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Photo: Collected

From its delectable local cuisine to its breathtaking tourist attractions, you will never run out of things to do in Vietnam. We’ve compiled in this article the things you must do if you’re visiting the country for the first time.

1. Go to Ha Long Bay

If you are planning to go to Vietnam for the first time, it’s a must that you go and see Ha Long Bay. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is one of the – if not the most -- visited destinations by tourists. The place is most famous for its ancient limestone pillars and beautiful, tiny islets which you can marvel at while you cruise the bay onboard a traditional junk boat. When you’re at Ha Long Bay, you should also get a closer look at the impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations of “Heaven Palace” when you explore Thien Cung Cave.

View Ha Long Bay

 

2. Explore Phong Nha

If you haven’t tried cave-hopping and you’re keen to know what it is, then Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is the right place for you when you’re in Vietnam. Aside from the majestic mountain views outside the caves, there are also equally amazing rock formations inside the caves that could take your breath away. In addition to the sightseeing, there’s also an opportunity to swim and go cliff jumping at the Ma Da Crystal Lake.

Tourist having fun in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

 

3. Indulge its popular rice noodle soup

Visiting Vietnam is not all about going into its most popular tourist destinations. To fully immerse yourself in a Vietnamese vacation, it’s a must that you try their local delicacies particularly the phở or the rice noodle soup.This hot bowl is made up of chewy rice noodles in savory broth with slices of beef and vegetable garnishes. While this staple food may be found almost everywhere in Vietnam, you will never go wrong when you decide to have it at Pho Vu Phuong.

Noodle soup in a bowl

 

4. Discover the history of Ho Chi Minh

Explore Ho Chi Minh for the busy city that it is. A full day tour of Saigon would give you an insight about Vietnam’s abounding history, fascinating culture and the appealing daily life of the locals. Among the nicest places to see in the area include Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple, War Remnants Museum, General Post Office, Opera House and more.

Facade of Hoi Chi Min Church

 

5. Bask in the glory of the Ban Gioc Waterfall

The Ban Gioc Waterfall is arguably one of the most beautiful and largest waterfalls in the world. Located in the Cao Bang province in Northern Vietnam, this body of water is very much like the Niagara Falls because it sits on the border of two countries as well: Vietnam and China. The waterfalls is so visually impressive that it is one of the most awe-inspiring sights not just in Vietnam but in Southeast Asia.

Waterfalls with mossy stones

 

6. Explore Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge in Da Nang

It can be argued that the Golden Bridge in Vietnam has generated quite a fuss in recent years due to its unique architectural design. It features two, huge stone hands which appear to be holding the bridge atop the majestic greenery sights. It measures 150 meters in length and 12.8 meters in width. Thanks to its remarkable design, the Golden Bridge has become a popular destination and has attracted a lot of tourists to the Da Nang region.

Bridge during sunset

 

7. Cruise the Mekong Delta

Spend a day in awe of the wonderful waterways of the Mekong Delta. Located in the southern part of Vietnam, it is a stunning maze of rivers, islets, and small villages with rice paddies and fruit plantations. When you decide to visit this attraction, you can go on a relaxing Mekong Delta boat cruise to see iconic fishing villages with stilt houses and rice paddies.

Tourist around Mekong Delta

 

8. Check out the Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels played an important role for the communist guerilla troops known as Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Built by local fighters during the armed conflict, the underground tunnels were used by soldiers as a hiding place and a means to transport goods or supplies. Located northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, the hidden underground world of the complicated network of tunnels has evolved to become a major tourist attraction in Vietnam. Have an unforgettable experience as you explore the Cu Chi Tunnels and get to know what life was like for the Viet Cong soldiers.

Man inside tunnel

 

Source: Klook

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Vietnam is the perfect mix of the past, present, and future. Explore the ancient Imperial Palace in Hue, tour the rapidly growing Ho Chi Minh City, and watch as the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang puts on a pyrotechnic show. The cuisine in Vietnam is phenomenal. I would travel back to Vietnam just for the food…it’s that good. But there are also beautiful beaches, mysterious caves, and exotic cities to explore. Here is our list of the best things to do in Vietnam.

HOI AN, A FAVORITE OF MANY TRAVELERS

Hoi An, an ancient city in central Vietnam, is absolutely a must-see on a trip to Vietnam. Honestly, if you only go to one place in Vietnam, it should be here.

