17 things I wish I knew BEFORE visiting VIETNAM in 2024 🇻🇳
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- Опубліковано 23 тра 2024
- Here are 17 things I wish I knew before Visiting Vietnam. This will help prepare for a trip to Vietnam, from the negatives to the positives and everything you can expect, this includes help with accommodation, food, transportation, budget & more! Any questions leave them below in the comments!
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0:00 - Intro
0:14. - Transport
1:20 - SIM cards
1:50 - Don't MISS THIS!
3:02 - Bucket List tick!
4:01 - Save money!
5:18 - Tips on food
5:56 - BIG disappointment...
6:21 - Visa process
7:11 - When to visit Vietnam?
8:32 - BUDGET for Vietnam
9:21 - Don't forget this...
10:01 - WARNING!
10:15 - The last point!
FYI regarding visa from uk:
It changed this year from 15 to 45 days visa free ( 6:37 )
Yes, new information!
not only UK
From 15 Aug 2023, the government of Vietnam decided to extend the duration of stays in Vietnam from 15 to 45 days for citizens of 13 countries who are unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam.
These countries are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Northern Ireland, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus. Citizens of these countries are allowed to stay for 45 days from the time of entry, regardless of passport type and entry purpose.
So does this mean I will not have to pay the £25 for a visa. But still need to apply for one?
@@emathelimadon't need one if from UK
@@emathelimayou don’t need to apply
Absolutely unreal country, personally my number 1 place I have visited
It really is a great place to travel!
I am so looking forward to it. I imagine it to be pretty special !
Thank you from Việt Nam 🇻🇳🇻🇳
try living there for 10 years.
Hi @joelfriend may I know how long is the ideal time to travel to vietnam and bangkok?
Dog meat is only at specialized dog meat restaurants, not in the normal restaurants, if you don't look especially look for it, chance is that you will likely not see one, so don't worry that they might "accidentally" serve you the dish as it s not cheap either
Yes, this should've been clarified in the video to be more fair to Vietnam and Asia in general!
🐾 Unfortunately, though much less dog meat in the South in recent years, still so MANY places on every local street in the North. It's like China, Philippines, even Korea. Places that were very poor before and though technologically advanced now, haven't evolved ethically. The men are ugly and like savages in these areas. Quite disgusting to chuck up animal cruelty to "culture".
Thanks for clarifying... I was uncomfortable listening to that and was really worried about my trip there.
Idk dude. Lived in nam for a good minute before covid and I'm rocking back come October. I saw dogs on spickets why rolling around the city a few times
Dog meat expensive... ga and Bo are cheap !😊
Love your video and totally agree as a Southern Vietnamese. The South is kinda great for night life and city vibrant life but the North is better for nature and adventure. So the best route that I could recommend anyone want to explore Vietnam: arrive in Saigon (key city of the South) enjoy city life night life > go to Da Nang (key city of the mid) enjoy beach life and seafood > go Ha Giang (Northside) then fly back from Ha Noi (the capital city). Have fun!
@Jolene
Hello Jolene,
I like your comment on here, and you being a local Vietnamese woman, may I ask you only a few questions?
I'm 67 old, not into adventure anymore, I like to spend 6 weeks in July-August in Vietnam.
I would like to split those 6 weeks into half....3 weeks along a beach....3 weeks inland....in rather smaller cities....and enjoy local food and the way of life of ordinary people....5 star resorts are not my thing.
And nor is travelling a lot my thing anymore.
I like to find 2-3 nice locations where I can stay during my visit, and enjoy a rather relaxed holiday.
Any suggestions ?
I would be be very grateful !
Cheers
from Germany
@@norbertschmitz3358 Hi, not Jolene but I'm a Vietnamese here myself so I just thought I'd chip in.
- Hanoi (the capital city of Vietnam) is quite a hustling and bustling city but it really manages to capture the essence of Vietnam's culture in aspects like architure, religion, history, cuisine, etc., so even though it's a big city, you can still find a place to slow down amidst all the chaos and turmoil. I love Hanoi very much and if you are open to visiting this city, I would love to show you around (for free of course haha). Definitely not a tour guide but I just simply love talking about this city.
- Generally, in the north of Vietnam, if you want to go to beaches with golden sand and transparent water, you'll have to go pretty far away from the coast to outskirt islands in the far side of Halong Bay (usually takes ~1 hour by boat). This is because the Red River deposits a lot sediments and alluvium, causing the color of water to go brown, red, and green. However, Halong Bay is definitely worth checking out because the sights there are just top-notch. It's not one of the 7 world's wonders for no reasons.
