Always drink bottled water in Vietnam

If you have been to Asia before, you probably have a good idea of what to expect on arrival in Vietnam; however, every culture has its differences. Here is a quick list of travel tips which may be useful if you are planning a trip to Vietnam:

Don’t drink tap water. Bottled water is readily available and cheap.

Don’t take cyclo rides after dark. Exercise the same caution you would anywhere in the world. Using your common sense is usually enough to keep you safe in Vietnam.

Dress modestly when visiting religious sites and local dwellings.

Before heading out on the town at night, put any valuables in your hotel safe or a locked bag in your room. Also, avoid taking valuables to the beach.

When crossing busy city thoroughfares, walk slowly and keep looking to the right and left. Don’t ever change your pace, or turn back!

Don’t offer money to minority people, as it encourages begging. Making a donation to a local charity or offering a useful gift is the best way to help.

Always ask for permission to photograph locals or their communities.

No matter how frustrated you feel, don’t loose your temper. It is embarrassing for everyone and it certainly won’t help your situation.

Don’t be afraid to try some of the delicious street food. If you are concerned about hygiene, check the vendor is presentable and has a high turnover of food.

Book medical insurance before you travel.

Make sure you keep the yellow form from the airport. This exit/entry form needs to be returned on departure, so if you lose it you may be fined.

Dealing with family life can sometimes be challenging; even a trip to the local supermarket can end up being a nightmare. So if you have ever considered travelling as far as Vietnam with younger members of the family in tow, you may have quickly changed your mind. Long flights, language barriers, lower levels of hygiene and different food may have made you reconsider.

However, family travel can be incredibly rewarding, and it is always entertaining to see the world through a smaller pair of eyes. Children can benefit greatly from travel, and learning about a different culture.

If you decide to travel with your children on board, you first need to make sure all their vaccinations are up to date. Pack a lot of insect repellent (suitable for little ones) as there isn’t a vaccine to stop Dengue fever and some other tropical diseases carried by mosquitoes.

Most families travelling in Vietnam prefer to fly between destinations, in order to avoid the overcrowded, sweaty public transport options. However, some trains are quite comfortable, especially in the north.

Larger resorts tend to be more child-friendly. Often with special children’s pools, play areas and menus. Even the smallest guesthouses usually have babysitting service. Parents are often surprised how well their children can adapt to a new culture, usually faster than the parents themselves.

It is a good idea to warn your child that locals may try to talk, touch or take photos of them. It can seem a bit much at times, but it is all just an innocent fascination with the West.

Most countries in South East Asia are extremely safe to travel in. Travelling alone is also quite normal, safe and although you are likely to be targeted more by touts, it doesn’t put you in any actual danger.

Women travelling alone in Vietnam are not any more susceptible to any crime or nuisance than any other person. As long as common sense is exercised in all situations, most travellers don’t experience any problems.

A single woman without a wedding ring may be questioned by locals about her marital status, often leading to pitying looks. This can get boring, but it is innocent and just intrinsic to Vietnamese culture.

Violent crime is low in Vietnam, but caution should always be taken. You should lock your bedroom door and not open it to any other than staff. Walking along dark streets at night or hitchhiking is not recommended, similar to any country.

All visitors should carry their bag on the side facing away from the road, as there have been incidences of bags being snatched by passing motorbike drivers.

Men may whistle at woman in the street, but it rarely followed up by anything. If you go to a bar or a club, make sure you keep an eye on your drink. Generally, using your common sense alone should keep you safe in Vietnam.

Wherever you travel in the world there are things that simply must be ticked off the experience list while there. Whether it’s braving a tuk tuk ride in Bangkok, or sinking a pint of velvety Guinness in Dublin, there are experiences we simply must try while we have the opportunity.

Here is your check list for essential experiences in Vietnam:

Try some street food: it doesn’t have to be anything as adventurous as fried bugs or blood soup, stick to noodles, rice or sweet snacks. Some of the best food is found at street side stalls and small markets. Always check of the vendor looks presentable, as it is usually a good indication of how hygienic his set-up is.

Allow yourself to get lost in markets: Ben Thanh Market in Saigon is the best place to hunt for bargains. The atmosphere at markets is usually electric, so even if you don’t plant to buy anything you can still enjoy the experience.

See the Water Puppets in Hanoi: the city’s top attraction definitely isn’t overrated. The show is simply magical, and even though you aren’t likely to understand the dialogue it doesn’t seem to matter.

Take a white knuckle ride: you don’t need a fairground, to get a buzz in Vietnam. Whether it’s in the narrow lanes, or broad highway, taking a trip in any form of vehicle in Vietnam is often a heart stopping experience. All part of the adventure!

Vietnam’s roads are notoriously dangerous, and around 30 lives are claimed on them each day. Cities in Vietnam are crowded, and the roads are chaotic with all forms of traffic moving without discipline and often at great speed.

As a pedestrian negotiating the city, you are probably more at risk than as a driver, as the congestion slows things down. However, the highways are death traps, and many Vietnamese don’t venture on them if they are not travelling in a large vehicle. If you drive a bicycle or motorbike on Vietnam’s highways you are putting your life at risk.

Crossing the road in Vietnam’s cities is also a hair-raising task. Intersections may have red lights, but they are usually ignored by drivers, or else defunct. A gap in the traffic is a rarity in cities such as Hanoi and Saigon, so what is the best way to get from A to B without ending up as an X on the road?

The simplest method is by shadowing a local! Wait for their movements and follow them at the same speed and in the same direction. Locals are faced with this challenge every day, so they know what they are doing. The important thing is to keep moving, don’t stop or change direction, and you will find that somehow the traffic will avoid you!

Travelling in Vietnam by rail is one of the best ways to see the country at a leisurely pace, stopping off as and when you please. The single main rail line runs all the way from north to south, spanning 1,700-plus kilometres, meaning you can traverse the country in just over two days.

Budget travellers often opt to travel the country by bus, but those who have tried both bus and rail travel in Vietnam will tell you that the latter is the way to go – despite being slightly more expensive. Rail travel is more comfortable and gives you the freedom to move around as you please. 

The Reunification Express runs all the way from Hanoi, the capital in the north, to the country’s economic heart in the south – Ho Chi Minh City. The entire trip takes 30-plus hours and is best broken up with stop offs at major cities en route. As you travel from north to south or vice versa you can take in the varying countryside and meet with fellow local passengers. 

Air-conditioned hard and soft sleepers are available and should be booked one week to three days in advance. You can book directly at the train station or through a local tour operator but beware of unscrupulous agents who charge for a soft sleeper but book a hard sleeper. If you haven’t managed to book in advance, it is often possible to pick up discounted tickets near to departure from touts at the station.

Ao dais and bicycles
Travel Vietnam virtually here, as we reveal the country weekly on this travel professional’s blog. From the Delta in the South to Sapa in the North we cover all the sightseeing, culture, history, food, entertainment, hospitality and activities travellers can expect to see and do in Vietnam.

We’ve been travelling Southeast Asia for years, here’s a full blown info resource with colourful pics and video clips to get you all excited about visiting Vietnam.

Whether you are visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Sapa or Dalat, you can plan your trip here.

Tip! You can get some good discounts on hotel rooms and accommodation for Vietnam, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on discounthotels.co.uk