Vietnam Budget Trip

Vietnamese is the most spoken language in Vietnam. French is the most spoken foreign language in Vietnam owing to a legacy of colonial rule. Russian, Czech, German, and Polish are other languages spoken in small sections in Vietnam.

Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the most commonly used currency in Vietnam. However big shops and hotels accept US dollars as well, so if you bring some US dollars, they can come handy.

The ideal time is anywhere between 5 - 10 days. For a short stay, you can take up a Vietnam tour package for 3 days or a Vietnam itinerary for 4 days. If you have a few extra days at hand, you can go for a Vietnam itinerary for 5 days. If you can afford a longer vacation, go for a 9 days in Vietnam itinerary or a Vietnam itinerary for 10 days.

Vietnam's transport network is pretty well connected making the option of domestic flights for long-distance travel the most convenient. Vietnam also has boats, buses, minibus, & taxi services that makes it easy for commuting throughout the country. Also the cost of travelling in Vietnam is very affordable making it possible to explore the entire country at one stretch.

Vietnam is considered as a safe country to visit for tourists. But unfortunately, pick pocketing is a risk at major tourists spots in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City which finds crowd in plenty and therefore its advised to take precautions. Valuable items like passport, money and mobile phones are most safe when kept in a waist belt or pouch that hangs around the neck or best left locked up in your hotel safe.

Don't jaywalk, don't take a photo of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, don't go for a traditional taxi, choose Uber/Grab instead, don't buy without bargaining - try out your haggling skills, don't leave your belongings unattended as robbery is very common in Vietnam.

In major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, credit cards are accepted in upmarket establishments intended for tourists. High end restaurants also accept credit cards. But credit cards are likely to attract a surcharge of 5% or more. Therefore it is advisable to carry cash while travelling out of major Vietnam cities.

The bigger cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi face huge traffic jams. It gets rather difficult to ride solo on a motorbike in these cities and hence is advised to drive safely keeping in consideration the road conditions. But in less crowded cities, commuting on a motorbike is the most convenient mode of transport.

Vietnam has numerous beaches that range from long stretches of coastline to hidden coves. The most famous beaches include Nha Trang which is renowned for its offshore islands and diving sites, Con Dao islands are the best for a quiet getaway & Phu Quoc is well-known for its white sandy beaches. Mui Ne, Quy Nhon & Da nang are other costal resorts that are wide popular as well.

Vietnam offers visa on arrival for Indians. Apply online for an approval letter by filling up a form online at myvietnamvisa.com and have the letter sent to your email (takes about 3-5 working days), take a print of the letter and furnish it at the airport and pay the visa stamping fees to get your Vietnam visa.