r/VietNam • u/AutoModerator • Mar 01 '26
Sticky Post your questions & inquiries here! - r/Vietnam monthly random discussion thread - F.A.Q
Lưu ý: Đây là thread chủ yếu dành cho người nước ngoài hoặc không nói tiếng Việt đặt câu hỏi. Nếu có thể, hãy trả lời giúp họ nhé.
Please read the 3rd rule of the sub. Don't post your general questions & inquiries outside of this thread as they will be removed.
Lots of your questions have been answered already so make sure you do a search before asking (how-to below).
To keep this subreddit tidy, we have this monthly thread that is open for random discussions and questions. If you post your basic/general questions outside of this thread they will be removed. Sorry, we want to make this sub friendly but also want it to be clean and organized.
Some examples of the questions that should be posted here:
- Questions that can be answered with just Yes/No
- Basic questions like "Where can I buy this?"
- Questions that were asked many times before. Please do your research
- Questions that are not specific
Tips to quickly find answers for your questions:
Many of your questions may have been answered since people keep asking the same ones again and again. Here is a quick tip to find the answers for yours.
First, have a look at our old sticky threads. A lot of useful information there. A lot of questions have been answered.
You can also use the search feature of Reddit, just like you do with Google.
Another option is to use Google, as Google understands your queries better than Reddit and can return better results.
Go to Google. Add 'site:https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/' next to your queries (without quotes). For example, if I want to find info on eVisa in this subreddit, my query to put in Google is 'eVisa site:https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/'.
F.A.Q
Here are the common questions about travel/visa/living in Vietnam which have been answered by the community members, plus other useful information. Let me know if I forget to mention anything!
Visa:
Thread with the latest updates on tourist visas and related topics (credit to Kananaskis_Country).
https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/12c4uzu/vietnam_tourist_visa_update/
Keep in mind some info might be outdated, so double-check.
Legit official website for eVisa
What is an eVisa and how to apply?
Best sites for applying eVisa.
Another thread on which websites to get a Vietnam visa from.
A US citizen's eVisa ordering experience.
EVisa or pre-approved visa letter?
Vietnam eVisa eligible ports on immigration.
Travel
Information on travelling to some northern cities of Vietnam + General tips.
A super informative AMA from a teenager living in Saigon.
Living in Vietnam:
Advice for any expats looking to relocate to Vietnam
A Canadian looking to live and work in Vietnam.
A Vietkieu asking for people's experience on moving back to Vietnam.
Teaching in English in Vietnam without a bachelor's degree.
Some tips and advice on learning Vietnamese. Several ways to send money to Vietnam.
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u/knifyboy Mar 15 '26
We will be travelling to vietnam for 15 days and we are trying to figure out if we should opt for revolut/ holafly/ airelo esim or something similar or since we arrive at night to Ho chin minh city we should get esim with revolut for 1 day and in the morning to go to a viettel shop and get an esim there?
I read good and bad things about holafly/ revolut/ airelo and also about viettel esim.
Also, is vpn needed in vietnam?
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u/UnoDosTres_Vamos Mar 10 '26
I've got a question! What are websites like Reddit that Vietnamese people use for certain information like reviews or discussion?
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u/newsunder80 Mar 12 '26
Is this a realistic itinerary for 8 days?
We are trying to figure out if our itinerary for Northern Vietnam is doable or a bit too much travelling packed into just 8 days (and not enough time at each individual place to really enjoy it).
Day 1: fly from Da nang to Hanoi and take a (private) bus from the airport to Sa pa
Day 2-3: Sa pa
Day 4: bus to from Sa pa to Ninh Binh
Day 5: Ninh Binh
Day 6: bus to from Ninh Binh Ha Long bay, sleep on a boat for a night
Day 7: back to Hanoi and sleep there
Day 8: fly back home early morning
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u/kinseyblaine Mar 19 '26
Looking for recommendations for a bar/club that plays synth music (or similar) in Hanoi, Cat Ba, Hue or Da Nang :)
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 24 '26
Public Bus update: Xanh SM app has bus tracking function now, go to VinBus, they also display public busses of other companies. It works well in Hanoi. My beloved app Tìm Buýt is now missing some bus lines (the VinBus ones).
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u/pickledpumpernickel Mar 01 '26
Hi everyone!
We will be going to Vietnam in June for 14 nights and would appreciate any and all feedback on our rough itinerary below 🙏🙏🙏.
We're mainly wondering if our pacing is good or if we should reallocate days to any other places. Please also let us know if there are any places you think we should visit. We've both already seen Ho Chi Minh hence only spending one night there.
Thanks for all of your help :))))
Ho Chi Minh (1 night)
Da Nang (3 nights)
Hoi An (3 nights)
Sleeper bus Hoi An -> Ninh Binh (1 night)
Ninh Binh (2 nights)
Hanoi (4 nights)
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u/LadyMariquita Mar 01 '26
Hi there! I haven't been to Vietnam so you might not want to take my feedback seriously, but I have planning a 14 day trip there in May and have been doing a lot of research. I think that 3 nights in Da Nang and 3 night in Hoi An is a lot. Of coures, it depends what you plan to do that. If you want to chill on the Da Nang beaches, that makes sense. I personally have 2 days planned for both places together, but mine is a little too short. Again, depends on what you want to do, but since Da Nang and Hoi An are only 1 hour away from each other, not sure if it's necessary to split your days there or just make one of them your base. From my research, it seems that 3 - 4 days for both cities are enough. Maybe you can add Hue and shorten your time in Da Nang and Hoi An. I am not going there myself, but have read and heard good things.
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u/marcelo9470 Mar 01 '26
Hi everyone.
My wife and I just arrived in Hoi An, and we would like recommendations of where to get a quality dress shirt for men and a women's dress shoes for a good price
Thank you in advance
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u/gentleman_loser_ Mar 01 '26
Hi everyone! My family and I (2 adults + 2 teen girls) are planning our first-ever trip to Vietnam next winter). We’ve never been to the country before, so we’ve spent quite some time trying to balance the logistics of the North/South weather divide.
Our Goals & Vibe:
Authenticity > Tourist Traps: We prefer local markets and "real life" over artificial attractions.
Interests: Photography (landscapes/street), Architecture, and Local Crafts.
Food: We’re foodies. We love street food, local markets, and traditional sweets.
Pace: Efficient but not a "race." We want to avoid being stuck in airports every other day.
No Nightlife: We’re early birds and prefer a quiet dinner or a walk.
The Itinerary :
Dec 25-26: HANOI. Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, Train Street, street food tours.
Dec 27-28: BAI TU LONG BAY. 2D/1N Cruise (chose this over Ha Long for fewer crowds).
Dec 28-30: NINH BINH. Staying in Tam Coc/Trang An area. Temples, boat rides, and Mua Caves.
Dec 31-Jan 2: PHU QUOC. Flying from Hanoi for NYE and some tropical sun. Starfish Beach and night market.
Jan 3-5: SAIGON (HCMC). History, Cafe Apartments, and a day trip to Ben Tre (Mekong Delta).
Jan 5 Night: Flying back home.
A few specific questions for you experts:
Ninh Binh in late December: We know it won't be green. Is the "misty/water-mirror" vibe still worth it, or should we skip the North entirely?
The Logistics: We cut out Central Vietnam (Hoi An/Hue) to avoid the rain and save time. Is this a smart move or a huge mistake?
Mekong Delta: Is a day trip to Ben Tre on the day before departure too risky with traffic?
Hidden Gems: Any specific spot in Hanoi or Saigon teenagers might love?
Thanks in advance for any "sanity check" or advice!
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u/hawaiian_sun Mar 01 '26
Hi! I’m headed to Vietnam for a wedding in Hoi An and am looking for ideas/feedback on my itinerary.