Overlooking Hoi An

Visiting Hoi An

The ancient town of Hoi An is a photogenic area filled with some of Vietnam’s best restaurants, best shopping, and best historic sites. Just a short ride away are beautiful beaches and rice fields to explore.

Hoi An is the quintessential destination in Vietnam. Put this city on the top of your list!

CRUISE HALONG BAY

Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most recognizable sites. Towering limestone mountains lie scattered in the emerald waters of the bay. Two and three day cruises are offered. If you have the time, the three day cruise lets you explore farther into the Halong Bay, for a more authentic, memorable experience.

Things to do Vietnam

EXPLORE THE PHONG NHA CAVES

In central Vietnam, there is a collection of caves to explore. And we’re not talking small, boring caves. We’re talking the biggest cave in the world.

In 1990, Son Doong Cave was discovered by a local Vietnamese man. This same cave was rediscovered in 2009 by British caving experts. Son Doong Cave is the largest cave in the world. It’s so large that a jungle grows inside of it and a 747 could fly through its largest section.

But getting here is no easy feat. There is only one tour company, Oxalis, that will take you on the four day excursion to explore this cave. They also offer shorter treks to other caves in the area.

This is not something we have done yet, but it is on our travel wishlist. If you want to read more, visit the Oxalis website.

WANDER THE OLD QUARTER OF HANOI

Located in northern Vietnam, Hanoi is such a joy to wander. For us, the Old Quarter is the highlight of Hanoi. It can be a bit chaotic, with crowded sidewalks and streets, exotic, colorful food for sale, and motorbikes zipping everywhere. But that is all just part of the experience.

Walking through Hanoi

Hanoi

If you are traveling to Vietnam for your first time, try not to make Hanoi your first stop. It can be overwhelming at first (but that is also part of its allure). You may want to visit more low-key cities such as Hoi An or Hue before visiting Hanoi.

GET A HISTORY LESSON AT THE CU CHI TUNNELS

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an immense network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tricks and methods the Viet Cong used to confuse and baffle American soldiers are amazing. A visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels is an immersive history lesson that even kids find very interesting.

Tyler Rivenbark

DINE ON VIETNAMESE CUISINE

The food in Vietnam is delicious. The cuisine varies from the north to south, with different cities specializing in different dishes.

In Hanoi, dine on sweet, sticky rice, Turmeric fish with dill, bún cha (grilled pork and noodles), and fried dumplings. In Saigon, dine on bánh mì (Vietnamese baguette sandwich) or bánh tam bì (thick noodles with pork and coconut cream sauce). In Hoi An, try the Cao Lau and in Hue, try the Bún bò Hue. And wherever you go, the Pho is delicious!!

Pho Mekong Delta

Vietnamese Cuisine

CRUISE THE MEKONG DELTA

The Mekong Delta, located at the most southern reaches of the country, is also called the “rice bowl.” The Mekong River snakes its way through Southeast Asia, starting in China, flowing past Laos and Cambodia, and finally ends here, before dumping out into the South China Sea.

It is here, in this southern part of Vietnam, that the Mekong sends out numerous tributaries and rivers, forming a huge network of canals. These canals link rice farms and towns, a tropical maze that is a joy to explore by boat. Spend a day or spend a week and visit this colorful, bustling part of Vietnam.

Mekong Boats

Happy Lady Vietnam

PHU QUOC ISLAND

Phu Quoc is a small, tropical island that is actually closer to Cambodia than mainland Vietnam. Vietnam has many beautiful beaches but this is the place to really get away from the hubbub of the rest of the country.

Phu Quoc Resort

Not all of Phu Quoc is tropical paradise. You do get what you pay for here. It’s worth paying the money for one of the nicer resorts, where the beaches will be larger, more scenic, and free of trash.

TREKKING IN SAPA

In the south, you have the hot, steamy Mekong Delta. In the north, you have cool, misty Sapa. This is the place to go trekking over rice terraces and to explore the hill-tribe villages. And for us, this is another spot in Vietnam just waiting to be explored.

TOUR THE IMPERIAL CITY OF HUE

Hue was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. You can tour the Imperial City, which resembles a smaller version of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. There are also various tombs to visit as well.

Visiting Hue

HO CHI MINH CITY

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is a blend of the old and the new. Tour buildings designed by Gustav Eiffel (yes, the same person who designed the Eiffel Tower), visit the War Remnants Museum, and climb the modern Bitexco Financial Building for a bird’s eye view over the city. You’ll be dodging motorbikes on the city sidewalks, a uniquely (and very memorable) Vietnamese experience.

