Everything you need
before you land.

Most travelers can enter Vietnam on a 90-day e-visa or visa exemption. Here's what you actually need.

e-Visa (most popular)

$25 · 90 days

Single or multiple entry. Apply at evisa.gov.vn, processing 3 working days. Print or save PDF — both copies checked at border.

Visa exemption

15–90 days

UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Russia, Japan, Korea: 45 days. ASEAN: 30 days. Some others: 15 days.

Visa on arrival

Not recommended

Only for emergencies or specific cases. Pre-arranged approval letter required, $25–50 fee at airport. e-Visa is cheaper and faster.

Extension

$50–80

Apply at immigration office in Hà Nội/Sài Gòn/Đà Nẵng before expiry. Allow 5–7 working days. Travel agents can help for ~$80.

Overstay penalty

$25 + per day

Pay at airport before boarding. Don't risk it — multiple overstays can ban you for 3 years.

Vietnam is mostly cash-based but cards work at hotels and chain stores. Here's the setup that works.

Currency

Vietnamese Đồng (VND)

~25,400 VND per USD (May 2026). Notes: 1k–500k. No coins in circulation.

ATMs

Widely available

Best banks for foreigners: Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank, ACB. Max withdrawal 3–5M VND per transaction, ~30–60k VND fee. Avoid generic "ATM" booths.

Cards

Limited acceptance

Hotels, chain restaurants, supermarkets: yes. Street food, markets, motorbike rentals: cash only. Wise / Revolut work great.

Tipping

Not expected

Round up taxis, leave 10–20k VND for hotel housekeeping, 5–10% at upscale restaurants. Don't tip street food vendors.

Mobile pay

Momo / ZaloPay

Apps for VN residents only. Foreigners can't register without local SIM + ID. Stick to cash + card.

Common scams

See list below

Inflated taxi meters, counterfeit notes (check 500k closely), "broken" card machines, sob-story sellers in tourist zones.

Vietnam is generally safe. The biggest health risk is traffic; the biggest safety risk is petty theft in tourist zones.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A, Typhoid

Standard CDC recommendations. Rabies if rural travel >3 weeks. Yellow fever only if arriving from infected country.

Drinking water

Bottled only

Tap water unsafe even in cities. Ice in restaurants is generally fine (made from purified water).

Food safety

Eat where locals eat

Busy stalls = safe stalls (high turnover). Avoid empty restaurants. Stick to cooked food, peeled fruit.

Traffic

#1 risk

Cross slowly, predictably, make eye contact with drivers. Don't stop or run. Helmets mandatory on motorbikes.

Emergency

113 / 114 / 115

113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance. Operator may not speak English — have hotel call for you.

Travel insurance

Strongly recommended

Motorbike accidents are common and uninsured care can be expensive. SafetyWing or World Nomads cover most travelers.

English is spoken in tourist zones but Vietnamese helps enormously. Save these phrases.

Vietnamese culture is welcoming but values modesty and respect. A few things to know.

Temples

Cover shoulders, knees

Carry a scarf. Remove shoes at the threshold of pagodas. Don't point feet at altars or Buddha statues.

Photography

Ask first

Especially ethnic minorities, elderly people, women in markets. Some pagodas ban photos inside. Drones need permits.

Touching

Don't touch heads

Including children. The head is considered sacred. Handshakes with both hands when meeting elders.

Dining

Communal style

Wait for the host to start. Don't stick chopsticks vertically in rice (funeral symbol). Pass dishes with both hands.

Bargaining

At markets, yes

Start at 50% of asking price, settle around 70%. NOT at restaurants, hotels with set prices, or shops with tags.

Public displays

Modest

Holding hands fine. Kissing or cuddling in public is uncommon. LGBTQ+ travel is safe but discretion appreciated.

Vietnam's biggest holiday (Tết) shuts the country down for 7+ days. Plan around it.

Tết Nguyên Đán

Late Jan – mid Feb

Lunar New Year. Most shops close 3–7 days. Trains/buses booked out weeks ahead. Visit Tết flower markets but expect crowds.

Reunification Day

April 30

Hà Nội & Sài Gòn parades. 4-day weekend with May 1. Beach destinations packed.

Hùng Kings

10th day, 3rd lunar

Honoring Vietnam's founding kings. Đền Hùng (Phú Thọ) crowded with pilgrims.

Mid-Autumn

15th, 8th lunar

Hội An lantern festival peaks here. Mooncakes everywhere. Family-focused — book accommodation early.

National Day

September 2

Independence Day. Sài Gòn fireworks. Some museums closed.

Christmas / NYE

Dec 24–Jan 1

Not traditional but big in Sài Gòn / Hà Nội. Beach destinations expensive.

Vietnam runs on 220V. Wi-Fi is excellent. SIM/eSIM is cheap and required.

Plug type

Type A / C

Type A (US flat) and Type C (Euro round) sockets both common. Hotels usually have universal. Bring a small adapter for older guesthouses.

Voltage

220V · 50Hz

Most modern electronics (laptops, phones) handle 220V. Check hair dryers and curling irons.

Wi-Fi

Free everywhere

Cafes, hotels, restaurants almost always free Wi-Fi. Speeds are excellent in cities, decent in rural areas.

eSIM

$8–15 / 10GB

Airalo, Saily, Holafly work without paperwork. Activate before landing. Local options: Viettel (best coverage), Vinaphone, Mobifone.

Physical SIM

~$5 at airport

Need passport. Viettel kiosks at Nội Bài (Hà Nội) and Tân Sơn Nhất (Sài Gòn). Avoid random shops outside airport.

VPN

Not required

Vietnam doesn't block major sites (unlike China). Some VPNs (NordVPN, ExpressVPN) recommended for streaming home content.

Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries to travel in. Here's what things actually cost.