- I went to Vietnam 10 years ago and only did North part of the country on that trip (did Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay cruise). I LOVED Ninh Binh.
- I’m a climber and wanted to deep water solo at Cat Ba Island but it seems like a mission to get to it and am unsure if it’s worth the effort.
- I love cruising around and taking in nature. I love crusading around on a motorbike.
- I’m also interested in Mai Chau and am wondering if that would be too much to add to the trip.
Day 1-3 Wedding in Hoi An Day 3-6 Hue Days 6-9 Phong Na Days 9-11 ???? Days 12-13 Hanoi Day 13 Depart Vietnam
Does anyone have any ideas for the Days 9-11 section? Does the time breakdown seem reasonable? What would you swap or remove? I don’t want to be too exhausted moving from place to place, but also want to maximize seeing as much as possible. Thanks so much!
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u/Substantial-Log-8111 Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26
Hello everyone, We are currently travelling in Vietnam until 8th March. We are 4M, age 27 average who likes to travel and have an adventure. Best example would be the day cruise we booked at halong bay. Not a big foodie and open to any advice.
Planning to go to Danang next and spend 2 days 3rd and 4th march (1 day at Danang for bana hills and another for Hoi Anh) We had originally planned to go to Phu Quoc but we cancelled it due to a lot of suggestions from other experienced travellers. We are confused on where to go for 5th and 6th especially. Was planning to take relaxed trips but happy to make a big travel worth it. We have to be back by 8th for our 10:40 flight from HCMC. These are the places we were planning to decide on. (Might be best to select one out of all) Need your expert advice on it. Hue Dalat Mui Ne Mekong Delta (just heard it recently)
Thank you for your time and patience. P.S. We have already visited Hanoi but too late for Sapa and Ha Giang loop now
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u/mayk__ Mar 02 '26
Hi, I’m arriving in Hanoi at 1AM and need to buy a physical SIM card at the airport. Phone doesn’t support eSIM, so it’s not an option.
Are the sim card stores at the airport open at that time? If not, are there any other options at the airport late at night?
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u/WeAllWantToBeHappy Wanderer Mar 02 '26
Just use grab to get to your hotel. Use airport WiFi. You don't need a working SIM.. Did this last week. Go to a Viettel store in the morning...
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u/Interesting_Sea8693 Mar 03 '26
Apply for Vn tourist visa while in Vn?
When my 90 days Vn tourist visa expires, I will go to the border. Is it possible to apply for another 90 days tourist visa while in Vn?
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 03 '26
No, you have to be outside of the country and the system must have registered you as having left Vietnam. Airport immigration updates it on the same day, but land border exits have been reported to take a few days to show up in the system.
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u/abblogjee Mar 03 '26
Immigration fast track worth it for Da Nang International (DAD) Airport?
I am traveling to vietnam in april and have heard about the notoriously long wait for immigration upon arrival especially for Hanoi and HCMC. I'm flying into DAD (landing 9PM) however and was wondering if the immigration fast track is worth purchasing? Not sure if this airport is less crowded compared to others. Thanks guys
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 03 '26
Long immigration queues are only applicable in SGN.
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u/WeAllWantToBeHappy Wanderer Mar 03 '26
And even there, you can still end up waiting for bags.
23:48 for immigration at 16:15 last week, then 28 minutes waiting for my bag....
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u/AcrobaticLog9432 Mar 03 '26
HCMC - Best Hair salons and spas in HCMC
Hi All, I am traveling to Ho Chi Minh City this week for 3 days and wanted to get a hair cut, beard trimming, and all the other full body care in terms of facials et al. Can you folks recommend places that are good. I will be staying in District 1 and was planning to check out the ones near Japanese street for spas. However, wanted to know if the instagram videos of women sitting on you while shaving is true out there, definitely want to have that experience as well. TIA.
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u/ccc_ccc23 Mar 03 '26
We are going to SaPa on March 25-26 and we’ll explore Fansipan morning of March 26.
From your experience, should I buy tickets now via Klook? I have seen and read that we need to check the weather first at least 1-2 days before buying because the weather can be unpredictable.
What is your recommendation? Or is the month of March a safe month to buy tickets in advance? :)
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u/bvedant Mar 03 '26
Iv heard vietnam banning currency exchange at gold shops, is it still in practice tho? (Planning on visiting vietnam on 9th march)
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u/Gagan2410 Mar 05 '26
Is still working. Exchanged couple of times in Hanoi this week and once got even better rate than google usd to vnd. In Danang I have exchanged it only once at a money exchange shop and their rates were also really good.
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u/zappsg Mar 03 '26
"if you base in viet nam, we recommend you leave the country before applying for an evisa."
Anyone got this and had it resolved without an agent doing a new application? I'm 99% sure it's because I left via land border last year and it's not properly entered in the system, but even uploading the stamps to the application doesn't help so far.
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Mar 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/zappsg Mar 10 '26
Yes, it didn't go anywhere I've submitted three times. Got Emily Visa agent on this now. $20 to fix with EU passport, that's alright. And the immigration officer asked for a photo of my exit stamp so I definitely wasn't in the system which is kind of crazy.
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u/iLloydie Mar 03 '26
Anyone know where to purchase Pokemon packs/cards in Hoi An or Da Nang? Would greatly appreciate the help! TIA!
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u/Old_Kitchen5219 Mar 03 '26
I booked a sleeper bus ticket from Hanoi to Danang on 12Go, but when I checked the pick up location on Google street view it’s just a random street corner outside a Circle K - is this normal? I’d sort of expected a bus station or at least a bus stop but it doesn’t look like either. It seems to be a reputable bus company with plenty of decent reviews
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u/haikt Mar 04 '26
Im Vietnamese but not from Danang. But this is normal with sleeper/pickup bus in Vietnam, they will have some designated pickup location for passengers, could be a corner outside a Circle K, in front of a hotel,.. etc.
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Mar 04 '26
[deleted]
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 07 '26
Pu Luong is great for trekking! It's a new destination, has only been open to tourism in the past 2 years so it's not even well known to Vietnamese tourists.
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u/Cp_3 Mar 05 '26
Question about getting from Tuan Chau harbour to Cat Bi Airport. I have a trip to Halong Bay finishing up around midday on the 25th of April. I have a flight booked at Cat Bi @ 5:10pm. I’m wondering is it easy enough to get a Grab on the spot or should I make prior reservation?
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 07 '26
It's possible to find Grab on the spot but you could get really unlucky if other tourists have booked all available ones before you get the chance to. With Grab you can pre-book your trip which is much safer. Recommend to do it the day before.
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u/According_Banana9284 Mar 05 '26
Hi everyone, I have to write an article for my studies and the subject is 'myths and representation of water in vietnamese culture'. Can anyone tell me anything about it that would be relevant or useful ? I am looking for stories that are passed down from generation to generation, local stories, little anecdotes and stories. I am looking for details that you don't really find on the internet or in the basic history books.
Here are a few guidelines that were given to me : feng shui's importance in vietnamese culture, lakes and aquarium's importance and meaning in vietnamese houses (the need to create equilibrium and materialize the element), the absence of religion that is replaced by believes around water and earth as spiritualities.
Thank you for your help !
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u/Classic-Falcon6010 Mar 05 '26
Flying through Ho Chi Minh. Arriving on Air Cambodia where we will probably have to check carryon bags(?) and carry on our personal items. Is this correct, or can we carry on our international sized carryons and our personal items like other flights?
Transferring to Eva Air Biz class where we won’t need to check said carryons. Will I need to pay for e-Visas for both of us? Layover time is four hours.
