Travelling to Vietnam, one of the most appealing holiday locations in Southeast Asia, can be enjoyable if you know what you’re getting yourself into ahead of time.
Learning about local customs, culture, and transportation ahead of time can not only help you avoid problems during your trip, but will also make it memorable.
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When is the best time to be there?
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As a Southeast Asian country, the first thing you should notice about Vietnam is its seasons.
The climate is tropical monsoon. With an average temperature of 26-28°C, the weather is hot, humid, and steamy during the day, providing a good dose of Vitamin D. During winter, however, Vietnam may be rather cool, with a strong breeze and temperatures ranging from 18°C to 23°C.
The greatest time to visit the country is between November and April when you can enjoy both the warmth of the sun and the chilly weather.
Know the local transport
Book your flights ahead of time to save money on airfare. While most Indian metropolises have flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, attempt to book a direct trip to minimise extended flight durations.
Make sure you have a car waiting for you at the airport because many flights out of Kolkata arrive late at night, making transportation difficult.
Remember that it is advisable to rent a car with a guide through your travel agent or hotel because taxis can be highly pricey for short drives.
Though it is legal for foreigners to rent motorbikes of 50cc or less, it is advisable to avoid doing so due to unfamiliarity with Vietnam’s driving rules. You can also explore the streets to learn about the local culture.
Use a translation app for better communication
While Vietnam is prepared for the increased number of tourists, language can be a significant challenge. You may come across locals who can speak a few phrases of English but don’t bank on it.
The majority of locals use Google Translate to converse with outsiders in English. The simplest thing to do is purchase a local sim card at the airport — the service providers provide a variety of data plans that are reasonably priced (Rs 2,000 – Rs 4,000 depending on the package).
What’s the best part? When you’re out exploring, you can connect to the internet using Google Maps.
There aren’t many vegetarian options
If you’re a vegetarian, you probably won’t be able to gorge to your heart’s content in Vietnam. The local cuisine is strong on fish and beef. They appear to eat vegetables only as an accompaniment to their major courses – after all, this country does put eggs in their coffee! However, there are convenience stores in every corner of the country.
Vietnam has Circle K outlets, similar to Thailand’s 7-Eleven. Snacks such as chips, ready-to-eat sausages, fresh bakery breads, a large selection of instant ramen, and dairy items such as flavoured milk and yoghurt are available at convenience stores.
Visit European-style eateries and cafes for vegetarian meals and snacks such as crepes.
Do you need to tip in Vietnam?
Tipping is always appreciated in a poor country like Vietnam, just as it is in any other tourist destination. Though it is not required, your local tour guide, driver, and hotel employees may try to pressure you into tipping.
However, we encourage that you stand firm and tip only if you wish to. Furthermore, the amount should be wholly subjective.
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