Saigon

UNDERRATED DA NANG

Da Nang, Vietnam is an up and coming metropolitan city, with skyscrapers, modern bridges, mountain scenery, and beautiful beaches. In our experience, Da Nang was unexpectedly awesome. If you travel to Da Nang, do not miss the Lady Buddha and the fiery Dragon Bridge.

Dragon Bridge Vietnam

 

Source: Earth Trekkers

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Photo: Collected

Vietnam visa is a kind of travel document granted by Vietnamese competent authorities, providing permission to travel to and enter Vietnam. Before traveling to Vietnam, visitors need to obtain a visa in case they are from visa-required countries. If you still have no idea whether or not you are required to get a visa to enter Vietnam, please check here.

Types of Vietnam visa

Categorized on where the visa is received by applicants, Vietnam visa can be divided into 3 types:

  • Visa received at Vietnam Consulates and Embassies. Visitors can apply for the visa in person at Vietnam Consulates and Embassies around the world.
  • Visa received at the port of entry (Visa on Arrival). To be eligible to get the visa stamp on arrival, visitors must first apply for a letter of approval which grants them permission to enter Vietnam. You may apply for one here.
  • Visa received electronically (Evisa). This is perhaps the most convenient way to get a visa, because all the procedures are carried out online. The Vietnamese Government has decided to issue e-visas to all foreign arrivals at 52 ports of entry from August 15, according to its Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP dated August 14, 2023. Visitors can apply for an e-visa using Vietnam National Portal on Immigration, or have an agency do this for them. 

Vietnam E-visa

An electronic visa (E-visa) is one of visa types issued to foreigners by the Vietnamese Immigration Department via electronic system. Vietnam E-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entry.

Sample of Vietnam eVisa issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department 

Outside Vietnam foreigners who want to enter Vietnam can personally apply for E-visa or through the requesting agencies and organizations. E-visa fee is paid via electronic payment gateway as prescribed by the Immigration Department. The fee will not be refunded if the application is refused.

Conditions for being granted e-visa:

  • Outside Vietnam foreigners;
  • Holding valid passport;
  • Not falling into the cases of suspension from entry prescribed in Article 21 of Law on foreigners' entry into, exit from, transit through, residence in Vietnam.

List of Ports that allow foreigners to enter and exit Vietnam by E-visa.

Below are the ports of entry that allow foreigners to enter and exit Viet Nam with e-visas:

Airports

1- Noi Bai Airport (Ha Noi capital);

2- Tan Son Nhat Airport (in Ho Chi Minh City);

3- Cam Ranh Airport (in the central province of Khanh Hoa);

4- Da Nang Airport (in the central city of Da Nang);

5- Cat Bi Airport (in the northern port city of Hai Phong);

6- Can Tho Airport (in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho);

7- Phu Quoc Airport (in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang);

8- Phu Bai Airport (in the central province of Thua Thien Hue)

9- Van Don Airport (in the northern province of Quang Ninh);

10- Tho Xuan Airport (in Thanh Hoa province);

11- Dong Hoi Airport (in the central province of Quang Binh).

12 – Phu Cat Airport (in the central province of Binh Dinh);

13 – Lien Khuong Airport (in Central Highlands province of Lam Dong).

Landports

1- Tay Trang International Border Gate in Dien Bien province;

2- Mong Cai International Border Gate in Quang Ninh province;

3- Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son province;

4- Lao Cai International Border Gate in Lao Cai province;

5- Na Meo International Border Gate in Thanh Hoa province;

6- Nam Can International Border Gate in Nghe An province;

7- Cau Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh province;

8- Cha Lo International Border Gate in Quang Binh province;

9- La Lay International Border Gate in Quang Tri province;

10- Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri province;

11- Bo Y International Border Gate in Kon Tum province;

12- Moc Bai International Border Gate in Tay Ninh province;

13- Xa Mat International Border Gate in Tay Ninh province;

14- Tinh Bien International Border Gate in An Giang province;

15- Vinh Xuong International Land and Waterway Border Gate in An Giang province;

16- Ha Tien International Border Gate in Kien Giang province.