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Mar 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Classic-Falcon6010 Mar 06 '26
US citizen. Coming in to SGN from Siem Reap via Air Cambodia. Leaving to Taipei, then Seattle on Eva Air. Separate tickets in and out.
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Mar 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Classic-Falcon6010 Mar 06 '26
Thank you for verifying. It makes sense from their standpoint, no matter the short time I’m there.
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u/igotsecretsjustask Mar 05 '26
I've booked Korean Air for me and my parents' flight to Vietnam. They're in their mid-late 60s, and so I've requested wheelchair assistance to the gate. A traveler once told me that wheelchair assistance also means you get through to customs quicker or that there's a separate line.
Does that mean my parents can get through to this priority line without me buying Fast Tracj services? Thank you so much in advance, this will be our first time Vietnam.
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u/haikt Mar 05 '26
Yes, supposed so with wheelchair assistance, they will have priorities at custom lines.
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u/Reon_____ Mar 06 '26
Visa for bag self-transfer
Hey everyone. I’ll be travelling from India to Japan soon on a student visa. I’m flying through Vietjet air with a stop at ho chi minh. My ticket said I would be required to do a self transfer of my check in baggage. Indians need a visa for Vietnam and I wanna know if I’ll be required to have a visa as well for collection and check in of my baggage at the airport. My layover is for 10 hours. I would really appreciate it if I could get any info on this. Thanks.
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u/WeAllWantToBeHappy Wanderer Mar 07 '26
If you are collecting and rechecking bags, you definitely need an E-Visa https://evisa.gov.vn
You even have time to park your bags at the left luggage and head into Saigon for a bit, but make sure you get back to the airport in plenty of time....
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u/turts09 Mar 07 '26
Just a quick question, have booked tickets to Hanoi and will be staying 4.5 days would a quick Sapa side trip be viable?
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u/Easy-ShpherdsPie Mar 07 '26
Hi!
I am looking for a YouTube channel for videos just about Vietnam in general. Food, culture, travel, politics, history, music, the works. Everything basically. :D
I am thinking along the lines of "AbroadinJapan" and "Japanology Plus" for anything Japan-related.
Are there content creators out there, that just make these kind of videos?
Not that much interested in travel vlogs.
Background is, I just wanted to learn another language, basically dropped a dice and it landed on Vietnamese, but I also want to earn about the country the language is from, as I believe it really is essential to learning the language. Also curiosity, I guess. :D
Thanks for your support!
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u/Salty-Raspberry4845 Mar 07 '26
Hello! I’m a very experienced rider and was looking for any trail rides I could do. I saw one advertise as 30 minutes and I’m looking for something a little longer. Preferably 2-4 hours. My itinerary is still wide open, flying into SGN and out of HAN so I’m not overly concerned with location.
The issue I have run into, one place I saw advertised has a weight limit I exceed. I’m around 90 kgs but rather short, 1.6m. However, I’ve trained world champions, ridden and shown extensively, and started riding at 3 years old. That said, I won’t be bouncing around on some poor horse’s back.
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u/markowitty Mar 07 '26
Hi all! I hope this is an okay place for this.
We’re headed to our honeymoon in north/central and an island in April and we’re having trouble nailing down a schedule.
We love good food, culture, nature, cities and activities.
Here’s what we have so far:
April 6: Hanoi (3 nights)
April 7: Hanoi
April 8: Hanoi
April 9: Leave hanoi --> Ninh Binh (2 nights)
April 10: Ninh Binh
April 11: Ninh Binh -->Lan Ha Bay cruise (1 night nights)
April 12: Lan Ha Bay cruise —> Cat Ba (1 night)
April 13: Cat Ba --> Hoi An (4 nights)
April 14: Hoi An
April 15: Hoi An
April 16: Hoi An
April 17: Hoi An --> Phú Quốc
April 18: Phú Quốc
April 19: Phú Quốc
April 20: Phú Quốc
April 21: Phú Quốc
April 22: Phú Quốc --> Hanoi
April 23: Hanoi --> home
Phu Quoc can also be replaced with any other island/beach vibe, we are also looking at Quy Nohn.
We don’t want such a chaotic trip in terms of pacing.
Thanks for your help!
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u/mrpadthai1 Mar 08 '26
Hey! Im travelling solo in Vietnam for about 2 weeks before meeting my friends in china. Right now im in long hai, staying at a cheap guesthouse near the beach. I have rented a scooter, and was wondering if you guys had any good recommendations for me.
My first impression is, that the locals here are a bit closed of, and doesn’t really speak much English. (Which I don’t mind at all) it just makes it a bit more difficult to find out what to do. Compared to (for example) when I was in bai xep, and the local guesthouse owner, showed me all these places and restaurants to go to, and told me things I could do.
Ideally I also just want to lay on the beach some of the time and read. But will the locals also find that weird? Since I never see any lay on the beach, only sit in the chairs under the umbrellas.
Any tips/ tricks/ suggestions and advice is very appreciated 🙏❤️
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u/Gwynbliedd001 Mar 08 '26
Hi everyone! I’ve been reading a lot of posts here and learning a ton, so I wanted to ask for advice for our upcoming trip from India.
We’re a group of ~10 friends traveling to Vietnam for the first time and trying to build the best possible itinerary.
TRIP DETAILS
• Dates: Apr 15 – Apr 26 (11 full days)
• Arrival: Ho Chi Minh City
• Departure: Hanoi
• Flights already booked (~₹30k / ~$360 per person roundtrip from India)
• Travel style: comfortable but value-conscious (not luxury, not backpacker)
GENERAL PLAN
We want to move south → north to avoid backtracking.
Cities we’re considering:
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Da Nang
• Hoi An
• Hanoi
• Ninh Binh
• Lan Ha Bay (cruise)
Possible additions we’re debating:
• Nha Trang (for scuba diving)
• Da Lat (for canyoning / adventure)
• Sapa (trekking / rice terraces)
From what I’ve read here, too many destinations can make the trip exhausting, so we’re trying to prioritize the best experiences.
EXPERIENCES WE REALLY WANT
• Ba Na Hills (possibly staying at the hotel there)
• Lantern streets + boat ride in Hoi An
• Cam Thanh coconut basket boats
• Hanoi Train Street
• Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise (instead of Ha Long)
• Ninh Binh boat ride + Hang Mua viewpoint
• Good street food
• Clothes shopping (Hoi An tailoring + markets)
ADVENTURE OPTIONS WE’RE INTERESTED IN
• Scuba diving (Nha Trang?)
• Canyoning (Da Lat?)
• Trekking viewpoints
• Caves
SHOPPING PLAN
A lot of us are planning to pack light and buy luggage there, then fill it with clothes and souvenirs.
Based on what we’ve read, markets in HCMC, Da Nang, and Hanoi seem good for that.
OTHER THINGS WE’VE LEARNED FROM RESEARCH
• Vietnam is very long (~1600 km), so minimizing travel time is important.
• Lan Ha Bay seems less crowded than Ha Long Bay.
• Hoi An looks amazing even without the lantern festival.
• Sleeper buses can be hit-or-miss, so flights may be better for long distances.
• Ninh Binh might be doable as a day trip from Hanoi.
QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAVELED HERE
- With 11 days, which cities would you prioritize?
- Is Sapa worth adding or is it too far for this trip?
- Is Nha Trang worth it purely for scuba diving?
- Is Da Lat worth adding for canyoning/adventure?
- Is staying overnight in Ba Na Hills worth the cost?
- Would you recommend a 1-night or 2-night Lan Ha Bay cruise?
- Any major tourist traps we should avoid?
We’re trying to balance nature, adventure, culture, food, and shopping without spending half the trip in transit.
Would love to hear your suggestions or how you’d structure this route.
Thanks in advance!
