Vietnam

Vietnam Placeholder
Vietnam

Destinations & Activities

Ho Chi Minh City
 Hoi An
 Hue’s Imperial City
 Hanoi
 Motorbiking the Hai Van Pass
Caving in Phong Nha

Cruising Halong Bay
Trekking Sapa

Vietnam Facts

Currency: Vietnamese dong (exchange rate)

Language: Vietnamese

Population: 92.7 million

Fun fact: Vietnam’s biodiversity is nothing to scoff at…the small country is home to 16% of the world’s species.

Basic phrases:

  1. Hi: Chào. (chow)
  2. Bye: Tạm biệt (tam byet)
  3. Please: Làm ơn. (lam uhhn)
  4. Thank you: Cảm ơn. (gauhm uhhn)
  5. Yes: Dạ (Northern : zah, Southern : yah)
  6. No: Không. (kaumng)
  7. I’m sorry: Xin lỗi. (sin loy)
  8. Where’s the bathroom?: Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?
  9. Do you speak English?: Biết nói tiếng Anh không? (byet noy tyeng ang kaumng)

Visa Requirements

(via travel.state.gov)

You must have a valid passport and a visa (or pre-approval for a visa on arrival) to enter Vietnam. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your planned stay, and you must have at least one blank visa page. Visit the Embassy of Vietnam website for the most current information. If you arrive in Vietnam without an appropriate visa (which could be an e-visa) or pre-approval for a visa on arrival, you will be denied entry.

I used vietnam-visa.com to get a visa approval letter from the Vietnam Immigration Department, which I brought, along with an attached passport photo, and $25 in cash, to the airport to retrieve my visa. It is cheaper and quicker (only 4-48 hours approval time) than getting a visa before arrival at the embassy.

Vietnam Posts:

Good Eats: A Vietnamese Cooking Class with HoiAn Eco Coconut Tours
If you're like me, you probably dread that inevitable moment every evening when your significant other asks: "What should we
ho chi minh city traffic
42 Travel Tips for Backpacking in Southeast Asia
Backpacking is an art form. It requires some meticulous Tetris skills to get everything to fit in a single bag
Fukian Assembly Hall Hoi An Vietnam
The 10 Best Things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam
If you're in the midst of planning a trip to Vietnam, most everyone will implore you to spend at least
Best of Hanoi
I have to admit, I was skeptical about Hanoi. I was not expecting to like it at all. After a
Sapa, Vietnam: A Photo Diary
One of the best things about traveling through Southeast Asia on your own with a single pack strapped to your
17 Highlights of 2017
Another year has come to a close. Another year to look back on with disgust, blame the steady stream of
A Day of Caves in Phong Nha, Vietnam
Prior to traveling to Vietnam, my only experience with caves was the hours spent wandering Rock Tunnel and Mt. Moon in
Tackling my Bucket List: Halong Bay, Vietnam
Halong Bay: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of that natural wonders of the world, a 300 million year old
Riding the Hai Van Pass with Hue Riders
In the most bizarre, out-of-character turn of events, I decided to go on a trip to Asia by myself and
Hue, Vietnam, The Imperial City: A Photo Diary
I think one of the reasons I fell so absolutely in love with Vietnam, my first Asian country and my