I moved out to Vietnam in 2019 on a whim (and an invitation to write online copy for a local tech company) without knowing what to expect. I stayed in Ho Chi Minh city through 2021 and learned how to live and get around like a local.
I managed to experience most of the highlights:
- Motorbiking at breakneck speed through the mountains
- Getting shaken down by traffic police
- Sampling street food from my neighbors’ houses
- Dating some of the locals
- Learning the Vietnamese language
- Working in a majority Vietnamese company and navigating workplace norms like drinking
- Nearly getting involved with the mafia
If you want to get the most out of traveling around Vietnam, I’ve created this handy guide to help you out.
What’s the Weather Like in Vietnam?
In South Vietnam, the weather tends to range between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (~22-30 degrees Celsius). It’s very humid and half of the year and it rains for about 20 minutes to 2 hours almost every single day. You don’t need very much rain gear as most of the wetness can be avoided by ducking indoors for a small period every day. Umbrellas are uncommon but cheap.
In the North, there are four different seasons that are a bit more pronounced:
- Summers — 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit (~26-33 degrees Celsius) and very humid!
- Winters — 45-60 degrees Fahrenheit (~22-15 degrees Celsius) and very humid. With the humidity, Vietnam feels much colder than it actually is. You will likely want to bring a winter jacket as well as thermal underwear. Humid cold weather tends to feel like the heat is being sucked off of your body.
What Should I Pack When Traveling to Vietnam?
My biggest advice is to pack half the things that you think you need. Vietnam is fast becoming a major manufacturing hub. Most goods you could possibly want are created there or in neighboring China at impossibly cheap prices.
You’re going to punch yourself for wrestling an extra jacket into an already bulging backpack. You’ll probably see a similar jacket for half the price at places like the Russian market.
That said, some of the items you should probably pack include.
- A nice towel – For some reason, quality towels at a good price are uncommon.
- For ladies, I’ve heard the larger bra sizes are pretty hard to obtain.
- Books — Books not in Vietnamese are uncommon in Vietnam (though you’ll find a couple of bookstores with English books in Ho Chi Minh City). It’s helpful to pack one or two of your own.
- Specific medications you need – You won’t be able to get the same medications over the counter in Vietnam that you will in your home country. If you can’t afford to try something different, pack it in.
If your shoe size is under a 10 for men (US) and on the smaller side for women, you’ll be fine buying shoes in the country.
Vietnam is home to many major shoe manufacturers like Nike and Adidas. Many local shoe brands are quietly sourced from the same factories that make shoes like Nikes but are sold at a lower price on the Vietnamese market. If you’re willing to sift through a lot of bad shoes you’ll find some gems out there.
While Vietnam is a textile powerhouse, I would strongly advise packing your own shoes if you have larger feet. For quality footwear, you’ll have surprisingly few options in the country. Try to bring something that can take getting coated in dust and is relatively easy to clean.
For example:
- Walking shoes. I’m a big fan of my grey Adidas Ultraboosts though the white foam part on the bottom got dusty pretty easily. Fabric shoes are also harder to clean.
- A pair of breathable, waterproof sandals. I bought a pair of black rubber Birkenstocks and they served well. Many of the locals wear simple plastic flip-flops or Crocs. These are a lifesaver during the rainy season.
Where Should I Stay in Vietnam?
Short-Term Trips
When I last stayed in Vietnam Airbnb was a very cheap and viable option. However, prices these days are climbing. You may be better off staying at a hostel or a hotel. You’ll find prices are still quite favorable compared to the West.
Price ranges (for two people per night):
Airbnb (in HCMC) — $13-99
Hotel — $18-150
I encourage travelers looking for more authentic experiences to try a cheaper Airbnb in a non-central neighborhood. When I went I stayed at this great little BNB in Phu Nhuan, HCMC run by a young Vietnamese couple. They would cook me breakfast (and it was only $10 a night). A fantastic way to see into the daily life of the average Vietnamese and get acclimated.
Long-Term Trips
While your instinct might be to get a jump on things online, I strongly recommend long-term visitors (or workers) find an apartment once they’ve already moved to the country.
Your quality of life can change street by street largely based on how much karaoke your neighbors wish to play at night. I had one friend who lived in Ben Thanh who had neighbors blaring karaoke on all three sides until one in the morning on the worst nights. Therefore, you’ll want to visit the place before you sign up. And I recommend you stay in an Airbnb or hotel until you do.