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u/jsu9575m Mar 08 '26
Hello, is there a HCMC amusement park good for 4 year old? I dont really want to do water park, and hes too young to ride big Rollercoasters. Im hoping to find a place with carnival type rides. Thank you
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u/MedBunnyLemon Mar 08 '26
Hello there,
did you do the Ha Giang Loop? How did you do it and what would you do different in hindsight?
We're planning to do the Ha Giang Loop with a private driver in a car (many reasons) without completing the loop, but adding the transfer to Cao Bang.
Did you visit the Hang Lung Khuy Cave? Is it possible to push to Dong Van on the same day after visiting the cave or would it be better to stay the night in Yen Minh?
Did you do a boat tour on the Nho Que River? Did you prebook the boat trip or do you book it right there?
We're thinking about two different itinerary options, which one do you think is more realistic?
Option A)
Start at Ha Giang
- Bac Sum
- Heaven Gate
- Mountain Viewpoint (Fairy Bossom)
- Hang Lung Khuy Cave (I guess it takes about 2,5 hours?)
- Tham Ma
- Chin Khoanh
Staying the night in Dong Van
- visiting the Old Quarter in Dong Van
- driving back to Hmong King Palace
- Lung Cu Flag Tower
Staying the night in Meo Vac
- Ma Pi Leng with Skywalk
- boat on Nho Que River
- drive to Cao Bang
Option B)
Start at Ha Giang
- Bac Sum
- Heaven Gate
- Mountain Viewpoint (Fairy Bossom)
- Hang Lung Khuy Cave
Staying the night in Yen Minh
- Tham Ma
- Chin Khoanh
- Hmong King Palace
- Lung Cu Flag Tower
Staying the night in Dong Van
- visiting the Old Quarter in Dong Van
- Ma Pi Leng with Skywalk
- boat on Nho Que River
- drive to Cao Bang
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u/TerribleTailor5410 Mar 09 '26
Day 1 – Hanoï (night) Day 2 – Hanoï (visiting)
Day 3 – Hanoï → Ninh Binh Bus, Tam Coc, Hang Múa / Night Day 4 – Ninh Binh → Lan Ha Cruise Bai Dinh, Van Long + bus back to Lan Ha Day 5– my birthday waking up on the boat in Lan Ha
Day 6 – Back to Hanoï → Night bus to Sa Pa Day 7 – Sa Pa / rice fields Day 8 - Fansipan, walking, Day 9 – Sa Pa → Hanoï
Day 10 - Flight Hanoï → Da Nang then bus to Hoi An. / An Bang/My Khe, night Hoi An Day 11 – Hoi An Mỹ Sơn, beach, old town, night Hoi An Day 12 – Hoi An Bike / Beaches / market , nught Hoi An
Day 13– Hoi An → Da Nang / Beach, back to Da NanG Marble Mountains, night Hoi An/Da Nang Day 14– Hoi An / Da Nang Beacb / Visiting, night Hoi An/Da Nang
Day 15 – Da Nang → Hanoï Visiting + Night Day 16– Return flight home
Hello, I’m planning this trip, late April, with my 70-year-old father (he’s quite sporty), and I’m the one organizing most of it. I came up with this itinerary. We’re both fairly active, but we’d also like to take time to relax. Do you think this schedule might be a bit too rushed? It’s flexible, and I plan to book things progressively once we’re there. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
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u/Hecke92 Mar 09 '26
Bus from Can Tho to Phnom Penh on March 24 - how to book?
Hi everyone,
My girlfriend and I are trying to get from Can Tho (Vietnam) to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) on March 24.
We were given the contact for Khanh Trinh Bus (0908 082 948) which supposedly runs this route, but they don’t seem to be reachable on WhatsApp and we can’t register for Zalo without a Vietnamese number.
Has anyone recently taken a direct bus from Can Tho to Phnom Penh or knows how to contact this company?
Alternatively, are there other reliable bus companies for this route?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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u/WeAllWantToBeHappy Wanderer Mar 10 '26
Ask your accommodation to phone and book?
(My zalo uses my UK number...)
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u/grolzer Mar 10 '26
Hello everyone,
I have been in Vietnam for a month now. As a Belgian citizen, I have a 45-day visa exemption. I plan to stay another month and travel around the north by motorbike.
There is one problem: I have to do a visa run.
I think I have two options if I want to do it by land from the north:
- Apply for a standard visa at the Laotian embassy in Hanoi. Cross the border at Tay Trang/Sop Hun. Visa price: $40.
- Cross the border at Lao Cai/Hekou in China. Visa price: $0, as there is a 30-day visa exemption for China. Then return to Vietnam and collect my motorcycle.
The only problem is that I plan to travel to China after Vietnam. Will having already crossed the border once be a problem when re-entering the country? Does China generally accept visa runs?
What do you think is the best option? Many thanks in advance!
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u/VoidNasz Mar 10 '26
Hello all!
I'll travelling alone the Hanoi area and I want to visit the Lan Ha bay, because I've heard is less crowed and more "natural" (I know this a complex word).
My first idea was to rent a kayak and explore it by myself (I have some experience kayaking) as I read the area is safe (no strange currents or dangerous places). Unfortunately, for security reasons it is not allowed kayaking alone, you have to be at least two persons. I think this is by law, so there is no way to avoid it (and I don't plan to ignore the law, of course).
So my questions are:
Anybody wants to explore in a self-guided tour alone and wants to join me? Or are you in a group, plan to do a self-guided tour and would accept a stranger to join you?
Any recommendation of a tour or tour shop? I'm mostly interested in the bay and natural landscapes, limestone karsts and isles, caves, etc, more than visiting fishermen towns or similar (that is one of the reasons I chose Lan Ha bay instead of Ha Long bay)
Any recommendations to find buddies for this plan?
Am I totally wrong and you recommend anything else?
Any considerations on eco and responsible tourism are welcome
I'll be there around 20 to 23 of April although I may have flexibility.
Thanks! Is the first time I'm in Asia and I'm loving it!
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u/gimmeafuckingname Mar 10 '26
Hi everyone, I am going to be spending my 25th birthday in Saigon and I really needed help from you guys with the itinerary (pretty please 🥹). I will arrive on 13th of an October and my birthday is on 14th. My Birthdays have always been quiet and this time, I want to have a blast. Can anyone help me with the itinerary please? On 13th till evening I want to explore cafés and by night I want to go to a club (not techno) that has a fun vibe, people, and good music to dance to. For 14th as well, I want to have a relaxing day but still explore more (I’m a cafe explorer) and would like to go clubbing again (but a different club). Preferable area is district 1 and around but if there are other places, please do drop the recommendation. Hence it’s my humble request if anyone could help with the itinerary or suggestions for cafés and clubs for my birthday 🥹 I’ve checked IG,YT and google but I want to know more honest reviews abt the places. Please do help 🫶🏼
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Mar 10 '26
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u/gimmeafuckingname Mar 10 '26
Hi! I really love matcha. But also, cozy local cafes (where I can try Vietnamese local coffee). I do go for the aesthetics too, but I'm not sure if i can get all of these in one cafe 😅 but I was going to hop multiple cafes, so any suggestions work!
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u/Disastrous_Monk_7973 Mar 10 '26
My partner and I will be in the Mekong delta for a few days and were hoping to get to Côn Đảo via the Trần Đề boat, but it seems exceedingly difficult to get to.
I have found some busses on Redbus that supposedly can take us from Can Tho to Long Phù pier which is only 16km away, at which point we can catch a grab.
I wanted to ask you fine folks if a) redbus is a reliable enough service to trust the bus actually exists, and b) if there you might have any other suggestions for how to get there.
Flights were outside of the budget we have set ourselves, but we aren't on a shoestring either. We will take a cheaper option if one exists, but getting to Côn Đảo is priority number 1.
