TAKE YOUR VISA SERIOUSLY, VERY SERIOUSLY INDEED
Yes, it seems like common sense, but I have seen tourists turned away at the airport for visa misinformation or failing to print their visa-on-arrival pre-approval paper. Double, triple-check all of your information, have your accommodation address ready to go for the arrival form, be very respectful to the immigration officers, no matter how cold they are. Get stamped and enjoy.
Tours Indochina Vietnam
THE PRICE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES IS…WHATEVER YOU’LL PAY
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Me, bargaining hard for some fruit (photo by Hye Mi Joe)
This is something that is difficult for us North Americans to understand. We are used to a fixed price for everything and we generally believe what we hear and read.
Remember, it is normal in Vietnam for locals to overcharge or inflate prices when they feel they can get more money for something. It’s been happening here in Vietnam since long before tourists ever arrived. It is not necessarily that they are “ripping you off”. It’s just the fluid way that small transactions happen in Vietnam. Sellers will make false claims, pretend you’ve agreed to a higher price, or give you back less change than you’re owed. Happens every day. Be careful, educate yourself and know that….
SOME PEOPLE WILL LIE TO YOU
This is another hard one for first-time travelers to understand and it sours many trips to Vietnam. Though politically communist and still state-organized on a larger scale, Vietnam is hyper-capitalistic on street-level. Tourists have only been coming for twenty years. To the Vietnamese, there is nothing wrong with doing or saying anything it takes to get your business.
Vietnam Cultural Highlights
In the rush for tourist cash, locals (tailors, hotel staff, travel agents, taxi drivers) will do or say ANYTHING. The good thing is, unlike in Thailand, everything is negotiable. Be very weary and….
BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY FROM ANY FINANCIAL TRANSACTION
Vietnamese love to do business and hate to see a customer walk away. Generally, they get the upper hand the second you ask “how much”. Don’t let them keep you held down. Name your price. Stick to the price you want and just politely walk away if they don’t go for it. They will call you back if it’s a fair deal, or offer you their lowest price while you’re still within earshot.
Don’t let them squeeze any higher amount out of you. The Vietnamese respect a tough customer, even if you feel you’ve wasted their time and want to ‘give in’, don’t.
Eat everything
The Vietnamese food is delicious with many of the cities having an incredible street food scene with roadside stalls and hole in the wall restaurants that can get your taste buds tingling. Be adventurous and try it all. A few of the must tries for the first time in Vietnam include Pho (pronounced 'fur' or 'fuh' similar to the first syllable in "phenomenal") and Bánh mì, while it is worthwhile trying the odd looking purple fruit that you may not experience elsewhere. But a certain degree of caution is needed with the food stalls, so you want to look for those that seem to attract the regular or local customers. Additionally, you want to drink lots of water when taking in the sights, especially if touring in the warmest months of the year.
Keep valuables out of sight
Keep your valuables out of sight, such as your wallet, smart phone, jewellery, etc. While violent crime is very rarely witnessed against tourists, there is the problem of pickpockets similar to any large city.
You might want to be more mindful in Saigon’s Pham Ngu Lao and Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Just try to be more cautious and be aware of your surroundings and belongings. Also, most transactions in Vietnam are cash-based, so you may as well leave the plastic at the hotel.
It will rain
If you plan to travel from Hanoi in the North to Ho Chi Minh City in the South, there is a very real chance that it will rain at some point along the journey. The weather is seasonal and changes throughout the country. Even though the weather can be pleasantly warm, the rain showers can be very heavy at times, but this still shouldn't dampen your fun. You can take along a light jacket or ponchos are relatively cheap in Vietnam. The plastic thin ones are great for walking around the cities, while the longer ones are more practical if planning to cycle or ride on motorbikes. Also, it may not be necessary to weigh down your baggage with an umbrella because many of the hotels lend these out for free (but make sure to hand them back to avoid being charged).
