Vietnam Travel Tips & Useful Info

As a guide Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus are strongly recommended. You should seek medical advice before travelling to Vietnam from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations.

Do I need anti-malaria tablets for Vietnam?

Areas with malaria are largely confined to the rural regions that border Laos and Cambodia, the central highlands and provinces south of Ho Chi Minh City. In urban centers such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and the coastal plains there is a low risk of malaria. Anti-malaria medication may be recommended to those visiting risk areas off the beaten track but for those sticking to the well-trodden path between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City along the coast, it's worth considering whether the side effects of anti-malaria drugs are worth the small risk of contracting the disease. Please consult your doctor or travel health professional for advice.

As with any destination where malaria is present, take precautions against mosquito bites by wearing light colored clothes that cover your arms and legs and apply a DEET-based insect repellent. For more information on the malaria risk in Vietnam visit the NHS Fit for Travel website or the CDC Travelers Health page.

No, it is not considered safe as tap water in Vietnam is often contaminated. Bottled water is cheap and readily available from shops, hotels and restaurants across the country. Always check that the seal on the bottle cap is intact.

Tipping is generally not expected in Vietnam though with low wages, any tips are greatly appreciated. Many upmarket restaurants will add a service charge to the bill between 5-10% and it's always nice to tip cleaning staff at hotels if you've stayed more than a couple of nights. Taxi drivers do not expect tips but it's customary to round up the amount due. When visiting pagodas it's polite to leave a small donation, especially if you have been shown around by a resident monk.

With our Tipping Made Easy policy, a nominal pre-determined amount is collected from all group tour participants to cover tips en route, payable on the morning of day 2 in local currency - the Vietnamese dong. This then saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip luggage handlers, local guides and other support staff through the tour.

Please note that our Tipping Made Easy amount does not include a tip to your group tour leader, where we suggest an amount of approximately USD $3-$6 per day of your tour. Naturally, though, the amount is up to you. If travelling on a group tour with less than 6 participants or on a tailor-made holiday, in place of Tipping Made Easy we recommend the following amounts per person per day be allocated to cover tips paid directly by you to bellhops, luggage handlers, your driver and local guides:
- USD $10 if the day includes a local guide & sightseeing
- USD $5 if the day does not include a local guide and sightseeing.

Vietnam is a perfectly safe destination for women to travel to on their own though the usual precautions apply - follow the local way of dress and avoid walking down deserted streets late at night. Vietnamese women do not dress particularly conservatively, especially in the cities, but it's advisable to dress with some modesty - leave the mini skirts at home. The Vietnamese are a curious bunch and may be interested to know why you're travelling alone so expect the odd prying question about your marital status and family life.

In order to avoid offense when visiting religious sites, it's important to take particular care and to dress and behave appropriately. Visitors should always wear long trousers, or skirts and shorts that reach below the knee, and shirts with sleeves. It's advisable that women travel with a simple shawl to cover their shoulders if needed. Your feet can get you into all sorts of trouble in Buddhist temples so remember to remove your shoes when entering a temple and do not point at images of Buddha, or any other sacred relics, with your feet. Symbolically the feet are the lowest point and so using them in this manner is considered disrespectful. On the opposite end of this is the head, considered the highest symbolic point, so you should not touch people on the head and you should also remove any headwear when addressing monks.

Photography is generally allowed in temples across Vietnam and 'no photography' signs will be clearly displayed if applicable. When taking pictures of Buddha statues or images, ensure your head stays below that of the Buddha's. Temples are places of worship and therefore it's polite to keep noise to a minimum when walking around the grounds.

Vietnam is an excellent destination for a family adventure with something for all ages from the thrilling cyclo rides through the narrow streets of Hanoi to the leisurely bike rides among paddy fields around Hoi An. There's plenty of hands-on activities to get involved with whether it's kayaking around Halong Bay or learning to use traditional farming methods in the countryside, which makes Vietnam ideal for active kids and adults alike. In the hot, humid months there's also a number of fun waterparks to play and cool off in.

The Vietnamese love children and show open affection towards them so you'll likely draw attention with your own brood. Don't be surprised if locals approach you and your kids in a playful and inquisitive manner.

Our special Best of Vietnam for Teenagers tour welcomes teenagers aged 12 years and above, accompanied by a parent/guardian. Travelling as a small group of like-minded families (maximum of 24 passengers), friends are to be made and experiences shared. We also welcome children of any age on our private tours and tailor-made holidays to the region.

You are permitted to bring the following into Vietnam:

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco
• 1.5L of spirits over 22% volume or 2L of fortified wines or liqueurs under 22% volume or 3L of other alcoholic drinks
• 5kg of tea and 3kg of coffee
• Other goods to the value of USD $400
• Perfume and jewelery for personal use

The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, which is abbreviated to 'd'.

Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged locally at the airport, bureau de changes or banks. US Dollar notes are widely accepted and shopkeepers use both currencies interchangeably. You can often pay for items in USD and receive your change in USD notes and VND coins. Make sure that your USD bills are crisp and clean and you will have no problem using or exchanging these throughout your stay.

ATM machines can be found in all major cities though it is not common to pay with credit card in restaurants, cafes or shops for purchases. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveler's Checks are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.

It's illegal to take Vietnamese dong out of the country and it's nearly impossible to change the currency outside of Vietnam so make sure you exchange any leftover notes before you leave. It's easy to convert what you have left in your wallet to USD or other major currencies. Check OANDA for the latest exchange rates.

The standard voltage in Vietnam is 220 volts. Primary sockets generally require 2 flat prong plugs, 2 round pin plugs, and many of the new 4 and 5 star hotels use British standard 3-pin plugs. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.

Internet access in Vietnam is constantly being developed and it's pretty easy to get online in the major cities and tourist destinations. One exception is Halong Bay where nights are spent sailing offshore and WiFi access here, although often advertised as available, is incredibly slow if it works at all. Free WiFi is usually offered in coffee shops, fast food franchises and hotels in cities and towns, making it possible to get online without too much hassle. In the rural areas WiFi is harder to come by.

Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT) and does not observe Daylight Saving.