Most foreigners tend to stay at fully-furnished apartments designed specifically for foreign workers or, if budget allows, in one of the large apartment complexes in Thao Dien. These options may be simpler on the front end but I find you’ll invariably be overcharged for low-quality accommodation.
I lived in a shared house in Phu Nhuan and paid roughly $200 per month (on the pricey side). I loved the experience as all of my housemates were Vietnamese and it gave me a great window into daily life. However, I wouldn’t recommend this accommodation to everyone as the house could be rather dirty and I would frequently need to shoo away cockroaches.
As for pricing, it’s hard to do much better than $200 per month in a central neighborhood of Ho Chi Minh City. If you’re willing to pay a more Western price of $600 – $1,000 per month you can live in some extremely nice accommodations with fitness centers and vast community pools.
Be aware: As a foreigner, your landlord needs to register you with the local police once you move in. As this is considered troublesome to many landlords you may have (some) difficulty finding an apartment. One of the best ways to navigate this is by getting recommended by a Vietnamese friend.
How Can I Get Around in Vietnam?
Within the City
You’ll quickly notice everyone in Vietnam owns a motorbike. While cars are starting to make an appearance, motorbikes remain the transportation method of choice for locals. They are the only option that works in the winding alleys of most cities.
You can buy or rent a motorbike fairly easily, but to be fully legal, you need a Vietnamese driver’s license. These are notoriously difficult for foreigners to obtain. While enforcement around unlicensed foreigners riding motorbikes is relaxed in most places outside of the major cities, in places like Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, you need to be careful of traffic police.
I bought a nice road bike and made it work rather well during my two years in Ho Chi Minh. If I wanted to go somewhere without getting sweaty I would use Grab (the rideshare app of choice) or take a city bus.
Transportation prices for a roughly 15-minute ride in 2021:
- Grab bikes ~ 35,000 dong ($1.5)
- Grab car ~ 80,000-105,000 dong ($4-5)
- Bus ~ 2,500 dong per ride ($.10)
Around the Country
While many travelers do cross-country motorbike trips (and love them) it’s understandable if you’d rather take a safer route to see other cities and regions when you first arrive. The main other ways of transportation in Vietnam are by bus and airplane.
By Airplane
There are a couple of airlines that frequently operate within Vietnam:
- VietJet Air — One of the cheapest but usually quite unreliable. Checked baggage is always extra.
- Vietnam Airlines — Cheap by Western standards. Best quality.
- Bamboo Airways — Limited options and pricier but also good quality.
- Pacific Airlines — Not as common and I haven’t received much feedback on it.
Below are some screenshots taken on February 6, 2023, for round trip flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang.
By Bus
Another major way to get around within the country is through charter buses that operate as private companies. These can be somewhat difficult to navigate without knowing Vietnamese or having a contact that knows Vietnamese. However, they are very affordable and all seats are in the form of cots on which you can sleep.
Be warned: I am 6 ft (183 cm) tall and 180 pounds (around 82 Kgs) and I was pushing the upper limits of comfort on these sleeper buses. If you’re any taller or heavier than me, these will likely be uncomfortable options for you.
Below is a screenshot of some busses from Ho Chi Minh to Da Lat for Saturday, February 11, 2023.
By Train:
There is only one major train line that runs the length of Vietnam and goes through its major cities. It is relatively cheap but I do not know much about it as I never used it. Below is screenshot also for Saturday, February 11, 2023 for a trip from Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang.
Bonus Section: Things You Should Purchase While in Vietnam
Did I mention Vietnam is a major manufacturing hub? There are a couple of things you can get in the country that you simply can’t get anywhere else at the same price.
- Tailored clothing like suits or dresses — Vietnam is a textile heaven. Any tailored fabric garment can be made for a fraction of the price it would anywhere else. Some places will let you pick the fabric and design any article of clothing to your specific specifications. Heck, I’d bring clothes from your home country to get them tailored and save a buck.
- Antiques — Vietnam is changing quickly and their current “out with the old and in with the new” attitude means antique stores are bursting with discarded items from the last two centuries. Give these a look while you’re in the country.
- Coffee — Vietnam is a global coffee production hub and there are some amazing blends you can only get in the country.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful. Come back for more tips, advice, and stories.
Happy travels, explorers!