- Anyways, if you want to spend some more time at some beaches, I believe you'll like cities like Da Nang or Nha Trang because tourism in these cities thrive on beaches that they have. The two cities are located in the Central Region of Vietnam and from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, you can easily take a flight to the destination in less than 2 hours.
If you have more questions, I'll be glad to answer.
@@tonenotrequired8626 lol bitter much? There's literally a river running through the city called Saigon. Get over it.
@@tonenotrequired8626 The word Sài Gòn is used constantly. Some use it more specifically to refer to the old center of town, but there's nothing taboo about it and you'll see it everywhere.
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Vietnam has majestic scenery, very friendly people ❤
the people are great!
Their friendliness comes with a big price.
Hey Joel ! Great video as always :)) Another tip I would mention is : It is pretty easy to find CouchSurfing hosts in Viet Nam and they were the highlight of my travel there ! I also met a family that hosted me on the side of the road after an accident I had. All in all, Vietnamese people are really friendly. Cheers !
Oh that's great to hear! I bet you can get some awesome experiences with coach surfing too!
Visited Vietnam for 13 days in January. Visited Saigon, Da Nang and Hanoi along with a self-guided excursion into the jungles near Kham Duc.
Absolutely insane country! Never have i regretted not knowing the local language more. The people are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I’ve ever met anywhere on earth and I’ve been to 20+ countries.
The nature is stunning and the food is mind blowingly good!
Vietnam is a country I have to recommend everyone visit at least once in their life and preferably while it’s still relatively unknown to the tourist masses!!!
Currently planning my honeymoon there, my fiancé and I are both down for everything, staying wherever, doing whatever. Any recommendations?
קלקידן ששששששז
@@SlamminCameron For a honeymoon I‘d definetly recommend the Ha Long Bay cruise. I didn‘t do it myself, but the scenery looks amazing from the photos I‘ve seen.
In Saigon you can go ice skating in the Landmark 451 scyscraper, which was pretty cool for me as a Finn😅.
There are a lot of museums in Saigon and Hanoi, but the War Remnants museum in Saigon is definetly my favourite.
You might want to do a guided tour of the Cu Chi tunnels, which while touristy, are still very impressive!
Hanoi is definetly more traditional than Saigon with the architecture and the general vibe. I definetly recommend visiting the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and the museum complex. You‘ll be seeing Ho Chi Minh a lot all around Vietnam, so why not learn more about him :D
Be sure to get there early tho. I‘m talking 7 am kinda early!
In Saigon I recommend staying in the 1st district. The city is very walkable and the further away sites are easily reached via taxi or the water bus. The prices are very reasonable for someone used to Finnish prices!
In Hanoi we stayed near the Hoan Kiem lake, which we found to be very nice and convenient for reaching all the major sites, like the Temple of literature, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum etc. Again, Hanoi taxis are also really good!
Honestly there‘s so much to see that I can‘t condense it all into one comment, but I hope you have a great honeymoon and enjoy Vietnam to the fullest!
Remember to also eat the street food and not be afraid to cross the road!
self guided?
@@zenfulliving555 Self guided as in we just paid these few local guys to take us to a specific place in the jungle and then back. Nothing more elaborately organized tours :D
One thing I can proudly tell about my people is that Vietnamese people are extremely friendly to visitors, whether its foreigners or vietnamese people themselves. Just be nice (yes, be nice, vietnamese value respect) and you can get help from pretty much any local you meet whether they are busy or not. If you get lost or in trouble people just naturally come to help you and they never ask for a repay. Its a beautiful thing about vietnamese people. Just be a bit careful when you want to spend money though.
do you have to negotiate the price at restaurants too or their prices are fixed ?
@@dayal2293Fixed. Prices are often written on the signage already but if not, ask before you eat.
@@thehayley7239 👍🏽
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Lol
Thanks Joel, going Thailand,, camboiaVietnam and Laos at the end of this month. First time solo travelling but ur vids are helping a lot! Got your backpack and everything ❤
I love watching these kinds of video to know how to travel Vietnam as a foreigner. And I'm a Vietnamese. But it's good to see your country in a different point of view.
Flying out to Vietnam in four days for the first time. I've really enjoyed your series and have found it super helpful! Thanks man! :)
That's great to hear! Have the best time!!
How was the trip?
Gonna need an update on the trip mate
Keep up the great work guys definitely amazing place to visit.
