General information about Vietnam
The country stretches approximately 1,650 km from north to south and is very large with an area of 331,690 km². You can take the Reunification Train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. This train includes beds and food facilities and takes around 33 hours in total.
It borders the following countries, to which entry overland is possible and easy: Cambodia, China and Laos. This means you can start a great round trip from Vietnam to several countries without using an airplane. However, if you want to travel to China, you should find out in advance about visas and entering the country via the Vietnamese border, as this is not as easy as entering the other two countries.
As the country is very large and long, there are different rainy seasons. In the north, it rains the most from June to September. In central Vietnam in September and October and in the south from May to November.
The people seem rather reserved and the lack of facial expressions made it difficult for us to approach them at first. The language barrier was greater for us in the north, as many people don’t speak English. In the south, however, it got better and people seem more open. Despite appearances, people are very friendly and communication is possible with Google Translate.
Karaoke is also very popular here and entire machines are even ordered home to provide entertainment at parties or on public holidays.
Language
Vietnamese is spoken. English is still rarely used and therefore sometimes makes communication difficult, so other aids such as translators are needed.
Since it is important to us as travelers in a foreign country to immerse ourselves in the language, we like to look at the most important terms in advance and use them in everyday life. This also builds a good relationship with the locals because you show interest in the culture and the country. They are also always happy to help you with pronunciation and teach you other words.
Here is a small list of words in Vietnamese for beginners:
- Hello – Xin chào
- Thank you – Cảm ơn
- Goodbye – Tạm biệt
- No – Không
- Yes – Vâng
- Please – Làm ơn
- Excuse me – Xin lỗi
- How are you doing? – Bạn khỏe không?
- Good morning – Chào buổi sáng
- Good morning – Chào buổi chiều
- Where is…? – Ở đâu…?
- How much does it cost? – Cái này giá bao nhiêu?
- Delicious – Ngon
- Water – Nước
- Food – Thức ăn
- Bathroom/toilet – Nhà vệ sinh
- Without – Không
- Meat – Thịt
- Fish – Cá
- Vegetarian – Người ăn chay
Time difference
The time difference to Germany CET is 6 hours ahead in winter and 5 hours ahead in summer.
Visa
With a German passport you do not need a visa and may stay in Vietnam for 45 days. Proof of departure must be presented on entry. This is often in the form of a flight ticket or confirmation of onward travel to a neighboring country. If you want to stay in Vietnam for longer than 45 days, you can find out about various options online. For stays of up to 90 days, you can apply for a so-called e-visa. You can find more information on this at the Federal Foreign Office.
Currency
In Vietnam, you pay with the Vietnamese dong. 27,600 dong is approx. 1€. There are numerous ATM machines everywhere on the streets or in stores, often guarded by cameras or even a security service. You can even withdraw money there 24/7 in some cases. The ATMs charge a fee, which you must be informed of before withdrawing money. Bank TP does not charge any fees for withdrawals. It is therefore worth looking out for the purple logo.
Food
Vietnam has very healthy food. Lots of rice, noodles and so-called pho’s, which has a kind of broth with the noodles and therefore acts like a soup. A lot of meat is also eaten, which is why vegetarians sometimes find it difficult. But if you ask around and search, you will also discover delicious food in the local stalls (small stalls on streets with tiny tables and plastic chairs for seating). Prices there are between 25k-30k dong for rice or noodle dishes. Due to their size, they are also sufficient as a main course. The bakeries are extremely cheap, for example only 10,000 VND for a donut. There are small stalls selling banh mi almost everywhere on the streets, which is a baguette that can be filled with a variety of toppings. As vegetarians, we often had egg with vegetables or tofu with vegetables inside. The cost here is also between 15 – 40,000 VND and is therefore very reasonable.
Overall, we always enjoyed everything and there is always something different to discover in the different places. Our favorite dishes included Pho, Banh Trang, Banh Mi, Banh bot loc, Tam Che Coc. These are just a few of the delicious and often very healthy dishes.
Means of transportation
The transport system in Vietnam is very well developed and therefore perfect for travelers like us.
App Grab: It‘ s best to download the app in advance and then you can call a cab from anywhere. Comparable to Uber. The difference to regular cabs is that the price is already fixed in advance and is paid directly when booking via the app. This means you don’t need cash and the price doesn’t change during the journey. You get the verified name of the driver, the license plate, the type of car and can share the location or the journey with someone, so you feel really safe. We continue to use the Grab app as much as possible. We were able to test a trial month of Grab Unlimited, which included numerous coupons, making it even more attractive to use. Grab not only allows you to book cars, but also scooters, which then transport you from one place to another.
