vietnam

Growing in popularity with holiday makers, Vietnam has always been a popular destination for backpackers travelling through South East Asia. It’s bursting with culture, bustling cities, breath-taking nature and delicious food, all amazing for a low budget. I solo travelled and absolutely loved my time here.

when shall i go

Vietnam is very diverse: a long country stretching the length of both Laos and Cambodia meaning the weather patterns from the north to south can be very different. I came here in February, when temperatures in the North were really quite cold, (especially on the Ha Giang Loop where we needed coats and gloves) but heading further South, it easily reached temperatures of 35. The weather didn’t negatively affect my time so I wouldn’t be put off going this time of year again even if it is harder to pack for.

In general, the North experiences a subtropical climate following the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere so in winter can experience 15 degrees and lower in mountainous regions. The South is more tropical often reaching temperatures of 30 celcius plus. Monsoon season is from May to September so these may be times to avoid. Considering this, September to December may be the best time of year to go for an overall moderate weather experience.

visas

Brits can get up to 45 days in Vietnam without needing a visa, which is most likely enough to see all the sights you want. The only requirements being at least 6 months on your passport and it must not be damaged. It’s possible to apply for longer visas online but you’ll want to check the government website to see what best suits you based on your passport and how long you wish to stay.

backpacker budget

The currency used here is Vietnamese Dong (VND). It is probably one of the most affordable countries to visit as the time of writing this. You can get meals for barely a few pounds, beer as cheap as 30p and accommodation can easily be about £5 a night or less. Most of the places I stayed at were not the height of luxury, for example consistent hot water was not a common occurrence, but on the same level, I did also stay at some beautiful hostels that would compete with those ten times the price in Australia.

Honestly, I think you could get by on easily £1000 a month if you budget well and still experience everything you could want to. The biggest chunk of money will be on experiences such as the Ha Giang Loop.

Getting around

Vietnam is a long thin county so travel routes are self explanatory. You will meet people travelling in both directions and the most popular way to do this is by sleeper bus to cover the vast distances as time efficiently as possible. These can be very cramped and not the most comfortable but it definitely makes the most sense to look after your budget as it means you don’t have to pay for accommodation for the night, and the buses are affordable. You also often have the option for a VIP bus: an upgrade meaning you get a curtain and USB port which makes a big difference to your experience. I’d 100% recommend doing this as the price difference is often barely a few pounds so it’s a no brainer.

All of these buses can be easily booked through the hostel, meaning you can likely get picked up directly from where you are staying. My biggest advice with transport in Vietnam (and a lot of places across SEA), is to trust the process. Providing you have booked with your hostel or trusted source, everything usually works out how it’s meant to even if it’s not always on time. So don’t worry about not getting where you need to be because people will always be there to help.

Because the country is so large, it’s not uncommon to get flights along the country. Flights can be super affordable with budget airlines such as VietJet Air or AirAsia and save you so much time if it is of the essence for you.

Travelling around locally, similar to other parts of Asia, Grab is a very popular option. The traffic in Vietnam is unbelievably crazy and there seems to be next to no road rules. Bikes are everywhere carrying everything you can imagine so be cautious and wear a helmet when riding on the back of a grab. (I’ve seen full families of 6, entire trees and people carrying tables and scooters on the back of their own.) I’d also probably advise against riding your own bike, definitely at least in the cities because of this. Even walking along the streets in Hanoi is difficult enough with the amount of bikes and beeping so driving is not for the weak. As for crossing the road, just cross with confidence and people will move around you. It can be pretty overwhelming and hard to understand if you haven’t experienced it but trust me on this one.

scam safety

I found Vietnam to be a little more prone towards scamming tourists than other countries I have visited. More for petty money making than anything scary so don’t stress yourself about it too much, but it’s good to be aware.

A common scam is with fake Grab drivers. This is very common in airports especially as you come out into a new destination and just want to get to your hostel as quickly as possible. Arriving in Hanoi, a ‘Grab driver’ approached me and asked if I wanted a lift to which I declined. But he kept reassuring me that he was offering me the same price as what I would get on the Grab app. After checking it was the same price, I agreed to the lift, but when I got in the car with 2 other girls already in it, I realised I was being scammed. When arriving at the hostel, he dropped me further away and then charged me more than I had agreed. I did end up just giving him the money instead of potentially getting into more trouble than it was worth but this could have been avoided. If you intend on getting a grab, don’t say yes to the first person who comes up to you and maybe even pay securely in the app. Make sure you get into the right car so it is a legit grab driver.

Also fairly common scam when paying for taxis is that drivers may drop you off further away from the hostel and street lights and then shine blue lights whilst ‘helping’ you work out which money to give them. The colour light makes sure you can’t see the difference in the money notes you are giving them in the hopes you will over pay them. Many of the notes look similar, especially in bad lighting and if you are not used to the currency yet so it’s super easy to make a mistake. I have also had drivers be pretty forceful with taking money out of your hands when you give it to them so be aware of this.

Another scam to be aware of is people balancing baskets on their shoulders and then offering tourists a turn or to take photos with them. They will first be happy to take and pose for a photo and then will demand a large sum of money for the photos. Unfortunately, the only way to avoid this is by not interacting with them.