Vietnam was one of my favorite places I’ve visited, with beautiful landscapes, a rich history, and amazing food. That said, there were a few surprises along the way, so here are my top 5 tips to help you plan a smoother and more enjoyable trip.
1. Crossing the Road Can Be Scary
There are a lot of motorcycles on the road and not many real crosswalks (especially in Hanoi), so it can look chaotic and scary to cross the road. You just have to walk at a steady pace through the traffic, and the drivers will weave around you. Do not do anything unexpected like running or stopping suddenly!
2. Pack for Different Climates
If you’re traveling from North ↔ South, make sure to pack layers since the weather can vary a lot. When we went in December, we experienced all kinds of climates — chilly in the North (especially at Ha Long Bay), rainy in Central Vietnam, and hot in the South.
3. Have Inspiration Ready for Tailoring in Hoi An
Hoi An is famous for custom-made clothes, but when we visited we hadn’t thought about what we wanted and were overwhelmed with choices. We ended up following their suggestions, but we would’ve liked the results better if we had prepared some example looks beforehand to show the tailors. This way we can get exactly what we want instead of feeling pressured to decide on the spot.
4. Visit Ba Na Hills Early
Even though the weather wasn’t great (foggy and cold) when we went, Ba Na Hills was still very crowded! I recommend going early in the morning so you can get some pictures with the Golden Bridge without all the people in the background.
5. Watch Out for Scams
We took a taxi from the Da Nang airport because it was convenient, but we got overcharged. The meter was tampered with and ran extremely fast. I recommend always using Grab instead. Also, we noticed some restaurants have similar names or signage as the famous ones nearby, so double-check the address before going in.
Looking for things to do in Vietnam? Check out my top 5 highlights from my Vietnam trip!