Cab: There you will find a taximeter and the actual price only becomes clear at the end of the journey. Unfortunately, these taximeters are often manipulated and the previously discussed price is far exceeded. The advantage: cabs are available everywhere, even where Grab is prohibited or not available. They are often more expensive than Grab and charge according to the taximeter. Sometimes the prices can be fixed in advance so that no further costs are added.
Cycle rickshaw: In the big cities there are cycle rickshaws, which should only be used for pure pleasure, as they are rather expensive. They are also more of an option in the big cities for traveling short distances. Sometimes they go around in circles like a sightseeing tour and drop you off at the same place.
Bicycle: Bicycles are particularly useful in Ninh Binh, Tam Coc or Hoi An, as the routes there are straight and sometimes not on the roads. A bike starts at just €2 per day.
Buses: There are many buses throughout Vietnam, which also have beds so that they are very comfortable. There are small buses in the form of 9-seater sprinters, 15-seater 25-seater buses or even larger coaches. Tickets can be booked at tour offices, online or by stopping directly on the road and asking. If there is still capacity, they will take you directly. The prices at the hostels or agencies are not much more expensive and therefore more convenient. We use the Wesite 12go for this .
Train: There is a train that runs all the way down from the north to the south and beds make it great for sleeping. This also saves you the cost of accommodation if the train runs overnight. This train is called the Reunification Express and is the connection between north and south. The train ride is also one of the 8th most beautiful in the world and runs between densely populated areas, through rice paddies and along the coast, offering beautiful views. We always preferred the train rides and enjoyed them very much as we had the freedom to move around, a toilet and even a bed to sleep in. The beds are often not cleaned and so you usually sleep in the bed of the person before you. Unfortunately, we also had cockroaches in the bed and under the pillow once. There are different categories to book from hard mattresses to soft ones. From a two-person cabin to 6-person bunk beds.
Tickets can be booked via 12go, in advance at the ticket counter or via the official website.
Ferry: We used the ferry ride to get to Cat Ba Island. This took less than 10 minutes and was already included in the bus ticket, so we didn’t have to worry about it. Once you arrive at the port, you have to unload your luggage and take it onto the ferry, as the bus may not be able to cross over with you. Therefore, the connecting bus will be waiting on the other side after the ferry trip.
Flight: Sometimes the prices for a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh are cheaper than the train if you are in a hurry and don’t plan a stopover on the way.
On foot: To save money and work on our fitness, we always wanted to walk as much as possible. Walking is the best way to explore. However, you should really concentrate when crossing the road. You need patience, especially at the beginning, and it is worth watching how the locals cross the road. Don’t stop and walk at a steady pace, stretching out your hand if necessary. Often the sidewalks, if there are any at all, simply stop and you are forced to walk on the street. When there are good sidewalks, there are usually scooters parked there or the small tables and chairs of the food stalls.
Scooters: In some places, especially smaller islands, scooters can easily be hired for a few hours or several days. A scooter should always be used with caution and at your own risk. There are small places where it makes a lot of sense, as there is little traffic, but Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh should really only be left to the professionals. And wearing a helmet should not be a question, if there is no helmet, you should rent the scooter somewhere else.
SIM card
If you want to book your sim card in advance, you can do this easily and conveniently via the Airalo or Nomad app. We bought our sim card in the hostel for 240,000 VND (9.6 €). However, you can also find these everywhere and on every corner. They are slightly more expensive at the airport than in the typical tour stores in the city. Here you hand in your cell phone and the staff take care of activating it, as it is in Vietnamese. Everything is set so that the German number continues to work for WhatsApp.
Excursions and activities
Klook is an app that allows you to book various activities at a lower price. It is particularly well known and popular in Asia.
GetYourGuide is also a globally known and popular app for booking excursions. These can almost always be canceled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. We ourselves have tested GetYourGuide in several countries, including France, the Netherlands, Tenerife, Turkey, Egypt and the Dominican Republic, and have never been disappointed.
Excursions can also be booked locally the day before or on the day in most accommodations or small street stores. Many accommodations send a WhatsApp list of options after booking or if you want to plan in advance, ask your accommodation directly. Ours even offered a free daily city tour with a local.
Accommodation
We usually book our accommodation either via Booking.com or Airbnb. If you make several bookings with Booking.com, you get different Genius levels and therefore discounts or other benefits. These often include free breakfast and special offers. However, we have often compared the prices with Agoda.
Our itinerary
Hanoi →🚂
Sa Pa →🚌
Hanoi →🚌
Cat Ba →🚌
Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)→🚂
Da Nang →🚂
Tuy Hoa →🚌
Nha Trang →🚂
Ho Chi Minh
Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and has scooters in total. We were in the Old Quarter and were able to explore almost every sight on foot from there. If you prefer to be driven, it’s best to use the Grab app. We had two trips with it for less than €1 each.
Sa Pa
The town of Sa Pa belongs to the Lao Cai region and is located on the Chinese border. It is known for its numerous rice fields laid out on hills and the largest mountain in Indochina, Fansipan, can also be reached from Sapa. Either by hiking for several days or by gondola.
