HEALTH:
We got a host of JABS. Hep-A, Typhoid, MMR booster, and Tdap. We passed on others like rabies even though it’s endemic because we figured we could treat at one of the fine local hospitals if we had a bite. We got a Travel Health INSURANCE policy for the term of our trip. It was just much better coverage, far cheaper, than the yearly policies. We also have multi-year health evacuation policies. Since I was gonna be eating and drinking local street food, I started a PROBIOTIC before the trip and we brought along some antibiotics and otc meds for stomach upset. We took a pepto every morning as a prophylactic. That said, neither of us had any stomach issues. We brushed our teeth w the sink tap but only drank bottle water and ice from “legit” places. If you do run into an issue, Pharmacies, Doctors, Clinics and western-style Hospitals are available.
SAFETY:
Vietnam is super safe. We just never felt unsafe and we went everywhere. Violent crime is almost nonexistent and avoiding pickpockets and scammers just means being aware of what situations to avoid.
TOUTS and ONLINE RECOMMENDATIONS:
People are grinding, working hard, so you occasionally feel like people are selling you on getting a tour or a driver or whatever. It was only annoying and uncomfortable in one place on one night- Hoi An Ancient Town. The touts were relentless there. Also be aware that the reviews, the online personae and even sometimes things like hotel listings may be artificial or AI generated. If “Beth Jones from Sydney” always posts the same exact info or always shills the same single vendor, you might want to take it with a grain of salt. Here, even more than most places, it pays to check a few platforms for reviews.
CASH vs CREDIT:
Cash is king in Vietnam. Credit cards are fine, but you’ll see a 3% fee tacked on. It’s just so cheap that I didn’t mind. ATMs are everywhere but some are better than others in terms of fees, limits and access to your system. This blogpost was really helpful https://hanoiecotour.com/atms-in-vietnam/ Obviously, smaller places only take cash.
PHONES:
WhatsApp is used by everyone so you can just get a data-only eSIM and use that to text and make calls.
LODGING:
Again, insanely cheap. A really nice splurgy hotel will set you back $100, a nice hotel $55, and a basic homestay might be $20. We didn’t do any true “eat w the family” type homestays and I regret missing that experience. Our “homestay” was really just a B&B with only guests.
CULTURE:
The Vietnamese people are the kindest, most welcoming people I’ve ever experienced. Travel here was just fantastic, mostly because of the people. Little kids on school trips ran over to high-five and take a phone pic. English students pulled us aside to practice. Senior women on trips to say “goodbye” to the Shark Jaws building returned the offer of a group pic by gathering us in with them.
SERVICE:
It was the absolute best I have ever experienced. From top to bottom the culture of service mixes with the reality that tourism is a great boon for the country and individual people. Tipping is weirdly controversial in that westerners who hate “tip creep” at home will scold you for tipping in a place where it isn’t (yet) expected. I tipped. I’m hyper-wealthy by Vietnamese standards and it was always appreciated.
Cont'd in Part 3: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/vietnam-trip-report-part-3