Ive been hammering out videos since im going with my family in November and i gotta day, youre first 2 tips alone is already way more informative than 80% od the videos out there that isbjust huge hype and drone shots with very little depth.
Well done! And thank you
Ayy thank you so much! Really appreciate that feedback!
@@Joelfriend may I ask what the drone rules were and if anyone gave you issues for using it at all?
Head off to Vietnam in 3 days. This video was very helpful, thank you!
This is the most useful video about Vietnam on youtube, thank you!!
LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!! LOVE THEM!!!! SO GOOD
Great content and amazing delivery.
cheers Mate
Good tips! Ive had the exact same experience on my 1 month travel. Especially Ha Giang don't skip out on it if youre somewhat comfy riding a motorbike its absolutely worth. My only regret is driving the 3 day loop instead of the 5-6 day loop. Also make some friends and drive in a group, safer that way!
One more tip. If youre in ha long anyway for a cruise, rent a motorbike when youre done, and visit the island of Cat Ba (right next to the bay) it is breathtaking, the town on the other side of the island is very charming too.
Hey! How long is the ride from Halong to Catba? And do you necessarily need an international licence?
You don't need a license but riding on the bike up those hills will put pressure on your testicles.
Your videos are very high quality. Welcome everyone traveling to Vietnam!
G'day there Joel, cheers mate for the info on Vietnam, I'm heading over soon with a friend, & the info you gave will 100% help. Cheers again.
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Thanks man, this was amazingly useful!
Very informative! Thanks!
Great stuff, lucky number 17 too. You did a brilliant job no need to swat them flies! You're expressing yourself brilliantly without waving around ;)
Good video with straight forward information. Thank you.
Thank you very much!!
THANK YOU FOR THIS! As a vietnamese I am overwhelmed traveling to vietnam and where to start. THANK YOU
Love the video. Informative.!👍
As a Vietnamese, I can say this video presents very good pieces of advice. Great video!
Thank you very much! :)
Some information unfortunately is not that correct but like all Vlogers I see and some I subscribe too tend to put their own individual spin on the same places that everyone goes too.. 2 , 3 or even a months visit can never paint an accurate account of places to see in Vietnam for sure. All I can say is to all enjoy and try your best 🙏🏻
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Vietnam sucks and your commie gov't is weak.
This was so helpful!!
Glad to hear it! :)
Absolutely killing vid bro thanks!
Awesome. Thank you for the info.
Thank for sharing. Your guide is so useful. I did not know you can download language into google translate. Thank you for that. Your videos are very engaging. Love how you present things. Keep it up.
Some great thoughts Joel Friend
Thanks alot for the actually useful information!
Glad this wasn't just clickbait!
So great. I have saw your Madeira video and today you talk about my country. ❤
Aww thank you, love Madeira and Vietnam!
Hi, Joel, thank you for sharing the tips. I'm visiting Vietnam in a few months. The overnight bus info was great and helpful. All I need now is a detailed info about how to bargain in Vietnam. 😀
Hello ! For me I had the best prices when I was the less interested haha. Sometimes when you ask a lower price they say no but if you walk away they will shout at you lower prices until you say yes xD
Ahhh very much similar to our Indian markets I see 😀😀
Thank you for sharing your experience though 😌 I appreciate it!
Can you please also tell me if there will be any conversation problem while booking Grab? We've plans to travel around the cities in Grab and some blogs saying that there'll be communication problems when booking Grab 😒😒
@@debalinaroy5701hãy sử dụng Google Dịch
Im leaving the USA for Vietnam in 20 days and this video was super helpful! its my first time going to sout heast asia ill be solo backpacking the entire region and just love watching videos like this to get ready. Thanks for the great info!
Update 3weeks into Vietnam I freaking love it here
@@markchlanwhich city are u in currently ?
@@mrpeas2111 just got to Phong Nha yesterday evening. It's incredible here. It's true the more north you go the better the sights get
@@markchlanwhat are the malls like ? Do they speak English?
Such a great video, very informative!
Thank you! 🙏🏼
Great video, thanks dude!
Yesss, I love Vietnam, 4 years living here was absolutely amazing. So many places where you can travel. From busy cities to rural areas, food is so delicious, people are so friendly and welcoming. 👌💯
Where in Vietnam do you live?
@@akshayjuwa8444 I live in Dong Nai.
@@MrABroad oh sweet I think it’s near ho chi Ming…. I’m going to Hanoi next week… I’m gonna visit ha long bay, ninh binh and the city … do you have any recommendations? Is booking stuffs from viator good?
