Vietnam is known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, delicious cuisine, and vibrant culture. This blog lists 50 things you’ve got to know about this vibrant country. Irrespective of whether you’re an amateur, travel enthusiast, habitual vacationer, or veteran traveler, these insights will guide you through the heart and soul of the country, and aid you in discovering this enchanting destination that beckons exploration. Let’s go ahead and discover the many facets that make Vietnam an undeniable gem of Southeast Asia.
50 Things to Know About Vietnam + Interesting Facts
1. With Hanoi as its capital, Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces and 5 municipalities. The municipalities — Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh, and Can Tho are the highest-ranked cities, and Ho Chi Minh or Saigon is the largest city.
2. Vietnam prides itself in being known as “The Land of Ascending Dragons” and “The Land of Blue Dragons”.
3. Politically, Vietnam is a one-party socialist republic led by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The general secretary holds the highest position and is considered the leader of the nation. The country gained independence in 1945 and the National/Independence Day is celebrated every year on September 2nd.
4. 54 ethnic tribes call Vietnam their home. Each has its unique language, culture, and traditions. We had the fortune of encountering a few of them when we traveled to Ha Giang and Sapa, in Northern Vietnam.
5. The tourist Visa process to travel to Vietnam is fairly simple. You can apply for an e-Visa (if applicable) on their official website. As we were Indians, the process only took about 3-4 working days.
6. Vietnamese is the official language of the country. English is uncommon here, and only business and property owners and school kids were able to converse in English. But you can manage quite well with Google Translate.
7. The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong or VDN. All their currency notes have a portrait of their late President Ho Chi Minh and their national emblem. The lowest denomination of currency used is a 1000 VND paper note. The higher denominations are made of polymer notes. Interestingly, there are no coins.
8. The national flag of Vietnam has a yellow color star in the center with a red background. While the red background color symbolizes revolution and bloodshed, the golden star represents the five main classes in Vietnamese society — Intellectuals, Farmers, Workers, Entrepreneurs, and Soldiers. Aside from their national flag, you will also be able to see the communist flag of Vietnam quite prevalently. Instead of the star, this flag contains a hammer and sickle placed at right angles to each other against a red backdrop.
9. From the terraced rice fields of Sapa to the stunning limestone karsts of Halong Bay, Vietnam boasts diverse and breathtaking landscapes. Only 18% of the land area is occupied by people, mountains cover 40% and tropical forests cover about 42% of the land. Vietnam also has a coastal line that stretches for about 344 Km or 2140 miles.
10. Know when and where to buy SIM cards in Vietnam. Always read the SIM card guide to know the documents required to purchase the SIM card. Do your research on the best network provider, speed, and so much more, and ensure you don’t get scammed or pay a huge unnecessary fee.
11. The telephone number in Vietnam has nine digits. The country code is +84. To call Vietnam residents from another country, add + or 00 before the access code, 84.
12. Vietnam uses Type A, C, F, and G power plugs and sockets. The electrical supply is 200 Volts and 50 Hz. Always be careful of outlets and be aware of earthing and sparks that might arise while plugging in any charging devices.
13. Both Visa and Master cards are accepted for POS and withdrawal. ATM charges for withdrawals are different for each bank. The Agri Bank charges 22,000 VND per transaction for a withdrawal of 3,000,000 VND limit. This is found to be the cheapest when compared to the other banks as the withdrawal limit ranges from 2,000,000 VND to 8,000,000 VND.
14. Most of the businesses charge a 3 % transaction fee if you’re using card payments. Always be sure to check that there aren’t any additional fees before swiping your card. Cash is the only payment form accepted for entry to tourist attractions and parking fees. QR payment systems are commonly used among locals who hold bank accounts in Vietnam. Since most payments by tourists are primarily done in cash, withdraw sufficient amounts.
15. The Vietnamese don’t consider the thousands, the trailing three zeros when handling money. In simple terms instead of telling you that something costs 10,000 Dong, they say it is 10 Dong. Similarly, 1000 Dong is 1 Dong.
16. Free Wi-Fi services are available in most places across the country including restaurants, tourist attractions, museums, buses, and airports.