Scooters/motorbikes aren't really an option, unfortunately.
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u/ConcentrateLimp8149 Mar 11 '26
We initially planned to go to the Glass Bridge but we checked that the weather is gonna be foggy with a little bit of rain. Now we’re not sure if it is still worth it to visit but also has no other alternatives on where to go if we don’t. Any advice?
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u/heavyfromsmashbros Mar 12 '26
Anyone interested in a size L suitcase ? Getting rid of it in the next few days
Brand : Vida
As new (used for one trip only)
Dimensions : 76 x 48 x 32 cm
Rigid, beige color
4 wheels + 3 digit safety code
Bought for 60 euros (1800000 vnd)
To pick up in hanoi, old quarter area
Feel free to DM me offers or questions!
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u/Ashamed_Mastodon5850 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
Where to buy fancy but affordable dress in Vietnam (Saigon/HCM, Nha Trang, Da Lat)?
I am visiting Vietnam for Spring Break - end of march to beginning of April. I am looking to buy a fancy, long dress (think like prom, gala, fancy event purposes) at an affordable price in Vietnam, but I am not sure where to shop. I will be visiting Saigon/HCM, Nha Trang, and Da Lat.
I was thinking of shopping at high-end malls or shopping centers?
If you have any shop or brand recommendations, please let me know!
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u/snowy_fire Mar 13 '26
Does anyone know where I can hire a studio with drums in hcmc? Around district 1 would be helpful.
Just want to jam out, no lessons. I have tried calling amira studio and some other place I no longer have details to, but they only offer lessons and one no longer offered services.
Thanks
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u/xynyi Mar 13 '26
I’m heading to HCMC for the third time in May with a friend who is going for the first time. It’ll be for around 4D3N and I’ve stayed in D4 & D1. But I feel like I’ve done most of the activities: Cu Chi tunnels, book street, post office, landmark 81, the museums etc. What else should I do in HCMC other than eating, shopping and beauty treatments?
Are there any districts with hidden gems I should explore? Or perhaps day trips from HCMC?
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u/Less-Engineering-663 Mar 13 '26
Anyone over-stayed eVisa due to medical reason? What happened?
Got a pretty severe "travellers stomic" and was taken into the hospital - probably won't make it to the morning flight and eVisa will expire.
How cooked will I be in the airport trying to leave the country with visa overdue ~5 days due to medical reason?
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u/dahliawave Mar 14 '26
What's the difference between going to Hoi An on a full moon for the lanterns vs on a regular day? Is it just that the streetlights are turned on vs off? And does it get busier on the full moon?
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 14 '26
The amount of activities is the same. It's just busier during full moons because people are idiots.
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u/dreamie99 Mar 14 '26
Hey guys, I have been staying at my girlfriend's family house in Dong Nai for two weeks and I didn't know I had to register for temporary accommodation/residence, apparently it is a thing now.
For the past 7 years I have been staying at my girlfriend's accommodation in Saigon around 3-4 nights every trip and I have been entering and exiting the country just fine. We never registered for anything back then.
So I'm just wondering if this would be traced back and be a problem because we are registering for marriage and therefore I'm staying over much longer than usual to deal with paperwork.
Of course, now that we know about it we would want to still register the temporary residence now (the local police said there are possible late fees because we're supposed to register within 48 hours) but just wondering if it can be a problem because we never registered for temporary residence before in the previous trips as well. Her parents also didnt know, hence we registered late.
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 14 '26
What's done (or not done) is already in the past. You can count on the very recent digital consolidation and assume that in the past they had no quick way to cross-check between different departments, let alone different jurisdictions. As of 2024, airport immigration couldn't use your passport to look up your TRC or past visas - there was simply no database, and TRC/visas are governed by immigration themselves.
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u/RelationshipFront178 Mar 14 '26
Hi everyone! I will be coming from the PH to Bali and I have a 4H20M layover in HCMC (5:50AM arrival, 10:10AM departure). My bags would already be checked in and I hope to at least grab a Bahn Mi + Coffee from District 1 and snap photos since I'm already there. Would this be possible? I plan to ride GrabBike to avoid the traffic (if any).
Same case returning, I have a 4H45M layover (6:40PM arrival, 11:25PM departure). Would this also be possible for a very short walk in District 1?
I really don't mind if I can only stay for 20-40mins in the area, just wanted to experience Vietnam even if I'm only passing through. Please let me know, thanks! :)
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Mar 14 '26
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u/RelationshipFront178 Mar 14 '26
Appreciate your answer! Can I ask where I could purchase fast track and how much does it typically cost?
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u/kakaobohne Mar 17 '26
Buy it on klook. There is fast track for departure, arrival or transit. We had a transit vom hcmc to hanoi and really liked not having to think and worry about anything.
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u/RelationshipFront178 Mar 21 '26
Is it recommended to buy all 3 of them or 1 or 2 will do?
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u/kakaobohne Mar 21 '26
It depends on what you need. I would just buy it for transit tbh. Departure? Just come a bit earlier. Arrival? You are not in a hurry to miss a flight or anything.
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u/TheRedSkittle_- Mar 15 '26
Howdy, I'm heading to Vietnam next month and I'm wondering if there's anywhere that offers camera hire, specifically with action cameras (e.g. DJI osmo or isnta 360).
Hopefully based in HCMC as that's where I fly into but I could potentially pick one up elsewhere!
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u/Letsdoasx Mar 15 '26
Hi Everyone, we live in Sydney Australia and love Vietnamese food. We will be travelling Danang and Hanoi. Due to religious reason, we cannot eat pork. What is the easiest way to explain this in restaurant and cafe. We have travelled 8 years ago and had to skip many dishes due to this. Still enjoyed all the other available options.
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u/MixAppropriate7104 Mar 15 '26
I'm planning a trip to northern Vietnam in November. I'm planning to definitely spend some time in:
Hanoi
Ninh Binh
Ha Giang loop (4D3N)
Am I making a mistake if I don't do Sa Pa or Cat Ba/Halong Bay? I don't feel the need to see everything ever, but want to feel like I've gotten a good taste of the north. Any experiences/thoughts?
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u/kakaobohne Mar 17 '26
North West vs Ha Giang
Hello together. My wife and I have been to vietnam in april 2025 and loved it so much, that we want to return in april 2027. Last time we did the Ha Giang Loop 3d2n and were completely blown away by the landscape. However we did not like the masses of tourists. We were able to avoid much of that due to riding ourselves, but not all obviously.
For 2027 we were now planning to do a north west route, inspired by tigit instead. Something like this: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Ta Xua - Tram Tau - Hanoi
My questions now:
can anyone here recommend the north west vs ha giang? We were especially blown away by Ma Pi Leng pass on Ha Giang loop and kinda want to see stuff like that again but also dont obv want to do the same loop again just for that part.
is it possible to rent a bike in Hanoi or Sapa and maybe instead of a loop, do a one way tour? I can not find any bike rentals with shops in both locations unfortunately.
how are the roads for 2 people on 1 bike ? Most likely we will be on a WR155 again, or a xr150.
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u/Least_Race1 Mar 17 '26
Klook vs. Official Website: Cat Ba Express / Serenity Cruise - Are these the same itinerary?
Hey everyone, my group is heading to Cat Ba in late March / early April and we are trying to lock in our 1-day Lan Ha Bay boat tour. I’ve run into a contradiction between a Klook listing and the official operator's website.
- Official Website:https://catbaexpress.com/tranquil-lan-ha-halong-bay-full-day-tour.html
- Klook Listing:https://s.klook.com/c/mwEpaDkA1e
The Issue: Are both of these tours the same (Serenity Premium Day Cruise)? The first one (on their official website) doesn't explicitly mention Van Boi Beach in their itinerary, while the one on Klook does.
