I am traveling alone for the first time on Vietnam for a week.
1.Please guide what is the minimum amount of currency can I carry both in Inidan and Vietnamese Dong.
2.Where Can I buy the Sim card , Can I use International roaming in Jio sim or purchase sim offline in Vietnam please suggest the best telecom operator in Vietnam.
3.Any other knowledge or tip or information you like to share which will benefit me a lot
For Simcard and Activities purpose,you can use Klook app.You can pick up sim at the Airport after arrival at their authorised centres.You can book either physical sim or esim(preferred).You will get to know all the details from the app. Here is the website link. Removed
There is technical issue in opening the link.Here is the Klook app referral removed
1) Since Vietnamese Dong is not yet a very popular currency for international trade, it will be a little challenging to get Vietnamese Dong from here. It's better to use an ATM once you reach your destination to withdraw in dong currency. Carry 100 USD, just in case, the exchange rates to local Dong at the airport are very good for USD.
2) It's better to get a SIM card from the airport arrival counter after you land. Booking it from here and collecting it from there, etc. etc. can cause confusion and arguments, and communication might be difficult since conversing in English can be challenging with the locals.
3) For one week, 20,000 INR will be more than sufficient (excluding airfare) for renting a scooter + hostel or semi deluxe room accommodation + food.
Food quality is very good and the restaurant bills are very reasonable compared to India.
If you are planning to ride a scooter, make sure to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from India (the official government-issued one from your RTO, and not the fake ones some people order from the USA ). Traffic checks are very frequent these days, and there are heavy fines for non-compliance.
Umbrella or Raincoat if you are planning to hire a scooter is a must.
Which part of Vietnam are you travelling to ? North or the South. Ha Giang Province in the north is my favorite.
1. There's no minimum requirement. I'll suggest carry 250 USD/person. It's readily convertible to Dong in all major cities at great rates. Also, most of the travel operators accept bus and package bookings directly in USD. They even prefer it. For other spends you can use Niyo debit card at ATM.
2. You can take from airport itself, not much different. Might be 100-200 more but go for Viettel. It has the best coverage and internet speeds.
3. If you are on a shoestring budget and don't believe vietnamese cuisine would be your pallete, you can carry ready to eat with you. There are a lot of Indian restaurants even in tier 2 tourist towns and you would find quality food there but it's expensive and a meal for 2 will cost around 800-1000. Also, if you are heading out around this time, do check for cyclone alerts and if beaches are open. Do visit Nha Trang, Dalat and Ninh Binh. Most Indian visitors skip on this.
And while I haven't faced any tourist traps myself, be vigilant in hanoi and Ho Chi Minh😉
1. Went with 30 euro. At ho chi minh city immigration, no one asked me to show return ticket or currency. They just stamped.
2. I've stayed there for a month and never bought a sim. I have used open free wifi which was Avilable in almost everywhere. On request, locals share their internet using mobile hotspot.
3.If you are vegetarian, take indian spices with you and stay in a place which is wwiith kitche. If you are going north, take winter cloth. South is hot.
Curious to know why suddenly lot of Indians visiting Vietnam?
For us Indians, the ease of obtaining a tourist visa and the lower food and accommodation cost compared to holidaying in our own country make Vietnam an attractive destination. (Following Thailand's example, Vietnam should consider implementing visa-free travel for Indian tourists and make it even easier.)
In Vietnam, you can find top quality accommodation at a fraction of the cost compared to India.
Vietnam offers a variety of non-vegetarian food options at very reasonable prices, making it an excellent destination for those who enjoy Southeast Asian non-veg cuisine.
Vietnam is a beautiful country that offers relaxation, peace, and tranquility at much lower expenses compared to some tourist destinations in India.
In India, similar destinations have turned into concrete jungles, become overcrowded, exploitative hotel policies and rates and have lost their natural charm. In contrast, Vietnam's rural areas, in particular, provide a peaceful and less crowded experience for tourists.