Awesome and informatve video. Brilliant. :)
Thank you so much!
Guys, this commet is for all people planning to visit Viet Nam. I'm a Vietnamese citizen and I have to admit that Viet Nam has a myriad of breathtaking views and alluring tourists attractions. BUT, that guy is telling the sadly true thing in Viet Nam. Besides those who are honest and kind, there are lots of merchants considering foreign visitors as people living in a country having a higher standard of living, a better income so they kind of charge you an overwhelmingly prohibitive price (Vietnamese's perspective). So remember, it is a must-do when visiting VietNam: BARGAINING
Bạn nói đúng,nạn chặt chém của 1 số ng Việt mình vô cùng xấu,mình là ng Việt mà còn chán,huống chi ng nước Ngoài.hỡi những con ng có lòng tự tôn dân tộc và tầm nhìn xa thì hãy để lại hình ảnh đẹp trong mắt bạn bè quốc tế.
Hi will it be super rainy in the North in May??
@@folklorish31 no, it will be dry and hot from May to July/August
@@HangLeT thank you 😊
If you have to bargain, it's not good!
Excellent, thank you. I'm arriving in Ha Noi April15th. I love the advice. It's so enjoyable and useful!!! This is my first video of yours that I watched. I'll check out more soon. I just downloaded Vietnamese language to my phone (and Khmer). Also, thanks for the advice about Viet tel. Good stuff!!
Vietnamese here! Would you like my suggestion? Comment your liking and maybe I could help ;)
thank you! very helpful
Wow. interesting video . thanks for good content
Very good info video, thanks
Thanks for watching!
Hi AND thank you...I'm French AND I'm going to Vietnam in September..from Saigon to halong bay...fortunately I'm invited by my friends in different parts of Vietnam..🇫🇷❤️🇻🇳
And it's true that anyone who doesn't know Vietnam is like going to another planet 🤣
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Great tips - thanks!
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Lived in Vietnam 3 year, just a few things..
1. Don’t say ‘Pho’, say ‘Pher’ - Pho means prostitute.
2. Beers are served cold, I think you were just unfortunate in where you went.
3. The best time to visit Vietnam is October/November for nice weather all around the country.
4. Hanoi is developed, just not in the old quarter where tourists mainly go, head to the business district you’ll be surprised.
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Thanks for the info, going there in August.
Great video!
Thank you!
thank you, amazing review 👏
My pleasure!
Great info.. cause soon i fly to Vietnam!
great info!! thanks
Glad it was helpful!
By far, my favorite country in the world. Been there 5 times... loved it every time. The Ha Giang loop is the best!!!
Great video. I'm looking to go in August or September.
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Thanks this was helpful. I'm going to Vietnam next year around March staying in the south @ Ho Chi Minh City as I do not like the cold. I was in South Korea last year which is similarly limited in English speaking and I got around fine there.
In so hyped for the trip with my Family this winter. Thx for the Info. Might get a tailored suit ngl. 😉
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Im planning on visiting Asia within the next 12 months and Vietnam is top of my list.
you're one good looking young man. Thank you for the tips. Being a Vietnamese, I think you know more about the different types of transportations than I do. :)
True! It's always better to book hotels in Vietnam online in advance. Banh mi, pho, bun cha ... dang, just mentioning Vietnamese cuisine makes my mouth water.
Hi Joel! Thanks for everything, we were living for 3 month and since 2023, spanish people and more, can be 45 days without visa 😊
I’m Vietnamese. And would like to confirm what he shares are completely correct. So surprised that A foreigner could understand my country that well 😍🥰
Thank you so much!
Good vid!
Hanoi have thousand of skyscraper too but there are some rules to protect the ancient houses and historical places in the city center so foreigner barely see them 😅
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Hey joel great video as always
Any problem bringing a drone in there?
I'm German and live in Hai Phong Vietnam (near Halong Bay). I can say you are right with most of the Points eccept the Agribank ist the absolut Not recommend Bank at all. Better is MB Bank with the Advantage that you get max. 5 Mio VND and a Charge of 55k VND. Then e-Visa takes 3-4 days only (I do it every month). From 15. August 2023 again 90 days e-Visa are introduced.
Great video 😊
Thanks! 😊
🤩Love Vietnamese Pho! It' supposed to sound like "Fur" by the way. Love your tips thanks for the great video!
As a vietnamese thank you.
It looks a great country to explore.
