Reference

The guide to Vietnam

Practical answers we checked on the ground

First things first

Sort this before the flight and on day one

Visas & Documents
Many EU and UK passports get 45 days visa-free, and an e-visa covers up to 90. How to get one, what an overstay costs and how the Phu Quoc exemption works
Open the visa page
45 daysvisa-free$25e-visa
Visas & Documents
Money & Currency
Card or cash, which ATMs to use and where the exchange spread hides. Wise and Revolut, plus a realistic daily budget
Exchange money
QRpaying by phoneCardswhere they work
Money & Currency
Connectivity & Internet
Which SIM to buy, when an eSIM is enough and why to set up a VPN before you fly. Three carriers and their plans
100K ₫Viettel SIMeSIMno plastic
Connectivity & Internet

Starts to matter from week two

Transport
Bikes, Grab, sleeper buses, trains and domestic flights. Plus what the police will ask for: the right IDP and the fines
See transfers
150K ₫a bike per day$25domestic flight
Transport
Housing
What a flat costs in six cities, where to look and what deposit is normal. How to read the contract and not overpay the landlord for power
5M ₫rent per month6cities
Housing
Food
Ten dishes to start with, from pho to banh mi. How to eat on the street and stay well, what to do about water and ice, what vegetarians can order
10dishes to knowGrabFooddelivery
Food

Where to go if you fall ill or get caught out

Da Nang
Hospitals
20 Da Nang clinics and hospitals with real prices for a visit. Which ones open at night and where to go for teeth or eyes
20clinics and hospitalsPricesfor each one
Hospitals
Safety
The real risks here are the roads and petty scams like unmetered taxis and swapped notes, not violent crime. What to do about each, and which insurance you need
Crasheswhat to doScamshow they run
Safety
If this is urgent
Vietnam emergency numbers
An ambulance can take 30–60 minutes. With a serious injury a taxi to an international clinic is usually faster
What to do after a crash, a theft or a lost passport
What to do after a crash, a theft or a lost passport