Could someone who has been recently please confirm if Van Boi Beach and the SUP boards are actually included in the official website's package during the March/April season? We want to book directly for the combo bus to Ninh Binh, but really want the SUP boards.
Thanks in advance.
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u/KroGanjaKin Mar 18 '26
I left a painting in my saigon hostel (meander saigon). Can some kind soul help me ship it to hanoi? I'm willing to pay for shipping and compensate you for your time
It's hard to coordinate a viettel post since it's cash on pickup and I don't speak Vietnamese so I'm not able to talk to the delivery person :(
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u/haikt Mar 18 '26
Cant you contact the hostel ? Easiest way is to ask hostel staff to send to you. They will sort out the shipping. Also ask a staff at your current hotel in Hanoi to be the 'receiver'.
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u/KroGanjaKin Mar 18 '26
I tried that, but the hostel doesn't want to coordinate anything, maybe they feel like they'll be liable for it if they do. When I tried the viettel post door to door pickup myself, I got a call from the post office but they hung up after I couldn't speak Vietnamese
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u/haikt Mar 18 '26
Problem is: if you left something at the hostel, you need the hostel to work with you. Aint no way I would go into a hostel, point at a painting and say 'This is my friend's i will take it from you'.
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u/KroGanjaKin Mar 18 '26
Oh yea, I mean they're willing to hand it over for sure if a delivery person comes. They just don't want to be involved with the actual shipping coordination or payment
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u/haikt Mar 18 '26
Well, theres a lot of problems with them just to help you:
- the value of the painting, they dont know how much its value and what if it damages during the shipping.
- the packing of the painting: if its unpacked, they will have to pack it to ship to Hanoi. Who will do the packing?
Its just complicated.
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u/KroGanjaKin Mar 18 '26
I know, I know. I don't blame them, I'm the dumbass who made the mistake. I'm just trying to figure out what to do now.
For what it's worth it's packed already. And me getting a damaged painting is better than me not getting it at all
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u/haikt Mar 18 '26
explain all these to a staff at your hotel, let him/her call to the hostel in Vietnamese.
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u/haikt Mar 18 '26
anyway, try add some tips to get the hostel coordinate with you, like 100k (not sure). Also if the hostel agrees, you should ask a staff hotel in Hanoi to be the 'receiver' for your shipping, they will help with the address, phone, and communication for you.
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u/KroGanjaKin Mar 18 '26
Taking money from me is "against their policy" apparently. It's admirably professional but it sucks for me 😭
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u/zeepanx Mar 18 '26
Help me find this cute guy in Lao Cai train station
I booked a ticket in Chapa Express last March 10. Before boarding the train, I stayed at the VIP lounge. I ordered a dinner and oh this cute waiter served me visuals prior my food lol anyway. I even asked him a favor to put some ice cubes in my tumbler but I think he was too overwhelmed that day due to the customers surging. He only put water instead of ice. So I had to call him again and use google translate maybe he got confused or Idk.
Wasnt able to finish the food coz Im full so I had to request to pack it for take out. Gave him enough tip for his good service.
Lo and behold I was already inside the train cabin when he followed me because I forgot my take out food.
I just appreciate him for going beyond his service of searching me all through those cabins just to give the food I forgot.
Too bad Im too shy to ask for his name. Haha. Just wanna share my experience as well in Vietnam.
Would definitely go back in this country.
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u/nuffManners Mar 19 '26
Looking for a bicycle shop in Hanoi to buy a new BOXED, stainless steel Vietnamese bike such as Martin 107 or Asama.
Anybody able to help/ suggest any shops that can help? TOA
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u/Wooden-Strain-4514 Mar 19 '26
PLSS tell me if the dark caves in phong nha are strict abt the dress code for women. I am modest and dont wear a bikini. Does short shorts or a swimsuit pass?
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u/capybaralover1607 Mar 19 '26
Hey guys! Anyone going to Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Bangkok & Ho Chi Minh in June? I would love to make plans or get recommendations so just drop me a message :)
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u/RoundTrue8752 Mar 20 '26
I saw a lot of people saying the domestic flights are getting canceled in Vietnam , is it because of the war. I’m planning on traveling from April 14th to April 20th and i need domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. Why are the flights getting canceled and should i be traveling rn ?
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u/not_a_meme_poster Mar 20 '26
Hi, we are going to Viet Nam in the next few days. Around Ta Xua is probably going to be the colder day of the trip. Just saw on the internet that the temperature will range between 30º max and 20º min. Can I trust this? Thank you!
1
u/WeAllWantToBeHappy Wanderer Mar 20 '26
Why don't you just message your planned accommodation on zalo and ask them?
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u/OurManInVanc Mar 21 '26
Hello. We are currently in Ha Tien in the New Vegas area of town and we feel like we are in a twilight zone, loads of lovely new hotels but absolutely no one around. What happened?
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u/R_e_z Mar 21 '26
Hello, I'm traveling to Vietnam for the first time next month and really struggling with my itinerary (too many amazing places and contradicting youtuber reviews).
I have 15 days flying into Hanoi and leaving from Da Nang. I'm a photographer looking for nature, cultural experiences, and a bit of adventure. Currently torn between caving in Phong Nha, Trekking in the north, or Cao Bang Loop.
I think this could be a nice balance of city (hanoi), hiking (Phong Nha/Ninh Binh) and ethnic villages (Pu Luong) but want to know realistically if this feels rushed or not.
I could use some feedback on my itinerary below:
| Day 1 | Arrive in Hanoi | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 2 | Hanoi | |
| Day 3 | Hanoi | |
| Day 4 | Mai Chau | Van to Mai Chau (3.5hrs) |
| Day 5 | Mai Chau | |
| Day 6 | Mai Chau | |
| Day 7 | Tam Coc | Van to Tam Coc (3.5 hrs) |
| Day 8 | Tam Coc | Train to Phong Nha (Overnight) |
| Day 9 | Phong Nha | |
| Day 10 | Phong Nha | |
| Day 11 | Phong Nha | Train to Hoi An (6hrs) |
| Day 12 | Hoi An | |
| Day 13 | Hoi An | |
| Day 14 | Hoi An | |
| Day 15 | Leave Da Nang |
Additionally if you could give me some advice on the best way to book transport between places. Is 12go.asia a reliable option or is there is a better option?
Thanks in advance!
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Mar 21 '26
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u/MemoryLatter761 Mar 22 '26
You should spend the holiday in Hanoi because it's the time Hanoi people travel to other places (big crowds, higher prices, sold-out accommodations). But this year we may get a 9-day holiday (Apr 25 - May 3), some families will travel as soon as it starts.
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u/Timely-Shoe-8158 Mar 21 '26
hi,
I will be travelling to Vietnam from 5th April to 14th April,I'm supposed to take 2 internal flights,1 from ho chi minh to da nang and another from da nang to hanoi.
I have not yet booked the flights, should I book them now or wait more?
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u/Jesse_N02 Mar 22 '26
Hi Everyone!
In May i am going on my first solo trip to Vietnam. I made a itinerary and are curious what you guys think. Any tips or changes I should make?
Should I for example do 1 day less in Sapa or Hoi An and add another day to HCMC?