Cat Ba
Cat Ba is an island in the middle of the world-famous Hà Long Bay and its smaller, less touristy sister Lan Hà Bay. If you fancy a special experience, you can choose between numerous 1-3 day tours on a boat to spend the night between the bays or, like us, book accommodation on Cat Ba and then go on a day tour. Cat Ba itself also has a lot to offer. There are several beaches and hiking opportunities on the island. To get to the island, you have to travel a short distance by ferry.
Tam Coc
Tam Coc is located right next to Ninh Binh and is a little more conveniently located to various sights. The place is reminiscent of Holland, as it is super flat and therefore perfect for cycling. A bike can be booked for as little as €2 per day. Various boat tours or a search for temples round off the day in Tam Coc. It is best known for the Mua Cave. A temple in the middle of a mountain with a great view over rice fields and rivers.
Da Nang
Similar to the Gold Coast in Australia or Miami, the city of Da Nang is located directly by the sea. The view of numerous high-rise buildings from the beach is therefore unusual for Vietnam. Da Nang is home to the 2nd largest cave in the world and the world’s largest dragon bridge. The cave requires at least a 2-day trip. The Dragon Bridge always has a free show on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 9 pm, during which the dragon’s head first spits fire and then water. Da Nang is a great place to relax and learn to surf thanks to the constant waves. The town is a good starting point for trips to Hue or Hoi An.
Tuy Hoa
Less touristy but the perfect place to get to know rural life and immerse yourself in the culture. Tourists are a rarity here and the locals are really happy to see you. There are various dishes that are best tried out and activities where you are on your own. For example, there is a mountain on top of which there is a rock about 80 meters high at an altitude of 660 meters. A climb of around 2 hours immerses you in nature and, above all, the animal world. If you’ve always wanted to see the largest moth in the world, this is your chance. The Attacus attlas is just one of the incredibly beautiful animals that can be seen there.
Nha Trang
Similar to Da Nang, but completely different. It’s not for nothing that this place is one of the most beautiful diving spots in the whole of Vietnam. Nha Trang is divided into two halves by a river and both have a lot to offer. There are beautiful pagodas and beaches, as well as islands that can be easily visited on a tour. If you are in the mood for an amusement park, you should visit Vinepearl Park. There are 3 parks in one. A water park, a zoo and an amusement park. There are lots of rides, but also shows, which is why we can more than recommend the 2-day pass. For real adrenaline junkies, there is a zipline across the entire park. It’s worth queuing there as soon as the park opens, as only 150 people are allowed to use the zipline on any one day. The route to the island on which the park is located is connected by a gondola system. With a length of 2,643 meters and an average height of 54 meters, this is the longest sea-crossing gondola in the world.
Ho Chi Minh / Saigon
The big city in the south with two names. It used to be called Saigon and even today the name is still very popular and can be found everywhere. After the war, the city was renamed Ho Chi Minh. Similar to Hanoi, you can reach everything on foot. There are differences in the weather, the language and the food. There is less sweetening in the north, which is particularly noticeable in coffee, as it is much sweeter in Ho Chi Minh. More sugar is also generally used in cooking. It is also hotter there than in Hanoi. Our guide said there are only two climate zones here: Hot and hotter. It also seemed to us that many more people could speak English. However, the scooter problem has not improved and there are over 5 million scooters in the city, which makes crossing the road rather difficult.
Cost breakdown
We always keep our costs up to date in an Excel spreadsheet and divide them into 6 different areas. This means we always know exactly what we have spent, when and on what and can generate reports. For 42 days in Vietnam, we spent a total of €1,686.07 for 2 people, including the outward flight from the Philippines.
Our conclusion
After 42 days, we feel more and more at home and know what we like to eat, what we like, know a few words in Vietnamese and also feel more and more confident about crossing the road.
But now it’s time to go. On the one hand, we’re looking forward to the next country and the next adventure, but it’s strange to leave when you feel you’ve arrived. Having fallen ill one after the other in Da Nang and through traveling and exchanging ideas with other travelers, we know exactly what we would like to see when we have the opportunity to come back to Vietnam.
Above all, we will never forget our time with Caroline, a local near Tuy Hoa. Not only did we learn a lot about the culture, but also about Vietnamese cuisine, as she always included us in the process. We are very grateful to her for that. But for now, there are other countries on our list that we would like to explore.
Even though we were a little skeptical about the culture and people at first, this quickly subsided and we found our way around more and more, especially towards the end. Next time we would also like to climb Fansipan, which is the largest mountain in Indochina, and visit Hoi An, Hue and the island of Phu Quoc. Dalat was also highly recommended to us and is said to be especially for adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies, as you can climb down waterfalls.