Vietnam
Traveling to Vietnam? 🚲🥢
Get ready for a brutal mix of landscapes that look like something out of a movie, chaotic but soulful cities, ancient temples, motorcycles everywhere, and cuisine that will make you cry (from happiness and from the spiciness).
From Ha Long Bay to the rice fields of Sapa, Vietnam is nature, history, tradition… and an energy that can't be explained, only experienced.
For me, Vietnam is one of those countries that teaches you how to travel differently. Chaotic but charming, intense but unforgettable, with incredible people and food from another planet.
WHAT AWAITS YOU IN VIETNAM
🗣 Language: The official language is Vietnamese. In tourist areas, you can get by with English, but it's not as common as in other Southeast Asian countries. Still, Vietnamese people are super friendly. Learn phrases like Xin Chao(hello) or cam ơn (thank you) and you'll see how things change.
💰 Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND). €1 equals tens of thousands of dong, so get ready to feel like a millionaire! 😅 Bring cash for markets and stalls, although modern hotels and cafes accept card payments.
🍜 Traditions: People eat at all hours, on the street, and sitting on mini chairs. People don't talk too loudly, they take off their shoes when entering homes, and showing respect in temples (covering shoulders and knees) is key. Crossing the street is an art: walk slowly and firmly... motorcycles avoid you!
🔌 Plug: Types A, C, and D (depending on the region). Voltage: 220V. Comes with a universal adapter and you're ready to go.
Internet: Having an internet connection in Australia is practically indispensable to fully enjoy your trip. eSIM The best option, it will give you peace of mind and you won't have to rely on public networks. Plus, reserving them in advance can save you money and hassle. You can purchase your eSIM card here either here.
MUST-SEE AND DO SIGHTS IN VIETNAM
🚤 Browse the Ha Long Bay between islets and caves
🍜 Eat a pho street in Hanoi (with a plastic stool, yes or yes)
🛕 Visit the Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
🚲 Lose yourself in the Hoi An Old Town illuminated with colored lanterns
⛰ To do trekking in Sapa between rice terraces and ethnic villages
🏍️ Travel around the country in motorbike or at least do the Hai Van Pass route
🎮 Geeky OCD alert: sleeping in the Crazy House of Da Lat, a surreal hotel that looks like something out of a comic book
🏖 Relax on the beaches of Da Nang, Nha Trang either Phu Quoc
🐉 Visit the Imperial City of Hue and feel like you're in another era
🌇 Watch the sunset from a Skybar in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🎮 Geek level: explore Themed cafes in Hanoi (anime, board games, or even one decorated as a prison)
🐍 Dare with a fertilized duck eggs (balut)… or not 😅
🚂 Live the experience of Hanoi Street Train, which passes millimeters from the coffees
🛶 Sailing in small boats through rice fields in Tam Coc or Ninh Binh (sometimes called the "land-based Ha Long")
WHEN TO TRAVEL TO VIETNAM
Vietnam is long, and that's reflected in the climate. While it rains in the north, it can be sunny in the south.
☀️ North (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long): ideal between March and May either September and November
☀️ Center (Hoi An, Hue, Da Nang): better between February and August
☀️ South (Ho Chi Minh, Phu Quoc): dry season of December to April
🇻🇳 DREAMER TIP: Don't forget to check the lunar calendar: during the Tet (Vietnamese New Year) In January or February, everything comes to a standstill for a few days. It can be chaotic, but also very special if you experience it with locals.
Ready to freak out about Vietnam? 🌿
This country is not visited, feelsEvery street, every dish, and every landscape has something that draws you in. It's not perfect, but it's real. And that makes it incredible.
Have a good trip, chuc ban di vui va, now enjoy like a true dreamer!
