plicants and one for visa Before Arrival applicants. Many tourists confuse the desks and waste time queuing in both lines. So make sure you are waiting at the counter that has a banner saying “Visa on/upon Arrival” or “Landing Visa”.In case you don’t want to wait, your travel agent probably has a Stamping Assistance service that helps you get the stamp in minutes, but of course it comes with an extra fee.

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5. local customs

The Vietnamese have no official etiquette for greetings that foreigners should learn, like in Thai or Japanese cul-ture. However, when you visit a Vietnamese family, there are some things you should and shouldn’t do:

• Do not enter the house before the host invites you in

• Always take off your shoes/heels/sandals before en-tering the living room

• Do not sit down before the host does.

• Greet the eldest first: look at them in the eyes and slightly bow and smile at the same time (you can use “hello” or a Vietnamese phrase “Xin Chao” - seen chow).

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• Don’t refuse their offer of drinks or fruit.

• If possible, dress modestly.

General behavior in public places is similar to western countries, for the most part. However, there are some ob-vious differences.

Vietnamese people like to stare at other people, regard-less of gender or race. Even the Vietnamese get stared at by the Vietnamese. So you shouldn’t feel annoyed or an-gered about this.

The Vietnamese also like to laugh at everything they con-sider funny or strange. Or sometimes they will just laugh for no apparent reason. So don’t take it the wrong way, their laughter is not mean-spirited.

Exposing too much skin or being too loud/rude in places like temples, shrines, palaces and historical sites is consid-ered offensive.

Also, older Vietnamese people might not be comfortable with your public displays of affection (PDA).

Young students will probably approach you to practice their English, and they can also be good tourist guides.

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6. Street food hygiene

Street food in Vietnam is delicious, varied and cheap. But the line between the best and the worst seems to be very thin. Vietnamese love to eat in the streets, drink coffee on the sidewalks and buy everything in wet markets. It’s a fas-cinating cuisine, but it’s good to be careful if you’re not familiar with it. Here are some simple, yet effective tips to take into con-sideration:

• If you have a weak stomach, it’s better to stick to restau-rants.

• Always look for vendors that use gloves and clean

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utensils.

• The food kiosks or restaurants have to be clean, as well. But don’t mind the papers left under the table. Papers under the table are considered a sign that the restaurant is very popular and has many guests .

• One-dish kiosks or restaurants are also considered safer: they buy their ingredients fresh every morning.

• Be cautious of the freshness of fruits. Fruits with peel (banana, watermelon, oranges) tend to be a safer option.

• Fried and grilled dishes often require a large amount of oil. The oil absorbs dust on the street if it’s not well-covered, se wary of this.

• Stay away from kiosks that reuse oil too many times (the oil will appear very dark).

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7. The uniquely Vietnamese experiences

If you are looking for a new place to discover, don’t for-get to add Vietnam to your list. Here are just some of the unique Vietnamese experiences:

• Vietnamese desserts, with their variety in tastes, healthy ingredients and fragrant smells are hugely popular – they’re a must-try!

• Cruising in Vietnam is also a must - Mekong River Cruise, Ha Long Bay Cruise are just some of the very exciting cruising tours you can take in Vietnam.

• Don’t miss out on seeing the breathtaking, unique sculptures made from bamboo roots in Hoi An.

• Everyone interested in cultural events should definite-ly visit an event at Saigon Opera House, historical sym-bol in Ho Chi Minh.

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gest and best preserved underground network of tun-nels and one of the most attractive examples of un-derground architecture.

• Check the spectacular scenes of Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park. Besides the value of geology, topogra-phy and geomorphology, it is an untamed jungle full of vast imagination-defying limestone caves and un-derground rivers.

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SO GO AHEAD AND

GET YOUR VISA ONLINETHROUGH OUR VERY SECURE, CHEAP

AND EASY PROCESS.

After reading this guide, you’ll

hopefully have more of an idea

about what you need to know

before visiting Vietnam