Flights to Vietnam are just getting cheaper and cheaper from Australia, which means more people than ever are visiting Vietnam each year. And it’s easy to see why, there’s just so much to explore here.
When To Visit: Depending on where you’re visiting changes the time of year you should visit. For the southern half of the country, including Ho Chi Minh City visit between November and April, during the dry season when days are generally a bit less humid.
Visit the northern half of the country from February to July, as this is when the dry season is in effect here. During this time of year there’s plenty of sunshine and nice warm temperatures.
Language: Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam, spoken throughout the country. Many locals also know at least a few English words if not enough to help you out.
Visas: Anyone travelling through Vietnam are required to organise a visa for your visit. You are able to obtain these visas either before you leave, or upon arrival if you are flying into Vietnam. There are many horror stories about insane wait times if you choose to get a visa on arrival, so it’s a good idea to organise in advance if possible.
For Australian passport holders a tourist visa allows you to enter Vietnam for 30 days and you can apply either online visa the Vietnam Embassy website.
Capital City: Hanoi
Time Zone: Vietnam follows the Indochina Time Zone GMT +7.
International Airport: Hanoi is actually the capital city of Vietnam, which can be accessed by Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). However, the main airport for international visitors is actually Ho Chi Minh City – also known as Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). A third (but smaller) international airport is also available in Da Nang – Da Nang International Airport (DAD) – giving you quick access to Hoi An.
Currency:The currency in Vietnam is Vietnamese Dong VND. At that time of writing, $1AUD converts to 16,163VND, $1USD converts to 23,326VND and £1GBP converts to 30,120VND.
Credit Cards & ATMs: Credit cards are accepted in most places, however it’s a good idea to travel cash whenever possible just in case. Most cities and towns are still quiet small, and more often then not cash is still the preferred payment method. ATMs can generally be found in the bigger towns and cities, but they are generally spread out and can be a little difficult to access if you don’t know their location.
Driving: Always drive on the right side of the road in Vietnam.
Power: In Vietnam the power plugs and sockets are of type A, C and D. The standard voltage is 110 / 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Internet Access: The availability of wifi and internet access is dependant on where you visit in Vietnam. Wifi is pretty available in all the main cities and most of the major towns and tourist attractions, but can be a little more difficult to access in remote villages and locations.
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