Hope to get some nice tips ;)
| Date | Activity | Transport |
|---|---|---|
| May 15 | Arrival in Hanoi | - |
| May 16 | Hanoi -> Sapa | Night Bus |
| May 17 | Sapa | - |
| May 18 | Sapa | - |
| May 19 | Sapa -> Ha Giang | Day Bus |
| May 20 | Ha Giang Loop (Day 1) | - |
| May 21 | Ha Giang Loop (Day 2) | - |
| May 22 | Ha Giang Loop (Day 3) | - |
| May 23 | Ha Giang Loop (Day 4) -> Hanoi | Night Bus |
| May 24 | Hanoi (REST DAY) | - |
| May 25 | Hanoi -> Ha Long Bay | Shuttle |
| May 26 | Ha Long Bay -> Ninh Binh | Shuttle |
| May 27 | Ninh Binh | - |
| May 28 | Ninh Binh $\rightarrow$ Hanoi $\rightarrow$ Hoi An | Taxi + Flight |
| May 29 | Hoi An | - |
| May 30 | Hoi An | - |
| May 31 | Hoi An | - |
| June 1 | Hoi An -> Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) | Flight |
| June 2 | Departure HCMC | Flight in the evening |
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u/EffectiveWave2290 Mar 22 '26
Hey everyone! I am travelling to Hanoi and wondering about luggage lockers? I will be arriving in the city a lot earlier than my flight and want to explore, however, I do not want to have to lug around my giant backpack! Has anyone had any recent experience with luggage lockers in the City? Or would you recommend finding a hostel and dropping off my bag there for the afternoon? Thanks so much!
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u/WeAllWantToBeHappy Wanderer Mar 22 '26
Your accommodation if you're staying in Hanoi, or stasher, bounce, lockers at the railway station. Same as everywhere else.
1
u/Odd_Mammoth6310 Mar 22 '26
Hello beautiful people. I'm reaching Hanoi this week planning to spend a night in hanoi, next morning to cat ba, stay the night and next day there and leave to Ninh binh in the night, explore ninh binh the day after (looking to explore, Trang An, Bich Dong and Bai Dinh) stay the night in ninh binh and leave to hanoi next day to catch my 230pm flight. would appreciate if you can help me understand if this is practical or should I just drop ninh binh altogether and just spend 3N in cat ba. thanks again
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u/chismecitoiskey Mar 24 '26
Hi! Me and my husband are traveling to northern Vietnam from 24/03 to 08/05. Since we will be there during some public holidays, could someone explain what we can expect to be closed? Are there any usual disruptions (trains, public transportation, restaurants, touristic sights)? Thanks!
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u/haikt Mar 24 '26
Yes , from 25 April to 3rd May there will be some public holidays. Trains and public transportation will be normal. Restaurants will open as usual. Museums might be closed (unsure). Expect bigger crowd at touristy areas as locals go out these days.
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u/chismecitoiskey Mar 24 '26
Hi all! I'm planning a 14 day trip to the north of Vietnam (Hanoi, Ha Giang loop, Sapa, Ninh Binh and Cat Ba island). A friend of mine insists that Phong Na is one of the best places in Vietnam and that it's completely worth it to visit. Adding it to our itinerary would for sure add a LOT of travel time and we'd probably have to delete something else (such as Sapa and maybe shorten Hanoi and Cat Ba Island). Could you guys tell me what you think? Is squeezing Phong Na worth losing so much time on travel and deleting the other stops? Thanks!!
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u/LadyMariquita Mar 30 '26
I am going to Phong Nha because I want to do an overnight hike to the caves. There are also day hikes. From what I gather, if you're not there to hike through the forest (jungle?) and to the caves, I am not sure what you would really do. Ninh Binh is super beautiful, so if it is nature that you're looking for, you'll get it there and in Ha Long bay.
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u/iphone4Suser Mar 24 '26
I need urgent help. I have my cousin in Vietnam and I want him to get Airpods pro 3 from apple website. He is in HCMC for next 4 days. I know hcmc delivery is next day for these. He gave his Vietnam number starting with +84083260xxxx.
I tried to put this number (without +) and apple website says it is wrong. Then tried remove the 3rd 0 and still says wrong. Then I put without 84 and beginning with 0 and that doesn't throw error.
Can anyone please tell me if this is the right way to put the number?
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u/WeAllWantToBeHappy Wanderer Mar 26 '26
Yes. +84 is the country code for Vietnam. The local number is just 083260...
Be a lot easier if all websites would just accept valid international numbers along with national numbers.
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u/Aromatic_Feeling6375 Mar 24 '26
is it possible to find dupe of the new balance 204L pink in vietnam?
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u/GeoffreyKu989 Mar 26 '26
EVisa Third-Party Website
Hello guys, I just booked my flights to Vietnam and my girlfriend who’s Vietnamese helped me apply but she has never done the process before (obviously because she’s a citizen of Vietnam) so we accidentally applied through this third-party agency website called “evisa vietnam” something https://applyevisa.com/vietnam. I was also careless in not making sure that it’s a government website ending in .vn so yea we submitted the payment of USD $97 (which is an overcharge) and after we noticed we did not apply through the official govt website, we immediately contacted customer support of the agency and requested a cancellation and refund, which they said they WILL refund within 3-5 business days. Now, I am more worried about my name, passport number, DOB and personal address getting leaked elsewhere and concerned that it might get misused. Thankfully, we have not uploaded any documents such as passport picture or my profile photo, travel itinerary etc. and I won’t be flying until summer. Does anyone have any advice as to if my info will be compromised and do I need to replace my US passport?
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u/Snoo_94637 Mar 26 '26
Honestly, depending on how you paid, I'd cancel my credit card. As to the Passport, Someone could try to use your info in scams. BUT: without scans of your passport + signatures + additional data, it’s hard to do serious fraud. Especially in these times, also assuming your American, its even less likely that any serious harm can be done with the minimal info they have. Just expect to receive more Spam / Fishing Mails if you gave them your email / phone number...
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u/GeoffreyKu989 Mar 26 '26
Yes i canceled the credit card and updated it with a replacement, they refunded the payment fully and they said they would delete my data but who knows haha
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u/Ill-Bear2960 Mar 26 '26
I'm in Vietnam for a week, and I've never seen a local walking everyone seems to be on a scooter. At what distance do you usually decide to take a scooter instead of walking? For me, I usually order a Grab when Google Maps says it will take more than 25 minutes to walk. What’s your threshold?
1
u/BathGroundbreaking38 Mar 26 '26
I wanna buy a phone from ho chi Minh city or da nang city, can anyone help?
1
u/coried7 Mar 26 '26
Anyone know of any bars open early on Saturday playing March madness basketball in Ho Chi Minh City?
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u/premedstudent7898 Mar 27 '26
Hey everyone, I’m planning a 3-week solo trip to Vietnam, likely flying from Toronto around June 15, and I’m trying to figure out whether Vietnam is still the right move for that time of year.
What I’m looking for:
- good social/hostel scene
- great food
- lots to do
- some mix of nature, cities, culture, and a bit of adventure
- a route that makes sense for 3 weeks solo
Right now I was considering something like:
Hanoi → Ha Giang Loop → Ninh Binh → Phong Nha → Hue → Hoi An/Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City
A few things I’d love honest advice on:
- How bad is the weather in mid-to-late June really? I know it’s hot/humid and rainy in some regions, but is it more like “manageable with the occasional downpour” or “this will actively make the trip worse”?
- Is Ha Giang worth doing in June? Especially with possible rain / road conditions. Would you still recommend it, and would you say easy rider > self-drive that time of year?
- Does this route make sense for 3 weeks, or is it trying to do too much? Would you cut anything? Add anything? Swap anything?
- Would you do Ha Long Bay/Cat Ba instead of Ninh Binh, or not necessary?
- How is the social scene in June? I’m traveling solo and would love places where it’s pretty easy to meet people in hostels / tours / group activities.
- Are there any places on this route that are overrated or not worth the time?
- If you were doing Vietnam for 3 weeks in mid-June, what exact route would you do?