17. We strongly urge you to not drink tap water in Vietnam. Even the locals don’t attempt it. Instead, they have a separate small water tap in the kitchen dedicated to drinking water. You can request refills in homestays, and 1.5 L of water costs 10,000 VND – 15000 VND.
18. Toilets in Vietnam are noted as WC, an abbreviated form of Water Closet. Paid and free restrooms can be found. Western-style toilets are the only latrines used in this country. The public WCs are well-maintained and often cleaned.
19. While laundromats do not exist in Vietnam, accommodations and laundry shops offer laundry services on a per Kg basis. The price ranges between 20000 VND and 40000 VND per Kg. In some places, you can also choose to wash either by machine or by hand.
20. Although Vietnam can be visited throughout the year, we would recommend you visit Vietnam from March to May. It has the best weather during this period with clear skies country-wide. June, July, and August are crowded with people as the holidays kick in for the school children. The weather in Vietnam differs from North to South. The North is much colder due to the mountainous landscape when compared to the South. It is best to do a check for the places that you’re planning to visit.
- Northern Vietnam: March to May, September to November.
- Central Vietnam: February to August.
- Southern Vietnam: November to April.
21. Pack your clothes according to the region you are planning to visit as the climate varies from North to South. Ensure you carry things suitable for three climatic conditions while visiting Vietnam— Summer, Winter, and Rain. Mosquito repellents, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, beach wear, lip balm, moisturizer, universal travel adapter, etc. are some of the must-haves.
22. The working days of the week are from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday are holidays or weekends.
23. Vietnam is one of the safest countries to travel to in Southeast Asia. This place is quite popular for solo travelers. Atchaya did the Ha Giang loop solo in the remote corners of Northern Vietnam for 6 days and never felt unsafe or harmed at any instant. The locals are very welcoming and hospitable to tourists.
24. It is important to have the following emergency contact numbers handy:
- Police: 113
- Fire: 114
- Medical emergencies: 115
25. Vaccination certificates are not mandatory to visit Vietnam. Our certificates were not checked upon arrival. But it is recommended to get yourself vaccinated while traveling to Asia.
26. Grab Food and Shoppee Food are the two most widely used food delivery services in the cities.
27. Vietnamese people are 100% non-vegetarians. Most people consume meat, especially chicken, pork, and beef daily. Seafood has also a wide fan base in the country. Finding vegan or vegetarian food is challenging while traveling in Vietnam unless you’re in the most touristy regions. Search “An Chay” in Google Maps to locate vegetarian restaurants nearby.
28. Vietnamese cuisine is affordable. It costs anywhere from 50000 VND per meal on average. Other cuisines like Chinese, Indian, Italian, etc are comparatively expensive. The food of the North Vietnamese is not spicy and it gets spicier as you move from North to South. We found that adding a bit of salt and pepper adds to the taste. Do not miss out on these top Vietnamese dishes while traveling in the country.
29. Vietnam doesn’t follow a strict tipping culture, and it is left to your discretion. We’d suggest giving at least 5-10% of the bill.
30. We highly recommend booking your accommodations through booking.com. Being a tourist hub for many travelers across the world, there are numerous stays from budget hostels to luxury resorts to choose from. The walk-in rates tend to be higher when compared to the online prices.
31. North Vietnam has a conservative culture. Wear clothes covering your shoulders and knees while traveling in places like Sapa and Ha Giang. The touristy places like Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, and Hoi An, and central cities like Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh are more lenient. Wearing tank tops and shorts are common in these places. Dress modestly while visiting the holy places of worship, or else you’ll have to go through the embarrassment of being denied entry.
32. An international driving license is mandatory to drive in Vietnam. Although renting a bike doesn’t mandatorily require one, you have to be ready to pay a hefty fine when caught by the police.
33. It is ideal to familiarize yourself with basic road rules while riding. It is mandatory for both the rider and pillion to wear helmets. The Vietnamese keep to the right style of driving.
