After 4 weeks travelling solo through this incredible country, here are my Vietnam travel tips.
1: maps.me
Maps.me is a free application on which you can download entire country maps and then utilise them when you are no longer connected to the internet. This allowed me to get though 6 weeks in South East Asia without a sim card, as the only thing you truly need is this. There are alternatives such as Google maps offline mode, however I have found this to be far superior in both usability and the detail of the mapping.
Even when you have no data connection you can use maps.me exactly how you would use google maps back home. Plot a course to a popular restaurant or search for directions to a hostel for the night. It all works without any connection. Instead of getting to a new city and feeling lost, wandering around the streets trying to find some wifi to ensure you are on the right path. You become an expert in your chosen location, knowing exactly how to get to every landmark, restaurant and hostel. One way I suggest making the most of the app is to search for wherever you want to go before getting a taxi. as you will see below the taxis can sometimes be untrustworthy, so knowing exactly where you are going and how far it is can be priceless.
2: KEEP YOUR PHONE CLOSE!
You would not believe how many travellers I met along my journey though Vietnam who had their phone stolen right out of their hand when walking down the street. When walking DO NOT hold your phone in a position that someone can drive by on a scooter and rip it out of your hands. As unbelievable as that sounds, it happens far too often. (one girl I met even had her phone stolen from her hands by a scooter passenger, while she was herself, a passenger on a scooter!). Having your phone stolen is enough to ruin your mood for a long while, not to mention all the irreplaceable photos and videos of the trip so far you will never be able to get back.
2: Taxis In Vietnam
When using taxis in Vietnam, stick to Mai Linh (green) and Vinasun (white) cars. These are the two most reputable companies and they served me well during my trip. Be sure to double check the name on the door as some cars could have branding very similar to the above in an attempt to imitate the reputable services. The up-side of going with Mai Linh or Vinasun is that you can generally trust the meter. I would advise you stick with using the meter for your travels as I heard stories from friends I met along the way of bargaining for a price, only to have it higher than the metered price upon arrival at their destination.
3: Uber in Vietnam
Using Uber in Vietnam is a great way to travel around or even just avoid excessive taxi fees. Before flagging down a taxi, check the Uber price to your destination to ensure you know how much you should be paying. If the price the taxi driver asks for is outrageously more expensive, you know that something is up and you should walk away.
4: Buses in Vietnam
Any long journey I undertook though Vietnam was on a bus. Now sleeper buses in Vietnam have a reputation for being extremely unsafe and people say you should avoid them at all costs. I would say that if you can afford to travel another way, such as private car or flights, then do that. But if like me you are looking for the cheapest and most convenient way to get to the next city, I think buses are the way to go.
A major reason to take the bus is that they can be caught from the centre of one city to another without having to worry about transport to and from airports. Another is when taking a sleeper bus, you don’t have to pay for that nights accomodation. Be aware that they can be quite cramped for anyone close to 6 ft and their safety record is not great. So if you do choose to take them, just know that there are some safer options. If you do choose to bus it, stick to using the bright orange buses (Phoung Trang) whenever possible as they served me well during my travels and are considered safer than most.
5: Accomodation in Vietnam
With websites/apps such as HostelWorld and Booking it is extremely easy to find a place to stay. My main rule is to do the research and stay at a highly rated hostel or hotel. Even if it is a bit more expensive, if it is centrally located and has a great social atmosphere, it will be more than worth it. Especially if you are a solo traveller.
6: Home-Stays in Vietnam
Wherever possible, take the opportunity to mix it up and try out the many home-stays littered throughout Vietnam. It is an amazing insight into the life of local people and you get to experience things you would otherwise never dream of staying in regular accomodations. You feel like you have lived there forever and are just a part of the family.
My favourite was in Ben Tre when making my way through the Mekong delta (see doing the Mekong solo). I was immediately welcomed with tea and introduced to the whole family. My days involved riding around the small island passing groups of waving children and eating an abundance of freshly cooked, homemade Vietnamese cuisine.
I even got to go on a private Firefly tour through the Mekong, led by two members of my homestay family.
7: Best food In Vietnam
One of the greatest parts about being in a new location is all the mouth watering food that it has to offer. When in Vietnam I would advise you to always look for restaurants or stalls that have lots of locals in it or ensure that you can see the food being cooked fresh over a fire. If you stick to these two rules you should be able to avoid any stomach sickness. A great way to find the bests spots to eat is by checking trip-adviser and then using maps.me to track it down.
8: How to haggle in Vietnam
There are two pieces of advice you must know before attempting to haggle in Vietnam.
Firstly:
Don’t want what you are trying to buy. It sounds counterintuitive but the best prices you will get will be for things you don’t actually want. The seller can tell how interested you are, so sometimes walking away after a little bargaining will yield the insanely low prices. You don’t want to seem too disinterested as they might not bother with you if you walk up then walk away. Say it’s too expensive, until they give you a lower price, and tell them sorry it’s still too much as you walk away. More often than not the will chase you with a lower price that is more reasonable.
Secondly:
Never buy from the first stall you visit. I would say that all the items you see when browsing the markets in Vietnam will be available at at least 10 other stalls or stores close by. Ask how much something is, then move on. When you go to move on they will start to lower the price. No matter how low they go or how much they pressure you to stay, tell them politely you will return if you decide to purchase.
Continue this until you have a rough idea of what it is really worth, then go to the next stall that has it and offer them less than the Lowest price you were previously given. Remember that this seller doesn’t know that you are truly interested as you are not returning to buy the item you previously bargained over. If they gives you a price you are happy with. Go for it. If not, keep going and try again.
Lastly don’t get too caught up in the prices. Sometimes you spend so much time haggling you forget that it is only a couple of dollars.
Those are my Vietnam travel tips. If you have any questions about travelling in Vietnam, let me know in the comments below.
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Don’t stop wandering.