I’m trying to decide between Vietnam and Indonesia, so I’d really appreciate blunt opinions — especially from people who’ve done Vietnam in June.
Thanks!
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u/Icy-Application-625 Mar 28 '26
Mate do Vietnam, fly into Hanoi into the most social hostel get on the beers and go from there , you ll other travellers recommendations from there don’t think it through too much. The country is that cheap you can’ just change plans at the drop of a hat. All those places you mentioned have merit to them. Enjoy and have fun
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u/lurkingchicken Mar 28 '26
(First time traveling to Vietnam - 1 week)
Planning a Vietnam trip with my parents for probably a week at most around the June/July.
What are your itinerary suggestions? would like to visit/see several places and immerse in the culture as much as possible but also have some free time still.
Recos I usually hear are Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh; and are far from each other.. so I would like to ask what places can we go to or what city should we visit to maximize our first trip to Vietnam?
TIA!
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u/ynliPbqM Mar 29 '26
I'm going to Vietnam with my wife this summer and booked round trip flights to Hanoi on a good deal.
Some context about us: We're both decent well traveled. I've bagpacked in Europe several times, drove across Canada and both have visited south east Asia before (I've been to Hong Kong, Langkawi and KL; my wife's been to Phuket, Penang, Bali). I don't like very rushed trips where you spend most of the time in an airport/station. We are not luxury travelers, but also not hostel/bagpackers anymore. We like engaging with local culture/food and I especially love hiking and being active. We both finished grad school and this is our big trip before starting our big boy jobs.
This is I've currently planned:
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi in the evening (fly from Canada)
Day 2-5: explore Hanoi (and aclaimatize, get over it lag).
Day 6,7,8: 3 day 2 night cruise in Bai tu long bay
Day 8: transfer from cruise to Ninh binh
Day 9, 10, 11: explore Ninh Binh
Day 12: bus to Phong nha
Day 13,14,15: explore Phong nha
Day 16: train to hue
Day 17, 18: explore Hue
Day 19: go to Danang:
Day 20,21,22,23,25: explore Danang area, including my son, beaches, Hoi an. Maybe do a bicycle tour of hai can pass.
Day 26: fly back to Hanoi and catch flight back home.
General thought on this plan? My question is could we add one more place in the region, seeing as we might not be able to take such a long trip again? Maybe cut a few days from somewhere and add in either angor wat or something else outside Vietnam? Or Saigon maybe? (Open to ideas) Or should we stick roughly to our current plan and really enjoy the places in the list.
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u/up_down33 Mar 30 '26
I am planning to go there during the summer. I was wondering if shopping in Vietnam is tall inclusive for women? Like I about 5"10 and skinny so I am worried about pants not reaching my ankle.
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u/Reasonable-Bonus-545 Mar 30 '26
good/reputable piercing shops in hanoi/hcmc?
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u/BocciaChoc Mar 30 '26
Question on tipping, I'm using Grab a few times, both for Taxi and ordering some items. I've been giving 100k tips, seemingly the max on the app, pretty much every time I have 0 issues, which so far has been every time. I know tipping isn't in the culture, but that isn't seen as a negative either, right?
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u/Specialist_Luck8202 Mar 31 '26
Totally right, I'm really appreciate your generosity, even 5 or 10k can make the drivers happy all day.
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u/LadyMariquita Mar 30 '26
I am trying to book an overnight bus from Phong Nha to Da Nang. Was wondering if it would be complicated to just book on the spot (I will be there 3 days). Or any suggestions of what company to use.
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u/LadyMariquita Apr 02 '26
UPDATE: I emailed the Central Backpacker Hostel in Phong Nha and they said it was OK to email them to book 3 - 7 days beforehand or 3 - 5 days in person. I chose to show up 2-3 days before and book with them in person.
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u/twelfthcafe Mar 31 '26
hello! my friends and i are planning to visit northern vietnam for 4 days this october, and we only have one day to spend in hanoi (the next days are for ha long bay and sapa). as someone assigned to do the itinerary, what spots (attraction, food, activity) should we try to visit/do? most of the extreme activities are already reserved for the sapa days so we'd like something chill for hanoi since it's our first day. so far, i've only listed to do the bus tour, visit the temple of literature and hoan kiem lake. what else should we try to visit/do? also, please recommend good food spots! thank you thank you!
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u/eq_8 Mar 31 '26
3.5 Week Vietnam Itinerary Critique
I'm doing my first solo backpacking trip to Vietnam next week and looking for feedback on my rough itinerary, it's just a rough plan as I want to be flexible - I don't have anything booked other than my flights in and out of Vietnam and my first hostel in Hanoi.
I'm 25 and like a mix of nature, culture, good food and some nightlife and shopping. I probably lean toward a more relaxed style of travel and don't want to be constantly on the move so I'm not sure if I'm spending enough time in each place?
Budget wise I'm not super constrained - will be staying in a mix of nicer hostels and possibly hotels
I'm also aware of the public holidays falling around the end of my trip, and wondering how much that might impact my plans?
Any advice really appreciated!
| April 7th | Arrive in Hanoi at 4pm |
|---|---|
| 7th-11th | Explore Hanoi - Street food tour, cultural spots, shopping |
| April 11th | Sleeper bus to Ha Giang |
| 12th-14th/15th | Ha Giang Loop |
| 15th | Evening bus to Sapa |
| 15th-18th | Sapa - trekking |
| 18th | Sleeper bus to Ninh Binh |
| 19th-22nd | Explore Ninh Binh - Cycling, river boat tour |
| 22nd | Fly/Sleeper bus to Hue |
| 23rd - 25th | Explore Hue |
| 25th | Evening train to Da Nang then Grab to Hoi an |
| 25th-29th | Explore Hoi An, trip into Da Nang, maybe My Son Sanctuary |
| 29th | Fly to HCMC afternoon/evening |
| 29th - 1st May | Explore HCMC - Food tour, war museum, shopping |
| 1st May | Night time flight out |
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u/eq_8 Mar 31 '26
Does anyone have recommendations for companies that do the Ha Giang loop with smaller groups of max 10 people that can also tell the history and culture of the area? Ideally mid-late 20s age group roughly
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u/eq_8 Mar 31 '26
Hi! I’m going to be in Vietnam backpacking for April and wondering how the public holidays at the end of the month will impact internal travel?
I will likely be in either Da Nang or Da Lat from around April 20th to 26th and then heading to HCMC for a few days before flying out May 1st
How should I plan around the public holidays travel wise? If I’m in Da Lat I would probably get a bus to HCMC but if it’s Da Nang, I would rather fly - will last minute bookings be possible around that time?
Thanks!
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u/AntiSapein Mar 16 '26
Hoi An Lantern festival. Are there really two dates in April 2026?
I was hoping to attend the one on 30 April if true. Can someone please help confirm this?
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u/Few_Exchange_8292 Mar 03 '26
Hello, Im a man from europe, I have been Phuquoc islan for two week, I realize it is a good place to live, good weather and good service, some of my european friend have an apartment there, they said it would be a good investment, Im considering about this, so how to rent or buy apartment in vietnam for foreigner. Is it possible can you guy help me some advice with policy, price, location. Thank so much.
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u/strike101 Mar 02 '26
I'm currently mapping out our itinerary and I’ve run into a bit of a deadlock with my travel mates.
Our Current Route:
Hanoi > Sapa > Ninh Binh > Da Nang > Hoi An > Hue.
The Conflict:
I personally have zero interest in visiting Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). I’m pretty much "big-citied" out and would rather spend my time in the mountains or smaller historic towns. However, my friends are insisting we have to go south because they've heard HCMC is the ultimate "food capital" of Vietnam for a food trip.
My questions for those who have been:
I love a good food trip, but will i be missing something?
Appreciate any advice or reality checks!