Seaports

1- Hon Gai Seaport in Quang Ninh province;

2- Cam Pha Seaport in Quang Ninh province;

3- Hai Phong Seaport in Hai Phong City;

4- Nghi Son Seaport in Thanh Hoa province;

5- Vung Ang Seaport in Ha Tinh province;

6- Chan May Seaport in Thua Thien Hue province;

7- Da Nang Seaport in Da Nang City;

8- Nha Trang Seaport in Khanh Hoa province;

9- Quy Nhon Seaport in  Binh Dinh province;

10- Dung Quat Seaport in Quang Ngai province;

11- Vung Tau Seaport in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province;

12- Ho Chi Minh City Seaport in Ho Chi Minh City;

13- Duong Dong Seaport in Kien Giang province.

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Source: Collected

Many people when traveling abroad often look for shady markets that sell foreign currency. This is against the law. If discovered, all foreign money will be confiscated, not to mention administrative penalties according to regulations. So how to exchange currency without violating the law? In this article, let's learn about some tips for exchanging currency when traveling abroad.

Where can I exchange currency?

When preparing for a trip, you may exchange currency in three common ways: exchange foreign currency at the bank, at the jewelry store, or at the airport.

Exchange currency at the bank

Currently, banks have foreign exchange services. Many popular foreign currencies are available for tourists to exchange. To exchange currency, just bring money to the bank and tell the teller about the exchange, the amount you want to exchange, and the currency you want to exchange.

Most banks in Vietnam have foreign exchange services (Source: Collected)

Banks also have regulations on foreign exchange rates, as well as mandatory conditions when exchanging currency for travel.

For example, in Vietnam, according to the provisions of Article 5 of Circular 20/2011/TT-NHNN, the foreign currency purchase limit is as follows:

Individuals who are Vietnamese citizens are entitled to buy foreign currency in cash at licensed credit institutions specified in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Circular at the amount of 100 USD/person/day or other currencies of equivalent value during the 10-day period of staying abroad. The currency limit also applies to children sharing a passport with one parent. The total amount of foreign currency in cash allowed is no more than 5,000 USD.

In addition, you need to present your passport, round-trip airline ticket, and visa (depending on the country of arrival) to prove that the purpose of exchanging money is to travel abroad.

Exchange currency at jewelry stores

You can go to licensed jewelry stores to exchange currency for your trip. Currency exchange at jewelry stores is a convenient way which also offers good exchange rates, thus chosen by many people.

Exchange currency at the airport

Currency transaction points at the airport also allow currency exchange. You can do this when you land in the country you are traveling to. However, the exchange rate at these transaction points is relatively high, so we do not recommend conducting such transactions.

Currency transaction points at the airport also allow currency exchange (Source: Collected)

How much money should I exchange for the trip?

Depending on the purpose of the trip, number of days of travel as well as the need to spend, each tourist will need to exchange a different amount of money. However, there is one thing that you must pay special attention to when deciding the amount of foreign currency to exchange, which is the regulation on the minimum amount of money per tourist when traveling to a country.

For example, Thailand requires each tourist to have at least 10,000 Baht, and for Singapore, the number is 700 USD. These numbers will give you some idea about the expected amount of money you should prepare for your upcoming trip.

Some tips to know when exchanging currency

  • Find out about bank fees for international transactions. Finding out the fees between money withdrawals and transactions with the bank's credit card you registered with will help you know which type of transaction to use to incur the least fees.
  • Understand exchange rates: Checking the exchange rate online before exchanging money in your destination country does not take too much time, and also helps you understand the details so as not to be overcharged by service staff.
  • Plan your expenses: You should only bring as much as you need. This partly limits robberies and helps you avoid having to endure high exchange rates. To do this, you should plan your expenses in advance for the trip.
  • Exchange money in big cities. Exchanging money at banks or offices in big cities gives you better exchange rates than in small towns, not to mention some small towns don't even have a place for you to exchange money.
  • Avoid exchanging money at the airport or service kiosks. The simple reason behind this is to avoid high fees. In many cases, tourists are often advised to exchange money at banks, ATMs or large post offices.
  • Always bring US dollars. This currency is widely accepted in most countries and convenient for you to carry when traveling. In case you need money, you can easily exchange it into the currency of your destination country at a good rate.
  • Always use a calculator: numbers always give you a headache, a calculator will help you escape such problems. Nowadays, every smartphone is equipped with this function.
  • Do not exchange money at the night market: Besides paying high fees for exchanging money, you also face the risk of robbery, pickpocketing or receiving counterfeit money.

 

Reference: Air Booking, Thanh Nien, lawnet.vn

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