Things I wish I knew before visiting Vietnam

Are you planning a trip to Vietnam soon, here is a list of things I wish I knew before visiting Vietnam that I believe would have come in very handy. As a frequent traveler, I often take time to research a new destination but the excitement of helping my best friend move across the world overshadowed my standard travel routine. In any case, I am so glad I was able to tick Vietnam off the bucket list, and on my next visit, I will focus more on indulging in the cuisine and leisurely exploring the destination instead of rushing around to see everything.

Vietnam is a Southeastern Asian country tucked away in the South China Sea and is known for its bustling cities, incredibly beautiful beaches, and rich rivers. A direct flight from London is about 11 hours long but flying from South Korea it took a couple of hours on VietJet. I intend to share a point on how much we spent traveling to and around Vietnam in a separate post but I must say it’s one of the most affordable countries in the world similar to its neighboring country Thailand.

Things I wish I knew before visiting Vietnam

It’s been over a year now and there are so many things I wish I knew before visiting Vietnam but to this day I still miss the areas of the incredible country that we were able to explore. A lot of the Asian countries I have had the pleasure of exploring have often left me wanting more and I wouldn’t mind making annual trips to these destinations. I mean, I visited South Korea twice a year for 5 years and I still couldn’t get enough of the K-Pop/K-drama land. Vietnam somehow gripped me a lot tighter and I can not wait to revisit Hanoi, HoChiMin, and Halong Bay plus the rest of the country.

Whenever I visit a new destination, I make a point of leaving my preconceived notions about the location at my departure gate and arriving open-minded. One notion that I chose to keep was about food and I could not wait to sample their dishes and see if the London restaurants can hold a candle to local dishes. Everything else, I wanted to be surprised, and let me tell you that the places we visited in Vietnam did not disappoint in their deliverance. So, here are the things I wish I knew before visiting Vietnam and what I would do (or not do) differently on my next visit.

Crossing the Street is an Art

To this day I am still amazed we did not get run over by the many bikes, scooters, and cars that we saw on the roads. We have always thought of ourselves as street-smart and agile people but Vietnam showed us that we wouldn’t survive a week in the cities if we had to cross their streets every day. We learned after a couple of days that the secret is just walking into traffic (don’t try this) and keep moving because if you stop you will get hit. So long as you are mobile and aware of your surroundings (hard not to be) then keep the momentum and you can cross the street. We implored our secret weapon of ‘hide behind the locals’ and do what they do and don’t attempt it alone, or better yet, take a taxi.

Beware of Traffic

If you think crossing the street on foot is an art then try navigating the traffic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Min. We quickly learned that if we wanted to get anywhere on time then it was best to either walk or take a bike instead of a taxi or the bus. It is almost important to note that if you head to the airport I would leave at least 3-4 hours before your flight so you don’t find yourself stuck in traffic because it will happen.

Shop & eat away from tourist areas

This one is a no-brainer for avid travelers but it should still be said because we often find ourselves in these areas and we think it’s a bargain. In more ways than one, it is especially when you convert what you are paying in local currency into British pounds or Dollars. But, if you ask me, I would recommend going a little further afield for food and asking your hotel for recommendations to get authentic meals. For souvenirs, I don’t mind tourist areas because often I try not to bring back much unless it was my intention from the beginning.

Bargaining is a way of life

I learned a couple of years ago whilst visiting Bali, Indonesia that bargaining is a way of life, one that I am not cut out for. In almost every area we went to ‘as a foreigner’ the prices were often inflated and obviously I understand the reasons and the strategy but I feel more compelled to spend in a place where prices are fixed than at markets where we have to haggle because I know I can not haggle to save my life. I found that if I went with a tour guide or someone who can haggle, it worked out well, so be prepared to bargain to get those good deals, especially on items that you truly want.

Dress appropriately for temples

This is something I have always known and respected but somehow on this occasion, we forgot that showing shoulders and wearing above the knees clothes was a no for most temples. It is important to do your research and dress appropriately, especially for places of worship. Some locations provide services where you can hire clothing but this shouldn’t always be expected and to save money, dress appropriately in the first place.

The weather is temperamental

We visited Vietnam in September and we found the weather to be very temperamental, one minute it’s raining, and the next it’s 35+ degrees. It almost reminded me of British weather but warmer. When I look back to our trip, we had incredible weather throughout the trip except for when we visited Halong Bay where we spent a night on a small cruise ship.

There are so many other things I wish I knew before visiting Vietnam like some ATMs don’t accept certain cards and wouldn’t allow us to withdraw money. Also pay attention to the ATM fees, if possible withdraw enough money for the adventures you intend to take and for buying items at markets, and use cards everywhere else.