Well happy for you well I’m a Vietnamese American and my moms side lives in the courntryside in Saigon which is very fun
Here some place in Vietnam you would want to see and you can google image how the place look like:
Phu Quoc Island, Dalat, Danag, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay, The Marble Mountain, Ninh Binh, Dragon Statue Mountain in Tam Coc, Hue, Bà Nà Hill, and Ban Gioc waterfall.
Love from India 🇮🇳 ♥️ ❤️
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Thanks for the tips! Especially for the tailor. The fiance and I are going to get our wedding garments made there.
great review ! what is your recommendation video editor software (app/windows) for basic travel editing , Thank you
I was born and raised as a white English speaking child in vietnam in Saigon and I still to this day know 2 sentences in Vietnamese and had no language barrier so if ur going to Saigon you’ll be fine without google translate
Good to know!
Very informative and thank you. And you are super cute!!!
I didn't know how to ride a scooter, so I had to learn fast. Taxi (not called cabs here) are cheap and I used those. Watch out for the Grab bikes...very cheap but risky. My local guy was usually drunk and wore a WWII helmet.
This is so handy!
Glad it’s helpful! 😊
Really good information! Especially regarding the visa situation. Their website does say 3 days, but don't be fooled by this. Ours took close to 10 days or so, as complications can easily arise. It was a pain, but definitely worth it in the end.
The other thing I'd note is to most definitely use Grab for all of your taxi needs. Cab drivers can be shady otherwise.
Panic packing last minute for Vietnam. Had to hit "subscribe" just for when things go wrong 😂
Did a trip from South to North number of yrs ago. Ho chi Minh, de nang, hue, hoi an, Sapa, hanoi. And man having the VIP suite on the cruise got no sleep cos of noise of wood worm in headboard. Whole country is amazing
Be creative. Next time, put your head where your feet should be and use ear plugs.
My gf is vietnamese and i plan to go there, thanks for the info
I agree that the North is better than the South in terms of attractions, however the South is worth visiting because of the welcoming people. I think HCMC is a big dumpster, but with some of the friendliest and most welcoming people on this planet.
HCMC is a bit chaotic to be sure. But if you get off the main streets and go back into the actual neighborhoods, it can still be charming. I was in a homestay in one of those neighborhoods in District 3, and before long I knew lots of the local folks and felt a part of the neighborhood.
❤️ from India 🇮🇳
pho is better in the south
Just a trivia, Viettel is a telecom company that belongs to the Vietnamese military so it’s why the coverage is slightly better than the others.
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I'll be featuring Vietnam soon ❤
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Those hotels and wherever you stay in Vietnam. They know and understand that they have to get up late in the night to provide helpful services for hotel accommodation.
thanks
I loved it so much, I married my Vietnamese wife. Moving back there soon.
Love from India 🇮🇳 ♥️ ❤️
Good vid
Do you have an overview of your total itinerary? Going to Vietnam for a month but an struggeling to fit the ha giang loop in my schedule...
Thank you for your video it was very helpful! I am going to Vietnam soon and I will be bringing one large suitcase and one small carry on suitcase. I lot of people usually go backpacking and take minimal luggage. I have a bit worried about my suitcase as I am going from south to North and places in between. Should I also bring a backpack instead of a luggage or is it possible to travel Vietnam with two suitcases specially with transportation is that a good idea?
Thanks for the vid! How long would you recommend to stay here if your sort of pushed for time.
Great Video! Where is the E-Visa link? I just want to make sure I'm in the correct site, looks like there are several sites claiming you can do the process there
at 7:33, it's actually Phu Quoc Island. Thanks for your great video about my country!
thank you!
As a Vietnamese person, There’s a lot of places in Vietnam that I really haven’t been to yet and I really wanted to go instead of staying with my relatives for 2+ months not going anywhere. Thanks mom for giving me mental insanity.
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Thanks for all the tips! Have you been to ha long bay during January? And if so how was it?
Its always cheaper to book in person at a local place than online 😁 we did all on place and all the tourists booked online and they overpayed almost everytime in comparison to our prices. Just as a sidenote
Good to know
Phu Quoc actually has a different visa policy than the majority of Vietnam; it allows 30 days of visa-free travel!
You can apply for a visa in Vietnam up to 90 days already. New visa policy.
A Cambodian island taken over by Vietnam.
Hi, just saw your video - super great and so good to know before going! I just want to say that the visa screen shot you show, isn´t all the way correct, because in Denmark you don´t need a visa unless you are staying in Vietnam for more than 45 days. Just wanted to point out, so everyone check up on it and dont necessarily "just" use that one screen shot:)