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Vietnam Travel Tips

Last updated September 2026

Nothing fancy here. Just the stuff I would tell you over a coffee before you head out the door. How to get around, how not to get scammed, which apps actually help, and a few Vietnamese words that go further than you would think.

Getting around

  • Use the Grab app for motorbike or car rides. Cheap, and you never have to explain where you're going in a language you don't speak.
  • Crossing the street: walk slow and steady, do not stop, do not run. The traffic flows around you.
  • Sidewalks double as parking and kitchens half the time. Just walk in the street when you have to.
  • Can't book a Grab? Ask someone nearby, a barista, hotel staff, a vendor, to share their wifi. Most people say yes.

Scams to avoid

  • Shoe cleaner. Pretends to fix your sandal, then charges you for it.
  • Coconut guy. Hands you one without asking, then charges fifteen dollars for it.
  • Taxi scam. Rigged meter or a long way round. Stick to Grab, or ask your hotel for a driver they trust.

Helpful apps

  • ChatGPT. Ask it about food, weather, translations, anything you are unsure of.
  • Reddit. r/VietNam and r/travel for real advice, though it skews more negative than the reality.
  • Google Maps. Search "chay" for vegetarian food, "quán ăn" for local restaurants. Review score sweet spot is 3.9 to 4.1. Skip places with only foreign five star reviews. A local four star is usually excellent.

Eating local

A lot of places do not have an English menu. Point at what looks good, or follow the crowd, they know where the good stuff is. Carry cash. Most street food spots do not take cards, and even 50,000 VND, about two dollars, goes a long way.

Say this

Vietnamese words that go a long way

Cảm ơnThank you
KhôngNo
Ngon quáSo good
Trời ơiOh my god
Mắc quáToo expensive
Ngon vãiFucking delicious (slang, use it with friends, not with your host's grandmother)
Nóng quáSo hot

Final tips

  • Carry small cash. Even 50,000 VND is more useful than you would think.
  • Need a toilet? Buy a drink at any café, or just ask. Nobody minds.
  • Don't over plan. The best stuff tends to happen on the days you didn't schedule anything.

Wherever you fly into, most Vietnam trips route through Saigon at some point. If you are coming through anyway, come walk with me for a morning. I will feed you and explain the traffic.

Browse my Saigon tours.

Heading somewhere specific? Start at the Vietnam guide hub.