34. Grab and Xanh SM are widely used taxi services in Vietnam. You can check the fares for using electric cars for Xanh SM from their official website. Grab is available only in popular cities and tourist places. If the locals offer you a ride, compare the fares in Grab to get an idea and negotiate accordingly.
35. About 85% of Vietnamese don’t follow any religion. There are only a handful of temples or holy places of worship in the entire country. Buddhism and Christianity are followed by a few contributing 10 – 12% combined.
36. The Lunar New Year, Tết Nguyên Đán or Tết, is Vietnam’s largest and most important festival. The first day of the lunar calendar usually falls in late January or early February. The festival is celebrated for a week or longer with family gatherings and reunions, wearing new clothes, cooking special holiday food, and fireworks, and the parents giving lucky money to children in red envelopes.
37. Vietnam is home to the world’s largest cave — Hong Son Doong. Located in the Phong Nha National Park, the cave is around 200 meters (655 feet) high, 150 meters (490 feet) wide, and is at least 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) in length. You need to book tickets a year or two before visiting the cave.
38. There are 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam.
- Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (2011)
- Ensemble of Monuments of Huê (1993)
- Mi-sön Shrine (1999)
- The Central Sector of the Imperial City of Thang Long-Hanoi (2010)
- Hoi An Old Town (1999)
- Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba archipelago (1994, 2000, 2023)
- Phong Nha National Park – Ke Bang (2003, 2015)
- Trang An Landscape Complex (2014)
39. Circle K and Winmart are the most commonly found convenience stores in Vietnam. Most of the products don’t have an expiry date or MRP (Maximum Retail Price). So, the price differs based on the location of the store.
40. The cost of traveling in Vietnam is expensive when compared to other Southeast Asian countries. While accommodations are super affordable, food and transport are highly-priced. The trains are costly when compared to the buses. Read the blog to know how to save money in Vietnam as a traveler.
41. Vietnamese love to sing and karaoke is a popular culture. You can find people singing with a mike and speaker on the side of roads, at home, in parks, beaches, restaurants, and pubs. It is a great way for everyone to relax and bond. The music includes both popular Vietnamese and Western music.
42. Coffee culture is prevalent in Vietnam. The French introduced coffee in the 1850s and it quickly became the favorite drink. We urge you to try fresh locally produced Vietnamese coffee. It is a sociable pastime and a chance for “Ba Tam,” a Vietnamese phrase that loosely translates to “gossip”.
43. Few cars and all the city buses run electric, and electric bikes are widely used in Vietnam. Even the school kids go in electric two-wheelers every day.
44. We recommend the souvenir of getting a cloth stitched or tailored at Hoi An, the tailoring capital of Vietnam.
45. Vietnam has ample shopping opportunities for tourists, especially in Hoi An. The collapsible lanterns and the Vietnamese conical hats are a few great lightweight souvenirs. You can also send an international postcard to your home country to your family or friends from the post office in Ho Chi Minh City.
46. The Vietnamese always remove their shoes while entering the home. Wearing shoes inside the house is considered impolite and unsanitary. The same is applicable while traveling in sleeper buses. Everyone will be given a plastic bag to put on their footwear. This also helps in maintaining a clean transport and pleasant journey. In Northern Vietnam where the temperature is cold, separate footwear is given for the visitors to wear inside the house.
47. LGBTQ relationships are legal in Vietnam. Vietnam’s first gay pride parade took place in the capital city of Hanoi on 5 August 2012. In 2017, pride parades were held in around 34 other cities and provinces. The right to change one’s gender was legalized in 2017. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in September 2023, 65% of the Vietnamese supported same-sex marriage.
48. Google Maps works best in Vietnam. Using public transport for navigation with the help of Google Maps is only available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. For more transportation tips, refer to our detailed guide.
49. Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of cashew nuts, the second largest exporter of coffee, and stands third in rice exports.
50. In case you’re wondering how many days are required to explore Vietnam, we would suggest a minimum of 30 days. Yes, most people visit only for two weeks to glimpse at the top attractions but there are more things to do and offbeat experiences to indulge in. The Ha Giang loop is one such thing. Check out the other Vietnam bucket list experiences you shouldn’t miss while in Vietnam.
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